Monitoring apparatus for a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. In a motor vehicle, monitoring apparatus for providing an indication of the malfunctioning of various components and systems of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- an oil-pressure warning circuit including a first warning light and an oil-pressure monitoring switch arranged to monitor the engine oil pressure, said monitoring switch being operative, whenever the oilpressure warning circuit is activated, to cause energization of said first warning light upon the engine oil pressure falling below a predetermined operating pressure,a generator warning circuit including a second warning light and control means controlling energization of said second warning light, the generator warning circuit being so arranged that when activated the non-operation of the vehicle'"'"'s generator is indicated by energization of said second warning light,a first controllable switching device switchable between first and second states in the former of which said device is arranged to activate said oil-pressure warning circuit, the first switching device being controlled by the said control means of the generator warning circuit to be in its first state only during running of the vehicle engine as indicated by the operation of the generator, anda second controllable switching device switchable between first and second states in the former of which the second switching device is arranged to activate the said generator warning circuit, the second switching device being controlled by said oil-pressure monitoring switch to be in its first state only during running of the vehicle engine as indicated by the presence of said predetermined oil pressure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Monitoring apparatus which comprises a plurality of monitoring circuits arranged to indicate the malfunctioning of various components and systems for a motor vehicle. These warning circuits include a generator warning circuit and an oil-pressure warning circuit. To prevent activation of the generator and oil-pressure warning circuits when the vehicle ignition is turned on but the vehicle engine is not running, a respective switching device is inserted in each circuit. The switching device controlling activation of the generator warning circuit is arranged to activate the latter only when the engine oil pressure reaches a level indicating that the engine is running. The switching device controlling activation of the oil-pressure warning circuit is arranged to activate the latter only during operation of the generator. With this arrangement when the vehicle ignition is initially turned on the warning lights of the generator and oil pressure warning circuits will not be illuminated as generally happens. Preferably, a green indicator light is provided which is arranged to light up when the apparatus detects no faults.
9 Citations
11 Claims
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1. In a motor vehicle, monitoring apparatus for providing an indication of the malfunctioning of various components and systems of the vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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an oil-pressure warning circuit including a first warning light and an oil-pressure monitoring switch arranged to monitor the engine oil pressure, said monitoring switch being operative, whenever the oilpressure warning circuit is activated, to cause energization of said first warning light upon the engine oil pressure falling below a predetermined operating pressure, a generator warning circuit including a second warning light and control means controlling energization of said second warning light, the generator warning circuit being so arranged that when activated the non-operation of the vehicle'"'"'s generator is indicated by energization of said second warning light, a first controllable switching device switchable between first and second states in the former of which said device is arranged to activate said oil-pressure warning circuit, the first switching device being controlled by the said control means of the generator warning circuit to be in its first state only during running of the vehicle engine as indicated by the operation of the generator, and a second controllable switching device switchable between first and second states in the former of which the second switching device is arranged to activate the said generator warning circuit, the second switching device being controlled by said oil-pressure monitoring switch to be in its first state only during running of the vehicle engine as indicated by the presence of said predetermined oil pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification