Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators – Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-04-24
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Internal alarm or indicator responsive to a condition of the...
C340S457400, C340S438000, C340S439000, C701S030000, C307S010600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222445
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to engine service monitoring systems. More particularly, this invention relates to a service monitoring system adapted for use with engines having at least a spark plug and an ignition circuit therefor.
2. Description of Related Art
Various service parameters are typically measured periodically with respect to the maintenance of a vehicle or its engine. For example, it is well-known in the motor vehicle art that engine durability is directly related to the lubricating ability of the engine crankcase oil, and that its lubricating ability degrades with engine operation and time. Accordingly, a service parameter relating to the operation of the engine is periodically monitored so that an indication that the oil needs to be replaced may be provided to an operator at appropriate times. It is also well-known that not only the engine oil's lubricating ability, but also a host of other engine and vehicular maintenance variables are typically related to the operation of the engine and elapsed time.
Therefore, it is widely recognized that various service intervals may be provided for the use of an operator of the vehicle or equipment so that recommended service maintenance schedules may be followed. By way example, automobile manufacturers of gasoline fueled passenger cars and light trucks typically recommend that, barring severe operating conditions, the engine oil should be changed every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months, whichever comes first. Under severe operating conditions, however, the manufacturers' schedule recommends that the engine oil be changed every 3,000 miles (4,800 km) or 3 months, whichever comes first. In this regard, severe operating conditions are defined as including trips less than 4 miles (6.4 km) in below freezing weather, extended idling, trailer towing, operating in dusty areas, and extended stop-and-go driving.
With respect to the automobile engine oil example described above and in regard to the use of engine oil in engines for other equipment, several solutions currently exist for determining when it is required to change the oil in the engine. However, these solutions are typically beset with numerous shortcomings and deficiencies. For example, existing engine oil monitoring systems may be used only on an engine having a tachometric output on the primary side of the transformer used in the engine ignition circuit. Those of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that such engines are typically found only in vehicles with distributors, thereby greatly limiting the types of engines with which the extant oil monitoring systems may be used.
Some current solutions require connections through the firewall that separates the engine compartment and the space occupied by human operators. Therefore, not only is the ease of installation of the current monitoring systems reduced thereby, but the operator safety is also compromised to a significant degree.
Moreover, conventional oil monitoring systems typically come with factory-loaded engine-type coefficients and service interval thresholds which cannot be altered or adjusted in the field. Accordingly, these systems are generally restricted to the factory-set engine types only. Additionally, known oil monitoring systems are not, in general, adaptable for use with different types of engine fuel. Also, they cannot adapt to different number of cylinders or the strokes/cycles of an engine. That is, a conventional engine monitoring system cannot typically be used accurately with an engine that can be operated with several fuels. Nor can a monitoring system, usable with a single cylinder engine, be used with an engine that has multiple cylinders. Similarly, a monitoring system usable with a two-stoke engine may not be usable with a four-stroke engine.
Accordingly, based upon the foregoing discussion, it should be readily appreciated that there exists an acute need for an engine service monitoring system that overcomes the deficiencies and shortcomings of the existing solutions described hereinabove. The present invention provides such an advantageous solution. It will be recognized upon reference hereto that although the teachings of the present invention are exemplified in terms of the engine oil change service parameter, various other service parameters may also be monitored within the scope hereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a service monitoring system for an engine of the type which includes at least one spark plug connected to a coil of an ignition transformer via a spark plug wire. The spark plug provides one or more spark pulses while the engine is turned on by an ignition contact. The service monitoring system comprises a magnetic core having a passage therethrough for surrounding the spark plug wire and a pickup coil with a conductive wiring disposed around the magnetic core. The pickup coil is inductively coupled to the spark plug wire for generating an induced current through the conductive wiring of the pickup coil when the spark pulses are created. Counting circuitry is coupled to the pickup coil for determining a count of induced current pulses corresponding to the spark pulses. Also included in the service monitoring system is an alarm indicator coupled to the counting circuitry to indicate a status of a service parameter, responsive to the count of the induced current pulses.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to an engine service monitoring system (ESMS) adapted for use with an engine, the engine being operable with an ignition circuit having a spark plug wire and a spark plug. The ESMS comprises counting means for counting ignition pulses generated in the course of operation of the engine so as to determine a count of the ignition pulses. There are means for inductively coupling the counting means to the spark plug wire; means for storing a threshold value with respect to a service parameter; means for comparing the count of the ignition pulses to the threshold value; and means for providing an alert to an operator when the count of the ignition pulses exceeds the threshold value. In exemplary embodiments, the alert preferably comprises an appropriate audible or visual indication.
In a yet further aspect, the present invention is related to a method of monitoring a service parameter associated with an engine having a spark plug, an ignition circuit with a transformer and a spark plug wire disposed between the spark plug and the transformer. In this method, a counting circuit is inductively coupled to the spark plug wire of the engine. When the engine is operated, the method begins by counting the spark plug pulses generated so as to determine a count thereof. The temperature of the engine is measured by taking a measurement of the temperature of the air surrounding the engine so that the count of the spark plug impulses may be adjusted based on the measured engine temperature. The adjusted count of the spark plug pulses is then compared with a selected threshold value. If the adjusted count exceeds the threshold value, an alarm is provided.
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Micro Technology Services, Inc.
Pope Daryl
Smith ,Danamraj & Youst, P.C.
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