U.S. patent number 3,859,397 [Application Number 05/370,957] was granted by the patent office on 1975-01-07 for carburetor altitude compensation assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Motors Corporation. Invention is credited to Dean G. Tryon.
United States Patent |
3,859,397 |
Tryon |
January 7, 1975 |
CARBURETOR ALTITUDE COMPENSATION ASSEMBLY
Abstract
An altitude compensation assembly for controlling the air-fuel
ratio through a carburetor bore including a pair of metering
orifices in parallel between a fuel supply and the bore; a main
metering rod is moved with respect to one of the orifices under the
control of a power position between a normal fuel supply position
and a fuel enrichment position, a second metering rod is controlled
by an altitude responsive aneroid to produce a control fuel flow to
the carburetor bore to change the fuel input thereto in accordance
with reduction in air density due to increases in altitude to
compensate for changes in altitude so as to maintain a desired
air-fuel ratio to the vehicle engine and altitude power lockout
means are provided to control the action of the power piston
operated main metering rod to prevent fuel enrichment when a
predetermined altitude is attained, the assembly further including
a snap action bimetal element that is responsive to the air inlet
temperature to the carburetor bore to disable the altitude power
lockout below a predetermined temperature of air flow into the
carburetor bore.
Inventors: |
Tryon; Dean G. (Rochester,
NY) |
Assignee: |
General Motors Corporation
(Detroit, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
23461900 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/370,957 |
Filed: |
June 18, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
261/39.2;
261/39.3; 261/121.4; 261/69.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M
7/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F02M
7/00 (20060101); F02M 7/20 (20060101); F02m
007/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;261/39A,69R,39B,121B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Miles; Tim R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Evans; J. E.
Claims
What is claimed is as follows:
1. A carburetor altitude compensation assembly for use on a
carburetor having a main metering system for supplying fuel to a
primary carburetor bore through means including a main metering
orifice and a power piston operated primary main metering rod
wherein the power piston is operative in response to engine
manifold vacuum to position the primary main metering rod in a fuel
enrichment position as the intake manifold vacuum is reduced in
response to increased engine loads comprising: fuel supply means
including a supplementary metering orifice disposed in parallel
with the main metering orifice, a supplementary metering rod
located with respect to said supplementary metering orifice and
movable therein to control flow therethrough to bypass a selected
amount of fuel around said main metering orifice into the
carburetor bore, altitude responsive aneroid means responsive to
changes in atmospheric pressure due to changes in altitude, means
coupling said aneroid means to said secondary metering rod to
decrease bypass fuel flow through said supplementary metering
orifice upon a reduction in pressure due to an increase in altitude
to compensate for enrichment of air-fuel ratio through a carburetor
bore as produced by a decrease in air density due to increases in
altitude, lockout means coupled to said aneroid means and movable
thereby between first and second control positions, said lockout
means being positioned by said aneroid means in its second control
position in response to a preset altitude to interlockingly engage
the power piston to prevent operation thereof into a fuel
enrichment position thereby to prevent enrichment of air fuel
mixture because of manifold vacuum reductions due to decreases in
atmospheric pressure, and thermally responsive means responsive to
temperature of air flow into the carburetor bore for conditioning
said lockout means to prevent operation thereof into its second
control position for permitting operation of the power piston into
a fuel enrichment mode of operation when cold air flows through the
inlet of the bore until the carburetor inlet air temperature
reaches a predetermined level at which said bimetal means is
operated to condition said lockout means to control the power
piston in response to altitude pressure changes.
2. A carburetor altitude compensation assembly comprising: fuel
supply means including a supplementary metering orifice for
supplying fuel to a carburetor bore in parallel relationship to
fuel flow through a main metering orifice, a supplementary metering
rod movable with respect to said supplementary orifice, an air horn
on said carburetor including a control chamber therein, pressure
responsive aneroid means located within said control chamber having
a first portion thereon fixedly secured to said air horn and a
second portion thereon movable with respect to said air horn, a
bracket secured to said aneroid means for movement therewith, means
coupling said supplementary metering rod to said bracket to
position said rod within said supplementary metering orifice in
accordance with altitude pressure conditions, said supplementary
rod having a sea level location with respect to said metering
orifice to supply a greater amount of fuel to the engine, a power
piston bore within said air horn, a power piston located in said
bore having one end thereof exposed to atmosphere, means for
exposing the opposite end of said power piston to intake manifold
vacuum, said power piston adapted to operate a main metering rod
with respect to a main metering orifice for producing an enrichment
of fuel supply to an engine upon increases in engine load, lockout
means connected to said air horn including a first portion thereon
in engagement with said bracket and a second portion thereon
movable with respect to said power piston means between a first
position and a second position, said second lockout means portion
engageable with said power piston means upon a predetermined
expansion of said aneroid means to prevent said power piston from
moving into a fuel enrichment position to prevent enrichment of the
air-fuel mixture upon a decrease in atmospheric pressure, said
supplementary metering rod being located by said bracket with
respect to said supplementary metering rod to reduce fuel flow to
the engine to maintain the predetermined air-fuel ratio upon
decreases in atmosphere density to the engine, and temperature
responsive means located within said air horn movable with respect
to said lockout means and engageable therewith at carburetor inlet
air temperatures below a predetermined temperature to position said
lockout means in a first control position to allow said power
piston means to assume its power enrichment position irrespective
of movement of said bracket in response to changes in atmospheric
pressure under low temperature conditions.
3. A carburetor altitude compensation assembly for regulating fuel
flow between a fuel supply and an intake bore to an engine
comprising: means including a main metering orifice communicating
the fuel supply with a main fuel well, a supplementary metering
orifice communicating the fuel supply with the main fuel well in
parallel relationship with the said main orifice, a main metering
rod located within said main metering orifice, an air horn having a
bore therein, a power piston located within said bore having one
end thereof exposed to atmosphere, means for exposing the opposite
end of said power piston to intake manifold pressure, means
coupling said main metering rod to said power piston for
controlling the position thereof within said main orifice in
accordance with intake manifold pressure, a supplementary metering
rod located in said supplementary orifice, pressure responsive
means located on said air horn having a first portion thereof
fixedly secured thereto and a second portion thereon movable with
respect to the air horn in accordance with changes in altitude of
the vehicle, said supplementary metering rod being located within
said metering orifice at reduced elevations to provide a bypass
flow in conjunction with flow through said main metering orifice to
provide a predetermined air-fuel ratio to the engine, said pressure
responsive means responding to reductions in air pressure due to
increases in altitude to move said supplementary rod with respect
to said supplementary orifice to reduce bypass fuel between the
fuel supply and the intake bore to maintain a desirable air-fuel
ratio upon decreases in air density due to increases in altitude,
altitude lockout means operated by said pressure responsive means
between a first and second control position, said altitude lockout
means engaging said power piston when in its second control
position to prevent movement thereof in a direction to cause
enriched flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the engine when said
pressure responsive means senses a predetermined decrease in
pressure due to increases in altitude, and thermally responsive
means responsive to a predetermined reduction in temperature of air
flow to the engine to disable said lockout means thereby to permit
said power piston means to respond to a predetermined reduction in
intake manifold pressure to cause fuel enrichment below a
predetermined intake air temperature irrespective of changes in
altitude.
4. A carburetor altitude compensation assembly for regulating fuel
flow between a fuel supply in a carburetor and an air fuel supply
bore therein to the engine to maintain fuel supply to the bore in
accordance with changes in the air density flowing therethrough so
as to control air-fuel ratios therein comprising: a pair of
metering orifices each having the inlet thereof in communication
with the fuel supply, means for communicating the outlets of each
of the orifices with the carburetor bore, said metering orifices
being in parallel flow relationship with one another, an air horn
assembly located above said metering orifices including a bore
therein, a power piston located within said bore, means
communicating one end of said power piston with atmosphere and the
opposite end thereof with a vacuum source responsive to changes in
engine load, a first metering rod carried by said power piston and
movable thereby with respect to one of said metering orifices to
provide a first control of fuel flow to the bore, said power piston
locating said first metering rod in a part throttle position and a
fuel enrichment position in accordance with changes in vacuum
conditions acting thereon, a second metering rod located in the
other of said metering orifices, pressure responsive means located
within said air horn including means thereon movable with respect
to said air horn in accordance with changes in pressure due to
changes in vehicle altitude, means coupling said second metering
rod to said pressure responsive means, said pressure responsive
means positioning said second rod with respect to said other
metering orifice between a reduced altitude position and an
increased altitude position, said first metering rod and said
second metering rod providing a predetermined quantity of fuel flow
from the supply to the carburetor bore when the vehicle is at a
predetermined base altitude to produce a predetermined air-fuel
ratio in the bore, said pressure responsive means responding to
decreases in pressure due to increases in altitude to cause
movement of said second rod to reduce fuel flow through said other
metering orifice to reduce fuel flow into the throat in accordance
with reductions in air density because of increased altitude to
control the air-fuel ratio so as to prevent excessive fuel
enrichment due to increased altitude, a lockout lever pivotally
connected to said air horn having a first portion thereon coupled
to said pressure responsive means and a second portion thereon
movable between first and second control positions, said lockout
lever in its second control position engaging said power piston to
prevent movement thereof into its fuel enrichment position to
prevent excessive flow of fuel from the fuel supply to the bore
when said pressure responsive means senses a predetermined increase
in altitude, and temperature responsive means for maintaining said
lockout lever in its first control position to permit fuel
enrichment flow from the fuel supply to the carburetor bore in
response to predetermined reduced inlet air temperatures at the
inlet throat of the bore.
5. A carburetor altitude compensation assembly for regulating fuel
flow from a fuel supply in a carburetor to an air fuel bore therein
comprising: a pair of metering orifices located in the base of a
fuel supply in the carburetor, an air horn cover on said carburetor
including a chamber therein having an aneroid element therein,
means for fixedly connecting the top of the aneroid with respect to
the air horn, a guide rod on the opposite end of said aneroid, a
guide slot in said air horn receiving said guide rod for defining a
maximum altitude stop, a control lever having a base connected to
said guide rod extending outwardly thereof including opposite end
portions thereon bent upwardly with respect to the base of said
aneroid, a spring element having one end thereof fixedly secured to
the base of said control lever and the opposite end thereof
underlying one end of said control lever including a rod support
portion thereon, an adjustment screw threadably received in said
one end of the said control lever engageable with said spring
element for adjustably positioning said rod support portion
vertically with respect to said control lever, a first metering rod
connected to said spring element portion depending downwardly from
said control lever, one of said metering orifices located below
said rod and cooperating therewith to provide a predetermined flow
area from the fuel supply to the carburetor bore at a predetermined
base altitude, said aneroid element responding to increases in
altitude to move said bracket in a direction to cause said first
rod to move within said orifice to produce a predetermined
reduction of fuel flow in accordance with increases in altitude,
air bleed valve means in said air horn for bleeding air into a
secondary fuel metering system, valve operator means carried by the
opposite end of said control lever to increase air flow through
said bleed when the rod is in a reduced flow position thereby to
further control air-fuel ratio so as to prevent altitude responsive
enrichment thereof, a lockout lever pivotally secured to said air
horn having a tang thereon located in contact with said one end of
said control lever to be moved thereby so as to cause pivotal
movement of said lockout lever, a bimetal element connected to said
lockout lever, a stop surface on said air horn casting engageable
with said bimetal to control pivotal movement of said lockout lever
in accordance with the inlet air temperature to the carburetor, a
bore in said air horn located on one side of said aneroid, a power
piston located in said bore having one end thereof exposed to
atmosphere, means for exposing the opposite end of said power
piston to a load responsive vacuum source on an engine to cause
said power piston to move between a normal fuel supply position and
a fuel enrichment position upon changes in vacuum produced by
increases in engine load, a second metering rod connected to said
power piston for movement therewith, said second metering rod
movable with respect to the other of said metering orifices to
produce a first control of fuel flow from the fuel supply to the
carburetor bore when the power piston is in its normal fuel supply
position and to increase fuel flow from the fuel supply to the bore
when the power piston is in its fuel enrichment position, said
lockout lever having a second portion thereon movable with respect
to said power piston, said control lever in response to a
predetermined decrease in pressure positioning said lockout lever
to locate said second portion thereon in interlocked relationship
with said power piston to prevent movement thereof into its fuel
enrichment position thereby to prevent fuel enrichment flow to the
carburetor bore when the aneroid senses a predetermined pressure
decrease, said bimetal engaging said stop to prevent movement of
said lockout lever into interlocked relationship with said power
piston when air flow to the carburetor is below a predetermined
temperature, said bimetal flexing away from said stop surface above
said predetermined temperature to permit pivotal movement of said
lockout lever in response to pressure changes in air temperature to
the bore is above said predetermined temperature.
6. A carburetor altitude compensation assembly for regulating fuel
flow from a fuel supply in a carburetor to an air fuel bore therein
comprising: a pair of metering orifices located in the base of a
fuel supply in the carburetor, an air horn cover on said carburetor
including a chamber therein having an aneroid therein, means for
fixedly connecting the top of the aneroid with respect to the air
horn, a guide rod on the opposite end of said aneroid, a guide slot
in said air horn receiving said guide rod for defining a maximum
altitude stop, a control lever having a base connected to said
guide rod extending outwardly thereof including an end portion
thereon bent upwardly with respect to the base of said aneroid, a
spring element having one end thereof fixedly secured to the base
of said control lever and the opposite end thereof underlying one
end of said control lever including a rod support portion thereon,
an adjustment screw threadably received in said one end of the said
control lever engageable with said spring element for adjustably
positioning said rod support portion vertically with respect to
said control lever, a first metering rod connected to said spring
element portion depending downwardly from said control lever, one
of said metering orifices located below said rod and cooperating
therewith to provide a predetermined flow area from the fuel supply
to the carburetor bore at a predetermined base altitude, said
aneroid element responding to increases in altitude to move said
bracket in a direction to cause said first rod to move within said
orifice to produce a predetermined reduction of fuel flow in
accordance with increases in altitude, a lockout lever pivotally
secured to said air horn having a tang thereon located in contact
with said one end of said control lever to be moved thereby so as
to cause pivotal movement of said lockout lever, bimetal means for
controlling pivotal movement of said lockout lever in accordance
with the inlet air temperature to the carburetor, a bore in said
air horn located on one side on said aneroid, a power piston
located in said bore having one end thereof exposed to atmosphere,
means for exposing the opposite end of said power piston to a load
responsive vacuum source on an engine to cause said power piston to
move between a normal fuel supply position and a fuel enrichment
position upon changes in vacuum produced by increases in engine
load, a second metering rod connected to said power piston for
movement therewith, said second metering rod movable with respect
to the other of said metering orifices to produce a first control
of fuel flow from the fuel supply to the carburetor bore when the
power piston is in its normal fuel supply position and to increase
fuel flow from the fuel supply to the bore when the power piston is
in its fuel enrichment position, said lockout lever having a second
portion thereon movable with respect to said power piston, said
control lever in response to a predetermined decrease in pressure
positioning said lockout lever to locate said second portion
thereon in interlocked relationship with said power piston to
prevent movement thereof into its fuel enrichment position thereby
to prevent fuel enrichment flow to the carburetor bore when the
aneroid senses a predetermined pressure decrease, said bimetal
means operative to prevent movement of said lockout lever into
interlocked relationship with said power piston when air flow to
the carburetor is below a predetermined temperature, said bimetal
means flexing above said predetermined temperature to permit
pivotal movement of said lockout lever in response to pressure
changes when air temperature to the bore is above said
predetermined temperature.
Description
This invention relates to carburetors having a power piston for
positioning a main metering fuel control rod with respect to a main
metering orifice between normal fuel positions and a fuel
enrichment position and more particularly to such arrangements
wherein means are provided to compensate for fuel flow between a
fuel supply and the throttle bore of a carburetor in accordance
with changes in air density flow therethrough due to changes in the
altitude of vehicle operation.
In vehicle carburetors, control means are present to control the
rate of fuel flow to a carburetor bore to maintain an air-fuel
ratio therein that will produce a desired engine operation.
In certain cases, it is desirable to maintain a control of the
air-fuel ratio in accordance with changes in the elevation of the
vehicle. In such cases, when the vehicle is operated at sea level,
a predetermined air-fuel ratio is maintained to produce desirable
vehicle operation. When the vehicle is operated at higher
altitudes, the density of the air flowing through the carburetor
bores will be reduced and the air-fuel ratio will change in
accordance with changes in the altitude.
To compensate for such changes, carburetors include means to
control the air-fuel ratio so as to compensate for increases in
altitude by reducing the fuel flow to the vehicle in accordance
with changes in the altitude so as to compensate for a reduction in
the air density flowing through the bores of a carburetor.
In many carburetor arrangements a power piston is included to
control the main metering rod between a normal fuel position and a
fuel enrichment position. When a vehicle is operated at higher
elevations, the power piston may respond to reduced manifold vacuum
to cause fuel enrichment at the carburetor bore so as to cause
undesirable enrichment of the air-fuel ratio. Under conditions
where the air flowing through the main carburetor bore is below a
predetermined temperature, it is preferable to have a predetermined
amount of fuel supplied to the carburetor bore by the power piston
operated metering rod.
An object of the present invention therefore, is to provide an
improved altitude compensation assembly for use in a carburetor
comprising a supplementary fuel metering orifice in parallel with a
main metering orifice controlled by means of a rod that is coupled
to pressure responsive aneroid means to produce a predetermined
fuel flow through both the main metering orifice and the second
metering orifice at a predetermined altitude to establish a desired
air-fuel ratio through the main bore of a carburetor and wherein
the altitude responsive aneroid means will position the second
control rod in response to changes in altitude to reduce fuel flow
when the altitude of the vehicle increases so as to reduce the fuel
flow in accordance with a reduction in the density of air flow to
the main bore of a carburetor so as to maintain a desired air-fuel
ratio to the engine.
Still another object of the present invention is to maintain a fuel
flow control as set forth in the preceding object wherein the main
metering rod is controlled by a power piston that operates in
accordance with engine vacuum to maintain a main metering rod
between a normal fuel control position and a fuel flow enrichment
position and wherein altitude power lockout means is provided to
interlock with the power piston to prevent movement thereof into
the fuel flow enrichment position when the vehicle is operated at
altitudes in excess of a predetermined elevation so as to prevent
undue enrichment of the air-fuel ratio when the vehicle is operated
at higher elevations.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
altitude compensation fuel supply system as set forth in the
preceding object wherein a thermally responsive element senses the
air inlet temperature to the air-fuel supply bore of a carburetor
and is operative below a predetermined temperature to disable the
altitude power lockout means to permit the power piston fuel
enrichment function to occur below a predetermined air inlet
temperature irrespective of changes in the altitude of operation of
the vehicle.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be
apparent from the following description, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present
invention is clearly shown.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of a carburetor including the
altitude compensation system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view showing a main metering
fuel system for association with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3
of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of
FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;
FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section taken along the line 5--5 of
FIG. 4.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the top of a carburetor
assembly 10 including a primary bore 12 therein for supplying a
predetermined air-fuel ratio into the induction passages of a
vehicle engine.
The carburetor 10 further includes a secondary bore 14 on one side
of the bore 12.
The carburetor includes a main metering system 18 for supplying
fuel to the bore 12. The system 18 includes a fuel bowl 20, as
shown in FIG. 3, which has a main metering jet 22 with an orifice
24 therethrough. Fuel is metered under the control of a main
metering rod 26 from the float bowl 20 into a main fuel well 28
formed to underlie the metering jet 22 and to extent in part,
vertically on one side of the bowl 20. As seen in FIG. 2, an idle
tube 30 depends downwardly within the well 28. Fuel flowing into
the main fuel well 28 is mixed with air from a vent opening 32 at
the top of the main well and side bleed ports 34, 36 the side bleed
34 bleeding from the primary bore 12 above the carburetor venturi
38 and the bleed port 36 bleeding from the main fuel cavity around
the main fuel nozzle 40 in the well 28. The air fuel mixture then
passes through the main discharge nozzle 40 into a boost venturi 42
thence through the main venturi 44 in the bore 12 through induction
passageways into an engine of the vehicle. A choke valve 45 is
located in the top of the bore 12 and a throttle plate 46 in the
bottom thereof. Both are operated by suitable linkage in response
to accelerator position to produce a desired fuel flow at different
vehicle speeds.
The carburetor 10 further includes a power piston assembly 46
including a bore 48 in an air horn member 50 and a piston 52 that
has its upper end exposed to atmosphere at 54 and the lower end
thereof in alignment with a vacuum port 56 leading to the interior
58 of a pedestal 60 which is in communication with the intake
manifold of the vehicle to provide a variable source of vacuum
reflecting engine load. From off idle to wide open throttle
operations, the high engine manifold vacuum holds the piston 52
downwardly in the bore 54 against a spring 62. This positions the
main metering rod 26 in the orifice 24 to meter fuel flow to the
aforedescribed main metering system 18 to produce a first control
of the air-fuel ratio through the bore 12.
Under heavy acceleration or high speed operation of the engine, the
vacuum acting on the piston 52 is reduced and the spring 62 will
move the piston 52 upwardly in the bore 48 to cause the metering
rod 26 to move outwardly of the orifice thereby to provide a richer
mixture through the main metering system the primary and secondary
sides of the carburetor.
In present day fuel supply systems, it is desirable to closely
regulate the air-fuel ratio under all conditions of vehicle
operation.
When the vehicle is operated at higher elevations, the density of
air flowing through the primary and secondary bores of the
carburetor will be reduced. In order to maintain a desired air-fuel
ratio, the present invention includes an altitude compensation
assembly 64 that will work in conjunction with the metering action
of the power piston 52 so as to reduce fuel flow to the carburetor
bores when the vehicle is operated at higher elevations where the
air density is reduced.
The altitude compensation assembly of the present invention
includes a supplementary metering jet 66 in the base of the fuel
well 20. It includes an orifice 68 communicating the bowl with the
main fuel well 28 as best seen in FIG. 4. A supplementary metering
rod 70 has the lower end thereof located in the orifice 68 and the
upper end thereof connected to an aneroid control lever assembly
74. The control lever assembly 74 is associated with a pressure
responsive aneroid element 76 located within a chamber 78 of the
air horn member 50 as best seen in FIG. 4. The aneroid includes a
bellows 79 having the upper end thereof secured to a bracket 80
that is fixedly secured to spaced apart pedestals 82, 84 on the air
horn by suitable fastening means such as screws 86 and nuts 88. The
opposite end of the aneroid bellows 79 has a connection plate 90
thereon with a guide shaft 92 depending therefrom which is
supportingly received in a bore 94 on the base of the chamber 78.
The bore 94 has a depth which cooperates with the guide stem 92 to
define a stop to limit expansion of the aneroid to a predetermined
elevation, which in one working embodiment was 10,000 feet.
A lock member 96 secures a base portion 98 of the control lever
assembly 74 to the connection portion 90 on the aneroid 76.
Accordingly, the lever assembly 74 is moved upwardly and downwardly
within the air horn member 50 to control the position of the
supplementary metering rod 70 with respect to the orifice 68.
At lower altitudes, the supplementary control rod 70 is positioned
by the aneroid 76 so as to provide a predetermined amount of fuel
flow from the bowl 20 in bypassed relationship to the main metering
rod. The combined flow through the orifice 68 and the orifice 24,
at a predetermined minimum elevation such as sea level, will
produce a regulated flow of fuel into the main metering system that
will produce a predetermined air fuel ratio based on the density of
air at sea level passing into the bore 12.
As the vehicle is operated at higher elevations where the air
density is reduced, the main metering rod 26 will provide a first
amount of fuel flow and the supplementary metering rod 70 will be
moved downwardly in the orifice to reduce bypass fuel into the main
metering system so as to produce an overall reduction in fuel
supply to the carburetor bores in accordance with reductions of air
density that occurs at higher elevation. Accordingly, a desired
air-fuel ratio will be maintained.
A bleed passage 100 in the carburetor housing leads to a metering
system of the type set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,408. A valve
element 101 in bore 103 is biased upwardly to close passage 100 at
low altitudes. An upwardly bent end 102 on lever 78 has a valve pin
104 threadably directed therethrough in alignment with an opening
106 in the air horn. At higher altitudes, pin 104 operates valve
101 to regulate the air bleed to the top of the metering well (not
shown) to prevent an increase in fuel enrichment of the secondary
air-fuel ratio through bore 14 that might otherwise occur due to a
decrease in air density due to an increase in altitude.
Additionally, the control lever assembly 74 includes an upwardly
bent end 108 opposite to the end 102. It carries an altitude flow
adjustment screw 110 threadably directed through the end 108 so as
to locate the end 112 of the screw in abutment with the upper
surface of a free end 114 of a spring element 116 that has the
opposite end thereof fixedly secured to the base 98 of the assembly
by means of rivets 118. The spring 116 includes a dependent tang
portion 120 thereon through which the upper end 72 of the
supplementary rod 70 is directed. Adjustment of the screw 110 will
regulate the sea level relationship of the rod with respect to the
orifice 68 to calibrate the combined fuel flow through the main
metering orifice and the supplementary orifice under sea level
conditions.
The present invention further includes an altitude lockout assembly
122 supported on a base portion 124 of the air horn member 50. The
altitude lockout assembly includes means to be described, that will
operate in response to changes in pressure to control operation of
the power piston 46 to prevent movement thereof into the fuel
enrichment position when the vehicle is operated at increased
altitudes thereby to prevent undesirable enrichment of the fuel
under these conditions.
More particularly, the lockout altitude assembly 122 includes a
support 126 extending upwardly from the base portion 124. It
includes a screw 128 threaded into support 126 through a bore 130
in an altitude lockout lever 132.
The screw 128 includes a head 134 with an adjustment slot 136
therein. The lever 132 is thereby supported for pivotal movement
about the axis of the screw 128 between a lockout position and a
release position.
The lever includes a first tang 138 thereon bent outwardly of the
shaft supported portion thereof in the direction of the end 108 of
the control lever 74. The tang 138 has an edge 140 thereon located
against the upper surface of the bent end 108 whereby movement of
the lever 74 will cause a second tang 142 on the lever 132 to
rotate between a lockout position and a release position. The
second tang 142 is arranged to overlie a top bracket 143 of the
power piston 52 when in the lockout position thereby to prevent
movement of the power piston 52 into a fuel enrichment position
when the aneroid 76 has positioned the control lever assembly 74
downwardly within the chamber 58. Accordingly, at high altitudes,
the lockout lever 132 will serve to prevent undesirable enrichment
of fuel flow to the carburetor bores and will thereby maintain a
desirable air-fuel ratio which takes into account the fact that air
density is reduced at higher altitudes.
Under cold conditions of operation, when the air temperature is
below a predetermined temperature for example below 80.degree.F.,
it is desirable to retain fuel enrichment for satisfactory engine
performance. Accordingly, in the present invention a thermally
responsive device, in the preferred embodiment a bimetallic element
144, is provided in association with the altitude power lockout
lever 132 to prevent the lockout lever from moving into its lockout
position during periods where the air temperature into the bore is
below the predetermined temperature.
More particularly, as seen in FIG. 4, the bimetallic element 144 is
formed in a rectangular configuration and has a fixed end 146
thereon welded to an upper bent leg portion 148 of the lever which
is bent in an opposite direction to the tang 138 and the second
tang 142. The bimetal depends downwardly from the leg portion 148
so as to locate a free end 149 thereon above the base portion 124
and in alignment with an air horn casting stop 150. When the
bimetallic element 144 is cold it assumes the solid line position
shown in FIG. 5 which blocks movement of the lockout tang 142 into
overlying relationship with the power cylinder bracket 143.
When the temperature of the inlet air to the carburetor is above a
predetermined level, as for example 100.degree.F., it will snap
into the dotted line position shown in FIG. 5 thereby to enable the
lever 132 to be rotated upon downward movement of the control lever
74 by the aneroid which occurs upon a reduction in pressure, so as
to move the lockout tang 142 upwardly and across the top of bracket
143 to prevent fuel enrichment. The bimetal will assume its solid
line position when the air temperature reaches 80.degree.F. and
move from the dotted line position to the solid line position to
retain the lever 132 in its release position shown in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, the top of a pair of rods 152, 154 are shown each having
the lower end thereof supported on the upper surface of the base 98
of the control lever 74 and the opposite end thereof slidably
mounted in holes 156, 158 in the bracket 80. The rods serve as a
weight to calibrate the aneroid once it has been assembled in
association with the carburetor.
To summarize, when the vehicle is operating under sea level
conditions at elevated ambient temperature conditions, the
supplementary metering rod 70 will have the end thereof located
inwardly of the orifice 68 and flow therethrough will pass from the
bowl 20 in bypass relationship to the main metering orifice 24 to
provide a concurrent fuel flow into the fuel well 28 for supply to
the main metering system. The combined flow through the orifices at
sea level conditions will produce a desired air fuel ratio for
operation of the vehicle. When the air temperature is above a
predetermined temperature, for example 80.degree.F., and the
vehicle is operated at a higher altitude, for example in the order
of 5,000 feet of operation, the aneroid bellows 76 will expand to
move the control lever 74 downwardly within the chamber 78. This
will cause the supplementary flow rod 70 carried thereon to have an
enlarged diameter portion on the tip thereof located within the
orifice to restrict fuel flow from the hole into the main metering
system so as to compensate for a reduction in air density and
thereby maintain a desired air-fuel ratio. Greater reduction occurs
at greater elevations. Eventually, guide pin 92 hits the bottom of
bore 94 to produce a limmit stop to further altitude
compensation.
Under conditions where the air temperature is above the
predetermined minimum temperature, the altitude power lockout lever
132 will move with the bent end 108 of the lever 74 so as to cause
the lever 132 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as shown in
FIG. 5 so as to locate the lockout tang 142 above the power piston
bracket to prevent fuel enrichment by the power cylinder at high
altitude operations.
At lower temperatures of operation where the ambient air is below
80.degree.F., the operation of the altitude power lockout lever is
affected by the snap action bimetallic element 144 since it will
snap into the solid line position when the air is cold to engage
the stop 150 thereby to prevent the aforementioned rotation of the
lever so that fuel enrichment by the power piston 52 will be
maintained as long as the air inlet temperature is below a point
where lack of power enrichment might affect engine performance.
Once the air temperature has increased, for example to
100.degree.F., element 144 will snap into the dotted line position
to permit the follower tang 138 to move downwardly against the
upper surface of the bent end 108. This will cause the lockout tang
142 to move into its interlock position.
In one working embodiment the aneroid 76 has a stroke of 0.070
inches from 29 inches to 25 inches of mercury absolute pressure and
a stroke of 0.160 inches from 29 inches to 20 inches of mercury
absolute pressure. The external stop prevents travel below 20
inches of mercury absolute. The bellows 78 is brass and includes a
31/2cc partial oil fill or a 0.6 gram charge of silicone lubricant
sold by Dow Corning as No. 11 Silicone Compound. The evacuated
aneroid has a 10 per cent minimum helium content. The bimetallic
element 144 is formed as a rectangle 1.10 inches by 0.42 inches and
produces snap action travel in both directions of movement as
provided by a cold override bimetal of the type supplied by Texas
Instrument as model P-675.
These multiple functions of control are all attained within the
limited confines of an air horn member 50 and are structurally
related to known power pistion operating metering rod arrangments
without requiring substantial modifications to the dimensional
characteristics thereof.
While the embodiments of the present invention, as herein
disclosed, constitute a preferred form, it is to be understood that
other forms might be adopted.
* * * * *