Abstract:
It is an object of the invention to provide the operability of an engine power generator having a remote controller. A starting switch  90  of a remote controller  9  and a starting switch on a power generator body&#39;s side can be operated in parallel. A stopping switch  91  of the remote controller  9  and a stopping switch on the body&#39;s side can be operated in parallel. The stopping switch  91  and an oil level switch  26  are connected to each other in parallel. The starting switch  90  and the stopping switch  91  can be operated when a combination switch  12  is in ON position. An engine  2  can be started and stopped by switching operation on the body&#39;s side in parallel to remote control operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a control apparatus for controlling start and stop of an engine operated machine, and more particularly, to a control apparatus of an engine operated machine including a remote controller.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     As for a work machine which is driven or operated by an engine such as an engine power generator, a position where the engine operated machine is disposed and a position where a work is carried out actually using the engine operated machine are separated from each other in many cases. For example, in the work using the engine power generator, an electric powered tool and an illumination lamp in which loads are used at a position away from the power generator in many cases. In such a case, a remote controller can be provided so that the engine power generator can be started and stopped from remote workshop by remote control. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. S61-29239 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2003-148311 disclose engine power generator having remote controllers.  
         [0005]      FIG. 4A  is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional control apparatus for an engine power generator having a remote controller. In  FIG. 4A , a relay box  200  and a remote controller  300  are connected to an engine power generator  100 . The relay box  200  is mounted on the power generator  100  or disposed in the vicinity of the power generator  100 . The relay box  200  is disposed in an actual workshop in the vicinity of an operator.  
         [0006]     The engine power generator  100  includes a self-trigger type ignition  101  having an ignition magnet provided on an outer periphery of a flywheel of the engine (not shown). The ignition  101  obtains ignition energy by electromotive force generated when the flywheel rotates. The engine power generator  100  also includes a battery  102 , a starter motor  103 , a motor drive relay  104 , a fuel-cut solenoid  105 , a combination switch  106 , a charge coil  107 , an auto-choke solenoid valve  108 , an oil alert  109 , an oil level switch  110  and an ignition plug  111  as electric parts.  
         [0007]     The remote controller  300  is provided with a main switch  301 , a self-restoring type button switch  302  as a start switch, and a pilot lamp  303 . The relay box  200  is provided with a selector switch  201  and relays  202  and  203 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 4B  shows connection at each switching positions of the combination switch  106 . At the OFF position (OFF) of the combination switch  106 , terminals IG and E are connected to each other, the ignition coil  101  is grounded, terminals FS and G are connected to each other and the solenoid  105  is in a close loop short-circuit state. In the ON position (ON), the each terminals of the combination switch  106  are opened. In the start position (ST), a terminal ST is connected to a terminal BAT and the starter motor  103  is connected to the battery  102 .  
         [0009]     When the remote control is not carried out, the selector switch  201  of the relay box  200  is switched to a contact b (on the side of the combination switch). In this state, the combination switch  106  provided on the power generator body can be operated, and the engine power generator is started and stopped by the switching operation of the combination switch  106 .  
         [0010]     When the remote control is carried out, the combination switch  106  is switched to the OFF position. In this state, the selector switch  201  of the relay box  200  is switched to a contact a (on the side of remote controller). With this, the remote controller  300  can be operated. If the main switch  301  of the remote controller  300  is turned ON, current flows from the battery  102  to the coil of the relay  202  through the main switch  301 , the relay  202  is switched from the contact b to the contact a, and the grounding state of the ignition coil  101  connected through the combination switch  106  and the closed loop short-circuited state of the fuel-cut solenoid  105  are released.  
         [0011]     If the start switch  302  of the remote controller  300  is turned ON, the relay  203  is switched from the contact a to the contact b. This state is maintained while the start switch  302  is ON. Current is supplied from the battery  102  to the coil of the relay  103  through the switch  302  and the starter motor  103  is driven, and the power generator engine is started. If the main switch  301  of the remote controller  300  is turned OFF, the operation of the engine power generator is stopped.  
         [0012]     When the engine power generator having the control apparatus is switched to the operable state by the remote controller  300 , and if an operator is positioned near the generator  100  it is required to stop the operation of the power generator  100  with the switch disposed on the engine power generator  100  in some cases. When the remote controller  300  is being used, the combination switch  106  is OFF. In such a case, it is only necessary to switch the selector switch  201  of the relay box  200  disposed in the vicinity of the engine power generator  100  is switched to the contact b, i.e., to the side of the engine power generator  100 .  
         [0013]     When there is no remote controller  300  near the engine power generator  100 , an operator who does not well understand the mechanism of the starting/stopping system which is operated using the remote controller tries to turn OFF the main switch, i.e., the combination switch  106  of the engine power generator  100 . However, since the combination switch  106  is already turned OFF at that time, it can easily be imaged that the operator confuses and can not swiftly stop the operation. Such confusion arises even for a skilled operator who is used to use the remote controller when the operator does not keep recognition that the engine power generator is being operated by the remote controller.  
         [0014]     If an attempt is made to configure a system capable of avoiding the judgment delay of the operator, the wiring and connection of switch between the remote controller and the power generator become complicated.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     It is an object of the invention to provide a control apparatus of an engine-operated machine, which can accurately be operated without complicating wirings between the remote controller and the machine.  
         [0016]     A control apparatus defined by claim  1  comprises a starting switch provided on the engine-operated machine body&#39;s side for driving the engine starter motor, a remote starting switch which can be operated in parallel to the starting switch, a stopping switch on the body&#39;s side for stopping an igniting operation of the engine, a remote stopping switch which can be operated in parallel to the stopping switch, a driving state display lamp which is lit by a power supply only during operation of the body from the body side, and a remote controller provided with the remote starting switch, the remote stopping switch and the driving state display lamp, wherein the remote controller includes, one of terminals of the remote starting switch, one of terminals of the remote stopping switch, one of terminals of the driving state display lamp and a common terminal which connects the other respective terminals of the remote starting switch, the remote stopping switch and the driving state display lamp to each other, and the remote controller is connected to the body of the engine-operated machine through the four terminals.  
         [0017]     A control apparatus defined by claim  2  has a feature in which the remote starting switch is of a self-restoring type, the battery is connected to the body&#39;s side through the remote starting switch only when the starting switch on the body&#39;s side is ON position.  
         [0018]     A control apparatus defined by claim  3  has a feature in which the engine-operated machine includes an oil level detecting switch which is operated to maintain a stop state of igniting operation of the engine until the operation is stopped when an oil level of the engine is reduced to a value equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, the remote stopping switch is of a self-restoring type, and connected to the oil level switch in parallel.  
         [0019]     A control apparatus defined by claim  4  has a feature in which the oil level-detecting switch maintains the stop state of the igniting operation by a charging state of a discharging time constant circuit, the remote starting switch discharges the electric charge of the discharge time constant circuit when starting operation is carried out.  
         [0020]     A control apparatus defined by claim  5  constructed that the engine-operated machine includes a power generator that is driven by the engine, and further comprises a fuel-cut solenoid of the engine such as to form a closed loop with an output winding of the power generator, when the stopping switch on the body&#39;s side is ON position, and a self-holding switch that is operated when the remote stopping switch is turned ON is connected to the closed loop in parallel.  
         [0021]     According to the present invention, the starting switch and the stopping switch on the body&#39;s side are provided with the remote starting switch and the remote stopping switch in parallel. Therefore, when it is desired to stop the engine-operated machine even if the engine-operated machine is being operated by the remote control switch, it is only necessary to operate the stopping switch on the body&#39;s side. Further, the number of the long remote controller cables, which connect the remote controller and the body, can be reduced, and the wiring structure in the remote controller can be simplified.  
         [0022]     Since the remote starting switch of the remote controller is of the self-restoring type, it is easy to operate the switch, and the discharging circuit by dark current of the battery of the remote controller in the stop state can be eliminated. Although the remote stopping switch is of the self-restoring type, the engine body can reliably be stopped only by pushing the remote stopping switch once.  
         [0023]     When the remote starting switch is turned ON immediately after the engine is stopped by the remote stopping switch, a holding of the stop state of the igniting operation is released, and the engine is reliably started by the remote starting switch.  
         [0024]     The output winding of the power generator and the solenoid of the closed loop for fuel supply stop are driven when the stopping switch or the remote stopping switch is turned ON, and the fuel supply is continuously stopped while the engine is rotated by inertia. Therefore, even when any one of the stopping switches is operated, the after burning preventing function can be operated. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1A  is a circuit diagram of an engine power generator according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 1B  shows connections of a combination switch of the engine power generator;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the engine power generator of the embodiment of the invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the combination switch of the engine power generator of the embodiment of the invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4A  is a circuit diagram of a conventional engine power generator; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 4B  shows connections of a combination switch of the conventional engine power generator. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     An embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an entire power generator which is an engine operated machine including a control apparatus of the embodiment of the invention. The engine power generator  1  includes an engine  2  and a power generator body  3  driven by the engine  2  in  FIG. 2 . A recoil starter  4  is mounted on an end portion of the engine  2 . The recoil starter  4  is used for manually starting the engine  2 . An intake air cleaner  5  of the engine  2  is provided adjacent to the recoil starter  4 . A fuel tank  6  is provided extended over on both of upper portions of the engine  2  and the power generator body  3 . The fuel tank  6  is provided at its front surface with an operation panel  7 , an output receptacle  8  and a terminal panel  11 . The terminal panel  11  includes a connection terminal  10  for a remote controller  9 . The operation panel  7  is provided with a combination switch  12  for starting and stopping the engine power generator  1 . If a star key is inserted into the combination switch  12  and is turned, the combination switch  12  can be switched. The remote controller  9  includes a cable  80  and a plug  81 . The remote controller  9  can operate the engine power generator  1  at a position away from the engine power generator body  3 . The length of the cable  80  is 40 m for example.  
         [0032]     The engine power generator  1  is mounted on a wheeled frame  13  so that the engine power generator  1  can be transferred. The frame  13  includes wheels  14 , stands  15  and bar handles  16 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the combination switch  12 . The combination switch  12  has a keyhole  120  into which the star key is inserted. The combination switch  12  is a self-restoring type. The combination switch  12  has three switching positions, i.e., an OFF position (OFF), an ON position (ON) and a starting position (ST). If the position is switched to the OFF position or ON position, the key is fixed at that position, but if the position is switched from the ON position to the starting position and if the operator releases his or her hand, the position is returned to the ON position.  
         [0034]      FIG. 1A  is a circuit diagram of the primary part of the control apparatus of the engine power generator. The engine power generator  1  including the control apparatus includes the engine  2 , the power generator body  3  and the combination switch  12  as explained with reference to  FIG. 2 , and also includes a controller  18 .  FIG. 1B  shows connection at various switching positions of the combination switch  12 .  
         [0035]     The engine  2  includes a self-trigger type ignition coil  20 , a starter motor  21 , a starter motor relay  22 , a battery  23 , a charge coil  24 , a fuel-cut solenoid  25  and an oil level switch  26 . A secondary coil of the ignition coil  20  is connected to an ignition plug  19 . The ignition plug  19  is ignited by minus electric potential of the ignition coil  20 . The power generator body  3  includes a winding  27  for direct current output.  
         [0036]     The remote controller  9  includes a starting switch  90 , a stopping switch  91 , an LED  92  as a display lamp and a rectifier  93  which rectify the current supplied to the LED  92 . The starting switch  90  and the stopping switch  91  are self-restoring switches. While an operator turns these switches ON, the switches maintain the ON states, and if the operator stops the ON operation, the switches are returned to OFF states. A terminal T 1  is connected to one of inputs of the rectifier  93 , and a terminal T 2  is connected to one end of the starting switch  90 . A terminal T 3  is connected to one end of the stopping switch  91 . A terminal T 4  connects the other input of the rectifier  93 , the other end of the starting switch  90  and the other end of the stopping switch  91  to a common ground. The remote controller  9  is connected to the engine power generator  1  through four lines (cables  80 ) connected to these terminals T 1  to T 4 .  
         [0037]     As shown in  FIG. 1B , the combination switch  12  is switched such that a terminal BAT connected to the battery  23 , a terminal ST connected to the starter motor relay  22  and a terminal LO are connected to each other in the starting position (ST). In the OFF position (OFF), the combination switch  12  connects a terminal IG connected to the ignition coil  20  and a grounding terminal E to each other, and connects a terminal FS connected to the fuel-cut solenoid  25  and a terminal G connected to the winding  27  of the power generator body  3  to each other. At the ON position (ON), the combination switch  12  is switched such that the terminal BAT and the terminal LO are connected to each other.  
         [0038]     The operation of the engine power generator  1  can be started and stopped by the combination switch  12 . When the combination switch  12  is in the ON position, the operation of the engine power generator  1  can be started and stopped also by the starting switch  90  and the stopping switch  91  of the remote controller  9 .  
         [0039]     The operation and functions of the various elements will be explained. First, the operation of the engine power generator  1  using the combination switch  12  will be explained. When the combination switch  12  is the ON position, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the terminal BAT and the terminal LO are connected to each other and thus, the battery  23  is connected to the relay  28  of the controller  18  through the terminal BAT and the terminal LO. However, if the starting switch  90  of the remote controller  9  is opened, the starter motor  21  is not driven only by switching the combination switch  12  to the ON position.  
         [0040]     If the combination switch  12  is switched from the ON position to the start position, the terminal ST in addition to the terminal BAT and the terminal LO are connected to each other as shown in  FIG. 1B . Then, the battery  23  is connected to the starter motor relay  22  through the terminal BAT and the terminal ST, and the starter motor relay  22  is energized. As a result, the contact of the starter motor relay  22  is closed, current is supplied to the starter motor  21  from the battery  23 , and the starter motor  21  is rotated.  
         [0041]     If the starter motor  21  is rotated, the ignition coil  20  generates high voltage to the secondary coil by the self-trigger, and applies the high voltage to the ignition plug  19  connected to the secondary coil. If the engine  2  is started, the charge coil  24  generates electricity, and the battery  23  is charged with the electricity through a diode  29  of the controller  18 . Voltage, which is constantly limited by a constant voltage circuit  30 , is applied to the rectifier  93 , and the LED  92  is driven. At that time, although voltage is also applied to a light-emitting diode  31   a  of a photocoupler  31 , since the stopping switch  91  and the oil level switch  26  are opened, current does not flow to the light-emitting diode  31   a . That is, the phototransistor  31   b  is not turned ON.  
         [0042]     If the combination switch  12  is switched to the OFF position to stop the engine power generator  1 , since the ignition coil  20  is grounded through the terminal IG and the terminal E, the ignition is stopped. Further, since a closed loop circuit for supplying current to the fuel-cut solenoid  25  from the winding  27  through the terminal G and the terminal FS is formed, current is supplied to the fuel-cut solenoid  25  while the power generator body  3  is rotated by inertia even after the igniting is stopped, and the supply of fuel to the engine  2  is stopped.  
         [0043]     Next, a case in which the remote controller  9  is operated to operate the engine power generator  1  will be explained. The remote controller  9  can carry out the starting operation and the stopping operation in a state in which the combination switch  12  is switched to the ON position. First, if the starting switch  90  is pushed, the battery  23  is connected to a coil of the relay  28  through the terminal BAT and the terminal LO of the combination switch  12 . Then, the contact of the relay  28  is closed, the coil of the starter motor relay  22  is energized, the contact of the relay  22  is closed, and current is supplied to the starter motor  21  from the battery  23 . If the starter motor  21  is rotated, the engine  2  is cranked and started to generate electricity.  
         [0044]     When the engine power generator  1  is to be stopped using the remote controller  9 , the stopping switch  91  is pushed. Then, a line L 1  of the controller  18  assumes grounding potential through the stopping switch  91 , current flows to the light-emitting diode  31   a  and the phototransistor  31   b  is turned ON. If the phototransistor  31   b  is turned ON, a gate of a thyristor  33 , a closed loop circuit for supplying current to the fuel-cut solenoid  25  from the winding  27  through the thyristor  33  is formed, and supply of fuel to the engine  2  is stopped.  
         [0045]     If the line L 1  assumes the grounding potential, a capacitor  34  of the controller  18  is charged with minus potential on the side of the line L 1 . Then, voltage of the capacitor  34  is applied to a gate of a thyristor  35 , and the thyristor  35  is conducting. As a result, the ignition coil  20  is grounded positively through the thyristor  35 , and the ignition is stopped. Since the capacitor  34  is discharged in accordance with time constant determined by a resistor  36 , while the capacitor  34  keeps predetermined electrical charge, the thyristor  35  is turned ON and the stop condition of ignition is maintained. Thus, if the stopping switch  91  is pushed once, the engine can reliably be stopped.  
         [0046]     When an oil level is lowered, the oil level switch  26  allows the line L 1  to ground to stop the engine  2  like a case in which the stopping switch  91  is pushed. After the oil level switch  26  is once turned ON, the oil level switch  26  is turned OFF by variation of oil level caused by vibration in some cases. However, by the effect of the capacitor  34  and the thyristor  35 , the ON state is maintained like the case in which the stopping switch  91  is operated instantaneously, and the OFF state of the switch can be maintained until the engine  2  stops reliably.  
         [0047]     When the starting switch  90  is turned ON, a photocoupler  37  allows the capacitor  34  to discharge that the starting operation after the stopping operation can be started early. That is, if the starting switch  90  is turned ON, the relay  28  is energized and its contact is closed, and a light-emitting diode  37   a  is energized. Then, a phototransistor  37   b  is turned ON, and the capacitor  34  immediately discharges.  
         [0048]     Although the self-trigger type ignition  101  is used as the ignition in this embodiment, an idea for stopping the supply of igniting energy to the various ignitions such as capacitor discharging type ignition (CDI) can appropriately be used. Although the power generator driven by an engine is explained as an example of a work machine, the control apparatus of the invention is not limited to the engine operated machine and can widely be applied to utility work machines which start and stop the engine using a remote controller.