Adjustable oil pump timing circuit with pressure monitor

Claim 2

A timing control and monitoring device for an oil pump, comprising: a pressure sensing switch which may be coupled to an output of an oil pump for sensing an oil pressure output therefrom and for comparing said output pressure to a predetermined saturation pressure, said pressure sensing switch being actuated when said output pressure coincides with said saturation pressure; intermittent timing means connected to said pressure switch for regulating power to said oil pump according to an intermittent time sequence, said intermittent time sequence including a first interval during which power is applied to said oil pump, and a second interval during which power is removed from said pump; watchdog timing means connected to said pressure switch for measuring a timeout interval occurring during said first interval, and for detecting when said pressure sensing switch is not actuated within said timeout interval; and an alarm connected to said watchdog timing means for indicating that said pressure sensing switch has not been actuated within said timeout interval.

Claim 3

The oil pump timing control and monitoring device according to claim 1, further comprising a detent switch connected to said intermittent timing means for initializing said intermittent timing sequence.

Claim 4

The oil pump timing control and monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein said watchdog timing means further comprises a first timer for detecting when said pressure sensing switch is not actuated within said timeout interval, and a second timer serially connected to said first timer for introducing a variable delay interval between said first timer detecting that said pressure sensing switch was not actuated within said timeout interval and said alarm indication.

Claim 5

A timing control and monitoring device for an oil pump, comprising: a pressure sensing switch which may be coupled to an output of an oil pump for sensing an oil pressure output therefrom and for comparing said output pressure to a predetermined saturation pressure, said pressure sensing switch being actuated when said output pressure coincides with said saturation pressure; variable timing means for regulating an intermittent time sequence and a watchdog timeout interval, said timing means further comprising, a variable self-oscillating clock for supplying a clock signal of adjustable frequency, a counter connected to said clock for regulating power to said oil pump according to an intermittent time sequence, said intermittent time sequence including a first interval during which power is applied to said oil pump, and a second interval during which power is removed from said pump, said counter also regulating a timeout interval and detecting when said pressure sensing switch is not actuated within said timeout interval; and an alarm energized by said counter for indicating that said pressure sensing switch has not been actuated within said timeout interval.

Claim 6

A timing control and monitoring device for an oil pump, comprising: a pressure sensing switch which may be coupled to an output of an oil pump for sensing an oil pressure output therefrom and for comparing said output pressure to a predetermined saturation pressure, said pressure sensing switch being actuated when said output pressure coincides with said saturation pressure; variable timing means for regulating an intermittent time sequence and a watchdog timeout interval, said timing means further comprising, a variable self-oscillating clock for supplying a clock signal of adjustable frequency, a counter connected to said clock for regulating power to said oil pump according to an intermittent time sequence, said intermittent time sequence including a first interval during which power is applied to said oil pump, and a second interval during which power is removed from said pump, said counter also regulating a timeout interval and detecting when said pressure sensing switch is not actuated within said timeout interval; and an alarm energized by said counter for indicating that said pressure sensing switch has not been actuated within said timeout interval.

Claim 7

The oil pump timing control and monitoring device according to claim 4, further comprising a detent switch connected to said self-oscillating clock for disabling said clock and applying power to said oil pump.

Claim 8

The oil pump timing control and monitoring device according to claim 4, wherein said variable self-oscillating clock further comprises a variable resistor for allowing manual adjustment of the frequency of said clock signal

Claim 9

The oil pump timing control and monitoring device according to claim 4, further comprising a variable delay timer connected between said counter and said alarm for introducing a variable delay interval between said counter detecting that said pressure sensing switch was not actuated within said timeout interval and said alarm indication thereof.

Claim 10

A timing control and monitoring device for an oil pump, comprising: a pressure sensing switch which may be connected to an output of an oil pump for sensing an oil pressure output therefrom and for comparing said output pressure to a predetermined saturation pressure, said pressure sensing switch being actuated when said output pressure coincides with said saturation pressure; intermittent timing means connected to said pressure switch for regulating power to said oil pump according to an intermittent time sequence, said intermittent time sequence including a first interval during which power is applied to said oil pump, and a second interval during which power is removed from said pump; a watchdog timer connected to said pressure switch for monitoring a timeout condition in which said pressure sensing switch is not actuated within a predetermined timeout interval occurring during said first interval, said watchdog timer further comprising a first timing means for measuring said predetermined timeout interval, and second timing means serially connected to said first timing means for introducing a variable delay interval after said timeout condition; and an alarm connected to said watchdog timer for indicating said timeout condition after said variable delay interval.

Claim 11

A timing control and monitoring device for an oil pump, comprising: a pressure sensing switch which may be connected to an output of an oil pump for sensing an oil pressure output therefrom and for comparing said output pressure to a predetermined saturation pressure, said pressure sensing switch being actuated when said output pressure coincides with said saturation pressure; intermittent timing means connected to said pressure switch for regulating power to said oil pump according to an intermittent time sequence, said intermittent time sequence including a first interval during which power is applied to said oil pump, and a second interval during which power is removed from said pump; a watchdog timer connected to said pressure switch for monitoring a timeout condition in which said pressure sensing switch is not actuated within a predetermined timeout interval occurring during said first interval, said watchdog timer further comprising a first timing means for measuring said predetermined timeout interval, and second timing means serially connected to said first timing means for introducing a variable delay interval after said timeout condition; and an alarm connected to said watchdog timer for indicating said timeout condition after said variable delay interval.

Claim 12

The oil pump timing control and monitoring device according to claim 8, further comprising a detent switch connected to said intermittent timing means for initializing said intermittent timing sequence.

Claim 13

A timing control and monitoring device for an oil pump, comprising: a pressure sensing switch which may be connected to an output of an oil pump for sensing an oil pressure output therefrom and for comparing said output pressure to a predetermined saturation pressure, said pressure sensing switch being actuated when said output pressure coincides with said saturation pressure; variable timing means for regulating an intermittent time sequence and a watchdog timeout interval, said timing means further comprising, a variable self-oscillating clock for supplying a clock signal of adjustable frequency, a counter connected to said clock for regulating power to said oil pump according to an intermittent time sequence, said intermittent time sequence including a first interval during which power is applied to said oil pump, and a second interval during which power is removed from said pump, said counter also monitoring a timeout condition wherein said pressure sensing switch is not actuated within a preset watchdog timeout interval occurring during said first interval, a variable delay timer connected to said counter for introducing a variable delay interval after occurrence of said timeout condition; and an alarm connected to said variable delay timer for indicating said timeout condition after said variable delay.

Claim 14

A timing control and monitoring device for an oil pump, comprising: a pressure sensing switch which may be connected to an output of an oil pump for sensing an oil pressure output therefrom and for comparing said output pressure to a predetermined saturation pressure, said pressure sensing switch being actuated when said output pressure coincides with said saturation pressure; variable timing means for regulating an intermittent time sequence and a watchdog timeout interval, said timing means further comprising, a variable self-oscillating clock for supplying a clock signal of adjustable frequency, a counter connected to said clock for regulating power to said oil pump according to an intermittent time sequence, said intermittent time sequence including a first interval during which power is applied to said oil pump, and a second interval during which power is removed from said pump, said counter also monitoring a timeout condition wherein said pressure sensing switch is not actuated within a preset watchdog timeout interval occurring during said first interval, a variable delay timer connected to said counter for introducing a variable delay interval after occurrence of said timeout condition; and an alarm connected to said variable delay timer for indicating said timeout condition after said variable delay.

Claim 15

The oil pump timing control and monitoring device according to claim 10, further comprising a detent switch connected to said self-oscillating clock for disabling said clock and applying power to said oil pump.

Claim 16

The oil pump timing control and monitoring device according to claim 10, wherein said variable self-oscillating clock further comprises a variable resistor for allowing manual adjustment of the frequency of said clock signal.