U.S. patent number 3,789,938 [Application Number 05/247,097] was granted by the patent office on 1974-02-05 for automatic shut-off switch.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Artic Enterprises, Inc.. Invention is credited to Edgar E. Hetteen.
United States Patent |
3,789,938 |
Hetteen |
February 5, 1974 |
AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF SWITCH
Abstract
An automatic shut-off switch system for the ignition circuit of
vehicles such as snowmobiles is provided wherein the ignition
circuit includes a first switch, adjacent the carburetor throttle
and in operative engagement therewith, which first switch is
normally closed when the engine is at idle speeds and open when the
engine is at running speed and a second switch electrically
parallel to said first switch and operatively joined to the
manually operated throttle control means remote from said throttle.
The second switch is open at engine idle speeds and closed by the
manual throttle control during running speeds so that if the
throttle sticks in the open position the ignition circuit will be
opened upon release of the manually operated throttle control
means.
Inventors: |
Hetteen; Edgar E. (Thief River
Falls, MN) |
Assignee: |
Artic Enterprises, Inc. (Thief
River Falls, MN)
|
Family
ID: |
22933537 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/247,097 |
Filed: |
April 24, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/190;
123/198DB; 219/204 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62J
27/00 (20130101); B62M 27/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B62J
27/00 (20060101); B62M 27/02 (20060101); B62M
27/00 (20060101); B60k 033/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;180/103,82,5R ;74/489
;123/198DB |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Betts; Kenneth H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Koprowski; Donald J.
Claims
1. In a snowmobile having an elongated body and an underlying
endless track for moving same, pivotal skis at the forward end for
steering the snowmobile, an internal combustion engine for driving
said track, a carburetor for controlling delivery of fuel to said
engine including a throttle for controlling carburetor operation,
spring means biasing said throttle in an engine idle condition, a
manually operated throttle control remote from said throttle and
operatively connected to said throttle by linkage means, and a
closed ignition circuit for producing an electrical discharge
across a spark plug in said engine, the improvement comprising
including within said ignition circuit:
a. first electrical switch means mounted to said snowmobile
adjacent said carburetor and in operative engagement with said
carburetor throttle, said first switch being in a closed position
when said carburetor throttle is in a position corresponding to an
engine idling condition and in an open condition for all other
engine speeds, said first switch comprising a throttle control arm,
a first electrical contact on said arm and second electrical
contact means, said first and second contacts being position and
arranged so that said first and second contacts are electrically
completed when said arm is in a position corresponding to engine
idle speed and are electrically opened for all other engine speeds
at least one of said first and second contacts being electrically
insulated from its support.
b. second switch means electrically parallel to said first switch
and in operative engagement with said remote throttle control
means, said second switch means being in a closed position when
said throttle control means is in a position which ordinarily
corresponds to an engine driving speed.
2. A snowmobile in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second
switch comprises a hand control lever pivotally mounted to a
handlebar, an opening in said control lever, a cable sheath, a
control cable attached to said throttle and slidably extending
through said sheath and having an end slidably extending through
said opening, a cable end being fixedly attached thereto, and
defining a third electrical contact, spring means biasing said
cable end away from said opening, fourth contact means insulatedly
secured to said control lever adjacent the cable end side of said
opening to meet said third electrical contact when said spring bias
is overcome by movement of said manual control member toward said
cable
3. In a snowmobile having an elongated body and an underlying
endless track for moving same, pivotal skis at the forward end for
steering the snowmobile, an internal combustion engine for driving
said track, a carburetor for controlling delivering of fuel to said
engine including a throttle for controlling carburetor operation,
spring means biasing said throttle in an engine idle condition, a
manually operated throttle control remote from said throttle and
operatively connected to said throttle by linkage means, and a
closed ignition circuit for producing an electrical discharge
across a spark plug in said engine, the improvement comprising
including within said ignition circuit:
a. first electrical switch means mounted to said snowmobile
adjacent said carburetor and in operative engagement with said
carburetor throttle, said first switch being in a closed position
when said carburetor throttle is in a position corresponding to an
engine idling condition and in an open condition for all other
engine speeds, said first switch comprising a throttle control arm,
a first electrical contact on said arm, an idle screw mounting
means positioned adjacent said first electrical contact, an idle
screw supported by said mounting means, one end of said screw
forming a second electrical contact, said screw being positioned
and arranged so that said first and second contacts are
electrically completed when said arm is in a position corresponding
to engine idle speed and are electrically opened for all other
engine speeds, at least one of said first and second contacts being
electrically insulated from its support,
b. second switch means electrically parallel to said first switch
and in operative engagement with said remote throttle control
means, said second switch means being in a closed position when
said throttle control means is in a position which ordinarily
corresponds to an engine driving speed.
4. A snowmobile in accordance with claim 3 wherein said remote
throttle
5. A snowmobile in accordance with claim 3 wherein said remote
throttle control member is operatively linked to said throttle by
means of a cable slidably passing through a flexible sheath fixedly
mounted at the end
6. A snowmobile in accordance with claim 5 wherein said remote
throttle control member has an opening therein through which said
control cable end slidably extends beyond the side of said control
member remote from said throttle, said cable end having a fixedly
mounted stop member thereon, a third electrical contact on said
stop, spring means biasing said stop away from said opening, a
fourth electrical contact operably secured to said control member
adjacent the stop side of said opening to meet said third contact
when said spring bias is overcome by movement of said control
member toward said stop, at least one of said third and fourth
contacts
7. A snowmobile in accordance with claim 6 wherein a stop member is
fixedly secured to said cable intermediate said lever and said
cable sheath and positioned to limit cable movement toward said
throttle when said lever is
8. A snowmobile in accordance with claim 5 wherein said remote
throttle control member has an opening therein through which said
control cable end slidably extends beyond the side of said control
member opening remote from said throttle, said cable end having a
fixedly mounted stop member thereon, said stop member defining a
third electrical contact, spring means biasing said stop away from
said opening, a fourth electrical contact operably secured to and
electrically insulated from said control member adjacent the stop
side of said opening to meet said third contact when said spring
bias is overcome by movement of said manual control member toward
said stop, said third and fourth contacts defining said
9. In a snowmobile having an elongated body and an underlying
endless track for moving same, pivotal skis at the forward end for
steering the snowmobile, an internal combustion engine for driving
said track, a carburetor for controlling delivery of fuel to said
engine including a throttle for controlling carburetor operation,
spring means biasing said throttle in an engine idle condition, a
manually operated throttle control remote from said throttle and
operatively connected to said throttle by linkage means, and a
closed ignition circuit for producing an electrical discharge
across a spark plug in said engine, the improvement comprising
including within said ignition circuit:
a. first electrical switch means mounted to said snowmobile
adjacent said carburetor and in operative engagement with said
carburetor throttle, said first switch being in a closed position
when said carburetor throttle is in a position corresponding to an
engine idling condition and in an open condition for all other
engine speeds, said first switch comprising throttle control arm a
portion of which defines a first electrical contact, an insulated
idle screw mounting means positioned adjacent said first electrical
contact, an idle screw extending through said support member with
one end of said screw defining a second electrical contact, said
screw being positioned and arranged so that said first and second
contacts are in electrical contact when said arm is in the position
corresponding to engine idle speed and are electrically opened for
all other engine speeds,
b. second switch means electrically parallel to said first switch
and in operative engagement with said remote throttle control
means, said second switch means being in a closed position when
said throttle control means is in a position which ordinarily
corresponds to an engine driving speed.
10. In a self-propelled vehicle where power to propel the vehicle
is supplied by an internal combustion engine, a carburetor for
controlling delivery of fuel to said engine including a throttle
for controlling carburetor operation, spring means biasing said
throttle in an engine idle condition, a manually operated throttle
control remote from said throttle and operatively connected to said
throttle by linkage means, and a closed ignition circuit for
producing an electrical disharge across a spark plug in said
engine, the improvement comprising including within said ignition
circuit:
a. first electrical switch means mounted to said vehicle adjacent
said carburetor and in operative engagement with said carburetor
throttle, said first switch being in a closed position when said
carburetor throttle is in a position corresponding to an engine
idling condition and in an open condition for all other engine
speeds, said first switch comprising a throttle control arm, a
first electrical contact on said arm, an idle screw mounting means
positioned adjacent said first electrical contact, a idle screw
supported by said mounting means, one end of said screw forming a
second electrical contact, said screw being positioned and arranged
so that said first and second contacts are electrically completed
when said arm is in a position corresponding to engine idle speed
and are electrically opened for all other engine speeds, at leat
one of said first and second contacts being electrically insulated
from its support,
b. second switch means electrically parallel to said first switch
and in operative engagement with said remote throttle control
means, said second switch means being in a closed position when
said throttle control means is in a position which oridinarily
corresponds to an engine driving speed.
Description
The present invention is directed to a safety system for vehicles
and is more particularly directed to a safety system for
snowmobiles. More particularly, the invention is directed to a dual
switch arrangement for the electrical ignition circuit of an engine
which insures that the engine will not continue to run if the
throttle is stuck in the open position.
Broadly the invention incorporates two switches in the electrical
circuit utilized to provide the electrical power for the spark plug
of an internal combustion engine. The first switch is in operative
engagement with the throttle portion of the carburetor of the
engine and is normally in closed position when the engine is in the
idling speed condition. The second switch is in operative
engagement with a manually operated remote throttle control means
and is normally in an open position when the engine is at idling
speed. Upon activation of the remote throttle control means so as
to accelerate the engine to a higher speed the second switch is
closed while at the same time the first switch is opened. Should
the throttle be stuck in an open position release by the operator
of the manually controlled throttle means will cause the second
switch to go to an open position and thus the ignition system will
no longer function.
The need for an automatic shut off in accordance with the present
invention exists in various kinds of vehicles but is particularly
important in snowmobiles. Snowmobiles operate under conditions
where the throttle may be locked in an open position due to
formation of ice and the like in the throttle linkage. When such a
condition occurs it is possible that the snowmobile will not be
controllable and damage to the snowmobile and injury to the
occupants or to others is a possibility. Through the invention
there is provided an electrical circuit for a snowmobile
incorporating two switches which prevent such an occurrence.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view shown partially in phantom of a
snowmobile incorporating my invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the manual control throttle
means and a diagrammatic view of the throttle linkage and switches
in the engine idle speed position for one form of my invention;
and
FIG. 3 illustrates the unit of FIG. 2 in the engine running speed
condition .
In the figures like parts will be given the same numerical
designation.
Turning first to FIG. 1 there is illustrated in side-elevational
view a snowmobile generally designated 10 with a conventional slide
rail suspension system for the rear portion thereof of a type known
in the art. The snowmobile includes a forward body portion 11 which
is supported by a pair of steerable ski members 12 which are
steerably controlled by means of handle bar members 13. Within
housing 11 is located a motor 14 having a carburetor 15. Motor 14
by means of drive belt 16 powers the rear endless track assembly
generally designated 17. The rear track assembly in turn supports
rear body portion 18.
Engine 14 has fuel supplied thereto by carburetor 15 which in turn
is controlled by a hand-operated remote throttle control handle 19
which is connected by a linkage means 20 to the carburetor 15.
The snowmobile described to this point is conventional in the art.
Such snowmobiles will typically have a key-operated ignition switch
incorporated within the electrical circuit that provides the spark
for the spark plugs of motor 14. If, during the course of operation
of the snowmobile, the throttle linkage should become frozen in the
open throttle condition the engine will continue to propel the
snowmobile. The ignition key can be utilized in turn off the
ignition system when such a key is available and assuming that the
driver is able to operate the ignition switch. However, if the
driver is thrown from the snowmobile or is unable to turn off the
ignition switch the engine will continue to race and propel the
snowmobile.
Turning to FIG. 2 there is illustrated in side elevational and
fragmentary view a portion of handlebar 13 and the manually
operated hand control 19. Also illustrated is the throttle linkage
and a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit, carburetor and
engine. An engine 14 has positioned thereon a carburetor 15 which
is controlled by a butterfly valve control arm 21 positioned
adjacent carburetor 15 such as at position 22. Arm 21 is pivotally
mounted upon a pin 23 and is engaged at its lower end by means of
anchor 25 to a control cable 24. A clamping means such as a set
screw 26 is provided so that cable 24 can be adjustably positioned
within anchor 25. Arm 21 by virtue of its connection to carburetor
15 which in turn is connected to engine 14 is electrically joined
to the floating ground 27.
At the upper end of arm 21 is positioned an idle adjusting
mechanism generally designated 28. The idle adjusting mechanism
includes a threaded screw member 29 which is in threaded engagement
with an electrically insulated ring 30 which in turn is mounted
within a holder 31. Holder 31 is suitably mounted by appropriate
means (not shown) to the side of carburetor 15. Insulator 30
provides electrical isolation of screw 29 from the engine and
carburetor assembly. The forward tip of screw 29 acts as a stop
member for the upper end of arm 21 and thereby sets the idle speed
of the engine. Arm 21 is spring biased by means of spring 42 to be
in contacting relationship at its upper end with the tip of screw
29 when the engine is at idling speed. Increasing or reducing
engine idle speed is simply accomplished by advancing or retracting
screw 29.
