Development of an Image Analysis System to Rate Injectors from the Cummins L10 Injector Depositing Test

This paper describes the development of a image analysis system that can be used to rate injectors from the Cummins L10 Injector Depositing Test. In the procedure, injectors are mounted on a computer controlled turntable and scanned using a CCD camera focused on the labyrinth flow area of the injector. The scanned monochrome images are processed and assigned an average gray scale rating.

Results from the image analysis system are compared to the modified CRC Piston and Ring Rating method currently used within the Cummins test procedure. To do this, a series of injectors that have been rated by trained raters at a recent workshop were also rated via the image analysis system. The image analysis system ratings demonstrated a strong correlation (R = 0.85) to the CRC ratings. Using these same injectors, the image analysis method shows improvements in repeatability and reproducibility of approximately 50% over the current procedure.