Automatic control for automotive air conditioner

Claim 1

In combination, an internal combustion engine for an automobile; a throttle to control fuel flow to said engine; refrigeration apparatus for cooling the passenger compartment of an automobile including A refrigerant compressor; clutch means operable to drivingly connect said compressor to said engine to be driven by the latter; said engine including an intake manifold and a vacuum generator means for producing a vacuum in said intake manifold; automatic means connected to said vacuum generator means to automatically activate and deactivate said clutch means as a function of acceleration demand on said engine in accordance with the vacuum level generated by said vacuum generator means and derived from the relationship between throttle setting and actual load on said engine; said vacuum generator means generating a greater vacuum level as acceleration demand decreases; said clutch means being electrically energized; said automatic means including a pressure actuated switch connected in an energizing circuit for said clutch means; said switch being operated in response to the vacuum level generated by said vacuum generator means; said switch normally being open and being closed when the vacuum level generated by said vacuum generator means exceeds a predetermined value; a spark-generator and distributor for controlling ignition of fuel in said engine, and including a vacuum operated spark advance means connected to the intake manifold for operation in accordance with the vacuum level in said manifold; said spark generator and distributor including a fixed part and a movable part operated by said spark advance means; said movable part operating said switch closed when the vacuum level generated by said vacuum generator means exceeds the predetermined value.