Fuel saving variable closed position fuel and air flow control for vehicles with automatic transmission

• US 4,056,082 A
• Filed: 01/20/1975
• Issued: 11/01/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas G. Noiles
• Original Assignee: Douglas G. Noiles
• Inventors: Noiles, Douglas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ronald H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Feinberg, Craig R.
• Application Number:
  US05/542,586
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 123/DIG. 11, 123/103 R, 123/103 B, 123/103 D, 123/198 DC, 123/198 DB, 123/179 G, 123/124, 123/119 F, 123/97 B, 261/65, 60/906, 180/108
• US Class Current: 123/339.16
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/08 of the pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 3/07 by positioning the throttle flap stop, or by changing the fuel flow cross-sectional area, by electrical, electromechanical or electropneumatic means, according to engine speed

Abstract

Variable closed position fuel and air flow control for vehicles with automatic transmission for improving fuel consumption efficiency of a vehicular internal combustion engine, without disabling or circumventing any engine function, accessory, or emission control device, by causing the engine to idle at substantially constant speed regardless of changes in the engine load caused by accessories such as automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering and the like. This variable closed position fuel and air flow control device is adapted to be easily retrofitted to existing engines and includes a vacuum actuator connected to be responsive to changes in pressure in the fuel and air flow induction passage for the engine. A cam is operatively associated with the primary idle stop of the antidieseling solenoid and the throttle control arm and a linkage transmits the motion of the actuator to the cam. The inventive control apparatus provides fuel conservation in automobiles with automatic transmission and powered accessories under conditions of standstill idle and when the vehicle is driving the engine and the throttle control arm rests against its stop at the closed position. Fuel savings are effected significantly in stop and go driving such as encountered by taxicabs in congested city traffic, and fuel savings are also obtained during highway driving in hilly terrain.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in a vehicular engine drive system including an automatic transmission wherein air-fuel flow control means associated with an induction passage leading to the engine are provided for controlling engine power and speed with a movable control member for operating said air-fuel flow control means, said apparatus comprising a solenoid for allowing said control member to move to an engine shut down position;

positioning means for moving said control member for providing varying air-fuel flow;

pressure-responsive means connected to said induction passage for controlling said positioning means during idling when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said positioning means to move said control member to variably increase air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage increases due to the tendency for the engine to slow down when one or more power-operated accessories are put in use and for moving said positioning means to move said control member to variably decrease air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage decreases due to the tendency for the engine to speed up when use of one or more power-operated accessories is discontinued; and

said solenoid moving said positioning means for holding said positioning means in an operating position during engine operation and for moving said positioning means and said control member to an engine shut down position;

said pressure-responsive means also controlling said positioning means during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said positioning means to move said control member to decrease further the air-fuel flow when the vehicle momentum is driving the engine;

whereby the position of said control member results from the sum of the control action of said pressure-responsive means plus the control action of said solenoid, thereby reducing fuel consumption by automatically controlling engine speed during idling and air-fuel flow during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal and vehicle momentum is driving the engine.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said apparatus automatically maintains the engine speed constant within a plus or minus 10 percent range regardless of whether all or some or none of the power-operated accessories are in use at vehicle standstill, including engagement or disengagement of the automatic transmission.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said positioning means is movable back-and-forth in a first direction under control of said pressure-responsive means and is movable in a second direction under control of said solenoid.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said pressure-responsive means is connected by a mechanical linkage to said positioning means, and adjustable calibration means are connected to said mechanical linkage.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said pressure-responsive means is mounted on a support which is mounted on the solenoid.

6. Idle speed engine control apparatus for improving fuel consumption efficiency of a vehicular internal combustion engine having an automatic transmission, power-operated accessories, an ignition circuit, an induction passage for conducting fuel and air to the engine, fuel and air flow control means equipped with an operating arm for variably, selectively controlling the feed of fuel and air to said induction passage, an "antidieseling" operating arm positioning solenoid having a primary idle stop for positioning the operating arm for idle conditions when the ignition circuit is switched on and for positioning the operating arm against a shut down stop when the ignition circuit is switched off, said idle speed control apparatus comprising:

a vacuum actuator connected to be responsive to pressure in said induction passage and having an output shaft;

a cam interposed between said operating arm and the antidieseling solenoid primary idle stop; and

linkage means connecting said vacuum actuator output shaft to said cam for moving said cam in response to changes in the pressure in the induction passage,

said vacuum actuator, said linkage means, and said cam cooperating to respond to the pressure in said induction passage for causing the fuel and air flow control means to move toward a more open position upon increase in the pressure in said induction passage, and vice versa, to control the engine at idle when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal to hold engine speed within a plus or minus 10 percent range under all engine load conditions during idling.

7. The idle speed control apparatus for improving fuel consumption efficiency of a vehicular internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6 in which:

support means is provided for mounting said vacuum actuator, and

said support means includes mounting means adapted to be fitted onto the antidieseling operating arm positioning solenoid.

8. The idle speed control apparatus for improving fuel comsumption efficiency of a vehicular internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 7 in which:

said supporrt means is a U-shaped bracket having a back portion and a pair of legs extending therefrom,

said vacuum actuator being mounted on the back portion of said U-shaped bracket, and

said mounting means being associated with both of said legs adapted for mounting on opposite ends of said solenoid.

9. The idle speed control apparatus for improving fuel consumption efficiency of a vehicular internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8 in which the antidieseling solenoid is housed in a casing having an exposed notch at one end thereof and a projecting sleeve at the opposite end thereof and wherein said mounting means comprises:

said first bracket leg having a hole therein adapted to be fitted over the sleeve at said one end of the anti-dieseling solenoid casing; and

said second bracket leg having a T-shaped tab adapted to snap into and engage said notch in the antidieseling solenoid casing.

10. Idle speed engine control apparatus for improving fuel consumption efficiency of a vehicular internal combustion engine having an induction passage for conducting fuel and air to the engine, fuel and air flow control means equipped with an operating arm for controlling the flow of fuel and air through said induction passage to the engine and an "antidieseling" operating arm positioning solenoid having a movable primary idle stop for positioning said operating arm for idle conditions when the ignition circuit is switched on and for retracting said primary stop for allowing said operating arm to rest against a shut down stop when the ignition circuit is switched off, said idle speed control apparatus comprising

a vacuum actuator connected to be responsive to the pressure in said induction passage and having an output shaft,

support means for mounting said vacuum actuator near said operating arm of the fuel and air flow control means,

a generally wedge-shaped cam positioned between said primary idle stop and said operating arm,

a third-class lever pivoted at a first end in said support means forming a fulcrum for said lever,

the movable outer end of said lever being pivotally connected to said wedge-shaped cam for allowing said cam to follow the retraction of said primary stop during engine shut down, and

said output shaft of said vacuum actuator being pivotally coupled to said lever intermediate said fulcrum pivot and the outer end of said lever for multiplying the movement of said wedge-shaped cam relative to the movement of the output shaft of said vacuum actuator for moving said cam in response to changes in the pressure in said induction passage to move the operating arm for increasing fuel and air flow upon increase in the pressure in said induction passage, and vice versa to control the engine speed under all engine load conditions during idling.

11. Idle speed engine control apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which:

calibration means are operatively associated with the movable outer end of said lever,

said calibration means including a guide rod pivotally connected near the outer end of said lever,

guide means on said support means for guiding said guide rod,

a coil spring around said guide rod,

and adjustable spring engaging means on said guide rod for adjusting the effective length of said spring, thereby to adjust the spring force acting on said lever.

12. Idle speed engine control apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which:

said wedge-shaped cam is pivotally connected to the movable outer end of said lever by a pivot connection located near the wider end of said cam, and

spring means near said pivot connection for urging said cam to swing into engagement with said primary idle stop.

13. In a vehicular internal combustion engine system wherein the engine is controlled by a throttle associated with an induction passage, such throttle having an operation arm for controlling the flow of fuel and air through the induction passage to the engine and wherein the vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission and power-operated accessories, and a solenoid-actuated stop for positioning the throttle operating arm, idle speed control apparatus for the engine comprising:

a movable cam member positioned between said solenoid-actuated stop and said throttle operating arm,

said cam member having an inclined surface which continuously slopes in one direction throughout its entire operating range,

a vacuum actuator having a chamber connected to the induction passage for moving said cam in response to changes in pressure in said induction passage, and

a linkage coupling said vacuum actuator to said cam for moving said cam.

14. In a vehiclar internal combustion engine system wherein the vehicle is equipped with an automatic transmission and the engine is controlled by fuel and air flow control means having an operating arm, said fuel and air flow control means controlling the fuel and air being supplied through an induction passage to the engine, and wherein the operating air normally rests against an adjustable idle stop during idling of the engine with the operator'"'"'s foot removed from the accelerator pedal, fuel conserving apparatus providing a variable opening of the fuel and air flow control means under conditions of varying engine loads at such idling created by operation of varying numbers of powered accessories on the vehicle including engagement of the automatic transmission, said apparatus comprising

a cam interposed between said operating arm and said adjustable idle stop,

means for moving said cam to cause the fuel and air flow control means to become more open when an increase in engine load occurs at such idling due to operation of an increased number of powered accessories the vice versa, and

said cam being effectively continuously sloped in one direction throughout its entire operating length with respect to said adjustable idle stop for moving the operating arm toward a more closed position of said fuel and air flow control means when the vehicle is decelerating or travelling downhill with the automatic transmission engaged and the operator'"'"'s foot removed from the accelerator pedal so that the momentum of the vehicle is driving the engine at a speed greater than that which corresponds to the desired engine idle speed at such idling when no powered accessories are operating.

15. In a vehicular internal combustion engine, fuel conserving apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which:

said cam is a wedge-shaped cam which continuously tapers in one direction.

16. In a vehicular internal combustion engine, fuel conserving apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which:

said more closed position which is achieved during deceleration and downhill travel with the operator'"'"'s foot removed from the accelerator pedal is the same position which the operating arm also occupies during engine shut-down.

17. Apparatus for use in a vehicular engine drive system including an automatic transmission wherein air-fuel flow control means associated with an induction passage leading to the einge are provided for controlling engine power and speed with a removable control member for operating said air-fuel flow control means, said apparatus comprising a solenoid for allowing said control member to move to an engine shut down position;

a cam which continuously slopes in one direction throughout its operating range for moving said control member for providing varying air-fuel flow;

pressure-responsive means connected to said induction passage for controlling said cam during idling when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said cam to move said control member to variably increase air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage increases due to the tendency for the engine to slow down when one or more power-operated accessories are put in use and for moving said cam to move said control member to variably decrease air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage decreases due to the tendency for the engine to speed up when use of one or more power-operated accessories is discontinued; and

said solenoid moving said cam for holding said cam in an operating position during engine operation and for moving said cam and said control member to an engine shut down position;

said pressure-responsive means also controlling said cam during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said cam to move said control member to decrease further the air-fuel flow when the vehicle momentum is driving the engine;

whereby the position of said control member results from the sum of the control action of said pressure-responsive means plus the control action of said solenoid, thereby reducing fuel consumption by automatically controlling engine speed during idling and air-fuel flow during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal and vehicle momentum is driving the engine.

18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, in which

said cam slopes in one direction throughout its entire operating range and slopes sufficiently far to decrease the air-fuel rate to a shut-down value for the engine when the engine is being driven by the momentum of the vehicle during vehicle deceleration or downhill travel with the automatic transmission engaged and the operator'"'"'s foot removed from the accelerator pedal.

19. Apparatus for use in a vehicular engine drive system including an automatic transmission wherein air-fuel flow control means associated with an induction passage leading to the engine are provided for controlling engine power and speed with a movable control member for operating said air-fuel flow control means, said apparatus comprising a solenoid for allowing said control member to move to an engine shut down position;

a first stop moved by said solenoid, a cam interposed between said control member and said first stop for moving said control member for providing varying air-fuel flow;

pressure-responsive means connected to said induction passage for controlling said cam during idling when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said cam to move said control member to variably increase air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage increases due to the tendency for the engine to slow down when one or more power-operated accessories are put in use and for moving said cam to move said control member to variably decrease air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage decreases due to the tendency for the engine to speed up when use of one or more power-operated accessories or discontinued; and

said solenoid moving said cam for holding said cam in an operating position during engine operation and for moving said cam and said control member to an engine shut down position;

said pressure-responsive means also controlling said cam during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said cam to move said control member to decrease further the air-fuel flow when the vehicle momentum is driving the engine;

whereby the position of said control member results from the sum of the control action of said pressure-responsive means plus the control action of said solenoid, thereby reducing fuel consumption by automatically controlling engine speed during idling and air-fuel flow during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal and vehicle momentum is driving the engine.

20. Apparatus for use in a vehicular engine drive system including an automatic transmission wherein air-fuel flow control means associated with an induction passage leading to the engine are provided for controlling engine power and speed with a movable control member for operating said air-fuel flow control means, said apparatus comprising a solenoid for allowing said control member to move to an engine shut down position;

pressure-responsive means connected to said induction passage;

a longitudinally tapered cam for moving said control member for providing varying air-fuel flow;

said longitudinally tapered cam being movable longitudinally back and forth by said pressure-responsive means for controlling said tapered cam during idling when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said tapered cam to move said control member to variably increase air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage increases due to the tendency for the engine to slow down when one or more power-operated accessories are put in use and for moving said tapered cam to move said control member to variably decrease air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage decreases due to the tendency for the engine to speed up when use of one or more power-operated accessories is discontinued; and

said solenoid also controlling said tapered cam by moving said tapered cam laterally for holding said tapered cam in an operating position during engine operation and for moving said tapered cam and said control member to an engine shut down position;

said pressure-responsive means moving said tapered cam during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said tapered cam to move said control member to decrease further the air-fuel flow when the vehicle momentum is driving the engine;

whereby the position of said control member results from the sum of the control action of said pressure-responsive means plus the control action of said solenoid, thereby reducing fuel consumption by automatically controlling engine speed during idling and air-fuel flow during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal and vehicle momentum is driving the engine.

