Engine starting system

Claim 2

In a starting system for remotely controlling the starting of an engine, wherein said engine is provided with an electric starter motor, a starter motor drive operative to crank the engine, a starter relay for actuating the starter motor, a carburetor pump and choke, an ignition coil, a distributor, and a battery having one terminal coupled to ground potential and a second power terminal, a remote starting control system comprising: power transfer means including first switching means having first means for receiving first control signals, and second means for coupling to the battery power terminal, said first switching means in an operative state when said first control signals are received, and in an inoperative state in the absence of said first control signals, second switching means coupled to and switched by said first switching means for holding and applying battery voltage to the starter relay once switched, said second switching means including second means for receiving second control signals and deactivating said holding in response to said second switching signals; and remote control means for coupling to said power transfer means, including first selectively actuatable control means for coupling to said first means and for providing said first control signals when actuated, and second selectively actuatable control means for coupling to said second means and for providing said second control signals when actuated, and indicator circuit means for coupling through said power transfer means to the ignition coil for indicating the operative state of the engine being controlled.

Claim 3

A remote starting control system as in claim 1 and further including a solenoid having a plunger for coupling to the carburetor pump and choke, and an energizing coil, said solenoid operative to place said plunger in a first position when battery voltage is applied to said energizing coil and in a second position in the absence of the battery voltage; and third switching means having first and second switchable states in said power transfer means for coupling to said energizing coil and the battery power terminal, said third switching means including input means for coupling to said second selectively actuatable control means, and operative to switch said third switching means to said first state for applying battery voltage to said energizing coil in response to said second control signals and to said second state for removing battery voltage from said energizing coil in the absence of said second control signals.

Claim 4

A remote starting control system as in claim 2 wherein said first and second switching means comprise a first relay having a coil with one terminal for coupling a source of potential and a second terminal coupled to said first means for receiving first control signals, and first and second first-relay contacts, each having a normally open and a normally closed contact and a wiper terminal; a second relay having a coil with one terminal coupled to ground potential and a second terminal coupled to said wiper terminal of said first of said first-relay contacts, first and second second-relay contacts, said first of said second-relay contacts having a normally open contact, a normally closed contact and a wiper coupled to said second means for receiving said second control signals, and said second of said second-relay contacts having a pair of normally open contacts and a wiper terminal; first coupling means for coupling said second terminal of said second relay coil to said normally open contact of said first of said second-relay contacts; second coupling means for coupling said wiper terminal of said second of said first-relay contacts to one of said pair of normally open contacts; third coupling means for coupling the other of said pair of normally open contacts to a source of potential; fourth coupling means for coupling said wiper terminal of said second of said second-relay contacts to the ignition coil; and fifth coupling means for coupling said normally open contact of said second of said first-relay contacts to the starter relay.

Claim 5

A remote starting control system as in claim 3 wherein said third switching means comprises: a third relay having a coil with one terminal for coupling to a source of potential and a second terminal coupled to said normally closed contact of said first of said second-relay contacts, and a third-relay contact having a normally open contact, a normally closed contact, and a wiper; sixth coupling means for coupling said normally open contact of said third-relay contact to said energizing coil of said solenoid; and seventh coupling means for coupling said wiper of said third-relay contacts to the source of potential, whereby said solenoid is actuated each time said second control signals are applied to said second means for receiving second control signals until said second relay is energized.

Claim 6

A remOte starting control system as in claim 3 and further including heater coupling means coupled to said normally closed contact of said second of said first-relay contacts for coupling to the heater blower for activating the blower when said first relay is deactivated and said second relay is holding.

Claim 7

A remote starting control system as in claim 2 wherein said first selectively actuatable control means comprises a first pushbutton switch having a first wiper contact, a first normally open contact and a first normally closed contact, and further includes a first coupling means coupled to said first wiper contact for coupling to said ground potential through said power transfer means, and second coupling means coupled to said first normally open contact for coupling to said first means for receiving first control signals, said first pushbutton operative when depressed to apply said ground potential as said first control signals to said first switching means, thereby energizing said first switching means to said operative state; said second selectively actuatable control means comprises a second pushbutton switch, having a second wiper contact, a second normally open contact, and a second normally closed contact, and further includes third coupling means for coupling said second normally open contact to said first normally closed contact, first impedance means having a first terminal coupled to said second wiper terminal and a second terminal for coupling to said second means for receiving second control signals, said second pushbutton alternatively operative when depressed to apply said ground potential as said second control signals to energize said third switching means for actuating said solenoid and to deactivate said second holding switching means for returning said power transfer means to an initial condition; and said indicator circuit means comprises fourth coupling means coupled to said second normally closed contact for coupling to a source of potential, transistor means having a base electrode for coupling through said power transfer means to the secondary of the ignition coil for receiving signals indicative of the operative state of the engine being controlled, an emitter electrode coupled to said fourth coupling means, and a collector electrode, second impedance means having one terminal coupled to said base electrode and a second terminal coupled to said emitter electrode for providing bias to said transistor, first lamp means having one terminal coupled to said collector electrode and a second terminal coupled to said first wiper contact for providing an indication of the operative state of said engine, and second lamp means coupled in parallel with said first impedance means for indicating the operative state of said solenoid.

Claim 8

A remote starting control system as in claim 2 wherein the coupling between said power transfer means and said remote control means comprises: connector means having first and second slidably engaging mating portions; a first group of five conductive elements coupled at one of their respective ends to predetermined elements in said power transfer means and coupled at the other of their respective ends to said first portion of said connector means; and a second group of five conductive elements associated with ones of said first group of conductive elements and coupled at one of their respective ends to predetermined elements in said remote control means and at the other of their respective ends to said second portion of said connector means.

Claim 9

A remote starting control system as in claim 2 and further including power unit radio control means coupled to said first, second, and third switching means in said power transfer means for receiving first and second radio control signals from said remote control means for controlling said switching means, and including sending means for sending indicating signals indicative of the operative condition of the engine being controlled to said remote control means.

Claim 10

A remote starting controL system as in claim 8 wherein said power unit radio control means comprises: first transceiver means having a first receiver portion for receiving first and second radio control signals from said remote control means and first transmitter means for transmitting said indicating signals; fourth switching means having first output means coupled to said first means for receiving control signals and having first input means coupled to said first receiver portion for receiving said first of said radio control signals, said fourth switching means operative when activated by said first radio control signals to operate said first switching means, said fourth switching means including holding means for holding said fourth switching means operative once actuated; fifth switching means having second output means coupled to said second means for receiving second control signals and having second input means coupled to said first receiver portion for receiving said second radio control signals, said fifth switching means operative when actuated by said second radio control signals to operate said third switching means for energizing said solenoid when said second switching means is not holding, and alternatively, to deactivate said holding of said second switching means; first coupling means coupled to said first transmitter portion for coupling through said power transfer means to receive said indicating signals from the ignition coil; and sixth switching means having third input means coupled to said first coupling means and third output means coupled to said fourth switching means for deactivating said holding means in said fourth switching means in response to signals received from the ignition coil indicating that the engine is running.

Claim 11

A remote starting system as in claim 9 wherein said first selectively actuatable control means comprises first oscillator means having a first output terminal and a first enabling input terminal, said first oscillator for generating first radio control signals at a first frequency, first pushbutton means coupled between said first enabling input terminal and a reference potential for enabling said first oscillator when said first pushbutton is depressed; said second selectively actuatable control means comprises second oscillator means having a second output terminal and a second enabling input terminal, said second oscillator for generating second radio control signals of a second frequency distinguishable from said first frequency of said first control signals, second pushbutton means coupled between said second enabling input terminal and a reference potential for enabling said first oscillator means when said second pushbutton is depressed; and further includes second transceiver means having a second transmitter portion for transmitting said first and second radio control signals and a second receiver portion for receiving said indicating signals; second and third coupling means for respectively coupling said first and second oscillator output terminals to said second transmitter portion; and said indicator circuit means comprises lamp means coupled between a reference potential and said second receiver portion for indicating the operation state of the engine being controlled.