Portable machine with machine diagnosis indicator circuit

• US 5,691,692 A
• Filed: 01/25/1996
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Enerbility Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Herbstritt, Dale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US08/591,331
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/459, 340/431, 123/198 D, 123/198 DB, 123/198 DC, 361/153
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/00 Adaptations of engines for driving pumps, hand-held tools or electric generators; Portable combinations of engines with engine-driven devices of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines F02B53/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/06 for pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

A portable machine having a frame and an engine supported by the frame, the engine having a power source and an engine cutoff device connected to the engine. In combination with the machine is a machine diagnosis circuit comprised of at least one protective switch connected in series with the engine power source and the engine cutoff device. The circuit also includes a diagnosis indicator combination wired across each of the at least one protective switches, the diagnosis indicator combination is comprised of an LED pair and resistor. In order to provide an indication of a machine problem, an indicator panel is located along the outside of the machine. The panel overlays the LED pairs and includes at least one icon which is illuminated by the LED pair to provide an outside readable graphical indication of the existence and location of the machine problem.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a) a portable machine having a frame and an engine supported by the frame, the engine having a power source and a means for cutting off power to the engine;

b) a machine diagnosis circuit comprised of at least one protective switch connected in series with the engine power source and said means for cutting off power to the engine, said circuit also including a first diagnosis indicator across the at least one protective switch, the first diagnosis indicator comprising a first LED pair and a first resistor, the first LED pair adapted to be illuminated when the associated at least one protective switch is opened, said circuit also including at least one non-protective switch and a second diagnosis indicator comprising a second LED pair and a second resistor, the second diagnosis indicator is wired through the at least one non-protective switch so that the second LED pair is illuminated when the at least one non-protective switch is closed, the at least one protective switch and the at least one non-protective switch being connected to a sensing means for measuring the value of a machine operating parameter associated with the at least one protective and the at least one non-protective switch; and

c) means for indicating the specific location of an engine fault condition, said means for indicating the specific location of an engine fault condition overlaying the first and second diagnosis indicators.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portable machine is a fluid compressor.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portable machine is a generator.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the portable machine is a light tower.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first diagnosis indicator is wired in parallel across one of the at least one protective switch so that if the machine operation is interrupted, the first diagnosis indicator will remain illuminated.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein each LED pair of the first and second diagnosis indicators is a super high brightness LED with a rating of 2000-3500 millicandella.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein each resistor of the first and second diagnosis indicators has a resistance of 270 ohms.

8. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicating means is a control panel mounted on the machine, said control panel including one icon for each of the first and second diagnosis indicators, said icon adapted to overlay the respective first and second diagnosis indicator to be illuminated by the LED pair.

9. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are four protective switches and four non-protective switches.

10. The combination as in claim 1 wherein the at least one non-protective switch is a single-pole switch.