US 4,192,279 A · Method and apparatus for automatic engine shut-off and restart

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automatic arrest of the motor in a motor vehicle in conditions of standstill or near-standstill, for example when the motor reaches speeds at or below the stalling speed with an engaged drive line. In stop-and-go driving, the invention includes monitoring the vehicle speed, the motor speed and the state of actuation of the accelerator pedal and the clutch pedal. If a set of conditions is met, for example that the vehicle speed is below 3 kilometers per hour, and that neither the accelerator pedal nor the clutch pedal are depressed, and the engine temperature is sufficiently high, the apparatus of the invention automatically arrests the engine either by fuel shut-off or by ignition shut-off or both. A depression of the clutch pedal restarts the engine. The invention further provides for automatic fuel shut-off to the motor under the conditions of engine braking, i.e., operation with closed throttle and relatively high motor speed.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for automatic control of the motor of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of arresting the motor when each condition in a first set of conditions is determined to have been met, said first set of conditions including:

(A) the road speed of the vehicle falls below a minimum speed which is substantially equal to the lowest speed which the vehicle can have without stalling the motor when the drive line is engaged and being approximately 3 km/hour;
(B) the accelerator pedal is not depressed;
(C) the clutch pedal is not depressed;
and
(D) a time period of selectable length T1 has elapsed since the previous passage of the vehicle speed through said minimum speed.

2 more elements

An apparatus for the automatic arrest and starting of the motor in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control circuit for generating at least one output signal which engages said motor resulting in its arrest, said control circuit having a plurality of control input contacts and logical combinatory circuits which produce said output signal only if all of said control input contacts exhibit predetermined states;
a plurality of condition sensors, one of said condition sensors detecting the vehicle speed of said motor vehicle and including a threshold switch comprising a monostable multivibrator, said threshold switch generating an input signal for said control circuit when the vehicle speed falls below a selectable minimum speed of approximately 3 km/hour.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for automatic engine shut-off and restart

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for automatic engine shut-off and restart

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19