Fuel-flow limiting apparatus

• US 3,916,854 A
• Filed: 06/26/1972
• Issued: 11/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Margaret M. Barton, Richard E. Barton
• Original Assignee: Margaret M. Barton, Richard E. Barton
• Inventors: Barton, Richard E., Barton, Margaret M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burns, Wendell E.
• Application Number:
  US05/265,991
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 123/14CC,13E,98,102,108
• US Class Current: 123/363
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/00 Arrangements for, or adaptations to, non-automatic engine control initiation means, e.g. operator initiated specially for reversing F02D27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0255 with means for correcting throttle position, e.g. throttle cable of variable length
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0264 in which movement is transmitted through a spring
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0267 for simultaneous action of a governor and an accelerator lever on the throttle
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2009/0296 Throttle control device with stops for limiting throttle opening or closing beyond a certain position during certain periods of operation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 9/02 concerning induction conduits throttle valves, or arrangements thereof in conduits F02D9/08

Abstract

A device for limiting the operator-demanded fuel flow to an internal combustion engine to the amount dictated by certain engine performance characteristics comprising in combination: AN ENGINE SPEED SENSOR FOR GENERATING A SIGNAL WHICH IS A FUNCTION OF ENGINE SPEED; AN ACTUATOR FOR RECEIVING THE SPEED SENSING SIGNAL AND ITSELF GENERATING A MECHANICAL POSITION AS A FUNCTION OF ENGINE SPEED; AN ARITHMETIC UNIT IN WHICH IS STORED CERTAIN ENGINE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS FOR RECEIVING THE MECHANICAL POSITION GENERATED BY THE ACTUATOR AND ITSELF GENERATING A FUEL FLOW METERING SIGNAL AS A FUNCTION OF ENGINE SPEED, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CERTAIN ENGINE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS; A FUEL METERING DEVICE RESPONSIVE TO THE ARITHMETIC UNIT FUEL FLOW METERING SIGNAL AND THE OPERATORDEMANDED FUEL FLOW; AND AN OVERRIDE DEVICE TO OVERRIDE THE OPERATOR-DEMANDED FUEL FLOW SO AS TO LIMIT THE FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE TO THE VALUE DICTATED BY CERTAIN ENGINE PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS.

Claims

1. A device for limiting the operator-demanded fuel flow to an internal combustion engine to an amount dictated by certain engine performance characteristics comprising in combination:

a. engine speed sensing means for generating a signal which is a function of engine speed;

b. actuator means for receiving the speed sensing signal and itself generating a mechanical position as a function of engine speed;

c. arithmetic unit means, adapted to store engine performance characteristics, for receiving the mechanical position generated by the actuator means and itself generating a fuel flow metering signal as a function of engine speed, in accordance with stored engine performance characteristics;

d. means responsive to operator actuation for generating a signal indicative of operator demanded fuel flow;

e. fuel metering means responsive to said arithmetic unit means fuel flow metering signal and an operator demanded fuel flow signal; and

f. override means responsive to an arithmetic unit means fuel flow signal and an operator demanded fuel flow signal for overriding the operator demanded fuel flow so as to limit the fuel flow to the engine, to the value dictated by the engine performance characteristics.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 whereiN the engine speed sensing means and the actuator means are combined in a position output centrifugal flyweight actuator.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the arithmetic unit means is a cam.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fuel metering means is a carburetor throttle plate.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the override means is a broken link.

6. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fuel metering means is a variable stroke fuel injection pump.

7. A device having a carburetor whose venturi pressure is controlled by a throttle plate fixedly mounted to a pivotably mounted throttle plate pin for limiting an operator demanded fuel flow to an internal combustion engine to an amount dictated by certain engine performance characteristics comprising in combination:

a. a first and second housing fixedly attached together;

b. a flanged input shaft having a bore extending thereinto, said flanged input shaft journalled into said first housing and including means for driving said flanged input shaft at an angular velocity proportional to engine speed;

c. a flanged damper shaft having a bore extending throughout its length, the bore having a larger diameter in the flanged portion than in the remainder of the flanged damper shaft, said flanged damper shaft slideably mounted inside the bore of said flanged input shaft;

d. a spring biasing said damper shaft outwardly from said input shaft bore;

e. a plurality of flyweight linkages pivotably connected to flanges of said flanged input shaft and, said linkages and said damper shaft coacting to draw said damper shaft into the bore of said input shaft under the influence of centrifugal force as the angular velocity of said input shaft increases;

f. an output shaft extending within the bore of the flange of said flanged damper shaft and slideably mounted in said second housing so as to transmit to an adapting means the translation element of the motion of said damper shaft;

g. an information storing cam fixedly mounted to said throttle plate pin;

h. an elastically biased broken link, one end of which is fixedly mounted to said throttle plate pin;

i. an operator-controlled throttle pedal linkage adapted for cooperation with the other end of said broken link so that said throttle plate pin will rotate under the influence of said operator-controlled throttle pedal linkage;

j. an adapting means connected to said output shaft for transmitting a throttle plate limiting position to the surface of said cam so the throttle plate position demanded by the operator may be limited to the value stored on the information storing cam.

8. A device for limiting an operator demanded fuel flow to an internal combustion engine to an amount dictated by certain engine performance characteristics comprising in combination:

a. engine speed sensing means for generating a signal which is a function of engine speed;

b. arithmetic unit means adapted to store engine performance characteristics for receiving the engine speed signal and for generating in response thereto a fuel flow metering signal as a function of engine speed in accordance with the engine performance characteristics;

c. actuator means for receiving said fuel flow metering signal and for generating in response thereto a mechanical position as a function of engine speed;

d. means responsive to operator actuation for generating a signal indicative of operator demanded fuel flow;

e. fuel metering means responsive to said actuator means mechanical position and an operator demanded fuel flow signal; and

f. an override means responsive to an arithmetic unit means fuel flow signal and an operator demanded fuel flow signal for overriding the operator demanded fuel flow so as to limit the fuel flow to the engine to the value dictated by the engine performance characteristics.

9. The device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the speed sensing means is a Tachometer.

10. The device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the actuator means is a motor servomechanism.

11. The device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the override means is a broken link.

12. The device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the fuel metering means is a carburetor throttle plate.

13. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the speed sensing means is a force output flyweight actuator.

14. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuator means is a fluid servomechanism.

15. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the speed sensing means is a tachometer.

16. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuator means is a motor servomechanism.

17. A device, having a carburetor whose venturi pressure is controlled by a throttle plate fixedly mounted to a pivotably mounted throttle plate pin, for limiting operator demanded fuel flow to an internal combustion engine to an amount dictated by certain engine performance characteristics comprising in combination:

a. a first and second housing fixedly attached together;

b. a flanged input shaft journalled into said first and second housings and including means for driving said flanged input shaft at an angular velocity proportional to engine speed;

c. a flanged actuator slideably mounted on said flanged input shaft;

d. a spring biasing said actuator away from the flange of said flanged input shaft;

e. a pluarality of flyweight linkages pivotably connected to flanges of said flanged input shaft and said linkages and said actuator coacting to draw the actuator toward the flange of said input shaft under the influence of centrifugal force as the angular velocity of the input shaft increases;

f. a bell crank pivotably mounted to said second housing, one end of which is pivotably connected to said actuator, and the other end of which contains a toothed surface for engaging the similarly toothed surface of a cam;

g. a cam pivotably mounted to said second housing and extending through a slot in said second housing, and having a toothed surface and an information storage surface;

h. an elastically biased broken link one end of which is fixedly mounted to said throttle plate pin;

i. an operator-controlled throttle pedal linkage adapted for cooperating with the other end of said broken link so that said throttle plate pin will rotate under the influence of said operator-controlled throttle pedal linkage;

j. a lever pivotably connected to said second housing and elastically biased to hold it in contact with said cam and coating with said broken link to limit the position of said throttle plate to the position dictated by said cam.

18. The device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the actuator means is an electrofluid servomechanism.

19. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the actuator means is an electrofluid servomechanism.