Vacuum regulator for engine automatic transmission

Claim 1

A vacuum regulator for engine automatic transmission comprising: a. a conduit connected at one end to the automatic transmission vacuum line of an engine transmission; b. a valve including an elongated tubular housing having a central air chamber at substantially atmospheric pressure, said chamber being defined at its forward end by a plug having an axial bore and at its after end by a transverse closure wall having an outlet port connected to the other end of said conduit, a valve stem translatably disposed in said axial bore and extending from an after end adjacent said outlet port to a forward end protruding forwardly from said plug, a valve head on said after end of said stem and movable therewith between a first position covering said outlet port and a second position uncovering said outlet port, and compression spring means associated with said valve head for biasing said valve head from said second position toward said first position; c. a throttle-responsive mechanism including an operating member connected to the engine throttle for movement in dependence upon the position of said engine throttle; and, d. a tension spring interposed between and connected to said operating member And said forward end of said valve stem, the spring constant of said tension spring exceeding the spring constant of said compression spring, movement of said engine throttle in a throttle-opening direction being thereby effective to move said valve head from said first position toward said second position, said compression spring being effective to move said valve head from said second position toward said first position as said engine throttle moves in a throttle-closing direction.