US3665904A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic vacuum spark advance controller
Assignee: Old Carco LLC
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Filing: 1970-06-03
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A method of and apparatus for operation of an automotive vehicle internal combustion engine to reduce exhaust emissions thereof by disabling the engine vacuum spark advance control in response to and over a range of engine vacuum levels existing at or corresponding to medium to light vehicle acceleration loads up to a predetermined vehicle speed and restoring or enabling the normal vacuum spark advance control of the distributor when the vehicle is operated in any mode above said speed or during deceleration, steady speed or road load driving conditions below said speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E Goodwillie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:02
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02P; F02P5/00; F02P5/04; F02P5/05; F02P5/10; F02P5/103
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
The method of operating the vacuum actuated spark advance timing control of a vehicle internal combustion engine for reduction of exhaust emissions therefrom comprising the steps of sensing vehicle speed, sensing engine vacuum, and disabling any engine vacuum otherwise normally available to the engine spark advance timing control when both vehicle speed and engine vacuum are simultaneously below certain predetermined levels except when the vehicle is operated at vehicle speeds in excess of a predetermined vehicle speed at any engine vacuum level or at engine vacuum levels in excess of a predetermined vacuum level at any vehicle speed below the said predetermined vehicle speed level.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
The method of operating the vacuum actuated spark advance timing control of a vehicle internal combustion engine for reduction of exhaust emissions therefrom comprising the steps of sensing vehicle speed, sensing engine vacuum, and disabling any engine vacuum otherwise normally available to the engine spark advance timing control when both vehicle speed and engine vacuum are simultaneously below certain predetermined levels except when the vehicle is operated at vehicle speeds in excess of a predetermined vehicle speed at any engine vacuum level or at engine vacuum levels in excess of a predetermined vacuum level at any vehicle speed below the said predetermined vehicle speed level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said predetermined ambient temperature is approximately 68* F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
287 words
A vehicle exhaust emissions controller for an internal combustion engine including a carburetor having a spark advance port and a throttle valve therein, a source of electrical energy and an ignition distributor having an engine suction responsive spark advance control mechanism connected to said spark advance port, said controller comprising in combination, a solenoid valve in the connection between said carburetor spark advance port and said suction responsive spark advance control mechanism and energizable from said source of electrical energy to disable operation of said spark advance control means from the suction at said spark advance port, a first bistable electrical switch actuable in response to vehicle speed when the vehicle speed attains a predetermined speed, a second bistable electrical switch actuable in response to engine vacuum in a region posterior of said throttle valve when the engine vacuum attains a predetermined vacuum level below atmosphere, and a third bistable electrical switch actuable in response to the temperature of the air surrounding the engine when the ambient air temperature attains a predetermined temperature, said first and second electrical switches connected in energizing control relation with said solenoid to disable said engine suction responsive spark advance means when both vehicle speed and engine suction are less than said predetermined vehicle speed and said vacuum level and connected in de-energizing control relation with said solenoid to enable said engine suction responsive spark advance means when either vehicle speed or engine vacuum is greater than said predetermined speed or vacuum level, said third electrical switch connected in de-energizing control relation with said solenoid valve to enable said engine suction responsive spark advance control means irrespective of vehicle speed and engine vacuum when the ambient temperature is below said predetermined temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
287 words
A vehicle exhaust emissions controller for an internal combustion engine including a carburetor having a spark advance port and a throttle valve therein, a source of electrical energy and an ignition distributor having an engine suction responsive spark advance control mechanism connected to said spark advance port, said controller comprising in combination, a solenoid valve in the connection between said carburetor spark advance port and said suction responsive spark advance control mechanism and energizable from said source of electrical energy to disable operation of said spark advance control means from the suction at said spark advance port, a first bistable electrical switch actuable in response to vehicle speed when the vehicle speed attains a predetermined speed, a second bistable electrical switch actuable in response to engine vacuum in a region posterior of said throttle valve when the engine vacuum attains a predetermined vacuum level below atmosphere, and a third bistable electrical switch actuable in response to the temperature of the air surrounding the engine when the ambient air temperature attains a predetermined temperature, said first and second electrical switches connected in energizing control relation with said solenoid to disable said engine suction responsive spark advance means when both vehicle speed and engine suction are less than said predetermined vehicle speed and said vacuum level and connected in de-energizing control relation with said solenoid to enable said engine suction responsive spark advance means when either vehicle speed or engine vacuum is greater than said predetermined speed or vacuum level, said third electrical switch connected in de-energizing control relation with said solenoid valve to enable said engine suction responsive spark advance control means irrespective of vehicle speed and engine vacuum when the ambient temperature is below said predetermined temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein said predetermined vehicle speed is approximately 30 mph, said predetermined vacuum level is approximately 15 inches below atmospheric, and said predetermined temperature is approximately 68* F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
A vehicle exhaust emissions controller for an internal combustion engine providing a source of vacuum and equipped with a source of electrical energy, an ignition distributor having an engine vacuum responsive spark advance control means and conduit means connecting said spark advance control means to said source of engine vacuum, said emissions controller comprising a solenoid valve in the conduit connecting means between said source of vacuum and said spark advance control means and energizable from said source of electrical energy to disable operation of said spark advance control means from said source of vacuum, a bistable electrical switch responsive to vehicle speed and operable to cause the energization of said solenoid valve and disable operation of said spark advance control means for vehicle speeds below a predetermined vehicle speed, and a bistable electrical switch responsive to temperature of the air surrounding the engine and operable at temperatures below a predetermined ambient temperature to prevent the energization of said solenoid valve from said speed switch irrespective of the speed of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
A vehicle exhaust emissions controller for an internal combustion engine providing a source of vacuum and equipped with a source of electrical energy, an ignition distributor having an engine vacuum responsive spark advance control means and conduit means connecting said spark advance control means to said source of engine vacuum, said emissions controller comprising a solenoid valve in the conduit connecting means between said source of vacuum and said spark advance control means and energizable from said source of electrical energy to disable operation of said spark advance control means from said source of vacuum, a bistable electrical switch responsive to vehicle speed and operable to cause the energization of said solenoid valve and disable operation of said spark advance control means for vehicle speeds below a predetermined vehicle speed, and a bistable electrical switch responsive to temperature of the air surrounding the engine and operable at temperatures below a predetermined ambient temperature to prevent the energization of said solenoid valve from said speed switch irrespective of the speed of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle exhaust emissions controller in accordance with claim 5 wherein said predetermined vehicle speed is approximately 30 mph and said predetermined ambient temperature is approximately 68* F.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of operating the vacuum actuated spark advance timing control of a vehicle internal combustion engine for reduction of exhaust emissions therefrom comprising the steps of sensing vehicle speed, sensing the ambient temperature of the air surrounding the engine and disabling the engine vacuum actuated spark advance timing control when the vehicle is operated at vehicle speeds below a predetermined vehicle speed except when the ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature;
Claim 11
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of operating the vacuum actuated spark advance timing control of a vehicle internal combustion engine for reduction of exhaust emissions therefrom comprising the steps of sensing vehicle speed, sensing the ambient temperature of the air surrounding the engine and disabling the engine vacuum actuated spark advance timing control when the vehicle is operated at vehicle speeds below a predetermined vehicle speed except when the ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said predetermined vehicle speed is approximately 30 mph and said predetermined ambient temperature is approximately 68* F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |