The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 10, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 18, 2002
Dominic Dagenais, Canton de Shefford, CA;
Daniel Duceppe, Rock Forest, CA;
Michael Sonnleitner, Kirchdorf an der Krems, AT;
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc., St-Bruno, CA;
Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for selectively preventing fluid from flowing through a fluid path when a vehicle is in a predetermined orientation. When an orientation sensor signals to a controller that the vehicle is inverted, the controller closes a valve to prevent fluid from flowing therethrough. If the fluid path is part of an open-loop oil system, closing the valve may prevent oil in the oil system from leaking into the ambient environment when the vehicle flips over. Similarly, if the fluid path is part of an exhaust system for an engine of a watercraft, closing the valve may prevent water from entering the exhaust system and/or the engine when the watercraft flips over. Alternatively, the controller may alert an operator that a vehicle has been uprighted in an incorrect direction.