Patents Examined by Ronald H. Lazarus
  • Patent number: 4515135
    Abstract: A hot fuel gas generator for an internal combustion engine of the piston type vaporizes liquid fuel such as gasoline and delivers the same to the engine through a control valve which is responsive in operation to accelerator linkage controlling the internal combustion engine's operation. The hot fuel gas generator uses exhaust gases as a heat source and communicates with an adaptor block mounted on the inlet manifold of the internal combustion engine. A conventional carburetor may be carried on the adaptor block along with a conventional air cleaner as known in the art. The hot fuel gas generator separately makes superheated steam from a controlled amount of water and mixes the steam with the gasified fuel in a mixing chamber which is enclosed in a hollow body member through which hot exhaust gases from the equipped internal combustion engine are directed prior to their delivery to an exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: General Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Glass
  • Patent number: 4515133
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine fuel economizing device is disclosed. A cylinder having an inlet and an outlet is installed between the fuel pump and the carburetor. Fuel discharged from the fuel pump enters the cylinder inlet through an inlet conduit. The fuel stream is filtered by a filtering device located within the inlet conduit. The fuel is concentrated in the cylinder by the fuel pump pressure, and exits the cylinder through an outlet conduit. At the terminus of the outlet conduit is a restricted opening which creates a pressure drop. The pressure drop changes the fuel stream to a liquid-vapor phase which enters the carburetor for mixing with air prior to combustion in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: Frank Roman
  • Patent number: 4515137
    Abstract: An improved device for separating liquid from gases and vapors passing from the crankcase of an internal combustion engine to the intake manifold thereof and allowing return of the separated liquid to the crankcase, through a conduit interconnecting the crankcase with the intake manifold, the component comprising a restricting device positioned within the conduit providing a restricted flow path in the crankcase gases and vapors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: John Manolis
  • Patent number: 4515134
    Abstract: A molecular diffuser assembly is adapted to replace the carburetor of an internal combustion engine and is provided with a venturi-type passageway in communication with the internal combustion engine for drawing an airstream therethrough. A thermistor-type heater/evaporator assembly operates at a selected temperature to evaporate all the volatile constituents of the liquid fuel introduced thereto and provides a substantially complete vapor fuel for delivery to the venturi for diffusion with the airstream passing therethrough. A regulator assembly controls the amount of vapor fuel discharged into the venturi in response to parametric information delivered thereto, such information indicative of the mass flow rate of the airstream flowing through the venturi. The vaporized fuel in the venturi throat represents the fuel molecules at an optimal degree of separation so as to optimally react with the oxydizing airstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Inventor: Conrad K. Warren, II
  • Patent number: 4513726
    Abstract: A fuel saving system for a gasoline engine including a chamber for mixing air and gas and passing the vaporized fuel into an intake manifold to create a better balanced fuel mixture in the engine combustion chambers. The mixing chamber draws air from the engine's vacuum, passing it through an elastic porous element where raw gas is sprayed directly on the element and vapor is drawn off and passed into the intake manifold where it is mixed with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1985
    Assignee: Misty Vapor, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Webb
  • Patent number: 4512322
    Abstract: An air heating device for the inlet air flow to an air-breathing internal combustion engine comprises a helically coiled electrical resistance in the air entry conduit and a rigid retaining member passing through the coils of resistance along its length. The member is securely fixed at both ends to opposite sides of the conduit structure and is spaced from the coils of the resistance so that these are fully exposed to the air flow. In the event of the coiled resistance breaking loose from its normal mountings the retaining member will hold it to ensure damage is not caused by the resistance reaching a combustion chamber entry. The device can be arranged as a gasket-like unit with the body a ring-like frame that is clamped between opposed flanges of adjoining parts of the engine air entry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: CT Harwood Limited
    Inventor: Michael F. Barcy
  • Patent number: 4512324
    Abstract: A fuel preheater for liquid fuel having a multi-pass heat exchanger for said fuel, heated by an electrical resistance heater provided with a sensor adjacent the device designed to burn the fuel, the sensor controlling the flow of electrical current to said heater. The heat exchanger is preferably made from extruded stock and a material having good heat conductivity. If the device burning the fuel is a water cooled device, a separate heat exchanger using such heated water may be placed in series with the preheater in order to augment it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: David Neary
    Inventor: David Neary
  • Patent number: 4512325
    Abstract: This invention provides the combination of a gas-mixing chamber, and a first conduit connected to the crankcase of an engine and passing through the chamber in non-communicating fashion, the conduit then extending out of the chamber and returning to open into the chamber. The first conduit is of copper or at least has its inner wall made of copper. A second conduit leads from the chamber and connects to the intake manifold of the engine. A third conduit leads from the chamber and receives heated gas from the exhaust pipe or manifold. A fourth conduit leads from the mixing chamber and is adapted for connection to the air filter of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Inventor: Stephan DePakh
  • Patent number: 4512323
    Abstract: A system vaporizes fuel for an internal combustion engine. This system has an auxiliary fuel tank connected to the main fuel pump. An auxiliary fuel pump has its intake connected to the auxiliary fuel tank and discharges into an auxiliary fuel line. The auxiliary fuel line passes through a preheater which heats the fuel through heat exchange with exhaust from the engine. The preheated fuel passes to a vaporizer chamber. The vaporizer chamber is electrically heated to vaporize the fuel, which then passes to the carburetor for mixing with air. The system has a bypass line to deliver an increased amount of fuel to the vaporizer chamber if the engine is accelerated. Valves and thermostats enable operation of the engine using conventional liquid fuel until the heat exchanger and vaporizer chamber reach operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Ultra Mileager Company, Inc.
    Inventors: John V. Ruth, Garfield C. Potts
  • Patent number: 4510914
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of mixing liquid fuel and air for an internal combustion engine includes an assembly providing a plurality of venturi passageways for accelerative drawing of ambient air therethrough by the vacuum created by the engine and an associated fuel supply conduit system and apertures in the venturis for aspiration of fuel into the air. One of the venturis communicates unobstructedly with the engine to provide a fuel-air mixture for idling operation and a valve arrangement effects opening and closing of at least some of the other venturis to communication with the engine responsive to increases and decreases in the vacuum. An enlarged chamber intermediate the venturis and the engine receives the fuel entrained airstream from such some venturis, reduces the velocity thereof, and thereby gravitationally separates therefrom the larger fuel droplets which will not quickly and completely combust in the engine. A recycling arrangement returns the separated droplets to the atomizing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Inventor: Ben D. Purser
  • Patent number: 4510909
    Abstract: A fuel rail assembly for a V engine has a pair of fuel rails connected by crossover and discharge conduits. The crossover and discharge conduits are secured to the fuel rails in a manner which permits relative motion between the fuel rails without loss of fuel from the fuel rail-conduit intersection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas G. Elphick, Edgar S. Eshleman, Martin J. Field
  • Patent number: 4510912
    Abstract: A fuel system for use with an internal combustion engine includes primary and secondary carburetors and vaporizing apparatus. When starting the engine, liquid fuel is supplied by a fuel pump to the primary carburetor via a first switchable valve means. After the engine has warmed sufficiently, liquid fuel is prevented from reaching the primary carburetor, and instead is supplied to the vaporizing apparatus via second switchable valve means. Vaporized fuel is supplied to the primary carburetor from the vaporizing apparatus via the secondary carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Inventor: David E. Gamble
  • Patent number: 4506636
    Abstract: Device for controlling the evacuation of exhaust gases of a combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine.A rotary valve performs a continuous or alternate turning movement and synchronized with the rotation of the motor about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the motor and issues at the level of its transversal channel on one side on an orifice connected to the exhaust towards the outside.The invention is applied to the control of the exhaust of two stroke engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Elf France
    Inventors: Guy Negre, Jean-Claude Fayard
  • Patent number: 4506647
    Abstract: A vapor fuel system for an internal combustion engine includes two vaporizing units for vaporizing liquid fuel and mixing it with air and a vapor heat exchanger for heating the fuel vapor-air mixture prior to its combustion in the engine. Hot fluid circulating in engine's cooling system flows through a jacket integrally surrounding each of the two vaporizing units and the vapor heat exchanger to provide a source of heat for vaporizing the fuel and heating the fuel vapor-air mixture. A fuel line carrying the liquid fuel to each of the vaporizing units passes through the hot fluid-filled jacket surrounding each of the units, thereby preheating the fuel before it is vaporized. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, two solenoid valves, one along the fuel line leading to each vaporizing unit, act in conjunction with a timing means to alternate periodically activation and deactivation of the vaporizing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Inventors: Harold L. Geddes, Dell R. Beckstead
