US1887515A - Electrically operated air admission valve for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 15, 1932.

W. R. PULKINGHORN ELECTRICALLY- OPERATED AIR ADMISSION VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed OCT 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1932. w. R. PULKINGHORN 1,387,515

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AIR ADMISSION VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Oct. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM ROSS PULKINGHORN, OF LOS AN GELE S, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EAL]? TO JOSEPH S. DAVIS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA;

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED AIR ADMISSION VALVE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Application filed October 14, 1931.

It is well understood that if the accelerator throttle of internal combustion engines be suddenly closed while the engine is rotating faster than the so-called idling 5 speed, the engine linders exhaust pipe, and

manifold become lled with unburnt vaporized fuel due to insufficient compression, or from lack of time for proper combustion and insuficient air.

This unburnt fuel when expelled not only causes a very'obnoxious odor, hut results in a loss of fuel if the engine is frequently employed as a brake while coasting down long grades, or for checking the speed of the ve- 3:5 hicle prior to applying the service brakes.

ii'he object of this invention is to provide a device adapted to be interposed between the throttle and intake valves of an internal combustion engine, and provided with an electrically operated valve which will be opened upon closing of the accelerator throttle valve while the engine is rotating faster than idling speed, thereby admitting air and preventing unburnt fuel accumulating in the engine cylinders and manifold.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of an internal combustion engine mounted in a motor vehicle chassis with the apparatus of the present invention in applied position therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the air admission valve and associated parts.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the governor or circuit breaker for controlling movement of the air admission valve at predetermined intervals.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view of the switch employed to close the circuit to the. valve operating 50 device.

Serial No. 568,708.

Fig. 8 is an electrical diagram of the apparatus. Referring more specifically to the drawmgs, 10 designates an internal combustion engine of the type employed in the propulsion of motor vehicles, 11 the usual carburetor therefor connected to the intake manitold 13, and provided with an accelerator throttle valve 14, operated by the accelerator pedal 15.

The air admission device generally designated at 16 is connected to the intake manifold or located at a point between the accelerator throttle valve, and the intake valves of the engine, and is constructed as follows:

Connected to the intake manifold, preferably by screw threads 17 is a tubular member 18 in which is slidably mounted a sleeve valve 19 normally closing ports 20 therein.

Valve 19 is connected by a pin 21 or other suitable means to the armature 22 of a solenoid 24 which when energized serves to actuate or open said valve at predetermined intervals.

The armature is slidably mounted in a guide member 25 rigidly mounted in the tubular member which also serves to limit the upward movement of the valve against the action of an expansion coil spring 26 which encircles said armature, the opposite end of said spring engaging a collar 27, and the upper face of the solenoid casing 28. The spring serves to hold the valve normally closed. The guide is provided with a plurality of openings 25 which serves to equalize pressure or suction on the armature.

Solenoid 24 is mounted in a housing 29 secured to or formed integral with the tubular member, and is held inplace by a sleeve or the like 30 engaged by a closure plate 31.

The terminals 32 of the field or winding of the solenoid extend through blocks of insulating material 32*, and are connected to binding posts 33 from which extend conductors 34 and 35 leading respectively to a switch 36, and a governor or circuit breaker 37.

Valve 19 is adapted to be adiusted according to the amount of air required in relation to the piston displacement of the engine to Y which it is applied. This is accomplished by means of a set collar 38 mounted on the reduced diameter portion of the armature, which through contact with the closure plate 31 limits downward movement of said armature and valve, thereby limiting the degree of opening of ports 20.

Removably secured to the closure plate is a cap 40 whichserves to prevent air, due to atmospheric pressure, entering the housing when the valve is closed. Thus it will be seen that as the pressure or suction on the armature is equalized the valve in turn is balanced.

Encircling the tubular member 18 is a perforated casing 42 filled with metal shavings or the like 43, which serve to clean and silence air entering the engine when the valve 19 is opened.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the governor 37 consists of a cylindrical housing 48 in which is tiltably mounted a disk 49 provided with a pair of pins 50 having tapered points engaging recesses 51 formed in a closure plate 52 formed of insulating material.

Disk 49 is normally held out of engagement with an internal contact 53 by a bow spring 54, the tension of which may be adjusted by a screw 54. The internal contact is connected by a conductor 55 embedded in the closure plate to an external contact 56.

The governor above described is adapted to be connected to a rotatable member of the engine, preferably to the shaft of the usual generator designated at G- as shown in Fig. 1, the housing being provided with a socket 58 and set screw 59 for this purpose.

The external contact 56 is engaged by a spring contact 60 which in turn is connected to the conductor 35. the spring contact being preferably mounted on the generator housing.

