EP0636075A1 - Systemes d'immobilisation de moteur - Google Patents

Systemes d'immobilisation de moteur

Info

Publication number
EP0636075A1
EP0636075A1 EP93911867A EP93911867A EP0636075A1 EP 0636075 A1 EP0636075 A1 EP 0636075A1 EP 93911867 A EP93911867 A EP 93911867A EP 93911867 A EP93911867 A EP 93911867A EP 0636075 A1 EP0636075 A1 EP 0636075A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
blockage
engine
blocking
exhaust
duct
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP93911867A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Paul David Drake
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0636075A1 publication Critical patent/EP0636075A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R25/00—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles
    • B60R25/01—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
    • B60R25/04—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
    • B60R25/043—Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor by blocking the exhaust
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B1/00—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression
    • F02B1/02—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression with positive ignition
    • F02B1/04—Engines characterised by fuel-air mixture compression with positive ignition with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus for engine immobilisation applicable to the immobilisation of internal combustion engines including both diesel and petrol engines, and indeed engines using other fuels and fuel forms.
  • An important aspect of the invention relates to the use of an engine immobilisation system as part of a vehicle security system.
  • the invention is concerned with an engine immobilisation system utilising blockage means for the exhaust portion of the engine aspiration system.
  • Such a device has significant advantages over other vehicle security systems including alarms, steering locks, brake locks and ignition cut-outs.
  • these devices are not effective to immobilise an engine since the volumetric capacity of the exhaust system on the upstream side of the immobilisation device is such that the engine can start even when the device is in place and blocking the exhaust system.
  • the engine then acts as a gas pump and severe damage can result both to the engine and to associated systems.
  • the gas pressures developed are sufficient to blow out gaskets in the exhaust system and the reverse direction gas flow resulting from the blockage can cause serious damage to a catalytic convertor.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an engine immobilisation system offering improvements in relation to one or more of the matters discussed above, or generally.
  • blockage means controllable to adopt, selectively, blocking and non-blocking conditions the advantage is provided that the apparatus can remain permanently in place, without the need for awkward and inconvenient and otherwise unacceptable operations needed for bringing the prior art proposals mentioned above into use and out of use.
  • control means for the blockage means is provided and located outside the duct means and is actuable to effect change of the blockage means between its blocking and non-blocking conditions.
  • remote control of the blockage means can be provided in a convenient manner, and indeed a secure manner since the blockage means itself can be conveniently actuated even though it is located in an inaccessible location so that it is relatively invulnerable to the attentions of would-be thieves.
  • the blockage device is mounted at a location upstream of the discharge end of the exhaust duct.
  • the operation of the device is significantly improved in relation to the prior art proposals in that, by virtue of the proximity of the device to the engine, a reverse flow of gas is generated which chokes the engine, rather than causing a build-up of back pressure as tends to occur with the prior art proposals.
  • the invention provides an engine immobilisation system in which means is provided for blocking or otherwise preventing or interrupting the outward flow of exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine, at a location upstream of the discharge end of the exhaust system of the engine.
  • the blockage means is in the form of valve means, for example a butterfly valve.
  • the blockage means in the form of a valve, the valve being incorporated in the pipe of the exhaust system of the engine, and the valve being actuable by external means, there is provided a system whereby the exhaust pipe itself can operate either to immobilise the engine, or to permit the engine to run.
  • the blockage means By providing the blockage means upstream of the discharge end of the exhaust system, the blockage means is rendered relatively inaccessible in most cars/automobiles, and thus is rendered relatively tamper-proof.
  • a butterfly-type valve which enables valve control to be exercised by external means in a relatively straightforward manner.
  • Alternative valve means could be employed, such as an iris valve, but it is expected that gas control will be less straightforward than in the case of a butterfly-type valve.
  • a ball or other types of valve provided adequate space were available.
  • the material of the disc of the butterfly-type valve is 316 grade stainless steel, which is the preferred material as of the date of filing of this application, even with respect to ceramic materials, which are well known for their thermal resistance characteristics.
  • the blockage means is supplied in the form of a replacement length of tubing, incorporating the valve means, for incorporation into the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.
  • the length of tubing can be simply bolted into place as a replacement for a short length of the existing exhaust system.
  • means is provided for setting the valve of the blockage means automatically to its valve-closed blockage condition when the user switches off the engine.
  • This is made a feature of the valve control system, whereby automatic engine security is provided.
  • the valve drive is arranged to operate in the case of a power interruption so as to fail to the state of the valve in which the power interruption occurred, whereby safety is greatly increased as compared with vehicle immobilisation systems such as those acting on the transmission or the brakes which can have significant safety shortcomings in the event of power failure.
  • the blockage device can be fitted readily into vehicles otherwise than as original equipment, for example during routine service work or replacement of parts of the exhaust system, or merely as a replacement of a short section of the main pipe of that system.
  • the blockage device is particularly ef ective in relation to diesel engines. It may be fitted at any convenient location on the downstream side of the engine exhaust valves. The usual location would be some little distance from the exhaust manifold at the location where the exhaust pipe passes under the floor of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, whereby direct action of flames from the exhaust valves on the butterfly valve disc is prevented by the intervening change of direction in the pipe.
  • the butterfly-type valve disc is controlled by a flexible shaft coupled to an electric stepping motor.
  • Alternative control systems are of course possible.
  • the exhaust blockage means may be provided as one of several security systems provided in a single motor vehicle.
  • the advantage is provided that the mobile touch memory element, which the user utilises as a "key" to deactivate the immobilisation system, does not itself require a battery or other source of power, and is effective in this way for the entire life of the equipment.
  • the position of the blockage member or valve member is controlled in an embodiment by a powerful microprocessor which monitors the status of the vehicle, including the engine, and other information, to determine the appropriate state for the blockage member. Safety features are incorporated which ensure that the blockage member can never be closed if the engine is running. The microprocessor automatically closes the blockage member when the engine is switched off and the authorised driver leaves the vehicle.
  • the blockage or valve member does not need to form a perfect seal with the walls of the duct due to the fact that the immobilisation of the engine is caused by reverse flow of gas choking the engine.
  • the blockage member is located close to the engine exhaust manifold, in most cases it is not possible for the engine to start before it is choked. If it does start, it will die almost immediately.
  • the blockage device is provided in the inlet side of the aspiration system at a position immediately upstream of the exhaust manifold so as to be able, in its blocking condition, to interrupt the supply of air and fuel mixture to the combustion chambers.
  • inlet-side control some variation in the location of and/or application of the invention to differing kinds of engines using differing fuels (and thus differing fuel/air mixture supply systems) will be necessary.
  • inlet-side blockage member the high temperature requirements do not arise and therefore construction can be simplified and relatively cheaper.
  • the blockage member may comprise a disc of 16 gauge and 316 grade stainless steel.
  • a blockage member formed as a ceramic pressing is to be preferred.
  • a pivoted- plate type valve member is used in place of a butterfly disc and the plate member is of generally rectangular profile and located in a complementary rectangular section profile duct. The plate member is pivoted about an axis adjacent to one side wall of the duct.
  • Fig 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of an internal combustion engine having an exhaust manifold connected to an exhaust aspiration system comprising a silencer and, on the upstream side thereof, an engine immobilisation device;
  • Fig 2 is a diagrammatic representation of functions provided in a control system for the engine immobilisation device of Fig 1;
  • Fig 3 and 4 show sections through the engine immobilisation device of Fig 1 on the line III-III therein, and showing, respectively, a blockage device in its blocking and non-blocking positions;
  • Fig 5 shows, on a larger scale, a section through the engine immobilisation device indicating its open and closed positions.
  • engine immobilisation apparatus 10 for connection to the aspiration system 12 of an internal combustion engine 14 comprises duct means 16 and blockage means 18 therein.
  • the blockage means is controllable to adopt, selectively, blocking and non-blocking positions shown in Figs 3 and 4 respectively.
  • Control means 20 is located outside duct 16 and changes the blockage means between its blocking and non-blocking positions.
  • the blockage means 18 is located upstream of the discharge end 22 of exhaust duct 24, and likewise upstream of a silencer or catalytic converter/silencer assembly 26 therein.
  • engine 14 comprises an exhaust manifold 28 connected in a conventional manner to exhaust duct 24 which comprises a downwardly sloping portion 30 and a generally horizontal portion 32.
  • exhaust duct 24 which comprises a downwardly sloping portion 30 and a generally horizontal portion 32.
  • This latter portion has silencer 26 incorporated therein, and may be profiled in any suitable manner to accommodate vehicle construction requirements.
  • Duct 16 is incorporated into portion 32 of exhaust duct 24, but could be incorporated in portion 30 thereof, equally.
  • duct means 16 is indicated as if it were of considerably larger diameter than exhaust duct 24. However, in practice this is not the case, and duct 16 is just of slightly larger diameter than the exhaust duct, so as to be a tight sliding fit thereover, as a replacement for a short section thereof. It is welded to the exhaust duct, to form a gas-tight seal thereto.
  • blockage member 18 is in the form of a disc 34 mounted for pivotal movement about an axis 36 on a rod 38.
  • the rod and the disc are of stainless steel and the rod is located in a diametral groove (not shown) pressed in the disc to accommodate it.
  • disc 34 is movable between its closed and open positions shown in Figs 3 and 4, and likewise in Fig 5.
  • Movement of the disc between its open and closed positions is effected by means of a flexible shaft drive 40 which transmits drive from a stepping motor 42 through a torque step-up reduction gear box 44, and thus to disc 34.
  • Shaft drive 40 is coupled to the disc through a coupling 46.
  • a control module 48 receives inputs from sensors 50, 52 sensing, respectively, engine operation and vehicle door open or closed positions.
  • a user identification module 54 provides an input indicating whether the user is authorised or not. Further inputs and outputs may be provided and there is shown a crank inhibit device 56 which operates to inhibit the engine starter motor in the event of attempted unauthorised use.
  • Annunciator module 58 provides output indicating either visually or by means of audible signals the status of the security system and the engine immobilisation apparatus 10.
  • Control module 48 comprises a microprocessor of known construction to analyse the identified inputs for functions in accordance with the stated parameters and operations, including outputs to control motor 44 and modules 56, 58.
  • the user identification module 54 comprises a Dallas semiconductor Micro-PROM unit encased in a small metal "can" roughly the shape and size of a lithium calculator battery which is used as a "key” in association with a reader unit.
  • Control module 48 is arranged to permit use of the system only upon recognition of the previously identified user from this "key” .
  • This system provides a high degree of security in terms of very precise identification of user and inoperability of the system without such identification.
  • Alternative key systems may be employed.
  • the micro-PROM unit is available under serial number DS1990 from the range of Dallas semi-conductor Touch Memories. In use, the user simply makes contact between the "key” and its complementary reader unit. Upon recognition, a system permission-to-operate signal is generated.
  • the above described system provides a high level of effectiveness of engine immobilisation in association with the parameters of the security system shown in Fig 2.
  • a high degree of resistance to mechanical attack arises from the location of the blockage device at a relatively inaccessible point.
  • the blockage means is provided in the inlet side of the engine instead of on the exhaust side.
  • the blockage device is located immediately upstream of the inlet manifold so as to be able to interrupt the flow of air/fuel mixture to the inlet ports of the engine.
  • the blockage device may be constructed generally as ' described above, but in this case there is no requirement for high temperature resistance, and therefore modification of the materials used can be adopted. In this embodiment the immobilisation of the engine is produced on a simple fuel/air starvation basis.
  • the blockage device and its control systems are otherwise constructed and arranged as described above.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Exhaust Silencers (AREA)

Abstract

Un système d'immobilisation de moteur comprend un dispositif de blocage (18) pouvant fonctionner dans la conduite d'échappement (24) du système d'aspiration du moteur, à proximité de celui-ci, de façon à produire un écoulement inverse de gaz pour étrangler le moteur. Le blocage est effectué par un élément de blocage résistant aux températures élevées (34), fonctionnant d'une manière analogue à une soupape d'étranglement et actionné par un câble de commande flexible. Un système de commande électronique (48) actionne un moteur pas-à-pas (42) de façon à commander le blocage en fonction de paramètres detectés, relatifs au vehicule, y compris la détection d'une utilisation non autorisée du véhicule.
EP93911867A 1992-04-24 1993-04-26 Systemes d'immobilisation de moteur Withdrawn EP0636075A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9208978 1992-04-24
GB9208978A GB9208978D0 (en) 1992-04-24 1992-04-24 Method and apparatus for disabling engines
PCT/GB1993/000868 WO1993022166A1 (fr) 1992-04-24 1993-04-26 Systemes d'immobilisation de moteur

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0636075A1 true EP0636075A1 (fr) 1995-02-01

Family

ID=10714542

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93911867A Withdrawn EP0636075A1 (fr) 1992-04-24 1993-04-26 Systemes d'immobilisation de moteur

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0636075A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU4266493A (fr)
GB (1) GB9208978D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1993022166A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9302208D0 (en) * 1993-02-04 1993-03-24 Divers William K Security device
WO1997001463A1 (fr) * 1995-06-26 1997-01-16 Rozim Peter Systeme antivol pour vehicule
WO1997046429A1 (fr) * 1996-06-05 1997-12-11 Arzamasov Evgenii Vladimirovic Procede de protection de vehicules contre le vol et dispositif de mise en oeuvre de ce procede
DE102006010099A1 (de) * 2006-03-06 2007-09-13 Robert Bosch Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Steuern einer Brennkraftmaschine
CN105946789B (zh) * 2016-07-05 2018-10-19 广东宁源科技园发展有限公司 一种车辆虚拟故障装置

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4690240A (en) * 1985-04-01 1987-09-01 Russo Rudolph P Anti-theft exhaust system for vehicles
WO1988007462A1 (fr) * 1987-04-01 1988-10-06 Richard Lapinski Dispositif antivol
US5052204A (en) * 1987-12-03 1991-10-01 Millar Frederick W Security device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9322166A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9208978D0 (en) 1992-06-10
AU4266493A (en) 1993-11-29
WO1993022166A1 (fr) 1993-11-11

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