The instant application should be granted the priority date of 29 Dec. 2004, the filing date of the corresponding German patent application 10 2004 063 197.2.
The present invention relates to a carburetor arrangement for a manually guided implement, especially a brushcutter, a chain saw, or the like, that is operated by an internal combustion engine.
With an implement having an internal combustion engine for a drive motor, a carburetor is provided that supplies a fuel/air mixture to the internal combustion engine. For an optimum engine performance, and to fulfill emission regulations, the carburetor is set for warm engine operation. A butterfly valve that is pivotably mounted in the intake duct of the carburetor serves for controlling the power. The pivot range extends from the fully opened state for full throttle operation to a nearly completely closed state in which the internal combustion engine is idling.
The basic setting of the carburetor is suitable for the start of the internal combustion engine only to a limited extent. When starting a cold internal combustion engine, an enrichment of the fuel/air mixture is necessary, for which a starter valve, also known as a choke valve, is provided upstream of the butterfly valve. When the choke valve is closed at least partially, the underpressure in the carburetor, and hence the quantity of fuel drawn in, increase, thereby bringing about the desired enrichment. For a reliable start, at the same time a position of the butterfly valve is necessary that is open by an additional amount relative to the idling position. For a warm start, a similar position of the butterfly valve can be expedient, whereby a closing of the choke valve is not necessary. Depending upon the various operating conditions, different relative settings of the butterfly valve and of the choke valve are necessary for the start of the internal combustion engine.
An unintentional actuation of a start lever that acts upon the choke valve can lead to increased exhaust gas emissions. Incorrect settings of the valve arrangement can also make starting difficult. The butterfly valve, when opened beyond the idling position, after start-up generates an increased initial speed, which is disadvantageous when using a centrifugal clutch.
It is an object of the present application to improve the carburetor arrangement of the aforementioned type for a manually-guided implement that is operated by an internal combustion engine such that a reliable start is achieved.
This object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:
The carburetor arrangement of the present application is provided with a start lever that acts upon the choke valve for actuation of the carburetor in the start phase. The start lever can be shifted in a direction of actuation and in an unlocking direction that extends independently of the direction of actuation. The start lever is locked in a rest position relative to its direction of actuation. After shifting the start lever out if its rest position in the unlocking direction, the start lever is unlocked such that it is shiftable in the direction of actuation.
The independence of the unlocking direction from the direction of actuation means that in the mechanical sense two directions are provided in different degrees of freedom that are independent of one another. These two directions comprise two lateral displacement directions that are disposed at least approximately perpendicular to one another and/or rotational or pivotable movements about two axes that are disposed at least approximately perpendicular to one another, whereby combinations of lateral and pivotal movements can also be expedient.
The start lever is locked in its rest position, thereby preventing an accidental actuation and setting of the choke valve and the accompanying increased exhaust gas emissions. With a butterfly valve coupled to the position of the choke valve, an increased start speed is also prevented. Prior to actuation of the valve arrangement, an unlocking movement of the start lever is first necessary. A prerequisite for the unlocking direction of the start lever that is independent of the direction of actuation is an intentional unlocking process that is followed by a similarly intentional actuation for setting the carburetor in a start configuration, which actuation follows in a different and independent direction of actuation. An accidental actuation of the valve arrangement is prevented by the locking. An accidental unlocking, due to the different direction of movement, still does not lead to an adjustment of the choke valve and/or the butterfly valve. Thus, a high degree of protection against incorrect operation is provided.
The present invention is particularly advantageous where the carburetor is embodied with a single-lever arrangement. In such a case a single choke valve acts not only upon the butterfly valve but also upon the choke valve. The user must merely successively carry out the unlocking movement and subsequently, in a different direction, the actuation movement of the start lever. By means of a suitable kinematic, the butterfly valve and the choke valve are pivoted or shifted relative to one another in structurally provided relative positions. These positions can be optimized as a function of the position of the start lever for cold start and also for warm start. The user merely has to shift the start lever after unlocking into the respective positions provided for the cold or warm start. Unsuitable relative positions of the choke valve and of the butterfly valve are prevented. A valve setting of the carburetor arrangement that is suitable for a reliable start of the internal combustion engine can be established with little effort while avoiding incorrect operations. The reliability of the starting process of the internal combustion engine is improved accompanied by an increased operator comfort.
Pursuant to an expedient further development, a transmission mechanism between the choke valve and the butterfly valve is embodied in such a way that it automatically uncouples upon independent actuation of the butterfly valve. By means of the start lever, the choke valve is first shifted into the desired start position, whereby the transmission mechanism also carries out a corresponding setting of the butterfly valve. After the internal combustion engine has started, the user, by actuating the independent throttle trigger, which acts exclusively upon the butterfly valve, can bring about a smooth running of the engine. The independent actuation of the separate throttle trigger, i.e. the butterfly valve, effects an uncoupling of the operative connection between the choke valve and the butterfly valve. A spring biasing of the choke valve in its open direction effects an automatic resetting of the choke valve in the open operating position. In conjunction with a single-lever and locking arrangement that is disengaged from the housing, the start lever is also automatically reset to its rest position. A manual resetting is eliminated. The operational comfort and reliability are further increased.
Pursuant to an advantageous embodiment, the operative connection of the start lever to the choke valve and to the butterfly valve is interrupted in its locked rest position and is established in its unlocked position. The interruption of the operative connection of the choke valve to the valve arrangement in the locked rest position contributes to the operational reliability. To the extent that, for example as a consequence of damage, an undesired actuation of the locked start lever should occur, this cannot be transferred to the valve arrangement. For this purpose, first an active coupling of the start lever to the valve arrangement is necessary by actuation thereof in the direction of actuation.
Pursuant to an expedient further development, the start lever is a pivot lever that is pivotable about a pivot axis in its direction of actuation, whereby the unlocking direction extends in the direction of the pivot axis. Provided in particular is an unlocking direction of the start lever that corresponds to an axial pressure upon the start lever. The axial, and in particular pressing, unlocking movement can be easily brought about with little exertion of force. A subsequent pivot movement that is effected transverse thereto permits the sensitive setting of the valve arrangement in the desired cold or warm start positions as well as possibly intermediate positions.
Pursuant to an expedient embodiment, the start lever is mounted directly upon a valve shaft, and in particular upon a choke valve shaft of the carburetor. While eliminating a transmission linkage that suffers from play and elasticity, an exact valve position is simplified.
Pursuant to an expedient further development, a locking mechanism for the start lever is secured directly to the carburetor. In conjunction with the direct mounting upon the valve shaft, the arrangement is uncoupled from housing components or the like. Relative deformations of housing and engine or carburetor unit have no influence upon the selected or desired carburetor setting.
The locking mechanism advantageously includes a locking sleeve in which the start lever is guided so as to be rotatable and axially displaceable, whereby a nose that projects radially on the shaft of the start lever is guided in an arrangement comprised of a longitudinal groove, which is closed at one end, and a peripheral guide means of the locking means that proceeds from an open end of the longitudinal groove. A mechanism results that is comparable to that of a ball-point pen. The longitudinal groove permits the start lever to be pressed in axially, whereby the pivoting actuation movement of the start lever is provided only after the nose of the shaft exits the open end of the longitudinal groove and can be moved in the pivoting direction on the peripheral guide means that adjoin the longitudinal groove.
The closed design of the longitudinal groove in the opposite direction serves to prevent the start lever from becoming detached. The aforementioned arrangement provides a high precision of guidance with little sensitivity to dirt, and produces a clean separation of the unlocking movement and the actuating movement of the start lever.
In the aforementioned arrangement, the start lever is preferably guided in a longitudinally displaceable manner in the direction of its pivot axis against the pretensioning force of its spring. The spring presses the start lever, with its nose, into the closed end of the longitudinal groove, where the start lever is reliably held in its rest position. To actuate the start lever, an unlocking process that actively overcomes the pretensioning force is required, thus contributing to the operational reliability of the arrangement.
The start lever is preferably guided in an axially displaceable manner relative to a transmission shaft, whereby an end face of the transmission shaft is provided with a lateral flattened portion and engages in a receiving bore of the start lever having a shaped recess provided for positively receiving the flattened portion. The transmission shaft can in particular be one of the two valve shafts of the carburetor. The guidance thereof in the receiving bore of the start lever effects a precise relative positioning. When the start lever is axially pressed in, it glides along the transmission shaft in the axial direction until the lateral flattened portion of the shaft engages in the corresponding shaped recess on the inside of the start lever. Only then is a positive rotational connection established between the start lever and the transmission shaft, which enables an actuation of the valve arrangement. A precise, wear-resistant interlocking can be achieved in conjunction with the axial guidance in the receiving bore.
Pursuant to an advantageous further development, the axial dimension of the flattened portion and of the shaped recess correspond approximately to the axial dimension of the longitudinal groove that is closed off at one end. The axial length of the longitudinal groove prescribes the unlocking path. The aforementioned arrangement ensures that the operative connection between the start lever and the transmission shaft is interrupted in the rest position, while at the same time, after overcoming the axial unlocking path, the interlocking between the two components is precisely defined and completely established.
Pursuant to an advantageous further development, the locking sleeve has a continuous assembly groove, which extends in the axial direction, for the nose of the start lever. The end edge of the assembly groove that is disposed remote from an end of the locking sleeve is disposed deeper than the locking sleeve, relative to the unlocking direction, than is the arrangement comprised of the longitudinal groove and peripheral guide means. During preassembly, the start lever can be inserted into the locking sleeve by guiding the nose through the continuous assembly groove. Subsequently, a rotation and a slight pulling of the start lever is effected, during which the nose is guided past below the end edge of the assembly groove and is pulled into the arrangement comprised of the longitudinal groove and the peripheral guide means. In this preassembled state the described structural unit can be mounted on the carburetor, whereby the appropriate carburetor shaft is introduced into the shaft of the start lever. The introduced valve shaft limits the axial movability of the start lever in its unlocking path. A further axial displacement of the nose to the end edge of the assembly groove is no longer possible. The start lever cannot be removed from the locking sleeve. For disassembly, it is necessary to completely dismantle the unit comprised of the locking sleeve and the start lever. A reliable protection against loss and manipulation is provided.
Pursuant to an advantageous variation, the start lever is lowered into the configuration of a housing of the implement, whereby a switch lever is provided that can be pivoted or lifted from the start lever out of the housing contour. Here, the locking of the start lever is provided in that the lowering into the housing contour prevents an accidental actuation. For the actuation, the unlocking is to be actively undertaken such that a switch lever is to be pivoted out in a pivoting movement that is independent of the direction of actuation. The configuration of the aforementioned arrangement is structurally straightforward and economical as well as resistant to wear, and is not sensitive to dirt or other influences.
With the aforementioned arrangement, the switch lever is advantageously spring biased in the direction of its lowered position. For this purpose, the switch lever is in particular made of polymeric material having a monolithically formed spring. After actuation of the start lever, the switch lever automatically pivots back into its lowered position, thus further increasing the protection against incorrect operation.
The switch lever is advantageously embodied as a switch rocker that is in particular snapped into a main body of the switch lever. The rocker, which in both directions projects beyond its pivot axis, simplifies the actuation in that in addition to raising one of the two ends of the rocker, it is also possible to press the opposite end of the rocker in.
Pursuant to an expedient variation, the locking mechanism for the throttle trigger is disposed on the housing of the implement, and is in particular formed by an edge of the housing. The start lever is advantageously elastically resilient in the direction of the pivot axis, and in its rest position is disposed relative to the housing in such a way that the aforementioned housing edge prevents a pivoting or actuation of the start lever. For actuation, the start lever must first be raised beyond the housing edge against its elastic spring force. Subsequently, the direction of actuation that is disposed transverse thereto is released. The arrangement is economical and has a structurally straightforward configuration, is resistant to wear, and is not sensitive to dirt and other external influences.
Further specific features of the present application will be described in detail subsequently.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, the perspective overall illustration of
To start the internal combustion engine, a starter pull cord 40 is provided on the back side of the housing 28. During starting of the internal combustion engine by means of the starter pull cord 40, the lock 39 and the throttle trigger 38 are not actuated. For bringing the carburetor 1 (
One embodiment of the single-lever arrangement shown in
The perspective view of
Provided between the choke valve shaft 11 and the butterfly valve shaft 10 is a transmission mechanism 33 that upon actuation of the choke valve 4 also affects the position of the butterfly valve 3 (
The detailed view of
By means of respective, non-illustrated springs, the butterfly valve shaft 10 and the choke valve shaft 11 are each pretensioned in such a way that the butterfly valve 3 is biased in the direction of its closed idling position, and the choke valve 4 is biased in the direction of its opened operating position. After the internal combustion engine has been started by means of the starter pull cord 40 (
In the illustrated embodiment, the single-lever arrangement 5 with its start lever 6 is mounted directly on the choke valve shaft 11. Another possible arrangement is where the single-lever arrangement 5 is mounted on the butterfly valve shaft 10, whereby the movement of the butterfly valve shaft 10 is transmitted via a suitable transmission mechanism 33 to the choke valve shaft 11.
To further explain how the single-lever arrangement 5 of
A shaft 14 of the start lever 6 carries a radially projecting nose 15. In the installed state, the shaft 14 is rotatable and to a limited extent axially shiftable in the locking sleeve 13. During assembly, the nose 15 is introduced through an open assembly groove 25 on the free end 26 of the locking sleeve 13.
With additional reference to the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the locking sleeve 13 in
With simultaneous reference to
In the aforementioned assembled position, the single-lever arrangement 5 is in its rest position. The shaft 14 of the start lever 6 is mounted in the locking sleeve 13 so as to be axially displaceable against the compressive force of the spring 19, whereby the receiving bore 23 of the shaft 14 is additionally mounted on the choke valve shaft 11. The depth of the receiving bore 23, with the shaped recess 24 at the end, is dimensioned such that in the rest position, the flattened portion 22 of the end face 21 of the choke valve shaft 11 does not engage in the shaped recess 24. A rotating, positive operative connection between the start lever 6 and the choke valve shaft 11 is interrupted. The nose 15 that is held in the longitudinal groove 16 locks the start lever 6 in its direction of actuation 7, thereby forming the locking mechanism 12.
As a result of axial pressure on the start lever 6 in the unlocking direction 8, the start lever 6 is shifted in this direction relative to the locking sleeve 13 and to the choke valve shaft 11 until as a consequence of a pivoting movement of the start lever 6, the nose 15 can slide along the peripheral guide means 17 in the direction of actuation 7. The axial dimension of the flattened portion 22 and of the shaped recess 24 is only slightly less than the axial dimension of the longitudinal groove 16 from its closed end to its open end 18. The arrangement of the longitudinal groove 16 and of the peripheral guide 17 is coordinated with the position of the end face 21 of the choke valve shaft 11 in such a way that in the pressed-in state of the start lever 6, in which the nose 15 thereof can be guided past the peripheral guide means 17 in the pivoting direction of actuation 7, the flattened portion 22 of the choke valve shaft 11 engages entirely in the shaped recess 24 of the receiving bore 23 in the start lever 6. In the unlocked, pressed-in state of the start lever 6, a positive operative connection to the choke valve 11 in the direction of actuation 7 is established.
The choke valve shaft 11 forms a transmission shaft 20 in the direction of the butterfly valve 3 and the choke valve 4 (
The engagement of the flattened portion 22 of the choke valve shaft 11 in the shaped recess 24 of the receiving bore 23 also effects an axial stop of the start lever 6 in the unlocking direction 8. This is dimensioned such that although the nose 15 can slide along the peripheral guide means 17, it cannot be guided beyond the end edge 17, which is disposed lower in the axial direction, and into the assembly groove 25. When the locking sleeve 13 is fastened to the carburetor 1, the start lever 6 cannot become detached.
The diagrammatic sketch of
In both embodiments of
A further embodiment of the inventive carburetor arrangement is shown in
In conformity with the illustration of
The specification incorporates by reference the disclosure of German priority document 10 2004 063 197.2 filed 29 Dec. 2004.
The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.
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10 2004 063 197 | Dec 2004 | DE | national |
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20060138684 A1 | Jun 2006 | US |