Method and apparatus for shutting down an engine
AssigneeHeadwind Automotive Solutions Ltd.
InventorsGalen Schacher, Blain Schacher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided a method of shutting down an engine, the engine having an air intake, and the method having the steps of attaching a valve to the air intake, the valve having an open position that allows air to pass into the air intake; using one or more sensors, detecting one or more predetermined engine conditions indicative of a runaway state; electromagnetically actuating the valve to move to a closed position preventing air from passing into the air intake once the one or more predetermined engine conditions have been detected; and causing the valve to return to the open position once a predetermined safe state has been reached.
Claims27
A method of shutting down an engine having an air intake, the method comprising:
- attaching a valve to the air intake of the engine, the valve having an open position that allows air to pass into the air intake;
- using one or more sensors, detecting one or more predetermined engine conditions indicative of a runaway state;
- electromagnetically actuating the valve to move to a closed position to prevent air from passing into the air intake once at least one predetermined engine condition has been detected;
- and
- causing the valve to return to the open position once a predetermined safe state has been reached.
An engine air intake shut off device to be attached to an air intake of an engine, the device comprising:
- a valve attachable to the air intake of the engine, the valve having an open position that allows air to pass into the air intake and a closed position that prevents air from passing into the air intake;
- an electromagnetic actuator connected to the valve, the electromagnetic actuator moving the valve to the closed position when activated;
- one or more sensors that produce signals indicative of one or more engine conditions;
- and
- a controller having instructions that cause the controller to:
- activate the electromagnetic actuator in response to a signal from the one or more sensors indicative of a runaway state;
- and
- cause the valve to return to the open position once a predetermined safe state has been reached.
A magnetic actuator apparatus comprising:
- a valve;
- a valve actuator having a first position defined by a first stop and a second position defined by a second stop, the valve actuator opening and closing the valve as the valve actuator moves between the first and second positions;
- a first magnetic element carried by the valve actuator and a second magnetic element carried by the first stop, wherein each of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element is an electromagnet or a permanent magnet, and wherein at least one of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element is an electromagnet;
- a controller having instructions that cause the controller to:
- change a polarity of at least one electromagnet to electromagnetically move the valve actuator from the first position toward the second position in response to a first activation signal;
- and
- change a polarity of at least one electromagnet to electromagnetically move the valve actuator from the second position toward the first position in response to a second activation signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.