Patent US5376078A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3035760A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4037578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ignition safety control system
Assignee: NAUTEC Inc
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Filing: 1975-07-28
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Granted: 1977-07-26
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Expires: 1995-07-28
Abstract
Abstract An automatic digital safety system for controlling the starting and continued energization of one or more internal combustion engines within an engine compartment and for controlling the energization of exhaust blowers in fluid communication with the engine compartment. A guardian control unit disables starter motors and ignition coils of the engines, while simultaneously energizing the exhaust blowers for a first predetermined time interval after their ignition switches are turned ON. Blower sensor circuits sense the energized state of the blowers. Whenever the sensors indicate that the blowers are not energized when enabled, the system disables the engines. After the first predetermined time interval, the engine coils and starters are enabled and the blowers remain energized. If the ignition switches are turned off after the first predetermined time interval, the engines will remain enabled for a second predetermined time interval and the blowers will remain running for a third predetermined time interval after the switches are turned OFF. Engine sensor networks sense the operative state of the engines. If the engines are started when enabled to do so, and continuously remain running for a fourth predetermined time interval, the blowers are deenergized. Whenever an engine stops running ater the fourth predetermined time interval, and its ignition switch is ON, the blowers are automatically reenergized.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Dersch
- 👤 James L. Maciey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:05
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P11/00; F02P11/02; F02N; F02N15/00; F02N15/10; F02P11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
432 words
An electronic safety control apparatus for controlling the energization of an internal combustion engine of the type mounted in an enclosed engine compartment equipped with venting apparatus including an electrical blower operable when energized to ventilate the compartment, and in circuit with a battery, an electrical starter, an ignition coil and an ignition switch operable in conducting and non-conducting modes, the electronic safety control apparatus comprising: (a) first electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower and to monitor the operative state of the ignition switch, responsive to a change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode for continuously energizing the blower when the ignition switch is in its conducting mode and for automatically producing a continuous first enabling output signal delayed in time from the instant of said change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode by a first predetermined time interval; (b) second electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower, to receive said first enabling signal and to monitor the operative state of the ignition switch, responsive to receipt of said first enabling signal and to change in state of the ignition switch from its conducting mode to its non-conducting mode for producing a second continuous enabling signal over a second predetermined time interval and for continuously energizing the blower over a third predetermined time interval, said second and third predetermined time intervals beginning with said change in state of the ignition switch to its non-conducting mode; (c) blocking circuit means operatively connected in circuit with the starter and to receive said first and second enabling signals for electrically connecting and disconnecting the starter from energization, said blocking circuit means being normally operative in a first state to electrically disconnect the starter from energization and being operative in a second state when in receipt of said first or second enabling signals to electrically connect the starter for energization; (d) electronic engine sensing means operatively connected to the ignition coil for sensing electrical pulses passing through the ignition coil to energize the engine for providing a recycling output signal after said sensed electrical pulses have continuously been applied to the engine for a fourth predetermined time interval, beginning with the first one of such sensed pulses; and (e) recycling circuit means operatively connected to said electronic engine sensing means, responsive to receipt of said recycling output signal for recycling said first electronic switching means to de-energize the blower until a subsequent change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
432 words
An electronic safety control apparatus for controlling the energization of an internal combustion engine of the type mounted in an enclosed engine compartment equipped with venting apparatus including an electrical blower operable when energized to ventilate the compartment, and in circuit with a battery, an electrical starter, an ignition coil and an ignition switch operable in conducting and non-conducting modes, the electronic safety control apparatus comprising: (a) first electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower and to monitor the operative state of the ignition switch, responsive to a change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode for continuously energizing the blower when the ignition switch is in its conducting mode and for automatically producing a continuous first enabling output signal delayed in time from the instant of said change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode by a first predetermined time interval; (b) second electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower, to receive said first enabling signal and to monitor the operative state of the ignition switch, responsive to receipt of said first enabling signal and to change in state of the ignition switch from its conducting mode to its non-conducting mode for producing a second continuous enabling signal over a second predetermined time interval and for continuously energizing the blower over a third predetermined time interval, said second and third predetermined time intervals beginning with said change in state of the ignition switch to its non-conducting mode; (c) blocking circuit means operatively connected in circuit with the starter and to receive said first and second enabling signals for electrically connecting and disconnecting the starter from energization, said blocking circuit means being normally operative in a first state to electrically disconnect the starter from energization and being operative in a second state when in receipt of said first or second enabling signals to electrically connect the starter for energization; (d) electronic engine sensing means operatively connected to the ignition coil for sensing electrical pulses passing through the ignition coil to energize the engine for providing a recycling output signal after said sensed electrical pulses have continuously been applied to the engine for a fourth predetermined time interval, beginning with the first one of such sensed pulses; and (e) recycling circuit means operatively connected to said electronic engine sensing means, responsive to receipt of said recycling output signal for recycling said first electronic switching means to de-energize the blower until a subsequent change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
