Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
  • F02D—CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES
  • F02D11/00—Arrangements for, or adaptations to, non-automatic engine control initiation means, e.g. operator initiated
  • F02D11/06—Arrangements for, or adaptations to, non-automatic engine control initiation means, e.g. operator initiated characterised by non-mechanical control linkages, e.g. fluid control linkages or by control linkages with power drive or assistance
  • F02D11/08—Arrangements for, or adaptations to, non-automatic engine control initiation means, e.g. operator initiated characterised by non-mechanical control linkages, e.g. fluid control linkages or by control linkages with power drive or assistance of the pneumatic type
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
  • G01L23/00—Devices or apparatus for measuring or indicating or recording rapid changes, such as oscillations, in the pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; Indicators for determining work or energy of steam, internal-combustion, or other fluid-pressure engines from the condition of the working fluid
  • G01L23/02—Devices or apparatus for measuring or indicating or recording rapid changes, such as oscillations, in the pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; Indicators for determining work or energy of steam, internal-combustion, or other fluid-pressure engines from the condition of the working fluid mechanically indicating or recording and involving loaded or return springs

Definitions

• This invention relates to a throttle control device for automotive vehicles using internal combustion engines and in particular to a device which operates from the engine intake vacuum pressure.
• a commonly accepted form of vehicle fuel conservation has been the fitting and use of a vacuum gauge which constantly monitors engine inlet manifold vacuum in order that the vehicle driver can visually appreciate the air fuel mixture which enters the engine enabling adjustment of driving habits to maintain economical fuel usage. It is recognised that as the carburettor throttle butterfly is opened, the air flow through the carburettor venturi is increased and, therefore, fuel flow through the system is increased a like amount. However, very often, the throttle butterfly opening is in excess of the actual amount needed for the immediate requirement and hence this fuel is wasted.
• a throttle control device for internal combustion engines, characterized in that, it includes vacuum actuated control means for connection to the engine intake vacuum, said control means being adapted to respond to said vacuum pressure in a manner causing locking of extendible and retractable cable means associated with said control means when said vacuum pressure falls below a predetermined minimum pressure, said cable means being adapted for connection to the engine throttle linkage adjacent an accelerator pedal and having a resilient link therein for applying a retarding force to said pedal against throttle opening, when said locking occurs.
• FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the device according to Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows schematically the device in use on a motor vehicle.
• the device according to the invention may take various different orientations in use but for the purpose of this description the device will be considered in an orientation as shown in the drawings wherein the mounting bracket is connected to the top surface of the device.
• the device consists essentially of an upper body portion 1 and a lower body portion 10 which are connected together to define a sealed cavity therebetween which is accessible via vacuum connecting tube 15.
• the body parts.1 and 10 may be formed in various ways and according to this embodiment are moulded from a plastics type material.
• the two body parts are connected together by suitable screws or bolts and nuts (not shown) which pass through the respective holes 20 arranged around the perimeter of the body parts.
• a diaphragm 8 is arranged between the two body portions and is held at its outer perimeter by the clamping action which occurs when the two parts are fixed together by the aforementioned screws or bolts.
• the diaphragm 8 has a.diaphragm plate 9 in the central portion thereof for a purpose which will become apparent hereinbelow.
• the diaphragm is spring biased in an upward direction as shown in Fig. 2 by means of diaphragm spring 14.
• the diaphragm spring 14 is arranged on a diaphragm shaft 13 which extends centrally through the body and is fixed against rotation.
• a cable spool 3 is also mounted on the diaphragm shaft 13 above the diaphragm 8 in the orientation shown in Fig. 2.
• the spool 3 accommodates an operating cable 16 which is wound around the spool and extends outwardly through a suitable aperture to a position outside the enclosed body.
• the operating cable 16 is spring.
• the recoil spring 4 is a spiral spring which connects at one end to the spool and at the other end is accommodated in a slot in the diaphragm shaft 13.
