Engine cranking motor lock out system

Claim 2

Apparatus for developing an electrical signal in response to a running condition of an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cranking motor for cranking said engine having a mounting housing portion engaging a portion of said engine housing, at least one bolt having a head portion engaging said cranking motor housing portion and having a threaded portion threaded into a threaded opening in said engine housing for securing said cranking motor to said engine, said head portion of said bolt carrying a transducer that is operative to translate mechanical movement of the head portion into an electrical signal, said head portion of said bolt being mechanically moved by oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine to thereby cause said transducer to produce an electrical signal.

Claim 3

Apparatus for developing an electrical signal in response to a running condition of an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cranking motor for cranking said engine having a mounting housing portion engaging a portion of said engine housing, at least one bolt having a head portion engaging said cranking motor housing portion and having a threaded portion threaded into a threaded opening in said engine housing for securing said cranking motor to said engine, said head portion of said bolt carrying a piezoelectric element that is operative to translate mechanical movement of the head portion into an electrical signal, said head portion of said bolt being mechanically moved by oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine to thereby stress said piezoelectric element to produce an electrical signal.

Claim 4

Apparatus for developing an electrical signal in response to a running condition of an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cranking motor for cranking said engine having a mounting housing portion engaging a portion of said engine housing, at least one bolt having a head portion engaging said cranking motor housing portion and having a threaded portion threaded into a threaded opening in said engine housing for securing said cranking motor to said engine, said head portion of said bolt carrying a piezoelectric element that is operative to translate mechanical movement of the head portion into an electrical signal, said head portion of said bolt being mechanically moved by oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine to thereby stress said piezoelectric element to produce an electrical signal.

Claim 5

Apparatus for developing an electrical signal in response to a running condition of an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cranking motor for cranking said engine having a mounting housing portion located adjacent one end thereof engaging a portion of said engine housing, a plurality of bolts each having a head portion engaging said cranking motor housing portion and each having a threaded portion threaded into a threaded opening in said engine housing for securing said cranking motor to said engine, said cranking motor extending axially of said portion of said engine housing such that the cranking motor is cantilever mounted to said engine, the head portion of at least one of said bolts carrying a transducer that is operative to translate mechanical movement of the head portion into an electrical signal, said head portion of said bolt being mechanically moved in response to oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine to thereby cause said transducer to produce an electrical signal.

Claim 6

Apparatus for developing an electrical signal in response to a running condition of an internal combustion engine comprising in combination, an internal combustion engine having a housing, a cranking motor for cranking said engine having a mounting housing portion located adjacent one end thereof engaging a portion of said engine housing, a plurality of bolts each having a head portion engaging said cranking motor housing portion and each having a threaded portion threaded into a threaded opening in said engine housing for securing said cranking motor to said engine, said cranking motor extending axially of said portion of said engine housing such that the cranking motor is cantilever mounted to said engine, the head portion of at least one of said bolts carrying a transducer that is operative to translate mechanical movement of the head portion into an electrical signal, said head portion of said bolt being mechanically moved in response to oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine to thereby cause said transducer to produce an electrical signal.

Claim 7

An electric cranking motor control system comprising, an electric cranking motor, an internal combustion engine, means fastening said cranking motor to said engine in a cantilever mounting comprising a bolt having a head portion, said head portion carrying a transducer that is stressed to produce a signal in response to oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine, a source of voltage, means including manually operable switch means for causing said cranking motor to be energized from said source of voltage, and means for at times preventing energization of said cranking motor from said voltage source when said transducer is developing said signal.

Claim 8

An electric cranking motor control system comprising, an electric cranking motor, an internal combustion engine, means fastening said cranking motor to said engine in a cantilever mounting comprising a bolt having a head portion, said head portion carrying a transducer that is stressed to produce a signal in response to oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine, a source of voltage, means including manually operable switch means for causing said cranking motor to be energized from said source of voltage, and means for at times preventing energization of said cranking motor from said voltage source when said transducer is developing said signal.

