US3705497A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle engine emissions control system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-10
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Granted: 1972-12-12
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Expires: 1991-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A system for directing the exhaust emissions of a vehicle internal combustion engine through a treatment means and fumes from the engine crankcase to the air intake system of the engine when the vehicle is moving below a predetermined speed, and for directing the above mentioned exhaust emissions and crankcase fumes to the atmosphere when the vehicle is moving at or above said predetermined speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jesse R Hollins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:28
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F01N3/08; F01N3/10; F01N3/24; F01N3/30; F01N3/34; F01N3/18; F01N3/20; F01N3/2053; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/06; F01N2230/00; F01N2230/04; F01N2230/08; F01N2390/00; F01N2390/04; F01N2390/06; F01N2410/00; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
320 words
A system for controlling the discharge of exhaust products from a vehicle internal combustion engine comprising a ram air speed sensor, a first valve having first and second positions, linkage means connecting said first valve to said ram air speed sensor with said first valve being in the first position when the vehicle is travelling at and above a predetermined speed and in the second position when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed, a source of fluid energy, a source of atmospheric pressure, a fluid motor, fluid conducting means connecting said first valve to said fluid motor, said fluid motor including a fluid operated power element having a rod, a muffler for the internal combustion engine, means for treating the exhaust products from the vehicle internal combustion engine so as to reduce atmospheric pollution by the products, a first conduit means placing said muffler and treating means in series with each other, a second conduit means connected to said first conduit means upstream of said treating means and leading to atmosphere, a second valve located in said second conduit means and having a first position for allowing flow therethrough and a second position for blocking flow therethrough, means connecting said second valve to said power element rod, said power element having a first position and a second position with said second valve in its first position when said power element is in its first position and said second valve in its second position when said power element is in its second position, means for biasing said power element to its second position, said first valve connecting said source of energy via said fluid conducting means to said fluid motor when in its first position to maintain said power element in its first position with said first valve connecting said fluid motor to atmosphere when in its second position so that said power element is in its second position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
320 words
A system for controlling the discharge of exhaust products from a vehicle internal combustion engine comprising a ram air speed sensor, a first valve having first and second positions, linkage means connecting said first valve to said ram air speed sensor with said first valve being in the first position when the vehicle is travelling at and above a predetermined speed and in the second position when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed, a source of fluid energy, a source of atmospheric pressure, a fluid motor, fluid conducting means connecting said first valve to said fluid motor, said fluid motor including a fluid operated power element having a rod, a muffler for the internal combustion engine, means for treating the exhaust products from the vehicle internal combustion engine so as to reduce atmospheric pollution by the products, a first conduit means placing said muffler and treating means in series with each other, a second conduit means connected to said first conduit means upstream of said treating means and leading to atmosphere, a second valve located in said second conduit means and having a first position for allowing flow therethrough and a second position for blocking flow therethrough, means connecting said second valve to said power element rod, said power element having a first position and a second position with said second valve in its first position when said power element is in its first position and said second valve in its second position when said power element is in its second position, means for biasing said power element to its second position, said first valve connecting said source of energy via said fluid conducting means to said fluid motor when in its first position to maintain said power element in its first position with said first valve connecting said fluid motor to atmosphere when in its second position so that said power element is in its second position.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
185 words
A system for controlling the discharge of emission products from a vehicle internal combustion engine having a crank case comprising means for treating the exhaust products from the vehicle internal combustion engine so as to reduce atmospheric pollution by the products, speed sensing means for detecting when a vehicle is travelling at and above a predetermined speed and below the predetermined speed, means for directing all the exhaust products from the internal combustion engine to said treating means only when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means and directing all the exhaust products to atmosphere and in so doing by-passing the treating means when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means, means for directing all the fumes from the crank case directly to the atmosphere when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means and for directing all the fumes to the internal combustion engine intake when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
185 words
A system for controlling the discharge of emission products from a vehicle internal combustion engine having a crank case comprising means for treating the exhaust products from the vehicle internal combustion engine so as to reduce atmospheric pollution by the products, speed sensing means for detecting when a vehicle is travelling at and above a predetermined speed and below the predetermined speed, means for directing all the exhaust products from the internal combustion engine to said treating means only when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means and directing all the exhaust products to atmosphere and in so doing by-passing the treating means when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means, means for directing all the fumes from the crank case directly to the atmosphere when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means and for directing all the fumes to the internal combustion engine intake when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein means is provided for producing a signal capable of human perception when the fumes from the crank case are directed to the internal combustion engine firing cylinders and the exhaust products from the engine are directed to the treating means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
229 words
A system for controlling the discharge of emission products from a vehicle internal combustion engine comprising means for treating the exhaust gases from the vehicle internal combustion engine so as to reduce atmospheric pollution by the gases and means for directing all the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine to said treating means when the vehicle is travelling below a predetermined speed and for directing all the exhaust gases directly to atmosphere and by-passing the treating means when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed, means for directing the fumes from the crank case of the internal combustion engine to atmosphere when the vehicle is travelling above the predetermined speed and for directing the fumes to the internal combustion engine intake when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed, said fumes directing means including a plenum in communication with the crank case, means in communication with the internal combustion engine firing cylinders, a first conduit connected to said means in communication with the internal combustion engine firing cylinders and to said plenum, a second conduit in communication with said plenum and the atmosphere and means for blocking communication between said plenum and said second conduit when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed and for blocking communication with the plenum and the first conduit when the vehicle is travelling above the predetermined speed.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
229 words
A system for controlling the discharge of emission products from a vehicle internal combustion engine comprising means for treating the exhaust gases from the vehicle internal combustion engine so as to reduce atmospheric pollution by the gases and means for directing all the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine to said treating means when the vehicle is travelling below a predetermined speed and for directing all the exhaust gases directly to atmosphere and by-passing the treating means when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed, means for directing the fumes from the crank case of the internal combustion engine to atmosphere when the vehicle is travelling above the predetermined speed and for directing the fumes to the internal combustion engine intake when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed, said fumes directing means including a plenum in communication with the crank case, means in communication with the internal combustion engine firing cylinders, a first conduit connected to said means in communication with the internal combustion engine firing cylinders and to said plenum, a second conduit in communication with said plenum and the atmosphere and means for blocking communication between said plenum and said second conduit when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed and for blocking communication with the plenum and the first conduit when the vehicle is travelling above the predetermined speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
A system according to claim 4 wherein said blocking means includes a flow control element in said plenum, said flow control element movable to a first position wherein communication between the plenum and the first conduit is prevented and a second position wherein communication between the plenum and the second conduit is prevented, and means for moving the flow control element to the first position when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed and to the second position when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system according to claim 5 further including means for producing a first signal when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed and a second signal when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed, means connecting said flow control element moving means to said signal producing means with said moving means moving the flow control element to the first position upon receiving the first signal and to the second position upon receiving the second signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein said flow control element moving means is a fluid motor, said fluid motor including a cylinder having a piston housed therein, said piston movable between a first and a second position and said flow element movable therewith, said flow element being in its first position when the piston is in the first position and in its second position when the piston is in its second position, a source of fluid energy, said signal producing means including a valve means movable between a first and second position and connected to atmosphere and to the energy source and placed in the first position when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed so as to connect the cylinder to the energy source and in a second position when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed to connect said cylinder to atmosphere, means maintaining said piston in the second position when the cylinder is communicated to atmosphere with the piston in the first position when the cylinder is connected to the energy source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein an intake manifold is provided for the internal combustion engine, said source of energy defined by the vacuum pressure in the intake manifold.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for controlling the discharge of fumes from the crank case of a vehicle internal combustion engine comprising an internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine having a crank case, speed sensing means for detecting when a vehicle is travelling at and above a predetermined speed and below the predetermined speed, means for directing all the fumes from the crank case directly to atmosphere when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed as sensed by the speed sensing means and for directing all the fumes to the internal combustion engine intake when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
110 words
A system for controlling the discharge of fumes from the crank case of a vehicle internal combustion engine comprising an internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine having a crank case, speed sensing means for detecting when a vehicle is travelling at and above a predetermined speed and below the predetermined speed, means for directing all the fumes from the crank case directly to atmosphere when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed as sensed by the speed sensing means and for directing all the fumes to the internal combustion engine intake when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed as sensed by the sensing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
103 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein said directing means includes a plenum in communication with the crank case, means in communication with the internal combustion engine firing cylinders, a first conduit connected to said means in communication with said internal combustion engine firing cylinders and to said plenum, a second conduit in communication with said plenum and the ambient and means for blocking communication between said plenum and said second conduit when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed and for blocking communication with the plenum and the first conduit when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
A system according to claim 10 wherein said blocking means includes a flow control element in said plenum, said flow control element movable to a first position wherein communication between the plenum and the first conduit is prevented and a second position wherein communication between the plenum and the second conduit is prevented, and means for moving the flow control element to the first position when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed and to the second position when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
84 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein said speed sensing means includes means for producing a first signal when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed and a second signal when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed, means connecting said flow control element moving means to said signal producing means with said flow control means moving the flow control element to the first position upon receiving the first signal and to the second position upon receiving the second signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
180 words
A system according to claim 12 wherein said flow control element moving means is a fluid motor, said fluid motor including a cylinder having a piston housed therein, said piston movable between a first and a second position and said flow element movable therewith, said flow element being in its first position when the piston is in the first position and in its second position when the piston is in its second position, a source of fluid energy, said signal producing means including a valve means movable between a first and second position and connected to atmosphere and to the energy source and placed in the first position when the vehicle is travelling at and above the predetermined speed so as to connect the cylinder to the energy source and in a second position when the vehicle is travelling below the predetermined speed to connect said cylinder to atmosphere, means maintaining said piston in the second position when the cylinder is communicated to atmosphere with the piston in the first position when the cylinder is connected to the energy source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein an intake manifold is provided for the internal combustion eNgine, said source of energy defined by the vacuum pressure in the intake manifold.
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) | 1975-12-12 | 1976-06-12 | 1976-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-12 | 1980-06-12 | 1980-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-12 | 1984-06-12 | 1984-12-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |