VEHICLE CONDITION RESPONSIVE MONITORING SYSTEM HAVING PRIORITY INDICATION

• US 3,665,383 A
• Filed: 11/20/1970
• Issued: 05/23/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas I. Fales
• Original Assignee: Douglas I. Fales
• Inventors: Fales, Douglas I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US05/091,490
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52,52F,177,181,195,197
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/24 with indicator element moving about a pivot, e.g. hinged flap or rotating vane

Abstract

Apparatus for providing information as to plurality of conditions using a single air core gauge. Each condition being monitored controls a switch that in turn controls the energization of at least one winding, the magnetic fields generated by the windings forming a resultant magnetic field that controls the orientation of an indicia-bearing rotatable disc. When one or more windings are energized a lamp illuminates the indicia which the disc locates at a certain position so as to indicate the status of the condition which caused energization of the winding. The apparatus also gives priority to information on conditions which are of greater importance than other conditions also being monitored.

Claims

1. Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of detection networks each including a normally open switch that is responsive to at least one of the conditions being monitored and a winding connected in series circuit with the normally open switch, each of the windings being effective when energized to generate a magnetic field along its axis, the axes of the windings being disposed at predetermined angles to each other, at least one of the detection networks also including a controlled switch in the series circuit with the normally open switch and the winding in the detection network, the controlled switch being responsive to the normally open switch in another detection netwoRk whereby the controlled switch prevents the energization of the winding in series circuit therewith when the normally open switch in the other detection network is closed and permits energization of the winding in series circuit therewith when the normally open switch in the other detection network is open, means for connecting the detection networks to a power source effective to energize one of the windings when the normally open switch in series circuit therewith is closed, thereby generating the magnetic field along its axis, and means responsive to the orientation of the magnetic field for indicating which of the conditions being monitored has changed sufficiently to close one of the normally open switches.

2. Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of detection networks each including a normally open switch that is responsive to one of the conditions being monitored for detecting changes in the monitored condition, each of the switches being closed upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch, and a winding connected in series with the switch and effective when energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other;

a controlled switch in series circuit with at least one of the detection networks and responsive to closure of the switch in one of the other detection networks so as to be conductive when the switch in the other detection network is open and nonconductive when the switch in the other detection network is closed;

means for connecting the detection networks to a power source effective upon closure of a normally open switch to cause the energization by the power source of the winding in series circuit with the normally open switch, closure of each of the normally open switches which control a controlled switch also preventing energization of the windings in series circuit with the controlled switches by rendering the controlled switches nonconductive, thereby establishing priorities between the conditions being monitored; and

indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including an indicia bearing member, means for moving the indicia bearing member past a certain position in accordance with the magnetic field produced by the energization of one of the windings, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, and means responsive to the energization of the windings effective to energize the lamp when a winding is energized and deenergize the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia at the certain position.

3. Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of detection networks each including a switch for monitoring at least one of the conditions being monitored, each of the switches normally being in a first operative state and being changed to a second operative state upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch, and a winding connected in series with the switch and effective when energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other, at least one of the detection networks also including a transistor in series with the winding and the switch, the control terminal of the transistor being connected to the switch in another detection network so as to bias the transistor to its conductive condition when the switch in said other detection network is in the first operative state and to its nonconductive condition when the switch in said other detection network is in the second operative state, thereby preventing energization of the winding in series with the transistor when the switch in said other detection network is in the Second operative state while permitting the energization of the winding when the switch is in the first operative state, means for connecting the detection networks to a power source for effecting energization of the windings by the power source in response to placement of the switches in the second operative state, and indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including an indicia bearing member, means for moving the indicia bearing member past a certain position in accordance with the magnetic field produced by the energization of one of the windings, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, and means responsive to the energization of the windings effective to energize the lamp when a winding is energized and deenergize the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia at the certain position in accordance with the priority of conditions being monitored.