At idle speeds ignition power system 32 provides the electrical
spark and timing for a spark plug 33 by means of lead 47. Spark
plug 33 is in contact with ground 27. The opposite side of the
ignition system 32 is connected by means of lead 34 to idle
adjusting screw 29. When the engine is at idle speed the circuit is
completed via lead 34 through a closed first switch defined by
screw 29 and arm 21 and thence to ground 27.
For engine running speeds the ignition circuit is completed at the
remote throttle control means through a second switch arrangement
which, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, is remotely positioned from the
carburetor 15 on handlebar 13.
Fixedly mounted on handlebar 13 is a member 35 which engages the
outer sheath member 36 of control cable 24. Sheath 36 may be
fixedly mounted into the upper portion of member 35 by any
appropriate means such as set screws and the like. Cable 24
slidably passes through sheath 36 and through member 35.
Adjacent member 35 is a throttle control lever 19 which has a
chambered portion 37 at the upper forward end thereof. Cable 24
slidably passes through an appropriately positioned opening on the
forward face of handle 19 and into chamber 37 where it is fixedly
mounted to a cable end 38. The rearward end of chamber 37 is
desirably closed by a closure member 39 so as to prevent snow and
ice from entering chamber 37. A spring member 40 is provided within
chamber 37 so as to bias cable end 38 toward the rear portion of
chamber 37 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. A cable stop member
41 is fixedly mounted on cable 24 intermediate handle 19 and member
35. The function of cable stop 41 will be described below.
Hand control member 19 if pivotally mounted to handlebar 13 by
means of pin 43 so as to be movable under control of the operator
into a position which will pull cable 24 rearwardly to pivot
control arm 21 about pivot 23. Spring 42 is interposed between and
in engagement with the end of sheath 36 and anchor 25 so as to bias
arm 21, attached cable 24 and thus handle 19 into the positions
illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, under the rest or idle condition of
engine speed hand control 19 will be pulled by spring 42 acting
through cable 24 to the position shown in FIG. 2. The upper end of
arm 21 will be in contact with idle screw 29 to form a first closed
switch. Spring 40 will bias cable end 38 toward the rear of chamber
37.
Within chamber 37 there is provided a contact point 44 which is
electrically isolated from the balance of hand control 19 by means
of an insulator 45. Contact point 44 in turn is in electrical
contact with a flexible conductor 46 which passes through an
insulated lead 48. Conductor 46 is in electrical connection with
lead 34.
During the idle condition of the engine illustrated in FIG. 2
contact 44 is spaced from cable end 38 and thus no electrical
circuit is provided. However, when hand control 19 is activated by
the operator spring 40 is compressed and cable end 38 comes into
electrical contact with point 44. Further pivotal movement of hand
control 19 draws control cable 24 rearwardly thus pivoting arm 21
about pivot point 23 and compressing spring 42. An electrical
circuit is thus created beginning with ground 27 through arm 21
along cable 24 through cable end 38 to contact 44 and thus by wire
46 to lead 34 through the ignition power system 32 and through
spark plug 33 back to ground. Cable end 38 and contact 44 form the
contacts for a second switch.
When hand pressure is removed from hand control 19 spring 42 will
ordinarily pull cable 24 forwardly so as to pivot arm 21 about pin
23 and back into contact with screw 29 completing the idle circuit.
Hand control 19 will be pivoted into the position shown in FIG. 2.
Simultaneously, spring 40 will bias cable end 38 away from contact
44 thus breaking the engine running circuit through this second
switch.
In the event cable 24 or arm 21 should become locked in a position
corresponding to high engine speed in spite of release by the
operator of hand control lever 19 the engine will nevertheless be
stopped. The switch defined by arm 21 and idle adjust screw 29 will
be in the open position while the switch defined by cable end 38
and contact 44 will likewise be opened due to release of the hand
control 19 and the bias provided by spring 40 will force cable end
38 and contact 44 apart. Without electrical contact at either of
the two switches the ignition circuit will not be closed. The
engine will no longer fire and the snowmobile will stop.
Stop 41 is fixedly mounted on cable 24 as shown so as to prevent
the possibility that cable 38 will be forced into contact with
contact 44 when hand control 19 is in the rest position of FIG. 2.
Should an object wedged between handlebar 13 and sheath 36 dislodge
cable 36 from member 35 the tension resulting on cable 24 will not
result in closing of the switch defined by cable end 38 and contact
44. Stop 41 likewise prevents the tension exerted by spring 42 from
overriding the bias of spring 40 when hand control 19 is in the
rest position of FIG. 2.
* * * * *