Patent Application
20180202399
The disclosed inventive concept relates generally to vacuum systems for use with automotive vehicles. More particularly, the disclosed inventive concept relates to an aspirator having multiple orifices for use in a vacuum system for a vehicle. The flow rate of gas through the aspirator may be adjusted by the vehicle operator when the vehicle is selectively moved between locations having different altitudes.
The modern automotive vehicle typically includes various vacuum-dependent components that rely on a vacuum system for actuation. The vehicle's brake booster is perhaps the most important of these components. The vacuum needed for such systems may be generated by a pump dedicated to this purpose. Such a pump may be driven by an electric motor or may be driven by the engine itself. However, such active systems reduce operating efficiency of the vehicle by drawing vehicle power either indirectly as in the case of the electric motor or directly as in the case of the engine-driven pump.
Accordingly, instead of relying on an energy-taxing pump, vacuum arrangements involving the use of at least one aspirator are used in conjunction with intake airflow to create the necessary vacuum. The aspirator, sometimes referred to as a venturi, is a passive flow mechanism that is able to provide the necessary system vacuum when the internal combustion engine is operating. Because the aspirator utilizes existing systems that themselves create a vacuum under normal operating conditions, no modification of the engine is required.
The vacuum generated by the aspirator can be controlled as desired to meet the specific operating requirements of associated components such as the brake booster. The brake booster is fitted to most newer vehicles and operates to apply supplemental braking force in the brake system. The conventional brake booster is typically connected to the master cylinder and is mounted on the engine side of the firewall.
The use of the known aspirator in vehicle vacuum systems, while providing a relatively reliable approach to generating the appropriate vacuum for use by vacuum-consuming components, does have its limitations. One such limitation arises when the vehicle is moved from one altitude to another. Under such circumstance, the ambient air pressure is different between low and high altitudes while the parameters of operation of the aspirator remain fixed.
Because the passageway of the conventional aspirator is of a fixed diameter, the vacuum system cannot be adjusted to compensate for such changes in ambient air pressure at different altitudes. This fixed diameter results in compromised vacuum system performance when the vehicle is moved between locations at different altitudes.
Accordingly, as in so many areas of vehicle technology there is always room for improvements related to vacuum systems and associated components. Particularly, it would be advantageous to provide an improved aspirator that can operate efficiently and effectively and different altitudes based on operator-initiated adjustments.
The disclosed inventive concept provides a manually adjustable aspirator for use in a vacuum system for a vehicle having a vacuum source, such as the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The aspirator includes a passageway having a diameter that can be adjusted by a vehicle operator. A manually adjustable flow adjuster is provided to regulate the vacuum. Selective positioning of the flow adjuster allows operator selection between a relatively high boost in a relatively high altitude location having a relatively low source vacuum and a relatively low boost in a relatively low altitude location having a higher source vacuum.
Particularly, the operator-adjustable variable flow aspirator of the disclosed inventive concept includes a body, a first passageway having a narrowed aperture defined by opposed cones, a second passageway, and a manually adjustable flow adjuster operatively associated with the aperture. A brake booster is connected to the aspirator by a vacuum line. An air intake connected with a vacuum source and the aspirator by vacuum lines. The opposed cones include a first cone having a narrowed end and a second cone having a narrowed end. The narrowed ends are joined at a narrow aperture that defines an inner diameter.
The manually adjustable flow adjuster includes a rotatably adjustable, finger-manipulable control knob and a threaded stem extending from the control knob. The stem is an aperture blocking portion that is reversibly movable between positions of increased and decreased aperture blocking of the narrowed inner diameter of the first passageway.
The manually adjustable aspirator is the part of vacuum boost system of a vehicle used to enhance braking, fuel and other systems by boosting vacuum pressure within the system. In high altitude situations, source vacuum is low. The aspirator can be used to provide different gains. The knob is used to manually control the size of the opening of the aspirator. A user can turn the knob to change the boost. The knob is used to change boost according to the altitude on which the vehicle is used since pressure decreases as altitude increases. For example, as the knob is turned in, the cross section of the passageway of the aspirator is reduced, thereby producing a gain and boost change.
Accordingly, the flow rate of the aspirator may be adjusted by the customer when the vehicle is moved between locations having different altitudes. For example, at a lower source vacuum in high altitude situation such as Denver, Colo., the dealer or the customer can turn the knob to achieve 0.08 inch diameter of orifice. If the customer moves to a different altitude, the knob can be changed over to 0.06 inch diameter of orifice. The source vacuum changes with the altitude. This is a highly desirable feature for the operator driving, for example, from the plains to the mountains.
The above advantages and other advantages and features will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by way of examples of the invention wherein:
In the following figures, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components. In the following description, various operating parameters and components are described for different constructed embodiments. These specific parameters and components are included as examples and are not meant to be limiting.
The disclosed inventive concept is illustrated in the accompanying figures in which a suggested embodiment of the manually adjustable aspirator for use in a vacuum system for a vehicle having a vacuum source is shown. The aspirator and its accompanying system as described and illustrated in the accompanying figures are suggestive and are not intended as being limiting. For example, while the manually adjustable flow adjuster arrangement is illustrated herein as being associated with an aspirator having two airflow passageways, it is conceivable that the flow adjuster may also have application with an alternative system such as one having a single airflow passageway or one having more than two passageways. Accordingly, the system of the disclosed inventive concept may be adapted for use in any circumstance where regulation of the vacuum is desired by operator manipulation.
Referring to
Referring again to
The manually adjustable aspirator 10 as illustrated in
The manually adjustable aspirator 10 as illustrated in
Regulated transverse passageways are provided between the first passageway 30 and the second passageway 40 to regulate the vacuum between the two passageways 30 and 40. The regulated transverse passageways include a first transverse passageway 42 that includes a first diaphragm housing 44 having therein a movably adjustable first diaphragm 46. The regulated transverse passageways further include a second transverse passageway 48 that includes a second diaphragm housing 50 having therein a movably adjustable second diaphragm 52. The first movably adjustable diaphragm 46 and the second movably adjustable diaphragm 52 operate to regulate vacuum between the first passageway 30 and the second passageway 40 by selectively opening or closing the first transverse passageway 42 and the second transverse passageway 48.
The manually adjustable flow adjuster 28 includes a threaded portion 54 in the form of a stem that extends from the adjuster knob. The threaded portion 54 is a passageway blocking portion that is movable within a passageway 56 formed by the narrowest ends of the first conical venturi passageway 34 and the second conical venturi passageway 36. Operator controlled movement of the manually adjustable flow adjuster 28 results in changes in the size of the passageway 56 to thereby regulate the vacuum of the manually adjustable aspirator 10.
The manually adjustable aspirator 10, as previously noted, has several applications for use in an automotive vacuum system. One such vacuum system is diagrammatically illustrated in
With reference to
The system 60 further conventionally includes a brake booster 68 to which is attached a brake pedal assembly 70. The system 60 includes an auxiliary vacuum boosted component 72 which may be any of an air conditioner, a CCD, cruise control, or any one of several auxiliary components that require a vacuum source for operation. A first vacuum line 74 connects the manually adjustable aspirator 10 to the intake manifold 62 and a second vacuum line 76 connects the manually adjustable aspirator 10 to the air intake pipe 67. A third vacuum line 78 connects the manually adjustable aspirator 10 to the brake booster 68 and a fourth vacuum line 80 connects the manually adjustable aspirator 10 to the auxiliary vacuum-boosted component 72 (if present).
In operation, the vehicle operator may readily open the vehicle's engine hood and adjust the manually adjustable flow adjuster 28 as required if the vehicle is moved from one elevation to another, thereby achieving different gains by selectively controlling the size of the passageway 56. This adjustment is made to adjust for pressure differences at different altitudes. For example, if the operator chooses to move the vehicle to a higher elevation, the manually adjustable flow adjuster 28 is rotated in a direction toward the manually adjustable aspirator 10 resulting in the reduction of the cross section of the passageway 56, thereby producing a vacuum gain and boost change.
One skilled in the art will readily recognize from such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
