System for facilitating the launch of a drag racing vehicle

• US 7,012,514 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Meter Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Auto Meter Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Westberg, Todd C., Scholl, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/346,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 340/441, 340/461, 340/466, 340/969, 340/978, 340/439, 340/456, 340/457, 701/64, 701/110, 701/115, 324/160, 324/166, 324/170, 324/161, 324/169
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/114 Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts

Abstract

A performance enhancement system incorporating a controller, an engine tachometer and a visual indicator light which illuminates within a predetermined range of engine RPMs and which may be separately mounted as required in the driver'"'"'s visual focal plane to reduce visual distractions, aiding the driver in optimizing torque transference to the tires of a drag racing vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating the launch of a drag racing vehicle with the engine running within a predetermined RPM range representing a desired RPM range having upper and lower limits for the engine during launching of the vehicle at the start of the race, said system comprising

a tachometer coupled to the engine for monitoring the RPM of the engine,

an indicator light positioned in the driver'"'"'s compartment in the vehicle,

a power source for supplying power to the indicator light for illuminating the light,

a controllable switch connected between said power source and said indicator light for controlling when the power source is connected to the light and thus when the light is illuminated, and

a controller connected to said tachometer and said switch for actuating said switch to illuminate said light when said tachometer indicates that the engine is running at an RPM within said predetermined RPM range representing a desired RPM range having upper and lower limits for the engine during launching of the vehicle at the start of the race.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes means for flashing said light when said tachometer indicates that the engine is running at an RPM above said predetermined range.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes means for extinguishing said light when said tachometer indicates that the engine is running at an RPM below said predetermined range.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said light is adapted to be movable to different positions within said driver compartment for different race contexts.

5. The system of claim 1 which includes manual input means for supplying said controller with a desired engine RPM for launch.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said launch is in a setting that includes a start light for a race, and said indicator light is positioned where it can be viewed by the driver of the vehicle while said driver is watching said start light.

7. A method of facilitating the launch of a drag racing vehicle with the engine running within a predetermined RPM range representing a desired RPM range having upper and lower limits for the engine during launching of the vehicle at the start of the race, said method comprising

monitoring the RPM of the engine,

positioning an indicator light in the driver'"'"'s compartment in the vehicle,

supplying power to the indicator light to illuminate the light when the engine is running at an RPM within said predetermined RPM range representing a desired RPM range having upper and lower limits for the engine during launching of the vehicle at the start of the race,

manually controlling the engine to maintain illumination of said indicator light at the start of the race so that the vehicle is launched with the engine running at an RPM within said predetermined RPM range, and

launching the vehicle when said indicator light is illuminated.

8. The method of claim 7 which includes flashing said light when the engine is running at an RPM above said predetermined range.

9. The method of claim 7 which includes extinguishing said light when the engine is running at an RPM below said predetermined range.

10. The method of claim 7 which includes moving said indicator light to different positions within said driver compartment for different race contexts.

11. The method of claim 7 which includes manually selecting a desired engine RPM for launch.

12. A method of facilitating the launch of a drag racing vehicle upon illumination of a start light located outside the vehicle in a stationary position on the race track, and with the engine running within a predetermined RPM range representing a desired RPM range having upper and lower limits for the engine during launching of the vehicle at the start of the race, said method comprising

monitoring the RPM of the engine,

positioning an indicator light in the driver'"'"'s compartment in the vehicle where said indicator light can be viewed by the driver of the vehicle while said driver is watching the start light for the race,

supplying power to the indicator light to illuminate the light when the engine is running at an RPM within said predetermined RPM range representing a desired RPM range having upper and lower limits for the engine during launching of the vehicle at the start of the race, and

launching the vehicle when both said indicator light and the race start light are illuminated.