Inhibit locks for marine engine controller
AssigneeAmerican Standard Inc.
InventorMichael D. Lyons
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An inhibit lock arrangement for a marine engine controller including a valve-operating shaft axially movable by an operator's handle, when set in a "start" position, for opening a valve whereby a fluid pressure signal is transmitted to the engine to start the engine. Axial movement of the shaft may be blocked by a piston rod actuated by a cylinder when the cylinder is pressurized by a pressure signal indicating an undesirable engine operating or malfunctioning condition. A pair of pivotable latches disposed on each side of the operator's handle for retaining the handle in a neutral position until a release piston is actuated by the operator for releasing the latches and permitting the handle to be moved through a slot but not into the "start" positions until the undesirable condition has been eliminated.
Claims3
Inhibit lock means for a marine engine controller comprising:
- (a) an operator's handle selectively operable in opposite directions out of a central neutral position to a plurality of control positions;
- (b) a valve-operating shaft engageable by said handle;
- (c) a supply valve device operably engageable by said shaft and operable by axial movement thereof, in one direction, for producing an engine-starting fluid pressure control impulse;
- (d) spring biased latch means for locking said operator's handle in its said neutral position;
- (e) a cylinder device operably connected to said latch means and effective, when pressurized at will by the operator, for releasing said latch means and consequently the operator's handle for operation thereof to a selected control position;
- and
- (f) a piston device operable responsively to a pressure impulse, signaling a malfunctioning condition of the engine, for causing a piston rod of the piston device to be extended and engage a groove in said shaft to prevent said axial movement thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.