Autonomous glow driver for radio controlled engines
First Claim
1. A connector for an RC glow plug having a stem end, the connector comprising:
- a housing member having an interior sized and configured to receive the stem end of the glow plug;
a restricting member configured to selectively prevent the glow plug from being removed from the interior of the housing and prevent the glow plug from rotating within the housing;
a fixing member configured to selectively engage or disengage the stem of the glow plug and configured to impart an adjustable fixing force onto the glow plug;
an electrical circuit formed through the housing, restricting member and fixing member once the glow plug is in contact with the restricting member and the fixing member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous glow driver system for radio controlled (RC) engines. Aspects of the system include a connector that securely attaches to the glow plug to maintain good electrical contact with the glow plug and reduce signal noise and using a current and differential amplifiers to determine the temperature of the glow element and the RPMs of the glow engine from a voltage signal (obtained via the connector) that varies with the temperature as induced changes in the resistance of the glow element occur. Using the data of temperature, non-running RPM, and running RPM to control operation of the glow driver leads to a very reliable approach to automatically activating the glow driver to maintain the combustion chamber temperature of the glow engine at a selected level because RPM is indicative of a rotating engine whereas temperature is not.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A connector for an RC glow plug having a stem end, the connector comprising:
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a housing member having an interior sized and configured to receive the stem end of the glow plug; a restricting member configured to selectively prevent the glow plug from being removed from the interior of the housing and prevent the glow plug from rotating within the housing; a fixing member configured to selectively engage or disengage the stem of the glow plug and configured to impart an adjustable fixing force onto the glow plug; an electrical circuit formed through the housing, restricting member and fixing member once the glow plug is in contact with the restricting member and the fixing member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A connector for a glow plug, the connector comprising:
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a housing including; a lower housing portion having a bottom lip including an opening having a profile and configured to receive the glow plug in a first orientation and an internal lip having a profile that is offset from the profile of the opening of the bottom lip, the internal lip disposed within the lower housing portion immediately adjacent the bottom lip and configured to limit the rotation of the glow plug when a portion of the glow plug is seated on the bottom lip in a second orientation; an upper housing portion; and a shoulder connecting the lower and upper housing portions; an insert disposed within the upper housing portion and having a central opening and threads disposed within the central opening; and a threaded member configured to threadably engage the threads of the second insert, the threaded shaft having a bottom including a bore configured to receive a stem of the glow plug, wherein rotating the threaded member imparts a downwards pressure through the glow plug onto the bottom lip of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A connector for a glow plug, the connector comprising:
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an electrically conductive housing including; a lower housing portion having a bottom lip including a hexagonal opening configured to receive the glow plug in a first orientation and a hexagonal internal lip offset from the hexagonal opening of the bottom lip, the internal lip disposed within the lower housing portion immediately adjacent the bottom lip and configured to limit the rotation of the glow plug when a portion of the glow plug is seated on the bottom lip in a second orientation; an upper housing portion connected to the lower housing portion, the upper housing portion having a top opening, a side opening, and a shoulder connecting the lower and upper housing portions; an electrically non-conductive ring-shaped first insert disposed on the shoulder of the housing and having a central opening, a plurality of electrical lead pathways disposed around the central opening, and a lead insertion surface, wherein the lead insertion surface is configured for placement adjacent the side opening of the upper housing portion; an electrically conductive second insert having a tube section having internal threads on an inner surface of the tube section, wherein the tube section is disposed within the central opening of the housing; and an electrically conductive threaded member having a threaded shaft configured to threadably engage the internal threads of the second insert, the threaded shaft having a bottom including a bore configured to receive a stem of the glow plug, wherein rotating the threaded member imparts a downwards pressure through the glow plug onto the bottom lip of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification