DEVICE FOR STARTING AND STOPPING A DIESEL ENGINE

• US 3,675,033 A
• Filed: 10/23/1970
• Issued: 07/04/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gerard Moronval, Gilbert Richard
• Original Assignee: Gerard Moronval, Gilbert Richard
• Inventors: Richard, Gilbert, Moronval, Gerard
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, G. R.
• Application Number:
  US05/083,502
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 290/37,38 123/179,179H,145A,142.5
• US Class Current: 290/38.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 19/02 electric, e.g. layout of circuits of apparatus having glowing plugs

Abstract

Device for starting and stopping a combustion engine of the Diesel type comprising a three-position switch having a stable position in which the heater plug circuit and the engine starter circuit are open, a second stable position in which, assuming that the engine is insufficiently warm, the heater plug circuit is closed, the starter circuit remaining open, and an unstable position in which the starter circuit is closed. Means are provided to indicate to the driver when the switch can be placed in the unstable position. The heater plug circuit is automatically opened at the end of a given period of time which depends on the surrounding temperature irrespective of whether the user has or has not placed the switch in the unstable position and actuated the engine starter.

Claims

1. A device for starting and stopping a combustion engine of the Diesel type or the like, comprising a source of electric current, an engine starter, heater plugs, a heating supply circuit for the plugs, a supply circuit for the starter, a three-position switch of known type having a first stable position in which said two circuits are open, a second stable position in which, assuming that the engine is insufficiently warm, the heating circuit is closed, the supply circuit for the starter remaining open, and a third unstable position in which the supply circuit of the starter is closed, a second switch inserted in said heating supply circuit and controlled by a relay associated therewith and having a coil connected between said source of electric current and ground in series with a third switch, the closure of which is controlled when said three-position switch is placed in its second position and with a first delayed-opening contact for automatically opening the heating circuit at the end of a given period of time which is a function of the surrounding temperature, irrespective of whether the user has or has not placed the three-position switch in the third position and actuated the starter , said first delayed-opening contact being controlled by temperature responsive delay means inserted in the heating circuit, said delay means being also provided for indicating to the user at which moment said three-position switch can be placed in the third position .

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said temperature responsive delay means comprises a second contact, a first heating resistance for heating said first delayed-opening contact, a first bimetallic strip controlling said second contact, said first bimetallic strip and said first heating resistance being connected in parallel with said heater plugs, a second heating resistance connected in series in the heating circuit and having an operating time which is a function of the surrounding temperature, said second heating resistance being associated with and adapted to heat said first bimetallic strip.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein an indicator lamp is connected in parallel with said first resistance heating the first delayed-opening contact.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a normally-closed contact is connected in series with said coil of said relay, said normally-closed contact being adapted to open as soon as the engine has reached a given operating speed.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising means for neutralizing the operation of said first delayed-opening contact while the starter is being supplied with power.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second heating resistance has a low voltage terminal and the supply circuit for the starter has a fourth switch controlling operation of the starter, said neutralizing means comprising a diode connected between the supply circuit for the starter and the low voltage terminal of said second heating resistance so as to put the two ends thereof at the same potential when the starter is supplied with power, and a second coil actuating said relay, a relay controlling said fourth switch being connected in parallel with said second coil.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a pulse control circuit which has two stable positions and comprises a closing valve in a fuel supply conduit of The engine, an electromagnet having a moving part which actuates the closing valve, a first reversing switch and a second reversing switch which coact with said third switch so as to reverse the direction of current in said electromagnet, the third switch being a reversing switch and controlling the pulse control circuit.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, comprising a safety circuit provided in the event of faulty operation of said normally-closed contact and including said first reversing switch combined with said moving part and disposed between said third switch and said one coil of said relay and a by-pass circuit comprising a fifth switch controlled by said relay.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7, comprising a third reversing switch actuated by said relay and controlling supply of power to said electromagnet of said pulse control circuit.

10. A device for starting and stopping a combustion engine of the Diesel type or the like, comprising a source of electric current, an engine starter, heater plugs, a heating supply circuit for the plugs, a supply circuit for the starter, a three-position switch of known type having a first stable position in which said two circuits are open, a second stable position in which, assuming that the engine is insufficiently warm, the heating circuit is closed, the supply circuit for the starter remaining open, and a third unstable position in which the supply circuit of the starter is closed, a second switch inserted in said heating supply circuit and controlled by a relay associated therewith and having a coil connected between said source of electric current and ground in series with a third switch, the closure of which is controlled when said three-position switch is placed in its second position and with a delayed-opening contact for automatically opening the heating circuit at the end of a given period of time which is a function of the surrounding temperature, irrespective of whether the user has or has not placed the three-position switch in the third position and actuated the starter, and temperature responsive delay means inserted in the heating circuit for indicating to the user at which moment said three-position switch can be placed in the third position, said delayed-opening contact being controlled independently from said indicating means by a battery-charging circuit which comprises a generator, a regulator and an associated automatic switch.

11. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said delayed-opening contact comprises a bimetallic strip, a heating resistance for heating the bimetallic strip and connected in parallel with the bimetallic strip when the three-position switch is placed in its second position.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, comprising a battery-charging indicator controlled by said automatic switch and connected in parallel with the heating resistance for heating the bimetallic strip.