GB1385135A - Automatic starting device for automative engines and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

1385135 Starting systems for I.C. engines G WONG 2 April 1973 15751/73 Heading H2H [Also in Division H1] An automatically operated starting device for I.C. engines and the like comprises timing means whereby if the engine fails to start within a predetermined time, a further attempt at starting is inhibited for a second predetermined time, after which another attempt may be made to start the engine and the cycle repeated but should the engine not start after four attempts, further attempts at starting are inhibited, but should the engine be started at any attempt the engine will run for a third predetermined time, which time is determined by a clock timer mechanism. A battery 10 of a motor vehicle is connected to a point 13 whereupon a clock motor 15 runs to operate a clock timer mechanism which is associated with a microswitch MS1. At a preset time the clock timer mechanism becomes operative to cause closure of the contacts 68 of the microswitch MS1 whereupon current is supplied to a point 29 by way of normally closed contacts 28 of a vacuum switch 30 operated by inlet manifold pressure and a normally closed thermal switch 66. Current is then supplied to a pair of timing circuits 34 by way of elements D13, R1, R24, D4 and the timing circuits 34 are associated with a bi-stable multivibrator circuit 35. Initially, after the supply of current to the timing circuits 34 a capacitor C4 is charged by way of resistors R16, R18, the circuit including resistors R17, R19 being blocked by diodes D9, D11. Whilst the capacitor C4 is charging the transistor TR3 of the multivibrator 35, is conductive and hence a transistor TR2 is conductive to energize a relay RL closing contacts RC1 thereof to energize the starter solenoid 39 to start the engine. After a predetermined time set by resistors R17, R19- say 7 seconds-capacitor C4 is charged so as to trigger a unijunction transistor TR5 which changes the state of the multivibrator 35 so that transistor TR4 now conducts and the relay RL, and hence the starter solenoid 39, are deenergized. If the engine has not started, a further attempt cannot be made until the capacitor C4 again charges-by way of the circuit R17, R19 to again trigger transistor TR5 and cause the multivibrator 35 to revert to the TR3 side so that the starter solenoid is again energized. The time constant of the circuit R17, R19, C4 is 53 seconds. If the engine fails to start after four such attempts, a capacitor C1 in a timing circuit 36, which is charged by way of resistors R2, R3 causes conduction of a unijunction transistor TR1 and hence the firing of a thyristor SCR which inhibits further energization of relay RL. To reset the thyristor the battery voltage must be removed from the circuit. Should the engine start at any attempt, the vacuum switch 30 will operate to open contact 28 to remove the supply from the starting circuits and close the contact 32 whereby current can be supplied, by way of a contact 22 in an ignition switch 19, to the various car accessories such as a car heater. The clock timer driven by the motor 15 is operative to cause the engine to be switched off after a predetermined time by causing operation of the microswitch MS1 to open contacts 68 and the clock timer can be arranged to cause the starting and stopping operations of the engine to take place cyclically. The thermal switch 66 may be made responsive to the temperature of the car interior and, when operated to stop the engine irrespective of the operation of the clock timer.