Malfunction alerting indicator for carburetor choke valve
OwnerJohn E. Purney, Sr., John E. Purney, Jr. +1inventors
InventorsJohn E. Purney, Sr., John E. Purney, Jr., Ralph W. Purney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The intermediate positions of a carburetor choke valve between fully open and closed positions are registered during engine operation by illumination of light emitting diodes on a dash mounted indicator to warn the driver of incomplete opening of the choke valve after initial cold engine start-up. Signal generating photocells supply the position signals to the indicator under control of a masking plate restrictively directing illumination from a source to one of the photocells. A linkage assembly connects the choke valve to the masking plate for movement thereof to positions corresponding to choke valve positions.
Claims8
In combination with a vehicle having an ignition controlled engine, an ignition switch through which operation of the engine is initiated, a carburetor and a choke valve restricting inflow of air to the carburetor under cold engine start-up conditions, said choke valve being displaceable from a fully open position to a closed position during engine shutdown;
- malfunction alerting means for monitoring operation of the choke valve during engine operation, comprising electrical signal generating means connected to the choke valve for producing position signals, indicating means connected to the signal generating means for registering positions of the choke valve intermediate said fully open and closed positions in response to said position signals, and means connecting the ignition switch to the signal generating means for preventing operation thereof during engine shutdown.
The combination of claim wherein said illumination transmitting means comprises colored lenses.
In combination with a vehicle having an ignition controlled engine, an ignition switch through which operation of the engine is initiated, a careburetor having a fuel mixture controlling element automatically displaceable from a fully open position to a closed position;
- malfunction alerting means for monitoring operation of the element during engine operation, comprising electrical signal generating means connected to the element for producing position signals, indicating means connected to the signal generating means for registering positions of the element intermediate said fully open and closed positions in response to said position signals, and means connecting the ignition switch to the signal generating means for rendering the same operative only during engine operation, said fuel mixture controlling element being a choke valve restricting inflow of air to the carburetor under cold engine start-up condition, said signal generating including a plurality of light sensing cells mounted in close spaced relation to each other, a source of electrical energy connected to said cells for operation thereof upon closing of the ignition switch, signal lamp means connected to said source for illumination of the cells to render the cells conductive, and light masking means operatively connected to the choke valve for restricting said illumination to one of the cells corresponding to the position of the choke valve.
In combination with a carburetor having a throttle valve and a choke valve, malfunction alerting means for monitoring operation of the choke valve, comprising a plurality of light sensing devices mounted in spaced relation to each other for respectively generating position indicating signals when detecting illumination, a source of illumination, masking means for restrictively directing illumination from said source to a selected one of the light sensing devices, linkage means connecting the choke valve to the masking means for displacement thereof to change the selection of the light sensing devices illuminated, a plurality of indicator devices respectively connected to said light sensing devices for registering different positions of the choke valve in response to said position indicating signals, and means for producing a warning signal in response to registration of positions by the indicator devices other than the fully open and closed positions of the choke valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.