Variable speed controller for motor vehicles with electronic ignition

Abstract: Variable speed controller for motor vehicles with electronic ignition consisting of a central unit (5) located between the pulse pick-up (3) and the ignition trigger box (10), in which the central unit (5) lodges a set of capacitors (6) having different power ratings and a communication device (6') to select the capacitor(s) (6) filtering the pick-up signal (3) and to generate the required speed limit, so that this preset speed limit is permanent or may be disconnected if the central unit (5) is by-passed by closing the direct communication (14) between the pick-up (3) and the ignition trigger box (10) by means of a control switch (12) which may be either actuated by a remote control or by a manual control fitted with an isolating key. The variable speed controller is connected whenever the motor is stopped and/or started thus automatically opening the by-pass switch (14).

Description: Nowadays motor vehicles and motor bicycles are ever more frequently used, especially for moving in town, because they can be easily parked. Unfortunately, however, an excessive self-confidence, especially of young drivers and high speed often cause car accidents that could have been avoided if the drivers had been a little more careful. Speed controllers for electronic ignition are already on the market and these devices may be directly installed on new vehicles by the manufacturers or on circulating vehicles by specialized garages. These known speed controllers have, however, a few drawbacks, the most important of which lies in the fact that they are not adjustable so that they can only be connected or disconnected to obtain the maximum speed or a speed value set by the controller but which setting cannot be modified. Furthermore, this speed controller which is programmed for a preset maximum speed for a given vehicle type cannot be used on any other vehicle types having a different power rating so that each car-maker has to manufacture its own speed controller, while specialized garages have difficulty in providing the various motorcycles and motor-bicylces now in circulation with an appropriate speed controller. Another drawback of these known devices lies in the fact that they may be connected and disconnected by anybody, so that even very young drivers may drive at maximum speed by cutting-out the speed controller previously turned ON by their parents or by the owner of the vehicle. A variable speed controller according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the document EP-A-0 754 587. This invention has the aim to eliminate the above drawbacks. Thus, the speed controller subject matter of this invention is adjustable so that it can be installed on series built motor vehicles manufactured by different car-makers and having differentiated power ratings. This will permit standardization of the speed controller range, to be limited to one or a few low cost series- built devices, to be installed on various motor vehicle types, so that the car-makers will no longer need to produce their own speed controller which are now expensive because of their small scale production and difficult to find for specialized garage owners. Furthermore, the speed controller subject matter of this invention, is sealed off and is mounted inside the bearing body of the vehicle so that it cannot be adjusted by just any person thus preventing the speed range to be tampered with. Control i.e. connection or disconnection of the speed controller is preferably by remote control which normally permits to cut-out the speed controller since it is cut-in automatically each time the motor is stopped and/or started. It follows that if the driver wants to move at maximum speed, he will have to take his remote control device with him to reset the maximum speed value after each stopping of the motor, whereas drivers who want to move at limited speed, e.g. very young or inexperienced drivers, will be unable to exceed the preset limit speed since they do not possess a remote control device. Obviously, control and speed of the vehicle may be adjusted not only by remote control but also by hand but then, the risk remains that the speed controller may be disconnected unless a manual control switch fitted with an isolating key is installed, which keys obviously are kept by the car owner. Concisely, the speed controller subject matter of this invention consists of a selector switch to select a set of capacitors activated on the basis of a control corresponding to the maximum desired reduced engine cruising speed This selector switch and the related capacitors are built into a central unit located between the ignition pulse pick-up on the periphery of the flywheel magneto which in turn is connected to the spark plug. Thus, before reaching the ignition trigger box, the signal issued by the pick-up is filtered by one or more capacitors having different power ratings according to their setting on the controller by preferably remote control devices or by hand. The controller for regulation of the reduced maximum speed installed in the central unit permits to adjust the device to almost all motor vehicles equipped with electronic ignition. In addition, the controller also allows to select the desired limitation level, thus establishing the reduced maximum speed that can be reached with the vehicle when the device is connected and this reduced maximum speed may be a percentage (e.g. 50% - 60%) of the absolute maximum speed of the vehicle. Thus connected, the controller permanently limits the speed of the vehicle at the pre-set level. A manual control with key-lock or preferably a remote controlled transmittor is provided, actuating the switch so that the speed controller will be disconnected by by-passing the central unit. Each time the motor is stopped and/or started, the speed controller is automatically connected thus limiting the speed. The invention in question is illustrated in the enclosed drawing in which: Fig.1 shows the functional diagram of the device subject matter of this invention. With reference to this figure, 1 refers to the flywheel magneto secured to the driving shaft of the vehicle. The flywheel 1 features, in a given position on its periphery, a rotating insert 2 encountering on its trajectory a pick-up 3 designed to receive the pulse issued by the insert 2. A cable 4 transmitting the signal issued by the pick-up 3 is connected to the latter. This cable 4 reaches the central unit 5 housing a set of capacitors 6 having differentiated power ratings and also lodging a selector switch 6' to select the capacitor(s) filtering the output signal of the pick-up 3 thus generating the desired speed limit. From this central unit 5 are also leading out the earthing cable 7, the power supply cable 8 of the system when the starter key is in "on" position and the cable 9 transmitting the signal from the central unit 5 to the ignition trigger box 10 which in turn transmits the high voltage spark to the spark plug 11. Each capacitor 6 is set and adjusted for a given charging time and hence for a given powering frequence of the ignition trigger box 10 and of the spark plug 11. Thus, each capacitor is set for a specific time lag of the output signal from the pick-up 3 to the ignition trigger box 10. This time lag tallies with a reduced maximum vehicle speed which cannot be exceeded. These differently rated capacitors 6 to be selected by means of the selector switch 6' thus make it possible, in the practice, to limit the output pulse frequency of the pick-up 3 and hence the performance of the motor. This means in practice that at each turn of the flywheel 1, the insert 2 located in a given position on the flywheel periphery will meet the pick-up 3. The latter, in turn, activated by the insert 2, will issue a signal also called "acknowledgement signal" which is transmitted by the cable 4 to the capacitor(s) 6 selected by the switch 6' which is part of the device. This capacitor 6 will limit the output pulse frequency of the pick-up 3 to the desired level and will therefore also limit the performance of the motor. The selector switch 6' for adjustment of the maximum speed located in the central unit 5 permits to adjust the device to almost all motor vehicle types provided with electronic ignition. This switch also permits to select the desired limitation level and thus to fix the reduced maximum speed of the vehicle when the device is turned "ON". Thus connected, the device will permanently limit the driving speed at the preset level. A remote controlled transmitter 12 by which the speed controller is cut out, will permit to reset the original performance ratings of the vehicle by simply pressing the push-button 13 which will close the switch 14 for direct communication between the pick-up 3 and the ignition trigger box 10, by by-passing the control unit 5. The device is automatically connected each time the motor is stopped and/or started by turning the switch 14 OFF. The switch 6' and the speed limit selection may be actuated by the remote control 12 if available for this function or else by manual control possibly fitted with an isolating key. The speed controller subject matter of this invention is easy to manufacture and to install at a limited cost, it may also be produced in one or a few standard types to be installed on various motor vehicle models without need for expensive adjustment and specialized garages need no longer go hunting for controllers manufactured by specific car-makers.

Claims: Variable speed controller for motor vehicles with electronic ignition which includes: an insert (2) located in a given pheripherical position on the flywheel magneto (1) secured to the driving shaft of the vehicle, a pick-up (3) suitably positioned with respect to the rotation trajectory of the insert (2), an ignition trigger box (10) which transmits the high voltage spark to the spark plug (11) igniting the mixture, a cable (4) to transmit the output signal from the pick-up (3) to the ignition trigger box (10), characterized in that a central unit (5) lodging a set of differently rated capacitors (6) and a selector switch (6') to select the capacitor(s) filtering the output signal of the pick-up (3) and generating the desired speed limit, is located between the pick-up (3) and the ignition trigger box (10) and in that the preselected limit is permanent and may be adjusted or may be cut-out by by-passing the central unit (5) thus closing a by-pass switch (14) between the pick-up (3) and the ignition trigger box (10), by means of a control (12), and in that this speed controller with and can only be disconnected by the owner of the control device (12). Speed controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that the selection of the speed limitation level and/or disconnection of the speed controller may be by remote control (12) or by manual control possibly fitted with an isolating switch. Speed controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that the preselected maximum speed limit is permanent and is cut-in each time the motor is started or stopped, automatically turning OFF the by-pass switch (14) between the pick-up (3) and the ignition trigger box (10). Speed controller as described in claim 1, characterized in that the above mentioned controller will fix the maximum reduced speed that can be reached by the vehicle when the device is connected, for example this speed may be a percentage, e.g. 50%-60% of the absolute maximum speed of the vehicle when the controller is cut-out.

Inventors: PINASCO ANDREA, PINASCO, ANDREA
Applicants: C R C BETTELLA DI BETTELLA GIO, C.R.C. BETTELLA DI BETTELLA GIOVANNI & C. S.N.C.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B60K31
IPC codes: B60K31