US 4,398,174 A · Fuel consumption signalling system

Abstract

A fuel consumption signalling system for signalling both efficient and inefficient fuel consumption conditions in the engine of a motor vehicle is herein disclosed. The system comprises an alarm circuit connected in series with an indicator circuit including an indicator light connected in parallel with a vacuum operated switch pneumatically connected to the engine manifold. An electric potential sufficient to actuate the alarm circuit, but insufficient to actuate both the indicator light and the alarm circuit is applied across the series connected indicator and alarm circuits. When the engine is consuming fuel efficiently, the vacuum switch is open, and the electric potential is divided between the indicator circuit and the alarm circuit. The divided potential is sufficient to illuminate the indicator light, but insufficient to actuate the alarm circuit. However, when the engine consumes fuel inefficiently, the vacuum switch closes, shunting the entire electric potential across the alarm circuit, thereby actuating it. The signalling system may also include an automatic throttle plate control.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A fuel consumption signalling system for signalling both efficient and inefficient fuel consumption conditions in the engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

(a) an alarm circuit including, connected in parallel, an alarm light and a resistor, said alarm circuit being actuatable by a predetermined potential difference;
(b) an indicator circuit connected to said alarm circuit in series to form a series circuit, said indicator circuit including, connected in parallel,
(i) an indicator light for indicating an efficient operating condition in the motor vehicle engine and for serving as a voltage divider for any potential applied across said series circuit, and
(ii) a vacuum operated, normally open switch pneumatically connected to the engine manifold for shunting any electric potential applied across said indicator lamp around said indicator lamp when the manifold pressure closes said switch, and
(c) means for applying a potential difference across the series circuit, said applied potential being greater than the potential necessary to actuate the alarm circuit when said potential is shunted around the indicator light when the vacuum operated switch is closed, but less than the potential necessary to actuate the alarm circuit when the switch is open and the applied potential is divided between the indicator light and the alarm circuit.

2 more elements

A fuel consumption signalling system for signalling both efficient and inefficient fuel consumption conditions in the engine of a motor vehicle, comprising:

(a) an alarm circuit including, connected in parallel, an alarm light, a resistor, and a time delay circuit having an audio alarm generator, said alarm circuit being actuatable by a predetermined potential difference;
(b) an indicator circuit connected in series with said alarm circuit to form a series circuit, said indicator circuit including, connected in parallel,
(i) an indicator light for indicating an efficient operating condition in the engine of the motor vehicle and for serving as a voltage divider for any potential applied across said series circuit, and
(ii) a vacuum operated, normally open switch pneumatically connected to the engine manifold of the motor vehicle for shunting any electric potential applied across said indicator lamp around said lamp when a predetermined manifold pressure indicative of a fuel waste condition closes said switch, and
(c) means for applying a potential difference across the series circuit, said potential difference being greater than the predetermined potential difference necessary to actuate the alarm circuit when said vacuum operated switch is closed, but less than the predetermined potential necessary to actuate the alarm circuit when the switch is open and the potential difference is divided between said indicator light and said alarm circuit.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fuel consumption signalling system

Life of this patent

Fuel consumption signalling system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14