Temperature responsive idling speed control device for internal combustion engine

Claim 2

An idler speed control device for an internal combustion engine ignition and carburetion system including, a distributor having a vacuum operated automatic spark advance, a carburetor including an air intake passageway and a butterfly valve positioned in the passageway and an intake manifold downstream of the valve, the improvement comprising, electrical energizable means, an operative connection between said electrically energizable means and the butterfly valve maintaining said butterfly valve in a predetermined open position during idling of the engine with the spark retarded, and accommodating the butterfly valve to move to a normal idle position and prevent excessive engine speed at idle upon increases in engine temperature above a normal engine temperature and the advance of the spark.

Claim 3

The idle speed control device of claim 1, wherein the electrical energizable means includes, a normally closed switch, a solenoid energized by said switch when closed, an operative connection between said solenoid and the butterfly valve, holding said butterfly valve in a predetermined open position during energization of said solenoid and idling of the said engine with a retarded spark, and a thermally responsive element effective upon predetermined increases in engine temperature above normal engine temperatures, to open said switch and deenergize said solenoid to accommodate said butterfly valve to move to a normal idling position and to effect the advance of said spark.

Claim 4

The idler speed control of claim 2, wherein the thermally responsive element senses the temperature of water in the water jacket of the engine, and wherein a vacuum control valve is provided to connect the automatic spark advance to manifold vacuum upon predetermined increases in engine temperature with the spark retarded, as said normally closed switch opens to deenergize said solenoid and to accommodate the return of said butterfly valve to a normal idle position as the spark is advanced.

Claim 5

The idler speed control device of claim 3, wherein the butterfly valve has an arm extending therefrom, and wherein the solenoid includes an armature engageable with said arm and providing a connection between said solenoid and said butterfly valve, holding said butterfly valve in a predetermined open position upon energization of said solenoid as the spark is retarded.

Claim 6

The idle speed control device of claim 2, wherein the thermally responsive element is positioned in the water jacket of the internal combustion engine, wherein valve means are operated by said thermally responsive element to connect the distributor to carburetor vacuum and effect retarding of the spark for idling when the engine temperature is at a predetermined low temperature and to connect the distributor to manifold vacuum to advance the spark when the engine is running hot, due to idling with the spark retarded, and an operative connection from said valve means to said switch to effect opening of said switch and deenergization of said solenoid to effect the return of said butterfly valve to a normal idle position upon engine temperatures approaching overheating.

Claim 7

The idle speed control of claim 5, wherein the butterfly valve has an arm extending therefrom, and wherein the solenoid includes a coil and an armature extensible relative to said coil upon energization of said coil, and engageable with said arm to provide a direct connection between said solenoid and said butterfly valve to move said butterfly valve to a predetermined open position upon energization of said solenoid and idling of the engine with the spark retarded.

Claim 8

In a vacuum control valve and switch assembly particularly adapted to control the position of the carburetor butterfly valve during engine idling conditions as a function of internal combustion engine temperature and in combination with a carburetor, distributor, automatic spark advance for the distributor and butterfly valve in the carburetor manifold, supplying a mixture of fuel and air to the intake manifold of the engine, a valve housing having a valve chamber therein having a vacuum outlet port for carburetor vacuum upstream of the butterfly valve, a vertically spaced vacuum output port for connection with the automatic spark advance and distributor of the engine and a manifold vacuum outlet port for connection with the automatic spark advance for supplying the vacuum to advance the spark upon certain predetermined engine temperature conditions, a valve member in said housing biased into a first position to afford communication between said carburetor vacuum outlet port and said vacuum output port for connection with the distributor, a thermally responsive element, responsive to the operating temperature of the engine for moving said valve member against its bias to afford communication between said manifold vacuum outlet port and said distributor output port upon predetermined increases in engine temperature, an electrical switch contained within said housing and including a contact normally biased into a closed position, electrical energizable means operated by said switch for moving said butterfly valve to a predetermined open position during idling of the engine with a retarded spark, and an operative connection between said valve member and said switch, opening said switch upon movement of said valve into position to connect said manifold vacuum outlet to said distributor output port, to effect advance of the spark and movement of said butterfly valve to a normal idling position upon predetermined overheated conditions of the engine.

