Warning system for an engine

• US 5,117,218 A
• Filed: 06/21/1990
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Asao, Kubota, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/541,764
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 340/450.3, 340/439, 340/450, 340/460, 340/449, 340/451, 340/612, 340/618, 123/198 D, 180/271, 180/277, 180/279, 180/283, 11/11, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 361/1, 361/247, 73/290 R, 73/293
• US Class Current: 340/450.3
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 11/02 Preventing damage to engines or engine-driven gearing

Abstract

A warning system for warning a lack of a working fluid for an engine. The engine is provided with an ignition unit supplied with an ignition power supply from a magneto. A sensing unit senses the lack of the working fluid and produces a detection signal. A warning element, connected to the magneto, receives a power supply to give a warning indicating the lack of the working fluid. A controller is responsive to the detection signal from the sensing unit for actuating the warning element to provide the warning without deteriorating a performance of the ignition unit.

Claims

1. A warning system for warning a lack of a working fluid for an engine, said engine having a magneto provided to generate a power supply, an ignition plug, ignition means responsive to said power supply for activating said ignition plug to spark, and warning means connected to said magneto for indicating said lack of the working fluid, comprising:

sensing means for sensing said lack of the working fluid and for producing a lack detection signal when said lack is detected;

timer means for counting a predetermined time period and for producing a timer signal after said predetermined time period;

switching means responsive to said lack detection signal for producing one of an engine stopping mode signal and a warning mode signal before receiving said timer signal and for producing the other of said engine stopping mode signal and said warning mode signal after receiving said timer signal; and

control means responsive to said engine stopping mode signal for short-circuiting said ignition circuit to stop the operation of said engine and responsive to said warning mode signal for activating said warning means.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said magneto is adapted to supply said ignition power supply including an arc discharge region and a glow discharge region and said control means is adapted to activate said warning means in said glow discharge region so that the warning is provided without deteriorating the performance of said ignition means.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said timer means is adapted to count said predetermined time from the point of engine start, and said switching means is adapted to produce said engine stopping mode signal for immediately stopping said engine after said engine start when said lack detection signal is received before receiving said timer signal and to produce said warning mode signal for warning said lack of working fluid without stopping said engine when said lack detection signal is received after receiving said timer signal, so as to enable continued operation of said engine.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said timer means is adapted to respond to said lack detection signal for starting to count said predetermined time period, and said switching means is adapted to produce said warning mode signal when said lack detection signal is received before receiving said timer signal and to produce said engine stopping mode signal in response to said timer signal, thereby stopping said engine after said predetermined time period when said lack of working fluid is detected.

5. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

delaying means for producing an actuating signal to said control means at a predetermined delay time after receiving said lack detection signal, whereby said control means starts to short-circuit said ignition circuit in response to said actuating signal.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises:

a sensor for sensing an amount of said working fluid remaining in said engine and for generating a detection signal; and

a sensor control unit responsive to said detection signal for producing a lack detection signal when said amount of the working fluid falls below a predetermined value.

7. A warning system for indicating a lack of a working fluid for an engine, having a magneto provided to generate a power supply, an ignition plug provided in a cylinder for igniting air and fuel mixture, and ignition means responsive to said power supply for activating said ignition plug to spark, comprising:

sensing means for producing a lack detection signal indicating the lack of the working fluid when an amount of the working fluid falls below a predetermined value;

timer means for counting a predetermined time period after engine start and for generating a timer signal after said predetermined time period;

switching means responsive to said lack detection signal and said timer signal for deciding an engine stopping mode when said lack is detected before said predetermined time period is lapsed and for deciding a warning mode when said lack is detected after said predetermined time period is lapsed, and for outputting a switching signal indicating one of said engine stopping mode and warning mode; and

control means responsive to said switching signal for stopping said engine when said switching signal indicates said engine stopping mode or for warning said lack of working fluid when said warning mode is indicated by said switching signal.

8. The system according to claim 7 further comprising:

delaying means responsive to said lack detection signal for generating an actuating signal with a predetermined delay time after receiving said lack detection signal so as to delay the operation by said control means.

9. A warning system for indicating a lack of a working fluid for an engine, having a magneto provided to generate a power supply, an ignition plug provided in a cylinder for igniting air and fuel mixture, and ignition means responsive to said power supply for activating said ignition plug to spark, comprising:

sensing means for producing a lack detection signal indicating the lack of the working fluid when an amount of the working fluid falls below a predetermined value;

timer means responsive to said lack detection signal for counting a predetermined time period after said lack is detected and for generating a timer signal after said predetermined time period is lapsed;

switching means responsive to said lack detection signal and said timer signal for producing a switching signal indicating a warning mode before said predetermined time period is lapsed and for producing a switching signal indicating a engine stopping mode after said predetermined time period is lapsed; and

control means responsive to said switching signal indicating one of said mode for warning said lack of working fluid when said switching signal indicates said warning mode and for stopping said engine when said engine stopping mode is indicated by said switching signal.

10. The system according to claim 9 further comprising:

delaying means responsive to said lack detection signal for generating to said control means an actuating signal with a predetermined delay time after receiving said lack detection signal so as to delay the operation of said control means.

11. A warning system for warning a lack of a working fluid for an engine having an ignition plug, a magneto for generating an ignition power supply including an arc discharging region and a glow discharging region, ignition means responsive to said ignition power supply of said arc discharging region for activating said ignition plug to spark, sensing means for sensing the lack of the working fluid and producing a detection signal and warning means connected to the magneto for warning the lack of the working fluid, comprising:

a controller responsive to said detection signal for actuating said warning means using said ignition power supply of said glow discharging region to provide the warning without deteriorating a performance of said ignition means.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a timer adapted to be activated when said engine starts and to produce an output signal in a predetermined time, and wherein;

said controller is adapted to short circuit said magneto for deactivating said ignition means to stop said engine when said controller receives said detection signal from said sensing means before receiving said output signal, and

said controller is adapted to actuate said warning means to give the warning when said controller receives goth said detection signal and said output signal.

13. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a timer adapted to be activated when said timer receives said detection signal from said sensing means and to provide an output signal in a predetermined time, and wherein;

said controller is adapted to short circuit said magneto for deactivating said ignition means to stop said engine when said controller receives both said detection signal and said output signal; and

said controller is adapted to actuate said warning means to give the warning when said controller receives said detection signal before receiving said output signal.