Engine output condition informing system for snow remover

• US 7,183,904 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fukushima, Tomoki, Matsuda, Hayato, Katsuragawa, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/036,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/441, 701/101
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/04 Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged materialE01H5/10, E01H5/12 take precedence

Abstract

In an engine output condition informing system for a snow remover, the engine speed and the throttle position are detected, the output power rate OPrate of the engine is estimated based thereon, the output power condition of the engine is determined based on the estimated output power rate, and the operator is informed of the determined output power condition by the display (informing) device. With this, the output power condition of the engine can be accurately determined and the operator informed with a simple configuration, whereby the burden on the operator can be lightened. Also, it is possible to minimize situations in which the output power condition of the engine is overpowered and the power train of the engine or of the snow removal mechanism and travel mechanism is damaged, as well as situations in which the output power condition of the engine becomes underpowered, the snow remover is unable to perform, and the operating efficiency decreases.

Claims

1. A system for indicating output condition of an internal combustion engine mounted on a snow remover having a snow removal mechanism and a travel mechanism such that at least one of the snow removal mechanism and travel mechanism is driven by the engine in response to an instruction of an operator, comprising:

an engine speed sensor detecting speed of the engine;

a throttle position sensor detecting position of a throttle valve of the engine;

an engine output power rate estimator estimating an engine output power rate based on the detected speed of the engine and position of the throttle valve;

an engine output condition determiner determining output condition of the engine based on the estimated engine output power rate; and

an indicating device indicating the determined output condition of the engine to the operator.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the engine output condition determiner determines the output condition of the engine by comparing the estimated engine output power rate with a plurality of predetermined values.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the engine output condition determiner determines that the output condition of the engine is within rated output power when the estimated engine output power rate exceeds a first predetermined value, but is less than a second predetermined value set higher than the first predetermined value.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the engine output condition determiner determines that the output condition of the engine is underpowered when the estimated engine output power rate is less than the first predetermined value, and determines that the output condition of the engine is overpowered when the estimated engine output power rate exceeds the second predetermined value.

5. A method of indicating output condition of an internal combustion engine mounted on a snow remover having a snow removal mechanism and a travel mechanism such that at least one of the snow removal mechanism and travel mechanism is driven by the engine in response to an instruction of an operator, comprising the steps of:

detecting speed of the engine;

detecting position of a throttle valve of the engine;

estimating an engine output power rate based on the detected speed of the engine and position of the throttle valve;

determining output condition of the engine based on the estimated engine output power rate; and

indicating the determined output condition of the engine to the operator.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of engine output condition determining determines the output condition of the engine by comparing the estimated engine output power rate with a plurality of predetermined values.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of engine output condition determining determines that the output condition of the engine is within rated output power when the estimated engine output power rate exceeds a first predetermined value, but is less than a second predetermined value set higher than the first predetermined value.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of engine output condition determining determines that the output condition of the engine is underpowered when the estimated engine output power rate is less than the first predetermined value, and determines that the output condition of the engine is overpowered when the estimated engine output power rate exceeds the second predetermined value.