US3698366A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine spark timing control system
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1970-08-03
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1990-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A mechanical device is located between the carburetor spark and intake manifold vacuum ports and the distributor breaker plate servo, the device containing two parallel flow circuits connected to the servo, one being connected to the spark port and containing an orifice, the other being connected to the intake manifold port and containing a servo operated valve that alternately blocks or unblocks the manifold vacuum application to the servo; the orifice providing slow changes in spark advance settings during light vehicle accelerations, and a rapid recovery upon subsequent momentary decelerations; the valve unseating during heavy accelerations to quickly lower the spark advance setting to avoid engine detonation.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl H Gropp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:30
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/05; F02P5/10; F02P5/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A spark timing control system comprising, an engine carburetor having an induction passage containing a spark port located above the idle speed position of a throttle valve controlling flow through the passage and subject to the depression in the carburetor as a function of the movement of the throttle valve from its idle speed position, an engine distributor having a breaker plate pivotally movable in opposite directions to advance and retard the spark timing, an engine manifold vacuum port, first vacuum controlled servo means connected to said breaker plate for moving the same, slow-fast flow rate control mEans between said spark port and servo means to control the rate of change of application of vacuum from said spark port to said servo means, said control means including flow restriction means operable in response to light accelerations indicated by gradual vacuum level increases at said spark port occasioned by gradual throttle valve openings for slowly applying the vacuum increase to said servo means to slowly advance the engine spark timing, said flow restriction means also being operable in response to engine deceleration conditions indicated by a decaying vacuum level at said spark port occasioned by closing throttle movements for delaying the decay of vacuum at said servo means to slowly lower the engine spark timing advance setting, and second vacuum controlled on-off valve means operable in response to sudden accelerations indicated by a rapid decay of spark port and manifold vacuums occasioned by fast throttle openings to open and quickly decay the servo means vacuum to quickly lower the spark timing advance setting to minimize detonation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
265 words
A spark timing control system comprising, an engine carburetor having an induction passage containing a spark port located above the idle speed position of a throttle valve controlling flow through the passage and subject to the depression in the carburetor as a function of the movement of the throttle valve from its idle speed position, an engine distributor having a breaker plate pivotally movable in opposite directions to advance and retard the spark timing, an engine manifold vacuum port, first vacuum controlled servo means connected to said breaker plate for moving the same, slow-fast flow rate control mEans between said spark port and servo means to control the rate of change of application of vacuum from said spark port to said servo means, said control means including flow restriction means operable in response to light accelerations indicated by gradual vacuum level increases at said spark port occasioned by gradual throttle valve openings for slowly applying the vacuum increase to said servo means to slowly advance the engine spark timing, said flow restriction means also being operable in response to engine deceleration conditions indicated by a decaying vacuum level at said spark port occasioned by closing throttle movements for delaying the decay of vacuum at said servo means to slowly lower the engine spark timing advance setting, and second vacuum controlled on-off valve means operable in response to sudden accelerations indicated by a rapid decay of spark port and manifold vacuums occasioned by fast throttle openings to open and quickly decay the servo means vacuum to quickly lower the spark timing advance setting to minimize detonation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A control system as in claim 1, including conduit means connected at one end to said servo means and being branched at its other end with one branch connected to said spark port and a second branch connected to said manifold port, said spark port branch containing an orifice constituting said flow restriction means, said second branch containing said second vacuum controlled means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
A control system as in claim 2, said second vacuum controlled means comprising a second vacuum servo means having a flexible diaphragm dividing said latter servo means into a chamber connected to atmospheric pressure and a chamber interposed in said second branch connected at one portion to said intake manifold port and at another portion to said first servo means, said diaphragm in a first position operatively blocking said second branch in response to intake manifold vacuum above a predetermined level acting thereon, whereby the change in rate of application of vacuum to said distributor servo means is controlled by said orifice, and spring means biasing said diaphragm to a second position unblocking said second branch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A control system as in claim 2, said second vacuum controlled means including a valve movable in said second branch between a flow blocking position in response to intake manifold vacuum above a predetermined level operatively acting thereon and a position unblocking said second branch, and spring means for moving said valve to said flow unblocking position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A control system as in claim 4, said second vacuum controlled means including a second vacuum servo having a power actuated member connected to said valve and actuated in response to changes in said intake manifold vacuum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
243 words
A spark timing control system comprising, an engine carburetor having an induction passage containing a spark port located above the idle speed position of a throttle valve controlling flow through the passage and subject to the depression in the carburetor as a function of the movement of the throttle valve from its idle speed position, an engine distributor having a breaker plate pivotally movable in opposite directions to advance and retard the spark timing, an engine manifold vacuum port, first vacuum controlled servo means connected to said breaker plate for moving the same, slow-fast flow rate control means between said ports and servo means to control the rate of change of application of vacuum from said spark port to said servo means, said control means including conduit means connecting said manifold vacuum port and said spark port in branch parallel flow paths to said servo means, said spark port branch containing an orifice delaying the application of the change of pressure level at said spark port to said servo means, said manifold vacuum branch containing a servo operated valve blocking said manifold vacuum branch at higher manifold vacuums above a predetermined level so that changes in engine spark timing are controlleD by the time delay of said orifice, said valve at lower manifold vacuums operatively unblocking said manifold vacuum branch to rapidly equalize the first servo means pressure level to the intake manifold vacuum level whereby said spark timing setting is rapidly lowered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
243 words
A spark timing control system comprising, an engine carburetor having an induction passage containing a spark port located above the idle speed position of a throttle valve controlling flow through the passage and subject to the depression in the carburetor as a function of the movement of the throttle valve from its idle speed position, an engine distributor having a breaker plate pivotally movable in opposite directions to advance and retard the spark timing, an engine manifold vacuum port, first vacuum controlled servo means connected to said breaker plate for moving the same, slow-fast flow rate control means between said ports and servo means to control the rate of change of application of vacuum from said spark port to said servo means, said control means including conduit means connecting said manifold vacuum port and said spark port in branch parallel flow paths to said servo means, said spark port branch containing an orifice delaying the application of the change of pressure level at said spark port to said servo means, said manifold vacuum branch containing a servo operated valve blocking said manifold vacuum branch at higher manifold vacuums above a predetermined level so that changes in engine spark timing are controlleD by the time delay of said orifice, said valve at lower manifold vacuums operatively unblocking said manifold vacuum branch to rapidly equalize the first servo means pressure level to the intake manifold vacuum level whereby said spark timing setting is rapidly lowered.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |