Vacuum signal controller for transmission controlled emission device

Claim 2

An exhaust gas recirculation control system for use with an internal combustion engine having an induction passage for flow of air and fuel into tHe engine, an exhaust passage for exhaust flow from the engine and an exhaust gas recirculation passage having a first portion extending from said exhaust passage and a second portion extending to said induction passage comprising: transmission means including a hydraulic supply for producing line pressure and speed responsive governor means for producing a hydraulic speed signal related to vehicle speed, modulator valve means in said transmission including means sensing intake manifold pressure and said hydraulic speed signal and means for producing a hydraulic output signal from said modulator valve means related to intake manifold pressure and vehicle speed, second control valve means including means for sensing said modulator valve means output signal, transmission line pressure and the hydraulic output signal of said governor means to produce a hydraulic reference output signal proportional to manifold pressure, third valve means responsive to said hydraulic modulator reference signal to produce a hydraulic control signal in accordance with mass flow of air-fuel into the induction passage, an exhaust gas recirculation valve having an inlet connected to the first portion of the recirculation passage and an outlet connected to the second portion of the recirculation passage, means forming an orifice between said inlet and outlet, a valve element located within said orifice having wall means thereon movable relative to said orifice to vary exhaust gas recirculation flow between the exhaust passage and the induction passage, means for actuating said valve element including a vacuum operator having movable diaphragm means connected to said valve element and a vacuum chamber formed in part by said movable diaphragm means having an input signal port thereto, a converter housing having an engine intake manifold vacuum port and an atmospheric vent port therein, means including a movable diaphragm defining a pressure modulating chamber within said housing, said housing having a vacuum signal output port in communication with said modulating chamber, means for selectively shifting said diaphragm with respect to said housing in response to changes in said hydraulic control signal reflecting mass flow of air-fuel into the induction passage and converter valve means operative in response to diaphragm movement within said converter housing to produce a controlled vacuum level within said modulating chamber, and means for directing said controlled vacuum signal from said modulating chamber to said input signal port on said vacuum operator to position said exhaust gas recirculation valve element to control exhaust gas recirculation from the exhaust passage into the induction passage in accordance with mass flow of air-fuel into the induction passage during engine operation.

Claim 3

An emission control system for use on an internal combustion engine of the type having an intake manifold for flow of air and fuel to the engine and an exhaust passage for directing combustion products from the engine and an exhaust gas recirculation passage having a first portion extending from said exhaust passage and a second portion extending to said induction passage comprising: a hydraulic transmission including a hydraulic supply maintained at a predetermined line pressure and a speed responsive governor means for producing a hydraulic governor signal related to vehicle speed, valve means within said transmission for sensing intake manifold pressure and being responsive to said hydraulic governor signal to produce a resultant hydraulic control signal reflecting mass flow of air-fuel into the induction passage, an exhaust gas recirculation valve having an inlet connected to the first portion of the recirculation passage and an outlet connected to the second portion of the recirculation passage, means forming an orifice between said inlet and outlet, a valve element located within said orifice having wall means thereon movable relative to said orifice to vary exhaust gas recirculation between the exhaust passage And the induction passage, a vacuum operator connected to said valve element including a vacuum input signal port thereto, a converter housing having an atmospheric vent port and an engine intake manifold vacuum port thereto, means including a movable diaphragm forming a vacuum modulating chamber within said converter housing, said converter housing including a vacuum output port therefrom for communicating said modulating chamber with the input signal port of said vacuum operator, and means responsive to said mass flow hydraulic output signal to shift said movable diaphragm within said converter housing, converter valve means responsive to movement of said diaphragm for selectively communicating said vacuum port with said vacuum modulating chamber so as to produce a vacuum signal from said converter reflecting mass flow of air-fuel in the induction passage, said last mentioned vacuum signal conditioning said vacuum operator to position said exhaust gas recirculation valve element so as to produce exhaust gas recirculation from the exhaust passage to the induction passage in accordance with mass flow through the induction passage of the internal combustion engine.

Claim 4

An emission control system for use on an internal combustion engine of the type having an intake manifold for flow of air and fuel to the engine and an exhaust passage for directing combustion products from the engine and an exhaust gas recirculation passage having a first portion extending from said exhaust passage and a second portion extending to said induction passage comprising: a hydraulic transmission including a hydraulic supply maintained at a predetermined line pressure and a speed responsive governor means for producing a hydraulic governor signal related to vehicle speed, valve means within said transmission for sensing intake manifold pressure and being responsive to said hydraulic governor signal to produce a resultant hydraulic control signal reflecting mass flow of air-fuel into the induction passage, an exhaust gas recirculation valve having an inlet connected to the first portion of the recirculation passage and an outlet connected to the second portion of the recirculation passage, means forming an orifice between said inlet and outlet, a valve element located within said orifice having wall means thereon movable relative to said orifice to vary exhaust gas recirculation between the exhaust passage And the induction passage, a vacuum operator connected to said valve element including a vacuum input signal port thereto, a converter housing having an atmospheric vent port and an engine intake manifold vacuum port thereto, means including a movable diaphragm forming a vacuum modulating chamber within said converter housing, said converter housing including a vacuum output port therefrom for communicating said modulating chamber with the input signal port of said vacuum operator, and means responsive to said mass flow hydraulic output signal to shift said movable diaphragm within said converter housing, converter valve means responsive to movement of said diaphragm for selectively communicating said vacuum port with said vacuum modulating chamber so as to produce a vacuum signal from said converter reflecting mass flow of air-fuel in the induction passage, said last mentioned vacuum signal conditioning said vacuum operator to position said exhaust gas recirculation valve element so as to produce exhaust gas recirculation from the exhaust passage to the induction passage in accordance with mass flow through the induction passage of the internal combustion engine.

Claim 5

An exhaust gas recirculation control system for use on an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for air-fuel flow to the engine and an exhaust passage for flow of combustion products from the engine and an exhaust gas recirculation passage having a first portion extending from said exhaust passage and a second portion extending to an induction passage within said intake manifold comprising: transmission means including a hydraulic supply maintained at a predetermined line pressure and speed responsive governor means for producing a hydrualic signal related to vehicle speed, valve means within said transmission including means for sensing the intake manifold pressure of the engine and said governor signal for producing a first hydraulic signal related to vehicle speed, modulator valve means in said transmission including means sensing engine induction passage pressure and said governor signal for producing a second hydraulic output signal related to induction passage pressure and speed, and control valve means including means responsive to said governor pressure and said modulator valve output signal to produce a third hydraulic signal for control of exhaust gas recirculation in response to mass flow of air-fuel into the induction passage, an exhaust gas recirculation valve having an inlet connected to the first portion of the recirculation passage and an outlet connected to the second portion of the recirculation passage, means forming an orifice between said inlet and outlet, a valve element located within said orifice having wall means thereon movable relative to said orifice to vary exhaust gas recirculation flow between the inlet and outlet, a vacuum operator for controlling said valve element including a vacuum signal port, a converter housing having an atmospheric vent port and an engine intake manifold vacuum port thereon, means including a movable diaphragm for forming a controlled vacuum modulating chamber within said converter housing, a vacuum output signal port on said housing in communication with said modulating chamber, a hydraulic motor housing having a bore therethrough including a movable spool element supportingly received therein with a piston thereon, a port within said motor housing for receiving said hydraulic transmission signal reflecting mass flow of air-fuel to the induction passage to produce a differential pressure on said spool piston to cause said spool to shift within said bore, an actuator stem including one end thereof connected to said diaphragm and the other end coupled to said spool, means forming an exhaust passage in said motor housing for communication with the transmission sump, means forming an atmospheric chamber between said movable diaphragm and said spool, means forming an exhaust port in said converter housing for communicating said atmospheric chamber wiTh the transmission sump, converter valve means responsive to movement of said movable diaphragm by said stem to control communication of intake manifold vacuum with said controlled vacuum chamber in accordance with movement of said stem to produce a controlled vacuum signal for said vacuum operator to position said exhaust gas recirculation valve element to maintain exhaust gas recirculation in accordance with mass flow of air fuel into said induction passage.

Claim 6

An exhaust gas recirculation control system for use on an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold for air-fuel flow to the engine and an exhaust passage for flow of combustion products from the engine and an exhaust gas recirculation passage having a first portion extending from said exhaust passage and a second portion extending to an induction passage within said intake manifold comprising: transmission means including a hydraulic supply maintained at a predetermined line pressure and speed responsive governor means for producing a hydrualic signal related to vehicle speed, valve means within said transmission including means for sensing the intake manifold pressure of the engine and said governor signal for producing a first hydraulic signal related to vehicle speed, modulator valve means in said transmission including means sensing engine induction passage pressure and said governor signal for producing a second hydraulic output signal related to induction passage pressure and speed, and control valve means including means responsive to said governor pressure and said modulator valve output signal to produce a third hydraulic signal for control of exhaust gas recirculation in response to mass flow of air-fuel into the induction passage, an exhaust gas recirculation valve having an inlet connected to the first portion of the recirculation passage and an outlet connected to the second portion of the recirculation passage, means forming an orifice between said inlet and outlet, a valve element located within said orifice having wall means thereon movable relative to said orifice to vary exhaust gas recirculation flow between the inlet and outlet, a vacuum operator for controlling said valve element including a vacuum signal port, a converter housing having an atmospheric vent port and an engine intake manifold vacuum port thereon, means including a movable diaphragm for forming a controlled vacuum modulating chamber within said converter housing, a vacuum output signal port on said housing in communication with said modulating chamber, a hydraulic motor housing having a bore therethrough including a movable spool element supportingly received therein with a piston thereon, a port within said motor housing for receiving said hydraulic transmission signal reflecting mass flow of air-fuel to the induction passage to produce a differential pressure on said spool piston to cause said spool to shift within said bore, an actuator stem including one end thereof connected to said diaphragm and the other end coupled to said spool, means forming an exhaust passage in said motor housing for communication with the transmission sump, means forming an atmospheric chamber between said movable diaphragm and said spool, means forming an exhaust port in said converter housing for communicating said atmospheric chamber wiTh the transmission sump, converter valve means responsive to movement of said movable diaphragm by said stem to control communication of intake manifold vacuum with said controlled vacuum chamber in accordance with movement of said stem to produce a controlled vacuum signal for said vacuum operator to position said exhaust gas recirculation valve element to maintain exhaust gas recirculation in accordance with mass flow of air fuel into said induction passage.

Claim 7

An exhaust gas recirculation control system for use on an internal combustion engine having an induction passage for air-fuel flow to the engine, an exhaust passage for flow of combustion gases from the engine and a recirculation passage having a first portion extending from the exhaust passage and a second portion extending to the induction passage comprising: exhaust gas recirculation control valve means including an inlet connected to the first portion of the recirculation passage and an outlet connected to the second portion of the recirculation passage, means forming an orifice between the inlet and outlet, valve means located within the orifice including a contoured wall portion thereon movable with respect to the walls of the orifice, a vacuum operator for positioning said valve means with respect to the orifice including a vacuum signal port thereto, a hydraulic transmission including a hydraulic supply having a predetermined line pressure and a sump maintained at atmosphere, said transmission further including speed responsive governor means for producing a hydraulic signal related to vehicle speed, modulator valve means within said transmission operative to produce an output signal related to induction passage pressure, a converter including an air bleed port thereto and a manifold inlet vacuum port, means defining a controlled vacuum chamber within said converter including a movable diaphragm, means including said movable diaphragm forming an atmospheric chamber for biasing said movable diaphragm in a first predetermined direction, converter valve means operated upon movement of said movable diaphragm in said first predetermined direction to block communication between said inlet vacuum port and said controlled vacuum chamber, means including a hydraulic motor for shifting said movable diaphragm in an opposite direction, means including a one-way check valve for directing said governor means hydraulic signal to said hydraulic motor, and means including a restrictor for communicating said output signal from said modulator valve means to said hydraulic motor, said combined governor pressure and modulator pressure signals acting upon said hydraulic motor to position said movable diaphragm against atmospheric pressure to maintain a controlled communication of said controlled vacuum chamber with said vacuum inlet port to produce a modulated vacuum output signal from said controlled vacuum chamber to condition said vacuum operator to control said exhaust gas control valve means to recirculate exhaust gas from the exhaust passage to the induction passage in accordance with mass flow of air-fuel through the induction passage of the internal combustion engine.

Claim 8

An exhaust gas recirculation control system for use on an internal combustion engine having an induction passage for air-fuel flow to the engine, an exhaust passage for flow of combustion gases from the engine and a recirculation passage having a first portion extending from the exhaust passage and a second portion extending to the induction passage comprising: exhaust gas recirculation control valve means including an inlet connected to the first portion of the recirculation passage and an outlet connected to the second portion of the recirculation passage, means forming an orifice between the inlet and outlet, valve means located within the orifice including a contoured wall portion thereon movable with respect to the walls of the orifice, a vacuum operator for positioning said valve means with respect to the orifice including a vacuum signal port thereto, a hydraulic transmission including a hydraulic supply having a predetermined line pressure and a sump maintained at atmosphere, said transmission further including speed responsive governor means for producing a hydraulic signal related to vehicle speed, modulator valve means within said transmission operative to produce an output signal related to induction passage pressure, a converter including an air bleed port thereto and a manifold inlet vacuum port, means defining a controlled vacuum chamber within said converter including a movable diaphragm, means including said movable diaphragm forming an atmospheric chamber for biasing said movable diaphragm in a first predetermined direction, converter valve means operated upon movement of said movable diaphragm in said first predetermined direction to block communication between said inlet vacuum port and said controlled vacuum chamber, means including a hydraulic motor for shifting said movable diaphragm in an opposite direction, means including a one-way check valve for directing said governor means hydraulic signal to said hydraulic motor, and means including a restrictor for communicating said output signal from said modulator valve means to said hydraulic motor, said combined governor pressure and modulator pressure signals acting upon said hydraulic motor to position said movable diaphragm against atmospheric pressure to maintain a controlled communication of said controlled vacuum chamber with said vacuum inlet port to produce a modulated vacuum output signal from said controlled vacuum chamber to condition said vacuum operator to control said exhaust gas control valve means to recirculate exhaust gas from the exhaust passage to the induction passage in accordance with mass flow of air-fuel through the induction passage of the internal combustion engine.