US3788129A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Select signal engine diagnosing apparatus
Assignee: Sun Electric Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-24
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1991-06-24
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure describes apparatus for disabling selected cylinders of an internal combustion engine for diagnostic purposes. The system and apparatus are preferably used in connection with an engine that includes a source of periodic cycles of ignition signals. When used with such an engine, the apparatus prevents one or more predetermined ignition signals in each cycle from energizing engine components, such as spark plugs, which normally receive the ignition signals. In order to achieve this purpose, the preferred apparatus embodiment described in the disclosure comprises a clock pulse generator that generates a uniform pulse in response to the receipt of each ignition signal from the engine. Counting means, such as bistable flip-flop circuits, are used to produce counting states representative of the number of pulses received from the clock pulse generator. Adjustable resetting means are used to reset the counting means to a predetermined counting state after the counting means has counted through a predetermined number of counting states, such as the number of cylinders in the engine being diagnosed. Removable setting means are employed to set the counting means to an initial counting state in response to the receipt of an ignition signal from a predetermined engine component, such as a spark plug. Adjustable selecting means generate a disabling pulse in response to a predetermined counting state of the counter, so that a particular cylinder of the engine may be disabled. A disabling device, such as a triac, responsive to the disabling pulse, conditions a predetermined ignition signal in each engine cycle so that the corresponding engine cylinder is disabled, thereby aiding the diagnosis of the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 G Trussell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:19
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P17/00; G; G01; G01M; G01M15/00; G01M15/04; G01M15/042; G01M15/044
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
In a system for diagnosing an engine including a source of periodic cycles of ignition signals, improved apparatus for preventing one or more predetermined ignition signals in each cycle from energizing engine components which are normally energized by said predetermined ignition signals comprising in combination: input means for receiving said periodic cycles of ignition signals from said source; generating means for generating a clock pulse in response to the receipt of each ignition signal by the input means, said generating means comprising clock means for producing in response to each ignition signal a clock pulse having a predetermined amplitude and having a duration proportional to the duration of the ignition signal; counting means for producing counting states representative of the number of pulses received from said generating means; adjustable resetting means for resetting the counting means to a predetermined counting state after the counting means has counted through a predetermined number of counting states; removable setting means for setting the counting means to an initial counting state in response to the operation of a predetermined one of the engine components by an ignition signal; adjustable selecting means for producing a disabling pulse in response to a predetermined counting state of The counting means; and disabling means responsive to the disabling pulse for preventing any simultaneously-occurring ignition signal from energizing the engine component normally energized by the simultaneouslyoccurring ignition signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
In a system for diagnosing an engine including a source of periodic cycles of ignition signals, improved apparatus for preventing one or more predetermined ignition signals in each cycle from energizing engine components which are normally energized by said predetermined ignition signals comprising in combination: input means for receiving said periodic cycles of ignition signals from said source; generating means for generating a clock pulse in response to the receipt of each ignition signal by the input means, said generating means comprising clock means for producing in response to each ignition signal a clock pulse having a predetermined amplitude and having a duration proportional to the duration of the ignition signal; counting means for producing counting states representative of the number of pulses received from said generating means; adjustable resetting means for resetting the counting means to a predetermined counting state after the counting means has counted through a predetermined number of counting states; removable setting means for setting the counting means to an initial counting state in response to the operation of a predetermined one of the engine components by an ignition signal; adjustable selecting means for producing a disabling pulse in response to a predetermined counting state of The counting means; and disabling means responsive to the disabling pulse for preventing any simultaneously-occurring ignition signal from energizing the engine component normally energized by the simultaneouslyoccurring ignition signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generating means further comprises: first means for receiving positive ignition signals from the input means and for receiving negative ignition signals from the input means; second means for inverting the polarity of the negative ignition signals with respect to the polarity of the positive ignition signals to produce resultant signals each having the same polarity; and third means for conducting the resultant signals to the clock means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting means comprises: means adapted to be positioned adjacent a predetermined engine component for producing a trigger signal in response to the receipt of an ignition signal by the engine component; monostable multivibrator means for producing in response to the trigger signal an output pulse having a duration at least as long as the duration of the ignition signal from said engine component; integrating means for integrating the output pulse to produce a setting signal; and means for transmitting the setting signal to the counting means, whereby the counting means is set to an initial counting state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling means comprises a triac for conducting current in opposite directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a system for diagnosing an engine including a source of periodic cycles of ignition signals, improved apparatus for preventing one or more predetermined ignition signals in each cycle from energizing engine components which are normally energized by said predetermined ignition signals comprising in combination: input means for receiving said periodic cycles of ignition signals from said source; generating means operatively connected to the input means for generating a clock pulse in response to the receipt of each ignition signal by the input means; counting means operatively connected to the generating means for producing counting states representative of the number of pulses received from said generating means, said counting means comprising first, second and third binary flip-flop circuits each having an input circuit and an output circuit and each capable of producing a single output pulse for each two pulses transmitted to its input circuit; adjustable resetting means operatively connected to the counting means for resetting the counting means to a predetermined counting state after the counting means has counted through a predetermined number of counting states; removable setting means operatively connected to the counting means for setting the counting means to an initial counting state in response to the operation of a predetermined one of the engine components by an ignition signal; disabling means operatively connected to the selecting means and responsive to the disabling pulse for preventing any simultaneously-occurring ignition signal from energizing the engine component normally energized by the simultaneously-occurring ignition signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a system for diagnosing an engine including a source of periodic cycles of ignition signals, improved apparatus for preventing one or more predetermined ignition signals in each cycle from energizing engine components which are normally energized by said predetermined ignition signals comprising in combination: input means for receiving said periodic cycles of ignition signals from said source; generating means operatively connected to the input means for generating a clock pulse in response to the receipt of each ignition signal by the input means; counting means operatively connected to the generating means for producing counting states representative of the number of pulses received from said generating means, said counting means comprising first, second and third binary flip-flop circuits each having an input circuit and an output circuit and each capable of producing a single output pulse for each two pulses transmitted to its input circuit; adjustable resetting means operatively connected to the counting means for resetting the counting means to a predetermined counting state after the counting means has counted through a predetermined number of counting states; removable setting means operatively connected to the counting means for setting the counting means to an initial counting state in response to the operation of a predetermined one of the engine components by an ignition signal; disabling means operatively connected to the selecting means and responsive to the disabling pulse for preventing any simultaneously-occurring ignition signal from energizing the engine component normally energized by the simultaneously-occurring ignition signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the selecting means comprises: a first conductor; a second conductor; a third conductor; a fourth conductor; a fifth conductor; a sixth conductor; a seventh conductor; an eighth conductor; first gating means for connecting each of said conductors to the output circuit of the first binary flip-flop circuit; second gating means for connecting each of said conductors to the output circuit of the second binary flip-flop circuit; third gating means for connecting each of said conductors to the output circuit of the third binary flip-flop circuit; a source of ground potential; switching means for selectively applying ground potential to all Except a predetermined one of the first through eight conductors; an output conductor; and fourth gating means operatively connected to the first through eighth conductors for transmitting a pulse appearing on the predetermined one of the first through eighth conductors to the output conductor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the resetting means comprises: first means for disabling the third bistable flip-flop circuit so that the counting means resets to a predetermined counting state after counting through four counting states; and second means for interconnecting the second bistable flip-flop circuit and the third bistable flip-flop circuit and so that the counting means resets to a predetermined counting state after counting through six counting states.
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) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |