Eaton Corporation

Cyril E Bradshaw

Norman E Zerndt

William W Kelly

Martin W Uitvlugt

Brian T Creed

A rotary position detector switch suitable for use in hydraulic fluid and having at least three stationary parallel conductive strips of tin plated low carbon steel intermittently over molded with intermediate portions exposed. An insulated rotor has a bus with spaced hardened steel pins with hemispherical ends slidably mounted thereon and bias springs connecting the pins to the bus. One stationary strip is completely exposed and is electrically common and in continuous contact with one pin. For each selected different rotor position combinations of two other pins contact different exposed portion of the remaining strips to give a discrete electrical indication, for each rotor position.

Rotary switch for use in hydraulic fluid

A controller and method for controlling EGR in a pressure boosted engine. A valve seat is provided in the EGR passage and a hollow actuator rod is moved by a pressure-responsive diaphragm to control flow. The diaphragm senses boost inlet pressure in a chamber supplied through a port in the rod which extends through the boost air inlet passage. In another embodiment a restrictor valve is provided in the exhaust pipe downstream of the EGR passage. The valve is closed at idle to divert exhaust to the EGR passage. As boost pressure increases, a separate pressure tap supplies a second pressure-responsive diaphragm to open the restrictor valve.

Controlling exhaust gas recirculation in a pressure boosted internal

A two-position motorized servo actuator with automatic motor shut off at either position. The user remotely energized the motor with a two-position switch and the motor drives in rotation a floating lead screw journalled for both rotational and axial movement. A follower traverses the lead screw during rotation; and, a lever means moved by the follower is operative to perform a desired function, such as for example, open and close a valve. Upon the follower contacting a travel limit stop, the motor continues rotation of the lead screw which moves axially by threaded advancement in the follower, and the axial movement of lead screw is operative to toggle a switch and reverse the polarity of the power to the motor. If the motor is remotely energized, for reverse rotation by user movement of the two-position switch to its opposite position, the servo will operate to drive the follower to an opposite limit position.

Electrically operated servo actuator with automatic shut off

An overtravel absorbing drive connection for a servo operated rotary actuated valve having an external shaft means. A crank pin provided on the external portion of the shaft means is engaged on opposite sides thereof respectively by a pair of resilient arms extending from driving hub of a connector attached to the servo output shaft. Continued rotation of the servo output shaft after closure of the valve is absorbed by resilient bending of the connector arms.

Connection for servo operated valve

A motorized water valve of the butterfly-type having the motor case and gear reduction housing formed integrally with the valving chamber. The metal butterfly has elastomeric material formed thereover to provide improved sealing and prevent leakage when the valve is closed thereby enabling substantially shortened warm-up in thermostat application. The control system employs the valve at the engine block outlet to control coolant flow to the radiator in response to an electrical control signal based upon comparison of the sensed block temperature with a desired engine temperature. The control system also employs the valve to control coolant flow to the heater core in response to an electrical control signal based upon a comparison of sensed in-car temperature and a desired in-car temperature selectd by the driver. Heater core discharge air may also be sensed and included in the comparison to provide a control signal to permit automatic in-car temperature regulation. An additional control signal also be generated from the comparison to control heater blower speed control. The control system, upon cold engine starts, opens the radiator coolant valve fully for a short time to allow full flow to clean the valve and remove deposits, then returns to the closed position to continue engine warm-up. The control system may also employ an outside air temperature transducer to provide a signal used in the comparison to enable automatic regulation of desired engine coolant temperature.

Controlling engine coolant flow and valve assembly therefor

A no-flow vacuum control signal valve (10, 60) employing a single solenoid coil (34, 116) having a stationary ferromagnetic core (40, 68) and moveable permanent magnet armatures (46, 48, 100, 108) disposed adjacent the opposite ends of said core. The permanent magnet armatures function as individual valve poppets for individually opening and closing a vacuum vent port (18, 96) and a vacuum source port (28, 88) communicating with a valving chamber (14, 78, 80). A spring (50, 52, 104, 112) biases each poppet closed such that no fluid flows when the coil is not energized. Upon pulsing with current of one polarity of the coil, the vent port remains closed and the vacuum source port is opened. Upon pulsing of the coil with current of reverse polarity, the vent port is opened and the vacuum source port remains closed. The valving chamber has a third fluid signal port (32, 98) adopted for connection thereto for control signal output.

Single coil vacuum/vent valve

A valve assembly is provided for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gases in an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a fixed body portion having an exhaust inlet and an exhaust outlet port and a moveable transducer portion. A diaphragm is attached to the body and transducer portions to define a vacuum chamber and an atmospheric chamber in the body portion and a second atmospheric or air bleed chamber and an exhaust chamber in the transducer portion. Passages integrally formed in the diaphragm at its point of attachment to the transducer portion provide fluid communication between the two atmospheric chambers. Valve means are provided between the transducer atmospheric chamber and the vacuum chamber and between the exhaust inlet and outlet ports. A valve stem is attached to the transducer portion through a novel crimped joint, and the exhaust port valve member is mounted to the stem in a manner providing flexibility in effecting seating engagement of the valve member with the main body portion. A bearing member supports the valve stem for axial movement and is secured to the main body portion by another novel crimped joint.

Exhaust gas recirculation control and subassemblies therefor

Engine exhaust gas is recirculated by a fluid pressure actuated valve receiving a control signal from a controller which receives and modulates engine induction vacuum to provide a primary source and receives a carburetor throttle-blade controlled suction as a secondary source and compares the primary and secondary sources and discriminates therebetween to provide the lesser as the outward control signal.

Controlling EGR in an internal combustion engine and fluid pressure

A pressure transducer (10) for use in internal combustion engine exhaust gas recirculation systems is disclosed having low inertia moving components for improved response time and a low cost diaphragm mounting arrangement. Upper (12) and lower (14) housing shells define in cooperation with a diaphragm (21) and an upper (26) and lower (44) reaction plates fabricated from light weight plastic, a vacuum chamber (72), control chamber (96) and a vent chamber (102). The single diaphragm is connected to the inner wall of the housing by a clamping ring (48), thereby dividing the diaphragm into individually pressure responsive upper and lower portions.

Pressure transducer for exhaust gas recirculation system

Engine manifold vacuum is inverted by an in-line vacuum inverter which provides a power source for an EGR valve actuator for providing desired EGR flow in a predetermined range of engine power loading and EGR flow is cut off outside the range. The invention utilizes a vacuum inverter employing a pair of spaced diaphragms for controlling an atmospheric air bleed valve to a vacuum chamber powered by manifold vacuum. The diaphragms are spring loaded so as to seek equilibrium positions as vacuum in the chamber varies force. The inverter produces a vacuum output signal which changes inversely with changes in engine manifold vacuum.

Controlling engine exhaust gas recirculation and vacuum inverter

A valve assembly (10) is provided for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gases in an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a lower housing portion (20) having an exhaust gas inlet (24) and an exhaust outlet port (28). An upper housing member (30) has mounted therein an upper flexible diaphragm (48) biased by a spring (72) a predetermined amount in an upward direction, and a lower diaphragm (76) which is also biased by a spring (102) a predetermined amount in a downward direction. The upper and lower diaphragms define a control chamber (108) which is communicated with an engine intake manifold vacuum source. An axially movable valve member (90) is connected to the lower end of a valve stem (88) which is in turn connected to the lower diaphragm. An adjustment feature (62, 66, 98, 104) permits the preload on both of the biasing springs to be precisely adjusted in order that a desired precise exhaust gas recirculation flow as a function of intake manifold vacuum can be achieved after final assembly of the valve. An alternate embodiment of the invention incorporates a bleed valve assembly (202) responsive to exhaust gas back pressure which enables the valve to discriminate between various engine loadings.

Exhaust gas recycling modulator valve assembly

A pneumatic vacuum regulator (10) is disclosed for supplying a modulated vacuum output signal proportional to an input pressure signal. Upper (18) and lower (20) diaphragms mounted within a housing (14, 16, 36), cooperate therewith to define a fluid chamber (46), a control chamber (58), and an atmospheric vent (104). A spacer (22) between the diaphragms allows the diaphragms to move as a unit in response to sensing subatmospheric pressure in the fluid chamber, atmospheric pressure on one side of the upper diaphragm, and fluid pressure in the control chamber. A valve member (92) is integrally molded into the upper diaphragm and is engageable with an atmospheric valve seat (96) formed around an opening (98) in an upper diaphragm plate (88). A vacuum valve seat (52) is aligned with opening (98) such that the valve member is engageable with either or both valve seats, thus permitting pressure in the fluid chamber to be modulated proportional to the pressure in the control chamber.

Pneumatic vacuum regulator

A valve assembly (10) is provided for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gases in an internal combustion engine. The assembly includes a lower housing portion (20) having an exhaust gas inlet (24) and an exhaust outlet port (28). An upper housing member (30) has mounted therein an upper flexible diaphragm (48) biased by spring (72) biased a predetermined amount in an upward direction and a lower diaphragm (76) which is also biased by a spring (102) biased a predetermined amount in a downward direction. The upper and lower diaphragms define a control chamber (108) which is communicated with an engine intake manifold vacuum source. An axially movable valve member (90) is connected to the lower end of a valve stem (88) which is in turn connected to the lower diaphragm. An adjustment feature (62, 66, 98, 104) permits the preload on both of the biasing springs to be precisely adjusted in order that a desired precise exhaust gas recirculation flow as a function of intake manifold vacuum can be achieved after final assembly of the valve. An alternate embodiment of the invention incorporates a bleed valve assembly (202) responsive to exhaust gas back pressure which enables the valve to discriminate between various engine loadings.

Growing community of inventors

Kalamazoo, MI, United States of America

Cyril E Bradshaw