Abstrict An air flow meter comprises an air velocity measuring resistor
and a temperature compensating resistor and is installed in a bypass
passage provided at an intake passage running through an air horn.
The air velocity measuring resistor and the temperature compensating
resistor are supported by lead wires whose portions exposed in the
bypass passage have the same length. A cover forming the bypass
passage is made of heat insulating synthetic resin material to prevent
heats from being transmitted to the resistors.
Claims What we claim:
1. An air flow meter comprising:
a bridge circuit including an air velocity measuring resistor and
a temperature compensation resistor disposed in an air bypass passage
formed parallel with an air intake passage for measuring an air
velocity therein;
a switching transistor for controlling current flow to said bridge
circuit;
a differential amplifier having two input terminals each of which
are respectively coupled to two intermediate points of said bridge
circuit, the voltage at one of the two intermediate points of said
bridge circuit representing the air velocity signal, and an output
terminal electrically coupled to said switching transistor so as
to maintain the temperature of the air velocity measuring resistor
at a predetermined amount;
an adjustable voltage source electrically coupled to one of the
two input terminals of said differential amplifier for applying
a predetermined D.C. voltage thereto so as to increase the predetermined
temperature of the air velocity measuring resistor during a low
air velocity for correcting the characteristic that the ratio of
an air volume of the air bypass passage to an air volume of the
air intake passage decreases during a low air velocity.
2. An air flow meter according to claim 1 wherein said bridge
circuit further comprises an operational amplifier, one input terminal
of the operational amplifier is electrically coupled to one of the
two intermediate points of said bridge circuit representing the
air velocity signal, and an output terminal of the operational amplifier
is electrically coupled to one of the two input terminals of said
differential amplifier, the temperature compensating resistor being
connected across said operational amplifier so as to control a gain
thereof.
3. An air flow meter comprising:
a bridge circuit including an air velocity measuring resistor and
a temperature compensating resistor disposed in an air bypass passage
formed parallel with an intake passage for measuring an air velocity
therein, a first resistor connected in series with the air velocity
measuring resistor and forming a first series circuit, and second
and third resistors connected in series with each other and further
connected in series with the temperature compensating resistor and
forming a second series circuit together therewith, the first and
second series circuits being connected in parallel;
a switching transistor for controlling current flow to said bridge
circuit;
a differential amplifier having two input terminals respectively
electrically coupled to a junction between the air velocity measuring
resistor and the first resistor and to a junction between the second
and third resistors, a voltage at the junction between the air velocity
measuring resistor and the first resistor representing the air velocity
signal, and an output terminal of the differential amplifier is
electrically coupled to said switching transistor so as to maintain
the temperature of the air velocity measuring resistor at a predetermined
amount; and
an adjustable voltage source electrically coupled to one of the
two input terminals of said differential amplifier for applying
a predetermined constant D.C. voltage thereto so as to increase
the predetermined temperature of the air velocity measuring resistor
during a low air velocity for correcting the characteristic that
a ratio of an air volume of the air bypass passage to an air volume
of the air intake passage decreases during a low air velocity.
4. An air flow meter comprising:
a bridge circuit including an air velocity measuring resistor and
a temperature compensating resistor disposed in an air bypass passage
formed parallel with an air intake passage for measuring an air
velocity therein, a first resistor connected in series with the
air velocity measuring resistor, second and third resistors connected
in series with each other and connected in parallel with the air
velocity measuring resistor, an operational amplifier having an
input terminal connected to the junction between the air velocity
measuring resistor and the first resistor, the temperature compensating
resistor is connected between another input terminal of the operational
amplifier and an output terminal thereof so as to control a gain
thereof, and a fourth resistor connected between the other input
terminal of the operational amplifier and the other terminal of
the first resistor;
a switching transistor for controlling current flow to said bridge
circuit;
a differential amplifier having two input terminals respectively
electrically coupled to a junction between the air velocity measuring
resistor and the first resistor through the operation of amplifier
and to a junction between the second and third resistors, a voltage
at the junction between the air velocity measuring resistor and
the first resistor representing an air velocity signal, and an output
terminal of the differential amplifier is electrically coupled to
said switching transistor so as to maintain the temperature of the
air velocity measuring resistor at a predetermined amount; and
an adjustable voltage source electrically coupled to one of the
two input terminals of said differential amplifier for applying
a predetermined constant D.C. voltage thereto so as to increase
the predetermined temperature of the air velocity measuring resistor
during a low air velocity for correcting the characteristics that
a ratio of an air volume of the air bypass passage to an air volume
of the air intake passage decreases during the low air velocity.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an intake air flow meter for internal
combustion engines of automobiles and particularly to a heat sensing
wire type air flow meter.
There are various methods of measuring the volume of the intake
air drawn into an internal combustion engine. Among these, the heat
sensing wire type air flow meter is most widely used since it has
a good response and is capable of measuring the mass of air drawn
in so that pressure correction is not necessary. This kind of air
flow meter comprises a platinum wire of 70 to 100 .mu.m in diameter
which is strained in the air horn as proposed in the patent application
of Japanese Patent Publication No. 48893/1974 (U.S. Pat. No. 3747577),
the Laid-Open No. 19227/1972 and the Laid-Open No. 64134/1976. The
flow meters in these applications, however, have a problem of durability
and especially have other problems that the detecting portion is
likely to be damaged by backfiring caused when the engine is not
running in good condition.
In order to solve these problems, an improved air flow meter has
been proposed in which the detecting portion is comprised by winding
a platinum wire on a supporting body such as hollow body made of
ceramic material and having a coating material thereon, whereby
the air flow meter has improved mechanical strength (Japanese Patent
Application Nos. 53-42547 and 53-65748).
The detecting portion above, however, is likely to be affected
by heat transmitted from a member supporting the detecting portion,
since the ratio of length to diameter of the platinum wire of which
the detecting portion is comprised, is comparatively small and the
detecting portion is supported by lead wires whose portions exposed
in an air flow passage are not small enough in diameter to prevent
heat from being transmitted.
Accordingly, the output signal of the air flow meter is affected
by the wall temperature of the air horn.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENION
One object of the invention is to provide an air flow meter which
is capable of measuring with high accuracy the volume of air drawn
in under any running condition of the engine.
Another object of the invention is to provide an air flow meter
which is capable of measuring with high accuracy the volume of air
drawn in without the influence of the wall temperature under any
running condition of the engine.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an air flow
meter which provides an improved proportional relationship between
the main intake air mass and the bypass air mass under any running
condition of the engine.
A feature according to one embodiment of the invention is that
the lead wire supporting the temperature compensating resistor has
the same length as that supporting the air velocity measuring resistor
or is longer than that supporting the air velocity measuring resistor.
A feature according to another embodiment of the invention is that
the air flow meter is installed in the bypass passage having a flat
rectangular cross section, the internal surface of which is formed
of heat insulating material.
A feature according to still another embodiment of the invention
is that the air flow meter is controlled by a constant voltage circuit
in which a suitably adjusted constant voltage is added to the potential
difference between two intermediate points of a bridge circuit incorporating
the heat sensing resistors.
According to the present invention the volume of air drawn in is
measured with high accuracy under any running condition of the engine.
According to one embodiment of the invention the influence of the
wall temperature is reduced whereby the volume of air drawn in is
measured with high accuracy under any running condition of the engine.
According to another embodiment of the invention the proportional
relationship between the main intake air mass and the bypass air
mass is improved whereby the volume of air drawn in is measured
with high accuracy under any running condition of the engine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front view of an air horn employing an embodiment of
the air flow meter of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II--II' of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III--III'
of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 4(A)-4(C) are cross-sectional views showing how the sensing
elements are mounted in the bypass passage;
FIGS. 5(A)-5(C) are views showing how the air flow meter of the
invention is supported by lead wires;
FIGS. 6(A), 6(B), 7(A), 7(B), 8(A) and 8(B) are diagrams showing
the relation of the output signal of the air flow meter of the invention
to the wall temperature under the constant air mass flow;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relation between the length of
the lead wires supporting the resistors; FIGS. 10(A)-10(B) are enlarged
cross-sectional views showing the bypass passage in which the air
flow meter of the invention is installed;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relation between the main air
volume through the intake passage and the bypass air volume through
the bypass passage;
FIG. 12 is a circuit of an embodiment of the heat sensing wire
type air flow meter constructed according to the invention;
FIGS. 13 and 14 are circuits modified from that shown in FIG. 12;
FIG. 15 is a circuit of still another embodiment of the air flow
meter constructed according to the present invention; and
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the relation between the volume of
air flowing past the bypass passage and the output of the air flow
meter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 2 and 3 an air horn 10 has an intake passage
12 running therethrough, in which a venturi 14 is formed. The flange
17 at the lower end of the air horn 10 is connected with a throttle
valve chamber (not shown). Provided downstream of the throttle valve
in the throttle valve chamber is a fuel injection valve (not shown).
Air drawn in as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 passes through
the venturi 14 and a part of it also passes through a bypass passage
30. The air that has entered bypass inlet 16 located upstream of
the venturi 14 is drawn through the bypass passage 30 to a bypass
outlet 18 located at the venturi 14 by the vacuum developed at the
bypass outlet 18 from which the air comes out into the intake passage
12.
An air flow meter 50 according to one embodiment of the invention
shown in FIG. 2 is installed in the bypass passage 30 and may be
installed in the intake passage 12.
The air flow meter 50 according to the invention comprises an air
velocity measuring resistor 501 a temperature compensating resistor
503 lead wires 302 304 for supporting the resistors 501 503 thereon
respectively and supplying electric power therethrough, and an electronic
circuit 70 for controlling the resistors 501 and 503.
The air velocity measuring resistor 501 is arranged above the temperature
compensating resistor 503 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4(A) and
4(B), however, the two resistors 501 503 may be arranged side by
side as shown in FIG. 4(C).
The lead wires 302 and 304 extend through a supporting member 310
arranged in a cover 308 and are connected to the electronic circuit
70 which is protected by a circuit cover 72 and will be described
in detail hereinafter.
The cover 308 forming the bypass passage 30 is made of heat insulating
material such as synthetic resin or plastic to insulate the bypass
passage 30 from external temperature influences and improve the
electrical insulation of the heat sensing resistors 501 and 503.
Each resistor 501 and 503 installed in the bypass passage 30 is
provided with connecting lead wires 306 306' and 307 307' at the
opposite ends thereof and is supported through these connecting
lead wires 306 306' and 307 307' by the lead wires 302 302' and
304 304' whose portions exposed in the bypass passage 30 have the
same length as shown in FIGS. 5(A) and (B).
The current supplied through the lead wires 302 and 304 heats the
air velocity measuring resistor 501 to a predetermined temperature
but the temperature compensating resistor 503 is heated only to
a temperature slightly higher than the atmospheric temperature.
For example, the temperature of the air velocity measuring resistor
501 is about 100.degree. to 200.degree. C. higher than that of the
air drawn in, and the temperature of the temperature compensating
resistor 503 is almost equal to that of the air drawn in.
When the temperature of the air flowing through the bypass passage
30 is different from that of the cover 308 heat flows through the
lead wires 302 and 304 to change the temperature of the resistors
501 and 503.
That is, when the temperature of the cover 308 is higher than that
of the air flowing through, the heats are transmitted from the cover
308 through the lead wires 302 and 304 to the resistors 501 and
503 especially to the temperature compensating resistor 503.
To the contrary, when the temperature of the cover 308 is almost
equal to or lower than that of the air flowing through, the heat
is transmitted from the resistors 501 and 503 through the lead wires
302 and 304 to the cover 308.
The temperature difference between the air flowing through and
the cover 308 decreases in accordance with the increase of the volume
of air flowing through since an active heat exchange is carried
out between the air flowing through and the cover 308.
In general, the heat resistance of the lead wire is directly proportional
to the length and inversely proportional to the cross-sectional
area thereof.
Accordingly, the heat exchanged between the cover 308 and the resistors
501 and 503 can be made small by making the heat resistance of the
lead wires 302 and 304 large, i.e., by making the lead wires long
and/or small in diameter.
The results of an experiment carried out by the inventors are shown
in FIGS. 6(A)-8(B), according to which the influence of the wall
temperature to the output signal can be understood, when the relative
length of the lead wires 302 and 304 supporting the resistors 501
and 503 changes under the condition of the constant air mass flow
of 0.1 m.sup.3 /min. and 1 m.sup.3 /min.
In FIGS. 6(A)-8(B), the abscissa represents wall temperature (.degree.
C.) and the ordinate represents output signal (in volts) of the
air flow meter of the invention.
In the case where the lead wires 302 and 304 whose portions exposed
in the bypass passage 30 have the same length as shown in FIG. 5(A)
and 5(D) hardly any influence of the wall temperature to the output
signal is expected at the constant air mass flow of 1 m.sup.3 /min.
as shown in FIG. 6(B). For a constant flow mass rate of 0.1 m.sup.3
/min., there is a slight increase with temperature, as shown in
FIG. 6(A).
In the case where the lead wire 304 supporting the temperature
compensating resistor 503 is longer than that supporting the air
velocity measuring resistor 501 as shown in FIGS. 5(B) and 5(E),
hardly any influence of the wall temperature to the output signal
is expected at the constant air mass flow of 0.1 m.sup.3 /min. and
1 m.sup.3 /min., as shown in FIGS. 7(A) and 7(B), respectively,
and especially the output signal slightly decreases at the constant
air mass flow of 1 m.sup.3 /min. in accordance with the increase
of the wall temperature, as shown in FIG. 7(B).
In the case where the lead wire 302 supporting the air velocity
measuring resistor 501 is longer than that supporting the temperature
compensating resistor 503 as shown in FIGS. 5(C) and 5(F), the output
signal increases in accordance with the increase of the wall temperature
at the respective constant air mass flows of 0.1 m.sup.3 /min and
1 m.sup.3 /min, as shown in FIG. 8(A) and 8(B).
As is apparent from the above, the temperature compensating resistor
503 is likely to be affected by heat transmitted thereto from the
cover 308 or by heat transmitted therefrom to the cover 308.
In the case of a large amount of air flowing through passage 30
it is preferable to make the lead wire 304 supporting the temperature
compensating resistor 503 longer than or equal to that supporting
the air velocity measuring resistor 501 as shown in FIGS. 5(A),
5(D) and 5(B), 5(E), the reason for which can be understood by referring
to FIGS. 6(B) and 7(B).
In the case of relatively small amount of air flowing through,
it is preferable to make the lead wire 304 supporting the temperature
compensating resistor 503 longer than that supporting the air velocity
measuring resistor 501 as shown in FIGS. 5(B) and 5(E), the reason
for which is understood by FIG. 7(A).
For this reason, the temperature compensating resistor 503 is preferably
supported by the lead wire 304 having no less heat resistance than
that of the lead wire 302 supporting the air velocity measuring
resistor 501 in order to measure with high accuracy the volume of
air drawn in under any running condition of the engine.
Accordingly, the lead wire 304 of the temperature compensating
resistor 503 may be made longer and/or smaller in diameter than
that of the air velocity measuring resistor 501.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the relation between the length of
the lead wires 302 and 304 for which there is headly any influence
due to the wall temperature on the output signal, when the wall
temperature and the temperature of the air flowing through at a
constant velocity of 10 m/sec are different, representing the diameter
of the lead wires as a parameter.
The lead wires are made of the same material, such as stainless
steel, and have the same diameter.
The absissa represents the length of the lead wires supporting
the air velocity measuring resistor 501 and the ordinate represents
the ratio of the length of the lead wires supporting the air velocity
measuring resistor 501 to that of the lead wires supporting the
temperature compensating resistor 503.
As is apparent from FIG. 9 in the case where both of the lead
wires 302 supporting the air velocity measuring resistor 501 and
the lead wires 304 supporting the temperature compensating resistor
503 are long, both of them are required to have the same length.
To the contrary, in the case where both are short, the lead wires
304 supporting the temperature compensating resistor 503 are required
to be made longer than those supporting the air velocity measuring
resistor 501.
As the diameter of the lead wires 302 is made larger, the lead
wires 304 supporting the temperature compensating resistor are required
to be made longer than that supporting the air velocity measuring
resistor, as shown in FIG. 9.
The bypass passage 30 of the invention has a rectangular cross
section with a longer lateral side and has a curvature at the bends,
as shown in FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B). In general, as the fluid flow
through the main passage decreases, the amount of fluid passing
through the bypass passage decreases at a rate greater than that
of the main passage. Since the heat sensing wire type air flow meter
detects the overall intake air volume from the amount of air passing
through the bypass passage 30 the above configuration of the bypass
passage 30 is effective in improving the proportional relationship
between them. That is, since the cross section of the bypass passage
30 is rectangular, the air flow easily becomes laminar and its direction
is smoothly changed by the curvature at the bends, so that the turbulence
of air in the bypass passage is limited to the minimum. Therefore,
a proportional relationship between the main intake air volume and
the bypass air volume can be maintained even when the intake air
flow decreases. The bypass passage 30 may have a circular cross
section.
The bypass inlet 16 and outlet 18 of the bypass passage 30 are
formed facing the intake passage 12 at right angles so that any
dust carried in the main air flow can be prevented from entering
the bypass passage 30. This keeps the resistor 501 503 from being
fouled and ensures long life. If the engine backfires and the air
flow is reversed, the air will not enter the bypass outlet 18 and
flow back through the bypass passage 30 since the bypass outlet
18 is formed at the narrowest portion of the venturi 14. In other
words, the reverse air flow is separated from the air horn wall
by the venturi 14 so that the pressure at the bypass inlet 16 becomes
almost equal to that at the bypass outlet 18 and the air does not
flow back through the bypass passage 30. Thus, no error will arise
in the measurement of the intake air volume when the engine backfires
and the air flows back. For the same reason, no measurement error
will be generated by the pulsation of the intake air flow caused
by the engine, so that the heat sensing wire type flow meter can
provide signal which represents the correct air volume taken into
the combustion chambers of the engine.
As can be seen from the foregoing, the air flow meter of this embodiment
has a construction such that the resistors 501 503 are supported
on the lead wires 302 304 of the same length in the bypass passage
30 which is enclosed by the cover 308 with smooth wall surfaces
made of synthetic resin material of low thermal conductivity, the
bypass passage 30 having a flat rectangular cross section and opening
into the intake passage 12 at the venturi 14 as well as at a point
upstream of the venturi 14; hence this flow meter can detect the
mass of air flow passing through the bypass passage 30 with high
accuracy even when the engine backfires and the air flows back.
This construction also has an advantage of being able to provide
an improved proportional relationship between the main intake air
mass and the bypass air mass.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the volume
of air flowing through the intake passage 12 and the volume of air
passing through the bypass passage 30 with the abscissa representing
the main intake air volume Q and the ordinate representing the ratio
q/Q of the bypass air volume q to the main intake air volume Q.
The horizontal dashed line 103 represents the ideal relation in
which the ratio q/Q is constant for any value of the main intake
air volume Q. As a matter of fact, in the conventional bypass type
flow meter the bypass air volume q rapidly decreases as the take
intake volume Q becomes small, as indicated by the solid line 104.
However, the reduction of the bypass air volume q is smaller for
the flow meter of this invention than for the conventional one,
as shown by the one-dot line 105 indicating that the present invention
gives better proportionality between the two quantities.
FIG. 12 shows a circuit 70 for the heat sensing wire type air flow
meter of this invention. The potential Va at a point between the
resistors 704 706 is added to a constant voltage of an adder 710.
This constant voltage is set by a voltage divider 708. The potential
Vb is the signal voltage of the air flow meter and is added to the
negative terminal of a differential amplifier. Va and Vb are expressed
as follows ##EQU1## where R.sub.1 =resistance of the resistor 702
R.sub.2 =resistance of the resistor 704
R.sub.3 =resistance of the resistor 706
Rt=resistance of the temperature compensating resistor 503 and
V is a potential of the emitter of the transistor 716. Assuming
Vc stands for a predetermined potential given by the variable resistor
708 and when the potential of the adder 710 is made equal to the
potential V.sub.b the following equation holds in the circuit of
FIG. 13.
From the equations (1), (2) and (3), the resistance Rw of the air
velocity measuring resistor 501 can be expressed as ##EQU2## Since
the emitter current I of the transistor 716 increases with increasing
air volume, Rw, the amount of which corresponds to a temperature
of the air velocity measuring resistor 501 becomes large in the
low air flow range and small in the high air flow range as will
be understood from equation (4'). Therefore, the amplitude of the
signal from the heat sensing wire type air flow meter becomes comparatively
large in the low air flow range and small in the high air flow range.
As a result, the one-dot line 105 of FIG. 11 approaches the target
dashed line 103 for which the ration q/Q is constant for all values
of the main intake volume Q. In this way, the outputs in the low
air flow range can be corrected.
FIG. 13 shows a circuit of the heat sensing wire type air flow
meter modified from that shown in FIG. 12. Parts that are identical
with those in FIG. 12 are given the same reference numerals. In
this circuit, the temperature compensating resistor 503 is connected
across an operational amplifier 730 so as to control the gain thereof
and further to limit the amount of current flowing therethrough
which causes self-heating thereof thereby improving the accuracy
of air temperature compensation. Reference numerals 718 720 722
724 and 726 represent fixed resistors which constitute elements
of a modified bridge circuit, 730 an operational amplifier, 714
a differential amplifier, and 716 a transistor. The constant voltage
Vc as set by the variable resistor 708 and the output voltage from
the operational amplifiers 730 are applied to the positive input
terminal of the adder 710 and the output voltage of the adder 710
is applied to the positive input terminal of the differential amplifier
714 to obtain the same effect as that given by the circuit of FIG.
12. A condenser 728 is provided to prevent noise.
FIG. 14 shows a further modification of the circuit of FIG. 12
in which a subtracter 740 subtracts the constant voltage set by
the variable resistor 708 from the potential between the resistor
702 and the air velocity measuring resistor 501 to make this voltage
difference equal to the potential at a point between the resistors
704 706.
It is then true that
The above equation is equal to (3) and this means that the circuit
shown in FIG. 14 provides the same effect as does the circuit of
FIG. 12.
FIG. 15 is still another modification of the circuit 70 of the
heat sensing wire type air flow meter constructed according to this
invention. If we let V stand for the signal from the heat sensing
wire type air flow meter, the following relation holds between the
amplitude of the signal V and the amount of air q flowing past the
bypass passage 30. ##EQU3##
Therefore ##EQU4## where c1 and c2 are constants relating to the
heat sensing resistors. The circuit of this embodiment performs
the arithmetic operation represented by the equation (7).
According to the present invention, a predetermined voltage potential
is applied to one of the input terminals of the amplifier or the
differential amplifier which is included in the closed-loop circuit
which effects to balance the potentials at two intermediate points
of the Wheatstone bridge so as to adjust or correct the output signal
of the airflow meter when the intake air volume is small thereby
enabling accurate measurement of the air flow.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the relation between the volume of
air passing through the bypass passage and the output of the circuit
of FIG. 15. The solid line 142 represents the output of the square-law
detector 752 and the dashed line 144 the output of the adder 760.
In this way, a certain value is added to the output of the square-law
detector 752 so that the increase in output is comparatively small
when a large amount of air is flowing through, and is large when
only a small amount of air is passing through. As a result, the
measurement errors caused in the low air volume area can be corrected.
The amount of correction can be adjusted by the variable resistor
754.
As can be seen from the foregoing, the circuit of the heat sensing
wire type air flow meter of this embodiment has an advantage that
by adding a suitably adjusted voltage to the signal representing
the volume of air flowing past the bypass passage, it is possible
to correct the signal value when the volume of intake air is small.
According to the embodiment of the invention the ouput of the closed-loop
control circuit which controls at the same value the potentials
at two points between resistors on the parallel circuits of the
Wheatstone bridge is added to a suitably adjusted voltage so as
to adjust or correct the output when the intake air volume is small.
This enables accurate measurement of the air flow.
With the air flow meter of this invention, it is possible to measure
highly accurately the intake air volume over a wide range of engine
running conditions for a long period of operation. |