Proportional flow venturi vacuum system for an internal combustion engine

An intake assembly configured for attachment to an internal combustion engine, the intake assembly comprising:

• a throttle movable between a partially opened position and an almost-closed position to selectively vary the flow of air therethrough;
• an intake manifold configured to be in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and configured to receive air from the throttle and supply the air to the combustion chamber;
• wherein a manifold vacuum is configured to be generated in the intake manifold in response to combustion of the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber;
• an intake line extending between an inlet and the intake manifold, wherein the throttle is operatively disposed along the intake line;
• a venturi valve operatively disposed between the intake line and the intake manifold;
• a pressure reservoir fluidly connected between the intake manifold and the venturi valve;
• and
• a proportionally controlled valve operatively connected between the intake manifold and the venturi valve;
• wherein the proportionally controlled valve is movable between an open position and a closed position;
• wherein the proportionally controlled valve is configured to move to the open position in response to the throttle being in the partially open position such that air flows from the inlet to the intake manifold via the intake line, from the inlet to the venturi valve, from the venturi valve to the intake manifold, and from the reservoir to the venturi valve to reduce the pressure within the pressure reservoir;
• and
• wherein the proportionally controlled valve is configured to move to the closed position in response to the throttle being in the almost-closed position such that air flows from the inlet to the intake manifold via the intake line and from the pressure reservoir to the intake manifold to reduce the pressure within the pressure reservoir.

A vacuum assist system configured for attachment to an intake line and an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine having a throttle, the vacuum assist system comprising:

• a venturi valve configured to be operatively connected between the intake line and the intake manifold;
• a pressure reservoir configured to be fluidly connected between the intake manifold and the venturi valve;
• and
• a proportionally controlled valve configured to be operatively disposed between the intake manifold and the venturi valve;
• wherein the proportionally controlled valve is movable between an open position and a closed position;
• wherein the proportionally controlled valve is configured to move to the open position in response to the throttle being in the partially open position such that air is configured to flow from the inlet to the intake manifold via the intake line, from the inlet to the venturi valve, from the venturi valve to the intake manifold, and from the pressure reservoir to the venturi valve to reduce the pressure within the pressure reservoir;
• and
• wherein the proportionally controlled valve is configured to move to the closed position in response to the throttle being in the almost-closed position such that air is configured to flow from the inlet to the intake manifold via the intake line and from the pressure reservoir to the intake manifold to reduce the pressure within the pressure reservoir.