claim: l@ @ In. combination with an internal %combustion

5 @ngine haviiig i@ @tbiter and an induction conduit, a source of highly volatile fuel supply, passage means connecting said source to said conduit, a pair of valves controlling said passage means, a device operable responsive to suction conditions in said passage and conduit for opening one of said valves, and means operatively connecting said starter and said valve and actuatable upon operation of said starter for opening the other valve. 2. In combination with an internal combustion engine induction conduit having a throttle therein, a source of highly volatile fuel supply, passagc@s connecting said source and said conduit and including a main fuel passage and an idling fuelpassage discharging, respectively, anterior and posterior to said throttle when closed, a normally closed valve controlling each of said passages, a device responding to suction in said conduit for opeiiing a first of said valves controlling the supply of fuel anterior to said throttle, a self-starter for the engine, and means operatively connecting said starter and the second valve controlling the supply of fuel posterior to said throttle and actuatable upon operation of said starter to start the engine for opening said second valve. 3. In combination with an internal combustion engine induction conduit having a throttle therein, a source of fuel supply, @nain and idling fuel passages connecting said source and said conduit, a valve controlling a supply of fuel to said idling passage, an engine starter, and means operatively connecting said starter and said valve and actuatable upon operation of said star-ter to start the engine to open said valve. 4. In combination with an intemal combustion engine induction conduit having a throttle therein, a source of fuel supi@ly, main and idling fuel passages connecting said source and said conduit, said idling passage discharging through a port located posterior to said throttle when closed, an additional passage connecting said source and said idling port for supplying starting fuel, a valve controlling said additional passage, an engine starter control, and means operatively connecting said starter and said valve and actuatable responsive to operation of said control for opening said valve. 5. In combination with an internal combustion engine induction conduit, fuel supply means, a passage connecting said supply means and said conduit, a valve controlling said passage, spring means urging said valve closed, a device responsive to suction conditions in said conduit for opewng said valve, an engine ignition system, and means responsive to energizing of s6id system for positively counter-acting said spring means. 6. in combination with an intemal combustion engine induction conduit, fuel supply means connected to said conduit, a normally closed valve controlling the supply of fuel to said conduit, an engine ignition switch, and means responsive to suction in said conduit and closing of said ignition switch for positively opening said valve. 7. In combination with an intemal combustion engine induction conduit, a source of highly volatile fuel supply connected to said conduit, a normally closed valve controlling the supply of fuel to said conduit, a device responsive to suction conditions in said conduit for opening said valve, an engine ignition system, safety means for urging said valve closed, and means responsive to energizing of said system for overcoming said safety means. 6 8. In combination with aii internal coinbustion engine induction conduit, a source of highly volatile fuel supply, fuel passages extending from said source to said conduit for supplying fuel for normal operation and also for starting, a valve controlling said normal fuel supply passage, an engine ignition system, means responsive to engine suction for opening said valve, safety means normally urging said valve closed, means opera10 tively connecting said ignition system and said safety means and actuatable responsive to energizing of said ignition system for overcoming said safety means, a second normally closed valve in said starting fuel passage, an engine -starter 1 5 control ' and means operatively connecting said starter control and said second valve and actuatable responsive to operati6n of said control for opening said second valve. 9. In coiftbination with an internal combustion 20 engine induction conduit having a throttle therein, supply means for highly volatile fuel, a passage connecting said supply means and said conduit, a valve controlling said passage, a first device operatively connected to said vaive and said 25 conduit and responsive to suction in said conduit to actuate said valve in an opening direction upon increase in suction in said conduit, and a second device operatively connected to said throttle and said first device to open said valve independent 30 of the action of suction on said first device. 10. In combination with an internal combustion engine induction conduit having a throttle therein, passage means for supplying highly volatile fuel to said conduit, a valve in said passage 1.5 means, and a fluid charged chamber having a pair ofindividually movable walls, one of said walls being operatively connected to said valve and the other wall being connected to said throttle and having a lost motion mechanical con4 0 Aiection to said valve whereby actuation of said throttle and said second wall acts through the fluid in said chamber to yieldingly motivate said first wall and said valve and actuation of said throttle in the opposite direction positively shifts 4?-) said valve@ 11. In combination with an internal combustion engine induction conduit having a throttle, a source of highly volatile fuel, a passage connecting said source to said conduit, a valve con50 trolling said passage, a chamber having a movable wall exposed to suction in said passage and connected to said valve for opening said valve, a dash pot chamber on the opposite side of said movable wall from said passage, a second movr), 5 able wall for said dash pot chamber, and an operative connection between said throttle and said second movable wall whereby opening of said throttle actuates said second movable wall and yieldingly motivates said first movable wall and 60 said valve, and further including a lost motion mechanical connection between said throttle and said valve for Positively opening the latter responSiVe to substantially full opening of said throttle. 65 12. In combination with an internal combusti . on engine, induction conduit means of the engine, a fuel supply device operatively connected to said conduit means, a normally closed valve 70 for said device controlling the supply of fuel to said conduit means, an engine ignition system including a switch means, and means including an operative connection between said several means and said valve responsive to suction in 75 said conduit means and operation of said igni-

2 7 8 :-@ion switch means,,res @@t@yplyi for. -choke@and throttle valves, a,fuel supply.- p"ge @p gpening said ,,Aormally,plosed valve. - 6i>@iative 'conaseh ing inf,6 s@i'd 66ndiiit,"aii t @,_@o @ , __ ,, 13. In a. charge iorming 4evice f or,aii.internal befi@den 's'aid. @t and said @6hbke 'valve: foi -1- 'd V61ve,.when said rombustion engine, a mixture cohduit, fuel,.sup c osing sal @6ie ;Ply p . s i partiali@',op6ied, ar.Ld - mean@ opera@n ail , a pa@ssage connecting said soiirce to . 5 thrott!6 ssaid coiiduit, a valve controlling 's@id.p@@@g6,' a t' el@ IY - c6nn66t6cl.w ith's@id,&on dLu't-and.a t@r6@ti6 iii said conduit, a resilient-connection be- nsive o engine 'su6tion @*libri the 6nk'm" e is @Ween said throttle and,,said valve 'io-'r, opening operating under. its o'w''n povier and -61)ei@Ltiv6ly said valve, when,said throttle is.opene said ie- -,'Gon'n--e-cte(i--@w@ithsaid connecti6ii f6r di@ablihg i including d tio3@. s lient connectior ivoted.lever, an 10 said operative connec ev' - io' @uction GEORGE.R. FRICSON. a d ice. responsive .-vanbtions .-irl 6@lteriiig th@.@ IP.VE N t'.@ COFTTEYposterior to said throttle, for posl 'tion. oi t@e ie'ver pivot and therel3y affecting said valve. lieferences Cited in the :ftle of this patent 14. The coinbination sdecified, in claim .13 in i 5 UNI-TED @STATES PATENTS which said resilient connection is formed by a PI 'Nurnber Na-me Date as ot devi-ce having p, pair of movable walls, lj3l7@269 ConrEid ------------ Sept.'-30,--1919 one being connected to said throttle and the other lj887,386 Westover ---------- V. 8i being connected to said valve. ''I-1917,817 Turner ----- ------- July ll,.1933 15. The combination specified in, claim 13 fur- go 11972 982 Durr --- ----------- 8ept. II-,.1934 ther includii'lg a movable wall expqsed to suction @ .1 " - 1999,740 Schmidt et al ------- Apr'. 30,,1935 onditions -in- said fuer sl@pply passage for open2@004,403 Davisson et al ------- June 11, .1935 ing, said valve. 2,027-,492 Sn6dgrdss --------- Jan, -'14' '1936 16. In combination with an internal combus2 073-299 Ensign -- -------- . Mar, 19@ 1.937 tion.e gineinductionconduith avingachoke.and 25 .@ 1 -4 , -., . , . :@ I @ . @ .-I d'@ -. 2,076@679 Staiiton ----------- Apr. 13' 1937 a. throttle, main and auxiliary fuel passages isi 2,092,685 Viel --------------- Sept. 7,.1937 ,charging respectively, a.nterior and p6s aid throttle, a valve controlhng said 21102,909 Paton ------------- Dec. .11, 1937 2;173@191 -- Williams ----- ----- @ Sept. 19,:1939 -pass-a,e,.an.engli-le:st@iiter contr6l@@iiie 2,208:702 Read --------------- July 23, 1940 tiveiy. c6iin6ctiilg @al-d control and said@ 2@294,152 --Yates ------------- Aug, 25, @ 19@42 aciuai@ble i6@@onsive t6- opei-ation of s -ir 2@311,315 Srxiith ------------- Feb.,16, 19-43 ol for oppr@ng -s@id, valve, aii(f th6im 2,326,598 Acosta - ------- -- Aug, 10, 1943 i@aeans for closinix g said ' 6hoke f6r stariin 2,342,426 Raiisome --- --------- Feb.-22,,1944 vide, sufficient suction' i'n said 66ndui@ 2,345,762 Jones -- -- Apr.. .18 ;19,44 craiakiri 7--77 --- g of the engine, t6 dralli st'arti through said auxiliary passage. FOREIGN - PATENTS .17. In a charge foriiiiiik d6vice for an iriternal I I 11 1. @, I -.@ .1 @ l@.- Country Date combustion,engine, a mixture conduit having . '@6@ 435,707 Qreat Britain ------ Sep@.,

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 2@6649872 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,664,872 FUEL CONTROL SYSTEM George R. Ericson ' Kirkwood, and llrven E. Coffey, St. Louis, Mo., assignors to Carter Carburetor Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware AppHeation January 15, 1946, Serial No. 641,208 17 Claims. (Cl. 123-179) 2 This invention relates to charge, forming devices for internal coinbustion engines. F-uels, such a., propane and b,,itane, which are gaseous at norrilal atrr@ospheric pressures and terpperatures, are usug.Ily stored iD highly com- 5 pressed or 1-1cttii'd form. A charge forming device for use with such highly volatile fuels must properly pressure and meter the fuel as well as prevent lealzage when the engine is not in operation. V-.There the fuel 10 is to be drawn through the carburetor by engine suction, the i)roblem is increased because of the high volatility thereof. Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an engine char@e forri'ling 1-5 device constructed to efficiently utilize highly volatile or gaseous fuels. Another object is to provide adequate safety means for Dreventing escape of the gas when the engine is not in operation.. 20 Another object is to provide means for metering highly volatile fuel in accordance with engine suction. Another object is to supply fuel for starting under conditioil-s when there is insufficient suc- 25 tion available for calising the delivery of fuel by induction through the main fuel supply passage. Another object is to provide novel means for enriching the fuel mixture during acceleration 30 which means is especially adapted for use with highly volatile fuels. Still another object is to provide novel means for controlling the air supply to the carburetor particularly during starting. 35 These objects and other more detailed objects hereafter appearing are obtained by the devices illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing parts 40 of internal combustioii engine fuel and electrical systems embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views showing still other modifications. 45 Flg. I shows a downdraft carburetor having a mixture conduit 5 provided with a central Venturi tube 6 and a throttle valve 7. The mixture conduit is mounted on the engine intake manifold 8 in the usual nianner and forms a part of the 50 engine intake system. Adjacent the mixture conduit there is provided a pressure reducing and heating device 9 which comprises a casing forming chambers IO and I Oa separated by a horizontal diaphragm I 1. A stationary needle 12 car- 55 ried by the upper part of the casing controls a central passage 13 in the diaphragm. The diaphi,agm is urged upwardly by a coiled spring 14 so as to normally close port 13. Upper chamber i 0 is connected by a tube 15 to a tank 16 containing a supply of highly compressed fuel such as Propane or butane. Fuel at a m I uch lower pressure is delivered through the passage 18 connected to lower chamber I Oa. In order to counter-act the cooling effect caused I)y expansion of gases passing through Port 13, a coiled tube 19 is mounted in chamber 10a for exposing expanded gases to a heating medium such as exhaust or hot water. A somewhat similar pressure reducing and heating device is disclosed and claimed in a co-pending application in the name of Irven E. Coffey Serial No. 641,207, filed January 15, 1946, and @ssigned to the assignee of the present application. A chamber 20 connected with passage 18 has 9, valve seat port 21 at its upper extremity controlled by a conical valve 22. This valve has a stem 23 connected to a d@iaphragm 24 mounted in a chamber 25 communicating with chamber 20throughport2l. Acoiledspring26urgesdiaPhragm 24 upwardly and normally maintains valve 22 closed. A passage 28 leads from chamber 25 and has branches 29 and 30. Main fuel supply branch 29 discharges into the mixture conduit through an annulus 31 and ports 32 in the throat of Venturi tube 6. Passage 30 discharges through idling ports 33 located adjacent and slightly posterior to the throttle when closed. Branches 29 and 30 are provided with check valves 34 and 35 opening toward their respective discharge ports so that when dominant suction exists in one branch, the other branch will be closed by its respective check valve. Branch 30 serves for supplying idling fuel to the engine whereas branch 29 delivers the main fuel supply. Idling branch 30 is provided with an air bleed 36 and an economizer restriction 37. An auxiliary passage 40 connects passage 18 below or anterior to chamber 20 to a valve chamber 41 through a valve seat port 42 and passes through a duct 43 to idling fuel branch 30. Port 42 is controlled by a valve 44 formed as the armature of a solenoid coil 45 and is normally urged closed by a coiled spring 46. The solenoid coil is connected through one blade of double pole switch 47 to ground and through ignition switrh 48 and lead 49 to battery 50. The arrangement is such that when both the ignition switch and the double pole switcl-x

2,e64,812 are closed, the solenoid w-ill be energized a,-id valve 44 ope-ned to perrnit the delivery of starting fuel through passage 43 and idle ports .13. The other pole of s-witch 47 connects battery legd 49 to starter motor 51. Throttle 7, preferabi-1,7, will be partly opene(ft during startinl,. In order to insure closilig of main fuel metering valve,22 when the engine is not in operation, even though spring 26 or diaphragm 24 may be damaged, an additional spring 55 within chamber 20 bears against t'@lle head portion 56 of a stem 57 projecting from the armature 1.8 of a solenoid 59. The solenoid i-s connected to ground, as at CO and through ijnition s,,.vitch 43 to battery lead 49. When the ignition is turned on, armature 58 and head element 56 will be drawn downwardly by the solenoid to compress spring;,55.and permit opening of valve ?2 under the influence of engine suction applied through the induction conduit and passage 28, to diaphragm 24. r@ ormed on the upper side of diaphragm @ 2 4 is a dash pot chamber 65@ in which works a,rather close fitting piston Of) forming an uiDper itovable wall for the chainber, the chamberbeing provided with an air bleed @'iT for chargingthe same with air. @ Diaphragm, 2 4 forms a lower movable wall for the cha,@nber. A yoke, 68 conne,-ted to the diaphragm slidably receives a lateral element 60 on a rod 7 0 carried by piston, 66. A second rod 171 is pivoted to the piston and to a lever 72,, itself pivotally carried at 7 3 by the short arm 7 4 ol. a bell crank. Lever 72 at, its opposite extremity is connected by a link @ 7 5 to an arm 7 6 mounted on .the throttle shaft. and rigi.dly- movable therewith. The bell crank is permanently pivoted at 77 and ,bas. a long.arm 78 connected by a link 79 to a piston @ 80, N,@7orking in a cylinder 81 . copnected.by a.passaa.e,82 to intake conduit 8 posterior to the throttle. This arrangement is such that upon -increase of suction in manifold 8,, bell crank 74, is rotated counter-clockwise to lift lever pivot.,73 and,-throtigh,yoke 68,,.to lift diai3hragm 24 and move valve 22 towards its@elosed.position. ,A coiled sprin-. 8 3 in cylinder 8 1, normally qrges piston 80 upwardly in a direction to lower@pivot .73 and piston G6 and.permit additional-opening of valve 22. . In operation, when the :ignition and@ starter .s r . ,witches are both closed, main@mete in valve'22 will be released by. safety., solenoid - 59 i and auxiliary valve 44 also@be opened by solenoid-45. ordinarily there will be insu-fflcient suction transmitted through passage-23,to affect@diaphragm 24 and riietering valve 2 2 during crank-inr,,. !lowever, a sufflcient@ sudply of fuel for, starting vjill be delivered thiough, auxi.liary: passage, 40 and Whenthe-enr,,inestartsto.run.un.der its own power, starti.ng switch, 47@ @will:be ,,;opened, de-energizing solenoid 45@pnd permitting :closing of valve 44. Thereafter,.the fuel, which 60 @is fully gosified and slifficiently reduced in presibure, preferably below atmos,3heric, by the device 9, will be delivered by induction through one7or the other of branch passages 29 and @30, in aecordance, with whether the throttle. valve is, 65 :opened. or clo.-sed, and fuel will be metered @by valve 22 in resoonse to suction conditions.in passage 28 and the mixture conduit. Piston.@89 and .cylinder 81 and c onnected,.oarts constitute a suction economizer device which tends. to lean out 70 the mixture at high suction in the intake.manifold. . In case the throttle valve is. suddenly, opened connection 71, 72 75 causes piston 66 to be.lowered and the air in cylinder-.6 5.will be compressed, 75 55 so as to urge diaphragm 24 downi,@iardly and momentarily increase the opening of valve 22. The air pressure in chamber 65 vtill gradually dissipate through air 'oleed 07 so that spring 26 returns the diaphragm and valve to its stal)le position. When the throttle valve is substantially fully opened, element" 69 on link 70 will en@age the upper extremity of stem 2@ and positively open the valve to provide additional enrichment 10, as lon.- as the throttle remains in this position. ,.The.XOTM in Fig. 2 is similar to that in ilig. 1 bui includes some additional elements. located :,Witllin a..Qp,@@ing;;10,@4lounted an tU'13e I @u is a closed thei@mostat@ @lg II having its outer eild anehored to I ri the casing and its inner end attached to a shaft 92 whi ch;rigidly--riiounts an arm 93. This arm - is, connectpd,by a -link SA to an arm 95 which operates a valve 96 controllin.- the uassage of heat, ing fluid-.@ through the device 9. 'Fnus the heating 2 i) of the expanded gas in member 9 is cotitrolled by the,tomperature-qf the out,oing gas in passage 18. Arm 03- is, also -connected by a second link -97 to. a - lever. f 98 having an eccentric extremity 99 which -coqperates with a lip IGO on throttle oper25 ating lever 101 to variably limit the idling position of the throttle valve in accordance with temperature. In Fig. 3, @@he auxiliary . @tarting by-pass for fuel is omitted and a choke valve 105 is mounted q@O o@'f center on a shaft 106 in the upper part ' of mixture conduit 5a. A thermostatic bi-metallic coil 107 is mounlued about the choke shaft so as to yieldin-.1y close the choke valve when the temperature is low. '-Phis substantially reduces the 35 air supply and increases the effective suction on the ports 32a available for drawing starting fuel through main fuel branch 29. A lever 108 rigid with the choke@shaft is connected by a link 109 to a piston . I I 0 which worl@rs in a cylinder I I I con40 nected at its lower extremity by a, passage :1 12 tochamber@25a@a,-,d thence@through passare 28 to the rnixture conduit. @ A coi.led spring l@ f 3 constantly ur,@es piston I IC upit@ardly, in a direction to close the choke. E@uring the warri-up, 3eriod 45@theposition of tlaechokefluctuate s-in.accordance with@the resistance of the:thermostat which opposes the direct action of, airi,flow on the choke and the action on piston 110 of suction.trans"mitted through fuel passage branches 29,and 30. 50 lvhen the engine reaches normal @ temperature, - therm,ostat ! 1 07 move@@ the, choke valve to its ivide open position and holds it there. In Fig. 4, @ choke shaft . I O.Ga has 0,,detpnt I 1 5 formed rigid therewith outside the mixing conduit. An arm II 6 rigid with@ the thiottle shaft carries, a link II 7 which extends to the detent. This link is connected,by a, @link 118 to a piston rod I I 9 and pisl@- on 12 0 working in a cylinder , 1 21 connected by a. passage 122 to the mixture conduit posterior to the throttle. In operation, to start, the engine, the throttle valve is moved to a partially @opened position -which@, through link I 1 7. and detent I 1 5, , closes the choke, valve. When the engine starts to run under its own power, suc@Uion applied to piston 12 0 rotates :link I 1 7 @to clear deter-t , 1 15 so that, tliereafter, the throttle and choke valves are, free to move indepen dently-of,each: other. The invention may be modified in various respects as will occur to those.skilled in the art and the exclusive use of all Modifications @as come within the, scope of the appended claims is contemplated. We