Self-contained, clip-on engine operating time log

• US 5,337,003 A
• Filed: 12/28/1992
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward W. Carmichael, Robert B. Legge
• Original Assignee: Edward W. Carmichael, Robert B. Legge
• Inventors: Carmichael, Edward W., Legge, Robert B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snow, Walter E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patidar, Jay M.
• Application Number:
  US07/997,519
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 324/126, 324/133, 324/384, 324/402, 324/390-392, 324/149, 324/156, 324/127, 123/116
• US Class Current: 324/402
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 17/00 Testing of ignition installations, e.g. in combination with adjusting testing fuel injection apparatus F02M65/00; testing ignition installations in general F23Q23/00; Testing of ignition timing in compression-ignition engines
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/04 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

A self-contained, clip-on engine operating time log comprises a case containing circuitry for monitoring the accumulated operating time of a spark ignition engine. A plastic sensor, rigidly extending from the case, has two semi-cylindrical channels for clipping the time log directly onto an ignition wire of the engine. The sensor and the circuitry detect spark impulses in the ignition wire for determining the operating time of the engine. A liquid crystal display, visible through a window of the case, digitally displays the accumulated operating time.

Claims

1. An engine operating time log for mounting onto an ignition wire of an engine having an electrical system, comprising:

a case made of a heat resistant material, so that said case can be conveniently located adjacent said engine, said case having an opening, said opening having a concentric tube extending inwardly into said case,

combination of sensing and mounting means extending rigidly from said case for mounting said case directly onto said ignition wire of said engine, said combination of sensing and mounting means being installable on said ignition wire by hand and without the need for tools, said combination member having an integral shaft extending into said opening of said case for rigidly mounting said combination member thereto, and

circuit means disposed within said case for monitoring an accumulated operating time of said engine, said circuit means being electrically connected to said combination of sensing and mounting means for sensing an electrical current in said ignition wire said circuit means including an electronic digital display visible through said case for displaying said accumulated operating time.

2. The engine operating time log of claim 1 wherein said case is made of an electrically non-conductive material.

3. The engine operating time log of claim 1 wherein said combination of sensing and mounting means comprises a resilient clip having plural overlapping cylindrical channels of different diameters, whereby said clip can be clipped onto different ignition wires of different sizes.

4. The engine operating time log of claim 3, further including plural holes positioned through said clip near a distal end thereof for receiving a retaining wire therethrough, whereby said retaining wire prevents said clip from disengaging from said ignition wire.

5. The engine operating time log of claim 1, further including a grounding wire extending from said case for connecting to a grounded portion of said electrical system.

6. An engine operating time log for mounting onto an ignition wire of an engine having an electrical system, comprising:

a case made of a heat resistant material, so that said case can be conveniently located adjacent said engine said case having an opening, said opening having a concentric tube extending inwardly into said case,

a sensor and mounting clip combination member extending rigidly from said case for clipping said case onto said ignition wire of said engine, said combination member having plural overlapping cylindrical channels of different diameters, said combination member being installable on said ignition wire by hand and without the need for tools, said combination member having an integral shaft extending into said opening of said case for rigidly mounting said combination member thereto, and

circuit means disposed within said case for monitoring an accumulated operating time of said engine, said circuit means being electrically connected to said combination member for sensing an electrical current in said ignition wire said circuit means including an electronic digital display visible through said case for displaying said accumulated operating time.

7. The engine operating time log of claim 6 wherein said case is made of an electrically non-conductive material.

8. The engine operating time log of claim 6, further including plural holes positioned through said combination member near a distal end thereof for receiving a retaining wire therethrough, whereby said retaining wire prevents said combination member from disengaging from said ignition wire.

9. The engine operating time log of claim 6, further including a grounding wire extending from said case for connecting to a grounded portion of said electrical system.

10. An engine operating time log for mounting onto an ignition wire of an engine having an electrical system, comprising:

a case made of a heat resistant material, so that said case can be conveniently located adjacent said engine, said case having an opening, said opening having a concentric tube extending inwardly into said case,

a sensor and mounting clip combination member for clipping onto said ignition wire of said engine, said combination member having plural overlapping cylindrical channels of different diameters, said combination member being installable on said ignition wire by hand and without the need for tools, said combination member having an integral shaft extending into said opening of said case for rigidly mounting said combination member thereto, said combination member having plural holes positioned through a distal end thereof for receiving a retaining wire therethrough, whereby said retaining wire prevents said combination member from disengaging from said ignition wire, and

a circuit board disposed within said case, said circuit board being in structural engagement with said tube of said case and said shaft of said combination member, said circuit board being structurally and electrically attached to said shaft with an electrically conductive fastener, said circuit board having circuit means responsive to an electrical current in said ignition wire for monitoring an accumulated operating time of said engine said circuit means including an electronic digital display visible through said case for displaying said accumulated operating time.

11. The engine operating time log of claim 10 wherein said case is made of an electrically non-conductive material.

12. The engine operating time log of claim 10, further including a grounding wire extending from said case for connecting to a grounded portion of said electrical system.

13. An engine operating time log for mounting onto an ignition wire of an engine having an electrical system, comprising:

a case made of a heat resistant material, so that said case can be conveniently located adjacent said engine, said case having an opening, said opening having a concentric tube extending inwardly into said case,

combination of sensing and mounting means extending rigidly from said case for mounting said case directly onto said ignition wire of said engine, said combination of sensing and mounting means being installable on said ignition wire by hand and without the need for tools, said combination member having an integral shaft extending into said opening of said case for rigidily mounting said combination member thereto,

circuit means disposed within said case for monitoring an accumulated operating time of said engine, said circuit means being electrically connected to said combination of sensing and mounting means for sensing an electrical current in said ignition wire, and

a grounding wire extending from said case for connecting to a grounded portion of said electrical system, said circuit means including an electronic digital display visible through said case for displaying said accumulated operating time.

14. The engine operating time log of claim 13 wherein said case is made of an electrically non-conductive material.

15. The engine operating time log of claim 13 wherein said combination of sensing and mounting means comprises a resilient clip having plural overlapping cylindrical channels of different diameters, whereby said clip can be clipped onto different ignition wires of different sizes.

16. The engine operating time log of claim 15, further including plural holes positioned through said clip near a distal end thereof for receiving a retaining wire therethrough, whereby said retaining wire prevents said clip from disengaging from said ignition wire.