US3573608A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Engine analyzing apparatus with cathode ray display
Assignee: Bear Automotive Service Equipment Co
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Filing: 1968-10-15
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Granted: 1971-04-06
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Expires: 1988-10-15
Abstract
Abstract Engine analyzing apparatus for an internal combustion engine in which a signal indicative of a condition of the ignition system is superimposed upon a horizontal trace of a cathode ray and in which the horizontal trace is initiated at the time the distributor points close rather than when they open. There may be a plurality of horizontal traces, one for each cylinder, arranged to give a ''''raster'''' display or the conditions associated with the various cylinders may be displayed in sequence in a ''''parade'''' display. Provision is made for displaying the condition of each cylinder by itself or displaying the conditions of any combination of cylinders either individually or in superimposed fashion.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph A Marino
- 👤 Richard S Maccrea
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/20; G01R13/208; G01M; G01M15/00; G01M15/04; G01M15/042; G01M15/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for displaying a condition associated with the operation of an internal combustion engine having an ignition system including an igniter for igniting the fuel within a cylinder of the engine and an electrical voltage pulse generating means for applying voltage pulses to said igniter to cause energization thereof, said voltage pulse generating means comprising a switch which is periodically opened and closed and which is effective to produce a voltage pulse each time that said switch is opened, said apparatus comprising: a cathode-ray tube having a display screen; means for producing a substantially horizontal trace on said screen each time that a voltage pulse is applied to said igniter; means responsive to a condition of said ignition system associated with the application of a voltage pulse to said igniter for variably displacing said horizontal trace in a vertical direction to indicate the character of said condition; and means controlled by said switch and responsive to the closing of said switch for initiating said horizontal trace at a time substantially prior to the time when said switch subsequently opens to produce the voltage pulse associated with the condition being observed so that the condition of said ignition system resulting from the application of the voltage pulse to said igniter is displayed on an intermediate portion of said trace.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
219 words
An apparatus for displaying a condition associated with the operation of an internal combustion engine having an ignition system including an igniter for igniting the fuel within a cylinder of the engine and an electrical voltage pulse generating means for applying voltage pulses to said igniter to cause energization thereof, said voltage pulse generating means comprising a switch which is periodically opened and closed and which is effective to produce a voltage pulse each time that said switch is opened, said apparatus comprising: a cathode-ray tube having a display screen; means for producing a substantially horizontal trace on said screen each time that a voltage pulse is applied to said igniter; means responsive to a condition of said ignition system associated with the application of a voltage pulse to said igniter for variably displacing said horizontal trace in a vertical direction to indicate the character of said condition; and means controlled by said switch and responsive to the closing of said switch for initiating said horizontal trace at a time substantially prior to the time when said switch subsequently opens to produce the voltage pulse associated with the condition being observed so that the condition of said ignition system resulting from the application of the voltage pulse to said igniter is displayed on an intermediate portion of said trace.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the engine has a plurality of cylinders and an igniter for each cylinder with a distributor for sequentially applying each generated pulse to the igniter of a different cylinder in a predetermined sequence and in which there are a plurality of parallel traces equal in number to the number of igniters with means for initiaTing a different one of said traces each time that said switch is closed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the engine has a plurality of cylinders and an igniter for each cylinder with a distributor for sequentially applying each generated pulse to the igniter of a different cylinder in a predetermined sequence and in which there is a single substantially horizontal trace which continues for a complete operating cycle of the engine and in which there is means for initiating said trace once each cycle of said engine at a time when said switch is closed and for terminating said sweep each time that a predetermined one of said igniters is energized.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which the means for terminating each sweep is responsive to a condition associated with the firing of the last of the igniters to be fired in the firing sequence of the engine so that said sweep is again started just prior to the firing of the first igniter to be fired in the firing sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which means including a switching device is selectively operative to cause said trace to be initiated when said first named switch first opens rather than as a result of the first named switch first closing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the means controlled by said switch comprises means connected to said voltage pulse generating means for deriving from the voltage across said switch a periodically cyclically varying voltage therefrom, a square wave generator connected to said last named means for generating a square wave voltage substantially in phase with said cyclically varying voltage, and means connected to the output of said square wave generator and to said means for producing a horizontal trace for initiating said horizontal trace when the instantaneous value of said square wave changes in a manner resulting from closure of said switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
100 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the cathode-ray tube has X-axis and Y-axis electrodes, in which there is means connected to an X-axis electrode for applying to said X-axis electrode a sawtooth sweep voltage having a frequency equal to the frequency of operation of said switch and in which each cycle of the sweep voltage is initiated upon closing said switch, and in which means controlled by said condition responsive signal applies a voltage to a Y-axis electrode which depends in magnitude and phase upon the magnitude and phase of the ignition condition sensed by said condition responsive means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which the engine has a plurality of cylinders and an igniter for each cylinder with a distributor for sequentially applying each generated pulse to the igniter of a different cylinder in a predetermined sequence and in which apparatus there is means for developing a voltage applied to a Y-axis electrode which progressively changes in magnitude during a cycle equal in length to the time between successive energizations of one of said igniters.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 8 in which the voltage applied to a Y-axis electrode increases in steps by a predetermined amount each time that said above named switch opens and is reduced to a predetermined starting value each time that said one of said igniters is energized.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the cathode-ray tube has an X-axis electrode in which there is means including a capacitor charging circuit for producing a sawtooth sweep voltage having a frequency equal to the frequency of operation of said switch, means responsive to the amplitude of said sweep voltage to adjust the time constant of said capacitor charging circuit to maintain said amplitude substantially constant as the speed of the engine changes, and means for applying said sawtooth sweep voltage to said X-axis electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the engine has a plurality of cylinders and an igniter for each cylinder with a distributor for sequentially applying each generated pulse to the igniter of a different cylinder in a predeteRmined sequence and in which there is means for selectively rendering any one of said igniters effectively inoperable and means for successively displaying on the screen of said cathode-ray tube conditions of said ignition system resulting from the application of voltage pulses to the various igniters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-05 | 1974-10-05 | 1975-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-05 | 1978-10-05 | 1979-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-05 | 1982-10-05 | 1983-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |