FAIL-SAFE THROTTLE CONTROL

• US 3,626,919 A
• Filed: 11/10/1970
• Issued: 12/14/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles W. Macmillan
• Original Assignee: Charles W. Macmillan
• Inventors: MacMillan, Charles W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Al Lawrence
• Application Number:
  US05/088,450
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 123/198R,198D,198DB,198DC,98,108,97B,13C,13D,13E,142 180/82,82.1,82.7 192/129 74/513
• US Class Current: 123/198.0DB
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/04 of means connecting initiating means or elements to propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/00 Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions for electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; road vehicle drive control systems for purposes not related to the control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/00; drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 1/00 Valve-gear or valve arrangements, e.g. lift-valve gear lift-valve and valve-seat assemblies per se F01L3/00; slide-valve gear F01L5/00; actuated non-mechanically F01L9/00; valve arrangements in working piston or piston rod F01L11/00; modifications of valve-gear to facilitate reversing, braking, starting, changing compression ratio, or other specific operations F01L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2710/006 Safety devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0264 in which movement is transmitted through a spring
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0271 with means for closing the throttle other than throttle closing springs
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0277 Fail-safe mechanisms, e.g. with limp-home feature, to close throttle if actuator fails, or if control cable sticks or breaks
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2700/023 by means of one throttle device
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/00 Controlling engines by throttling air or fuel-and-air induction conduits or exhaust conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/02 concerning induction conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08

Abstract

A spring-actuated valve or switch means which is interposed into the accelerator linkage of a motor vehicle acted upon by opposing forces of the accelerator pedal foot pressure and the throttle return spring pressure either to return the engine to idle or disconnect the ignition when in cooperation these forces indicate throttle linkage sticking or failure.

Claims

1. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism for internal combustion engine carburetors including a carburetor mounted on a motor vehicle comprising throttle plate lever means associated with the carburetor, means carried by said throttle plate lever means extending to an accelerator pedal, said last named means further including means for sensing failure of the accelerator pedal to return to a normal condition upon an attempt to decelerate and reacting to such improper communication of operation of the released accelerator pedal to said throttle plate lever means, and said reacting means being so disposed in the mechanism for immediately rendering the engine Operation safe by returning the throttle plate lever to an idle position.

2. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reacting means is hydraulically actuated.

3. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reacting means is vacuum actuated.

4. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reacting means includes an electrical system provided on the motor vehicle.

5. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 4, wherein a solenoid is included in the electrical system of the motor vehicle.

6. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means carried by said throttle plate lever means extending to the accelerator pedal is push operated.

7. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reacting means comprises a power means.

8. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 7, wherein the power means comprises a cylinder.

9. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes valve means actuated by the accelerator pedal.

10. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes electrical contact means actuated by the accelerator pedal.

11. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the accelerator pedal comprises at least two interconnected plates, one of which carries either a switch means or a valving means.

12. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the carburetor and the throttle plate are replaced by a diesel fuel rack.

13. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means carried by said throttle plate lever means extending to an accelerator pedal further includes means to permit the adjustment of said carburetor without disturbing the sensing means.

14. A fail-safe throttle control mechanism as claimed in 13, wherein the means to permit adjustment of said carburetor includes a double resilient means.