Portable mass airflow training module
An apparatus and methods are provided for a portable mass airflow (MAF) training module configured to simulate an air intake into an internal combustion engine. An in-line blower draws an airflow through an air filter by way of a first air duct and a second air duct. A throttle assembly is coupled between the first air duct and the second air duct. The throttle assembly includes a throttle plate that may be rotated to regulate the airflow. The power output of the in-line blower is variable to simulate the air intake of various sizes of the internal combustion engine. A MAF sensor and a duct velocity sensor are configured to provide airflow information. The portable MAF training module enables a practitioner to select a desired throttle setting and observe a resultant mass airflow through the portable MAF training module that is measured by the MAF sensor.
1. A portable mass airflow training module for simulating an air intake of an internal combustion engine, the training module comprising:
an in-line blower for causing an airflow through an air filter;
a MAF sensor for measuring an airflow mass through the air filter; and
a throttle assembly for regulating the airflow through the air filter.
2. The training module of claim 1 , further including a filter-housing for receiving the airflow exiting the air filter.
3. The training module of claim 2 , wherein a differential pressure sensor is coupled with the filter-housing for measuring a difference between ambient air pressure and an air pressure within the filter-housing.
4. The training module of claim 2 , wherein an air velocity sensor is coupled with the filter-housing region for measuring the speed of the airflow through the air filter.
5. The training module of claim 1 , wherein the in-line blower is configured to output a variable power so as to simulate the air intake of various sizes of the internal combustion engine.
6. The training module of claim 1 , wherein the throttle assembly includes a throttle plate that may be rotated for regulating the airflow through the training module.
7. The training module of claim 6 , wherein a throttle position sensor comprising the throttle assembly is coupled with the throttle plate and configured to directly monitor a position of the throttle plate.
8. The training module of claim 1 , further including a throttle control circuit that includes at least a frequency generator, a duty cycle modulator, a throttle controller, a position feedback, and a PID controller.
9. The training module of claim 8 , wherein the PID controller is configured to generate an input signal to the duty cycle modulator based on a difference between an actual throttle position and a desired throttle position.
10. The training module of claim 9 , wherein the throttle controller is configured to supply electric power to a motor configured to move a throttle control valve to the desired throttle position.
11. The training module of claim 1 , further including a MAF control appliance for simulating an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle.
12. The training module of claim 11 , wherein the MAF control appliance comprises:
a throttle controller for positioning a throttle control valve comprising the throttle assembly;
a sensor logic for interpreting MAF sensor data;
one or more hardware processors for processing signals received from the throttle controller and the sensor logic;
a user interface logic for displaying received signals on an electronic device by way of a communication link; and
a memory.
13. A method for a portable mass airflow training module to simulate an air intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
causing an airflow through an air filter;
regulating the airflow through the air filter; and
measuring an airflow mass through the air filter.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein causing includes configuring an in-line blower to simulate the air intake of various sizes of the internal combustion engine.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein regulating includes rotating a throttle plate comprising a throttle assembly to control the airflow through the air filter.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein rotating includes using a throttle position sensor comprising the throttle assembly to directly monitor a position of the throttle plate.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein measuring includes placing a MAF sensor in contact with the airflow.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein measuring includes simulating an accelerator pedal of a motor vehicle by way of a MAF control appliance.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein measuring includes using a sensor logic comprising the MAF control appliance to interpret MAF sensor data.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein measuring includes using a GUI on an electronic device to select a desired throttle setting and observe a resultant mass airflow that is detected by the MAF sensor.