Automatic cold starting devices for internal combustion engines

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine having an induction passage through which fuel/air mixture is normally supplied to the engine and a main throttle valve in the said induction passage to control the flow of fuel/air mixture therein during normal operation of the engine, an automatic cold starting device comprising, means defining an auxiliary passage opening at its outlet end into said induction passage downstream of the main throttle valve and being connected to a source of air at its inlet end, a second throttle valve, in said auxiliary passage, said second throttle valve being so arranged that engine suction acting in said auxiliary passage tends to urge it in the closing direction, a fuel supply source, a fuel flow control valve to control the supply of fuel from said source to said auxiliary passage, and a thermostatically controlled mechanism operative to operate the fuel flow control valve and to limit the closing of said second throttle valve so that, once the engine has started to run, both the air flow in said auxiliary passage, and the supply of fuel thereto, are progressively decreased with increase of temperature.

Claim 3

In an internal combustion engine having an induction passage through which fuel/air mixture is normally supplied to the engine and a main throttle valve in the said induction passage to control the flow of fuel/air mixture therein during normal operation of the engine, an automatic cold starting device comprising, means defining an auxiliary passage opening at its outlet end into said induction passage downstream of the main throttle valve and being connected to a source of air at its inlet end, a second throttle valve in said auxiliary passage, said second throttle valve being so arranged that engine suction acting in said auxiliary passage tends to urge it in the closing direction, a fuel supply source connected to said auxiliary passage, a fuel flow control valve to control the supply of fuel from said source, and a thermostatically controlled mechanism operative to limit the closing of said second throttle valve and to operate the fuel flow control valve, so that, once the engine has started to run, both the air flow in said auxiliary passage, and the supply of fuel thereto, are progressively decreased with increase of temperature.

Claim 4

In an internal combustion engine having an induction passage through which fuel/air mixture is normally supplied to the engine and a main throttle valve in the said induction passage to control the flow of fuel/air mixture therein during normal operation of the engine, an automatic cold starting device comprising, means defining an auxiliary passage opening at its outlet end into said induction passage downstream of the main throttle valve and being connected to a source of air at its inlet end, a second throttle valve in said auxiliary passage, said second throttle valve being so arranged that engine suction acting in said auxiliary passage tends to urge it in the closing direction, a fuel supply source connected to said auxiliary passage, a fuel flow control valve to control the supply of fuel from said source, and a thermostatically controlled mechanism operative to limit the closing of said second throttle valve and to operate the fuel flow control valve, so that, once the engine has started to run, both the air flow in said auxiliary passage, and the supply of fuel thereto, are progressively decreased with increase of temperature.

Claim 5

An automatic cold starting device according to claim 2, wherein the inlet end of the auxiliary passage is connected to the main induction passage upstream of the main throttle valve.

Claim 6

In an internal combustion engine having an induction passage through which fuel/air mixture is normally supplied to the engine and a main throttle valve in the said induction passage to control the flow of fuel/air mixture therein during Normal operation of the engine, an automatic cold starting device comprising, means defining an auxiliary passage opening at its outlet end into said induction passage downstream of the main throttle valve and being connected to a source of air at its inlet end, a second throttle valve in said auxiliary passage, said second throttle valve being mounted on a spindle, said second throttle valve being so arranged that engine suction acting in said auxiliary passage tends to urge it in the closing direction, a fuel supply source connected to said auxiliary passage, a fuel flow control valve to control the supply of fuel from said source, and a thermostatically controlled mechanism operative to limit the closing of said second throttle valve and to operate the fuel flow control valve, said thermostatically controlled mechanism comprises an arm fixed on said spindle, one lever mounted pivotally on said spindle, and a biassing spring acting between the fixed arm and said one lever, relative angular movement between the fixed arm and said one lever being limited, and the position of said one lever being governed by a thermo-sensitive member which is responsive to the temperature of an engine on which the starting device is mounted, the thermo-sensitive device acting with increase of temperature, to rotate said one lever in a direction which allows movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction, the arrangement being such that, once the engine starts to run, the second throttle valve is moved relative to said one lever in the closing direction by the action of engine suction, the amount of such closing movement of the second throttle valve being limited to the permitted angular movement of said fixed arm relative to said one lever, progressive movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction being governed thereafter by the action of said thermo-sensitive member on said one lever, said one lever carrying a cam follower, and a cam, which is engaged by the cam follower, being connected operatively to the thermo-sensitive member which acts, with increase of temperature to rotate the cam in a direction such that the resulting movement of the follower rotates said one lever in the direction to close said second throttle member.

Claim 7

In an internal combustion engine having an induction passage through which fuel/air mixture is normally supplied to the engine and a main throttle valve in the said induction passage to control the flow of fuel/air mixture therein during Normal operation of the engine, an automatic cold starting device comprising, means defining an auxiliary passage opening at its outlet end into said induction passage downstream of the main throttle valve and being connected to a source of air at its inlet end, a second throttle valve in said auxiliary passage, said second throttle valve being mounted on a spindle, said second throttle valve being so arranged that engine suction acting in said auxiliary passage tends to urge it in the closing direction, a fuel supply source connected to said auxiliary passage, a fuel flow control valve to control the supply of fuel from said source, and a thermostatically controlled mechanism operative to limit the closing of said second throttle valve and to operate the fuel flow control valve, said thermostatically controlled mechanism comprises an arm fixed on said spindle, one lever mounted pivotally on said spindle, and a biassing spring acting between the fixed arm and said one lever, relative angular movement between the fixed arm and said one lever being limited, and the position of said one lever being governed by a thermo-sensitive member which is responsive to the temperature of an engine on which the starting device is mounted, the thermo-sensitive device acting with increase of temperature, to rotate said one lever in a direction which allows movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction, the arrangement being such that, once the engine starts to run, the second throttle valve is moved relative to said one lever in the closing direction by the action of engine suction, the amount of such closing movement of the second throttle valve being limited to the permitted angular movement of said fixed arm relative to said one lever, progressive movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction being governed thereafter by the action of said thermo-sensitive member on said one lever, said one lever carrying a cam follower, and a cam, which is engaged by the cam follower, being connected operatively to the thermo-sensitive member which acts, with increase of temperature to rotate the cam in a direction such that the resulting movement of the follower rotates said one lever in the direction to close said second throttle member.

Claim 8

An automatic cold starting device according to claim 4, wherein said one lever is held in contact with the cam by a tension spring acting to urge said one lever in a direction to open the second throttle valve.

Claim 9

An automatic cold starting device according to claim 4, wherein the spindle is coupled to the fuel flow control valve so that movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction is accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the supply of fuel to the auxiliary passage.

Claim 10

An automatic cold starting device according to claim 6, wherein said spindle is coupled to the fuel flow control valve by another lever which is mounted pivotally on said spindle, relative angular movement between the other lever and the fixed arm being limited and another biassing spring acting between said other lever and the fixed arm and causing said other lever to follow movement of the spindle until the fuel flow control valve is closed.

Claim 11

An automatic cold starting device according to claim 2, wherein the fuel flow control valve comprises a profiled needle movable axially in an orifice to vary the effective area thereof, the said needle carrying a sealing member operative to close the said orifice at the end of the movement of said needle in the direction to reduce the effective area of the orifice.

Claim 12

In an internal combustion engine having an induction passage through which fuel/air mixture is normally supplied to the engine and a main throttle valve in the said induction passage to control the flow of fuel/air mixture therein during normal operation of the engine, an automatic cold starting device comprising, means defining an auxiliary passage opening at its outlet end into said induction passage downstream of the main throttLe valve and being connected to a source of air at its inlet end, a second throttle valve, in said auxiliary passage said second throttle valve being so arranged that engine suction acting in said auxiliary passage tends to urge it in the closing direction, a fuel supply source arranged to supply metered quantities of fuel to said auxiliary passage, a thermostatically controlled mechanism operative to limit the closing of said second throttle valve, said thermostatically controlled mechanism comprises an arm fixed on a spindle, one lever mounted pivotally on said spindle, and a biassing spring acting between the fixed arm and said one lever, relative angular movement between the fixed arm and said one lever being limited, and the position of said one lever being governed by a thermo-sensitive member which is responsive to the temperature of an engine on which the starting device is mounted, the thermo-sensitive device acting with increase of temperature, to rotate said one lever in a direction which allows movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction, the arrangement being such that, once the engine starts to run, the second throttle valve is moved relative to said one lever in the closing direction by the action of engine suction, the amount of such closing movement of the second throttle valve being limited to the permitted angular movement of said fixed arm relative to said one lever, progressive movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction being governed thereafter by the action of said thermo-sensitive member on said one lever.

Claim 13

In an internal combustion engine having an induction passage through which fuel/air mixture is normally supplied to the engine and a main throttle valve in the said induction passage to control the flow of fuel/air mixture therein during normal operation of the engine, an automatic cold starting device comprising, means defining an auxiliary passage opening at its outlet end into said induction passage downstream of the main throttLe valve and being connected to a source of air at its inlet end, a second throttle valve, in said auxiliary passage said second throttle valve being so arranged that engine suction acting in said auxiliary passage tends to urge it in the closing direction, a fuel supply source arranged to supply metered quantities of fuel to said auxiliary passage, a thermostatically controlled mechanism operative to limit the closing of said second throttle valve, said thermostatically controlled mechanism comprises an arm fixed on a spindle, one lever mounted pivotally on said spindle, and a biassing spring acting between the fixed arm and said one lever, relative angular movement between the fixed arm and said one lever being limited, and the position of said one lever being governed by a thermo-sensitive member which is responsive to the temperature of an engine on which the starting device is mounted, the thermo-sensitive device acting with increase of temperature, to rotate said one lever in a direction which allows movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction, the arrangement being such that, once the engine starts to run, the second throttle valve is moved relative to said one lever in the closing direction by the action of engine suction, the amount of such closing movement of the second throttle valve being limited to the permitted angular movement of said fixed arm relative to said one lever, progressive movement of the second throttle valve in the closing direction being governed thereafter by the action of said thermo-sensitive member on said one lever.