Patent ID: 7353765
Filing Date: 2008-04-08
Classification: A62C,B63B

Abstract:
1. A boat ignition safety apparatus for a boat, the boat having an engine mounted in an engine compartment, an ignition circuit to allow continuous operation of the engine, and a starter circuit to start the engine, the safety apparatus comprising: a safety control module adapted to be coupled to the ignition circuit and the starter circuit; an exhaust fan coupled to said safety control module; and a vapor sensor coupled to said safety control module, said vapor sensor configured to be mounted within the engine compartment of the boat so as to detect fuel vapors; said vapor sensor including a temperature compensated wheatstone bridge, said bridge including a vapor sensing unit having a heater that is separated from a detector by a partition; and a voltage divider; wherein said safety control module disables the starter circuit of the engine and enables said exhaust fan when the concentration of fuel vapors detected by said vapor sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, while the safety control module maintains the operation of the ignition circuit of the engine, if the engine was operating at the time said predetermined threshold was exceeded.