Vehicle ignition system capable of continued engine running after removal of ignition key

• US 5,670,831 A
• Filed: 12/12/1995
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Demetrios Georgiades
• Original Assignee: Demetrios Georgiades
• Inventors: Georgiades, Demetrios
• Primary Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/571,289
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1-10.6, 180/287, 123/198 DC, 123/198 DB, 123/630, 123/198 D, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/825.31-825.32, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 307/10.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor

Abstract

A vehicle ignition system comprises a key cylinder and a key arranged such that the vehicle can be put in a state in which the key is removed from the cylinder leaving the engine running. The system includes a first safety check system which prevents operation to said state unless one or more of a first set of safeguard conditions is met. A timer is arranged to be automatically started to measure a predetermined time delay from removal of the key when the engine is running, and a second safety check system operates when the vehicle is in said state to shut down the engine automatically if one of a second set of safeguard conditions occurs, the second set of safeguard conditions including that the time delay has expired.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having an engine, an ignition system comprising a cylinder and a key movable in the cylinder between an engine running position and an engine off position, the key being insertable into and removable from the cylinder both in the engine off position and in the engine running position, and including first disabling means for automatically disabling the vehicle so that it cannot be driven when the key is removed from the cylinder in the engine running position.

2. A vehicle ignition system according to claim 1 in which the key can turn in the cylinder between four different positions, the four positions corresponding to

a) a locked engine off position in which a battery is connected only to indirect loads,

b) an ACC engine off position in which the battery is connected to direct and indirect loads,

c) an on position in which the battery is connected to all vehicle electrical functions apart from a starter motor, and

d) a start position in which the battery operates an engine starter motor, the key being removable from the cylinder in the on position.

3. A system according to claim 1 including a second disabling means including a timer for stopping the engine a predetermined time after the key is removed with the engine running and means for automatically setting the timer when the key is removed from the cylinder in the engine running position.

4. A system according to claim 1 including a first safety check system which prevents the key from being removed in the engine running position unless a first set of safeguard conditions is met, and in which the first set of safeguard conditions includes at least four of the following:

a) a parking brake is on,

b) the vehicle is in a parked condition (for automatic gears) and a foot is on the brake,

c) the vehicle has a gear lever in neutral and a clutch which is not depressed (for non-automatic vehicles),

d) the vehicles has a driver'"'"'s side door and window which are closed,

e) the engine is in idle RPM,

f) the vehicle has wheels which are not rotating,

g) there are no bodily motions in the vehicle.

5. A vehicle ignition system according to claim 4 including a timer, timer initiation means arranged to be automatically started by the removal of the key from the cylinder in the engine running position, the timer being arranged to measure a predetermined time delay from the time of removal of the key, and in which the first disabling means includes a second safety check system operable when the key has been removed from the cylinder in the engine running position to shut down the engine automatically if one of a second set of safeguard conditions occurs, the second set of safeguard conditions including that the time delay has expired and including at least four of the following conditions in addition to the expiry of the time delay;

h) the engine is not running above idle RPM for more than a predetermined time period,

i) bodily motion is detected,

j) the vehicle has an alarm which is activated,

k) the vehicle has a parking brake which is moved to off,

l) the vehicle has a brake which is depressed,

m) the vehicle is moved out of a parked condition or has a clutch which is depressed,

n) the vehicle has a gear lever which is moved out of neutral position, and

o) the vehicle has a fuel or battery which becomes low.

6. A system according to claim 5 in which the removal of the key from the cylinder in the engine running position is arranged to automatically cause enabling of an auto shut-down system and at least one of the following third set of safeguard conditions to occur:

p) the vehicle has a lever which is locked in a parked condition,

q) the vehicle has a steering lock which is enabled,

r) the vehicle has windows which close,

s) the vehicle has doors which lock,

t) the vehicle has lights which are moved to an auto condition, and

u) the vehicle has an alarm which is enabled.

7. A system according to claim 6 in which when one of the second set of safeguard conditions is met and the auto shut-down system is put into operation, the auto shut-down system being arranged to ensure the disablement of at least one of the following:

v) an engine management system,

w) fuel supply and ignition,

x) battery connections to all loads except to direct loads, and

y) ability to start engine even if violation ceases.

8. In a vehicle having an engine, an ignition system comprising a key cylinder and a key arranged such that the vehicle can be put in a state in which the key is removed from the cylinder leaving the engine running, the system including a first safety check system which prevents the vehicle from being put into said state unless a first set of safeguard conditions is met, the first set of safeguard conditions comprising at least four of the following:

a) a parking brake is on,

b) the vehicle is in a parked condition (for automatic gears) and a foot is on the brake,

c) the vehicle has a gear lever in neutral and a clutch which is not depressed (for non-automatic vehicles),

d) the vehicle has a driver'"'"'s side door and window which are closed,

e) the engine is in idle RPM,

f) the vehicle has wheels which are not rotating, and

g) there are no bodily motions in the vehicle;

the system further comprising a timer, timer initiation means arranged to be automatically started by the removal of the key from the cylinder when the engine is running, the timer being arranged to measure a predetermined time delay from the time of removal of the key, and a second safety check system operable when the vehicle is in said state to shut down the engine automatically if one of a second set of safeguard conditions occurs, the second set of safeguard conditions including that the time delay has expired.

9. A system according to claim 8 in which the second set of safeguard conditions includes at least five of the following in addition to the expiry of the time delay:

h) the engine is not running above idle RPM for more than a predetermined time period,

i) bodily motion is detected,

j) the vehicle has an alarm which is activated,

k) the vehicle has a parking brake which is moved to off,

l) the vehicle has a brake which is depressed,

m) the vehicle is moved out of a parked condition or has a clutch which is depressed,

n) the vehicle has a gear lever which is moved out of a neutral position, and

o) the vehicle has a fuel or battery which becomes low.

10. A system according to claim 9 in which the removal of the key in said state is arranged to automatically cause enabling of an auto shut-down system and at least one of the following third set of safeguard conditions to occur:

p) the vehicle has a lever which is locked in a parked condition,

q) the vehicle has a steering lock which is enabled,

r) the vehicle has windows which close,

s) the vehicle has doors which lock,

t) the vehicle has lights which are moved to an auto condition, and

u) the vehicle has an alarm which is enabled.

11. A system according to claim 10 in which when one of the second set of safeguard conditions is met and the auto shut-down system is put into operation, the auto shut-down system being arranged to ensure the disablement of at least one of the following:

v) an engine management system,

w) fuel supply and ignition,

x) battery connections to all loads expect to direct loads, and

y) ability to start engine even if violation ceases.

12. A system according to claim 8 including a control unit comprising two sets of interconnected relay switches, the first of the sets being movable between two positions dependent on whether or not the key is in or out of the ignition cylinder, and the second of the sets being movable between two positions dependent on whether or not any of the second set of safeguard conditions is met when the engine is in said state.