• Friction washers 2 are arranged on either side of the spool 3.
• the lower friction washer bears against the aforementioned diaphragm plate 9 and the upper friction washer 2 bears against a planar surface on the inside of the upper body portion 1.
• the respective surfaces of the spool 3 are made flat so as to properly engage the respective friction washers.
• an adjusting screw 12 is provided in the underside of the lower body portion 10.
• the adjusting screw 12 provides a stop for the spring 14 and rotation of the screw 12 either reduces or increases the tension in the spring 14.
• a lock nut 11 ensures that the screw 12 is retained in its set position.
• a mounting bracket 5 is attached by means of mounting screws 6 which screw into threaded holes in the upper body portion.
• the mounting bracket 5 is adapted to attach the device to a suitable solid mounting point of a motor vehicle.
• a mounting bolt 7 is adapted to attach the bracket to the vehicle.
• a vacuum hose 19 is adapted to be connected to the vacuum connecting tube 15 and the tube 19 is for the purpose of connecting the device to the engine manifold vacuum.
• a throttle pedal loading spring 17 is adapted to connect to a loop in the outer or free end of the operating cable 16 and the other end of the spring is connected to the accelerator pedal arm 21 as is shown schematically in Fig. 3.
• Fig. 3 the device is shown schematically in use on a motor vehicle.
• the device is connected to any suitable part of the motor vehicle frame generally below and behind the vehicle dashboard by means of the screw or mounting bolt 7 which is adapted to pass through the bracket 5 and through a. suitable hole arranged in the vehicle body.
• the device is. arranged such that the cable extends outwardly from the upper body portion 1 in a direction towards the accelerator pedal operating arm in a manner whereby, when the cable 16 is connected to the arm via spring 17, depression or opening of the accelerator will cause unwinding of the cable 16 from the spool 3.
• the spring 17 has its free end connected to the accelerator pedal linkage by means of a suitable clamp 22.
• the vacuum hose 19 is arranged to extend through the vehicle fire wall and is connected to the vehicle inlet manifold vacuum either by a direct connection to the engine manifold or by intercepting some other hose which is connected to the same vacuum using a suitable tee piece (not shown). In some instances it may be possible to connect the hose 19 to a source of manifold vacuum without passing the hose through the fire wall to the engine compartment. As should be evident to persons skilled in the art, when the vacuum pressure is low there will be insufficient force applied to the underside of the diaphragm 8 to move the diaphragm downwardly thus releasing the spool 3 for rotation.
• a high vacuum pressure is not to be confused with a high pressure but instead means a high negative pressure.
• a low vacuum pressure is a more positive pressure in the sense that it is not as high in the negative direction.
• the device provides a suitable driving aid to improve fuel efficiency. Essentially, at any time the vacuum pressure falls to a negative pressure below about minus 27 k.p.a.
• a further advantage of the invention involve the simplicity of the device and the ease with which it may be installed in an automobile.
• the position of the device relative to the accelerator pedal or linkage arm is not critical.
• the simplicity of installation means that the average home handyman can install a device on his automobile without the need to engage qualified technical personnel.
• the device of the invention is an add-on device which does not require any modification at all of the existing accelerator linkage mechanism to the vehicle throttle valve. Furthermore, the location of the device directly at the accelerator pedal means that the additional load or retarding force applied on the accelerator pedal is not transmitted through the throttle linkages to the vehicle throttle valve.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Control Of Throttle Valves Provided In The Intake System Or In The Exhaust System (AREA)
• Auxiliary Drives, Propulsion Controls, And Safety Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=3768465

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (7)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 1981
  • 1981-02-24 JP JP50071381A patent/JPS57500300A/ja active Pending
  • 1981-02-24 WO PCT/AU1981/000024 patent/WO1981002630A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1981-02-24 BR BR8107435A patent/BR8107435A/pt unknown
  • 1981-02-24 GB GB8132598A patent/GB2079848A/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-02-24 EP EP19810900504 patent/EP0047254A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1981-03-10 NZ NZ19646281A patent/NZ196462A/xx unknown

Patent Citations (7)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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