Engine control system
First Claim
1. An internal combustion engine and control therefore comprised of an internal combustion engine having an output shaft, said engine including at least one electrically operate component required for the operation of the said engine, a battery for supplying electrical power, a generator driven by said engine output shaft, a charging circuit for charging said battery from said generator output, a further electrical accessory powered by said battery and not necessary for engine operation, a voltage sensor for sensing the condition of said battery, and means for increasing the voltage available to said electrically operated component in response to said voltage sensor sensing a battery voltage lower than a predetermined amount by disconnecting the supply of electrical power from said battery to said other electrical accessory.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An internal combustion engine particularly adapted for driving a vehicle, such as a watercraft, that includes accessories and an engine management system for controlling certain functions of the engine electrically. In order to prevent misadjustment in the event of low available battery voltage, a number of arrangements are depicted for maintaining battery voltage when the normal battery voltage falls. This may be done by increasing engine speed when operating in neutral, discontinuing the operation of other accessories and/or switching a second battery into the power circuit. In addition, an arrangement is provided wherein a battery may be supplied for utilization in starting of the engine to avoid depletion of the main battery'"'"'s voltage so that the engine control can be maintained even during starting.
43 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. An internal combustion engine and control therefore comprised of an internal combustion engine having an output shaft, said engine including at least one electrically operate component required for the operation of the said engine, a battery for supplying electrical power, a generator driven by said engine output shaft, a charging circuit for charging said battery from said generator output, a further electrical accessory powered by said battery and not necessary for engine operation, a voltage sensor for sensing the condition of said battery, and means for increasing the voltage available to said electrically operated component in response to said voltage sensor sensing a battery voltage lower than a predetermined amount by disconnecting the supply of electrical power from said battery to said other electrical accessory.
- 7. An internal combustion engine and control therefore comprised of an internal combustion engine having an output shaft, said engine including at least one electrically operate component required for the operation of the said engine, a first battery for supplying electrical power, a generator driven by said engine output shaft, a charging circuit for charging at least said first battery from said generator output, a voltage sensor for sensing the condition of said first battery, and means for increasing the voltage available to said electrically operated component in response to said voltage sensor sensing a battery voltage lower than a predetermined amount, comprising a second battery and means for connecting said second battery to said electrically operated component only when the voltage sensor senses a voltage in said first battery is lower than the predetermined amount.
- 14. A method for operating an internal combustion engine having an output shaft, said engine including at least one electrically operate component required for the operation of the said engine, a further electrical accessory powered by said battery and not necessary for engine operation, a battery for supplying electrical power, a generator driven by said engine output shaft, a charging circuit for charging said battery from said generator output, said method comprising the steps of sensing the condition of said battery and increasing the voltage available to said electrically operated component in response to the sensing of a battery voltage lower than a predetermined amount by discontinuing the supply of electrical power from said battery to said other electrical accessory.
- 20. A method for operating an internal combustion engine having an output shaft, said engine including at least one electrically operate component required for the operation of the said engine, a first battery for supplying electrical power, a generator driven by said engine output shaft, a charging circuit for charging at least said first battery from said generator output, a second battery said method comprising the steps of sensing the condition of said first battery and increasing the voltage available to said electrically operated component in response to the sensing of a battery voltage lower than a predetermined amount by connecting said second battery to said electrically operated component, and the second battery is only connected to said electrically operated component when the voltage of said first battery is lower than the predetermined amount.
Specification