CENTRALIZED AIR-POLLUTION PREVENTIVE SYSTEM

• US 3,680,318 A
• Filed: 12/22/1970
• Issued: 08/01/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kunihiko Sugihara, Shin-Ichi Nagumo, Toru Yoshimura, Yasuo Nakajima, Yoshimasa Hayashi
• Original Assignee: Kunihiko Sugihara, Shin-Ichi Nagumo, Toru Yoshimura, Yasuo Nakajima, Yoshimasa Hayashi
• Inventors: Hayashi, Yoshimasa, Sugihara, Kunihiko, Nagumo, Shin-ichi, Nakajima, Yasuo, Yoshimura, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hart, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US05/100,690
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 60/29A,3R,278,283,288,289,290,285 123/136,97B,117A,119A
• US Class Current: 60/278
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/18 characterised by methods of operation; Control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 21/08 the other gas being the exhaust gas of engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/00 Non-electrical conjoint control of two or more functions of engines, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0047 Controlling exhaust gas recirculation [EGR] temperature control with cooler in recirculation circuit F02M26/33
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/02 Circuit arrangements for generating control signals
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1446 the characteristics being exhaust temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0845 Electromagnetic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/08 adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir electrical control of purge system F02D41/003
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 3/005 Idling fuel enrichment with motor driven instead of driving; Switching the fuel supply from the main to idling jet system
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/142 dependent on a combination of several specific conditions F02P5/075, F02P5/106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters

Abstract

A centralized control system for coordinating a plurality of vehicular air-pollution preventive devices in such a manner as to minimize the harmful contents of the automotive exhaust gases. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes six air-pollution preventive devices; an ignition timing retarding device, an exhaust gas after-burning device, a fuel vapor trapping device, an exhaust gas recirculating device, an atmospheric air introducing device and a device for reducing hydrocarbon exhaust during deceleration. The system also includes five sensors; a vehicle speed sensor, an intake manifold vacuum sensor, a throttle opening sensor, an engine temperature sensor and an exhaust temperature sensor, and a controller adapted to determine the individual predetermined conditions of engine operation during which the air-pollution preventive devices are placed in operation, in accordance with electric signals supplied thereto from these sensors. The controller, upon determination of such conditions, operates to keep the devices operative.

Claims

1. A system for minimizing harmful components contained in exhaust gases emitted from an automotive internal combustion engine, comprising a plurality of vehicular air-pollution preventive devices adapted to be kept operative under individual predetermined conditions of engine operation, a plurality of sensors for sensing engine operating conditions to produce electric signals corresponding thereto, and a controller responsive to the electric signals for determining said individual predetermined conditions to activate said plurality of air-pollution preventive devices, said plurality of sensors including a vehicle speed sensor, an intake manifold vacuum sensor, a throttle opening sensor, an engine temperature sensor and an exhaust temperature sensor which sensors are electrically connected to said controller.

2. A system for minimizing harmful components contained in exhaust gases emitted from an automotive internal combustion engine, comprising a plurality of air-pollution preventive devices adapted to be operative under individual predetermined conditions of engine operation, a plurality of sensors for sensing engine operating conditions to produce electric signals corresponding thereto, and a controller responsive to the electric signals for determining said individual predetermined conditions to activate said plurality of air-pollution preventive devices, said plurality of vehicular air-pollution preventive devices, including an ignition timing retarding device, an exhaust gas after-burning device, a fuel vapor trapping device, an exhaust gas recirculating device, an atmospheric air introducing device and a device for reducing hydrocarbon exhaust during deceleration, which devices are connected to said controller, and sAid plurality of sensors including a vehicle speed sensor, an intake manifold vacuum sensor, a throttle opening sensor, an engine temperature sensor and an exhaust temperature sensor, which sensors are also connected to said controller.

3. A system according to claim 2, in which said vehicle speed sensor comprises an a.c. generator having a rotor drivably connected to a rotating shaft of a speed meter so as to produce an electric signal corresponding to vehicle speed.

4. A system according to claim 2, in which said intake manifold vacuum sensor comprises a spring-loaded and air-tight diaphragm, the spring-loaded side of said diaphragm being connected through a vacuum line to an opening in said intake manifold, an elongated member operatively connected to said diaphragm for axial movement therewith and having a small diameter portion, and two switches having arms with respective legs which are adapted to rest on the surface of said elongated member, said switches being kept open while their legs rest on the small diameter portion of said elongated member.

5. A system according to claim 4, in which said small diameter portion is so positioned in said elongated member that one of said switches is closed when the intake manifold vacuum increases to a first predetermined value and that the other is opened when the intake manifold vacuum increases to a second predetermined value.

6. A system according to claim 5, in which said first and second predetermined values are approximately -150 and -350 mmHg, respectively.

7. A system according to claim 2, in which said throttle opening sensor comprises a switch whose arm is operatively associated with the throttle valve so as to open said switch when said throttle valve is opened to a predetermined degree.

8. A system according to claim 2, in which said engine temperature sensor comprises a bimetal placed in the engine cooling water passage and adapted to close a switch when the engine temperature increases to a predetermined value.

9. A system according to claim 8, in which said predetermined value is approximately 70* C.

10. A system according to claim 2, in which said exhaust temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple placed in the exhaust gas passage.

11. A system according to claim 2, in which said controller includes a first conductive element connected to said vehicle speed sensor and adapted to become conducting when the vehicle speed exceeds a first predetermined value, a second conductive element connected to said vehicle speed sensor and adapted to become conducting when the vehicle speed exceeds a second predetermined value higher than said first predetermined value, a third conductive element connected to said first conductive element and adapted to become conducting upon conduction of said first conductive element, a fourth conductive element connected to said intake manifold vacuum sensor and said third conductive element and adapted to become conducting when the intake manifold vacuum exceeds a first predetermined value, and a fifth conductive element adapted to become conductive upon conductions of said third and fourth conductive elements thereby activating said ignition timing retarding device.

12. A system according to claim 11, in which said first and second predetermined vehicle speeds are approximately 16 and 80 kilometers per hour, respectively, and said first predetermined intake manifold vacuum is approximately -150 mmHg.

13. A system according to claim 11, in which said second conductive element renders said controller inoperative when said second predetermined vehicle speed has been reached.

14. A system according to claim 11, in which said controller includes a sixth conductive element connected through an amplifier to said exhaust temperature sensor and adapted to become conducting when the exhaust temperature decreases below a predetermined value, a seventh conductive element connected to said intake manifold vAcuum sensor and said sixth conductive element and adapted to become conducting when the intake manifold vacuum exceeds said first predetermined value, and an eighth conductive element adapted to become conducting upon conductions of said sixth and seventh conductive elements thereby activating said exhaust gas after-burning device.

15. A system according to claim 14, in which said predetermined exhaust temperature is approximately 1,000* C.

16. A system according to claim 11, in which said controller includes a ninth conductive element connected to said engine temperature sensor and adapted to become conductive when the engine temperature exceeds a predetermined value, a tenth conductive element connected to said intake manifold vacuum sensor and said ninth conductive element and adapted to be kept conducting until the intake manifold vacuum exceeds a second predetermined value, an eleventh conductive element connected to said first and tenth conductive elements and adapted to become conducting upon conduction of said first conductive element, and a twelfth conductive element adapted to become conductive upon conductions of said ninth, tenth and eleventh conductive elements thereby activating said exhaust gas recirculating device and said atmospheric air introducing device.

17. A system according to claim 16, in which said predetermined engine temperature is approximately 70* C and said second predetermined intake manifold vacuum is approximately -350 mmHg.

18. A system according to claim 11, in which said controller includes a thirteenth conductive element connected to said first conductive element and adapted to become conducting upon conduction of said first conductive element, a fourteenth conductive element connected to said throttle opening sensor and said thirteenth conductive element and adapted to become nonconducting when the throttle valve is opened to a predetermined degree, and a fifteenth conductive element adapted to become conducting upon conductions of said thirteenth and fourteenth conductive elements thereby actuating said device for reducing hydrocarbon exhaust during deceleration.

19. A system according to claim 18, in which said predetermined degree is approximately zero degrees.