Method for safely capturing high RPM thresholds in spark-ignition engines

A method for safely setting RPM thresholds in a primary or adjunct control system for a spark-ignition internal combustion engine, said engine driving or powering a load which can be decoupled;

• said engine further characterized by a maximum safe RPM when coupled to the load and a reduced maximum safe RPM when decoupled and unloaded;
• said engine further being connected to an existing or temporarily-applied tachometer which is observable to a user;
• said control system further utilizing an RPM threshold which may be determined by said user and conveyed to said system by means of a user-initiated raw data capture, said last-mentioned RPM threshold being potentially faster than said reduced maximum safe RPM, said system further programmed or equipped with a given fraction value known to or selected by said user, said method comprising:
• a. employing said observable tachometer to operate said engine at a pre-calculated RPM which, when divided by said fraction or multiplied by the inverse of said fraction, yields said RPM threshold;
• b. placing said system in a mode prepared for capture of RPM data;
• c. signaling said system to capture said RPM data from said engine;
• d. converting said captured RPM data from said substep “c” into said RPM threshold by applying said given fraction;
• e. storing and monitoring said RPM threshold;
• f. running said engine at high speed;
• and,
• g. providing a control signal when said RPM threshold is exceeded.

A method for safely setting RPM thresholds for use by a spark-ignition internal combustion engine that is coupled or decoupled to a load, the engine characterized by a maximum safe RPM when loaded, and a reduced maximum safe RPM when unloaded, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. initiating engine operation;
• b. setting said engine at a pre-calculated RPM which is slower than said reduced maximum safe RPM;
• c. capturing RPM data from step “b”;
• d. converting captured RPM data from step “c” into an RPM threshold that is potentially higher than said maximum safe, loaded RPM by applying a pre-selected fraction;
• e. recording said RPM threshold;
• f. comparing engine RPM to said said RPM threshold;
• and,
• g. providing a control signal capable of actuating connected internal or external devices when engine RPM exceeds said RPM threshold.