Ignition timing and throttle position control

Claim 1

In combination with an internal combustion engine having an induction passage for air flow to the engine, a throttle in said induction passage for controlling air flow therethrough, said throttle having fast, intermediate and slow idle positions, a throttle lever connected to said throttle for controlling the position thereof, a vacuum unit for advancing the timing of ignition in said engine when vacuum signals are applied thereto, a vacuum conduit connected between said vacuum unit and said induction passage for transmitting vacuum signals from said induction passage to said vacuum unit, and an associated transmission with an input connected to said engine and an output connected to a load and with variable ratio drive means driving said output from said input, said variable ratio drive means providing high and low drive ratios wherein said low drive ratio reduces the speed of the output from the speed of the input to a greater extent than said high drive ratio: a solenoid operated ignition timing and throttle position control unit comprising hollow elongated housing means having first and second openings respectively located in opposite ends thereof and having a lateral opening located intermediate the ends thereof, said first opening forming a portion of said vacuum conduit for receiving vacuum signals from said induction passage, said lateral opening forming a portion of said vacuum conduit for supplying vacuum signals to said vacuum unit, said second opening being connected to atmosphere for venting said vacuum unit thereto, said first and second openings respectively defining first and second valve seats, a magnetically-responsive actuator disposed within said housing and reciprocable to and from engagement with said second valve seat for controlling air flow through said second opening, a stop member carried by said actuator and extending through said second opening and engageable with said throttle lever for controlling the idle position of said throttle, a valve member disposed within said housing and engageable with said first valve seat for controlling fluid flow through said first opening, a non-magnetically-responsive valve actuating member disposed within said housing and carried by said actuator, said valve actuating member including means engageable with said valve member upon movement of said valve actuating member a selected distance away from said first valve seat to thereby cause disengagement of said valve member from said valve seat and permit advance of ignition timing by said vacuum unit, said valve actuating member having a radially enlarged portion on the end opposite said valve member engaging means, a magnetically-responsive ferrule slidably disposed on said valve actuating member between said radially enlarged portion and said valve member engaging means, a coil spring surrounding said valve actuating member and extending between said ferrule and said valve member to bias said ferrule toward engagement with said radially enlarged portion of said valve actuating member and to bias said valve member toward engagement with said first valve seat, a first coil surrounding said ferrule, first switch means energizing said coil when said engine is operating to cause movement of said ferrule, said actuating member, said actuator, and said stop member toward said throttle lever to thereby prevent closure of said throttle beyond said intermediate idle position, stop means for limiting movement of said ferrule to less than said selected distance whereby energization of said coil does not permit advance of ignition timing by said vacuum unit, a second coil surrounding said actuator, second switch means energizing said second coil when said engine is operating and said high drive ratio is operative to cause movement of said actuator and said valve actuating member said selected distance away from said first valve seat and toward said second valve seat whereby said valve member engaging means on said valve actuating member engages said valve means and causes disengagement of said valve member from first said valve seat and whereby said actuator engages said second valve seat to thereby permit advance of ignition timing by said vacuum unit, and to cause movement of said actuator and said stop member toward said throttle lever to thereby prevent closure of said throttle beyond said fast idle position, and a spring which is effective upon deenergization of said second coil to move said actuator and said valve actuating member away from said second valve seat toward said first valve seat into engagement with said ferrule whereby said actuator disengages from said second valve seat and said valve member engages said first valve seat and to move said actuator and said stop member away from said throttle lever to thereby permit closure of said throttle to said intermediate idle position, and which is effective upon deenergization of said first coil to move said actuator, said valve actuating member, said ferrule, and said stop member away from said throttle lever to thereby permit closure of said throttle to said slow idle position.