US1653568A - Accelerator for automobile engines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1927. 1,653,568

I C. W. HICKS ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES Filed Dec, 29, 1926 INVEN+DV W, fi

Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE! CYRUS HICKS, or wA Tnnm, MASSACHU ET S. V

1 ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES.

Application filed December 29, i926. Serial 30.157592.

L The inventionrelates to a new and useful improvement in accelerator control mechanism for internal combustion engines. for automobiles. In the usualv construction, the actuating mechanism for the valve which "controls the supply of fuel-to thecarburetor comprises several-elements including a .foot 'member, a member connected with the Valve ,tliatthefoot-followsthrough with a sudden quick movement and instead of causing a gradual opening ofthe valve it opens the valve abruptly, thereby causing a jerky or uneven movement of the vehicle. Furthermore,'whe'n'the action is stiff it requires considerable pressure by the foot all of the time and this causes cramping in the leg. The" I H18andsubstan'tially parallel with the intermediate body portion 17. The other end of compound construction above mentioned also makes for lost motion at the joints and this lost motion has to be taken'up before the valve will move, thus preventing the instantaneous response which is important.

One object of the present invention is to provide accelerator mechanismof simplified construction whichv eliminates lost motion and makes easier action. y

One feature conslsts 1n mak ng the accelerator .rod integral throughout.v .Another featureconsists in a construction whereby the accelerator rod is rotated on. its axis 'instead of moving in an; axial-direction, This a requires-less foot powerthan when the movement is inv an axial direction as in the ordinary construction.

. 'The invention will be fully understood.

from the, following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out and clearly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an accelerator mechanism embodying the invention applied to an automobile engine, there being shown only such parts of the automobile'and engine as are necessary to illustrat'eth invention. 1

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the accelerator' rod detached. Figs; 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating different positions of vthe accelerator mecha- IllSHL I Referringnow to the drawings,v 10 is the motor. 11 the carburetor, 12 the intake manifold, 13 the butterfly valve; 14' the valvespindle and. 15the usual lever or arm connected with the valve spindlelt and adapted I to be connected with the accelerator mechanism. At 16. is'shown the foot board.

The accelerator rod is designated as a whole at A and comprises an intermediate body portion 17 preferab1y straight, said body portion merging at one end in a portlon 18 which extends substantially at right angles to the-said body portion '17 and which terminates in an end portion 19' extending substantially at right angles to the portion through the parts 17, '18. and :19 will be at an angle to acplane passing through 17 and The end portion 19 is adapted tobeengaged with a hole 9111 the valve-arm 15 and the end portion 20 serves as a pedal adapted to be engaged by the foot 22' of the operator.

In assembling the accelerator rod the pedal'end will be-first passed through a hole 23 in the foot board 16 and then the end member 19-can be'inserted throughthe hole 9 in the arm 15 .of the valve. It will thus 2? (sieen that the'parts are very easily assem- The hole 23 in the foot board serves as a bearing for one end of the accelerator rod, said hole as shown being somewhat larger than the diameter of the rod, to permit the;

has an upright arm 25 in position to be enill) gaged by the intermediate portion 17 of the accelerator rod and serves as a side bearing therefor, as well as a guideduring the operation of the rod. A spring 26 secured at one end to the lower end of the portion 18 of the rod and at its other end to the motor or other fixed support 'normally holds the mediate portion 17 to'partially rotate on its axis and swing the portion 18 and the valve connected portipn 19 in the direction of the arrowindicated at a in Fig. 1., thereby causing the valve arm to rotate in the direction of the 'arrow'indicated at b in said fig ure and open the valve 13. It is obvious that the extent of opening of the valve will depend upon the extent of depression of the pedal portion 20. When the pedal portion 20 is depressed as just above described, the upright guide member against which the intermediate "portion 17 bears will prevent the portion 18 and said portion 17 from swinging over toward the left with the portion 19 as'a fulcrum as might take place if it were not for said guide member 25, but as i the portion 18 cannot swing to the left with the portion 19 as a fulcrum and as the arm 15 is free to swing to the right, i.- e., in the direction of the arrow indicated at b in Fig.

1, said arm 15 is compelled to move to the right and open the valve. When the foot pressure is released the spring 26 will rock the accelerator rod back to normal position and close the valve.

It will thus be seen that a simple and light downward-pressure of the foot will operate the accelerator rod in a rotary move- 'ment without any push or pull in an axial direction and make for much easier action by the operator, and for smoother running of the vehicle. It will also be obvious that the'accelerator rod being integral, there is tion engine and has a member adapted to be operatively connected with an accelerator rod, an accelerator'rod having an lntermediate body portion, an arm at one end thereof extending substantially at right angles thereto and having pivotal engagement with said valve member, the other end of said rod having an arm forming a pedal pro ecting a bearing for said body portion adjacent the pedal member, a vertically elongated bearing located on the opposite side of the axis of said body portion from said valve so constructed and arranged as to resist lateral movement'of the said bodyportion in the opposite direction from-thelvalve, butpermitting vertical movement thereof whereby the body portion while rotating is permitted toalso move vertically on its vertical bearing and the valve operating arm is permitted to move in-a curved path. 7 a

- 2. In combination with a valve which controls the fuel supply of-an internal combus tion engine and has a member adaptedto'be'" operatively connected with an accelerator rod, an accelerator rod having an intermediate body portion, an arm at onefendthereof extending substantially at right angles thereto and having pivotal engagement withsaid valve member, the other end of said'rod havlng an arm forming a pedal extendlng at an angle thereto, said pedal'andsaid valve operating arm being so disposed with relation to each other that a" plane passing through said pedal and said body portion will be at an angle of substantially to a plane passing through said valve operating arm and said body portion, said pedal portion being adapted to be depressed to rotate said body portion on its axis, a bearing for said body portionadjacent the pedal member, a vertically elongated bearing located on the opposite side of the axis of said body portion fromsaid valve so constructed and arranged asto resist lateral movement of the said body portion in the opposite direction from the valve,but permitting vertical movement thereof whereby the body portion while rotating is permitted to also movevertically on its vertical bearing, 7

3. In combinationwith a valve which controls the fuel supply "of an internal combustion engine and has a member adapted to be its operatively connected with an accelerator rod, an accelerator rod comprising 'a straight body portion terminating at one end in an arm extending at substantially right angles thereto and then continuing parallel with I the axis of said body portion to form an olfset portion parallel with said body portion and having operative connection with-said valve, the other end of said body portion terminating in an arm extending at an angle thereto and adapted to serve as a pedal, the pedal portion and the said body portion being in a plane which is substantially at rightangles to a plane which passes through the ofiset portion at the other end and said body portion, a bearing for said intermediate body portion adjacent the pedal portion, a vertical bearing surface for said body portion on the opposite side of the-axis thereof from the said valve operating member so constructed and arranged as toform a side stop for the rod Whenit is rotated and which 10 permits vertical movement of the intermediate portion'of the rod. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CYRUS W. HICKS;

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