Fail-safe system for vehicle engine

Abstract

A fail-safe system against the sticking of the throttle valve is disclosed for an automotive engine at a type with a fuel supply unit and the throttle valve driven through an actuator. The amount of depression of the accelerator pedal is detected by an accelerator pedal sensor. The system further comprises a device for detecting that the throttle valve is stuck, and a device for controlling the fuel flow rate from the fuel supply unit in accordance with an output of the accelerator pedal sensor when the throttle valve is stuck. The system preferably further comprises an auxiliary air path bypassing the throttle valve. The bypass air mount from the auxiliary air path is controlled if the throttle valve is stuck at a low opening degree, while the fuel flow rate of the fuel supply unit is controlled if the throttle valve is stuck at a middle or high opening degree.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.