Automated diagnostic systems

With the extremely advanced and complex design of modern vehicles, their high power and torque, it is necessary to employ advanced diagnostic systems. Quick detection and diagnosis of all defects will protect the vehicle against more serious failures, and will prevent excessive fuel consumption and harmful emissions, as well as prevent the reduction of the efficiency and functionality of vehicles. The mechatronic vehicle diagnostic system must include the diagnostic modules for the following components: engine, powertrain, steering, brake system, suspension and electrical equipment. The study discusses the hardware and software components of the mechatronic vehicle diagnostic system, and presents the sample sensors installed in the vehicle to monitor the parameters of components included in the diagnostic system. The vehicle diagnostics system has been presented using the example of diagnostics of wheeled tractors. For this purpose, two alternative diagnostic devices have been developed: a prototype MSDC-1 device, and a production version of the MSDC-2 device. Following a minor adaptation, both devices can be used in the diagnostics of other wheeled vehicles powered by I.C. engine. In further paragraphs of the study, some of the field tests performed on the diagnostic units are discussed. The study also presents some of the test results in the form of diagrams of changes in the temperature of specific engine components. In the diagrams illustrating the results of the tests, the changes of specific operating parameters of the wheeled tractor over time during tests of the MSDC-1 and MSDC-2 units can be observed. The devices differ significantly in terms of design, but they share a purpose, namely online diagnostics of vehicle condition

PRECISION DIAGNOSTICS OF A DIESEL ENGINE UNDER AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR OPERATING CONDITIONS

This paper presents a method for the precise diagnosis of a diesel engine in an agricultural tractor based on the analysis of efficiency changes and parameters characterizing the process of fuel-air mixture preparation. We proposed that the technical condition be identified based on available data from the engine controller, as this enables the implementation of precise online diagnostics of an agricultural tractor. The method was verified using the original cycle, during which we simulated several engine defects leading to a change in conditions and quality of the processes of creating and burning the fuel/air/flue gas mixture. In the paper, we justified the selection of the points at which the engine parameters were measured, as they provide the most information and allow for efficient identification of damage. These results indicate the possibility of damage identification without the use of the diagnostic cycle in the operation of operator-driven vehicles and autonomous vehicles

Średnia objętość płytek krwi i wskaźnik dużych komórek jako czynniki prognostyczne choroby wieńcowej i zawału serca

Platelets represent an important link between inflammation and thrombosis and play an important role in all stages of atherosclerotic lesion formation. Increased platelet activity and their tendency to clot formation favour the incidence of thrombotic complications, such as unstable angina pectoris (UA), myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden cardiac death, in the course of coronary artery disease (CAD). Mean platelet volume (MPV) reflects the average size of platelets and, under normal circumstances, ranges between 7.5 fL to 10.5 fL. Platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR) is defined as the percentage of platelets that exceed the normal value of platelet volume of 12 fL in the total platelet count. Platelet size has been shown to reflect platelet activity; therefore MPV and P-LCR are a simple and easy method of indirect assessment of platelet stimulation. In general population, higher MPV values are associated with increased risk of CAD. Higher MPV and P-LCR values are observed in CAD patients compared to patients without coronary atherosclerosis. In acute coronary syndromes (ACS) the MPV value is higher in patients with myocardial infarction than in patients with unstable CAD. In cases of stable CAD, elevated MPV correlates with the severity of coronary artery involvement and is a predictive factor of ACS. In patients with acute MI high MPV value has been reported to have impact on the no-reperfusion phenomenon following a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therefore, MPV and P-LCR indices, combined with other prognostic parameters, may be an important element of various scoring systems used in long-term prognosis in both stable CAD and ACS.Płytki krwi są ważnym ogniwem łączącym zapalenie i zakrzepicę oraz odgrywają istotną rolę na wszystkich etapach powstawania zmian miażdżycowych. Zwiększona aktywność płytek krwi powodująca nasiloną krzepliwość krwi przyczynia się do większej liczby powikłań zakrzepowych, takich jak niestabilna dławica piersiowa (UA), zawał serca (MI) i nagły zgon sercowy w przebiegi choroby wieńcowej (CAD). Średnia objętość płytki krwi (MPV) odpowiada przeciętnej wielkości płytek i w normalnych warunkach mieści się w zakresie od 7,5 fl do 10,5 fl. Wskaźnik płytkowy dużych komórek (P-LCR) jest definiowany jako odsetek płytek krwi przekraczających zakres prawidłowej objętości płytek wynoszący powyżej 12 fl. Wykazano, że wielkość płytek odzwierciedla ich aktywność, dlatego oznaczenie MPV i P-LCR to proste i łatwe metody pośredniej oceny stopnia stymulacji płytek krwi. W populacji ogólnej wyższe wartości MPV wiążą się ze zwiększonym ryzykiem CAD. U chorych z CAD obserwuje się wyższe wartości MPV i P-LCR niż u osób bez zmian miażdżycowych tętnic wieńcowych. W grupie chorych z ostrymi zespołami wieńcowymi (ACS) wartość MPV jest wyższa u osób z rozpoznaniem zawału serca niż u osób z niestabilną CAD. W przypadku stabilnej CAD wielkość MPV koreluje z ciężkością zmian w tętnicach wieńcowych i jest czynnikiem predykcyjnym ACS. Opisywano wpływ wysokich wartości MPV u chorych z ostrym MI na występowanie zjawiska braku reperfuzji po przezskórnej interwencji wieńcowej (PCI). Dlatego wskaźniki MPV i P-LCR w połączeniu z innymi prognostycznymi parametrami mogą być ważnym elementem różnych systemów oceny ryzyka w perspektywie długookresowej zarówno w stabilnej CAD, jak i ACS

The platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention and stent implantation

AbstractBackgroundThere is no data regarding the association between the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and long-term mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the utility of the pre-procedural PLR for predicting long-term, all-cause mortality in patients with SCAD undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and stent implantation.MethodsWe analyzed a total of 2959 consecutive patients with SCAD who underwent PCI (balloon angioplasty followed by stent implantation or direct stenting) between July 2006 and December 2011 at our institution. The patients were stratified into tertiles according to their admission PLR. The association between the PLR value and the outcomes was assessed using Cox proportional regression analysis after adjusting for clinical angiographic and laboratory data.ResultsDuring median follow-up of 1124days, mortality was highest in patients with PLR within the 3rd tertile as compared to the 2nd and the 1st tertile (11.0% vs 8.7% vs. 9.6%, respectively, p=0.03). PLR remained associated with mortality in multivariable analysis including clinical variables, ejection fraction and angiographic parameters HR (per 10 units increase)=1.02 [95%CI,1.01÷1.04, p=0.006]. After adjustment for the eGFR and hemoglobin levels, PLR was however no longer significantly associated with mortality.ConclusionPLR has potential predictive value in patients with SCAD, which has not been reported previously, but statistical significance disappears after adjusting for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hemoglobin levels as a potential confounding variable

The association of functional polymorphisms in genes encoding growth factors for endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells with the severity of coronary artery disease

Associations of genotype with the Gensini score among patients without previous MI. (DOCX 14 kb

An analysis of the active safety of a passenger car body during car use

Passenger car bodies made nowadays are most often self-bearing constructions. This is the reason why a change in the parameters of a car body during its use also affects other sets of component parts, which are attached to it. While a passenger car is driven, the car body is exposed to various factors which can cause sudden damage or gradual wear of the car’s technical condition. This paper contains an analysis of the influence of changes in the geometry of a car body on changes in the geometry of wheels. The study was carried out on C-segment cars produced by the same manufacturer. While making an assessment of the car body’s geometry, the location of base points on the floor pan and the upper parts of the car bodywork, within the motor chamber, etc. was assayed. All vehicles were constructed on the same floor pan. Measurements were performed with a Gysmeter made by the company Gys and supported by Autorobot Datasheet software, while the geometry of wheels was measured with a computerised laser device Autoboss A-860. Camber, castor and steering axis inclination were some of the wheel geometry parameters measured in our study

