Display control apparatus for use in internal combustion engine

• US 4,887,068 A
• Filed: 12/03/1987
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Umehara, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/129,321
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 123/335, 123/196 S, 123/198 D, 123/198 DC, 340/52 R, 340/52 F, 340/52 D, 340/59, 340/60, 340/618, 340/624, 340/625, 340/623, 73/304 R, 73/319, 73/305, 73/307, 73/308
• US Class Current: 340/450.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/006 Camshaft or pushrod housings
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 11/06 Indicating unsafe conditions

Abstract

A display control apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine includes: a CDI type ignition circuit; an overspeed preventing circuit which can limit the engine speed to a restricted value; a first LED display unit of the light on/off type to display the amounts of oil and/or cooling water; a second LED display unit to display the circulation state of the oil and/or cooling water; and a drive circuit which switches the first and second display units to an alarm display mode and causes the overspeed preventing circuit to limit engine speed when abnormal states of the oil and/or cooling water are detected by oil level switches or by water and oil flow sensors. If power ceases, the display state is held by keep relays. When an abnormal state is detected, the driver is warned by lighting up of red LEDs and by generating a beeping sound from a buzzer.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for indicating the level of a fluid in a fluid container, comprising:

a float switch which is disposed in said container and which includes a plurality of vertically spaced level switches and a vertically movable float, each said level switch being actuated by said float when said float is substantially vertically aligned therewith;

keep means responsive to said float switch and having a plurality of operational states which correspond in number to the number of said level switches of said float switch, wherein in response to actuation of each said level switch said keep means is set to a respective one of said operational states and remains therein after deactuation of such level switch until set to a different said operational state by actuation of a different said level switch; and

display means responsive to said keep means for providing an operator perceptible display of the operational state to which said keep means is currently set;

wherein said float switch has a first said level switch which is the uppermost of said level switches, a second said level switch below said first level switch, a third said level switch below said second level switch, and a fourth said level switch below said third level switch;

wherein said keep means is respectively set to first, second, third and fourth said operational states in response to actuation of said first, second, third and fourth level switches, respectively;

wherein said display means includes a first light element, a second light element disposed below said first light element, a third light element disposed below said second light element, and a fourth light element disposed below said third light element;

wherein said first, second and third light elements are actuated and said fourth light element is deactuated when said keep means is in said first operational state, wherein said second and third light elements are actuated and said first and fourth light elements are deactuated when said keep means is in said second operational state;

wherein said third light element is actuated and said first, second and fourth light elements are deactuated when said keep means is in said third operational state, and wherein said fourth light element is actuated and said first, second and third light elements are deactuated when said keep means is in said fourth operational state.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first, second and third light elements emit green light when actuated and said fourth light element emits red light when actuated.

3. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein said keep means includes first, second and third keep relays, said first keep relay being set in response to actuation of one of said first, second and third level switches and being rest in response to actuation of said fourth level switch, said second keep relay being set in response to actuation of said first level switch and being rest in response to actuation of one of said second, third and fourth level switches, and said third keep relay being set in response to actuation off one of said first and second level switches and being reset in response to actuation of one of said third and fourth level switches.

4. The display apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first light element is actuated when said first and second keep relays are set, wherein said second light element is actuated when said first and third keep relays are set, wherein said third light element is actuated when said first keep relay is set, and wherein said fourth light element is actuated when said first keep relay is reset.

5. A display apparatus for use with an engine comprising:

an oil level indicator which includes first, second and third light elements which emit a first light color when actuated and a fourth light element which emits a second light color when actuated, said second light element being disposed below said first light element, said third light element being disposed below said second light element, and said fourth light element being disposed below said third light element; and

means responsive to a high level of oil in the engine for causing said first, second and third light elements to be actuated and said fourth light element to be deactuated, and responsive to a subsequent progressive decrease of the oil level for causing said first and second light elements to be successively deactuated and for thereafter causing said third element to be deactuated and said fourth light element to be actuated.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said first color is green and said second color is red.

7. The display apparatus of claim 6, wherein each said light element includes a pair of adjacent light emitting diodes.

8. The display apparatus of claim 5, including first and second water flow indicator lights respectively disposed on opposite sides of said oil level indicator, and including means responsive to an inadequate flow of cooling water at first and second locations within the engine for respectively actuating said first and second water flow indicator lights.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8, including an oil flow indicator light disposed below said first water flow indicator light, and including means responsive to an inadequate flow of oil within the engine for actuating said oil flow indicator light.

10. The display apparatus of claim 9, including a limit indicator light disposed below said first water flow indicator light, and means responsive to selective suppression of sparks by the engine for actuating said limit indicator light.

11. The display apparatus of claim 10, including a buzzer, and means responsive to a predetermined abnormal operating state of the engine for actuating said buzzer.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, including a substantially circular display panel having said oil level indicator, said water flow indicator lights, said oil flow indicator light, and said limit indicator light provided thereon.