Fuel injection-spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine

Claim 2

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having combustion chamber means, a rotating element driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the engine, and a speed control mechanism, said system comprising a pair of structures disposed in physically cooperating relation with respect to each other, means mounting said structures for rotational movement of one with respect to the other and for relative movement with respect to each other between first and second positions, means adapted to be connected with the rotating element of the internal combustion engine for effecting rotational movement of said one structure at a speed proportional to the speed of the internal combustion engine, means adapted to be connected to the speed control mechanism of said internal combustion engine for effecting a relative movement between said structures from said first position toward said second position during the rotation of said one structure in response to the movement of the speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine from its idle position toward its maximum speed position and for permitting a relative movement between said structures toward said first position when said speed control mechanism is moved toward said idle position, said structures including electrical signal generating means operable to generate an electrical signal during the revolution of said one structure having a characteristic which varies as a result of the relative movement between said structures from said first position toward said second position, spark plug means adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine, said spark plug means having fuel outlet means therein adapted to communicate with the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine when said spark plug means is mounted in operative relation therewith, means operable in response to said electrical signal for discharging from said outlet means into the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine in proper timed relation to the cycle of operation thereof an amount of fuel which is proportional to the characteristic variation of said electrical signal, and rotation sensing switch means for rendering said signal generating means (1) inoperable to generate an electrical signal to which said discharging means is responsive when the rotating element of said engine is not rotating and (2) operable to generate an electrical signal to which said discharging means is responsive of said engine at starting speeds and above.

Claim 3

A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said one structure includes a cylindrical drum and wherein the other structure includes a cap member adapted to replace the conventional distributor cap of the internal combustion engine, said structure mounting means including cooperating means on said cap member for detachably fixedly securing the same on the distributor housing of the internal combustion engine, a shaft section having means on the eNds thereof for interconnecting the same between the rotor and rotor shaft of the distributor of the internal combustion engine for rotation therewith, and means mounting said drum over said shaft section between the ends thereof for rotation therewith and axial movement with respect thereto, said cap member having leads in the end thereof for cooperating with the distributor rotor of the internal combustion engine.

Claim 4

A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said signal generating means includes a conductor band on the exterior periphery of said drum having a circumferential width which increases axially and a number of conductor brushes equal to the number of combustion chambers in the internal combustion engine carried by said cap member in engagement with the exterior periphery of said drum so as to contact said conductor band during the revolution of said drum in any position of axial movement thereof.

Claim 5

A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said spark plug means includes a spark plug for each combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and said signal responsive means includes a fuel passage extending through each spark plug, each fuel passage having a discharge end constituting said fuel outlet means and an inlet end, a valve mounted in each spark plug for movement between opened and closed positions with respect to the associated fuel passage therein and solenoid coil means within each spark plug electrically connected with an associated conductor brush for energization when the latter is in engagement with said conductor band and operatively connected with the associated valve for moving the same into an opened position in response to the energization thereof.

Claim 6

A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said signal generating means includes a variable resistor in said drum extending axially thereof and being exposed axially along the periphery thereof and a number of conductor brushes equal to the number of combustion chambers in the internal combustion engine carried by said cap member in engagement with the exterior periphery of said drum so as to contact said variable resistor during the revolution of said drum in any position of axial movement thereof.

Claim 7

A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said spark plug means includes a spark plug for each combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and said signal responsive means includes a fuel passage extending through each spark plug, each fuel passage having a discharge end constituting said fuel outlet means, an inlet end and a valve seat intermediate the ends thereof, a valve member of piezoelectrical material mounted within each plug in closing engagement with said valve seat electrically connected with an associated contact brush for moving away from said valve seat in response to the energization thereof an amount proportional to the variable resistance of said variable resistor.

Claim 8

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having speed control means movable in one direction from an idle position through a closely adjacent cut-off position to a maximum speed position and in an opposite direction from said maximum speed position through said cut-off position to said idle position and at least one combustion chamber comprising means for generating an electrical signal for each cycle of operation of said engine having a characteristic capable of being varied between an idle value and a maximum speed value, means operable in response to the generation of said electrical signal for discharging an amount of fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine which varies between an idle amount and a maximum amount proportional to the variation of said signal between said idle value and said maximum value, means for varying said electrical signal from said idle value to said maximum value in response to the movement of said speed control means in said one direction from said idle position to said maximum position, means operable in response to the movement of said speed control means in said opposite direction between said maximum position and said cut-off position for varying said signal toward said idle value at a maximum rate which is independent of the rate of said movement of said speed control means, and means for rendering said signal generating means inoperable to generate an electrical signal to which said fuel discharge means is responsive when said speed control means is disposed in said cut-off position, said idle position and any position therebetween, and the speed of said engine is above a predetermined speed slightly above idle speed.

Claim 9

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having speed control means movable in one direction from an idle position through a closely adjacent cut-off position to a maximum speed position and in an opposite direction from said maximum speed position through said cut-off position to said idle position and at least one combustion chamber comprising means for generating an electrical signal for each cycle of operation of said engine having a characteristic capable of being varied between an idle value and a maximum speed value, means operable in response to the generation of said electrical signal for discharging an amount of fuel into the combustion chamber of the engine which varies between an idle amount and a maximum amount proportional to the variation of said signal between said idle value and said maximum value, means for varying said electrical signal from said idle value to said maximum value in response to the movement of said speed control means in said one direction from said idle position to said maximum position, means operable in response to the movement of said speed control means in said opposite direction between said maximum position and said cut-off position for varying said signal toward said idle value at a maximum rate which is independent of the rate of said movement of said speed control means, and means for rendering said signal generating means inoperable to generate an electrical signal to which said fuel discharge means is responsive when said speed control means is disposed in said cut-off position, said idle position and any position therebetween, and the speed of said engine is above a predetermined speed slightly above idle speed.

Claim 10

A system as defined in claim 7 wherein the variable characteristic of said electrical signal is the time of said electrical signal.

Claim 11

A system as defined in claim 7 wherein the variable characteristic of said electrical signal is the amplitude of the voltage thereof.

Claim 12

A system as defined in claim 7 including temperature and pressure responsive means for varying the idle value of said electrical signal.

Claim 13

A system as defined in claim 3, wherein said signal generating means further includes a lead in said cap member associated with each brush and a transistor in said cap member electrically connected between each brush and its associated lead.

Claim 14

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine including a distributor housing having a distributor rotor shaft therein, combustion chamber means, and a speed control mechanism movable in one direction from an idle position through a closely adjacent cut-off position to a maximum speed position and in an opposite direction from said maximum speed position through said cut-off position to said idle position, said system comprising an annular housing structure, means on said housing structure for detachably fixedly securing the same on the distributor housing of the internal combustion engine, a shaft section having means on one end thereof for connecting the same on the distributor rotor shaft of the internal combustion engine for rotation therewith within said housing structure, a generally cylindrical drum structure, means mounting said drum structure over said shaft section within said housing structure for rotation with said shaft section and axial movement with respect thereto and to said housing structure between first and second positions, means adapted to be connected to the speed control mechanism of said internal combustion engine for effecting an axial movement of said drum structure from said first position toward said second position during the rotation of said drum structure in response to the movement of the speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine from its idle position toward its maximum speed position, said drum and housing structures including electrical signal generating means operable to generate an electrical signal during the rotation of said drum structure having a characteristic which varies as a result of the axial movement of said drum structure from said first position toward said second position, spark plug means adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine, said spark plug means having fuel outlet means therein adapted to communicate with the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine when said spark plug means is mounted in operative relation therewith, means operable in response to said electrical signal for discharging from said outlet means into the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine in proper timed relation to the cycle of operation thereof an amount of fuel which is proportional to the characteristic variation of said electrical signal, means operable in response to the movement of said speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine in the aforesaid opposite direction thereof between said maximum position and said cut-off position for effecting an axial movement of said drum structure toward said first position at a maximum rate which is indEpendent of the rate of movement of the speed control mechanism, and means for rendering said signal generating means inoperable to generate an electrical signal to which said fuel discharging means is responsive when said speed control mechanism is disposed in said cut-off position, said idle position and any position therebetween, and the speed of said engine is above a predetermined speed slightly above idle speed.

Claim 15

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine including a distributor housing having a distributor rotor shaft therein, combustion chamber means, and a speed control mechanism movable in one direction from an idle position through a closely adjacent cut-off position to a maximum speed position and in an opposite direction from said maximum speed position through said cut-off position to said idle position, said system comprising an annular housing structure, means on said housing structure for detachably fixedly securing the same on the distributor housing of the internal combustion engine, a shaft section having means on one end thereof for connecting the same on the distributor rotor shaft of the internal combustion engine for rotation therewith within said housing structure, a generally cylindrical drum structure, means mounting said drum structure over said shaft section within said housing structure for rotation with said shaft section and axial movement with respect thereto and to said housing structure between first and second positions, means adapted to be connected to the speed control mechanism of said internal combustion engine for effecting an axial movement of said drum structure from said first position toward said second position during the rotation of said drum structure in response to the movement of the speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine from its idle position toward its maximum speed position, said drum and housing structures including electrical signal generating means operable to generate an electrical signal during the rotation of said drum structure having a characteristic which varies as a result of the axial movement of said drum structure from said first position toward said second position, spark plug means adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine, said spark plug means having fuel outlet means therein adapted to communicate with the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine when said spark plug means is mounted in operative relation therewith, means operable in response to said electrical signal for discharging from said outlet means into the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine in proper timed relation to the cycle of operation thereof an amount of fuel which is proportional to the characteristic variation of said electrical signal, means operable in response to the movement of said speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine in the aforesaid opposite direction thereof between said maximum position and said cut-off position for effecting an axial movement of said drum structure toward said first position at a maximum rate which is indEpendent of the rate of movement of the speed control mechanism, and means for rendering said signal generating means inoperable to generate an electrical signal to which said fuel discharging means is responsive when said speed control mechanism is disposed in said cut-off position, said idle position and any position therebetween, and the speed of said engine is above a predetermined speed slightly above idle speed.

Claim 16

A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said means for effecting the axial movement of said drum structure toward said first position comprises a spring resiliently biasing said drum structure toward said first position and a centrifugal retarding assembly rotatably connected with said shaft section for controlably limiting the rate of the axial movement of said drum structure under the bias of said spring.

Claim 17

A system as defined in claim 12 including a pressure and temperature responsive annular bellows operatively connected between said shaft section and said drum structure for limiting the axial movement thereof in one direction at a variable position corresponding to said first position, said signal generating means being operable to vary the signal corresponding to said variation in said first position.

Claim 18

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having combustion chamber means, a rotating element driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the engine and a speed control mechanism movable in one direction from an idle position through a closely adjacent cut-off position to a maximum speed position and in an opposite direction from said maximum speed position through said cut-off position to said idle position, said system comprising a pair of structures disposed in physically cooperating relation with respect to each other, means mounting said structures for rotational movement of one with respect to the other and for relative movement with respect to each other between first and second positions, means adapted to be connected with the rotating element of the internal combustion engine for effecting rotational movement of said one structure at a speed proportional to the speed of the internal combustion engine, means adapted to be connected to the speed control mechanism of said internal combustion engine for effecting a relative movement between said structures from said first position toward said second position during the rotation of said one structure in response to the movement of the speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine from its idle position toward its maximum speed position and for permitting a relative movement between said structures toward said first position when said speed control mechanism is moved toward said idle position, said structures including electrical signal generating means operable to generate an electrical signal during the revolution of said one structure having a characteristic which varies as a result of the relative movement between said structures from said first position toward said second position, spark plug means adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine, said spark plug means having fuel outlet means therein adapted to communicate with the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine when said spark plug means is mounted in operative relation therewith, means operable in response to said electrical signal for discharging from said outlet means into the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine in proper timed relation to the cycle of operation thereof an amount of fuel which is proportional to the characteristic variation of said electric signal, and means for rendering said signal generating means inoperable to generate an electrical signal to which said fuel discharging means is responsive when said speed control mechanism is disposed in said cut-off position, said idle position and any position therebetween, and the speed of said engine is above a predeterminEd speed slightly above idle speed.

Claim 19

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine having combustion chamber means, a rotating element driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the engine and a speed control mechanism movable in one direction from an idle position through a closely adjacent cut-off position to a maximum speed position and in an opposite direction from said maximum speed position through said cut-off position to said idle position, said system comprising a pair of structures disposed in physically cooperating relation with respect to each other, means mounting said structures for rotational movement of one with respect to the other and for relative movement with respect to each other between first and second positions, means adapted to be connected with the rotating element of the internal combustion engine for effecting rotational movement of said one structure at a speed proportional to the speed of the internal combustion engine, means adapted to be connected to the speed control mechanism of said internal combustion engine for effecting a relative movement between said structures from said first position toward said second position during the rotation of said one structure in response to the movement of the speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine from its idle position toward its maximum speed position and for permitting a relative movement between said structures toward said first position when said speed control mechanism is moved toward said idle position, said structures including electrical signal generating means operable to generate an electrical signal during the revolution of said one structure having a characteristic which varies as a result of the relative movement between said structures from said first position toward said second position, spark plug means adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine, said spark plug means having fuel outlet means therein adapted to communicate with the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine when said spark plug means is mounted in operative relation therewith, means operable in response to said electrical signal for discharging from said outlet means into the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine in proper timed relation to the cycle of operation thereof an amount of fuel which is proportional to the characteristic variation of said electric signal, and means for rendering said signal generating means inoperable to generate an electrical signal to which said fuel discharging means is responsive when said speed control mechanism is disposed in said cut-off position, said idle position and any position therebetween, and the speed of said engine is above a predeterminEd speed slightly above idle speed.

Claim 20

A fuel injection system as in claim 15 including means for controlling the relative movement between said structures toward said first position to a rate proportional to engine speed when said speed control mechanism is moved in the opposite direction at a greater rate.

Claim 21

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine including a distributor housing having a distributor rotor shaft therein, combustion chamber means, and a speed control mechanism movable in one direction from an idle position through a closely adjacent cut-off position to a maximum speed position and in an opposite direction from said maximum speed position through said cut-off position to said idle position, said system comprising an annular housing structure, means on said housing structure for detachably fixedly securing the same on the distributor housing of the internal combustion engine, a shaft section having means on one end thereof for connecting the same on the distributor rotor shaft of the internal combustion engine for rotation therewith within said housing structure, a generally cylindrical drum structure, means mounting said drum structure over said shaft section within said housing structure for rotation with said shaft section and axial movement with respect thereto and to said housing structure between first and second positions, means adapted to be connected to the speed control mechanism of said internal combustion engine for effecting an axial movement of said drum structure from said first position toward said second position during the rotation of said drum structure in response to the movement of the speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine from its idle position toward its maximum speed position, said drum and housing structures including electrical signal generating means operable to generate an electrical signal during the rotation of said drum structure having a characteristic which varies as a result of the axial movement of said drum structure from said first position toward said second position, spark plug means adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine, said spark plug means having fuel outlet means therein adapted to communicate with the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine when said spark plug means is mounted in operative relation therewith, and means operable in response to said electrical signal for discharging from said outlet means into the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine in proper timed relation to the cycle of operation thereof an amount of fuel which is proportional to the characteristic variation of said electrical signal, said signal generating means including a conductor band on the exterior periphery of said drum structure and a plurality of annularly spaced conductor brushes carried by said housing structure in engagement with the exterior periphery of said drum structure so as to contact said conductor band during the rotation of said drum structure in any position of axial movement thereof, said conductor band having leading and trailing edges which converge toward an axial line extending therethrough in an axial direction corresponding to the direction of axial movement of said drum structure toward said second position.

Claim 22

A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine including a distributor housing having a distributor rotor shaft therein, combustion chamber means, and a speed control mechanism movable in one direction from an idle position through a closely adjacent cut-off position to a maximum speed position and in an opposite direction from said maximum speed position through said cut-off position to said idle position, said system comprising an annular housing structure, means on said housing structure for detachably fixedly securing the same on the distributor housing of the internal combustion engine, a shaft section having means on one end thereof for connecting the same on the distributor rotor shaft of the internal combustion engine for rotation therewith within said housing structure, a generally cylindrical drum structure, means mounting said drum structure over said shaft section within said housing structure for rotation with said shaft section and axial movement with respect thereto and to said housing structure between first and second positions, means adapted to be connected to the speed control mechanism of said internal combustion engine for effecting an axial movement of said drum structure from said first position toward said second position during the rotation of said drum structure in response to the movement of the speed control mechanism of the internal combustion engine from its idle position toward its maximum speed position, said drum and housing structures including electrical signal generating means operable to generate an electrical signal during the rotation of said drum structure having a characteristic which varies as a result of the axial movement of said drum structure from said first position toward said second position, spark plug means adapted to be mounted in operative relation with respect to the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine, said spark plug means having fuel outlet means therein adapted to communicate with the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine when said spark plug means is mounted in operative relation therewith, and means operable in response to said electrical signal for discharging from said outlet means into the combustion chamber means of the internal combustion engine in proper timed relation to the cycle of operation thereof an amount of fuel which is proportional to the characteristic variation of said electrical signal, said signal generating means including a conductor band on the exterior periphery of said drum structure and a plurality of annularly spaced conductor brushes carried by said housing structure in engagement with the exterior periphery of said drum structure so as to contact said conductor band during the rotation of said drum structure in any position of axial movement thereof, said conductor band having leading and trailing edges which converge toward an axial line extending therethrough in an axial direction corresponding to the direction of axial movement of said drum structure toward said second position.

Claim 23

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 17 wherein said signal generating means further includes a lead in said housing structure associated with each brush and transistor in said housing structure electrically connected between each brush and its associated lead.