Eaton Corporation

Gerald L Larson

Roger F Kuether

Walter K O'Neil

Robert S Mueller

E James Lane

Martin W Uitvlugt

William A Treadwell

Alberto Pi

James Seaver

A system for optimizing the number of cylinders operating in a multicylinder engine, during ongoing engine operation. Input circuitry monitors conditions under which the engine is operating and generates corresponding input signals. Logic circuitry, based on such input signals, determines whether to then add to, subtract from, or maintain unchanged the number of cylinders operating in the engine. Output circuitry, responsive to the logic circuitry, enables and disables specific cylinders in the engine, in a preferred embodiment through valve selectors respectively provided on several cylinders of the multicylinder engine. The logic technique includes a bidirectional counting portion capable of sequential up and down counting through several steps to correspondingly sequentially enable or disable the valve selector equipped cylinders of the engine in, preferably, one cylinder steps. Preferred embodiments are directed to vehicle engines and the input circuitry preferably monitors operating parameters such as engine load, throttle position, transmission top gear selection, and engine or vehicle speed.

Valve selector control system

A dynamoelectric machine for generating an electric current having the frequency thereof proportional to the shaft speed of the machine. The generator is preferably of the permanent magnet type particularly suitable for use as a wheel speed indicator or tachometer-generator. The stator has an inner and outer tubular portion, with the inner portion disposed for limited radial movement with respect to the outer housing and having one end of the rotor journalled thereon for holding a substantially constant air gap at the rotary pole thereof. The limited movement of the inner stator portion is resisted by frictional forces created by the permanent magnet and by the axial bias of a thrust bearing. The remaining end of the rotor is journalled in a bearing registered in the outer stator housing. The machine gives magnetic saturation at the stator poles at 30% of rated speed and produces a strong signal output at low speeds.

Vehicle tachometer generator

A novel electropneumatic servoactuator utilizing a fluid pressure control signal chamber and a duty-cycle control valve alternating between a fluid supply pressure port means and port means venting the chamber to the atmosphere and controlling fluid pressure in the chamber. The control valve is driven by electromagnetic means comprising a coil responsive to an electrical input signal. Pressure responsive actuator means moves in response to the chamber pressure level for providing a mechanical position output. Feedback means senses movement of the actuator means and throttles the fluid flow in one of said port means. In another aspect of the invention, an auxiliary dump release valve armature means is also driven by the coil in preferably magnetic series circuit arrangement with the control valve and coil for rapidly porting the control chamber to the atmosphere for emergency release.

Method of controlling apparatus and servoactuator therefor

The position or presence of a metallic object is detected by an electronic circuit which senses a shift in phase between a first cyclic signal and a second cyclic signal which shifts in phase in response to movement of the object. An oscillator produces the first cyclic signal which is used as the reference signal and as the excitation for a parallel resonant circuit which produces the second signal. The phase of the second signal is shifted in response to movement of a metal plate or a shorted coil in an electromagnetic field produced by an inductor in the resonant circuit. The degree of the phase shifts may be used to detect the position of an object in the electromagnetic field or rate of the phase shifts may be used to detect the velocity of an object. An exclusive-or gate senses the changes or differences in phase between the two cyclic signals and produces an output signal representative of the changes or differences in phase. The output signal of the detector may be used with a digital counter to produce a digital output or with a smoothing filter to provide an analog output.

Position detecting system

A motor vehicle speed control system which, upon activation by the vehicle operator, maintains the vehicle at a predetermined set speed. The system utilizes a duty-cycle type pneumatic servoactuator responsive to an electrical control signal for controlling movement of the vehicle throttle. Control means responsive to deviation of vehicle speed from the predetermined set speed, is operable to vary the control signal characteristics in accordance with a predetermined governing equation and the electrical control signal is utilized to operate the servoactuator. Vehicle speed is sensed by a generator providing an electrical signal output and a control means is of the electronic type responsive to the electrical speed signal and the predetermined set speed. In one embodiment both analog-digital circuit techniques are employed for the control means and, in another embodiment, substantially all-digital circuitry is utilized.

Device for regulating vehicle road speed

An electronic digital control system for vehicle speed control of the type using a throttle servoactuator responsive to an electrical control signal. The control system includes a function switch which, when selectively actuated by the vehicle operator, causes the controller to index the sensed vehicle speed by a predetermined increment and accelerates the vehicle to said indexed speed. The controller regulates vehicle speed by repetitively calculating the parameters of a governing equation and providing a control signal in the form of a series of width modulated electrical pulses having the width thereof proportional to the sum of the parameters of the governing equation. The control system utilizes only a single counting means for registering vehicle speed and the desired set, or reference, speed.

Control system and method for controlling vehicle speed

A cumulative running time indicator for use with an engine has a ceramic resonator-controlled oscillator that drives an electronic divider, a multiplexer, and a stepping motor which is connected through a gear train to a mechanical display showing elapsed time. The running time indicator operates only when an electrical generator, which is mechanically coupled with the engine, produces sufficient voltage to operate the indicator circuits. Sufficient voltage is produced at all engine speeds above a threshold speed which is less than engine idling speed. The generator supplies ac voltage to doubler circuit that has two separate outputs -- one for supplying large pulses of current for the stepping motor, and a partially isolated second output for other electronic loads. A tachometer output signal is provided at an auxiliary output terminal and is buffered to prevent disablement of the running time indicator by short circuits and externally applied voltages at the auxiliary output terminal. The running time indicator is therefore self-powered, relatively secure from tampering, and accurate.

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Battle Creek, MI, United States of America

Gerald L Larson