Method and Apparatus for Monitoring the Restriction Level of a Vehicular Air Filter Element

• Main Authors: BENSCOTER SCOTT J, STAAT LAWRENCE A, MC CORMICK STEVEN J, VAN VECHTEN ROGER G, STENSON DENNIS P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.09.2008
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; SEPARATION; SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL, WITH COMBUSTIBLEMIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A process is provided for monitoring the filter restriction level of a filter element. The filter element is utilized by an air induction system deployed on a vehicle that includes a mass air flow sensor, a manifold pressure sensor, and a throttle position sensor. The process includes receiving (i) throttle position from the throttle position sensor, (ii) mass flow rate from the mass air flow sensor, and (iii) manifold pressure from the manifold pressure sensor. A reference pressure is determined from the received mass flow rate and the received throttle position, a pressure differential is established between the reference pressure and the received manifold pressure, and a filter restriction level is identified from the established pressure differential and the received mass flow rate.