GB2133547A - Monitoring the operation of a prime mover - Google Patents

Abstract

A processor 11 receives operational information from power, transmission or fuel parts of a prime mover. A recorder 13 is plugged into the processor 11 to recover all or some of the information while the prime mover is in operation. The recorder is also used to record further discrete information (such as personell identification). The module is removed from the processor to enable the operational and discrete information to be recovered by interogating means. The recorder can further serve as a security device such that the prime mover cannot be operated unless the recorder is attached to the processor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Monitoring prime mover operation This invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, monitoring the operation of a prime mover. It is particularly, though not exclusively, applicable to the monitoring. of motor vehicle operation. It is however also applicable to any use involving a prime mover such as in connection with a generator, or an aircraft, a marine or a railway vehicle.

In some countries there is a legal requirement for a commercial vehicle to incorporate means for recording information relating to vehicle operation. The recorded information is subsequently kept available for formal inspection for a specified period. A typical tachograph for such use records the information on a disc carrying a printed graticule to enable the information recorded on the disc to be assessed visually and entered on a record as may be required by law. The assessment and recording of the information is time consuming and involves the exercise of skill.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of monitoring the operation of a prime mover comprising the steps of: (i) Recovering by way of a first real time processor information generated by operation of the prime mover and or related to such operation; (ii) Recovering by way of a recorder demountably coupled to the first some or all of the information recovered by the processor and storing said information in the recorder as a first set of information; (iii) Storing in the recorder information supplied to the recorder by means other than the processor as a second set of information; and (iv) Recovering from the recorder having separated it from the processor some or all of both sets of information.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect the prime mover forms part of a motor vehicle and the second set of information serves to identify the vehicle and/or its operator or some other discrete function.

According to a second preferred version of the first aspect the coupling of the recorder to the processor removes an inhibition on operation of the prime mover.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a monitor for a prime mover comprising: (i) A processor adapted for connection to the prime mover to enable information arising from operation of the prime mover or related to such operation to be converted into output signals; (ii) A recorder demountably coupled to the processor and including storage means so as to enable the recorder to store: (a) running information derived from some or all of the output signals of the processor; and (b) secondary information derived from sig nals other than those fed to the recorder by the processor; both the running and secon dary information being in a form recoverable by an interogation system.

In a first preferred version of the second aspect the prime mover forms part of a motor vehicle; the first processor is incorporated in a driving compartment of the vehicle; and the recorder comprises a removable module whose secondary information serves to iden tify the vehicle or its operator or some other discrete information.

In a second preferred version of the second aspect the recorder incorporates a security means so that when the recorder is coupled to the processor an inhibition on operation of the prime mover is removed. Typically the inhibi tion could be means preventing ignition in or fuel supply to the prime mover or preventing operation of a starter for the prime mover.

An advantage of the present invention lies in it enabling microprocessing techniques and equipment to be made use of which have already been well developed in other fields. It also reduces, if not elliminates, the need for skilled assessment and recording of informa tion as hereto for required in connection with conventional tachograph discs.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which the sole figure is a block diagram of a tachograph system for a truck.

An electronic tachograph 11 is made up of a main processor module 1 2 mounted adja cent to the steering wheel of the vehicle which module has demountably coupled to it a solid state recorder 1 3. The tachograph 11 is coupled by way of harness 14 to a number of sensors disposed at significant points in the truck power, transmission and fuel systems to receive signals generated by the sensors representing the operating state of the various major vehicle systems.

The recorder 1 3 contains two distinct mem ory storage areas 15, 16. The first area 15 serves to record significant items of information obtained by way of the harness 14. The second area 1 6 has had previously recorded in it details relating to discrete items of infor mation such as for example, the vehicle, the driver or some other information.

In this particular case the vehicle can be driven whether the recorder 1 3 is in place or not. However in an alternative embodiment the recorder 1 3 is incorporated in the ignition circuit for the vehicle. Failure to couple the recordery to the main module in this case would inhibit operation of the ignition system.

In either embodiment the recorder 1 3 is removed by the vehicle driver at the end of his working period. Thereafter the recorder is plugged into a microprocessor reading device which is programmed to produce a record in the appropriate form for inspection. The reader also further serves to store the data in digital form to allow further handling by information processing equipment to produce information from a number of such secondary modules or other sources of information. Typically such an arrangement would be used in connection with a fleet of vehicles for monitoring performance, fuel economy, maintenance downtime etc. If necessary the information held in the second area 1 6 of the recorder 1 3 can be updated or modified at the time it is being read. Typically the time left to the next service can be suitably updated.

Claims (4)

1. A method of monitoring the operation of a prime mover comprising the steps of: (i) Recovering by way of a real time processor information generated by operation of the prime mover and or related to such operation; (ii) Recovering by way of a recorder demountably coupled to the first some or all of the information recovered by the processor and storing said information in the recorder as a first set of information; (iii) Storing in the recorder information supplied to the recorder by means other than the processor as a second set of information; and (iv) Recovering from the recorder, having separated it from the processor, some or all of both sets of information.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the prime mover forms part of a motor vehicle and the second set of information serves to identify the vehicle and/or its operator or some other discrete function.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the coupling of the recorder to the processor removes an inhibition on operation of the prime mover.

4. A monitor for a prime mover comprising: (i) a real-time electronic data processor adapted for permanent connection to the prime mover to enable information arising from operation of the prime mover or related to such operation to be converted into output signals; (ii) an electronic solid-state recorder demountably coupled adjacently to the processor and including a solid-state memory for storing: (a) running information derived from some or all of the output signals of the processor; and (b) secondary information derived from signals other than those fed to the recorder by the processor; both the running and secondary information being in a form recoverable by a further computer.

4. A monitor for a prime mover comprising: (i) A processor adapted for connection to the prime mover to enable information arising from operation of the prime mover or related to such operation to be converted into output signals; (ii) A recorder demountably coupled to the processor and including storage means so as to enable the recorder to store: (a) running information derived from some or all of the output signals of the processor; and (b) secondary information derived from signals other than those fed to the recorder by the processor; both the running and secondary information being in a form recoverable by an interogation system.

5. A monitor as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the prime mover forms part of a motor vehicle; the processor is incorporated in a driving compartment of the vehicle; and the recorder comprises a removable module whose secondary information serves to identify the vehicle or its operator or some other discrete information.

6. A monitor as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the recorder incorporates a security means so that when the recorder is coupled to the processor an inhibition on operation of the prime mover is removed.

7. A monitor as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the security means acts to enable ignition to occur or fuel supply to be operable or a starter to be operable for the prime mover.

8. A monitor as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

9. A prime mover equipped with a monitor as claimed in any of preceding claims 4 to 8.

10. A motor vehicle equipped with a prime mover as claimed in Claim 9.

11. A marine, aircraft or railway vehicle equipped with a prime mover as claimed in Claim 9.

12. An installation incorporating a prime mover as claimed in Claim 9.

CLAIMS (6 May 1983)

1. A method of monitoring the operation of a prime mover comprising the steps of: (i) recovering, by way of a real-time electronic data processor, running information generated by operation of the prime mover and or related to such operation; (ii) storing, in an electronic solid-state recorder while uncoupled from the processor, information supplied to the recorder by means other than the processor, as a secondary set of information; (iii) recovering, by way of the recorder demountably coupled adjacently to the processor some or all of the information recovered by the processor and storing said information in the recorder as a primary set of information; and (iv) recovering from the recorder, having separated it from the processor, some or all of both sets of information by means of a further computer.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the prime mover forms part of a motor vehicle and the secondary set of information serves to identify the vehicle and/or its operator or some other discrete function.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the coupling of the recorder to the processor removes an inhibition on operation of the prime mover.