Inlet throttled air pump for exhaust emission control

Claim 2

An exhaust emission control system for use on an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and, an exhaust manifold defining a portion of a combustibles flow path, said system comprising an air pump driven by the engine, said air pump having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being operatively connected to the exhaust manifold for supplying air to the combustibles flow path for supporting burning of the combustibles, a valve housing having an air inlet and an air outlet connected to said air pump with said air outLet connected to said inlet of said air pump, valve means positioned in said housing between said air inlet and said air outlet for controlling the flow of air from said air inlet to said air outlet and, pressure responsive means operatively connected on one side in fluid flow relation to the intake manifold and on its other side operatively connected in fluid flow relation to the inlet of said air pump, said pressure responsive means being operatively connected to said valve means whereby said valve means is operated to modulate the flow of air through said air pump to the exhaust manifold as a function of primary airflow into the intake manifold of the engine.

Claim 3

An exhaust emission control system for use on an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, and an exhaust manifold defining a portion of a combustibles flow path, said system comprising an air pump driven by the engine, said air pump having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being operatively connected to the exhaust manifold for supplying air to the combustibles flow path, and flow control means including a housing divided by an apertured divider means to form a first chamber and a second chamber, the aperture in said divider means providing a flow passage between said first chamber and said second chamber, said first chamber having an air inlet thereto in communication with a source of clean air, said second chamber having an air outlet, conduit means connecting said air outlet to said inlet of said air pump, pressure responsive diaphragm means in said housing further dividing said housing into a third chamber and a fourth chamber, said third chamber being operatively connected in fluid flow relation to the intake manifold of the engine, said fourth chamber being operatively connected to the inlet of said air pump in fluid flow relation thereto and valve means movable relative to said aperture in said divider means to control the flow from said first chamber through said aperture to said second chamber, said valve means being operatively connected to said diaphragm means for actuation thereby.

Claim 4

An exhaust emission control system for use on an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, and an exhaust manifold defining a portion of a combustibles flow path, said system comprising an air pump driven by the engine, said air pump having an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being operatively connected to the exhaust manifold for supplying air to the combustibles flow path, and flow control means including a housing divided by an apertured divider means to form a first chamber and a second chamber, the aperture in said divider means providing a flow passage between said first chamber and said second chamber, said first chamber having an air inlet thereto in communication with a source of clean air, said second chamber having an air outlet, conduit means connecting said air outlet to said inlet of said air pump, pressure responsive diaphragm means in said housing further dividing said housing into a third chamber and a fourth chamber, said third chamber being operatively connected in fluid flow relation to the intake manifold of the engine, said fourth chamber being operatively connected to the inlet of said air pump in fluid flow relation thereto and valve means movable relative to said aperture in said divider means to control the flow from said first chamber through said aperture to said second chamber, said valve means being operatively connected to said diaphragm means for actuation thereby.

Claim 5

An exhaust emission control system according to claim 2, wherein said flow control means further includes an adjustable program spring actuated means positioned to engage said valve means to bias said valve means to limit flow from said first chamber to said second chamber.

Claim 6

An exhaust emission control system according to claim 2, wherein said flow control means further includes an air bypass passage means around said valve means connecting said first chamber to said second chamber.

Claim 7

A control valve for use in the exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold means defining a portion of a combustibles flow path and, an air pump driven by the engine, the air pump having an inlet and an outlet with the outlet operatively connected to the exhaust manifold means to supply air to the combustibles flow path for supporting burning of the combustibles, said control valve including a valve housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, said air outlet being connected to the inlet of said air pump, valve means positioned in said housing between said air inlet and said air outlet for controlling the flow of air from said air inlet to said air outlet and means responsive to the induction pressure in the intake manifold on one of its sides and to the inlet pressure in the inlet of the air pump on its opposite sides connected to said valve means whereby said valve means is operated to modulate the flow of air through the air pump to said exhaust manifold means as a function of primary airflow into the intake manifold of the engine.

Claim 8

A control valve for use in the exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold means defining a portion of a combustibles flow path and, an air pump driven by the engine, the air pump having an inlet and an outlet with the outlet operatively connected to the exhaust manifold means to supply air to the combustibles flow path for supporting burning of the combustibles, said control valve including a valve housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, said air outlet being connected to the inlet of said air pump, valve means positioned in said housing between said air inlet and said air outlet for controlling the flow of air from said air inlet to said air outlet and means responsive to the induction pressure in the intake manifold on one of its sides and to the inlet pressure in the inlet of the air pump on its opposite sides connected to said valve means whereby said valve means is operated to modulate the flow of air through the air pump to said exhaust manifold means as a function of primary airflow into the intake manifold of the engine.

Claim 9

An inlet throttle control valve for use in the exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold means defining a portion of a combustibles flow path and an air pump driven by the engine, the air pump having an inlet and an outlet with the outlet operatively connected to the exhaust manifold means to supply air to the combustibles flow path for supporting burning of the combustibles, said control valve including a housing divided by divider means having an aperture therethrough to form a first chamber and a second chamber with said aperture providing a flow passage between said first chamber and said second chamber, said first chamber having an air inlet thereto in communication with a source of clean atmospheric air, said second chamber having an air outlet, conduit means connecting said air outlet to said inlet of said air pump, pressure responsive diaphragm means in said housing further dividing said housing into a third chamber and a fourth chamber, said third chamber being operatively connectable in fluid flow relation to the intake manifold of the engine, said fourth chamber being connectable to the inlet of the air pump, valve means movable relative to said divider means to control the flow from said first chamber to said second chamber, said valve means being operatively connected to said diaphragm means for actuation thereby.

Claim 10

An inlet throttle control valve for use in the exhaust emission control system of an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold means defining a portion of a combustibles flow path and an air pump driven by the engine, the air pump having an inlet and an outlet with the outlet operatively connected to the exhaust manifold means to supply air to the combustibles flow path for supporting burning of the combustibles, said control valve including a housing divided by divider means having an aperture therethrough to form a first chamber and a second chamber with said aperture providing a flow passage between said first chamber and said second chamber, said first chamber having an air inlet thereto in communication with a source of clean atmospheric air, said second chamber having an air outlet, conduit means connecting said air outlet to said inlet of said air pump, pressure responsive diaphragm means in said housing further dividing said housing into a third chamber and a fourth chamber, said third chamber being operatively connectable in fluid flow relation to the intake manifold of the engine, said fourth chamber being connectable to the inlet of the air pump, valve means movable relative to said divider means to control the flow from said first chamber to said second chamber, said valve means being operatively connected to said diaphragm means for actuation thereby.

Claim 11

An inlet throttle control valve according to claim 6 further including an adjustable program spring means biasing said valve means to limit flow from said first chamber to said second chamber.

Claim 12

An inlet throttle control valve according to claim 6 wherein said divider means includes an orifice passage therethrough for limited free flow of fluid from said first chamber to said second chamber.