A system is disclosed for automatically controlling the shutdown and restarting of a vehicle engine in order to conserve fuel at times when the vehicle would be otherwise stopped, with the engine running at idle speed and including in combination, an accumulator for computing and displaying the amount of fuel saved during shutdown. A central control comprised of an auto shutdown logic section and an auto start time delay logic section is connected to signal producing components on the vehicle and its engine and provides outputs to control engine shutdown and restart. The accumulating device utilizes an idle fuel flow reference with a clock input to compute the amount of fuel saved, which is indicated on the attached display. The logic functions of the accumulator are accomplished by a programmed microprocessor.

Stop/start control system for engine

A control apparatus for controlling an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine provided as one drive unit for driving the vehicle, a starter motor for starting the engine, a clutch device which is released to substantially disconnect a power transmitting path between the drive wheels and the engine, and another drive unit operatively connected to drive wheels, the control apparatus including a first engine-starting device for placing the clutch device in its released state and activating the starter motor to start the engine, when the vehicle is running in a running condition in which the engine cannot be started with a kinetic energy of the vehicle while the clutch device is placed in its engaged state, and a second engine-starting device for placing the clutch device in the engaged state, to start the engine with the vehicle kinetic energy, when the vehicle is running in a running condition in which the engine can be started with the kinetic energy with the clutch device held in the engaged state.

Apparatus for controlling vehicle drive units

An automatic vehicle starter in which a temperature sensor may sense a temperature of the engine. The vehicle starter may then remotely crank a starter motor of the vehicle. The duration of time that the starter motor is cranked will be based on the sensed temperature. In this way, a vehicle can be cranked for an appropriate amount of time without requiring any tachometer sensing operation. Also, to insure that the vehicle has been properly started, after a signal to remotely start the vehicle is transmitted, a first battery voltage is measured. Then, the ignition to the vehicle is turned on so that all turned on accessories will have power supplied thereto. A battery voltage is then again measured, this battery voltage representing the battery voltage with a load applied thereto from the turned on accessories having power supplied thereto. The vehicle is then automatically started. The battery voltage is then continuously measured and, if it determined that the battery voltage falls below a predetermined value, it will indicate that the vehicle has stalled. The vehicle can then automatically be restarted to insure proper starting or can be turned off.

Automatic Vehicle Starter

Apparatus for maintaining a diesel engine at a ready to start temperature includes a sensor responsive to the falling of the engine block temperature to a predetermined low value to actuate the starter for up to a predetermined maximum period of time and to actuate the fuel supply. A sensor responds to the attainment of a predetermined oil pressure corresponding to an engine running condition to de-actuate the starter and continue the actuation of the fuel supply to continue running of the diesel engine. The temperature sensor responds to the raising of the engine block temperature to a predetermined high value to de-actuate the fuel supply and thereby stop the diesel engine.

Apparatus for maintaining a diesel engine at a ready to start temperature

A system for remote starting of an internal combustion engine including remote means for initiating the starting sequence which may comprise a radio receiver in combination with a remote transmitter. Upon receiving the signal from the transmitter, a series of digital pulses is initiated which pulses are counted and translated into a set of sequential outputs. Certain of these digital outputs are utilized to initiate the provision of fuel to the internal combustion engine, the provision of power to a starting device for the engine, as well as the provision of ignition power. Means are further provided which are responsive to the actual ignition of the engine and serve to inhibit effectively further attempts to start the engine by the automatic starting system. Additionally, means may be provided for inhibiting subsequent attempts to start the engine after a predetermined number of starting attempts have failed, in order to prevent discharge of the starting battery.

Automatic remote car starter

A system is disclosed for starting a diesel engine from a remote location utilizing a receiver for receiving a command signal from a remote location and generating an engine start signal in response thereto. The start signal actuates an energizing circuit which connects a potential source to a fuel feed mechanism, and which, in response to control signals from a two-stage time delay start mechanism, connects the potential source to the starter motor for the engine. A protection mechanism is coupled to the engerizing circuit and automatically de-energizes such circuit and positively terminates the feeding of fuel to the engine, thereby stopping the engine, upon the occurrence of any one of a number of predetermined events, including ''''racing'''' of the engine; ''''grinding'''' of the engine without starting; or ''''idling'''' of the engine for a predetermined period of time.

Jeffry C Bucher

Papers

Remote starting system for diesel engines