Motor vehicle economy measuring instrument

• US 3,977,238 A
• Filed: 06/16/1975
• Issued: 08/31/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Melville R. Byington Jr
• Original Assignee: Melville R. Byington Jr
• Inventors: Byington, Melville R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Queisser, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ciarlante, Anthony V.
• Application Number:
  US05/587,080
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 73/114, 73/115
• US Class Current: 73/114.53
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/16 Dials; Mounting of dials
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/26 Devices for measuring efficiency, i.e. the ratio of power output to power input

Abstract

A device is disclosed for providing an operator of a motor vehicle with a continuous indication of gas mileage and engine efficiency and operating conditions as well as an indication of the effect the operator'"'"'s driving habits have upon fuel economy. A vacuum gauge device is provided the input of which is coupled to a source of vacuum from the intake manifold of the vehicle'"'"'s internal combustion engine. Two numeric scales are provided imprinted upon the scale plate of the gauge. A first scale calibrated in miles per gallon (or kilometers per liter) indicates the rate of fuel consumption independent of road conditions or vehicle load. The second numeric scale is calibrated in miles per hour corresponding to efficient engine operation. A reading on that scale higher than the steady speed at which the vehicle is then traveling indicates less than peak operating efficiency. A marker may also be provided upon the gauge scale which indicates the proper intake manifold pressure for efficient operation during engine idling conditions. Means may also be provided adjusting out changes in readings caused by changes in atmospheric pressure.

Claims

1. A device for permitting the operator of a motor vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine to continuously monitor the fuel economy and operating efficiency of said vehicle comprising in combination:

a gauge plate;

means for measuring the relative pressure in the intake manifold of said engine, said measuring means comprising visual indicating means responsive to said pressure;

a first numeric scale upon said gauge plate, said first numeric scale being calibrated to provide an indication of the amount of fuel consumed by said engine per unit of distance travelled by said vehicle;

a second numeric scale upon said gauge plate, said scale being calibrated in units of speed corresponding to intake manifold pressures for a properly operating engine, said second numeric scale being laterally adjacent at least a portion of said first numeric scale;

an idle indicating marker upon said gauge plate, said marker corresponding to an intake manifold pressure for a properly operating engine at idle speed of said engine; and

said visual indicating means providing simultaneously during operation of said vehicle an indication upon said first numeric scale corresponding to the rate of fuel consumption and upon said second numeric scale indicating to said operator the speed corresponding to proper operating economy of said vehicle for a level road and normal load conditions during movement of said vehicle and said visual indicating means providing an indication upon said idle indicating marker during idle conditions of said vehicle if said engine is operating properly or outside of said idle indicating marker if said engine is operating improperly during said idle conditions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pressure measuring means comprises a vacuum pressure gauge, said vacuum pressure gauge being operatively coupled to said intake manifold of said internal combustion engine.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said vacuum pressure gauge comprises:

a circular gauge plate; and

rotatable pointing means, said pointing means operating in response to said pressure in said intake manifold of said engine.

4. The combination of claim 3 further comprising:

means for correcting indications upon said first numeric scale, said second numeric scale, and said idle indicating marker for changes in atmospheric pressure.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said correcting means comprises:

means for rotating said circular gauge plate; and

a third numeric scale upon said gauge plate, said third numeric scale being calibrated corresponding to elevation above sea level, said pointing means providing an indication upon said third numeric scale when said engine is turned off.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said rotating means comprises:

a plurality of gear teeth upon at least a portion of the outer edge of said circular gauge plate;

a shaft having gear teeth, said gear teeth of said shaft operatively engaging said gear teeth of said circular gauge plate; and

a knob coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft and said circular gauge plate to align said pointing means upon a calibration mark when substantially atmospheric pressure is applied to said gauge.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said correcting means comprises:

means for automatically compensating said gauge for changes in atmospheric pressure.

8. The combination of claim 4 further comprising:

means for operatively coupling said gauge to said intake manifold of said internal combustion engine.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said first numeric scale is substantially hyperbolic with respect to the pressure in the intake manifold.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said second numeric scale is substantially linear with respect to the pressure in the intake manifold.

11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said first numeric scale is calibrated in miles per gallon and said second numeric scale is calibrated in miles per hour.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said first and second numeric scales are calibrated in accordance with particular characteristics of the motor vehicle in which said device is installed.

13. A device for providing an operator of a motor vehicle with a continuous indication of the performance and operating efficiency of said motor vehicle and for providing said operator with an indication of and means for monitoring the operating efficiency of said motor vehicle as affected by the method of operating said vehicle used by said operator comprising in combination:

a vacuum gauge, said vacuum gauge having a pointer and a circular gauge plate, said pointer being rotatable in the plane of said circular gauge plate, the position of said pointer being determined be a pressure applied to said vacuum gauge;

a tube for coupling said vacuum gauge to an intake manifold of the engine of said vehicle;

a first numeric scale imprinted upon said circular gauge, said first numeric scale being calibrated in miles driven per gallon of fuel consumed by said vehicle;

a second numeric scale imprinted upon said circular gauge, said second scale being calibrated in miles per hour corresponding to efficient operation of said vehicle for a level road and for normal load conditions, said second numeric scale being laterally adjacent at least a portion of said first numeric scale;

an idle indicating marker, said idle indicating marker being imprinted upon said said circular gauge at a position corresponding to efficient operation of said engine at idling conditions; and

said pointer providing during forward movement of said vehicle simultaneous indications upon both said first numeric scale corresponding to the instantaneous rate of fuel consumption of said vehicle and upon said second numeric scale corresponding to the speed at which said vehicle should then be travelling for proper operating economy for a level road and normal load conditions and said pointer providing during idle conditions of said engine an indication upon said idle indicating marker when said engine is operating properly and outside of said idle indicating marker when said engine is operating inefficiently.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said first scale is calibrated for cruising gear of said vehicle.

15. The combination of claim 14 further comprising:

one or more additional scales imprinted upon said circular gauge, each of said additional scales being calibrated in miles per gallon or miles per hour and each of said additional scales being calibrated for operation with gears of said vehicle lower than said cruising gear.

16. The combination of claim 14 further comprising:

means for correcting the position of said pointer upon said scales for changes in atmospheric pressure.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein said correcting means operates to rotate said pointer.

18. The combination of claim 16 wherein said correcting means operates to rotate said circular gauge.