Vehicle condition responsive monitoring system

Claim 2

Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches each responsive to at least one of the conditions being monitored, each of the switches normally being in a first operative state and being changed to a second operative state upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch, a plurality of windings each connected in series with one of the switches to form a detection network and effective when energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other whereby the magnetic fields generated by the windings form a resultant magnetic field the orientation of which varies in accordance with the energization of the windings, means connecting the detection networks in parallel, means for connecting the detection networks to a power source effective upon placement of a switch in the second operative state to cause the energization by the power source of the winding in series circuit with the switch, indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including an indicia bearing member, means for moving the indicia bearing member past a certain position in accordance with the orientation of the resultant magnetic field, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, means responsive to the energization of the windings effective to energize the lamp when a winding is energized and deenergize the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia at the certain position, and time delay means for preventing the lamp from being energized for a predetermined time after winding has been energized so as to prevent the lamp from illuminating indicia other than that indicative of the changed status of the certain condition.

Claim 3

Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches each responsive to at least one of the conditions being monitored, each of the switches normally being in a first operative state and being changed to a second operative state upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch, a plurality of windings each connected in series with one of the switches to form a detection network and effective when energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other whereby the magnetic fields generated by the windings form a resultant magnetic field the orientation of which varies in accordance with the energization of the windings, means connecting the detection networks in parallel, a resistor, means for connecting the detection networks in series with the resistor and a power source effective upon placement of a switch in the second operative condition to cause the energization by the power source of the winding in series circuit with the switch, and indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including a permanent magnet armature rotatably positioned so as to be self-aligning with the resultant magnetic field, a disc drivably coupled to the armature for movement therewith, the disc having indicia disposed thereon so as to be movable past a certain position in accordance with the orientation of the armature, the disc positioning predetermined indicia at the certain position in accordance with the energization of the windings and closure of the switches, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, a transistor that is series connected with the power source and the lamp and responsive to the potential between the detection networks and the resistor so as to be responsive to the energization of the windings, thereby effecting energization of the lamp when a winding is energized and deenergization of the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia corresponding to the certain condition at the certain position.

Claim 4

Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches each responsive to at least one of the conditions being monitored, each of the switches normally being in a first operative state and being changed to a second operative state upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch, a plurality of windings each connected in series with one of the switches to form a detection network and effective when energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other whereby the magnetic fields generated by the windings form a resultant magnetic field the orientation of which varies in accordance with the energization of the windings, means connecting the detection networks in parallel, a resistor, means for connecting the detection networks in series with the resistor and a power source effective upon placement of a switch in the second operative condition to cause the energization by the power source of the winding in series circuit with the switch, and indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including a permanent magnet armature rotatably positioned so as to be self-aligning with the resultant magnetic field, a disc drivably coupled to the armature for movement therewith, the disc having indicia disposed thereon so as to be movable past a certain position in accordance with the orientation of the armature, the disc positioning predetermined indicia at the certain position in accordance with the energization of the windings and closure of the switches, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, a transistor that is series connected with the power source and the lamp and responsive to the potential between the detection networks and the resistor so as to be responsive to the energization of the windings, thereby effecting energization of the lamp when a winding is energized and deenergization of the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia corresponding to the certain condition at the certain position.

Claim 5

Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches responsive to at least one of the conditions being monitored, each of the switches normally being in the first operative state and being changed to a second operative state upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch, a plurality of windings of a lessor number than the switches, each winding being connected in series with one of the switches to form a detection network and effective When energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other whereby the magnetic fields generated by the windings combine to form a resultant magnetic field the orientation of which varies in accordance with the energization of the windings, means connecting the detection networks in parallel, means for connecting the detection networks to a power source effective upon closure of the switch in a detection network to cause the energization by the power source of the winding in series circuit with the switch, at least one diode network, each diode network including at least two diodes each of which has an anode connected to the series circuit connection between the winding and the switch in respective detection networks and a cathode connected to a switch that is not part of a detection network and is effective when placed in the second operative condition to cause energization of the windings in the detection networks to which it is connected by diodes, thereby orienting the resultant magnetic field between the axes of the energized windings, and indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including an indicia bearing member, means for moving the indicia bearing member past a certain position in accordance with the orientation of the resultant magnetic field, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, and means responsive to the energization of the windings effective to energize the lamp when a winding is energized and deenergize the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia at the certain position.

Claim 6

Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches responsive to at least one of the conditions being monitored, each of the switches normally being in the first operative state and being changed to a second operative state upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch, a plurality of windings of a lessor number than the switches, each winding being connected in series with one of the switches to form a detection network and effective When energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other whereby the magnetic fields generated by the windings combine to form a resultant magnetic field the orientation of which varies in accordance with the energization of the windings, means connecting the detection networks in parallel, means for connecting the detection networks to a power source effective upon closure of the switch in a detection network to cause the energization by the power source of the winding in series circuit with the switch, at least one diode network, each diode network including at least two diodes each of which has an anode connected to the series circuit connection between the winding and the switch in respective detection networks and a cathode connected to a switch that is not part of a detection network and is effective when placed in the second operative condition to cause energization of the windings in the detection networks to which it is connected by diodes, thereby orienting the resultant magnetic field between the axes of the energized windings, and indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including an indicia bearing member, means for moving the indicia bearing member past a certain position in accordance with the orientation of the resultant magnetic field, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, and means responsive to the energization of the windings effective to energize the lamp when a winding is energized and deenergize the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia at the certain position.

Claim 7

Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches each responsive to at least one of the conditions being monitored, each of the switches normally being in a first operative state and being changed to a second operative state upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch; plurality of windings each connected in series with one of the switches to form a detection network and effective when energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other whereby the magnetic fields generated by the windings form a resultant magnetic field the orientation of which varies in accordance with the energization of the windings; means connecting the detection networks in parallel; means for connecting the detection networks to a power source effective upon closure of a switch to cause the energization by the power source of the winding in series circuit with the switch; indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including an indicia bearing member, means for moving the indicia bearing member past a certain position in accordance with the orientation of the resultant magnetic field, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, and means responsive to the energization of the windings effective to energize the lamp a predetermined time after a winding is energized and deenergize the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia at the certain position after the predetermined time has elapsed; and warning means for providing an immediate indication of a change in a certain condition regardless of the position of the indicia bearing member, said warning means including an indicating device connected in series with the power source and the switch that is responsive to the certain condition effective to immediately energize said indicating device upon closure of the switch.

Claim 8

Apparatus for indicating the status of a plurality of conditions comprising, in combination, a plurality of switches each responsive to at least one of the conditions being monitored, each of the switches normally being in a first operative state and being changed to a second operative state upon a predetermined change in the condition being monitored by the switch; plurality of windings each connected in series with one of the switches to form a detection network and effective when energized to produce a magnetic field along the axis of the winding, the axes of the windings being aligned at predetermined angles to each other whereby the magnetic fields generated by the windings form a resultant magnetic field the orientation of which varies in accordance with the energization of the windings; means connecting the detection networks in parallel; means for connecting the detection networks to a power source effective upon closure of a switch to cause the energization by the power source of the winding in series circuit with the switch; indicating means for indicating the status of the conditions being monitored, the indicating means including an indicia bearing member, means for moving the indicia bearing member past a certain position in accordance with the orientation of the resultant magnetic field, a lamp for illuminating the indicia at the certain position, and means responsive to the energization of the windings effective to energize the lamp a predetermined time after a winding is energized and deenergize the lamp when the windings are deenergized whereby a change in the status of a certain condition being monitored effects illumination of predetermined indicia at the certain position after the predetermined time has elapsed; and warning means for providing an immediate indication of a change in a certain condition regardless of the position of the indicia bearing member, said warning means including an indicating device connected in series with the power source and the switch that is responsive to the certain condition effective to immediately energize said indicating device upon closure of the switch.