US3738346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle internal-combustion engine fuel control and signal device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-01-26
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1992-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A control for preventing damage to an internal-combustion engine from extended operation under excessive operating conditions where the engine power varies according to the flow of fuel to the engine (e.g., as in a diesel engine). The control includes a pair of fuel-limiting solenoid valves each having a plunger movable between a nonrestrictive position and a second position restricting the fuel flow to the engine. The windings of the valves, when energized, maintain the respective plungers in the nonrestrictive positions. The plunger of a first one of the valves, when in the second position, restricts fuel flow by a preset amount causing reduction in engine power sufficient to reduce its operating temperature but permitting continued normal operation at the reduced power. The other plunger, when in the second position, restricts fuel flow by a greater preset amount reducing engine power sufficiently to prevent continued normal operation. First switch means is connected with the first valve winding for controlling its energization and is responsive to an engine operating condition (i.e., lubricant temperature) operating to deenergize the winding if the condition (e.g., low lubricant pressure) warrants engine power reduction. Second switch means is connected with the winding of the second valve and similarly controls its energization, being responsive to another operating condition (e.g., lubricant pressure) for causing deenergization of the latter winding if discontinuing the normal operation of the engine is warranted by the operating condition (e.g., lubricant pressure too low). The control is especially useful with diesel truck engines.
Inventors
- 👤 J Goodman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:57
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01M; F01M1/00; F01M1/18; F01M1/20; F01M1/22; F01M1/24; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
321 words
A control for preventing damage to an internal-combustion engine from extended operation under excessive operating conditions, the power of said engine varying according to the flow of fuel thereto, said control comprising: first and second fuel-limiting solenoid valves each controlling the flow of fuel to the engine, each valve having a fuel control plunger movable from a first position permitting unrestricted flow of fuel through the respective valve to the engine to a second position restricting flow of fuel through the respective valve to the engine, each valve including a winding adapted when energized to maintain the respective plunger in said first position and when deenergized to permit movement of the plunger to said second position, the plunger of said first valve when in the second position restricting fuel flow by a first preset reduced amount causing reduction in engine power sufficient to reduce an excessive operating condition of the engine but to permit continued normal operation thereof at the reduced power, the plunger of said second valve when in the second position restricting fuel flow by a greater preset reduced amount to cause reduction in engine power sufficient substantially to prevent continued normal operation thereof; first switch means connected in a circuit with the winding of said first valve for controlling the energization thereof, said switch means being responsive to said excessive operating condition of the engine and operative to cause deenergization of the winding when the operating condition warrants reduction in engine power; second switch means connected in a circuit with the winDing of said second valve for controlling the energization thereof, said second switch means being responsive to an operating condition of the engine and operative to cause deenergization of the last said winding when the latter operating condition becomes so excessive as to warrant discontinuing normal operation of the engine; whereby the engine power is protectively reduced to prevent damage to the engine under excessive operating conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
321 words
A control for preventing damage to an internal-combustion engine from extended operation under excessive operating conditions, the power of said engine varying according to the flow of fuel thereto, said control comprising: first and second fuel-limiting solenoid valves each controlling the flow of fuel to the engine, each valve having a fuel control plunger movable from a first position permitting unrestricted flow of fuel through the respective valve to the engine to a second position restricting flow of fuel through the respective valve to the engine, each valve including a winding adapted when energized to maintain the respective plunger in said first position and when deenergized to permit movement of the plunger to said second position, the plunger of said first valve when in the second position restricting fuel flow by a first preset reduced amount causing reduction in engine power sufficient to reduce an excessive operating condition of the engine but to permit continued normal operation thereof at the reduced power, the plunger of said second valve when in the second position restricting fuel flow by a greater preset reduced amount to cause reduction in engine power sufficient substantially to prevent continued normal operation thereof; first switch means connected in a circuit with the winding of said first valve for controlling the energization thereof, said switch means being responsive to said excessive operating condition of the engine and operative to cause deenergization of the winding when the operating condition warrants reduction in engine power; second switch means connected in a circuit with the winDing of said second valve for controlling the energization thereof, said second switch means being responsive to an operating condition of the engine and operative to cause deenergization of the last said winding when the latter operating condition becomes so excessive as to warrant discontinuing normal operation of the engine; whereby the engine power is protectively reduced to prevent damage to the engine under excessive operating conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control as set forth in claim 1 wherein the operating condition to which said first switch means is responsive is the operating temperature of the engine, said first switch means causing deenergization of the first said winding when said operating temperature exceeds a preset level.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A control as set forth in claim 2 wherein said operating temperature of the engine to which said first switch means is responsive is constituted by the engine lubricant temperature, said first switch means comprising a fluid temperature sensor having a set of normally closed contacts connected in series with the first said winding and adapted to open at a preset lubricant temperature level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
79 words
A control as set forth in claim 3 further comprising signal means, said fluid temperature sensor including a further set of contacts connected in a circuit with the signal means and operating to energize the signal means for signalling operation thereof when the lubricant temperature exceeds a further preset level less than the preset level causing operation of the first said contacts, thereby to give warning prior to engine power reduction resulting from operation of the first said contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control as set forth in claim 1 wherein the operating condition to which said second switch means is responsive is the engine lubricant pressure, said second switch means causing deenergization of the second said winding upon the engine lubricant pressure falling below a preset level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A control as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second switch means comprises a fluid pressure sensor having a set of contacts connected in series with the second said winding and normally closed during operation of the engine but adapted to open at said preset engine lubricant pressure level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A control as set forth in claim 6 further comprising signal means, said fluid pressure sensor including another set of contacts connected in a circuit with the signal means and operating to energize the signal means for signalling operation thereof when the lubricant pressure falls below another preset level greater than the preset level causing opening of the first said contacts, thereby to give warning prior to engine power reduction resulting from operation of the first said contacts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control as set forth in claim 5 wherein the plunger of said second valve when in the second position restricts fuel flow by an amount sufficient to cause the engine to operate at substantially no greater than idling speed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A control as set forth in claim 5 wherein the engine is of the type including fuel injectors from which excess fuel is returned to a fuel supply, the engine power being improperly increased upon increase in the back pressure of fuel being returned to the fuel supply, the control also comprising further switch means also connected in a circuit with the winding of said second valve, said further switch means being responsive to said fuel back pressure and operative to cause deenergization of the latter winding upon the fuel back pressure exceeding a preset level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A control as set forth in claim 9 wherein said further switch means comprises a fluid pressure sensor having a set of normally closed contacts connected in a series circuit with the winding of said second valve and adapted to open at said preset fuel pressure level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A control as set forth in claim 5 further comprising an additional switch means responsive to the temperature of coolant for the engine, said additional switch means being also connected in a circuit with the winding of said Second valve and operative to cause deenergization of the latter winding upon the engine coolant temperature exceeding a preset level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
A control as set forth in claim 11 wherein said additional switch means comprises a fluid temperature sensor having a set of normally closed contacts connected in a series circuit with the winding of said second valve and adapted to open at said preset coolant temperature level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said plungers is biased for movement from the first position toward the second position.
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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) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |