Method and device for checking an operating condition of an internal combustion engine

Claim 1

A device for checking an operating condition of an internal combustion engine comprising: a vibration sensor releasably attached to the engine cylinder block near one of the engine cylinders and producing a sensor signal representative of the magnitude of engine vibration near said one cylinder; a detector releasably attached to a cable interconnecting an ignition plug and a distributor and adapted to detect spark ignition in said one cylinder for producing a detector signal in response to the spark ignition; a circuit for discriminating the sensor signal value exceeding a threshold value and producing a discrimination signal when said sensor signal value is above the threshold value; a gating circuit connected to said discriminating circuit and said detector for producing an indicator signal when both of said discrimination signal and detector signal are simultaneously inputted; and an indicator actuatable for a predetermined period of time in response to said indicator signal.

Claim 2

A device for checking an operating condition of an internal combustion engine comprising: a vibration sensor releasably attached to the engine cylinder block near one of the engine cylinders and producing a sensor signal representative of the magnitude of engine vibration near said one cylinder; a detector releasably attached to a cable interconnecting an ignition plug and a distributor and adapted to detect spark ignition in said one cylinder for producing a detector signal in response to the spark ignition; a circuit for discriminating the sensor signal value exceeding a threshold value and producing a discrimination signal when said sensor signal value is above the threshold value; a gating circuit connected to said discriminating circuit and said detector for producing an indicator signal when both of said discrimination signal and detector signal are simultaneously inputted; and an indicator actuatable for a predetermined period of time in response to said indicator signal.

Claim 3

A device for monitoring and checking an operating condition of an internal combustion engine comprising: a vibration sensor detachably attached onto an engine cylinder block adjacent a single engine cylinder to be checked and producing a sensor signal having a value proportional to a magnitude of engine vibration; a detector detachably attached to an ignition cable interconnecting an ignition plug of said one cylinder and a distributor and detecting occurrence of spark ignition in said single cylinder to produce a detector signal in response thereto; a discriminating circuit for discriminating said sensor signal value exceeding a predetermined knocking threshold to produce a discrimination signal indicative of a knocking condition in said single cylinder. a gating circuit responsive to said discriminating circuit and said detector for producing an indicator signal when both of said discrimination signal and detector signal are simultaneously inputted; and a visual indicator responsive to said indicator signal to turn on for a visually recognisable predetermined period for visual indication of a knocking condition of said single cylinder.

Claim 4

A device for monitoring and checking an operating condition of an internal combustion engine comprising: a vibration sensor detachably attached onto an engine cylinder block adjacent a single engine cylinder to be checked and producing a sensor signal having a value proportional to a magnitude of engine vibration; a detector detachably attached to an ignition cable interconnecting an ignition plug of said one cylinder and a distributor and detecting occurrence of spark ignition in said single cylinder to produce a detector signal in response thereto; a discriminating circuit for discriminating said sensor signal value exceeding a predetermined knocking threshold to produce a discrimination signal indicative of a knocking condition in said single cylinder. a gating circuit responsive to said discriminating circuit and said detector for producing an indicator signal when both of said discrimination signal and detector signal are simultaneously inputted; and a visual indicator responsive to said indicator signal to turn on for a visually recognisable predetermined period for visual indication of a knocking condition of said single cylinder.

Claim 7

A device for checking an operating condition of an iternal combustion engine, comprising: a sensor releasably attached to the engine block near one of plural engine cylinders and producing a sensor signal representative of the magnitude of engine vibration near said one cylinder; a detector adapted to detect spark ignition in said one cylinder and producing a detector signal in response to the spark ignition; a circuit for discriminating when the sensor signal value exceeds a threshold value and producing a discrimination signal when the sensor signal value is above the threshold value and the detector signal is produced by the detector; and an indicator turned on for a predetermined period of time in response to said discriminating signal, wherein said detector comprises an electrically conductive strip adapted for gripping an ignition cable connecting a distributor to a spark plug of said one cylinder to be checked and for picking up ignition pulses propagating through the ignition cable.

Claim 8

A device for checking an operating condition of an iternal combustion engine, comprising: a sensor releasably attached to the engine block near one of plural engine cylinders and producing a sensor signal representative of the magnitude of engine vibration near said one cylinder; a detector adapted to detect spark ignition in said one cylinder and producing a detector signal in response to the spark ignition; a circuit for discriminating when the sensor signal value exceeds a threshold value and producing a discrimination signal when the sensor signal value is above the threshold value and the detector signal is produced by the detector; and an indicator turned on for a predetermined period of time in response to said discriminating signal, wherein said detector comprises an electrically conductive strip adapted for gripping an ignition cable connecting a distributor to a spark plug of said one cylinder to be checked and for picking up ignition pulses propagating through the ignition cable.

Claim 11

A method for checking operating condition of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: releasably fitting a vibration sensor for detecting engine vibration at a position adjacent a specific engine cylinder to detect a magnitude of vibration at the portion of the engine adjacent said specific cylinder; detecting spark ignition in said specific cylinder by means of an electrically conductive clip detachably gripping an ignition cable connected to a spark plug in said specific cylinder; discriminating the magnitude of the detected engine vibration exceeding a threshold level; and turning an indicator on for a period of time when the engine vibration magnitude is above the threshold value while spark ignition in said specific cylinder is detected, so that the indicator indicates a knocking condition in said specific cylinder.

Claim 12

A method for checking operating condition of an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of: releasably fitting a vibration sensor for detecting engine vibration at a position adjacent a specific engine cylinder to detect a magnitude of vibration at the portion of the engine adjacent said specific cylinder; detecting spark ignition in said specific cylinder by means of an electrically conductive clip detachably gripping an ignition cable connected to a spark plug in said specific cylinder; discriminating the magnitude of the detected engine vibration exceeding a threshold level; and turning an indicator on for a period of time when the engine vibration magnitude is above the threshold value while spark ignition in said specific cylinder is detected, so that the indicator indicates a knocking condition in said specific cylinder.