Patent GB-1185055-A (GB)
Title: Vehicle Speed Control Device
IPC: B60K31/12
Filed: 1967-09-28
Abstract: 1,185,055. Controlling vehicles. DANA CORP. 28 Sept., 1967 [28 Sept., 1966], No. 44312/67. Heading B7H. [Also in Division G3] A speed regulating system for an automotive vehicle having manual throttle lock in, throttle retard and throttle advance comprises a servomotor 18 for controlling the engine throttle 12, a source 20 of negative pressure effective upon being imposed on the servomotor to advance the throttle, a valve 23 for interrupting imposition of the negative pressure on the servomotor, modulating valve means 136A for admitting atmospheric air to the servomotor, speed responsive means, such as a centrifugal governor 30, for operating the modulating valve means, coupling means 134, 136 for coupling the speed responsive and modulating valve means, and manually actuable control means 202 for energizing the coupling means when the vehicle is to be maintained at a required speed and for de-energizing the coupling means and reducing the admission of atmospheric air to the servomotor when the throttle is to be advanced. The valve 23 closes either a port 24 leading to the engine manifold or a port 25 communicating with the interior of a casing 188 which may be connected to atmosphere by a valve 176. The valves 23 and 176 and the coupling means 134 are actuated by solenoids forming part of a circuit connected to a battery 190 through the manually actuable control means 202 which consists of a switch having lines by a spring 203. When the switch is momentarily depressed to the position 210, the valve 23 is raised to connect the servomotor to the negative pressure of the engine manifold and the valve 176 is closed to break a contact 296 in the circuit of the coupling means to prevent their energization. A bleed screw 175 permits a small flow of air past the valve 176 until the switch 202 is released when the valve 176 is de-energized and the circuit to the coupling means 134 completed so that the valve 136A is actuated by the governor 30 to maintain the vehicle speed constant, the valve 23 being held in its raised position by a holding circuit from the contact 204, through conductor 214, contact 272, armature 181, screw 180, frame 276 and wire 278. A diode 252 prevents current from the holding circuit from energizing the valve 176. If the switch 202 is held at its intermediate position for a longer period, the valve 176 is held closed and the valve 136A moved to a control position by a spring while the coupling means is de-energized. Full negative pressure is thus supplied to the bellows 18 to accelerate the vehicle. Movement of the switch to the fully depressed position shown at 212 disconnects the contact 200, de-energizing all circuits and allowing a spring 13 to close the throttle 12. When the desired reduced speed has been reached, the switch is permitted to have outwardly energizing contacts 204 and 206 to lock the vehicle at the new speed. A switch 226 operated by the vehicle brake and a low-speed switch 122 operated by the centrifugal governor are also included in the system. Modifications are described in which manually actuated switches sequentially energize a series of three or more solenoid operated valves to provide different rates of inflow of air into the maniford between the engine intake and the bellows for operating the throttle and/or brake so that different rates of acceleration and/or deceleration may be selected The governor 30, Fig. 1 is driven by gearing 80, 87 to displace a spring-loaded sleeve 94 to actuate the low-speed switch through a screw adjustment and the valve 136A through a slotted link 129 and a spring-loaded pin 132 carried by a bracket 153 of the coupling means 134. Atmospheric air is supplied to the system through a filter 150 of foamed polyurethane.