Analiza uszkodzeń i modele niezawodności ciągników rolniczych

Farm tractors due to the nature of their work are exposed to a substantial risk of failures. The issues of their reliability are unusually significant in the aspect of the time limit of realisation of agricultural works in agrotechnical seasons. Nowadays, tractors provided for agriculture have increasingly complex functional units. The aim of the paper was to analyse reliability of presently produced farm tractors. Three tractor makes were evaluated and the analysis of failures was carried out with regard to functional units. Based on the obtained results, the average time of correct functioning and refreshment times and availability of particular tractor makes were determined. It was stated that the obtained empirical data of the correct functioning time and refreshment time may be well described with exponential functions. Significant differences in the values that determine the average time of correct functioning and duration time of refreshment obtained by tractors of the investigated makes were found. From among particular functional units, electric and hydraulic systems were the most often damaged, regardless the tractor make.Ciągniki rolnicze ze względu na charakter pracy narażone są na duże ryzyko wystąpienia uszkodzeń. Zagadnienie ich niezawodności jest niezwykle istotne w aspekcie terminowości realizacji prac rolniczych w sezonach agrotechnicznych. Współcześnie dostarczane do rolnictwa ciągniki charakteryzują się coraz większą złożonością zespołów funkcjonalnych. Celem pracy była analiza niezawodności obecnie produkowanych ciągników rolniczych. Ocenie poddano 3 marki ciągników, zaś analizę uszkodzeń przeprowadzono na poziomie zespołów funkcjonalnych. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników wyznaczono średnie czasy poprawnego funkcjonowania i czasy odnowy oraz dyspozycyjność poszczególnych marek ciągników. Stwierdzono, że uzyskane dane empiryczne czasu poprawnego funkcjonowania oraz czasu odnowy mogą być dobrze opisane funkcjami wykładniczymi. Stwierdzono istotne różnice w wartościach określających średnie czasu poprawnego funkcjonowania oraz czasy trwania odnowy uzyskane przez ciągniki badanych marek. Spośród wyszczególnionych zespołów funkcjonalnych najczęstszym uszkodzeniom ulegały układy elektryczny i hydrauliczny, niezależnie od marki ciągnika

Models of diagnostic relations in a wheeled tractor

Modern wheeled tractors are equipped with new-generation electric and electronic systemswhich control the operation of actuator systems. Such solutions require an on-board computer foronline monitoring of functional performance, exhaust gas emissions, safety and operating parameters.Mechatronic diagnostic systems identify the machine’s actual operating load in different operatingmodes and under specific circumstances.Knowledge engineering methods have not yet been developed in the process of diagnosing a tractor’sdefects, but they seem to offer almost endless possibilities. A defect is defined as every event whichhas an adverse effect on tractor performance and which should be detected in the diagnostic processwith an indication of the type and place of damage as well as the magnitude and variability of damageover time. Diagnostic knowledge is a symbolic representation of empirical relations based on whichdiagnostic procedures are developed.The identification of diagnostic relations based on different methods and information sources willfoster the growth of reliable declarative knowledge comprising facts and state-symptom diagnosticrelations, as well as procedural knowledge which underlies diagnostic inference.The determination of symptom-damage relations requires a knowledge base of potential defects in theassemblies and subassemblies of a wheeled tractor. A diagnostic knowledge base can be created based on the identified diagnostic relations, including data acquired during damage simulations.The identification of diagnostic relations between specific defects and the corresponding parameterswas one of the key steps in the process of developing a mechatronic diagnostic system in a wheeledtractor. To facilitate the detection of specific defects at a given moment, a single set of diagnosticsymptoms was allocated to every defect in a wheeled tractor. Diagnostic symptoms are identified bysensors when threshold values are exceeded.[b]Keywords[/b]: diagnostics, wheeled tractor, diagnostic relation

Effect of functional solutions applied in machinery on fuel consumption and emissions

Because stricter norms of emission of hazardous substances are being introduced every few years, machinery manufacturers are also forced to introduce various modifications to reduce emissions. To this end, systems aimed at optimising the process of fuel combustion and reducing the amount of hazardous compounds are being applied. Three tractors used in agriculture, with various functional solutions, were examined in this study. The effect of various systems on reduction of hazardous emissions and fuel consumption was determined. The tests were conducted during the ploughing with a 4-bottom swivel plough. The effect of the selective reduction (SCR) system with AdBlue liquid, the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, the particulate filter, the number of valves per cylinder and the type of a turbocharger in the engine’s inlet system were determined. It was observed during the tests that there were differences in fuel consumption and emissions depending on the constructional solutions applied in the tractors

Volumetric wear characteristics as a result of the tribological interaction between the soil with working parts cultivator's and plough's

This paper is concerned with the possibility of applying modern non-contact methods for assessing the wear as a result of tribological interaction between working bodies and the soil. An original method for wear testing using the test space discretization based on the 3D scanning technology was employed. A localized volumetric wear coefficient was proposed, allowing for wear analysis and improving the accuracy of the Holm-Archard model. The coefficient of local volumetric wear shows the influence of the nominal shape and the slip trajectory of the abrasive particle along the elementary surface on the intensity of wear. At local volumetric wear coefficient > 0.3, this factor determines the intensity of surface wear. Volumetric wear characteristics are the basis for prediction of wear consequences for different materials and techniques of reinforcement of working surfaces, subject to intensive wear in abrasive soil mass. The reliability of the study is confirmed by the comparison with the mass method for wear assessment and the results of the application of the proposed method for different conditions of abrasive wear of operating parts