Automobile acceleration control for fuel economy

• US 4,019,475 A
• Filed: 06/06/1974
• Issued: 04/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Nuss, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, C. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Feinberg, Craig R.
• Application Number:
  US05/477,125
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 123/103 R, 123/103 E, 123/103 C, 123/98, 180/108, 340/407
• US Class Current: 123/396
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/08 of the pneumatic type

Abstract

Resilient means yieldably opposes opening of the throttle for an automobile engine when the latter is accelerated too rapidly for acceptable fuel economy. Pressure actuated means responsive to inlet manifold pressure withdraws the resilient means from the path of opening movement of the throttle to enable throttle opening without opposition by the resilient means when the rate of acceleration is sufficiently low to achieve the acceptable fuel economy. The throttle opposing force of the resilient means is readily detectable by the automobile driver, but may be overcome by him when rapid acceleration is desired. Also supplemental means under the control of the driver is provided for selectively withdrawing the resilient means from the path of throttle opening movement when no indication of rapid acceleration is desired.

Claims

1. In a device for an automobile having a fuel and air inlet manifold and also having driver controlled throttle means for controlling the inlet flow in said manifold, means for alerting the automobile driver when the throttle means is opened too rapidly for acceptable fuel economy comprising the combination of yieldable means for opposing opening movement of said throttle means with a force detectable by said driver and being yieldable upon the application of additional throttle opening force by said driver to enable opening of said throttle means against said detectable force, and means for operatively connecting said manifold and throttle means and cooperable with said yieldable means for operating the latter to enable opening movement of said throttle means unopposed by said detectable force when the pressure in said manifold is less than a predetermined value corresponding to the extent of opening of said throttle means, said means for connecting comprising a pair of members arranged for movement in directions toward and from positions of throttle resisting relationship with respect to each other, means independent of said pressure for connecting said throttle means with one of said members for moving the latter in the directions toward and from said throttle resisting relationship in unison with opening and closing respectively of said throttle means, and reciprocating means responsive to said pressure and cooperable with the other of said members for urging the latter in the direction from said throttle resisting relationship whenever said pressure is less than said predetermined value, said yieldable means comprising means cooperable with said other member and reciprocating means for yieldingly opposing the pressure responsive operation of the latter urging said other member in the direction from said throttle resisting relationship and also for yieldingly urging said other member in the direction toward said throttle resisting relationship regardless of said pressure.

2. In the combination according to claim 1, means selectively operable independently of said manifold inlet flow for operating said yieldable means to enable said unopposed opening movement.

3. In the combination according to claim 1, said reciprocating means comprising pressure actuated means in communication with said manifold.

4. In the combination according to claim 3, said pressure actuated means being in communication with said inlet manifold at a location downstream of said throttle means for actuation with decreasing inlet manifold pressure at said location to move said reciprocating means in said one direction.

5. In the combination according to claim 4, the communication between said pressure actuated means and inlet manifold including valve means shiftable to an inoperative position for disconnecting said inlet manifold from said pressure actuated means, a vacuum accumulator, one-way flow control means connecting said accumulator with said inlet manifold to enable gas flow only from said accumulator, said valve means having means in said inoperative position for connecting said accumulator with said pressure actuated means to subject the latter to the pressure in said accumulator.

6. In the combination according to claim 5, said valve means being shiftable to an operative position and having means at said operative position for connecting said inlet manifold pressure with said pressure actuated means, and electrical solenoid means for selectively shifting said valve means to and from said operative and inoperative positions.

7. In the combination according to claim 5, means for selectively shifting said valve means between an operative and said inoperative position.

8. In the combination according to claim 7, said means for selectively shifting said valve means comprising a second pressure actuated means, conduit means for connecting said second pressure actuated means with said inlet manifold pressure, second valve means in said conduit means selectively operable for disconnecting said second pressure actuated means from said inlet manifold pressure and for simultaneously connecting said second pressure actuated means to atmosphere, and means operable in response to actuation of said second pressure actuated means to shift the first named valve means to said inoperative position when said second pressure actuated means is connected to atmosphere by said second valve means.