Fuel-cut control apparatus

Claim 1

A fuel supply system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine in an automotive vehicle, comprising: (a) a first sensor for sensing a closed position of a throttle valve; (b) a second sensor for sensing the speed of rotation of said engine; (c) a third sensor for sensing the speed of said vehicle; (d) a control circuit for providing first and second signals in accordance with the sensed engine operating conditions, said control circuit being adapted to compare, in the presence of the second signal, the engine speed with a first engine speed reference level and the vehicle speed with a first vehicle speed reference level and to change said second signal to said first signal when (i) said throttle valve is in its closed position, (ii) said engine speed is above said first engine speed reference level, and (iii) said vehicle speed is above said first vehicle speed reference level; said control circuit being operable to compare, in the presence of said first signal, the engine speed with a second engine speed reference level lower than the first engine speed reference level and the vehicle speed with a second vehicle speed reference level lower than the first vehicle speed reference level and to maintain the first signal only when (i) the throttle valve is in its closed position, (ii) the engine speed is above the second engine speed reference level, and (iii) the vehicle speed is above the second vehicle speed reference level; and (e) means responsive to the first signal from said control circuit for cutting off the supply of fuel to said engine, said means being responsive to the second signal from said control circuit for resuming the supply of fuel to said engine.