Engine condition-responsive shutdown and warning apparatus
First Claim
1. In an apparatus which functions in response to the occurrence of one or more adverse engine operating conditions for disabling a normally-energized switch controlling the operation of said engine, wherein said apparatus comprises:
- at least one sensing means coupled to said engine, each of said sensing means being responsive to a respective engine operating condition to provide a condition signal having a value which is indicative of said condition;
at least one threshold detecting means, each of said threshold detecting means being coupled to receive the condition signal from a respective one of said sensing means and conditioned to provide a respective adverse condition signal when the value of the associated sensing means condition signal is within a predetermined range which indicates that the respective engine operating condition is adverse;
indicating means coupled to said threshold detecting means and responsive to the presence of an adverse condition signal for providing an indication of said adverse condition;
the improvement comprising;
timing means coupled to said threshold detecting means and responsive to the continued presence of an adverse condition signal for timing a predetermined interval and providing an output signal at the termination of said interval;
means responsive to said timing means output signal for disabling said engine; and
manually operable switch means coupled to said timing means for restarting said timing means when said manually operable switch means is momentarily operated.
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Abstract
Apparatus for use in conjunction with a vehicular engine, such as a large truck Diesel engine. The apparatus includes sensing elements responsive to respective engine operating conditions for providing signals when the respective conditions are adverse to the proper operation of the engine. When such a signal is generated, two things occur. First, a warning indication is given to the driver of the vehicle. Second, a timer is started. At the termination of the timing interval, the engine is disabled. This allows the driver of the vehicle time to pull it off the road in the event an engine malfunction occurs. There is further provided an override switch, the momentary operation of which restarts the timer in order to give the driver additional time.
84 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In an apparatus which functions in response to the occurrence of one or more adverse engine operating conditions for disabling a normally-energized switch controlling the operation of said engine, wherein said apparatus comprises:
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at least one sensing means coupled to said engine, each of said sensing means being responsive to a respective engine operating condition to provide a condition signal having a value which is indicative of said condition; at least one threshold detecting means, each of said threshold detecting means being coupled to receive the condition signal from a respective one of said sensing means and conditioned to provide a respective adverse condition signal when the value of the associated sensing means condition signal is within a predetermined range which indicates that the respective engine operating condition is adverse; indicating means coupled to said threshold detecting means and responsive to the presence of an adverse condition signal for providing an indication of said adverse condition; the improvement comprising; timing means coupled to said threshold detecting means and responsive to the continued presence of an adverse condition signal for timing a predetermined interval and providing an output signal at the termination of said interval; means responsive to said timing means output signal for disabling said engine; and manually operable switch means coupled to said timing means for restarting said timing means when said manually operable switch means is momentarily operated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In an apparatus which functions in response to the occurrence of one or more adverse engine operating conditions for controlling the operations of said engine, wherein said apparatus comprises:
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at least one sensing means coupled through connecting circuitry to said engine, each of said sensing means being responsive to a respective engine operating condition to provide a condition signal having value which is indicative of said condition; at least one threshold detecting means, each of said threshold detecting means being coupled to receive the condition signal from a respective one of said sensing means and conditioned to provide a respective adverse condition signal when the value of the associated sensing means condition signal is within a predetermined range which indicates that the respective engine operating condition is adverse; indicating means coupled to said threshold detecting means and responsive to the presence of an adverse condition signal for providing an indication of said adverse condition; the improvement comprising; test means in circuit relation with said apparatus and selectively operable to provide simulated condition signals within the respective predetermined ranges which indicate respective adverse engine operating conditions, and to direct said signals to pass through said sensing means for testing the operativeness of said sensing means, said connected circuitry, and said threshold detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification