Linear Actuator Fail-Safe Remote Control

1. For an internal combustion engine having a pressurized lube oil system, starter and fuel metering speed control, a remote controllable engine start/stop device providing automatic engine protection fault shutdown, adjustable rate gradual engine speed increase, an adjustable engine warm-up period varied by at least one of engine and ambient temperature, engine load on/off switching, engine idle cool-down prior to stop upon no-fault turn-off select, selectable idle/off standby and manual override, comprising, in combination: a. an orientation and attachment means, connectable to an engine fuel metering speed control and operatively associated with a fluid actuator to orientation and attachment means coupling means to provide full-range operative movement upon the engine's fuel metering speed control by an electrical to mechanical motion transducer means and a fluid actuator means; b. a fluid actuator to orientation and attachment means coupling means, operatively associated with said orientation and attachment means, said electrical to mechanical motion transducer means and said fluid actuator means, and arranged to enable said fluid actuator means override of said electrical to mechanical motion transducer means by said actuator to orientation and attachment means coupling means movement to achieve: (1) reset of engine's fuel metering speed control to off position by said orientation and attachment means upon signal for engine cut off, (2) movement of said orientation and attachment means and therefore the engine's fuel metering speed control, by said electrical to mechanical motion transducer means, to the engine's start/idle position during start/idle mode, and (3) upon the engine's operation above idle speed, said electrical to mechanical motion transducer means inoperative upon said orientation and attachment means with full positioning control asserted by said fluid actuator means; c. an electrical to mechanical motion transducer means, permitting remote operation and control by engine condition transducers, said electrical to mechanical motion transducer means having movable member means so arranged to act upon and impart motion to said orientation and attachment means, and thereby to the engine's fuel metering speed control, by an electrical signal, between two positions, the first being engine off and the second being idle when the engine's starter is operated and when idle mode is selected; d. a fluid actuator means, having movable member means operatively associated with said fluid actuator to orientation and attachment means coupling means to provide a range of movement to said fluid actuator to orientation and attachment means coupling means, for actuating the engine's fuel metering speed control from off to operating speed positions by travel of said orientation and attachment means, upon application over time of fluid pressure at said included port means of said fluid actuator means; e. a stored energy means, including movable member means operatively associated therewith, and arranged to compel return of said orientation and attachment means, upon loss of operating fluid pressure at said fluid actuator means port, to an engine off position; f. an electrically switched fluid paths means, providing remote operation and control by engine condition transducers, said electrically switched fluid paths means containing and controlling a choice of two fluid pressure path means, the first path means connecting an included in port to an included out port, said out port communicating with said fluid actuator means port as to provide throttle advance, the second path means connecting said included out port to an included drain port whenever throttle-down is signaled; g. a fluid pressure switched fluid paths means, containing an adjustable orifice means, permitting an adjustable rate of restricted fluid flow in a forward flow direction, and full reverse flow in the opposite direction, said fluid pressure switched fluid paths means having as one path an inlet port means communicating with the engine's pressurized lube oil system so as to allow pressurized fluid travel by way of said included adjustable restricted forward flow path means, through to an included outlet port means in communication with said in port means of said electrically switched fluid paths means, and as the other path said included outlet port means in communication with said in port means of said electrically switched fluid paths means, back to said included inlet port means by way of an included one-way fluid flow means arranged to allow full reverse flow of fluid from said included outlet port means to said included inlet port means whenever fluid pressure present at said included outlet port means is greater than fluid pressure present at said included inlet port means, whereas greater pressure present at said included inlet port means causes said path to be blocked by operation of said included one-way fluid flow means, said included full reverse flow path permitting of movement of apparatus to adjust engine fuel metering speed control to off, upon any engine lube oil pressure loss, regardless of probable malfunction, and thereby decrease reliance on an engine oil pressure fault sensor; h. a sensor means, operatively associated with said apparatus, to detect and produce a signal at a point of said apparatus travel corresponding to a preselected engine speed, to enable connection and disconnection of engine load; and i. a retaining and mounting means, operatively connected to said apparatus such as to maintain spatial relationship of apparatus elements and concurrently provide means of fastening said apparatus to a surface.

2. For an internal combustion engine having a pressurized lube oil system, starter and fuel metering speed control a remote controllable engine start/stop device providing automatic-engine protection fault shutdown, adjustable rate gradual engine speed increase, an adjustable engine warm-up period varied by at least one of engine and ambient temperature, engine load on/off switching, engine idle cool-down prior to stop upon no-fault turn-off select, selectable idle/off standby and manual override, comprising, in combination: a. a throttle cable means connectable to an engine's fuel metering speed control and operatively associated with an actuator tube means to provide full-range operative movement upon the engine's fuel metering speed control by an idle solenoid means and a spring-return hydraulic cylinder means; b. an actuator tube means, operatively associated with said throttle cable means, said idle solenoid means and said spring-return hydraulic cylinder means, and arranged to enable said spring-return hydraulic cylinder means override of said idle solenoid means by said actuator tube means movement to achieve: (1) reset of the engine's fuel metering speed control to off position by said throttle cable means upon signal for engine cut off, (2) movement of said throttle cable means and therefore the engine's fuel metering speed control by said idle solenoid means, to the engine's start/idle position during start/idle mode, and (3) upon engine operation above idle speed, said idle solenoid means inoperative upon said throttle cable means with full positioning control asserted by said spring-return hydraulic cylinder means; c. an idle solenoid means, permitting remote operation and control by engine condition transducers, said idle solenoid means having movable member means so arranged to act upon and impart motion to said throttle cable means, and thereby to the engine's fuel metering speed control, by an electrical signal, between two positions, the first being engine off and the second being idle when the engine's starter is operated and when idle mode is selected; d. a spring-return hydraulic cylinder means, having movable member means operatively associated with said actuator tube means to provide a range of movement to said actuator tube means, for actuating the engine's fuel metering speed control from off to operating speed positions by travel of said throttle cable means, upon application over time of fluid pressure by said included port means of said spring-return hydraulic cylinder means to said included movable member means; e. a spring means, including movable member means operatively associated therewith, and arranged to compel return of said throttle cable means, upon loss of operating fluid pressure at said spring-return hydraulic cylinder means port, to an engine off position; f. a solenoid valve means, providing remote operation and control by engine condition transducers, said solenoid valve means containing and controlling a choice of two fluid pressure path means, the first path means connecting an included in port to an included out port, said out port communicating with said spring-return hydraulic cylinder means port as to provide throttle advance, the second path means connecting said included out port to an included drain port whenever throttle-down is signaled; g. a controlled check valve means, containing an adjustable orifice means, permitting an adjustable rate of restricted fluid flow in a forward flow direction, and full reverse flow in the opposite direction, said controlled check valve means having as one path an inlet port means communicating with the engine's pressurized lube oil system so as to allow pressurized fluid travel by way of said included adjustable restricted forward flow path means, through to an included outlet port means in communication with said in port means of said solenoid valve means, and as the other path said included outlet port means in communication with said in port means of said solenoid valve means, back to said included inlet port means by way of an included one-way fluid flow means arranged to allow full reverse flow of fluid from said included outlet port means to said included inlet port means whenever fluid pressure present at said included outlet port means is greater than fluid pressure present at said included inlet port means, whereas greater pressure present at said included inlet port means causes said path to be blocked by operation of said included one-way fluid flow means, said included full reverse flow path permitting of movement of apparatus to adjust engine fuel metering speed control to off, upon any engine lube oil pressure loss, regardless of probable malfunctions, and thereby decrease reliance on an engine oil pressure fault sensor; h. a load switch sensor means, operatively associated with said apparatus, to detect and produce a signal at a point of said apparatus travel corresponding to a preselected engine speed, to enable connection and disconnection of engine load; i. a mount means, operatively connected to said apparatus such as to maintain spatial relationship of apparatus elements, and concurrently provide means of fastening said apparatus to a surface; and j. a guide tube means, operatively associated with said actuator tube means, so as to provide control and stability to said actuator tube means movement and concurrently provide means of assembling solenoid means and spring-return hydraulic cylinder means into apparatus, by operation of guide tube crimp and interference fit of tubing adapter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein, said load switch sensor means is a frequency detector means in combination with associated circuitry means operatively associated with one of an engine's generator and alternator and arranged to sense frequency directly and thereby provide a signal to enable a load-connect function.