Starting apparatus for internal combustion engines

• US 5,601,058 A
• Filed: 03/06/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Department Of Energy
• Inventors: Dudar, Aed M., Dyches, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dolinar, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US08/399,347
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 123/179.2, 123/179.3, 123/179.4, 290/38 R, 290/38 C
• US Class Current: 123/179.2
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0848 with means for detecting successful engine start, e.g. to stop starter actuation

Abstract

An internal combustion engine starting apparatus uses a signal from a curt sensor to determine when the engine is energized and the starter motor should be de-energized. One embodiment comprises a transmitter, receiver, computer processing unit, current sensor and relays to energize a starter motor and subsequently de-energize the same when the engine is running. Another embodiment comprises a switch, current transducer, low-pass filter, gain/comparator, relay and a plurality of switches to energize and de-energize a starter motor. Both embodiments contain an indicator lamp or speaker which alerts an operator as to whether a successful engine start has been achieved. Both embodiments also contain circuitry to protect the starter and to de-energize the engine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for starting an engine having a starter motor, said apparatus comprising:

means in electrical connection with said starter motor for activating said starter motor; and

means in electrical connection with said activating means and said starter motor for sensing electrical current drawn by said starter motor, said sensing means including a filter in electrical connection with a transducer, said transducer issuing an analog voltage signal related to said electrical current when sensing said electrical current drawn by said starter motor to said filter, said activating means including

comparing means in electrical connection with said filter for comparing the filtered analog voltage signal to a preselected value, said comparing means issuing an output signal when said filtered analog voltage signal is less than or equal to said preselected value.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said output signal de-energizes said starter motor.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said activating means issues a de-activating signal and wherein said apparatus further comprises means in electrical connection with said activating means and said starter motor for de-activating said engine in response to receipt of said de-activating signal by said de-activating means from said activating means.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter; and

a receiver in radio communication with said transmitter and in electrical communication with said activating means, said transmitter transmitting a start signal and a stop signal to said receiver, said receiver passing said start and said stop signals to said activating means, said activating means issuing to said starter motor a second output signal in response to receiving said start signal to energize said starter motor, said activating means issuing a third output signal in response to receiving said stop signal to de-energize said engine.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said activating means further comprises:

a radio frequency transmitter for sending a start signal;

a radio frequency receiver in radio communication with said radio frequency transmitter, said radio frequency receiver receiving said start signal from said radio frequency transmitter;

a central processing unit in electrical connection with said radio frequency receiver for processing said start signal received by said radio frequency receiver, said central processing unit generating a second output signal in response to receiving said start signal from said radio frequency receiver;

an analog-to-digital converter in electrical connection with said central processing unit and said sensing means for convening said electrical voltage signal to a digital voltage signal for use by said central processing unit;

an input/output port in electrical connection with said central processing unit; and

a relay switch in electrical connection with said starter motor and said input/output port, said relay switch having an open position and a closed position, said relay switch energizing said starter motor in said open position and de-energizing said engine in said closed position, said relay switch being switched to said open position by said input/output port in response to receipt by said input/output port of said second output signal from said central processing unit and being switched by said input/output port to said closed position in response to receipt by said input/output port of said output signal from said central processing unit.

6. An apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine having a starter motor, said starter motor drawing an electrical current when energized, said apparatus comprising:

means for issuing a start signal and a stop signal;

means in electrical connection with said issuing means for activating said starter motor, said activating means generating a first output signal to energize said starter motor in response to receipt of said start signal firm said issuing means and generating a second output signal in response to receipt of said stop signal;

means in electrical connection with said activating means and said starter motor for sensing an electrical current drawn by said starter motor, said sensing means further comprising;

transducing means in electrical connection with said starter motor, said transducing means issuing an analog electrical signal when sensing said electrical current in said starter motor;

a filter in electrical connection with said transducing means, said filter filtering high frequencies from said analog electrical signal;

comparing means in electrical connection with said filter for comparing the filtered analog electrical signal to a proselected value, said comparing means issuing said second output signal when said filtered analog electrical signal is less than or equal to said proselected value; and

means in electrical connection with said activating means and said starter motor for de-energizing said starter motor in response to receipt of said second output signal from said activating means.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising indicating means in electrical connection with said activating means for indicating when said activating means has generated said second output signal.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said de-energizing means de-energizes said magneto when said de-energizing means receives said second output signal from said activating means.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said activating means further comprises a switch, said switch being in a first position when generating said first output signal and a second position when generating said second output signal.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein said issuing means further comprises:

a switch having a first position and a second position, said switch issuing said start signal when in said first position and said stop signal when in said second position; and

timing means in electrical connection with said switch and said activating means for timing said first input signal so that said first output signal is issued for no longer than a predetermined period of time before said second output signal is issued.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said activating means is in communication with a magneto.

12. An apparatus for starting an engine having a starter motor, said apparatus comprising:

means for controlling said starter motor, said controlling means activating and deactivating said starter motor in response to signals from a user; and

a transducer in electrical connection with said controlling means for sensing electrical current drawn by said starter motor, said transducer issuing an electrical signal to said controlling means related to said electrical current,

a filter in electrical communication with said transducer for filtering said electrical signals;

said controlling means deactivating said starter motor when the filtered electrical signal is less than or equal to a proselected value that indicates said engine has started.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said controlling means includes means for limiting the time said starter motor is activated to a preselected interval of time.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising:

a transmitter for said user to send a start signal and a stop signal to said controlling means; and

a receiver in radio communication with said transmitter for receiving said start and said stop signals from said transmitter, said receiver passing said start and said stop signals to said controlling means.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said transducer produces an output voltage that is an analog of said electrical current drawn by said starter motor.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said controlling means further comprises:

means for limiting the time required for said keeping said starter motor activated until said electrical current falls below a preselected value; and

means for limiting the time until said starter motor draws an electrical current above a proselected value from when said starter motor is activated by said controlling means.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for indicating that said engine has started.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for indicating that said engine has not started.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for indicating whether said engine has started.