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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
SHIP-ENGINE OVERHEATING ALARM SYSTEM
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2003/021091
Kind Code:
A2
Abstract:
The ship-engine overheating alarm system is intended for fitting in inboard or outboard engines equipped with water-cooled exhaust collectors The system comprises the thermostat (3) with the probe (4) fitted on the exhaust collector (2). The probe (4) registers when the exhaust-collector temperature exceeds the allowed one, when the cooling-water circulation is, for any reason, decreased or interrupted, The probe registers such overheating and generates signal for closing of contacts (5) in the thermostat (3), closing thereby the electric circuit in which there are the light alarm (8) and/or the sound alarm (9) with the battery (10). This enables avoiding of engine overheating and occurrence of larger damages.

Inventors:
EKRMETA IVAN (HR)
Application Number:
PCT/HR2002/000040
Publication Date:
March 13, 2003
Filing Date:
September 02, 2002
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
EKRMETA IVAN (HR)
International Classes:
F01N3/04; F01P11/16; F02B61/04; F02B77/08; (IPC1-7): F02B/
Foreign References:
US4630036A1986-12-16
US6250976B12001-06-26
US5797775A1998-08-25
US3864260A1975-02-04
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Diatus (Split, HR)
Download PDF:
Description:
SHIP-ENGINE OVERHEATING ALARM SYSTEM INVENTION DESCRIPTION 1. FIELD OF APPLICATION The invention relates to an overheating alarm system for petrol and diesel engines whose exhaust collector is water cooled. Normally, these are ship engines (inboard and outboard).

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM Ship-engine overheating most often results from the circulation pump failure or blocking of the cooling fluid intake duct. In both cases, the cooling fluid stops circulating. The intake duct is usually blocked in the Z-drive housing, caused prit) by the Z-drive having caught a plastic bag or another object in navigation, which object closes the intake duct and, thereby, interrupts the cooling-fluid circulation. The same happens in case of failure of the circulation pump which uses at the very the exhaust collector. In this case, the temperature rises at the very engine much slower than at the exhaust collector.

The circulation failure of the cooling-fluid passing through the exhaust collector is therefore to be noticed timely, and the system will register overheating of the exhaust collector and will initiate adequate sound or light alarm.

3. STATE OF THE ART Presently used engine overheating alarm systems are related directly to the allowed engine marginal temperature. The overheating alarm measures temperature at the engine Mock. This normally extends the overheating time, moreover so since, in practice, instrument readings are, normally, not performed constantly, and the problem is noticed only when the engine power starts decreasing or there appears the characteristic smell of an overheated engine. The engine temperature instrument is read only then. There is no sound or light signal. which makes the problem larger. and significant damages unavoidable.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The ship-engine overheating alarm system, according to this invention, rentes to registering the engine temperature increase at the exhaust collector. comprises omprises thermostat with temperature increase probe that is placed on the exhaust collector. Interruption of cooling of exhaust gases and increase of temperature above the allowed one is registered by probe on the exhaust collector which send signal to the termostat which. in turn, activates adequate light or sound alarm. <BR> <BR> <BR> <P>This way it is possible, without significant consequences, to repair the malfunction before occurrence of a significant temperature increase and larger damages. The invention functions regardless of whether the cooling system is direct or through a heat exchanger.

5. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTION Figure 1. shows diagram of the engine overheating alarm system.

The figure clearly shows the location and wiring of the light or sound alarm.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT As shown in the Figure 1., overheating ajarm system for engines equipped with water-cooled exhaust collectors include thermostat 3 with contacts 5 and the temperature increase probe 4. and cables 6 connection the thermostat to the battery 10. In the same electric circuit, there are fuse 7 as well as light alarm 8 and sound alarm 9.

The probe 4 is placed on the exhaust collector 2 through which pass the engine 1 exhaust gases and which is y water from the engine cooling system. if, for any reason, the cooling-water circulation is decreased or interrupted, the exhaust gasses temperature Mil rise and the probe 4 will re Sr this. rhs wN result in closing the contacts 5 in the thermostat 3. This will caose the electric circuit from the battery 10 through the thermostat 3, and starting the light alarm 8 and the sound alarm 9, that will warn on the exhauset collector overheating, probably caused by a stoppage in the cooling system, This way, the crew may act and repair the malfunction promptly, before the engine is grossly overheated, which would otherwise cause significant damages, To improve the safety, the alarm stystem is equipped with both light and sound alarm. although it can be made with one alarm only. A temperature indicator may also be fitted the exhaust collector, but this is not crucial.

Thus, this enables a quality control of the most oftefn problemf with the cooling- water circulation - ship engine overheating, thereby also avoiding of significant damages, In practice, such a system requires fine adjustment of the thermostat 3 since temperature at the exhaust collector varies, depending on whether the engine is running. Namely, the exhaust-collector temperature is somewhat lower while the engine is working then immediately after its stopping, If the engine is started again after a short period of rest, the temperature will rise for a short period of of time and will probably start the alarm till the temperature regains its normal value, although there is no malfunction in the cooling system, Thus, it may happen that alarm is activated for a short period of time, until the normal cooling-water circulation is established. This may be avoided by adjusting the thermostat to a higher @e, having in mind the short exhaust-collector temperature increase.

Such adjustement will not influence the alarm operation quality. The engine operators may consider this as a normal engine and alarm operation.

7. INVENTION APPLICATION The ship-engine overheating alarm system, according to this invention, is intended for fitting to ship engines, petrol and diesel, inboard and outboard, whose exhaust collector is water cooled.

The investment into the system is insignificant as compared to the protection it offers. Work safety is significantly enhanced and larger misfunctions and damages that are most often with this type of engines are prevented.