168 words
An electronic safety control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first switching means further includes electronic circuit means operatively connected with the ignition coil and with said blocking circuit means and responsive to a change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode for automatically producing a continuous third enabling output signal delayed in time from the instant of said change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode by said first predetermined time internal; and wherein said blocking circuit means further includes ignition blocking circuit means operatively connected with the ignition coil and to receive said third enabling output signal for electrically connecting and disconnecting the ignition coil for energization, said ignition blocking circuit means being normally operative in a first state to electrically disconnect the ignition coil from energization and being operative in a second state when in receipt of said third enabling output signal to electrically connect the ignition coil for energization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic safety control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second electronic switching means include electronic digital counter means for establishing said first, said second and said third predetermined time intervals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
An electronic safety control apparatus according to claim 1, further including blower switch means operatively connected to the battery and in parallel with said first switching means to the blower, responsive to manual stimulation for controlling energization of the blower, said blower switch means being normally operable in a first state to block energizing current flow to the blower and operable in a second state to energize the blower.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
330 words
The combination with an internal combustion engine mounted in an engine compartment equipped with venting apparatus including an electrical blower operable when energized to ventilate the compartment, and in circuit with a battery, an electrical starter, an ignition coil and an ignition switch operable in conducting and non-conducting modes, of an electronic safety control apparatus comprising: (a) first electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower and to monitor the operative state of the ignition switch, responsive to a change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode for continuously energizing the blower when the ignition switch is in its conducting mode and for automatically producing a continuous first enabling output signal delayed in time from the instant of said change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode by a first predetermined time interval; (b) blocking circuit means operatively connected in circuit with the starter and to receive said first enabling signal for electrically connecting and disconnecting the starter for energization, said blocking circuit means being normally operative in a first state to electrically disconnect the starter from energization and being operative in a second state when in receipt of said first enabling signal to electrically connect the starter for energization; (c) electronic engine sensing means operatively connected to the ignition coil for sensing electrical pulses passing through the ignition coil to the engine and responsive to said sensed pulses for providing a recycling output signal immediately after said sensed electrical pulses have been continuously applied to the engine for a second predetermined time interval beginning with the first of such sensed pulses; and (d) recycling circuit means operatively connected to said electronic engine sensing means and with said blower, responsive to receipt of said recycling signal for recycling said first electronic switching means and for de-energizing the blower until a subsequent change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
330 words
The combination with an internal combustion engine mounted in an engine compartment equipped with venting apparatus including an electrical blower operable when energized to ventilate the compartment, and in circuit with a battery, an electrical starter, an ignition coil and an ignition switch operable in conducting and non-conducting modes, of an electronic safety control apparatus comprising: (a) first electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower and to monitor the operative state of the ignition switch, responsive to a change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode for continuously energizing the blower when the ignition switch is in its conducting mode and for automatically producing a continuous first enabling output signal delayed in time from the instant of said change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode by a first predetermined time interval; (b) blocking circuit means operatively connected in circuit with the starter and to receive said first enabling signal for electrically connecting and disconnecting the starter for energization, said blocking circuit means being normally operative in a first state to electrically disconnect the starter from energization and being operative in a second state when in receipt of said first enabling signal to electrically connect the starter for energization; (c) electronic engine sensing means operatively connected to the ignition coil for sensing electrical pulses passing through the ignition coil to the engine and responsive to said sensed pulses for providing a recycling output signal immediately after said sensed electrical pulses have been continuously applied to the engine for a second predetermined time interval beginning with the first of such sensed pulses; and (d) recycling circuit means operatively connected to said electronic engine sensing means and with said blower, responsive to receipt of said recycling signal for recycling said first electronic switching means and for de-energizing the blower until a subsequent change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein said first electronic switching means and said electronic engine sensing means include electronic digital counter means for establishing said first and second predetermined time intervals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination as recited in claim 5, further including blower switch means and operatively connected to the battery and in parallel with said first switching means to the blower, responsive to manual stimulation for controlling energization of the blower, said blower switch means being normally operable in a first state to block energizing current flow to the blower and operable in a second state to energize the blower.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein said electronic engine sensing means includes means for providing a reenabling output signal whenever said sensed pulses are not continuously produced immediately following said second predetermined time internal, and wherein said recycling circuit means is operatively connected to received said reenabling output signal and is responsive thereto to re-energize said blower.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
The combination as recited in claim 5, including digital logic circuit means operatively connected to the starter, to sense the operative states of the ignition switch and said first electronic switching means and to sense an energizing voltage signal applied to the blower for overriding said blocking circuit means, electrically disconnecting for energization the starter when the ignition switch is operative in its conducting mode and when the starter is electrically enabled for energization by said first switching means but said energizing voltage signal to the blower is insufficient to energize the blower.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
