Overheat protection device for a catalytic converter

Claim 1

In an internal combustion engine: an intake system; an exhaust system having a catalytic converter; an air supply pump; first conduit means connecting said air supply pump to said exhaust system to supply an air into said catalytic converter; a housing divided by a movable wall defining therein first and second chambers and which moves under the control of air pressure differential between said chambers; a partition disposed within said first chamber to divide the same into a first compartment adjacent said movable wall and into a second compartment, said partition having a passage therethrough through which said first compartment communicates only with said second compartment; means connecting said second compartment to receive air under pressure from said air supply pump; means defining a port through which said second compartment communicates with the atmosphere; a valve controlled by said movable wall to open and close said port; means disposed in said second compartment biasing said valve toward its open position; second conduit means connecting said second chamber to receive air under pressure from said pump and a manifold pressure from said intake system; solenoid valve means disposed in said second conduit means for selectively applying said manifold pressure and said pump pressure to said second chamber in response to deenergization and energization thereof, respectively; warning means for producing a warning signal when energized; thermo-sensing means for detecting the temperature within said catalytic converter; means operatively connected with said thermo-sensing means for energizing said solenoid valve when the temperature within said catalytic converter is higher than a predetermined value and for energizing said warning means when the temperature is higher than a second predetermined value which is higher than said first mentioned predetermined value; and said movable wall urging said valve against the bias of said biasing means toward its closed position when said manifold pressure is applied to said second chamber.