Tamper resistant hourmeter for mower

• US 7,649,810 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Anfinson, Bryan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska; Vit W
• Application Number:
  US11/851,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20090067293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 368/1, 368/5, 368/6, 368/8, 324/402, 340/457, 340/457.4
• US Class Current: 368/5
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/04 using counting means or digital clocks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 7/00 Details or accessories common to the registering or indicating apparatus of groups G07C3/00 and G07C5/00

Abstract

A tamper resistant hourmeter is provided for an engine powered lawn mower. The hourmeter has a first pin connected to a positive voltage from a battery through a key actuated switch, a second pin to ground, a third pin to a magneto ignition, and a fourth pin to a fuel shutoff solenoid. The tamper resistant hourmeter connects the positive voltage from the battery to the fuel shutoff solenoid. The fuel shutoff solenoid opens a fuel line to the engine only if the key actuated switch is in either of the run or start positions.

Claims

1. A tamper resistant hourmeter for an engine powered lawn mower, comprising:

a voltage input from a battery through a key switch, and a magneto input from a magneto ignition that triggers the tamper resistant hourmeter to record engine operation time if both inputs are received; and

a voltage output to a fuel shutoff solenoid.

2. The tamper resistant hourmeter of claim 1 further comprising a digital display of engine operation time.

3. The tamper resistant hourmeter of claim 1 further comprising a service light that remains actuated while engine operation time is recorded.

4. A tamper resistant hourmeter for an engine powered lawn mower, comprising:

a first pin connected to a positive voltage from a battery through a key actuated switch;

a second pin to ground;

a third pin to a magneto ignition; and

a fourth pin to a fuel shutoff solenoid;

the tamper resistant hourmeter connecting the positive voltage from the battery to the fuel shutoff solenoid.

5. The tamper resistant hourmeter of claim 4 wherein the key actuated switch includes an off position, a run position, and a start position.

6. The tamper resistant hourmeter of claim 5 wherein the fuel shutoff solenoid opens a fuel line to the engine only if the key actuated switch is in the run position or start position.