Engine management system

• US 6,294,988 B1
• Filed: 02/11/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Shomura, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US09/249,584
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/440, 340/459, 340/460-462, 340/525, 340/825.15, 340/825.16, 340/309.15, 340/441, 701/29, 701/35, 701/32, 701/30, 701/99, 701/33, 701/101, 701/115, 702/184, 702/187, 731/172, 731/173
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 61/045 for marine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/061 the corrections being time dependent
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An engine management system stores the operating time when a warning about the engine occurs, and stores the operating time when the warning is cancelled and stores various engine information at the occurrence of a warning or from the occurrence of a warning to the end of the warning.

Claims

1. A method for providing a predetermined management item relating to an engine, comprising the steps of:

storing a weighted operating time for each of a plurality of running conditions of said engine, said weighted operating times being a product of a respective predetermined weighting coefficient and a respective operating time;

summing said weighting operating times to produce a total weighted operating time; and

indicating a corresponding predetermined management item when said total weighting operating time reaches a predetermined value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the running condition includes the number of revolutions of said engine.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the running condition of said engine includes one or more of the following:

the number of engine revolutions, the throttle opening of said engine and the operating temperature of said engine.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined management item is indicated if a total non-weighted operating reaches said predetermined value before said total weighted operating time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined value for said predetermined management item varies depending upon the total weighted operating time of said engine.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined value for said predetermined management item varies depending upon the total weighted operating time of said engine.

7. A system for providing a predetermined management item relating to an engine comprising:

means for storing a weighted operating time for each of a plurality of running conditions of said engine, said weighted operating times being a product of a respective predetermined weighting coefficient and a respective operating time;

means for summing said weighting operating times to produce a total weighted operating time; and

means for indicating a corresponding predetermined management item when said total weighting operating time reaches a predetermined value.

8. The means according to claim 7, wherein the running condition includes the number of revolutions of said engine.

9. The means according to claim 7, wherein the running condition of said engine includes one or more of the following:

the number of engine revolutions, the throttle opening of said engine and the operating temperature of said engine.

10. The means according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined management item is indicated if a total non-weighted operating reaches said predetermined value before said total weighted operating time.

11. The means according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined value for said predetermined management item varies depending upon the total weighted operating time of said engine.

12. The means according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined value for said predetermined management item varies depending upon the total weighted operating time of said engine.

13. An engine management system for an engine, comprising:

means for storing data relating to said engine wherein an upper limit of a recommended number of engine revolutions or an upper limit of a recommended load are preset in said means for storing for a running-in process of said engine based on a total operating time of said engine, or based on a distance-related value of said engine and whereby the number of engine revolutions or load of said engine is judged to exceed said upper limit;

means for performing a predetermined indication when said upper limit is exceeded; and

control means for lowering the number of engine revolutions when the engine continues to be run for more than a certain period of time with a speed or load exceeding a predetermined value.

14. The engine management system according to claim 13, farther including means for canceling said control means for lowering when the engine has continued to run at a number of engine revolutions lower than a predetermined rate.