Referring to Fig. 7. switch 36 consists of a rigid contact 63, and a spring contact 64: carried by a casing 65 secured to the dashboard or other suitable supporting member. The contacts are mounted on blocks of insulating material 66, and secured to binding posts or the like 67. one of which is connected to conductor 34, while the other is connected to a conductor 68 leading to the storage bat tery -B of the vehicle.

.Tournalled in openings formed in side walls of the casing is a rock shaft 70 to which is secured a cam 71 which serves. to close the contacts of the switch, the cam being actuated by the accelerator pedal through a series of links and levers arranged as follows:

Secured to shaft 70 is a lever 72 connected by a link 73 to one arm of a quadrant 7 4 pivotally mounted on a bracket 75, the other arm of the quadrant being connected by a link 76 to the accelerator pedal. A link 77 is connected to said quadrant, and an arm 78 secured to the shaft of throttle valve 14;.

An incandescent lamp 80 may be interposed in the circuit to indicate to the operator of the vehicle whether the apparatus .is functioning properly.

lVhen the vehicle is travelling at usual road speed, the contacts of the switch will be opened due to depressing of the accelerator pedal, while the contacts of the governor will be closed due to the disk 49 engaging the internal contact 53 by centrifugal force, during which time valve 19 will be closed due to the circuit to the solenoid being broken by the switch.

Should the throttle valve be closed while the vehicle is travelling at such speed, valve 19 will be opened due to closing of the circuit to the solenoid, and will remain open until the vehicle slows down to idling speed or again attains road speed.

The time at which valve 19 opens under the above conditions may be varied in relation to the speed of the engine by applying more or less tension on the governor spring 54 by means of the adjusting screw 54".

From the foregoing it will be seen that valve 19 will be automatically opened when the engine is rotating faster than idling speed with the throttle valve closed, thereby preventing an accumulation of unburnt fuel in the engine cylinders and manifold, also balancing the mixture so that it will completely ignite upon opening of the throttle valve.

I claim:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a carburetor provided with an accelerator throttle valve. and an accelerator pedal connected therewith, of a valve arranged to admit air into the engine, electrically operated means for actuating said valve, a switch interconnected with the accelerator pedal arranged to close the circuit to said electrically operated valve actuating means when said accelerator pedal is in raised position, and a governor adapted to complete the circuit through said valve actuating means upon closing of the throttle valve when the engine is rotating faster than idling speed, whereupon said valve will be opened and admit air into the engine.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a carburetor provided with an accelerator throttle valve, and an accelerator pedal connected therewith, of a device for admitting air comprising a body member having a fluid conduit communicating with the intakemanifold, a solenoid mounted in the body memher. a valve connected to the armature of said solenoid, a spring normally holding said valve unseated, an electric switch, a cam interconnected with the accelerator pedal arranged to close the contacts of said switch when said accelerator pedal is in raised position, a governor adapted to be connected to a member rotatable in unison with the engine crank shaft, a conductor leading from a source of current to said switch, conductors leading from the solenoid to said switch and to said governor respectively, said governor completing the circuit through said solenoid upon closing of the throttle valve when the engine is rotating faster than idling speed, whereupon said valve will be seated and admit air into the engine.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a carburetor provided with an accelerator throttle valve, and an accelerator pedal connected therewith, of a device for admitting air into the engine comprising a body member having a tubular portion with ports therein communicating with the intake manifold, a sleeve valve slidably mounted in the tubular portion, a solenoid mounted in the body member, means connecting said valve to the armature of said solenoid, an electric switch interconnected with the accelerator pedal arranged to close the circuit to said solenoid when said accelerator pedal is in raised position, a governor rotatable in unison with the engine crank shaft adapted to close the circuit to said solenoid when the engine is rotating faster than idling speed upon closing of said throttle valve, whereupon said valve will open and admit air into the engine through the device, and means for closing said valve when the engine returns to idling speed.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a carburetor provided with an accelerator throttle valve, and an accelerator pedal connected therewith, of a device for admitting air into the engine comprising a body member having a tubular portion with ports therein communicating with the intake manifold, a sleeve valve slidably mounted in the tubular portion, a solenoid mounted in the body member, means connecting said valve to the armature of said solenoid, a spring normally holding said valve closed, an electric switch interconnected with the accelerator pedal arranged to close the circuit to said solenoid when said accelerator pedal is in raised position, and a governor provided with a tiltably mounted disk rotatable inunison with the engine crank shaft and adapted to complete the circuit through said solenoid when the engine is rotating faster than idling speed with said throttle valve closed, whereupon said valve will open and admit air into the engine through the device.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a carburetor provided with an accelerator throttle valve, and an accelerator pedal connected therewith, of electrically operated means for admitting air into the engine, a switch operated by movement of the accelerator pedal arranged to close the circuit to said air admission means, and means operated by

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