Antitheft system for starting a vehicle

• US 4,739,736 A
• Filed: 10/23/1986
• Issued: 04/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marvin Retsky
• Original Assignee: Marvin Retsky
• Inventors: Branco, Flavio S. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Macy, M.
• Application Number:
  US06/922,297
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179 B, 123/179 BG, 123/179 M, 123/198 B, 180/287, 307/10 AT, 290/38 R, 290/38 C
• US Class Current: 123/179.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/20 Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0851 characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/10 Safety devices F02N11/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for energizing a motor vehicle engine includes an energy source (e.g. a battery), an ignition switch, a pinion, a motor, a pull-in coil, a holding coil and a magnetizable core movable upon the engerizing of the pull-in coil. The pull-in coil, the holding coil and the core are disposed within a housing. The system also includes first and second switches each disposed within the housing and closed upon the movement of the core. The system further includes a control system disposed within the housing and operable when the ignition switch has been closed in a particular sequence such as that produced by short intervals between first closings and pauses between other closings. When the control system is operated, current flows through the pull-in coil, causing the core to be moved to a position closing the first and second switches and moving the pinion to a position coupling the engine to the motor. The closure of the first switch connects the energy source directly to the motor. The closure of the second switch causes a circuit to be established from the energy source to the holding coil. By including the second switch, the system cannot be circumvented by increasing the voltage on the holding coil in an effort to make the holding coil perform the function of the pull-in coil-namely, moving the core.

Claims

1. In combination for use with an energy source, an ignition switch, a motor and gear means for providing a controlled starting of an engine,

a pull-in coil for operating the gear means, when energized, to couple the motor to the engine,

a holding coil for operating the gear means, when energized, to couple the motor to the engine,

means defining a first normally open switch associated with the pull-in coil and the holding coil for actuating the first switch to the closed position when at least one of the pull-in coil and the holding coil is actuated,

control means defining an electrical circuit with the energy source and the ignition switch and responsive to particular closings of this electrical circuit for energizing the pull-in coil and the motor,

means responsive to the operation of the first switch in the closed state for maintaining an energizing of the motor,

means defining a second normally open switch responsive to energization of the pull-in coil to obtain an operation of the second switch in the closed state, and

means responsive to the closure of the second switch for energizing the holding coil.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

a housing,

the pull-in coil, the holding coil, the first switch and the second switch being disposed within the housing.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

a magnetic core associated with the first switch and the second switch and actuated by the energizing of the first switch to close the second switch.

4. In combination for use with an energy source, an ignition switch, a motor and a pinion actuatable from a first position to a second position for providing a controlled starting of an engine in accordance with an energizing of the motor,

first means including a first switch defining a continuous electrical circuit upon a closure of the ignition switch for actuating the pinion to the second position to couple the motor to the engine,

said first normally open switch becoming closed upon the continuity of said electrical circuit to provide for an energizing of the motor upon such closure,

a second normally open switch operable to the closed state only upon closure of said first switch, and

second means operative only upon the operation of the second switch in the closed state for maintaining energization of the motor and actuation of the pinion to the second position to couple the motor to the engine.

5. In a combination as set forth in claim 4,

the first means also including a coil and a magnetic core energizable to actuate the pinion to the second position to couple the motor to the engine.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 4,

the first means being responsive to successive closures of the ignition switch in a particular pattern for obtaining the energizing of the motor and an actuation of the pinion to the second position to couple the motor to the engine.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 4,

the second means including a coil energizable to actuate the pinion to the second position to couple the motor to the engine.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 4,

a housing,

the first means, the first normally open switch, the second normally open switch and the second means being disposed in the housing.

9. In combination for actuating an engine in accordance with an actuation of pinion means coupling a motor to the engine,

an energy source,

a pull-in coil for operating the pinion means, when energized, to couple the motor to the engine,

a holding coil for operating the pinion means, when energized, to couple the motor to the engine,

an ignition switch,

a control system coupled in a circuit with the ignition switch and the energy source and energizable in accordance with a particular pattern of continuity through this circuit,

means including the energy source, the motor, the pull-in coil, the ignition switch and the control system for energizing the pull-in coil and the motor upon the energizing of the control system,

a normally open switch having open and closed states and normally in the opened state and operable in the closed state only upon a flow of current through the pull-in coil, and

means including the holding coil and the normally open switch for energizing the holding coil only upon the operation of the normally open switch in the closed state.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 9,

a core associated with the pull-in coil and the holding coil and actuatable in accordance with the operation of these coils in the energized state, the core being operatively coupled to the normally open switch to close the switch upon the actuation of the core.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 9,

a housing,

the pull-in coil, the holding coil, the control system and the normally open switch being disposed in the housing.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 11,

the control system being operative to produce a control signal upon the closure of the ignition switch in a particular time sequence.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 11,

a second switch operable in open and closed states and normally operable in the open state and operable in the closed state upon the operation of at least one of the pull-in and holding coils in the energized state and included in a circuit with the energy source and the motor to provide for energizing of the motor upon the closure of the second switch.

14. In combination for use with an energy source, an ignition switch, a motor and pinion means for providing a controlled starting of an engine,

a pull-in coil for positioning the pinion means, when energized, to couple the motor to the engine,

a holding coil for maintaining the the positioning of the pinion means, when energized, to couple the motor to the engine,

a housing which encloses the pull-in coil and the holding coil,

control means disposed within the housing in a circuit with the energy source and the ignition switch and responsive to a particular sequence of continuities through this circuit for applying energy from the energy source to the pull-in coil to obtain the positioning of the pinion means to couple the motor to the engine and for applying energy to the motor, and

means disposed within the housing and responsive only to the operation of the pull-in coil in the energized state for applying energy from the energy source to the holding coil to obtain the positioning of the pinion means to couple the motor to the engine.

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 14,

a core normally disposed in a first position and movable to a second position upon the operation of the pull-in coil in the energized state, and

the means fopr applying energy to the holding coil being operable only upon the movement of the core to the second position.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 14,

the last mentioned means including a normally open switch closed upon the application of energy to the pull-in coil.

17. In combination as set forth in claim 15,

the means for applying energy to the holding coil including a normally open switch closed upon the movement of the core.

18. In combination for use with a battery in starting a motor vehicle engine and for precluding the engine from being started by unauthorized persons, the combination comprising:

a holding coil, a pull-in coil and a core, the holding coil and the pull-in coil being individually energizable upon a flow of current through such coil, and the core being normally disposed in a first position and being movable to a second position in accordance with the energizing of at least one of the pull-in coil and the holding coil;

a housing which encloses the holding coil, the pull-in coil and the movable core;

an ignition switch;

terminal means for connecting the housing to the battery and the ignition switch; and

control means disposed within the housing and connected in a circuit with the battery and the ignition switch and responsive to a predetermined series of continuities through this circuit for selectively applying current to said pull-in coil to energize the pull-in core and for starting the engine only when the continuity has been established through the circuit in the predetermined series; and

means for providing for the flow of current through said holding coil to energize the holding coil only after current has been applied to the pull-in coil to energize the pull-in coil.

19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein said means for providing for the flow of current through the holding coil to energize the holding coil includes a control switch which has open and closed states and which is normally operative in the open state and which is operative in the closed state only after the flow of current through the pull-in coil.

20. The combination according to claim 18 wherein said switch connects said terminal means to said holding coil.

21. The combination according to claim 19, wherein said control switch is magnetically response to the energizing of the pull-in coil and the movement of the core to the second position.

22. The combination according to claim 19, further comprising means for completing a circuit between said battery and an automobile starting motor in accordance with the movement of the core to the second position.

23. The combination according to claim 18, wherein said means for providing application of current to said holding coil comprises a control switch with normally open contacts in series with said holding coil and said terminal.

24. The combination according to claim 23, further comprising means for coupling said control switch to said core;

and

means for closing said contacts when said core is actuated.

25. The combination according to claim 24, wherein said contact closing means is responsive to the operation of said pull-in coil in the energized state.

26. In combination for use with a battery in starting a motor vehicle engine and for precluding the engine from being started by unauthorized persons, the combination comprising:

a holding coil, a pull-in coil and a core, each of the holding coil and the pull-in coil being energized by a flow of current through such coil and the core being normally disposed in a first position and being actuatable to a second position upon an energizing of at least one of the pull-in coil and the holding coil;

a housing which encloses the holding coil, the pull-in coil and the movable core;

an ignition switch;

terminal means for connecting the housing to the battery and ignition switch;

control means disposed within the housing and connected in a circuit with the battery and the ignition switch and responsive to a predetermined series of continuities through this circuit for selectively producing a flow of current through the pull-in coil to energize the pull-in coil and for starting the engine only when the continuity has been established in the predetermined series; and

means for providing a flow of current through the holding coil to energize the holding coil only when said core is actuated to the second position

27. The combination according to claim 26, wherein said means for providing for the flow of current through said holding coil includes a control switch with normally open contacts in series with said holding coil and said terminal means, the control switch being associated with the core to become closed upon the actuation of the core to the second position.

28. The combination according to claim 27, further comprising means for coupling said control switch to said core;

and

means for closing said contacts of said control switch when said core is actuated to the second position.

29. The combination according to claim 28, wherein said contacts of the control switch are responsive to become closed upon energization of said pull-in coil.

30. The combination according to claim 27, further comprising a motor for starting the engine and means for completing a circuit between said battery and the motor upon the actuation of the core to the second position.

31. In combination for use with an energy source, in ignition switch, a motor and a pinion for coupling the motor to an engine to provide a controlled starting of the engine in accordance with the energizing of the motor,

first and second normally open switches,

core means normally disposed in a first position and movable to a second position to close the first and second normally open switches and to operate the pinion means for coupling the motor to the engine to start the engine,

a pull-in coil for moving the core means to the second position when energized,

a holding coil for maintaining, when energized, the position of the core means in the second position of the core means,

control means connected in a circuit with the energy source and the ignition switch and responsive to particular continuities through this circuit for obtaining an energizing of the pull-in coil and the motor and a closure of the first and second normally open switches,

means responsive to the closure of the second normally open switch for obtaining an energizing of the holding coil, and

means responsive to the closure of the first normally open switch for obtaining an energizing of the motor.

32. In a combination as set forth in claim 31,

a housing,

the pull-in coil, the holding coil, the control means, the first switch and the second switch being disposed within the housing.