Internal combustion engine fuel economy improvement system

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve is biased to a minimum value when said engine is deactivated, and said throttle valve is biased toward a closed position when said effective linkage length has said minimum value; the effective length of said linkage is maintained biased at said minimum value at vacuum intensities up to said vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at said idling rate or rotation; the effective length of said linkage is increased so as to actuate said throttle toward a closing position in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and surges in the operation of said engine are inhibited by stopping the effective length of said linkge at said minimum value at vacuum intensities occuring upon actuation of said accelerator pedal and being below said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve is biased to a maximum value when said engine is deactivated, and said throttle valve is biased toward a closed position when said effective linkage length has said maximum value; the effective length of said linkage is maintained biased at said maximum value at vacuum intensities up to said vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at said idling rate of rotation; the effective length of said linkage is reduced so as to actuate said throttle toward a closing position in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and surges in the operation of said engine are inhibited by stopping the effective length of said linkage at said maximum value at vacuum intensities occurring upon actuation of said accelerator pedal and being below said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 7

A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said throttle valve is biased toward a closed position when said effective linkage length has a minimum value; the effective length of said linkage is increased so as to actuate said throttle toward a closing position in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and surges in the operation of said engine are inhibited by stopping the effective length of said linkage at a predetermined minimum value at vacuum intensities occurring upon acceleration of said engine and being below said vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein: said throttle valve is biased toward a closed position when said effective linkage length has a maximum value; the effective length of said linkage is reduced so as to actuate said throttle toward a closing position in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and surges in the operation of said engine are inhibited by stopping the effective length of said linkage at a predetermined maximum value at vacuum intensities occurring upon acceleration of said engine and being below said vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 9

Apparatus for varying the effective length of a linkage between an accelerator pedal and a throttle valve of an automotive engine having an air intake manifold, with said linkage having a first linkage part coupled to said accelerator pedal and a second linkage part coupled to said throttle valve and with said throttle valve being biased to a closed position, comprising: an enclosure coupled to one of said first and second linkage parts and means for slidably receiving a portion of the other of said first and second linkage parts; means at said enclosure for limiting the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to an extreme value at which said throttle valve is in a closed position when said engine is deactivated; means connected to said enclosure and to said air intake manifold for determining the existence and intensity of a vacuum in said air intake manifold; means in said enclosure for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said extreme value up to a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at a predetermined condition of said internal combustion engine; an imperforate flexible diaphragm in said enclosure; means for coupling said portion of the other linkage part to said diaphragm; a variable size vacuum chamber delimited in said enclosure by said flexible diaphragm and connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means and positioned in said enclosure to cause said flexible diaphragm to vary the effective length of said linkage in the sense of a closure of said throttle valve in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said predetermined condition; and means for inhibiting surges in the operation of said engine comprising stop means in said limiting means for stopping the effective length of said linkage at said extreme value at vacuum intensities occurring upon actuation of said accelerator pedal and being below said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 10

Apparatus for varying the effective length of a linkage between an accelerator pedal and a throttle valve of an automotive engine having an air intake manifold, with said linkage having a first linkage part coupled to said accelerator pedal and a second linkage part coupled to said throttle valve and with said throttle valve being biased to a closed position, comprising: an enclosure coupled to one of said first and second linkage parts and means for slidably receiving a portion of the other of said first and second linkage parts; means at said enclosure for limiting the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to an extreme value at which said throttle valve is in a closed position when said engine is deactivated; means connected to said enclosure and to said air intake manifold for determining the existence and intensity of a vacuum in said air intake manifold; means in said enclosure for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said extreme value up to a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at a predetermined condition of said internal combustion engine; an imperforate flexible diaphragm in said enclosure; means for coupling said portion of the other linkage part to said diaphragm; a variable size vacuum chamber delimited in said enclosure by said flexible diaphragm and connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means and positioned in said enclosure to cause said flexible diaphragm to vary the effective length of said linkage in the sense of a closure of said throttle valve in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said predetermined condition; and means for inhibiting surges in the operation of said engine comprising stop means in said limiting means for stopping the effective length of said linkage at said extreme value at vacuum intensities occurring upon actuation of said accelerator pedal and being below said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said limiting means and said surge inhibiting means include stop means attached to said imperforate diaphragm for stopping the travel in said enclosure of said portion of said other linkage part an an extreme value.

Claim 12

Apparatus of claim 7, wherein: said limiting means and said surge inhibiting means include stop means bonded to said imperforate diaphragm by an adhesive for stopping the travel in said enclosure of said portion of said other linkage part at an extreme value.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said stop means are located outside of said enclosure.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said stop means include a stop member connected to said other linkage part outside of said enclosure.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said stop means are located inside said enclosure.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said stop means include stopping means connected to said portion of the other linkage part in said enclosure.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said means for coupling said portion of the other linkage part include a member being connected to said portion of the other linkage part in said enclosure and having a surface facing said imperforate diaphragm; and said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said extreme value include means for biasing said member with said facing surface toward said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 18

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said member with said facing surface is rotatable relative to said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 19

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein: said member has a circular configuration at said facing surface and is rotatable relative to said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 20

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein: said means for coupling said portion of the other linkage part include a member being connected to said portion of the other linkage part in said enclosure and having a surface facing said imperforate diaphragm; and said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said extreme value include means for biasing said imperforate diaphragm toward said facing surface of said member.

Claim 21

Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said member with said facing surface is rotatable relative to said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 22

Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein: said member has a circular configuration at said facing surface and is rotatable relative to said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 23

Apparatus for assisting the driver of an automobile driven by a drive system including an internal combustion engine to improve fuel economy, said internal combustion engine drive system including an air intake manifold, a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal and a linkage coupling the accelerator pedal to the throttle valve, comprising in combination: means in said linkage for varying the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve; means in said length varying means for biasing the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to an extreme value at which said throttle valve is in a closed position when said engine is deactivated; means coupled to said throttle valve for biasing said throttle valve to a closed position; means connected to said air intake manifold for determining the existence and intensity of a vacuum in said air intake manifold; means in said length varying means and connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means for activating said throttle valve toward a closing position by variation of the effective length of said linkage in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and

Claim 24

Apparatus for assisting the driver of an automobile driven by a drive system including an internal combustion engine to improve fuel economy, said internal combustion engine drive system including an air intake manifold, a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal and a linkage coupling the accelerator pedal to the throttle valve, comprising in combination: means in said linkage for varying the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve; means in said length varying means for biasing the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to an extreme value at which said throttle valve is in a closed position when said engine is deactivated; means coupled to said throttle valve for biasing said throttle valve to a closed position; means connected to said air intake manifold for determining the existence and intensity of a vacuum in said air intake manifold; means in said length varying means and connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means for activating said throttle valve toward a closing position by variation of the effective length of said linkage in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and

Claim 25

means for inhibiting surges in the operation of said engine including stop means at said length varying means for maintaining the effective length of said linkage limited to an extreme value at vacuum intensities occurring upon acceleration of said engine and being below a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at an idling rate of rotation of said internal combustion engine.

Claim 26

means for inhibiting surges in the operation of said engine including stop means at said length varying means for maintaining the effective length of said linkage limited to an extreme value at vacuum intensities occurring upon acceleration of said engine and being below a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at an idling rate of rotation of said internal combustion engine.

Claim 27

Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage include means for biasing the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to a minimum value when said engine is deactivated; said means for biasing said throttle valve include means for biasing said throttle valve to a closed position when the effective length of said linkage is at said minimum value and said engine is deactivated; said means for inhibiting surges in the operation of said engine include stop means for maintaining the effective length of said linkage limited to a minimum value at vacuum intensities occurring upon acceleration of said engine and being below a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at an idling rate of rotation of said internal combustion engine; and said means connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means include means for increasing the effective length of said linkage so as to actuate said throttle valve toward a closing position in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 28

Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage include means for biasing the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to a maximum value when said engine is deactivated; said means for biasing said throttle valve include means for biasing said throttle valve to a closed position when the effective length of said linkage is at said maximum value and said engine is deactivated; said means for inhibiting surges in the operation of said engine include stop means for maintaining the effective length of said linkage limited to a maximum value at vacuum intensities occurring upon acceleration of said engine and being below a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at an idling rate of rotation of said internal combustion engine; and said means connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means include means for decreasing the effective length of said linkage so as to actuate said throttle valve toward a closing position in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 29

Apparatus for assisting the driver of an automobile driven by a drive system including an internal combustion engine to improve fuel economy, said internal combustion engine drive system including an air intake manifold, a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal and a linkage coupling the accelerator pedal to the throttle valve, comprising in combination: means in said linkage for varying the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve; means at said length varying means for limiting the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to an extreme value at which said throttle valve is in a closed position when said engine is deactivated; means coupled to said throttle valve for biasing said throttle valve to a closed position when the effective length of said linkage is at said extreme value and said engine is deactivated; means connected to said air intake manifold for determining the existence and intensity of a vacuum in said air intake manifold; means in said length varying means for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said extreme value up to a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at an idling rate of rotation of said internal combustion engine; means in said length varying means and connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means for activating said throttle valve toward a closing position by variation of the effective length of said linkage in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and means for inhibiting surges in the operation of said engine comprising stop means in said limiting means for stopping the effective length of said linkage at said extreme value at vacuum intensities occurring upon actuation of said accelerator pedal and being below said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 30

Apparatus for assisting the driver of an automobile driven by a drive system including an internal combustion engine to improve fuel economy, said internal combustion engine drive system including an air intake manifold, a throttle valve, an accelerator pedal and a linkage coupling the accelerator pedal to the throttle valve, comprising in combination: means in said linkage for varying the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve; means at said length varying means for limiting the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to an extreme value at which said throttle valve is in a closed position when said engine is deactivated; means coupled to said throttle valve for biasing said throttle valve to a closed position when the effective length of said linkage is at said extreme value and said engine is deactivated; means connected to said air intake manifold for determining the existence and intensity of a vacuum in said air intake manifold; means in said length varying means for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said extreme value up to a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at an idling rate of rotation of said internal combustion engine; means in said length varying means and connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means for activating said throttle valve toward a closing position by variation of the effective length of said linkage in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and means for inhibiting surges in the operation of said engine comprising stop means in said limiting means for stopping the effective length of said linkage at said extreme value at vacuum intensities occurring upon actuation of said accelerator pedal and being below said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 31

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein: said linkage has a first linkage part coupled to said throttle valve and a second linkage part coupled to said accelerator pedal; said length varying means include an enclosure coupled to one of said first and second linkage parts and means for slidably receiving a portion of the other of said first and second linkage parts; said limiting means and said surge inhibiting means include stop means for stopping the travel in said enclosure of said portion of said other linkage part at an extreme value; said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage include means in said enclosure for biasing said travel of said portion of the other linkage part to said extreme value; and said means connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means include displaceable means connected to said portion of the other of said linkage parts and a variable size vacuum chamber delimited by said displaceable means and positioned in said enclosure to cause said displaceable means to move said other linkage part, in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation, in a direction away from said stopping of the travel of said portion of said other linkage part.

Claim 32

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein: said limiting means include means for limiting the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to a minimum value when said engine is deactivated; said means for biasing said throttle valve include means for biasing said throttle valve to a closed position when the effective length of said linkage is at said minimum value and said engine is deactivated; said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage include means for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said minimum value up to a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at an idling rate of rotation of said internal combustion engine; said means connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means include means for increasing the effective length of said linkage so as to actuate said throttle valve toward a closing position in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and said surge inhibiting means include stop means for stopping the effective length of said linkage at said minimum value at vacuum intensities occurring upon actuation of said accelerator pedal and being below said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 33

Apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein: said linkage has a first linkage part coupled to said throttle valve and a second linkage part coupled to said accelerator pedal; said length varying means include an enclosure coupled to one of said first and second linkage parts and means for slidably receiving a portion of the other of said first and second linkage parts; said limiting means and said surge inhibiting means include stop means for stopping the travel in said enclosure of said portion of said other linkage part at a minimum value; said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage include means in said enclosure for biasing said travel of said portion of the other linkage part to said minimum value; and said means connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means include displaceable means connected to said portion of the other of said linkage parts and a variable size vacuum chamber delimited by said displaceable means and positioned in said enclosure to cause said displaceable means to move said other linkage part in the sense of a decrease of the length of said portion of said other linkage part in said enclosure in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 34

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein: said limiting means include means for limiting the effective length of said linkage between said accelerator pedal and said throttle valve to a maximum value when said engine is deactivated; said means for biasing said throttle valve include means for biasing said throttle valve to a closed position when the effective length of said linkage is at said maximum value and said engine is deactivated; said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage include means for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said maximum value at vacuum intensities up to a vacuum intensity existing in said air intake manifold at an idling rate of rotation of said internal combustion engine; said means connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means include means for decreasing the effective length of said linkage so as to actuate said throttle valve toward a closing position in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation; and said surge inhibiting means include stop means for stopping the effective length of said linkage at said maximum value at vacuum intensities occurring upon actuation of said accelerator pedal and being below said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 35

Apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein: said linkage has a first linkage part coupled to said throttle valve and a second linkage part coupled to said accelerator pedal; said length varying means include an enclosure coupled to one of said first and second linkage parts and means for slidably receiving a portion of the other of said first and second linkage parts; said limiting means and said surge inhibiting means include stop means for stopping the travel in said enclosure of said portion of said other linkage part at a maximum value; said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage include means in said enclosure for biasing said travel of said portion of the other linkage part to said maximum value; and said means connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means include displaceable means connected to said portion of the other of said linkage parts and a variable size vacuum chamber delimited by said displaceable means and positioned in said enclosure to cause said displaceable means to move said other linkage part in the sense of an increase of the length of said portion of said other linkage part in said enclosure in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 36

Apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein: said linkage has a first linkage part coupled to said throttle valve and a second linkage part coupled to said accelerator pedal; said length varying means include an enclosure coupled to one of said first and second linkage parts and means for slidably receiving a portion of the other of said first and second linkage parts; said limiting means and said surge inhibiting means include stop means for stopping the travel in said enclosure of said portion of said other linkage part at an extreme value; said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage include means in said enclosure for biasing said travel of said portion of the other linkage part to said extreme value; and said means connected to said vacuum existence and intensity determining means include an imperforate flexible diaphragm in said enclosure, means for coupling said portion of the other linkage part to said diaphragm, and a variable size vacuum chamber delimited by said flexible diaphragm and positioned in said enclosure to cause said flexible diaphragm to vary the effective length of said linkage in the sense of a closure of said throttle valve in response to vacuum intensities above said vacuum intensity existing at said idling rate of rotation.

Claim 37

Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said stopping means are attached to said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 38

Apparatus as claimed in claim 29. wherein: said stop means are bonded to said imperforate diaphragm by an adhesive.

Claim 39

Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said stop means include a stop member connected to said other linkage part outside of said enclosure.

Claim 40

Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said stop means are located inside said enclosure.

Claim 41

Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said means for coupling said portion of the other linkage part include a member connected to said portion of the other linkage part in said enclosure.

Claim 42

Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said stop means are located outside of said enclosure.

Claim 43

Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said means for coupling said portion of the other linkage part include a member being connected to said portion of the other linkage part in said enclosure and having a surface facing said imperforate diaphragm; and said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said extreme value include means for biasing said member with said facing surface toward said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 44

Apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein: said member with said facing surface is rotatable relative to said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 45

Apparatus as claimed in claim 36, wherein: said member has a circular configuration at said facing surface and is rotatable relative to said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 46

Apparatus as claimed in claim 29, wherein: said means for coupling said portion of the other linkage part include a member being connected to said portion of the other linkage part in said enclosure and having a surface facing said imperforate diaphragm; and said means for biasing the effective length of said linkage to said extreme value include means for biasing said imperforate diaphragm toward said facing surface of said member.

Claim 47

Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein: said member with said facing surface is rotatable relative to said imperforate diaphragm.

Claim 48

Apparatus as claimed in claim 39, wherein: said member has a circular configuration at said facing surface and is rotatable relative to said imperforate diaphragm.