Internal-combustion engines – Engine speed regulator – Open loop condition responsive
Patent
1996-09-13
1998-05-19
Argenbright, Tony M.
Internal-combustion engines
Engine speed regulator
Open loop condition responsive
123399, F02D 902, F02D 1110
Patent
active
057524840
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a throttle valve device. It comprises a housing, a shaft, a valve, two air flowthrough chambers, and a valve positioning assembly. The valve is accommodated between the air flowthrough chambers. The second air flowthrough chamber communicates with the vehicle's engine. The valve positioning assembly is attached to the valve and rotates it between at least one closed position, an idling position, and an all-the-way open position. The valve positioning assembly includes at least one incremental motor. The valves in contemporary throttle valve devices are positioned by stepping motors. The approach is called "drive by wire". The motor is attached to a shaft that rotates inside the housing. The valve can be in a position when the motor fails that will prevent the vehicle from being driven out of the way of other vehicles or to a repair shop.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is accordingly to improve a throttle valve device of the aforesaid type to the extent that the vehicle can be driven out of danger or to a repair shop when the motor fails. This object is achieved, in accordance with the present invention, wherein the second air flowthrough chamber communicates with an emergency air supply system that allows the vehicle to be driven away even when the motor fails.
The present invention has several advantages. When the motor fails for example, enough air is always provided to entrain the fuel, which mixes in the form of a fine vapor with the air but does not turn into a gas. The resulting mixture will ignite and can be conventionally employed, and the vehicle can be driven although at low speed.
There are three different embodiments of the present invention, each characterized by the design of its emergency air supply system.
The first embodiment is characterized by an emergency air supply system wherein the valve positioning assembly accommodates a valve return spring and an opposing valve opening spring, both of which fit the shaft tightly, such that the valve return spring is tensioned against a stop as long as the motor maintains the shaft rotated in the opening direction, and such that the valve opening spring is tensioned against the stop as long as the motor maintains the shaft rotated into the idling direction, whereby the valve will assume a position when the motor fails that will allow enough air through for the vehicle to be driven.
This embodiment ensures that the valve will be kept open by both springs when the motor fails, allowing the vehicle to be at least driven out of danger. It will on the other hand also be possible to drive the vehicle to a repair shop. Another advantage is that the springs will not interfere with normal drive-by-wire operation. A properly operating motor can easily overcome the forces exerted by the springs and drive the engine while the valve is in the completely open, meaning full-load or idling, position.
The second embodiment is characterized by an emergency air supply system wherein a gas tank air injection valve on the housing and a fuel vapor cutout in the housing communicate with the second air flowthrough chamber and wherein the gas tank air injection valve can be activated when the motor fails in order to ensure that enough air is obtained from a gas tank or gas tank vapor elimination valve for the vehicle to be driven away.
The purpose of the gas tank air injection valve is to exploit vapor from the gas tank. When the motor fails and the gas tank air injection valve is activated, it will provide enough air to the air flowthrough chamber to ensure an ignitable mixture, and the vehicle can easily be driven out of danger or to a repair shop.
The third and final embodiment is characterized by an emergency air supply system wherein the valve positioning assembly accommodates at least one valve return spring and wherein the motor is a one-way motor that counteracts the motion of that spring, whereby the valve will ensure enough air when the motor fails for the vehicle to be d
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patent: 4947815 (1990-08-01), Peter
patent: 5014666 (1991-05-01), Westenberger
patent: 5146887 (1992-09-01), Gluchowski et al.
patent: 5325832 (1994-07-01), Maute et al.
patent: 5343840 (1994-09-01), Wataya et al.
patent: 5429090 (1995-07-01), Kotchi et al.
Apel Peter
Cruz Sergio Hector Rangel
Habel Georg
Kappes Ottmar
Wilczek Klaus
AB Elektronik GmbH
Argenbright Tony M.
Bocar S.A. C.V.
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