Bosch Corporation

Toytown Corporation

Yutaka Tanaka

Tomohiro Nakamura

Yoshihito Fujishiro

Yasuo Toyoshima

Shuichi Tsukahara

Yasushi Hiratsuka

Yoshito Hujishiro

Disclosed is a glow plug diagnosis method of being able to diagnose the aging or fault of a glow plug without being affected by cooling associated with air intake/exhaust or fuel injection, the method including: a step (S) of energizing a glow plugin a predetermined manner when a key switchof a vehicle is turned on; and a step (S) of measuring the resistance value of the glow plugwhen the energization of the glow plugis started, and the resistance value of the glow plug when the energization of the glow plugis started and then a change in the resistance value is saturated, and of calculating a change in the resistance value over time as a resistance value gradient, in which it is determined that the glow plugis normal when the resistance value gradient exceeds a predetermined first gradient reference value a, and it is determined that the glow plugis faulty, and a warning lamp or the like is lighted when the resistance value gradient is less than a predetermined second gradient reference value b (Sand S).

Glow plug diagnosis method and vehicle glow plug drive control apparatus

A glow plug driving control apparatus. The glow plug driving control apparatus includes a glow switchand a glow plugwhich are connected in series between a power supply and ground, and an electrical controlling unitwhich controls opening and closing of the glow switch, and that can perform energization driving of the glow plug. The glow plug driving apparatus also includes an energization path switching switchthat connects in series a stability coilin a serial connection path of the glow switchand the glow plugat the time of an energization start of the glow plug, and after the energization start, causes both the glow switchand the glow plugto return to a serial connection state between the power supply and the ground.

Glow plug driving control apparatus

The presence or absence of degradation and abnormality is determined with high reliability by measuring a resistance value of a glow plug, which is in an operating state, as a latest resistance value. A method then determines whether or not the rate of the change of the latest resistance value with respect to an initial resistance value of the glow plug exceeds a first predetermined value. The method also determines whether or not the rate of the change of the latest resistance value with respect to a last resistance value that is a resistance value of the glow plug, which has been recently measured at the time of the acquisition of the latest resistance value, exceeds a second predetermined value when the rate of change of the latest resistance value with respect to the initial resistance value of the glow plug exceeds the first predetermined value. The method determines that the glow plug is in an abnormal degradation state when the rate of the change of the latest resistance value with respect to the last resistance value exceeds the second predetermined value.

Method of diagnosing glow plug and glow plug drive control device

The accuracy in controlling the heating temperature of a glow plug and the reliability of the control operation are improved. An electronic control unitis configured such that a standard applied voltage for glow plugs-to-n is set according to the engine speed and the load conditions of the engine. In addition, a correction coefficient set in advance according to the temperature classification of the mounted glow plugs-to-n is readably stored in the electronic control unitas a correction coefficient map. By multiplying the standard applied voltage by a correction coefficient K read from the correction coefficient map and applying a voltage of the multiplication result to the glow plugs-to-n as a driving voltage through the power circuitto perform driving control, stable and reliable heating temperature control can be realized regardless of variations in the heating temperature characteristics.

Glow plug driving control method and glow plug driving control device

A glow plug is provided that can be easily determined as to whether or not it is a new article. An additional circuit formed by connecting a diode, a fuse, and an adjusting resistor in series in this order is connected in parallel to a heating element of a glow plug. The diode is provided so as to have an anode located on the positive electrode side of the heating element and a cathode located on the fuse side. In the case of a unit inspection, by applying a positive voltage for test to a heating element negative electrode connecting portion, it is possible to determine whether or not the glow plug is normal without blowing the fuse before the glow plug is used in a vehicle.

Glow plug, new glow plug determination method, and glow plug driving control device

To suppress current fluctuations upon commencement of driving and prolong lifespan by reducing electric stress caused by current fluctuations. A glow plug, a glow switch, and a stabilizing coilare series-connected, and upon commencement of the driving of the glow plug, a repetition frequency of PWM signals that control the opening and closing of the glow switchis made into a higher frequency than a repetition frequency in a normal drive state and the opening and closing of the glow switchis controlled (S), and when a predetermined drive shift condition has been met (S), the repetition frequency of the PWM signals is returned to the frequency during normal driving and the opening and closing of the glow switchis controlled (S), whereby the current upon commencement of driving is smoothed and the occurrence of an instantaneous large current is suppressed.

Glow plug control drive method and glow plug drive control system

Toy helicopter

Toy trackway

A toy helicopter including a body, a frame mounted to rotate with respect to said body, a spindle extending through an opening provided in the frame and mounted to rotate with respect to the frame, an energy storing mechanism operatively connecting the spindle and frame, a first wing operatively connected to the spindle to rotate therewith, and a second wing operatively connected to the frame to rotate therewith.

An amusement device consisting of a vehicle provided with wheels, first continuously rotating gears, and a stationary second gear mounted concentrically about one of the first rotating gears; and a trackway engaged by the wheels of the vehicle and provided with a carrier for the vehicle which is mounted to rotate between spaced apart end portions of the trackway and normally biased against one of the end portions such that after the vehicle enters the carrier its momentum causes the carrier and the vehicle to be rotated to the other end portion of the trackway to continue its movement along the trackway, and a tower positioned along the trackway having upstanding side portions provided with continuous racks to be engaged by the rotating gears of the vehicle to propel the vehicle upwardly therealong and an abbreviated rack provided on one of the upstanding side portions to be engaged by the stationary gear to cause the vehicle to perform somersaults as it moves upwardly along the tower.

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Yutaka Tanaka