US2005262A - Throttle control mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 18, 1935.

THROTTLE CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Jan. 24, 1935 li L \nvenTor F. E. LIVERANCE, JR 2,005,262

Patented June 18, 1935 V I i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THROTTLE CONTROL MECHANISM Frank E. Livcrance, Jr. Grnndville, Mich. Application January 24, 1935, Serial No. 3,351 10 Claims. (01.123-103) This invention relates to an automatic throttle throttle so that it may move to a position to procontrol mechanism for use with and application vide idling speed for the engine is gradual and to internal combustion engines, particularly as not abrupt, thereby providing an interval of time used on motor veh'cles. whereby the operator may move his foot from the In the starting of internal combustion engines, starter pedal, depression of which by the foot 5 such as are used with motor vehicles, it is frecloses the starting motor circuit, and engage the quently very desirable that the throttle valve asaccelerator pedal before the throttle valve has sociated with the carburetor shall be partly moved to its closed position. This is desirable opened in order that there shall be insurance of for the reason that should the mechanism, which a sutflcient volume of explosive fuel mixture holds the throttle valve partially open when the 10 passed to the engine cylinders. This is particuengine is at,rest, immediately become ineffeclarly true when the engine has stood for any tive upon the engine starting, there might be a length of time and is at atmospheric temperature, dying of the engine and its stopping before the which in the colder periods of the year may be accelerator pedal could be engaged for the purl5 quite low. Even in the seasons of the year when pose of maintaining the throttle valve-open the the atmospheric temperature is not exceptionally necessary amount to insure continuation of the low it is-very desirable that on starting the engine engine running during the period of time after the throttle valve be partially open. it has started before it becomes warmed up sum- It is common to open the throttle valve by opercientiy to run at idling speed.

2o ation of a throttle control lever mounted at the An understanding of the invention for the atcenter of the steering wheel. This is frequently tainment of the above stated objects and purforgotten and an attempt made to start the enposes, as well as others not at this time specifigne with the throttle lever at a position in which cally enumerated, may be had from the folthe throttle valve is substantially closed and then, lowing description, taken in connection with the when the engine does not readily start, the operaaccompanying drawin in which. 25

tor of the car will remember to move the throttle Fig. 1 is a side elevation, p y in c i n. 11- lever in the proper direction to partially open the lustrating the application of the automatic throttle valve. The amount that the throttle lever throttle control to an internal combustion engine, may be moved is dependent upon the judgment and of the operator. It may be moved so much that Fig. 2 isa central vertical section through a dif- 30 the engine on starting will race. This is undeferent or modified form of vacuum cylinder which sirable. It is much better that a predetermined may be used. opening of the throttle valve be automatically Like reference characters refer to like parts insured at the time the engine is to be started. in the figures of the drawing. 1

t The present invention is directed to providing In motor vehicles, the power plant, an internal 35 a simple and thoroughly practical mechanism for combustion engine, indicated at l,is provided with providing an insurance that the throttle valve an intake manifold. as ind at I, from wh shall be open a desired predetermined amount at the explosive mixture of air and fuel passing into the time the engine is started. It is also an obthe manifold from the carburetor 3, is carried ject of the invention to provide a means whereby to-the engine cylinders. The carburetor is pro- 40 the extent of the throttle valve opening at the vided with a shaft 4 extending through the upper time the engine is started may be varied or adportion of said carburetor, on which the usual justed for difierent temperature conditions of throttle valve V is mounted within the carburedifierent periods of the year. It is a still further tor outlet neck as indicated in dotted lines. The

object of the invention that, when the engine valve turning with the shaftlmaybemoved from 45 has started and is operating under its own power, substantially closed position through diiferent posuch means for, thus partially opening the throttle sitions until maximum open position is reached. valve for starting is rendered ineffective so that The more the throttle valve is closed .the less the r thereafter the accelerator pedal control of the volume of fuel mixture wh ch passes to the engine speed of the engine may be accomplished cylinders. Conversely. the more thethrottle throughout the entire range of speed, from idling valve is moved toward open position the greater speed to the maximum speed of the engine. And the volume of fuel mixture which goes to the cylit is a still further object of the invention to pro-. inders. It is by control of this throttle valve, usuvlde means whereby, for a short period of time ally through the foot operation of an accelerator after the engine has started, the release of the pedal that the speed of rotation of the engine 55 lower front corner of a triangular plate I pivit 'is formed with stop lugs 24 and 2t.

otally mounted at I at its upper corner in front of and below the usual downwardly and rearwardly inclined footboard-s of the'front or driving compartment of the motor vehicle. Arod I0 is pivotally connected at its lower end to 'the lower rear corner of the plate 1 and extends through an opening in the footboard 9 and preferably is provided with a head at its upper end, against which an accelerator pedal Ii bears. The pedal is pivotally mounted adjacent its lower end as shown. It is evident that by placing the foot on the pedal H and pressing thereon the rod 6 may be moved in a substantially horizontal direction to theleft and thus move the throttle valvemore and more toward open position. A spring l2 connected'a't oneend to the plate I and at the other end :to the footboard O'tends to move the rod i and connected parts to the right.

This spring I2 may be applied at any place in connection with the mechanism between the accelerator pedal and the throttle valve for the purpose of moving the same in 'a direction opposite to the direction of movement that pressure upon the accelerator pedal accomplishes. Such mechanism or an equivalent mechanism, for accomplishing the same result is old and well known in connection with motor vehicles, the motive power of which is an internal combustion engine.

A cylinder II is pivotally connected at it so as to be suitably supported by the engine block.-

A tube l5 connects the interior of the cylinder at its closed end with the manifold 2. A piston i6 is mounted in the outer end portion of the cylinder between which and'the bottom of the cylinder is a coiled compression spring II. 4 rod ll extends from the outer end of the piston and is connected at its outer end to the lower end of a lever I, pivotally mounted between its ends at 20, and having a fork 2| at its upper end, the legs of which pass one at either side of the rod 6, and the front edges of which bear against the rear side of a collar 22 mounted on the rod 8. Provision is made-for adjustably securing the collar 22-, as by a set screw connection, so that the collar may be shifted to diflerent positions on the rod 0.

An arc-shaped plate 22, supported on the engine block and with which the pivot 2| may be connected, depends below the pivot 2|. At each side of the lever It at its lower opposite corners An adlusting screw 26 is shown threaded through the lug 2I, and it is evident, of course, if desired that a like adjusting screw may be threaded through the'lug 24.

- 4 Operation when the engine the lever II in a counterclockwise direction until pped against the end of the screw 28. The upper forked end 2| of the lever ll moves the collar 22 and the rod! to which it is attached to the left. The spring. I! is strong enough to accomplish this movement and overcome the'spring l2.- Therefore, thethrottlevalve is partly opened, the extent of the opening being dependent upon the position ,of the adjusting screw-28 and the collar 22:- itis evident also that the accelerator pedal which follows the rod I0 is lowered below its extreme upper position and the position which it would occupy if the lever is did not thus act upon the rod 6 to move the same against the spring I2. The throttle valve is partly opened and held in a predetermined position such that the volume of fuel mixture, when the engine is .being turned over by the starting motor, is greatcated by the tube ii to the interior of the piston l3. The pressure of air against the outer end of the piston l6, being greater than the pressure within the cylinder l3, causes the piston ii to move to the left with a compression of the spring I I and a, consequent clockwise turning movementof the lever i9. This releases the rod 5, whereupon spring l2 acts to move the throttle valve to its extreme closed position and cuts' down the speed of the engine to idling speed.

There are times when the lowering of pressure within the engine manifold does not occur or, at least, the degree of vacuum is greatly lessened. This occurs at the times when the throttle valve is substantially wide open or is approaching such position. This may occur at very high speeds or at times when the engine is laboring under heavy loads such as going up a steep hill. At such times the spring II will move the piston l6 outwardly. There is noeflect, however, on the rod 6 because in order to move the throttle valve to or toward its wide open position, the accelerator pedal II must have been heavily depressed,

- thereby moving the collar 22 to the left away from the upper forked end 2| of lever I! even though such lever should be in the position shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the accelerator pedal II is released so as to start the closing movement of the throttle valve the pressure in the manifold again falls'below atmospheric pressure whereby, when the collar 22 has moved back to its extreme position to the right, the piston It has been moved to the left, and lever it brought against the stop 24. Accordingly, during all times when the engine is operating under its own power, the collar 22 and the forked end 2| of. the lever is do not engage against each other. Thereis no interference with the free operation of the accelerator pedal between the position which it occupies when the engine is running at its lowest idling speed and the other extreme position wherein the engine is running at its highest speed. v

In Fig. 2 a modification in the structure of the cylinder is shown. The cylinder Ila therein is is at rest, the spring I! moves similar to the cylinder I 3 and has the same connection of the tube ll leading from the cylinder to the engine manifold. The piston It, the spring I! and piston rod I! are the same and the-rod is to be connected to the lever II in the same. manner. The cylinder, however, is elongated somewhat and its outer end'closed by a plate 21 through which the rod -ll freely passes. The plate 21 has a small air entrance or vent passage 28 therethrough.

At the upper side of the. cylinder, a boss 2| is cast which is interiorly cored or bored, making an enlarged passage through the boss until the wall of the cylinder is reached, whereupon the lower end of said opening in the boss is provided with a downwardly and inwardly inclined tapering seat 30. A smaller passage 3| leads from the larger opening in the boss through the wall of the cylinder. The outer end of the boss is closed by a plug 32 through when are a plurality of air passage or vent openings 33. A ball valve 34 normally rests by gravity on the taperedseat 30 so as to close the passage 3|.

It is evident that the outward movement of the piston l6 under the influence of the coiled spring ll (not shown in Fig. 2) may be more rapid than the inward movement of said piston when the engine starts. On the inward movement of the piston l6 air to fill the space within the cylinder at the right hand end of the piston as it moves'to the left can pass thereto only through the small vent 28, other than such small amount of air as may pass around the pistonrod l8 through the plate 21. But on the outer movement of the piston I the air can pass outwardly not only through the vent at 28, but the pressure will lift the valve 34 for air passageoutward through the opening 3! and the several vents at 33.

With such a construction of cylinder and with the piston mounted therein and connected in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1, when the engine starts and there is a consequent tendency of the piston l6 to move immediately to the left to comprets the spring H, the tendency is checked and the piston moves slowly 'or only as fast as the restricted entrance of air through the passage 28 permits. Therefore, the release of the throttle to move to idling position is gradu'aL' The foot of the operator which depresses the starter pedal is the one which also operates the accelerator pedal. The operator therefore can depress the starter pedal and close the starting motor circuit until the engine starts and, before the fuel volume is cut down with a consequent slowing of speed of the engine to or approaching idling speed, the operator may move his foot to the accelerator pedal, and thus not subject the engine to dying down and stopping which might otherwise occur, particularly in the times when the engine is cold. However, when the engine stops or is stopped at the end of a run the piston l6 moves outwardly without appreciable check to its movement and almost instantly positions the throttle valve in itspartly open desired position for starting.

The construction described is simple and is very readily and easily applied to the usual rod which is interposed between the accelerator pedal and the throttle valve. It has no parts to get out of order; The adjustment of the collar 22 and of the adjusting screw 26 is very quickly and easily accomplished both being readily accessible for adjustment. There is an insurance that the fuel mixture going to the engine cylinder will be of a predetermined desired volume and not subject to either the forgetfulness of the operator to move the throttle lever mounted at the center of the steering wheel to partly open position, or to an opening of the same haphazardly to a position farther than it should be. The construction is fully automatic in operation under the control of the engine, releasing and becoming ineffective after the engine has started,'and immediately operating to-become effective when the en gi'ne stops.

The detail of structure for accomplishing the same result by substantially the same means may be varied considerably.v For example, the cylinder, piston and spring I! may be replaced by an equivalent diaphragm structure such as is well known in the art in connection with devices operated through vacuum induced by the engine suction. There are many other equivalent devices which will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not to be restricted to the particular .detail of mechanism shown but is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within thescope ofv the appended claims which define the invention.

I claim: I

1. In an internal combustion engine provided with a carburetor having a throttle means for controlling the volume of fuel mixture passing through the carburetor to the engine, of yielding means acting on said throttle when the engine is at rest, to open the same to a predetermined position to permit a greater passage of fuel mixture than the minimum passage permitted by the carburetor when it is free of said means, and means actuated by air pressure provided through suction of the engine when it is running for pedal to upper position and for closing the throttle means to its minimum fuel passage position, a second spring means having greater'force than the first spring means operatively connected with the throttle means to partially open the same when the engine is at rest, and engine actuated means operating when the engine is running for releasing the second spring means from effect upon said throttle means.

3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a carburetor connected with the manifold, throttle means associated with the carburetor for controlling the volume of fuel mixture passing to the engine, an accelerator pedal, interposed means including a longitudinally movable rod between the throttle meansand accelerator pedal for operating the throttle means by depression of the, accelerator pedal to open the same, spring means for returning the throttle means to its minimum fuel passage position on release of the accelerator pedal, a cylinder, a piston therein, a second spring means acting on the piston to move the same in one direction, means interposed between the pie-'- ton and said longitudinally movable rod for moving the rod in a direction to partially open the throttle means when the engine is at rest, said second spring means overcoming the first spring means acting on said rod, and a tube connecting the intake manifold and cylinder whereby the 4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a carbu-'-' retor connected with the manifold, throttle means associated with the carburetor for controlling the volume of fuel mixture passing to the engine, an accelerator pedal, interposed means including a longitudinal movable rod between thethrottle means and the accelerator pedal for opening the throttle means on depression of the accelerator pedal, spring means for returning the throttle means to its minimum fuel passage position on release of the accelerator pedal, a cylinder, a piston therein, a second spring means acting on the piston to move the same in one direction, a collaron the rod, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends, having one end engaging the col--' lar, means connecting the other end ofvsaid lever with the piston and stops to limit the pivotal movement of said lever, as and for the purposes specified.

5. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carburetor provided with a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal. means to operate the throttle valve in one direction by .the accelerator pedal, spring means for moving the throttle valve in the opposite direction, a member occupying one position when the engine is at rest, means operated by said member and acting on the throttle valve to partially open the same when said engine is at rest, and means'actuated by the operation ofthe engine when the engine is running for moving the member to another position and thereby releasing the throttle valve 1 from control by said member.

6. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carburetor provided with throttle means to control the volume of fuel mixture passing through the carburetor to the engine, of

means acting when the engine is at rest for moving said throttle means to a predetermined position to increase the quantity of fuel passing to the engine a predetermined amount over the. minimum quantity-fuel passage at which the carburetor is set, and engine operated means acting when the engine starts in operation, for gradually releasing the throttle means over a short interval of time until said throttle means is entirely released and is free to occupy the position a for minimum fuel mixture passage.

7. The combination with an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a. carburetor connected thereto and aithrottle means associated with said carburetor for controlling the 1 fuel passage to the engine, of an accelerator ped- I al, intrposed means including a longitudinally movable rod between the accelerator pedal and throttle for'opening the throttle means on depression of the accelerator pedal, yielding means normally moving said rod in the opposite direction to close the throttle means, a collar on the rod, a cylinder, a piston therein, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends having oneend thereof engaging against a side of the collar, a tube connecting the cylinder and said manifold, connections between the piston and lever whereby on movement of the piston in the cylinder when the engine starts said lever is moved away from said collar, and spring means acting to move said lever against the collar when the engine is at rest, said spring means having strength to overcome said yielding means.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carburetor provided with a throttle valve, of means for positioning said valve in a predetermined partially open position when the engine is at rest, adjustable means for controlling the extent to which said valve is partially opened when the engine is at rest, and engine operated means acting to release the valve from said first mentioned meanswhen the engine is running.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carburetor, an intake manifold and a throttle valve between the carburetor and manifold, a shaft on which said valve is mounted for turning movement, an arm extending from" the shaft, 9. rod connected to and extending from said arm, foot operated means for moving said rod in a direction to open the throttle valve. spring means for closing the throttle valve, a collar on the rod, a pivotally mounted lever having one end thereof engaging the collar, means acting on the other. end of the lever to press the first mentioned end of the lever against said collar to move the valve to partiallyopen position when the engine is at rest. and a connection between the engine manifold and said lever operating means for turning the lever to release said collar from the action of said lever, when the engine is running.

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a carbureter and a throttle means associated with said carbureter for controlling the fuel passage to the engine, of an accelerator pedal for actuating the throttle means, spring means acting on said throttle means when the engine is at rest to lower the accelerator pedal below its extreme upper position, and means operated by the engine when it is running for overcoming said spring means and freeing the throttle E. LIVERANCE, J R.

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