Claim 9

In a vacuum control valve and switch assembly particularly adapted to control the position of the carburetor butterfly valve during engine idling conditions as a function of internal combustion engine temperature and in combination with a carburetor, distributor, automatic spark advance for the distributor and butterfly valve in the carburetor manifold, supplying a mixture of fuel and air to the intake manifold of the engine, a valve housing having a valve chamber therein having a vacuum outlet port for carburetor vacuum upstream of the butterfly valve, a vertically spaced vacuum output port for connection with the automatic spark advance and distributor of the engine and a manifold vacuum outlet port for connection with the automatic spark advance for supplying the vacuum to advance the spark upon certain predetermined engine temperature conditions, a valve member in said housing biased into a first position to afford communication between said carburetor vacuum outlet port and said vacuum output port for connection with the distributor, a thermally responsive element, responsive to the operating temperature of the engine for moving said valve member against its bias to afford communication between said manifold vacuum outlet port and said distributor output port upon predetermined increases in engine temperature, an electrical switch contained within said housing and including a contact normally biased into a closed position, electrical energizable means operated by said switch for moving said butterfly valve to a predetermined open position during idling of the engine with a retarded spark, and an operative connection between said valve member and said switch, opening said switch upon movement of said valve into position to connect said manifold vacuum outlet to said distributor output port, to effect advance of the spark and movement of said butterfly valve to a normal idling position upon predetermined overheated conditions of the engine.

Claim 10

The vacuum control valve and switch assembly of claim 7, in which the thermally responsive element is positioned in the water jacket of the internal combustion engine and has a power member extensible along said valve housing to effect operation of said valve member to connect the automatic spark advance to manifold vacuum to effect advance of the spark and to open said normally closed switch to allow said butterfly valve to return to a normal idling position.

Claim 11

The vacuum control valve and switch assembly of claim 7, wherein a switch chamber opens to the end of said housing, wherein a closure is provided for said chamber and contains spaced contacts, one of which is in direct axial alignment with said valve, wherein a contact plate is mounted in said switch chamber and insulated therefrom, wherein means are provided to electrically connect one terminal with said contact plate, wherein a movable contact member is in alignment with said other terminal and has electrical connection therewith, and is biased into engagement with said contact plate in axial alignment with said valve, and wherein an operating member operated by movement of said valve from a position to connect the distributor output port to manifold vacuum, is effective to break the electrical connection between said contacts and accommodate the carburetor butterfly valve to move to a normal operating position upon advance of the spark and idling of the engine.

Claim 12

The vacuum control valve and switch assembly of claim 9, wherein the closure for said switch chamber is an insulator plate, wherein a gasket member is provided between said insulator plate and end of said switch chamber, and wherein a clamping ring is curled about said housing and insulator plate to sealingly engage said gasket with said switch chamber.

Claim 13

The vacuum control valve and switch assembly of claim 9, wherein the vacuum control valve is a ball-type valve, wherein a plunger engages such valve and extends from said valve into said switch chamber, wherein said electrical contact member is a ball-type contact member in axial alignment with said plunger, and wherein said contact plate has a passageway leading therethrough forming a seat for said ball-type contact, and accommodating said contact to move off its seat upon increases in engine temperature sufficient to disconnect said vacuum output from carburetor vacuum and connect said vacuum output with distributor vacuum to effect opening of said switch.

Claim 14

The vacuum control valve and switch assembly of claim 11, wherein a solenoid coil is provided and energized through said switch upon closing of the contacts of said switch, wherein an armature is extensible from said solenoid coil upon energization of said coil, and wherein an operative connection is provided between said armature and said butterfly valve to effect opening of said butterfly valve a predetermined amount upon idling of the engine when the spark is retarded, and to accommodate movement of said butterfly valve to a normal idling position upon heating of the engine sufficient to move said valve into position to connect the distributor output with manifold vacuum and advance the spark.