US4359024A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine attachment
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-03-12
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Granted: 1982-11-16
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Expires: 2001-03-12
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for regulating the quantity of air-fuel mixture supplied to each of the cylinders of an internal combustion engine and for selectively obstructing the flow of the air-fuel mixture to one or more such cylinders to effectively disable those cylinders. A butterfly valve is provided for each cylinder of the engine and is positioned in the passage in the intake assembly which supplies the air-fuel mixture to that cylinder at a location adjacent the end of the passage which is remote from the carburetor. The valves are controlled individually or in groups by a manually operated control mechanism. In one embodiment, the intake assembly includes a valve plate which is positioned between the engine block assembly and the intake manifold, with a portion of each branch passage being defined by a respective opening through the valve plate and each butterfly valve being provided in a respective one of such openings in the valve plate.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Lootens
- 👤 John C. Leonard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:48
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D17/00; F02D17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A multi-cylinder, reciprocating piston, four-stroke cycle, internal combustion engine, comprising: an engine block assembly having a plurality of cylinders, a reciprocable piston in each cylinder and an intake port for supplying an air-fuel mixture to each said cylinder; intake means mounted on said engine block assembly and having a plurality of passages, each of said passages being in communication with the intake port of one of said cylinders; air-fuel mixture supply means connected to said intake means and communicating with each of said passages thereof for supplying an air-fuel mixture to each of said cylinders in said engine block assembly through one of said passages and its associated intake port; valve means for regulating the quantity of said air-fuel mixture that can flow through said passages, said valve means including a valve positioned in each of said passages at a location remote from said supply means and adjacent to the intake port of its associated cylinder; and control means cooperable with said valve means for selectively operating said valves to effect regulation of the quantity of the air-fuel mixture that can flow through said passages.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A multi-cylinder, reciprocating piston, four-stroke cycle, internal combustion engine, comprising: an engine block assembly having a plurality of cylinders, a reciprocable piston in each cylinder and an intake port for supplying an air-fuel mixture to each said cylinder; intake means mounted on said engine block assembly and having a plurality of passages, each of said passages being in communication with the intake port of one of said cylinders; air-fuel mixture supply means connected to said intake means and communicating with each of said passages thereof for supplying an air-fuel mixture to each of said cylinders in said engine block assembly through one of said passages and its associated intake port; valve means for regulating the quantity of said air-fuel mixture that can flow through said passages, said valve means including a valve positioned in each of said passages at a location remote from said supply means and adjacent to the intake port of its associated cylinder; and control means cooperable with said valve means for selectively operating said valves to effect regulation of the quantity of the air-fuel mixture that can flow through said passages.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein: said intake means includes first and second coaxial bores provided in facing surfaces of each said passage at the end thereof which is remote from said air-fuel mixture supply means and adjacent to the intake port of said associated cylinder; and each said valve is a butterfly valve and includes a shaft rotatably disposed in said coaxial bores and a substantially planar vane mounted to said shaft parallel thereto within said passage, said vane being movable in response to rotation of said shaft through a range of positions which include a closed position substantially obstructing said passage and an open position minimally obstructing said passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 2, wherein: each said first bore extends outwardly entirely through said intake means; one end of each said shaft extends outwardly through said first bore to a location spaced from said intake means; said valve means includes a radially extending control arm rigidly mounted to said one end of each said shaft; and said control means is drivingly connected to each said control arm at a location spaced from the associated shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 2, wherein each said vane, when in said open position, is partially disposed within the intake port of said associated cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein: said air-fuel mixture supply means is a carburetor; and the ends of said passages in said intake means adjacent said carburetor are in common communication with each other and with said carburetor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein: said intake means includes an intake manifold and a valve plate, said valve plate being located between said intake manifold and said engine block assembly and having a plurality of openings therethrough, each said opening being a portion of a respective said passage; and each said valve is located in a respective one of said openings through said valve plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 6, wherein said valve plate is substantially rectangular in shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
136 words
A valve assembly mountable between the engine block assembly and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said block assembly having a plurality of cylinders and an intake port for each cylinder, said intake manifold having a plurality of branch passages communicating with means for supplying an air-fuel mixture, said valve assembly comprising: a unitary valve plate having a plurality of openings therethrough for connecting each branch passage of said intake manifold with one of said intake ports in said engine block assembly; a valve disposed in each of said openings and movable through a range of positions including a closed position for substantially completely obstructing said opening and an open position for minimally obstructing said opening; and means cooperable with said valves for effecting said movement of said valves through said range of positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
136 words
A valve assembly mountable between the engine block assembly and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, said block assembly having a plurality of cylinders and an intake port for each cylinder, said intake manifold having a plurality of branch passages communicating with means for supplying an air-fuel mixture, said valve assembly comprising: a unitary valve plate having a plurality of openings therethrough for connecting each branch passage of said intake manifold with one of said intake ports in said engine block assembly; a valve disposed in each of said openings and movable through a range of positions including a closed position for substantially completely obstructing said opening and an open position for minimally obstructing said opening; and means cooperable with said valves for effecting said movement of said valves through said range of positions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-11-15 | 1986-05-17 | 1986-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-11-15 | 1990-05-17 | 1990-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-11-15 | 1994-05-17 | 1994-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |