Automatic optimum-power-seeking control system

Claim 2

A process for regulating the power output of a power producing machine to a desired operating condition, said machine having power output means and a variable of said machine that may be set to influence said power output, comprising the steps of a. automatically and continuously oscillating said setting cyclically about an adjustable zero position, b. simultaneously producing first electrical signals directly corresponding to said oscillations, c. sensing the positive and negative power output changes of said power output means and producing second electrical signals corresponding thereto, d. comparing said first and second signals at all times during each cycle of oscillation and producing a command signal in response thereto, and e. employing fluid pressure to adjust said zero position in response to said command signal.

Claim 3

The process according to claim 1 including the additional step of sensing at least one additional variable of said power-producing machine, and wherein said (d) step includes adjusting said zero position to a predetermined fixed value when said sensed additional variable exceeds a desired limiting value.

Claim 4

the time of fluid application to said other side being of longer duration than to said one side, or,

Claim 5

the time of fluid application to said other side being of longer duration than to said one side, or,

Claim 6

the time of fluid application to said other side being of longer duration than to said one side, or

Claim 7

the time of fluid application to said other side being of longer duration than to said one side, or

Claim 8

the time of fluid application to both of said sides being of equal duration.

Claim 9

the time of fluid application to both of said sides being of equal duration.

Claim 10

the time of fluid application to both of said sides being of equal duration.

Claim 11

the time of fluid application to both of said sides being of equal duration.

Claim 12

The process according to claim 22 wherein said (e) step includes applying said fluid pressure in the form of hydraulic fluid under pressure to actuator means for adjusting said zero position.

Claim 13

The process according to claim 3 wherein said (e) step includes alternately applying said fluid under pressure first to one side and then to the other side of a piston disposed within said actuator means with the time of fluid application to one of said sides being of longer duratioN than to the other of said sides thereby to adjust said zero position.

Claim 14

The process according to claim 3 wherein said (e) step includes alternately applying said fluid under pressure first to one side and then to the other side of a piston disposed within said actuator means with the time of fluid application being selected from one of the following in accordance with said command signal:

Claim 15

The process according to claim 1 wherein said machine is an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and at least one cylinder in which a piston undergoes a compression stroke and a suction stroke and wherein said (d) step includes applying fluid pressure in the form of air at subatmospheric pressure as produced in said intake manifold by said suction stroke of said piston to an actuator means for adjusting said zero position.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said machine is an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and at least one piston which undergoes a compression stroke and a suction stroke within a cylinder in said engine and wherein said fluid is air of subatmospheric pressure produced in said intake manifold by said suction stroke and wherein valve means are provided for varying said subatmospheric pressure in accordance with said command signal.

Claim 17

A process for optimizing the power output of a power-producing machine having power output means, an adjustable variable of said machine having a setting which influences said power output comprising the steps of: a. continuously varying fluid pressure applied to an actuator for oscillating continuously and cyclically the setting of said machine variable about a zero position, b. sensing the resultant positive and negative power output changes of said power output means and producing first electrical signals corresponding thereto, c. producing second electrical signals corresponding to said setting variations, d. comparing said first and second signals continuously to produce a command signal, and e. controlling said fluid pressure in accordance with said command signal for adjusting said zero position to optimize said power output relative to said variable.

Claim 18

A process for optimizing the power output of a power-producing machine having power output means, an adjustable variable of said machine having a setting which influences said power output comprising the steps of: a. continuously varying fluid pressure applied to an actuator for oscillating continuously and cyclically the setting of said machine variable about a zero position, b. sensing the resultant positive and negative power output changes of said power output means and producing first electrical signals corresponding thereto, c. producing second electrical signals corresponding to said setting variations, d. comparing said first and second signals continuously to produce a command signal, and e. controlling said fluid pressure in accordance with said command signal for adjusting said zero position to optimize said power output relative to said variable.

Claim 19

The process according to claim 8 wherein said (e) step includes controlling said fluid pressure by selecting one of the following: (1) restricting outflow from said one side, (2) restricting outflow from said other side or (3) not restricting outflow from either of said sides.

Claim 20

The process according to claim 8 including the additional step of sensing additional variables of said power-producing machine, and wherein said (e) step includes adjusting said zero position to a fixed predetermined value when each of said sensed variables exceed a respective desired limiting value.

Claim 21

The process according to claim 8 wherein said (c) step comprises producing second signals corresponding to said setting variations offset by a predetermined time duration.

Claim 22

Apparatus for optimizing the power output of a power producing machine having power output means, said machine having an adjustable variable setting which is oscillated about a zero position, said setting influencing said power output comprising a. actuator means upon application of fluid pressure for oscillating said setting, b. means for sensing the power output changes of said power output means and producing first electrical signals corresponding thereto, c. means for producing second electrical signals in response to and corresponding to said oscillation of said setting, d. means for continuously comparing said first and second signals for produCing a command signal, and e. means for applying fluid pressure to actuator means for adjusting said zero position in accordance with said command signal to optimize said power output relative to said variable.

Claim 23

Apparatus for optimizing the power output of a power producing machine having power output means, said machine having an adjustable variable setting which is oscillated about a zero position, said setting influencing said power output comprising a. actuator means upon application of fluid pressure for oscillating said setting, b. means for sensing the power output changes of said power output means and producing first electrical signals corresponding thereto, c. means for producing second electrical signals in response to and corresponding to said oscillation of said setting, d. means for continuously comparing said first and second signals for produCing a command signal, and e. means for applying fluid pressure to actuator means for adjusting said zero position in accordance with said command signal to optimize said power output relative to said variable.

Claim 24

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein there is provided at least one means for sensing additional variables of said power-producing machine, logic means coupled to said fluid pressure-applying means for adjusting said zero position of said setting to a predetermined fixed value in response to at least one of said sensed variables changing beyond a desired limiting value.

Claim 25

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said fluid pressure-applying means includes dither valve means coupled to said actuator means for alternately applying fluid under pressure first to one side and then to the other side of a piston disposed within said actuator means with the time of fluid application being selected from one of the following in accordance with said command signal:

Claim 26

The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said dither valve means comprises an electrohydraulic valve responsive to input signals and in which there is provided generator means for applying input signals to said electrohydraulic valve in accordance with said command signal.

Claim 27

Apparatus for optimizing the power output of a power-producing machine having power output means, said machine having an adjustable variable whose setting influences said power output comprising a. actuator means having a piston disposed therein for controlling the setting of said machine variable, b. valve means coupled to said actuator means for applying fluid under pressure alternately first to one side and then to the other side of said piston for oscillating said setting about a zero position. c. means for sensing the positive and negative power output changes of said power output means for producing first signals corresponding thereto, d. means for producing second signals corresponding to said oscillations of said setting, e. means for comparing said first and second signals to produce a command signal, and f. means for controlling the outflow of fluid from said actuator means for varying the fluid pressure on said sides of said piston in accordance with said command signal for adjusting said zero position thereby to optimize said power output relative to said variable.

Claim 28

Apparatus for optimizing the power output of a power-producing machine having power output means, said machine having an adjustable variable whose setting influences said power output comprising a. actuator means having a piston disposed therein for controlling the setting of said machine variable, b. valve means coupled to said actuator means for applying fluid under pressure alternately first to one side and then to the other side of said piston for oscillating said setting about a zero position. c. means for sensing the positive and negative power output changes of said power output means for producing first signals corresponding thereto, d. means for producing second signals corresponding to said oscillations of said setting, e. means for comparing said first and second signals to produce a command signal, and f. means for controlling the outflow of fluid from said actuator means for varying the fluid pressure on said sides of said piston in accordance with said command signal for adjusting said zero position thereby to optimize said power output relative to said variable.

Claim 29

The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein there is provided means for applying fluid under pressure alternately first to one side and then to the other side of said piston and wherein said controlling means comprises a valve operable in accordance with said command signal to one of the following positions: (1) restricting outflow from said one side, (2) restricting outflow from said other side or (3) not restricting outflow from either of said sides.

Claim 30

The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said second signal producing means produces second signals corresponding to said setting oscillations offset by a predetermined time duration.

Claim 31

A process for regulating the power output of a power-producing machine having power output means, an adjustable variable of said machine having a setting which influences said power output, comprising the steps of: a. continuously applying fluid under pressure alternately, first to one side then to the other side of a piston in an actuator for oscillating the setting of said machine variable about a zero position, b. sensing the resultant positive and negative power output changes of said power output means and producing first signals corresponding thereto, c. producing second signals correspondiNg to said setting variations, d. comparing said first and second signals to produce a command signal, and e. controlling said fluid pressure in accordance with said command signal for adjusting said zero position to achieve a predetermined position of said power output relative to said variable, said controlling step including the outflow of fluid from said sides of said piston in accordance with said command signal.

Claim 32

A process for regulating the power output of a power-producing machine having power output means, an adjustable variable of said machine having a setting which influences said power output, comprising the steps of: a. continuously applying fluid under pressure alternately, first to one side then to the other side of a piston in an actuator for oscillating the setting of said machine variable about a zero position, b. sensing the resultant positive and negative power output changes of said power output means and producing first signals corresponding thereto, c. producing second signals correspondiNg to said setting variations, d. comparing said first and second signals to produce a command signal, and e. controlling said fluid pressure in accordance with said command signal for adjusting said zero position to achieve a predetermined position of said power output relative to said variable, said controlling step including the outflow of fluid from said sides of said piston in accordance with said command signal.