21. Apparatus for use in a vehicular engine drive system including an automatic transmission wherein air-fuel flow control means associated with an induction passage leading to the engine are provided for controlling engine power and speed with a movable control member for operating said air-fuel flow control means, said apparatus comprising a solenoid for allowing said control member to move to an engine shut down position;

positioning means for moving said control member for providing varying air-fuel flow;

pressure-responsive means connected to said induction passage;

said pressure-responsive means being connected by a mechanical linkage to said positioning means, and said mechanical linkage including a third-class lever for multiplying the motion of said positioning means relative to the motion of said pressure-responsive means for controlling said positioning means during idling when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said positioning means with multiplied motion to move said control member to variably increase air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage increases due to the tendency for the engine to slow down when one or more power-operated accessories are put in use and for moving said positioning means with multiplied motion to move said control member to variably decrease air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage decreases due to the tendency for the engine to speed up when use of one or more power-operated accessories is discontinued; and

said solenoid moving said positioning means for holding said positioning means in an operating position during engine operation and for moving said positioning means and said control member to an engine shut down position;

said pressure-responsive means also controlling said positioning means during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said positioning means to move said control member to decrease further the air-fuel flow when the vehicle momentum is driving the engine;

whereby the position of said control member results from the sum of the control action of said pressure-responsive means plus the control action of said solenoid, thereby reducing fuel consumption by automatically controlling engine speed during idling and air-fuel flow during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal and vehicle momentum is driving the engine.

22. Apparatus for use in a vehicular engine drive system including an automatic transmission wherein air-fuel flow control means associated with an induction passage leading to the engine are provided for controlling engine power and speed with a movable control member for operating said air-fuel flow control means, said apparatus comprising a solenoid for allowing said control member to move to an engine shut down position;

positioning means for moving said control member for providing varying air-fuel flow;

pressure-responsive means connected to said induction passage for controlling said positioning means during idling when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said positioning means to move said control member to variably increase air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage increases due to the tendency for the engine to slow down when one or more power-operated accessories are put in use and for moving said positioning means to move said control member to variably decrease air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage decreases due to the tendency for the engine to speed up when use of one or more power-operated accessories is discontinued; and

said solenoid moving said positioning means for holding said positioning means in an operating position during engine operation and for moving said positioning means and said control member to an engine shut down position;

said pressure-responsive means also controlling said positioning means during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said positioning means to move said control member to decrease further the air-fuel flow when the vehicle momentum is driving the engine;

said positioning means being pivotally mounted by a pivot and means being provided for keeping said positioning means in its operating position;

said positioning means being movable back-and-forth in a first direction under control of said pressure-responsive means and being movable in a second direction under control of said solenoid;

whereby the position of said control member results from the sum of the control action of said pressure-responsive means plus the control action of said solenoid, thereby reducing fuel consumption by automatically controlling engine speed during idling and air-fuel flow during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal and vehicle momentum is driving the engine.

23. Apparatus for use in a vehicular engine drive system including an automatic transmission wherein air-fuel flow control means associated with an induction passage leading to the engine are provided for controlling engine power and speed with a movable control member for operating said air-fuel flow control means, said apparatus comprising a solenoid for allowing said control member to move to an engine shut down position;

positioning means for moving said control member for providing varying air-fuel flow;

pressure-responsive means mounted on a support which is mounted on said solenoid, said support being a U-shaped bracket having two legs with attachment means for attaching said legs to the solenoid;

said pressure-responsive means being connected to said induction passage for controlling and positioning means during idling when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said positioning means to move said control member to variably increase air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage increases due to the tendency for the engine to slow down when one or more power-operated accessories are put in use and for moving said positioning means to move said control member to variably decrease air-fuel flow at idling when the pressure in said induction passage decreases due to the tendency for the engine to speed up when use of one or more power-operated accessories is discontinued; and

said solenoid moving said positioning means for holding said positioning means in an operating position during engine operation and for moving said positioning means to said control member to an engine shut down position;

said pressure-responsive means also controling said positioning means during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal for moving said positioning means to move said control member to decrease further the air-fuel flow when the vehicle momentum is driving the engine;

whereby the position of said control member results from the sum of the control action of said pressure-responsive means plus the control action of said solenoid, thereby inducing fuel consumption by automatically controlling engine speed during idling and air-fuel flow during deceleration and downhill travel when the operator'"'"'s foot is removed from the accelerator pedal and vehicle momentum is driving the engine.