Claims:We claim:
1. An engine stopping delay system (100) comprising:
a first relay (108) receiving a voltage from a battery for a predetermined delay time to energize a relay coil (114) present in the first relay (108) when an ignition switch (104) is operated to switch-off an engine;
a second relay (124) receiving the voltage through the first relay (108) when the relay coil (114) is charged to close a switch circuit (126) within the second relay (124), wherein the switch (126) is closed for a predetermined delay time and opened after the predetermined delay time; and
a third relay (112) receiving the voltage from the battery when an inter-relay switch (128) is activated by the voltage supplied by the second relay (124), to allow the third relay (112) to draw current, in the event of cranking off .
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end (120) of the relay coil (114) is grounded and another end (122) receives the voltage from the battery through a fuse (116) and an emergency switch (118), and wherein the fuse (118) is a 15-ampere fuse.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first relay (108) includes a sensing point (106) making an electrical connection with the ignition switch (104) through the first diode (110).
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first relay (108) is configured as a delay circuit to restrict a voltage output after elapse of the predetermined delay time from a time of receipt of the voltage from the battery.
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a fourth relay (130) connected to output end of the ignition switch (104), wherein when the ignition switch (104) is operated to switch-off the engine, the voltage supply is restricted from the ignition switch (104) to the fourth relay (130).
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the fourth relay (130) is configured as an RPM relay outputting the voltage to an RPM switch (132), for allowing increment or decrement in the RPM of the engine crankshaft.
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the RPM switch (132) is an oppositely connected switch which receives voltage from the battery, upon deactivation by the fourth relay (130).
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, comprising a fifth relay (136) receiving the voltage from the battery for the predetermined delay time to energize a relay coil (134) present in the fifth relay (136) when the ignition switch (104) is operated to switch-off the engine, wherein during the predetermined delay time, an inter-relay switch (144) present in the fifth relay (136) is activated to transform the high RPM of the engine crankshaft to an idle RPM of the crankshaft.
9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fifth relay (136) is provided with a sensing point (142) to deactivate the inter-relay switch (144) of the fifth relay (136) after the predetermined delay time.
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined delay time ranges from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
11. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprises a second diode (106) arranged between an output end of the ignition (104) and the third relay (112).
, Description:[0001] The present disclosure, in general, relates to systems mounted on a vehicle for delaying stop of an engine mounted on the vehicle, and, more particularly, to an engine stopping delay system for allowing engine lubricant to reach in a designated place.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Machines, including construction, on-highway, and agriculture vehicles, have a main power source for moving the machine, powering a tool, or driving other operations. The main power source typically includes an internal combustion engine, such as a diesel engine, a petrol engine, a gaseous fuel-powered engine, or any other type of engine. Components of such engines are subjected to high loads to effect combustion and transmit power to driven components. Accordingly, proposer lubrication of the engine components is necessary to protect them from wear and tear caused by operating under high loads. However, it has been often observed that the engine components are exhausted before expected, even though they were properly installed, and the lubrication was performed as per guidelines of original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
[0004] Much wear and tear occur at engine stopping condition. That is, when an engine is switched-off, the lubricant normally coating the engine components has to abruptly seep out of the galleys from these engine components. Thus, when an engine is switched off, the lubricant remaining in the engine components may seep out from the components and make the engine components suffer, as some engine component continues to run due to very high inertia even after engine is switched off. So, engine should not be allowed to stop at high RPM as great amount of wear / tear could happen due to engine stopping at high RPM.
[0005] In view of the above, it will be apparent to the skilled artisan that there exists a need in the state of the art for an engine stopping delay system for allowing proper flow back of lubricant from the engine components to a designated chamber or tank.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0007] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide an engine stopping delay system for allowing proper flow back of lubricant from engine components.
[0008] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an engine stopping delay system having a delay module configured to output a connection permission signal after elapse of a predetermined delay time from a time.
[0009] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide an engine stopping delay system which is configured to delay decrease in revolution per minute (RPM) of engine crankshaft to an idle RPM fixed for the engine crankshaft within a set period of time.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an engine stopping delay system for allowing lubricant to flow back from engine components. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0012] In an embodiment, the present disclosure relates to an engine stopping delay system for allowing proper flow back of lubricant from engine components. The engine stopping delay system includes a first relay receiving a voltage from a battery for a predetermined delay time to energize a relay coil present in the first relay when an ignition switch is operated to switch off an engine; a second relay receiving the voltage through the first relay when the relay coil is charged to close a switch circuit within the second relay, wherein the switch is closed for a predetermined delay time and opened after the predetermined delay time; and a third relay receiving the voltage from the battery when an inter-relay switch is activated by the voltage supplied by the second relay, so as to draw current, in the event of cranking off.
[0013] In an aspect, one end of the relay coil is grounded, and another end receives the voltage from the battery through a fuse and an emergency switch, and wherein the fuse is a 15-ampere fuse.
[0014] In an aspect, the first relay includes a sensing point making an electrical connection with the ignition switch through a first diode.
[0015] In an aspect, the first relay is configured as a delay circuit to restrict a voltage output after elapse of the predetermined delay time from a time of receipt of the voltage from the battery.
[0016] In an aspect, the system includes a fourth relay connected to output end of the ignition switch. In said aspect, when the ignition switch is operated to switch-off the engine, the voltage supply is restricted from the ignition switch to the fourth relay.
[0017] In an aspect, the fourth relay is configured as an RPM relay outputting the voltage to an RPM switch, for increment or decrement in the RPM of the engine crankshaft.
[0018] In an aspect, the RPM switch is an oppositely connected switch which receives voltage from the battery, upon deactivation by the fourth relay.
[0019] In an aspect, the system includes a fifth relay receiving the voltage from the battery for a predetermined delay time to energize a relay coil present in the fifth relay when the ignition switch is operated to switch-off the engine. In said aspect, during the predetermined delay time, an inter-relay switch present in the fifth relay is activated to transform the high RPM of the engine crankshaft to an idle RPM of the crankshaft.
[0020] In an aspect, the fifth relay is provided with an input sensing point to deactivate the inter-relay switch present in the fifth relay after the predetermined delay time.
[0021] In an aspect, the predetermined delay time ranges from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
[0022] In an aspect, the system includes a second diode between an output end of the ignition switch and the third relay.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a circuit diagram of an engine stopping delay system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0027] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0028] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0029] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0030] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0031] Embodiments explained herein pertain to an engine stopping delay system for allowing proper pre-lubrication of engine components. Regardless of their specific construction, a diagram of the engine stopping delay system 100 proposed in accordance with the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a voltage output end 102 of a battery of a vehicle (not shown). The voltage output end 102 of the battery simultaneously supplies the voltage to an input end of a starter (not shown) and an input end of an ignition coil (not shown) of an engine (not shown) of the vehicle, when a user manually operates an ignition switch 104 to crank the starter of the engine.
[0033] In an aspect, after the operation, when the user wishes to switch-off the engine of the vehicle, the ignition switch 104 is switched-off by the user. Upon such switching of the ignition switch 104, a voltage transmission to a sensing point 106 of a first relay 108 through a first diode 110 is restricted. Simultaneously, upon switching of the ignition switch 104 (crank off), a voltage transmission to an input end of a third relay 112 through a second diode 106 is restricted. In an aspect, the third relay 112 is a main relay used for pumping and calling back of the lubricant running in between the engine components.
[0034] Now, when the voltage supply is restricted to the sensing point 106 of the first relay 108 and the third relay, the battery continues feeding of the voltage, without any interruption, to the relay coil 114 arranged in the first relay 108 through a fuse 116 and an emergency switch 118. In an aspect, the fuse 116 is a 15-ampere fuse. Further, one end 120 of the relay coil 114 receives the voltage from the battery while another end 122 of the relay coil 114 is grounded.
[0035] Also, in an aspect, while feeding the voltage to the relay coil 114, the battery also feeds the voltage to the second relay 124 through a first inter-relay switch 126 arranged in the first relay 108. Once the sensing point at the diode 106 senses the circuit break from the ignition switch 104, the energised relay coil 114 causes the switch 126 to instantly close. This instant connection or feed will built up voltage at the second relay 124 and which will further make a switch 128 to close the circuit. This will allow the switch 128 to forward the voltage to the third (main) relay 112 through a second inter-relay switch 128. In this way, even after the interruption of the voltage supply from the ignition switch 104, the third relay 112 continues to receive the voltage from the battery through another alternate connection. Such further supply of voltage allows the main third relay 112 will allow the continuous lubrication from the engine components even after the switch-off of the ignition switch 104 (cranking off).
[0036] However, such further supply of the voltage is restricted for a predetermined delay time during which the relay coil 114 of the first relay is energized. Once the relay coil 114 is energized after the period predetermined delay time, the sensing point 106 deactivates the first inter-relay switch 126. Accordingly, the first relay 108 is designed as a delay circuit to restrict the output a voltage output after elapse of the predetermined delay time from a time of receipt of the voltage at the first relay. In an aspect, the predetermined delay time ranges from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Thus, once the predetermined delay time is elapsed, the first relay 108 indirectly cuts the voltage supply of the third relay 112 so as to stop the working of third relay 112 after a delay of 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Such delay in stoppage of operation provides sufficient time to the third relay 112 to provide continuous lubrication from the engine components even after the switch-off of the ignition switch 104. In an aspect, although not shown in figures, the after the switch-off of the ignition switch 104 (cranking off), engine control unit (ECU) may trigger the third relay 112 to switch its functionality from pumping to calling back of the lubricant.
[0037] In another embodiment of the present disclosure, when the ignition switch 104 is switched-off (crank off), the voltage supply from the ignition switch 104 to a fourth relay 130 is restricted. In an aspect, the fourth relay 130 is configured as a revolution per minute (RPM) relay outputting the voltage to an RPM switch 132 for decrement in the RPM of an engine crankshaft. The relay 130 and the switch 132 have oppositely circuits. That is to say that when no supply is given to the relay 130, the RPM switch 132 closes and vice versa. In said aspect, the RPM switch 132 starts receiving voltage from the battery when deactivated by the fourth relay 130. The fourth relay 130 deactivates the RPM switch 132 when the voltage supply is restricted.
[0038] Once the RPM switch 132 starts receiving supply from the battery, without any intervention, the RPM switch 132 forwards the voltage to a relay coil 134 of a fifth relay 136. In an aspect, one end 138 of the relay coil 134 receives the voltage from the battery while another end 140 of the relay coil 132 is grounded.
[0039] The fifth relay 136 receives the voltage from the battery for a predetermined delay time to energize the relay coil 134 present in the fifth relay 136. In an aspect, a sensing point 142 mounted in the fifth relay switch-on a third inter-relay switch 144 upon a time point when the relay coil 134 starts receiving the voltage from the battery. With the activation of the third inter-relay switch 144, the high RPM 146 of the engine crankshaft is lowered to an idle RPM 148 of the crankshaft, so that the engine crankshaft moves to its lowest designated RPM, post that cranking off can be allowed. In an aspect, after elapse of the predetermined delay time, the sensing point 142 deactivates the third inter-relay switch 144. As mentioned above, the predetermined delay time ranges from 30 seconds to 2 minutes.
[0040] Thus, with the implementation of the present disclosure, the system 100 having five relays 108, 112, 124, 130, 136 provides sufficient time to the lubrication system to call back the lubricant from various component of the engine before the engine stops running and the allows the crankshaft to reach its rest position before the engine stops running. Such delay in stopping of the engine even after the ignition switch is switched-off will ensure that the wear of the engine components is decreased, thereby increasing the life of the engine components.
[0041] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.