VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 3,590,938 A
• Filed: 05/21/1969
• Issued: 07/06/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gurol I. Macit
• Original Assignee: Gurol I. Macit
• Inventors: GUROL I MACIT
• Application Number:
  US04/826,470
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• US Class Current: 180/177
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/08 and one or more electrical components for establishing or regulating input pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0971 Speed responsive valve control

Abstract

An automotive speed control system including a fluid pressure modulator and a throttle actuator responsive to pressure variations in the modulator to control throttle setting. The modulator includes a housing communicating with a subatmospheric pressure source through a fluid conduit and communicating with atmospheric pressure through a primary opening. A value valve element rotatable to a position representing indicated vehicle speed drives a memory disc carrying the fluid conduit to a corresponding position. At the desired speed, the memory disc is fixed in position and the primary opening is closed. Rotation of the valve element relative to the fluid conduit thereafter modulates pressure in the housing and controls the throttle actuator.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling vehicle speed comprising:

a housing defining a chamber having a primary opening communication with fluid of a first pressure, an input element rotatably disposed within the chamber, means for angularly displacing the input element in accordance with vehicle speed, a memory element rotatably disposed within the chamber and rotatable with the input element, means for fixing the memory element in a given angular position and closing the primary opening, a fluid conduit having an end portion carried by the memory element and connectable to a fluid of a second pressure, an orifice in the end portion of the conduit, valve means for opening and closing the orifice in accordance with the angular position of the input element to modulate the pressure in the chamber between the first and second pressures, and, actuator means responsive to the pressure in the chamber for actuating a speed regulator element.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said input element is a speed cup and said means for displacing the input element is a permanent magnet magnetically coupled to the speed cup and rotated at an angular rate proportional to indicated vehicle speed, the apparatus further including spring means disposed within the chamber and connected to bias the input element in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation thereof.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the memory element comprises a disc rotatably mounted within the chamber adjacent the primary opening and axially displaceable into sealing engagement with the primary opening upon operation of said means for fixing the memory element in a given angular position.

4. Apparatus as described in claim 3 including sealing means disposed on the housing about the primary opening and cooperating with the memory element to seal the primary opening, and a secondary opening in the housing for admitting relatively small quantities of fluid at the first pressure.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein the fluid conduit includes a portion extending through the primary opening and a portion carrying said orifice radially disposed away from the primary opening thereby to rotate the orifice in accordance with rotation of the memory element.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for fixing the memory element in a given angular position includes an electromagnet disposed at least partially within the housing and energizable to displace the memory element into contact with the sealing means.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 including selectively operable circuit means for energizing the electromagnet.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first pressure is substantially atmospheric and the second pressure is subatmospheric.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the valve means includes an upstanding tab formed out of the surface of the input element and extending axially toward and adjacent the orifice whereby rotation of the input element relative to the memory element rotates the tab relative to the orifice.

10. Apparatus as defined in clAim 9 wherein the memory element is a disc having a notched portion in the periphery thereof, the valve means having a portion disposed within the notched portion, the fluid conduit extending to the notched portion such that the orifice is adjacent the valve means to be regulated thereby.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10 including selectively operable additional valve means for introducing air at atmospheric pressure into the housing.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 including means for maintaining said selectively operable valve means in the closed position but responsive to the operation of a vehicle brake pedal to open the valve.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the actuator means includes a housing having a chamber in fluid pressure communication with the chamber and a diaphragm secured within the housing for displacement in accordance with fluid pressure conditions acting thereon.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13 including feedback means connected between the actuator diaphragm and the input element.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein the feedback means comprises a relatively rigid member operatively connected between the actuator diaphragm and the input element.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the modulator housing and the actuator housing are connected together to form a unitary assembly.

17. A modulator for use in vehicle speed control systems comprising:

a housing defining a chamber, a fluid conduit having an end portion within the chamber, an orifice formed in the end portion and input means including an element mounted for rotation within the chamber through an angle proportional to vehicle indicated speed, a valve element carried by said element adjacent the orifice and displaceable within the chamber to various positions representing various speeds, means carrying the conduit and being normally displaceable with the valve element but selectively maintainable in a given position relative to the housing.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 including an opening in the housing which communicates with fluid at atmospheric pressure, and the fluid conduit communicates with fluid at subatmospheric pressure.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said placeable means within the chamber is selectively operable to close the opening.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19 including an electromagnet selectively energizable for displacing the displaceable means.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein the displaceable means is a disc mounted for rotation about an axis of the housing, the disc carrying the end portion of the fluid conduit within the chamber for displacement therewith.

22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein the fluid conduit enters the housing through the opening.

23. Apparatus as defined in claim 22 wherein the fluid conduit includes a portion extending along said axis and through the disc and a portion extending radially along the disc and terminating at the orifice.

24. Apparatus as defined in claim 23 including sealing means disposed about the opening for engagement with the disc, and a secondary opening through the housing to the chamber and communicating with fluid at atmospheric pressure.

25. Apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the input means includes a permanent magnet mounted for rotation within the chamber at speeds proportional to vehicle indicated speed, and a speed cup carrying the valve element and magnetically coupled to the magnet to be rotated thereby, and spring means for limiting the displacement of the speed cup.

26. Apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein the disc includes a notched-out portion adjacent the periphery, the valve element extending into the notched-out portion and adjacent the orifice whereby relative displacement of the valve element and the disc tends to regulate flow through the orifice.

27. Apparatus as defined in claim 26 wherein the valve element is formed out of the upper surface of the speed cup.

28. Apparatus as defined in claim 27 including additional selectively operable valve means in the housing having a normally closed condition but selectively openable to admit fluid at atmospheric pressure to the chamber.

29. Apparatus as defined in claim 28 including means for varying the bias applied by said spring means to the speed cup.

30. Apparatus as defined in claim 28 including electrical circuit means for energizing the electromagnet.

31. Apparatus as defined in claim 30 wherein the circuit means includes a voltage source, first selectively operable switch means connecting the source to the electromagnet, a second electromagnet for controlling the additional valve means, and second selectively operable switch means connecting the source to the second electromagnet.

32. Apparatus as defined in claim 31 including means for interrupting current flow through the second electromagnet in response to operation of the vehicle brakes to open the additional valve means.