US3855974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus to control the air-fuel mixture supplied to internal combustion engines
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1973-01-10
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Granted: 1974-12-24
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Expires: 1993-01-10
Abstract
Abstract The composition of the exhaust gases is sensed, and the massratio of air and fuel components of the mixture applied to the engine is controlled by controlling the flow of fuel to the carburetor, for example by adjusting a nozzle opening of fuel flow to the carburetor mixing chamber, or the pressure within the carburetor mixing chamber, under control of a sensed exhaust gas composition signal.
Inventors
- 👤 H Mayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:14
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M7/00; F02M7/12; F02M7/14; F02M7/16; F02M7/17; F02D; F02D9/00; F02D2700/00; F02D2700/09; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/74; Y10S261/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
Apparatus to control the air component and fuel component of the air-fuel mixture supplied to an internal combustion engine (10) having sensing means (16) sensing the composition of the exhaust gases and providing an electrical control signal, and a carburetor (11) having control means (22, 23) supplying fuel to the mixing chamber in dependence on commanded fuel requirements of the engine for mixture of a mixing chamber (21) the fuel component and the air component and for application to the engine wherein the carburetor comprises means forming a fuel nozzle opening (34, 73), and a needle (33, 71) movable within the fuel nozzle, the nozzle opening, upon relative selective positioning of said nozzle and needle being electrically controllable and arranged to additionally control supply of fuel to the mixing chamber, and being connected to and controlled by said electrical control signal and operatively connected to the carburetor fuel supply means to additionally regulate the relative flow of the fuel component of the mixture with respect to the air component, independently of demand of fuel-air mixture by the engine, under control of said electrical control signal provided by the sensing means to adjust the mass ratio of the air and fuel components of the mixture being applied to the engine in dependence on the composition of the exhaust gases; and wherein the fuel supply means includes an air pressure responsive piston (22) movably located in the path of the air stream supplied to the engine upon engine operation, the needle (33, 71) being slidably located in the piston (22) and movable under control of said control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
Apparatus to control the air component and fuel component of the air-fuel mixture supplied to an internal combustion engine (10) having sensing means (16) sensing the composition of the exhaust gases and providing an electrical control signal, and a carburetor (11) having control means (22, 23) supplying fuel to the mixing chamber in dependence on commanded fuel requirements of the engine for mixture of a mixing chamber (21) the fuel component and the air component and for application to the engine wherein the carburetor comprises means forming a fuel nozzle opening (34, 73), and a needle (33, 71) movable within the fuel nozzle, the nozzle opening, upon relative selective positioning of said nozzle and needle being electrically controllable and arranged to additionally control supply of fuel to the mixing chamber, and being connected to and controlled by said electrical control signal and operatively connected to the carburetor fuel supply means to additionally regulate the relative flow of the fuel component of the mixture with respect to the air component, independently of demand of fuel-air mixture by the engine, under control of said electrical control signal provided by the sensing means to adjust the mass ratio of the air and fuel components of the mixture being applied to the engine in dependence on the composition of the exhaust gases; and wherein the fuel supply means includes an air pressure responsive piston (22) movably located in the path of the air stream supplied to the engine upon engine operation, the needle (33, 71) being slidably located in the piston (22) and movable under control of said control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an electrical network connected to receive the control signal from said sensing means and comprising a control circuit having non-linear amplification (18) and a control amplifier (19), the controllable means being positioned by said amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the control circuit is an integrating circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electrically controllable fuel nozzle includes a solenoid coil system (43), and an armature (36) therefor, the armature being connected to the needle (33, 71), movement of the armature with respect to the coil changing the position of the needle with respect to the nozzle opening (34, 73).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the armature is a permanent magnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the solenoid coil system includes a pair of excitation windings (43), connected to provide mutually opposing magnetic forces acting on the permanent magnet upon excitation of the respective windings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a pair of spring means (35, 36) are provided, the armature (32) being located between the spring; one of the springs bearing against the air idler and the other spring bearing against the housing of the carburetor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein spring means are provided supporting the armature in predetermined position with respect to the solenoid coil system; and dashpot means (40, 41, 42) are provided, connected to the armature and dampening oscillatory excursions of the armature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the armature (32) is a soft iron core, and the solenoid coil system comprises an excitation winding (57) and means (19) are provided to supply a holding current to the excitation winding to maintain the soft iron core armature (32) in a predetermined rest position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising spring means (53, 54) bearing on opposite sides of the armature, the spring means supporting the armature floatingly between the slider and the housing of the carburetor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the solenoid coil system is secured to the carburetor housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the solenoid system is secured to the piston (22) of the carburetor (11).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including movable means located adjacent the gap between the needle (33, 71) and the nozzle opening (34, 73) to change the relative side of the opening of the gap between the needle and the nozzle; the position of the movable means being controlled under command of said control signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the carburetor includes means forming a fuel nozzle opening (34, 73) and a needle (33, 71) movable within the fuel nozzle; and the electrically controllable fuel nozzle includes a lamella located in the gap between the fuel nozzle opening (34, 73) and the needle (33, 71) to change the relative opening of the gap between the nozzle and the needle, the position of the lamella being controlled under command of said control signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a sleeve (62) having an end opening forming said fuel nozzle opening (34); a cross bore formed in the wall (67) of the sleeve; a guide tube (65) surrounding the sleeve; and a duct (66) within the guide tube and terminating in the mixing chamber (21) of the carburetor at one end, and adjacent the cross bore of the sleeve (62) at the other end; the sleeve (62) and a guide tube (65) being relatively movable to effect alignment, or misalignment of the cross bote and of the duct (66); and electrical means (167) controlling relative movement of said sleeve and said guide tube to control the flow of fuel from said sleeve through said cross bore into said duct, under command of said control signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the electrically controllable means comprises means controlling the pressure in the mixing chamber (21) of the carburetor (11) said means being connected to and controlled by said electrical control signal provided by said sensing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the sleeve and guide tube are relatively rotatable, and said motion controlling means effect relative rotation of said sleeve and said duct to effect relative alignment, or misalignment of the cross bore and one end of said duct (65) and thus the flow of the fuel component from the carburetor to the mixing chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said pressure control means comprises electrically positionable means controlling the position of the pressure responsive piston (22) in the carburetor in dependence of the output signal from said sensing means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said pressure control means comprises an armature (97) and an electromagnet, the armature being secured to the air slider (22) and the electromagnet being secured to the carburetor housing, relative excitation of the coil of the magnet shifting the position of the slider within the carburetor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein a pair of pressure chambers (25, 28) are provided locating the piston (22) in the carburetor and adjusting the relative position, with respect to the carburetor housing of said slider in dependence on vacuum in the intake to the engine; and said pressure control means (90) comprises electrically controllable valve means controlling the pressure in at least one of said chambers in dependence on the electrical control signals provided by said sensing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein one of said pressure chambers has ambient air pressure applied thereto, and the other of said pressure chambers has pressure within the mixing chamber of the caRburetor applied thereto; and the valve means are connected to controllable under command of said electrical signal provided by said sensing means (16), selectively equalize the pressures within said chambers (25, 28).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said valve means comprises a control piston (85), and means controlling the position of said piston within the valve means, connected to and controlled by said control signal from said sensing means (16); and connecting ducts connecting the pressure chambers (25, 28) to said valve means, the position of the control piston, as commanded by said control signal, selectively and continuously adjusting the relative pressure in the pressure chamber (25) connected to the mixing chamber (21).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-23 | 1978-06-24 | 1978-12-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-23 | 1982-06-24 | 1982-12-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-23 | 1986-06-24 | 1986-12-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |