Apparatus for controlling engine speed

• US 4,870,934 A
• Filed: 10/20/1987
• Issued: 10/03/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Weinert, Herbert, Vanetta, Aldo, Burkhart, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/110,394
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 123/325, 123/336, 123/394, 123/442
• US Class Current: 123/336
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/02 characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0005 during deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

In a device on a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine as the drive source and an accelerator pedal and transmission means for controlling the power of the internal combustion engine a switch activated when the accelerator pedal is actuated is provided in the power control system, which switch, in the non-activated state, prevents the internal combustion engine from delivering power exceeding its idling power. If the internal combustion engine is provided with an overrun cut-off for interrupting the fuel supply during overrun operation, the switch can be the idling switch of the overrun cut-off.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine as a drive source, an accelerator pedal and transmission means for controlling the power of the internal combustion engine, comprising:

a switch movable between an activated and a non-activated state by the accelerator pedal;

said switch in the non-activated state, cooperating with said drive source to prevent the internal combustion engine from delivering power exceeding its idling power;

said switch being arranged directly on the accelerator pedal to which pressure is applied by the operator; and

the force required to activate said switch being less than the force required to actuate the accelerator.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, and further comprising a control means for controlling the fuel supply to the internal combustion engine, and wherein said switch in the non-activated state controls said control means to limit the fuel supply to idling power.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the internal combustion engine is provided with an overrun cut-off device, and said switch is an idling switch for the overrun cut-off device.

2. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine as a drive source, an accelerator pedal and transmission means for controlling the power of the internal combustion engine, comprising:

a switch movable between an activated and a non-activated state by the accelerator pedal;

said switch in the non-activated state, cooperating with said drive source to prevent the internal combustion engine from delivering power exceeding its idling power;

said switch being between the accelerator pedal and the transmission means in the direction of the line of force when the accelerator pedal is actuated; and

the force required to activate said switch being less than the force required to actuate the accelerator.

3. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine as a drive source, an accelerator pedal and transmission means for controlling the power of the internal combustion engine, comprising:

a switch movable between an activated and a non-activated state by the accelerator pedal;

said switch in the non-activated state, cooperating with said drive source to prevent the internal combustion engine from delivering power exceeding its idling power;

said switch being arranged directly on the accelerator pedal to which pressure is applied by the operator; and

said switch being arranged between two accelerator pedal plates, an upper plate and a lower plate, which are movable relative to one another, with the upper plate to which pressure can be applied by the operator being made with a smaller periphery than the lower plate.

6. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine as a drive source, an accelerator pedal and a transmission means for controlling power of the internal combustion engine comprising:

(a) an intake pipe for an internal combustion engine with fuel injection;

(b) a first throttle valve for controlling intake cross-section of said intake pipe;

(c) a second throttle valve for controlling intake cross-section of said intake pipe;

(d) said accelerator pedal connected to said first throttle valve for controlling combustion air delivered through said pipe;

(e) said second throttle valve being movable between an idle position and an open position;

(f) means for biasing said second throttle valve into said idle position;

(g) electrical actuating means having an energized and de-energized state for overcoming said bias means and moving said second throttle valve into an open position in said energized state;

(h) a switch being electrically connected to said electrical actuating means;

said switch being movable between an open and a closed position;

said actuating means being moved to said energized state to move said second throttle into an open position when said switch is moved to a closed position; and

(i) said switch being connected to said accelerator for movement to the closed position upon actuation of said accelerator.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said electrical actuating means includes a coil electrically connected to said switch and an armature connected to said second valve for moving said second valve to an open position when said coil is energized and an idle position when de-energized.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for biasing said second throttle valve into said idle position includes said armature biased to an idle position by said bias means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said bias means for said switch is overcome by a force less than that required to move said first throttle means for actuation of said switch prior to actuation of said first throttle valve.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising a linkage conecting said accelerator pedal to said first throttle valve;

said switch being located between said linkage and said accelerator pedal.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said linkage is connected to a linkage bias means for biasing said linkage to an idle position.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising means connected to said armature for adjusting the idle position of said second throttle valve.

13. An apparatus for a motor vehicle with an internal composition engine as a drive source, an accelerator pedal and a transmission means for controlling power of the internal combustion engine comprising:

(a) a throttle valve for controlling the air intake to the combustion engine, said throttle valve being connected to said accelerator;

(b) injection valves for injecting fuel into said engine;

(c) a valve electronic control unit for controlling opening pulses of said injection valves;

(d) an overrun control unit electrically connected to said valve electronic control unit for transmitting a signal to said valve electronic control unit when said engine is in an overrun mode and said valve electronic control unit upon sensing said signal controls said valves to operate at an idle mode;

(e) a switch movable between an open and a closed position for de-energizing said overrun control unit in a closed position and energizing said overrun control unit in an open position; and

(f) said switch being connected to said accelerator for movement to a closed position when said accelerator is activated and to an open position when said accelerator is deactivated.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said switch, valve electronic control unit and said overrun control unit cooperate to prevent said engine from reaching a preselected speed when the accelerator pedal is not actuated.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said preselected speed is about 1300 rev/min.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said accelerator includes a lower plate and an upper plate spaced therefrom by an elastomeric material;

said switch includes a number of contacts embedded in said elastomeric material which are bridged when pressure is exerted at any point on the plate by the operator'"'"'s foot.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the force required to bridge the contacts is less than the force required to actuate the accelerator.