Multipurpose engine controller

Abstract

A multipurpose engine controller comprises a control unit for switching between supplying and stopping power supplied from an ignition circuit to a spark plug on the basis of two states, i.e., the operating state of the multipurpose engine determined based on a detection signal from the engine speed sensor, and the state of the level of the oil inside the crankcase determined based on a detection signal from the float-type oil level sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the multipurpose engine and multipurpose engine controller of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are partial sectional views illustrating the configuration and operation of the float-type oil-level sensor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a series of steps beginning with the startup operation of the multipurpose engine shown in FIG. 1 and ending when the control unit executes control routines;

FIG. 4 is a detailed control flowchart for executing the engine startup and operation processing steps shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed control flowchart for executing the engine operation continuation processing steps shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an operation of the multipurpose engine controller shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a multipurpose engine and the multipurpose engine controller according to a modified example.

Claims

1. A multipurpose engine controller for controlling a multipurpose engine, the controller comprising: a power generator for generating power via a motive power of the multipurpose engine;an ignition circuit for firing a spark plug using the power generated by the power generator;an engine speed sensor for detecting a speed of the multipurpose engine;a float-type oil level sensor for emitting an oil level drop detection signal when the level of the oil pooled in the crankcase of the multipurpose engine has dropped to a fixed lower-limit level; anda control unit for controlling the ignition circuit,wherein the control unit determines an operating state of the multipurpose engine on the basis of a detection signal from the engine speed sensor, determines the state of the level of the oil on the basis of a detection signal from the float-type oil level sensor, and controls the ignition circuit so as to supply and stop power to the spark plug on the basis of the operating state of the multipurpose engine and the state of the level of the oil.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the multipurpose engine is operating when a condition has been satisfied that the speed of the multipurpose engine has reached a constant reference speed, and controls the ignition circuit so that power supply to the spark plug is continued regardless of the state of the level of the oil.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the multipurpose engine comprises a starter, and the control unit controls the ignition circuit so as to prevent power from being supplied to the spark plug when a condition has been satisfied that the oil level drop detection signal has been received at a point at which the startup operation of the starter begins.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the ignition circuit so as to stop power from being supplied to the spark plug when, after power supply to the spark plug has started, a condition is satisfied that the speed of the multipurpose engine has reached a constant reference speed, and a condition is satisfied that the oil level drop detection signal has been received.