Claim 9

An electric cranking motor control system comprising, an electric cranking motor, an internal combustion engine, means fastening said cranking motor to said engine in a cantilever mounting comprising a bolt having a head portion, said head portion carrying a piezoelectric element that is stressed to produce a signal in response to oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine, a source of voltage, means including manually operable switch means for causing said cranking motor to be energized from said source of voltage, and means for at times preventing energization of said cranking motor from said voltage source when said piezoelectric element is developing said signal.

Claim 10

An electric cranking motor control system comprising, an electric cranking motor, an internal combustion engine, means fastening said cranking motor to said engine in a cantilever mounting comprising a bolt having a head portion, said head portion carrying a piezoelectric element that is stressed to produce a signal in response to oscillatory motion of said cranking motor caused by a running condition of said engine, a source of voltage, means including manually operable switch means for causing said cranking motor to be energized from said source of voltage, and means for at times preventing energization of said cranking motor from said voltage source when said piezoelectric element is developing said signal.

Claim 11

An electric cranking motor control system comprising, an electric cranking motor, an internal combustion engine, means fastening said cranking motor to said engine comprising a bolt having a head portion, said head portion carrying a transducer that is stressed to produce a signal in response to a running condition of said engine and is stressed to produce said signal when said engine is being cranked by said cranking motor, a source of voltage, means including manually operable switch means for causing said cranking motor to be energized from said source of voltage, control means for at times preventing energization of said cranking motor from said voltage source when said transducer is developing said signal, and circuit means responsive to initial closure of said manually operable switch means for preventing operation of said control means when said engine is being initially cranked by said cranking motor.

Claim 12

An electric cranking motor control system comprising, an electric cranking motor, an internal combustion engine, means fastening said cranking motor to said engine comprising a bolt having a head portion, said head portion carrying a transducer that is stressed to produce a signal in response to a running condition of said engine and is stressed to produce said signal when said engine is being cranked by said cranking motor, a source of voltage, means including manually operable switch means for causing said cranking motor to be energized from said source of voltage, control means for at times preventing energization of said cranking motor from said voltage source when said transducer is developing said signal, and circuit means responsive to initial closure of said manually operable switch means for preventing operation of said control means when said engine is being initially cranked by said cranking motor.

Claim 13

An electric cranking motor control system comprising, an electric cranking motor operative when energized to crank an internal combustion engine, a source of voltage, means comprising a semiconductor switch means operative when conductive to cause said cranking motor to be energized and operative when nonconductive to cause said cranking motor to be deenergized, a capacitor directly connected to a control electrode of said semiconductor switch means, said semiconductor switch means being biased conductive when said capacitor is charged to a predetermined voltage, a piezoelectric element mechanically coupled to said engine developing a signal in response to a running condition of said engine, means for at times repetitively charging and discharging said capacitor when said signal is developed at such a rate that the voltage attained by said capacitor does not reach a level sufficient to bias said semiconductor switch means conductive whereby said cranking motor is prevented from being energized when said engine is running, a manually operable start switch, and means responsive to initial closure of said start switch for charging said capacitor to a voltage level sufficient to bias said semiconductor switch means conductive and for maintaining said semiconductor switch means conductive as long as said start switch is closed.

Claim 14

An electric cranking motor control system comprising, an electric cranking motor operative when energized to crank an internal combustion engine, a source of voltage, means comprising a semiconductor switch means operative when conductive to cause said cranking motor to be energized and operative when nonconductive to cause said cranking motor to be deenergized, a capacitor directly connected to a control electrode of said semiconductor switch means, said semiconductor switch means being biased conductive when said capacitor is charged to a predetermined voltage, a piezoelectric element mechanically coupled to said engine developing a signal in response to a running condition of said engine, means for at times repetitively charging and discharging said capacitor when said signal is developed at such a rate that the voltage attained by said capacitor does not reach a level sufficient to bias said semiconductor switch means conductive whereby said cranking motor is prevented from being energized when said engine is running, a manually operable start switch, and means responsive to initial closure of said start switch for charging said capacitor to a voltage level sufficient to bias said semiconductor switch means conductive and for maintaining said semiconductor switch means conductive as long as said start switch is closed.