166 words
The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein said first switching means further includes electronic circuit means operatively connected with the ignition coil and with said blocking circuit means, and responsive to a change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode for automatically producing a continuous second enabling output signal delayed in time from the instant of said change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode by said first predetermined time interval; and wherein said blocking circuit means further includes ignition blocking circuit means operatively connected with the ignition coil and to receive said second enabling output signal for electrically connecting and disconnecting the ignition coil for energization, said ignition blocking circuit means being normally operative in a first state to electrically disconnect the ignition coil from energization and being operative in the second state when in receipt of said second enabling output signal to electrically connect the ignition coil for energization.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
77 words
The combination as recited in claim 5, wherein the recited electronic means of said safety control apparatus are housed within a compact guardian chassis having a pair of detachable connector means for normally operatively connecting said guardian electronic means with the battery, the electrical starter, the ignition coil and the ignition switch, said conductor means being detachable from said guardian circuit means for mutual connection with each other, providing manual override of the safety control apparatus circuits.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
418 words
An electronic safety control apparatus for controlling the energization of an internal combustion engine of the type mounted in an enclosed engine compartment equipped with venting apparatus including an electrical blower operable when energized to ventilate the compartment, and in circuit with a battery, an electrical starter, an ignition coil and an ignition switch operable in conducting and non-conducting modes, the electronic safety control apparatus comprising: (a) first electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower and to monitor the operative state of the ignition swtich, responsive to a change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode for continuously energizing the blower when the ignition switch is in its conducting mode and for automatically producing a continuous first enabling output signal delayed in time from the instant of said change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode by a first predetermined time interval; (b) second electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower, to receive said first enabling signal and to monitor the operative state of the ignition switch, responsive to receipt of said first enabling signal and to change in state of the ignition switch from its conducting mode to its non-conducting mode for producing a second continuous enabling signal over a second predetermined time interval and for continuously energizing the blower over a third predetermined time interval, said second and third predetermined time intervals beginning with said change in state of the ignition switch to its non-conducting mode; (c) blocking circuit means operatively connected in circuit with the starter and to receive said first and second enabling signals for electrically connecting and disconnecting the starter for energization, said blocking circuit means being normally operative in a first state to electrically disconnect the starter from energization and being operative in a second state when in receipt of said first or second enabling signals to electrically connect the starter for energization; and (d) digital logic circuit means operatively connected to the starter, to sense the operative states of the ignition switch and said first and second electronic switching means and to sense an energizing voltage signal applied to the blower for overriding said blocking circuit means, electrically disconnecting for energization the starter when the ignition switch is operative in its conducting mode and when the starter is electrically enabled for energization by said first or second electronic switching means but when said energizing voltage signal to the blower is insufficient to energize the blower.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
418 words
An electronic safety control apparatus for controlling the energization of an internal combustion engine of the type mounted in an enclosed engine compartment equipped with venting apparatus including an electrical blower operable when energized to ventilate the compartment, and in circuit with a battery, an electrical starter, an ignition coil and an ignition switch operable in conducting and non-conducting modes, the electronic safety control apparatus comprising: (a) first electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower and to monitor the operative state of the ignition swtich, responsive to a change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode for continuously energizing the blower when the ignition switch is in its conducting mode and for automatically producing a continuous first enabling output signal delayed in time from the instant of said change in state of the ignition switch from its non-conducting mode to its conducting mode by a first predetermined time interval; (b) second electronic switching means operatively connected to the blower, to receive said first enabling signal and to monitor the operative state of the ignition switch, responsive to receipt of said first enabling signal and to change in state of the ignition switch from its conducting mode to its non-conducting mode for producing a second continuous enabling signal over a second predetermined time interval and for continuously energizing the blower over a third predetermined time interval, said second and third predetermined time intervals beginning with said change in state of the ignition switch to its non-conducting mode; (c) blocking circuit means operatively connected in circuit with the starter and to receive said first and second enabling signals for electrically connecting and disconnecting the starter for energization, said blocking circuit means being normally operative in a first state to electrically disconnect the starter from energization and being operative in a second state when in receipt of said first or second enabling signals to electrically connect the starter for energization; and (d) digital logic circuit means operatively connected to the starter, to sense the operative states of the ignition switch and said first and second electronic switching means and to sense an energizing voltage signal applied to the blower for overriding said blocking circuit means, electrically disconnecting for energization the starter when the ignition switch is operative in its conducting mode and when the starter is electrically enabled for energization by said first or second electronic switching means but when said energizing voltage signal to the blower is insufficient to energize the blower.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-25 | 1981-01-24 | 1981-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-25 | 1985-01-24 | 1985-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-25 | 1989-01-24 | 1989-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |