FORM-2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
( 39 of 1970 )
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION SECTION 10
TITLE
"AN ELECTRONICALLY OPERATED FUEL SAVING DEVICE FOR 2 AND 3 WHEELED VEHICLES WITH HAND OPERATED ACCELERATOR CONTROL"
APPLICANT
BAJAJ AUTO LTD., an Indian Company, of Akurdi,
Pune 411 035, Maharashtra
India
The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

This invention relates to introduction of an electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles, having a hand operated accelerator control member located on handle bar used for steering of the vehicle. Such vehicles are termed as 'vehicles' in the succeeding paragraphs of this specification.
These vehicles are provided with either a kick-start mechanism or a battery and an electric starter or a combination of both for starting the engine. The accelerator control for the vehicles is provided on right hand side of handle bar which is of twist grip type. As the twist grip is rotated in anti-clockwise direction when looked from right side of the vehicle, the engine RPM increases (throttle opening) and if the twist grip is rotated in clockwise direction looking from the same direction, the engine RPM reduces (throttle closing). For driving the vehicle, its engine is started with any one of these mechanisms (kick-start or Electric start) and engine runs at the idling once it starts. At this point of time to be at idling, the engine starts consuming fuel. To move the vehicle, the rider in the seated condition depresses the clutch and engages first gear in case of manually operated gearox and as the clutch is released,

and accelerator is opened simultaneously, the vehicle starts moving. In the case of automatic transmission vehicles not having manual gear control, the rider only raises the accelerator for the vehicle to start moving.
There are some disadvantages associated with the vehicles including those provided with battery and electric starter mechanism. After the engine starts running at the idling RPM, the engine continues to run and consumes fuel till the rider decides to move as indicated in above paragraph. It has been observed that the riders on a number of occasions allow the engine to run at idling, which consumes fuel, but do not intend to move the vehicle. The reasons for not moving the vehicle could be the rider keeps on talking to his acquaintance, or the vehicle is stranded at the traffic jam, or road signals, or railway crossings and such other reasons. The rider at such occasions due to negligence or otherwise does not care to switch off the engine which keeps on consuming the fuel. The running engine also releases exhaust gases containing Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbons into atmosphere thus polluting the atmosphere unnecessarily. Running of engine on those occasions will therefore cause wastage of fuel with deterrent effect on the atmosphere.

In order to avoid the difficulty explained above, including misuse of fuel, we have invented a device that can obviate unnecessary running of the engine on vehicles provided with battery and electric starter mechanism at idling condition and save fuel which further avoids associated deterioration of atmosphere. The device works on the principle that it automatically switches off the engine after specified time is elapsed after the engine is kept running at the idling condition and not initiated for moving ahead and the rider can start the engine automatically by only opening the accelerator control.
The invention will now be explained hereinbelow with reference to the drawings accompanying the Complete Specification wherein -
Figure 1 - illustrates the block diagram of the
system depicting an electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicle of the present invention.
The constituent parts of the fuel saving device essentially comprises a controller (1) comprising of two segments consisting of the ignition unit (2) and a logic cotroller (3), an ignition switch (4), starter switch (5),

fuel saving device selector switch (6), optical throttle cut-off (7), seat sensor switch (8), temperature, sensor (9), spark plug (10), cylinder block (11), H.T. coil (12), magneto (13), regulator (14), battery (15), starter relay (17) and starter motor (18) and fuel saving device selector indicator (19).
The constituents (4), (5), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (17) and (18) are used for vehicles with electrical starter motor and are not exclusive for the vehicles with fuel saving device. However, for design considerations the parts require certain modifications. The vehicles are provided with a magneto (13), which starts generating power when the vehicle is started. The vehicle is started with help of battery (15), starter relay (17) and starter motor (18). The ignition unit (2) which operates on the ac voltage generated by the magneto, H.T. coil (12), spark plug (10) constitute a conventional arrangement as in case of vehicles of this type. The charging of battery (15) is udertaken by the magneto (13) and regulator (14).

The ignition switch (4) is employed for - manually cutting off the ignition circuit of the engine. The starter switch (5) is located on the handle bar either on the left or right side or other convenient location and is used to start the starter motor of the engine for starting purpose. Fuel saving device selector switch (6) is located on the right side of the handle bar that enables the saving device to be operative or inoperative at the option of the rider of the vehicle. The fuel saving device selector switch (6) can alternatively be combined with and operated suitably with main ignition cut-off switch of the vehicles (not shown in the fig), right hand lighting switch (not shown in the fig.), or can be located in speedometer housing. Optical throttle cut-off (7) is located in the right side of the handle bar and is connected to the twist grip throttle such that after closing the throttle completely, it gives signal to the controller (3) for enabling the controller (3) to cut off the ignition circuit of the engine and when it is opened, it operates the switch to enable the ignition.

The seat sensor switch (8) is provided below the seat and the seat sensor is operated depending upon whether the rider is seated on the seat or not and gives signal to the controller (3) that rider is seated or not. The cylinder (11) has temperature sensor (9) which gives signal to the controller (3) about the temperature condition of the cylinder. The H.T. coil (12), magneto (13), battery (15), starter relay (17) are connected to the ignition unit (2) of the controller (1).
The controller (1) is developed on the basis of fuzzy logic. It receives signal input from components (4,5,6, 7,8,9) and analyses the same for appropriate signal outputs as described in the subsequent paragraphs. The rider intending to drive the vehicle, sits on the seat, where the seat sensor senses this condition and gives the signals to the controller (1). When the fuel saving device selector switch (6) is kept on operative mode by the rider, it sends this signal to the controller (1). As the vehicle is started by the starter motor (18) by actuating the starter switch (5), the engine starts running at idling speed. In this condition, the throttle twist grip is at the closed position. The controller receives the signal of the same.

The cotroller (1) is set to make the fuel saving device operational only when certain predetermined time is elapsed and/or the engine RPM crosses a predetermied value. This RPM is higher than the nominal idling RPM of the vehicle. The RPM of the vehicle is sensed by the ignition unit (2) that sends the signal to the controller (1). The control is required on time and RPM because when the engine is cold. It is necessary to retain the vehicle at idling for some time to reach the normal operating temperature. The pre condition for the controller to activate the fuel saving device is that the engine RPM must exceed the RPM set in the controller at least once and/or the predetermined time is elapsed. The controller is programmed to count the time elapsed from start of the engine running at idling and the throttle is completely closed. The controller is programmed to compare this time with a predetermined time set in the controller (1) and is programmed to act in the following manner.
If the rider decides to go ahead before the end of the predetermined time, he accelerates the engine by opening the twist grip throttle that is sensed by optical throttle cut-off (7) which sends signal to the controller and it does not allow the ignition of the engine to be cut-off.

If the vehicle is left in the state of idling after a predetermined time without any movement of the vehicle, the controller senses the same through optical throttle cut-off (7) and cuts the ignition off which stops the engine. The stoppage of engine at idling condition is conveyed to the rider by electronic fuel saving indicator (19). This stoppage of the engine saves the fuel and also prevents release of exhaust gases to the atmosphere.
In this condition when the engine is stopped by the fuel saving device, if the rider wants to drive the vehicle, he has to sit on the vehicle seat and open the throttle twist grip. The seat sensor switch (8) and optical throttle cut¬off (7) sense this respectively and the signals are sent to the controller (1,3) that starts the starter motor (18) and engine. The rider can then move the vehicle with the operation of clutch and gear in case of vehicles having manual clutch and gear shifting arrangement. In case of vehicles not having manual clutch and gear shifting arrangement, the rider need to only open the throttle in order to move ahead. The operation of opening the throttle or operation of the clutch and the gear has to be completed within the predetermined time for which the controller has been preset.

In case of vehicles having manual clutch and gear shifting arrangement, there are two possibilities of dangerous situations. One, it is possible that after the engine is stopped by the fuel saving device, the rider may ignorantly or accidentally engage the gear and clutch. Second, the rider has kept the engine running by keeping the vehicle in first gear and disengaging the clutch, the engine is stopped by the fuel saving device and then the rider engages the clutch. In these situations, if the throttle is opened, the vehicle can move without the rider being ready for the movement which can cause the accidents. In such cases, even if the rider opens the throttle, the engine will not start unless the clutch is disengaged.
All the vehicles are provided with a brake light switch which are connected to the brake system and operate the rear stop lights when the brakes are applied. This switch sends signals to the controller (1,3) if the brakes are kept operated. In such cases, even if the rider opens the throttle, the engine will not start unless the brakes are released.

A number of 2-wheeled vehicles are provided with side stand that can be used to park the vehicle. Some times the rider starts the vehicle and starts movement without retracting side stand. This can create accidents if the stand hits the ground while turning. To avoid this, a switch is provided which sends signal to the cotroller (1,3). In such cases, even if the rider opens the throttle, the engine will not start unless the side stand is retracted.
The temperature sensor (9) senses the temperature at the cylinder block (11) and sends appropriate signal to the controller (1,3). If the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit, which is possible during high speed running in tropical atmosphere, the controller sends signal to the ignition unit (2) to avoid spark in the cylinder at predetermined intervals in order to reduce the temperature below the said predetermined limit. Once the temperature reduces, the controller (1,3) sends signal to the ignition unit (2) to restore normal operation. Also, alternatively or combinedly, the controller can be programmed not to cut-off the engine by fuel saving device unless a minimum predetermined temperature is reached. This condition can be an alternate to the condition of crossing the predetermined RPM of the engine and/or lapse of predetermined time as explained above.

As is well known, the engine is cool at morning times. It is necessary to retain the vehicle at idling for some time to reach the normal operating temperature. In order to attain the normal operating temperature quickly without waste of fuel, the vehicle is provided with a "Fuel delivery system for petrol driven I.C. engine as disclosed in the patent application No.489/B0M/99 of 7/7/99. This has been amply explained in the said patent application. As an alternate to this, other measures like use of an Auto choke or such other devices can be used.
The system explained above is the basic system having various controls. It is possible to dispense with some of the controls from the above system or modify the system and still retain the advantages of the device to various extents. Some of the examples of this are given below:
1. The use of temperature sensor (9) to avoid the cylinder temperature exceeding the predetermined limit can be done away with, if this is not required or alternatively, the purpose could be served with any other arrangement.

WE CLAIM:
1. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles having hand operated accelerator control member located on handle bar used for steering the vehicle with battery and electric starter mechanism comprising a controller (1), a fuel saving device selector switch (6), an optical throttle cut-off switch (7), and a seat sensor switch (8), said controller (1) further comprises ignition unit (2) and a logic controller (3) capable of automatically switching off the ignition of the engine after a predetermined time, said fuel saving device selector switch (6), an optical throttle cut-off switch (7) and seat sensor switch (8), temperature sensor (9), spark plug (10), cylinder block (11), H T coil (12), magneto (13), regulator (14), battery (15), starter relay (17) and starter motor (18) and fuel saving device selector indicator (19) being connected to said controller (1) for the operation thereof.
2. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said optical throttle cut-off switch (7) is connected to starter relay (17) through the said controller (1).
3. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles as claimed in Claim 2 wherein starter relay (17) is connected to a battery (15) and starter motor (18).

4. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles as claimed in Claim 1 wherein, a temperature sensor (9) is connected to said controller (1) capable of automatically switching of engine after a minimum temperature is reached.
5. An electronically operated fuel saing device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles as claimed in Claim 4 wherein, the said temperature sensor (9) is connected to controller (1) to enable it to avoid spark in the cylinder head after a predetermined maximum temperature is exceeded.
6. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein, a brake switch (20) is connected to controller (1) to enable it to start the engine only when the brakes are not applied.
7. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein, a neutral switch (21) is connected to controller (1) to enable it to start the engine only when the vehicle is in neutral.

8. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein a side stand switch (22) is connected to controller (1) to enable it to start the engine only when the side stand of vehicle is retracted.
9. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or 3 wheeled vehicles as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the stopping of the vehicle is indicated by fuel saving device selector indicator (19).
10. An electronically operated fuel saving device for 2 or % wheeled vehicles as described hereinabove and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of June 2002.

M K CHAKRABARTI OF L S DAVAR & CO
Agent for the applicant