US3730154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine spark timing control
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1972-02-02
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1992-02-02
Abstract
Abstract The ignition timing includes a distributor having a vacuum controlled servo actuator to advance the timing as a function of changes in carburetor spark port vacuum, the servo normally spring biasing the distributor towards a minimum advanced or retarded timing position; the vacuum line from the spark port including a device that is operative (1) during light vehicle accelerations to delay the spark advance by delaying vacuum application to the servo, (2) during heavy accelerations to immediately retard the ignition timing by transferring the higher spark port pressure signal directly to the servo; (3) to provide an immediate retarded ignition timing during vehicle decelerations by directly communicating spark port pressure level to the servo; (4) to provide immediate return of the timing to an advance setting after momentary decelerations by again directly connecting the spark port pressure level to the servo; and, (5) to provide normal spark advance during cold weather operation by directly connecting the spark port vacuum to the servo; the above providing low emissions and good vehicle performance during all operating engine conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 R Vartainian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 11:18
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/05; F02P5/10; F02P5/103; F02P5/106
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
296 words
An engine 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 change in vacuum in the induction passage as a function of the movement of the throttle valve from its idle speed position, an engine distributor having a breaker plate spring biased to a retarded spark timing position and being pivotally movable in opposite directions to advance and retard the spark timing, vacuum controlled servo means connected to the breaker plate for moving the same to advance the timing as a function of vacuum applied to the servo means, conduit means connecting the spark port and servo means, and flow rate control means in the conduit means to control the rate of change of application of vacuum from the spark port to the servo means, said control means including first flow rate delay means operable in response to a gradual opening of the throttle valve for light engine accelerating operation to slowly apply vacuum to the servo means to move the breaker plate in the advance spark direction at a slower rate than would normally be effected for the vacuum signal present at the spark port, and second means operable in response to closing of the throttle valve effecting a decelerating operation to immediately equalize the pressure levels at the spark port and servo means to immediately lower the spark timing towards a retarded setting, the second means being effective at times in response to a reaccelerating operation from the decelerating operation to render ineffective the first delay means and immediately equalize the spark port and servo means vacuum levels to restore the spark timing to a higher advance setting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
296 words
An engine 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 change in vacuum in the induction passage as a function of the movement of the throttle valve from its idle speed position, an engine distributor having a breaker plate spring biased to a retarded spark timing position and being pivotally movable in opposite directions to advance and retard the spark timing, vacuum controlled servo means connected to the breaker plate for moving the same to advance the timing as a function of vacuum applied to the servo means, conduit means connecting the spark port and servo means, and flow rate control means in the conduit means to control the rate of change of application of vacuum from the spark port to the servo means, said control means including first flow rate delay means operable in response to a gradual opening of the throttle valve for light engine accelerating operation to slowly apply vacuum to the servo means to move the breaker plate in the advance spark direction at a slower rate than would normally be effected for the vacuum signal present at the spark port, and second means operable in response to closing of the throttle valve effecting a decelerating operation to immediately equalize the pressure levels at the spark port and servo means to immediately lower the spark timing towards a retarded setting, the second means being effective at times in response to a reaccelerating operation from the decelerating operation to render ineffective the first delay means and immediately equalize the spark port and servo means vacuum levels to restore the spark timing to a higher advance setting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A spark timing control as in claim 1, the second means being operable by engine intake manifold vacuum above a predetermined level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A spark timing control as in claim 1, including temperature responsive means to render both first and second means ineffective at times to permit advance and retard of the spark timing setting solely as a function of the change in throttle valve movement and spark port vacuum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A spark timing control as in claim 1, the second means including an additional flow connection in the conduit means between the spark port and servo means bypassing the first means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A spark timing control as in claim 1, the first means comprising a flow restriction and a one-way check valve in parallel flow paths between the spark port and servo means, the check valve unseating in response to a higher pressure level at the spark port than at the servo means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A spark timing control as in claim 5, the second means including a further flow cOnnection in the conduit means between the spark port and servo means in a parallel flow relationship to the flow restriction and the check valve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A spark timing control as in claim 4, including valve means movable to block and unblock the additional flow connection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A spark timing control as in claim 6, including valve means movable to block and unblock the further flow connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A spark timing control as in claim 8, including manifold vacuum means to move the valve means to an unblocking position, and spring means biasing the valve means to a blocking position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A spark timing control as in claim 8, the second means including a second servo having an actuator spring biased to block the further flow connection and movable by manifold vacuum applied thereto to unblock the further flow connection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A spark timing control as in claim 9, including temperature responsive means moving the valve means to an unblocking position below a predetermined temperature to render the flow restriction and check valve ineffective.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
179 words
A spark timing control as in claim 1, the control means including a device located in the conduit means and having a hollow housing having first and second and third outlets connected respectively to the spark port and servo means and to manifold vacuum, the housing having partition means dividing the housing into a first chamber connected to the spark port first outlet, and a second chamber connected to the servo means second outlet, the partition means containing a number of passages including a flow restriction constituting the delay means and a one-way check valve and another passage forming a part of the second means for communicating flow between the chambers, and an annular flexible diaphragm defining a wall of the second chamber and a third chamber connected to the manifold vacuum outlet, and spring means biasing the diaphragm to seat against the another passage to normally block the same, manifold vacuum above a predetermined level in the third chamber moving the diaphragm to unblock the another passage and directly connect the port pressure level to the servo means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A spark timing control system as in claim 12, including temperature sensitive means movable against the diaphragm below a predetermined temperature to unblock the another passage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
263 words
An engine 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 change in vacuum in the induction passage as a function of the movement of the throttle valve from its idle speed position, an engine distributor having spark timing control means spring biased to a retarded spark timing position and being movable in opposite directions to advance and retard the spark timing, vacuum controlled servo means connected to the control means for moving the same to advance and retard the timing as a function of vacuum changes applied to the servo means, conduit means connecting the spark port and servo means, and flow rate delay means in the conduit means to slow the rate of change of application of vacuum from the spark port to the servo means, said delay means being operable in response to gradual changes in spark port vacuum level below a predetermined differential change upon change in position of the throttle valve to move the breaker plate in the advance spark direction at a rate slower than would normally be effected as called for by the vacuum signal present at the spark port, and temperature responsive means operable below and in response to the attainment of a predetermined temperature level to bypass the delay means to provide cold weather spark timing changes concurrent with and as a function of changes in spark port vacuum level and independent of the flow rate delay means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
263 words
An engine 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 change in vacuum in the induction passage as a function of the movement of the throttle valve from its idle speed position, an engine distributor having spark timing control means spring biased to a retarded spark timing position and being movable in opposite directions to advance and retard the spark timing, vacuum controlled servo means connected to the control means for moving the same to advance and retard the timing as a function of vacuum changes applied to the servo means, conduit means connecting the spark port and servo means, and flow rate delay means in the conduit means to slow the rate of change of application of vacuum from the spark port to the servo means, said delay means being operable in response to gradual changes in spark port vacuum level below a predetermined differential change upon change in position of the throttle valve to move the breaker plate in the advance spark direction at a rate slower than would normally be effected as called for by the vacuum signal present at the spark port, and temperature responsive means operable below and in response to the attainment of a predetermined temperature level to bypass the delay means to provide cold weather spark timing changes concurrent with and as a function of changes in spark port vacuum level and independent of the flow rate delay means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |