Starter solenoid contact health monitor
AssigneeHusqvarna AB
InventorMatthew Albinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An ignition system for outdoor power equipment driven by a petrol or gasoline engine may include a safety interlock system, a starter motor, a starter solenoid having an activation coil, and a solenoid monitor. The ignition system may be configured to selectively apply power to start the engine based on application of a start attempt. The safety interlock system may be operable to actuate the starter solenoid via the activation coil to apply current to the starter motor for starting the engine during the start attempt. The solenoid monitor may be configured to determine a status of the activation coil and starter solenoid contacts and provide a fault indication based on the status determined.
Claims18
An ignition system for outdoor power equipment driven by a petrol or gasoline engine, the ignition system comprising:
- a safety interlock system;
- a starter motor;
- a starter solenoid having an activation coil;
- and
- a solenoid monitor,
- wherein the ignition system is configured to selectively apply power to start the engine based on application of a start attempt,
- wherein the safety interlock system is operable to actuate the starter solenoid via the activation coil to apply current to the starter motor for starting the engine during the start attempt,
- wherein the solenoid monitor is configured to determine a status of the activation coil and starter solenoid contacts and provide a fault indication based on the status determined, and
- wherein the solenoid monitor is configured to monitor for a critical fault when the start attempt is not applied and apply an engine shutdown in response to detection of the critical fault.
An ignition system for outdoor power equipment driven by a petrol or gasoline engine, the ignition system comprising:
- a safety interlock system;
- a starter motor;
- a starter solenoid having an activation coil;
- and
- a solenoid monitor,
- wherein the ignition system is configured to selectively apply power to start the engine based on application of a start attempt,
- wherein the safety interlock system is operable to actuate the starter solenoid via the activation coil to apply current to the starter motor for starting the engine during the start attempt,
- wherein the solenoid monitor is configured to determine a status of the activation coil and starter solenoid contacts and provide a fault indication based on the status determined,
- wherein the solenoid monitor is configured to determine the status of the activation coil based on a voltage detected at a safety interlock system contact of the starter solenoid, and
- wherein the solenoid monitor compares the voltage detected at the safety interlock system contact to a normal starting voltage for the safety interlock system contact to determine the status of the activation coil.
A lawn care device comprising:
- an engine to selectively power the device;
- a frame supporting the engine of the device;
- and
- an ignition system for selectively applying power to start the engine based on application of a start attempt,
- wherein the ignition system includes a safety interlock system, a starter motor and a starter solenoid having an activation coil,
- wherein the safety interlock system is operable to actuate the starter solenoid via the activation coil to apply current to the starter motor for starting the engine during the start attempt,
- wherein the ignition system further comprises a solenoid monitor configured to determine a status of the activation coil and starter solenoid contacts and provide a fault indication based on the status determined, and
- wherein the solenoid monitor is configured to monitor for a critical fault when the start attempt is not applied and apply an engine shutdown in response to detection of the critical fault.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.