GB2306577A

GB2306577A - Vehicle engine stop-start control

Info

Publication number: GB2306577A
Application number: GB9521379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Isaac Noel Moody
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-10-18
Filing date: 1995-10-18
Publication date: 1997-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2015-10-18
Also published as: GB9521379D0; GB2306577B

Abstract

An engine ignition circuit is opened when the vehicle stops for more than adjustable period. An ignition and starter motor circuit is closed by a switch on the accelerator pedal and the motor is switched off when a relay is activated in response to alternator current or engine oil pressure.

Description

[ PANEL A ENGINE CONTROLLER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES The invention relates to the need to conserve energy and reduce atmospheric pollution from petrol and diesel engines used in road transport vehicles.

The problems of air pollution caused by road vehicles is a well known and serious phenomenon , especially in urban areas with heavy traffic congestion The purpose of this invention ,is to provide a feasible, safe and convenient means of reducing the pollution effect of motor vehicles , by automatically switching off and re-starting the engines during the brief but repetitious stops which are unavoidable , due to traffic lights, traffic holdups and tailbacks.

By reducing the amount of fuel used the controller inhances the air quality in urban areas by a corresponding amount..

This invention provides electrical and electronic assistance to control the starting and stopping of the engine in a safe and convenient manner, so that the driver is only required to operate the accelerator pedal to start and re-start the vehicle.

Operation of the invention is as follows : Figure 1. shows the original ignition system of the vehicle fitted with a relay switch to break the circuit when activated by a mechanical or electronic device , capable of sensing when the vehicle stops moving forward.

This device can be operated mechanically through the speedo drive, by an electro - magnetic sensor, by an optical or any other sensing device capable of gauging when the vehicle has stopped moving forward.

There will be many occasions when the driver of the vehicle , can see that the traffic up ahead is beginning to move and it would not therefore be useful to have the engine stopping for just a few seconds. To prevent the engine stopping for very short periods , a time-delay device is incorporated into the circuit which allows the driver to select and pre-set the length of time the engine will continue to run after the vehicle comes to a stopped condition.

A second ignition circuit, which also incorporates the starter motor circuit ,is shown in Figure 2.

The purpose of this circuit is to allow the engine to be started by the initial pressure on a starter motor switch which is incorporated into the accelerator pedal.

The operation is as follows : When the ignition is switched on with the ignition key. the circuits shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 are both energised.

The initial pressure on the accelerator pedal completes the ignition circuit shown in Figure 2 and the starter motor is engaged ------- the engine starts.

When the engine starts the starter motor is switched off automatically through a relay , activated by the newly available output current from the alternator.

As the conventional alternator circuit is directly connected to the battery , it is necessary to fit a diode in the alternator output circuit to prevent feedback from the battery . This configuration allows a feed directly from the alternator to activate the relay circuit which switches off the starter motor when the engine starts.

Alternatively , the relay can be activated by utilisation of the oil pressure switch circuit Figure 3.

Having started, the engine will continue to run until the following sequence of events is complete : ONe ignition circuit Fig 1. is broken by the motion sensing device when the vehicle comes to rest and the additional time allowed by the time delay device has elapsed.

The second ignition circuit is broken when the driver has removed all pressure from the accelerator pedal.

Sequence of operation Driver removes pressure from accelerator.

Driver applies pressure to break.

Vehicle stops.

Time delay provides pause in which driver allows engine to switch off or replaces foot on accelerator pedal, to keep ignition circuit Fig.2 live.

Driver presses accelerator to continue journey or to re-start the engine and continue journey [ PANEL B ] Referring to the diagrams Fig 1 and Fig 2 the engine controller is comprised of two ignition circuits , which are designed to assist the driver to stop and re-start the engine of the vehicle by the operation of the accelerator pedal only.

The components of this invention are manufactured or selected to operate the system and while some may be unique in themselves they are not claimed to be so at this time.

The motion sensing device 10 Fig 1. is used to activate the ignition circuit relay 12 to stop the engine , this relay has a timing facility which allows for a short variable interval of (zero to 30 seconds ) between the vehicle coming to rest and the engine being switched off.

In the second ignition circuit a pressure switch 14 Fig 2. is fitted into the accelerator pedal , from this switch one live wire goes directly to the ignition system and a second live wire goes to the starter motor. Switch 14 is activated by the initial pressure on the accelerator pedal and the engine starts.

When the engine starts, relay 15 is activated by the output current from the alternator 17 and the starter motor 16 is switched off.

Diode 19 Fig 2. is fitted in the circuit between the alternator 17 and the battery 20 , to prevent feed-back from the battery prior to starting ,this allows the start up current from the alternator to activate relay 15 at the appropriate time The starter motor can also be controlled by making use of the engine oil pressure switch 18 as shown in Fig 3.

In this case a different type of relay 15 is required as it is activated when the oil light current is switched off at operating oil pressure.

Claims

[ PLATE C

CLAIMS 1. This engine controller provides a convenient and safe means of stopping and re-starting motor vehicle engines, in conditions where the engine is serving no useful purpose. Such situations occur while the vehicle is stationary at traffic lights or during other temporary but unavoidable stops.
2. By reducing fuel wastage the engine controller will reduce pollution in situations of traffic congestion.
3. (A) This invention provides a means of governing the operation of the starter motor by the start-up current from the vehicle's alternator 3 (B) The invention also provides a means of governing the starter motor through the vehicle's oil pressure switch circuit.
4. This device is suitable for fitting as original equipment or for retro-fitting to any motor vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine.