Extended range variator for fuel pump computer

In a variator for a fuel pump computer having a frame, a rotatable primary gear stack mounted therein comprised of a multiplicity of gears of different proportionate sizes affixed upon a shaft for operative connection to a fuel pump metering device, a plurality of range arm assemblies mounted in said frame and having means for selective meshing engagement with each of said gears of said primary gear stack and having a shaft offset from the axis thereof, and a primary rotary summing mechanism coaxially mounted with said primary gear stack for operative engagement with said range arm assemblies to combine the rotary outputs thereof;

• the improvement comprising a supplemental range mechanism mounted on said frame and including:
• a secondary gear stack comprised of a multiplicity of gears of different proportionate sizes affixed upon a shaft and disposed on an axis offset from that of said primary gear stack for operative connection to said metering device, and means other than said plurality of range arm assemblies for selectively operatively connecting each of said gears of said secondary gear stack to said primary summing mechanism, said other means comprising a selector assembly pivotably mounted adjacent said primary and secondary gear stacks, said axis of pivoting of said selector assembly, and said axis of said secondary gear stack, being parallel to said primary gear stack axis, said selector assembly including a first shaft on said axis of pivoting thereof, with a spline member rotatably mounted thereon, and a second shaft offset from and parallel to said first shaft, an arm member which is movable on said selector assembly along an axis parallel to the axis of pivoting thereof, and a selector gear rotatably mounted on said arm member for selective engagement with each of said gears of said secondary gear stack to establish such operative connection to said primary summing mechanism with different proportionate input rates, said arm member of said selector assembly being slideably mounted on said second shaft with said selector gear thereof in meshing engagement with said spline member, said selector gear and spline member functioning to input and output rotary motion to and from said selector assembly, respectively, whereby the rotary output from said secondary gear stack can be combined with the rotary output of said range arm assemblies to generate a cumulative proportionate rotary output from said primary summing mechanism.

In a variator for a fuel pump computer having a frame, a rotatable primary gear stack mounted therein comprised of a multiplicity of gears of different proportionate sizes affixed upon a shaft for operative connection to a fuel pump metering device, a plurality of range arm assemblies mounted in said frame and having means for selective meshing engagement with each of said gears of said primary gear stack and having a shaft offset from the axis thereof, and a primary rotary summing mechanism coaxially mounted with said primary gear stack for operative engagement with said range arm assemblies to combine the rotary outputs thereof;

• the improvement comprising a supplemental range mechanism mounted on said frame and including:
• a secondary gear stack comprised of a multiplicity of gears of different proportionate sizes affixed upon a shaft and disposed on an axis offset from that of said primary gear stack for operative connection to said metering device, and means other than said plurality of range arm assemblies for selectively operatively connecting each of said gears of said secondary gear stack to said primary summing mechanism;
• and a secondary rotary summing mechanism disposed on the shaft of one of said plurality of range arm assemblies and operatively connected thereto, said secondary summing mechanism being operatively interposed between said other means of said supplemental range mechanism and said primary summing mechanism to combine the outputs of said one range arm assembly and said supplemental range mechanism with those of the other range arm assemblies, whereby the rotary output from said secondary gear stack can be combined with the rotary output of said range arm assemblies to generate a cumulatively proportionate rotary output from said primary summing mechanism.

In a variator for a fuel pump computer having a frame, a rotatable primary gear stack mounted therein comprised of a multiplicity of gears of different proportionate sizes affixed upon a shaft for operative connection to a fuel pump metering device, a plurality of range arm assemblies mounted in said frame and having means for selective meshing engagement with each of said gears of said primary gear stack and having a shaft offset from the axis thereof, and a primary rotary summing mechanism coaxially mounted with said primary gear stack for operative engagement with said range arm assemblies to combine the rotary outputs thereof;

• the improvement comprising a supplemental range mechanism mounted on said frame and including:
• a secondary gear stack comprised of a multiplicity of gears of different proportionate sizes affixed upon a shaft and disposed on an axis offset from that of said primary gear stack for operative connection to said metering device, and means other than said plurality of range arm assemblies for selectively operatively connecting each of said gears of said secondary gear stack to said primary summing mechanism;
• and a radially offset, axially extending bale member pivotably mounted upon said shaft of at least one of said range arm assemblies, and a speed reduction mechanism comprising first and second pinions mounted on said shaft thereof and a compound gear rotatably mounted on said bale member, said compound gear having first and second gear elements in meshing engagement with said first and second pinions, respectively, said first pinion being affixed to said shaft and said second pinion being rotatable thereon, said pinions and gear elements being of such relative sizes as to cause said second pinion to rotate at a slower speed than said first pinion when driven thereby through said compound gear, whereby said rotary output from said secondary gear stack can be combined with the rotary output of said range arm assemblies to generate a cumulatively proportionate rotary output from said primary summing mechanism.

In a variator for a fuel pump computer having a frame, a rotatable primary gear stack mounted therein comprised of a multiplicity of gears of different proportionate sizes affixed upon a shaft for operative connection to a fuel pump metering device, a plurality of range arm assemblies mounted in said frame and having means for selective meshing engagement with each of said gears of said primary gear stack and having a shaft offset from the axis thereof, and a primary rotary summing mechanism coaxially mounted with said primary gear stack for operative engagement with said range arm assemblies to combine the rotary outputs thereof;

• the improvement comprising:
• (a) a supplemental range mechanism mounted in said frame and including a secondary gear stack comprised of a multiplicity of gears of different proportionate sizes affixed upon a shaft and disposed on an axis offset from that of said primary gear stack for operative connection to said metering device, and means other than said plurality of range arm assemblies for selectively operatively connecting each of said gears of said secondary gear stack to said primary summing mechanism;
• and (b) a secondary rotary summing mechanism disposed on the shaft of one of said plurality of range arm assemblies and operatively connected thereto, said secondary summing mechanism being operatively interposed between said other means of said supplemental range mechanism and said primary summing mechanism to combine the outputs of said one range arm assembly and said supplemental range mechanism with those of the other range arm assemblies, whereby the rotary output from said secondary gear stack can be combined with the rotary output of said range arm assemblies to generate a cumulatively proportionate rotary output from said primary summing mechanism.