Engine operating time measuring apparatus

• US 5,121,368 A
• Filed: 02/19/1991
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ENM Company
• Original Assignee: ENM Company
• Inventors: George, James, Mitchell, Paul, Mazulis, Stan, Kocol, Stanislaw, Polydoris, Nicholas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roskoski, Bernard
• Application Number:
  US07/657,513
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 368/80, 368/97, 368/178, 368/228, 368/238, 368/281, 368/34, 368/36, 368/35, 368/37, 368/276
• US Class Current: 368/9
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/08 Rotating drums G01D13/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/108 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/04 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

An engine operating time measuring apparatus is provided for use with an engine having an internal magneto-type electrical generator providing an ignition voltage. The engine operating time measuring apparatus includes a housing and a pair of terminals extending outside the housing for connection with the monitored engine and extending inside the housing for connection with the time measuring apparatus. A subassembly including power supply circuitry, a clock movement drive assembly, gear train and mechanical counter for displaying the engine operating time is accurately positioned and retained in the housing cooperatively provided by a counter frame and a plurality of keying and positioning rails formed within the housing. A low torque clock movement for driving the mechanical counter is generated by a crystal-based clock motor movement assembly.

Claims

1. An engine operating time measuring apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a cavity;

terminal means;

said a printed wiring board carrying a power supply circuit, terminal means extending outside said housing for electrical connection with a monitored engine;

said terminal means extending inside said housing for electrical connection with said printed wiring board supplying operating power when the monitored engine is operating;

said printed wiring board having a pair of electrical contacts formed on said printed wiring board;

said pair of electrical contacts being spaced apart and aligned for electrical engagement with said terminal means;

clock movement means contained within said housing responsive to said operating power supplying means for generating a clock torque movement;

said clock movement means including a case having positioning and locking members and a crystal-based clock movement motor means carried by said case and having a drive gear coupling said generated clock torque movement;

mechanical counter means contained within said housing for indicating the engine operating time;

said mechanical counter means including a frame having means for cooperating with said positioning and locking members for positioning and locking said clock movement means with said counter frame and said mechanical counter means including a plurality of numbered wheels, each numbered wheel having opposed gear surfaces; and

drive train means contained within said housing drivingly connected to said mechanical counter means for coupling said generated clock torque movement to said mechanical counter means;

said drive coupling means operatively captured between said frame and said clock movement drive gear and a first one of said plurality of numbered wheels.

2. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said operating power supplying means, said clock movement means, said counter means and said drive coupling means are assembled together to form a subassembly;

and wherein said housing includes keying and positioning means cooperating with said counter frame for accurately aligning and positioning said subassembly within said housing; and

further including a dial plate fixedly secured to said housing, said dial plate having a viewing window and said counter means indicating the engine operating time through said viewing window.

3. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein drive train means adjust the frequency of said generated clock torque movement applied to said mechanical counter means.

4. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein drive train means include a double gear and an idler gear.

5. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said clock movement means is a quartz crystal-based clock motor assembly of the type used in clocks having moving hands.

6. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said terminal means include a blade portion extending outside said housing for electrical connection with a monitored engine.

7. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said terminal means include a spring clip portion extending inside said housing for electrical connection with a printed wiring board carrying a power supply circuit for supplying operating power when the monitored engine is operating.

8. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 7 further including a generally central twisted terminal portion to orthagonally rotate said spring clip portion from said blade portion and cooperating with said housing for positioning and retaining said terminal means with said housing.

9. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing is formed by injection molding with said terminal means set in place at predetermined positions.

10. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said dial plate and housing further include cooperating registration means for orienting said viewing window with said counter means.

11. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said clock movement case includes a support member for rotatably mounting said double gear.

12. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said idler gear includes an arbor rotatably received in said counter frame and said idler gear operatively engaging both said double gear and said first one of said plurality of numbered wheels.

13. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said housing includes a plurality of keying and positioning rails formed within the housing cooperating with said counter frame for accurately positioning and retaining said subassembly in said housing.

14. An engine operating time measuring apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein a stop surface is defined in at least one of said keying and positioning rails for accurately positioning a pair of electrical contacts formed on said printed wiring board with said terminal means.

15. An engine operating time measuring apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a cavity;

terminals means;

said terminals means extending outside said housing for electrical connection with a monitored engine;

said terminal means extending inside said housing for electrical connection with a printed wiring board carrying a power supply circuit for supplying operating power when the monitored engine is operating;

clock movement means contained within said housing responsive to said operating power supplying means for generating a clock torque movement;

said clock movement means including a case having positioning and locking members and a crystal-based clock movement motor assembly carried by said case and having a drive gear coupling said generated clock torque movement;

mechanical counter means contained within said housing for indicating the engine operating time;

said mechanical counter means including a frame having means for cooperating with said positioning and locking members for positioning and locking said clock movement means with said counter frame and said mechanical counter means including a plurality of numbered wheels;

each numbered wheel having opposed gear surfaces;

drive train means contained within said housing drivingly connected to said mechanical counter means for coupling said generated clock torque movement to said mechanical counter means;

said drive coupling means operatively captured between said frame and said clock movement drive gear and a first one of said plurality of numbered wheels;

said operating power supplying means, said clock movement means, said counter means and said drive coupling means being assembled together to form a subassembly; and

said housing including keying and positioning means cooperating with said counter frame for accurately aligning and positioning said subassembly within said housing; and

a dial plate fixedly secured to said housing, said counter means indicating the engine operating time through said dial plate.

16. An engine operating time measuring apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a cavity;

terminal means;

said a printed wiring board carrying a power supply circuit, terminal means extending outside said housing for electrical connection with a monitored engine;

said terminal means extending inside said housing for electrical connection with said printed wiring board supplying operating power when the monitored engine is operating;

said printed wiring board having a pair of electrical contacts formed on said printed wiring board;

said pair of electrical contacts being spaced apart and aligned for electrical engagement with said terminal means;

clock movement means contained within said housing responsive to said operating power supplying means for generating a clock torque movement;

said clock movement means including a case having positioning and locking members and a crystal-based clock movement motor means carried by said case and having a drive gear coupling said generated clock torque movement;

mechanical counter means contained within said housing for indicating the engine operating time;

said mechanical counter means including a frame having means for cooperating with said positioning and locking members for positioning and locking said clock movement means with said counter frame and said mechanical counter means including a plurality of numbered wheels;

each numbered wheel having opposed gear surfaces;

drive train means contained within said housing drivingly connected to said mechanical counter means for coupling said generated clock torque movement to said mechanical counter means;

said drive coupling means operatively captured between said frame and said clock movement drive gear and a first one of said plurality of numbered wheels;

said operating power supplying means, said clock movement means, said counter means and said drive coupling means being assembled together to form a subassembly;

a dial plate fixedly secured to said housing, said dial plate having a viewing window and said counter means indicating the engine operating time through said viewing window;

said housing including a plurality of keying and positioning rails formed within the housing cooperating with said counter frame for accurately positioning and retaining said subassembly in said housing; and

a stop surface defined in at least one of said keying and positioning rails for accurately positioning said pair of electrical contacts formed on said printed wiring board with said terminal means.