  • Patent number: 4505240
    Abstract: A fuel injection pump of the distribution type is provided with an electromagnetic valve for escaping the fuel in the pump chamber of the fuel injection pump. The fuel injection pump is also provided with a sensor for detecting the rotary angle of a pump shaft. This sensor is attached to a roller ring of a converter mechanism which also comprises a face cam, for example, and which also serves to convert the rotation of the pump shaft the reciprocate with that of a pump plunger. The sensor generates signals which represent the rotary angles of the pump shaft. The operation of the electromagnetic valve is controlled to escape the fuel in the pump chamber, depending upon the signals supplied from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Shinoda, Masahiko Miyaki, Akira Masuda, Hiroshi Koide
  • Patent number: 4505250
    Abstract: A variable venturi carburetor for an internal combustion engine in an automobile comprising means for insulating heat transmitted from a carburetor body to a fuel well defined in a main fuel jet of the carburetor. The heat insulating means is provided at the outside of the main fuel jet as surrounding the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Hada, Yukinori Isoya
  • Patent number: 4505243
    Abstract: A unit fuel injector suited to diesel engines, including an injection pump portion and an injection nozzle portion both constructed in a known manner and an improved electromagnetic injection control valve, which is a normally open valve to permit leak of fuel pressure from the pump portion and closes in response to an electrical pulse signal to thereby allow increase of the fuel pressure transmitted to the nozzle and resultant lifting of a valve normally closing the spray-holes. The injection control valve is provided with a back-pressure chamber to which fuel pressure leaking from the pump portion is transmitted through a pressure-balancing passage to act on the back end of the control valve member to thereby cancel a valve-opening force produced by the action of the same fuel pressure on the tip of the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hiromichi Miwa
  • Patent number: 4503833
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating an electric ignition, internal combustion engine that substantially improves the fuel efficiency by utilizing heat normally discharged to the ambient to condition and prepare the fuel mixture prior to entry into the combustion chambers. The apparatus comprises a fuel vaporizer that transfers heat from the engine coolant system to the fuel mixture as it leaves a fuel introducing device such as a carburetor; a fuel mixture heater for heating the mixture above the vaporization temperature of the liquid fuel; and, a mixture homogenizer for thoroughly stirring the fuel mixture that is located in the fuel mixture flow path intermediate the vaporizer and heater. The homogenizer is operative to compress the fuel mixture under certain engine operating conditions and the heater forms the intake manifold for the engine and includes branch flow paths and associated conduits that communicate directly with each combustion chamber through a valve controlled port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: MotorTech, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Yunick
  • Patent number: 4502452
    Abstract: A valve comprises rolling diaphragm (7) supported at its outer periphery by an annular support member (8) within which the diaphragm rolls in response to inlet pressure so as to uncover an outlet opening (20) in the support member, thereby to allow the escape of said pressure. Preferably, the diaphragm (7) is annular and is supported at its inner periphery by a guide member (9) that engages on abutment (19) when the outlet opening (20) is closed by the diaphragm, and that guides the diaphragm as it rolls back and opens the outlet opening (20). Preferably, the outlet opening (20) is of reduced width towards that part which is first uncovered by the diaphragm in operation. The valve may include a two part housing (1, 4) with the support member (8) located between the two parts and with the outer periphery of the diaphragm (7) gripped between one part of the housing (4) and the support member (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1985
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson-Perkins Limited
    Inventor: David A. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 4501254
    Abstract: In a device for controlling the temperature of the intake air to an internal combustion engine, the piston of a hydraulic cylinder controls the setting of a damper between the warm-air intake and the cold-air intake. A sensor body in the mixed-air duct communicates, via a hydraulic conduit, with the cylinder. The sensor body is filled above a free piston with an expansion medium of higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the hydraulic medium on the opposite side of the free piston. By allowing the temperature in the engine compartment, for example, to determine the temperature of the hydraulic conduit, the control interval is displaced so that the temperature of the intake air is higher when the engine is cold than when it is warm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: AB Volvo
    Inventor: Michael Zellmer