Liquid Fuel Evaporating By Extended Fuel Film Patents (Class 123/523)
  • Patent number: 10246103
    Abstract: A method includes detecting, based on a first location of a vehicle and weather data, a condition for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the vehicle. The first location is a current location of the vehicle. The process further includes determining that a level of VOCs in the vehicle is greater than a predetermined level. A second location is selected to expedite removal of the VOCs, and the vehicle is navigated to the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Aed M. Dudar
  • Patent number: 10139873
    Abstract: A computer program product for redundant thermal sensing is configured to determine, based on component temperature information of a thermal sensor associated with a component, that a temperature of the component has surpassed a temperature threshold. The program code can be configured to identify a thermal sensor that is downstream from the component as defined by airflow. The program code can determine downstream temperature information as measured by the downstream sensor. The program code can be configured to compare the downstream temperature information and the component temperature information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Arden L. Moore
  • Patent number: 9982623
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for preventing overflow of fuel from a vehicle fuel tank are provided may prevent liquid fuel from overflowing into a canister by for a predetermined time storing liquid fuel, which overflows from a fuel tank through a vent valve while the vehicle is traveling, in a fuel overflow prevention chamber, and by returning the fuel in the fuel overflow prevention chamber to the fuel tank by driving a fuel pump in a reverse direction when an engine is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Keun Soo Kim, June Young Park, Chang Jun Park, Seung Kyun Lee, Chang Han Park
  • Patent number: 9599073
    Abstract: A fuel vaporizer including a mist vaporizer and a boiler, the boiler being integrated with the mist vaporizer, the mist vaporizer and the boiler including a housing, baffles joined to the housing, conduit extending through the baffles, fuel in a mist form adjacent the conduit and a pool of fuel contained between the housing and baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: BIXBY ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Dean Johanning
  • Patent number: 9513678
    Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for downstream redundant thermal sensing in a computer system. The system may determine that a component temperature of a component of the computer system has surpassed a first temperature threshold. The system may determine a downstream thermal sensor that is downstream from the component, wherein downstream is based on airflow through the computer system. The system may determine a downstream temperature at the downstream thermal sensor. The system may determine whether the downstream temperature exceeds a second temperature threshold. In response to determining the downstream temperature exceeds the second temperature threshold, the system may determine whether other thermal sensors detect elevated operating temperatures. In response to determining the other thermal sensors do not detect elevated operating temperatures, the system may initiate cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Arden L. Moore
  • Patent number: 9322355
    Abstract: A method and system for improving operation of an engine that is supplied a fuel having a low super critical temperature is presented. In one example, the method supplies fuel to cool a direct injection fuel pump and participate in combustion in an engine cylinder after the fuel is vaporized. The method also provides for injecting a liquid fuel to the engine cylinder via the direct injection fuel pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Ross Dykstra Pursifull
  • Patent number: 8028681
    Abstract: This invention is an after market stand alone complete replacement fuel delivery system that works independent of and after disconnecting the standard liquid fuel delivery system for a fuel injected internal combustion engine. This device creates pressurized gasoline vapors at approximately 35 psi to 90 psi mixed and charged with large amounts of processed compressed air to achieve a gasoline vapor in it's purest form to utilize substantially more of the gasoline's energy potential which will greatly reduce engine emissions to much lower levels and improving the general performance of a gasoline fueled internal combustion engine essentially in the same pressurized gas form as found in a propane or natural gas fuel system, and to be refitted to existing gasoline fuel injected engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Inventor: George Mark Pifer
  • Patent number: 7044113
    Abstract: A liquified gas delivery system for a motorized platform includes a holding tank configured to receive liquified gas. A first conduit extends from a vapor holding portion of the tank to a valve device. A second conduit extends from a liquid holding portion of the tank to the valve device. Fluid coupled to the valve device is a vaporizer which is in communication with an engine. The valve device selectively withdraws either liquified gas or liquified gas vapor from the tank depending on the pressure within the vapor holding portion of the tank. Various configurations of the delivery system can be utilized for pressurizing the tank during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis N. Bingham, Bruce M. Wilding, James E. O'Brien, Ali S. Siahpush, Kevin B. Brown
  • Patent number: 6467271
    Abstract: An improved system for controlling emissions of VOC's by combustion of the VOC's in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a chiller through which the VOC's pass for condensing some of the VOC's into useable liquid products, the remaining VOC's being directed through piping to the engine as the primary fuel therefor; and a refrigeration unit connected to the engine and powered thereby, the refrigeration unit being connected by other piping to the chiller providing refrigerant thereto for the condensing of some of the VOC's passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Weeco International Corporation
    Inventor: Kun C. Youn
  • Patent number: 6425412
    Abstract: A linkage assembly including a crank arm, first and second elongated links, and first and second springs. Ends of the links are adjacent one another and overlap. The first spring is held within this overlapping portion. The second spring is held about an unoverlapped portion of the second link. In a neutral position, the first and second links are balanced in force. In an open position, the first and second links are moved away from one another, causing the second link to be less compressed than the first link. In a back pressure position, the first and second links are moved toward one another, causing the first link to be less compressed than the second link. The first and second springs are held such that they are balanced in the neutral position and provide a restorative force in the open and back pressure positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Inventor: Robert E. Sterling
  • Patent number: 5850821
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine having a fuel vaporizer device calculates the rate of fuel evaporation based on temperature of the vaporizer device to estimate air/fuel ratio during a cold-start. In one embodiment, a temperature of the fuel vaporizer device is determined directly by an appropriate sensor. In another embodiment, the temperature is determined using a transient heat transfer model based on the air flow rate through the device and the exit temperature of the air/fuel mixture. The temperature is used to determine the amount of energy entering the fuel vaporizer device as well as the amount of energy leaving the fuel vaporizer device so as to determine the amount of fuel vaporized by the fuel vaporizer device. The air/fuel ratio is then estimated based on the amount of fuel vaporized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Warren Curtis
  • Patent number: 5799628
    Abstract: A two stroke cycle reciprocating piston internal combustion engine having horizontally opposed cylinders and pistons, scotch yokes and self adjusting sliding blocks for the interface between the scotch yokes and crankpins, and secondary cylindrical pistons to maintain the scotch yokes in perpendicular vertical alignment with the crankpins. The secondary cylindrical pistons also operate as valves to open exhaust ports. A supercharger forces air through intake ports and into the main cylinders, then into secondary cylinders, and scavenges the exhaust gases through the exhaust ports. There is no carburetor and no adjustable distributor but rather ignition signals within its operating range, at a certain angle before top dead center. In addition, a capacitive discharge ignition system using multiple transformer ignition coils for each cylinder and rail spark plugs with multiple sets of rails to ignite very lean air/fuel mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: Carlos Bettencourt Lacerda
  • Patent number: 5592904
    Abstract: Method and devices for controlling the combustion of a four-stroke engine. For each cylinder, in addition to the main combustion chamber, a smaller secondary combustion chamber is provided. The secondary combustion chamber is completely separate and independently supplied with a compressed fuel-air mixture such that, when the mixture is ignited, the explosion that takes place through a transfer channel into the main combustion chamber, igniting the mixture contained therein. The main combustion chamber is not supplied with fuel at low speeds. Application is also contemplated for four-stroke engines with spark or other ignition and with rotary or valve timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Inventor: Guy Negre
  • Patent number: 5406912
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine has at least one set of first and second cylinders (12,14), the first cylinder (12) having a larger swept volume than the second cylinder (14), and respective first and second pistons (16,18) movable in the cylinders. The pistons are coupled together such that they are movable in the cylinders in a cyclic manner at the same frequency. An air inlet (24) and an exhaust outlet open into the first cylinder and a fuel injector (34) provides fuel to the second cylinder. A combustion space (20) is also provided which communicates with both cylinders during at least a portion of the expansion stroke. The second piston has a crown (35) and a body portion (19), with the crown being spaced from and connected to the body portion and having an edge (37) which is relatively small in the axial direction compared to the distance between the crown and the body portion in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Coventry University
    Inventor: Dan Merritt
  • Patent number: 5337706
    Abstract: High-performance internal-combustion engine, particularly of the four-stroke type, including an engine block inside which combustion chambers are formed; each chamber slidingly accommodates a piston and is connected to at least one inlet duct for the air-fuel mixture and to at least one discharge duct for the burnt gases produced by combustion; these ducts are connected to the respective combustion chamber through valves. The internal-combustion engine has the particularity of including a converting-compensating device constituted by at least one pre-chamber mutually connecting at least two inlet ducts and at least one thermal contact chamber which is connected to at least one of the inlet ducts proximate to their outlet leading into the associated combustion chamber. This chamber is formed at the engine head and is in thermal contact with the associated combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventor: Ruben E. De Blasis
  • Patent number: 5050603
    Abstract: A mobile apparatus is provided for the recovery of emissions produced by the loading of cargos containing volatile organic compositions at land based or marine based terminals such as offshore oil produciton rigs. Hydrocarbon emissions have been found to elevate ozone levels in the lower atmosphere and the invention substantially eliminates these emissions by recovering the hydrocarbons emitted. The mobility of the apparatus offers the possibility of low cost use in terminals having a low cargo throughput by providing a high on-stream factor due to the ability to move the apparatus from one terminal to another as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Assignee: Public Service Marine, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Stokes, Daniel E. Steppe
  • Patent number: 4982715
    Abstract: A vapor utilization fuel system directs fuel vapor from a vehicle's fuel tank to an intake manifold on the vehicle's engine. The vapor is combusted in the normal course of engine operation. In one embodiment, a mixing canister combines additional air with the fuel vapor; the mixing canister is located on the fuel tank's fill tube. In a second embodiment, the fuel vapor can flow to either the intake manifold or to a conventional carbon canister when the engine is not running.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Inventor: Paul M. Foster
  • Patent number: 4887579
    Abstract: Generally there is provided a LPG fuel delivery system having a tank containing a thermally conductive mesh filler adhered to the tank walls by a thermally conductive adhesive. A vapor draw fuel line is fed from the tank to a pressure regulator and then to the carburetor of the engine. The tank apparatus mesh insert is a metal lattice formed from a thin aluminium sheet by a slitting process, where the slits are expanded to provide openings with transverse sides. When the sheet is rolled or combined with other sheets, it functions to thermally contact the adjacent layers and the tank walls. Ambient heat absorbed by the tank wall is tansferred through the adhesive to the filler and is distributed to the fuel to cause a consistant high vaporization and generate pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Inventors: Ronald L. Fenton, Robert Brandt
  • Patent number: 4881507
    Abstract: A fuel supply mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of chambers, such mechanism providing for optimum efficiency of fuel consumption. The fuel supply mechanism according to this invention comprises a remote fuel supply reservoir. Fuel from the remote reservoir is evaporated in the reservoir, and the evaporated fuel is entrained in an air flow and transported directly into the intake chamer for the engine combustion chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Inventor: Frank J. San Filipo
  • Patent number: 4858582
    Abstract: A carburetor-fuel preconditioner for internal combustion engines comprising a bubble chamber for holding fuel at a preselected level and for bubbling air therethrough; a multiplicity of catalytic beads located within the bubble chamber in contact with gasoline fuel for producing an air-fuel vapor mixture and for the catalytic cracking of long molecular hydrocarbon chains; and at least one air-fuel vapor mixing conduit located between the bubble chamber and the intake manifold of the engine to provide proper air-fuel ratio to the vapor entering the engine cylinders. A screen may be provided in the bubble chamber to prevent dislocation of the catalytic beads. Each mixing conduit is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced baffles for creating an air-fuel vortex for superior mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventor: Paul M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4848302
    Abstract: A fuel vaporizer for creating continuously variable stratified fuel vapor air mixtures at intake is described for use with internal combustion engines. Liquid fuel spread of the inner surface of a rotating heated cylinder evaporates into the intake air moving in pulses at approximately right angles to the liquid motion. The resulting fuel vapor air mixture is continuously variable stratified and the consequent delay gradients permit the use of compression ignition for the engine without excessive noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Inventor: Joseph C. Firey
  • Patent number: 4733636
    Abstract: A vaporizer for vaporizing liquid fuels having improved heat transfer and controls for vaporization of liquid fuels in response to varying degrees of fuel vapor demand and temperature requirements having a heat exchanger formed from multiple chambers having opposing surfaces composed of inert material at least at said surfaces with small but effective passages formed therebetween and the opposing surfaces being in small but effective passage relationship for sufficient length for the surface tension between a liquid fuel and the opposing surfaces of said multiple chambers to spread the liquid fuel over the opposing surfaces of the multiple chambers for maintaining said liquid fuel in relatively constant and thin liquid relationship to the opposing surfaces of the multiple chambers of the heat exchanger until the liquid fuel is vaporized; a delivery system for delivering liquid fuel to the heat exchanger; a heat delivery system for delivering heat and a heat exchanger for vaporizing the liquid fuel therein and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventors: William B. Harris, Richard R. Davison
  • Patent number: 4702217
    Abstract: The fuel economy of an internal combustion engine having a fuel tank from which fuel is supplied to a carburetor for controlled delivery to the engine may be improved by vaporizing and pressurizing the fuel before it reaches the carburetor. A fuel vaporization system includes a vapor tank for containing pressurized, vaporized fuel. The fuel is vaporized with a nozzle through which the fuel is sprayed into the vapor tank under high pressure. A high pressure pump is used to pump fuel from the fuel tank and force the fuel through the nozzle under high pressure. A fuel delivery line is provided for delivering pressurized, vaporized fuel from the vapor tank to the carburetor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Inventor: Donald J. Sutherland
  • Patent number: 4688537
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing freeze-up of a pressure regulator valve in a liquified petroleum fuel system by heating the valve, a fuel expansion chamber and the fuel, after it has been expanded to a gaseous state, to counteract the refrigeration action produced by expansion of the gas at atmospheric pressure. A heat pipe transfers heat from an internal combustion engine to the fuel expansion chamber, regulator valve and fuel. The fuel is heated to a selected temperature in the range of 80.degree. F. to 140.degree. F. The heat pipe can provide structural support to the fuel expansion chamber to facilitate the installation of the fuel conversion system. The heat pipe can comprise a metal pipe or a corrugated metal hose which allows relative movement between the condenser and the evaporator ends of the pipe. Additionally, a heat pipe using a porous wick can be used so that the fuel expansion chamber can be located below the attachment point of the evaporator portion of the heat pipe to the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Inventors: Noel C. Calkins, George E. Perrault
  • Patent number: 4665879
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved fuel evaporation apparatus which comprises a two-stage evaporator designed to receive fuel such as gasoline in a liquid form and to completely transform the liquid fuel into its vapor state so as to increase the efficiency of operation of the associated internal combustion engine. In the first stage, the liquid fuel is conducted so as to strike a heated plate and thereafter any fuel which still resides in the liquid state flows through holes provided in the plate in droplet form and then enters vapor tubes which conduct the fuel in heat exchange relationship with exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine. After the fuel has been completely changed to vapor by flowing the fuel through the apparatus, the fuel is conducted, preferably, to the venturi stack or stacks of the carburetor of the associated internal combustion engine. Also disclosed herein is the method of evaporating fuel utilizing the above-described apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Inventor: Gregory Earl
  • Patent number: 4567871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel metering and distribution system for an internal combustion engine comprising an open fuel reservoir 18 into which fuel is metered and a set of capillary tubes 20 each extending from the fuel reservoir 18 to a point in an induction manifold adjacent the intake valve of a respective one of the engine cylinders. The fuel may either be metered by a carburettor-like arrangement drawing fuel from a float chamber or by means of a single solenoid valve connected between the reservoir and a source of fuel under pressure. The ends of the fine tubes terminate in the fuel reservoir immediately above the fuel level, whereby as the fuel rises, the additional fuel metered into the reservoir is sucked into the fine tubes and transferred directly to the engine cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventor: Thomas T. H. Ma
  • Patent number: 4553520
    Abstract: A device for the production of a fuel vapor/air mixture for spark-ignition engines comprising a float chamber and a vaporizer chamber with heated vaporizer surface, an intake pipe being provided with a first fixed diaphragm or nozzle, the liquid spaces of the vaporizer chamber and of the float chamber being connected to each other by means of a line, the gas space of the float chamber being connected upstream of the diaphragm or nozzle, viewed in the direction of flow, and the gas space of the vaporizer chamber being connected downstream of the diaphragm or of the nozzle, viewed in the direction of flow, to the intake pipe, by means of lines in each case, and the line from the gas space of the vaporizer chamber into the intake pipe being provided with a second fixed diaphragm or nozzle, which induces a pressure drop of 85 to 99.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Lindenmaier, Josef Zieger
  • Patent number: 4550706
    Abstract: A fuel vaporizer for an internal combustion engine comprises an air/fuel heating and mixing chamber which vaporizes liquid hydrocarbon fuel to a heated, dry vaporous state and mixes it with heated air for introduction of the mixture into a primary or main air stream for supply to the cylinders of the engine. A first form of the vaporizer uses exhaust gas from the engine to heat the fuel and air, and a second form of the invention uses electrical resistance elements to heat the fuel and air. Both forms of the invention include supplemental vaporized fuel supply devices operable during acceleration and starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Hoffman-Lewis, Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul H. Hoffman
  • 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: 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: 4498447
    Abstract: A gasoline vaporizer associated with the carburetor of an internal combustion engine designed to improve the engine efficiency by delivering gasoline vapor directly to the carburetor.A portion of the fuel supplied by the fuel pump is diverted through a metering valve to a close chamber where it is sprayed over copper tubing through which hot water from the engine cooling system is circulated.Gasoline vapors thus produced are drawn into the venturi of the carburetor by the engine suction, or injected directly into the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Inventor: Richard Harvey
  • Patent number: 4494487
    Abstract: An engine efficiency device is provided for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine having an air intake means, such as a carburetor, for mixing fuel with the inducted air to form a combustible charge for the engine. The engine efficiency device comprises a source of petroleum distillates and a pump which feeds the petroleum distillates from the source and into the inducted air flow to the engine continuously during the operation of the engine. In the preferred form of the invention, the petroleum distillate is an aliphatic petroleum naptha-mineral spirit produced by the process of alkylation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: John Nixon
  • Patent number: 4476840
    Abstract: There is disclosed an evaporation chamber for converting liquid fuel to a gaseous state prior to introducing the fuel into the carburetor. The evaporation chamber consists of an outer housing and an inner housing. The inner housing is in thermal contact with the outer housing and contains a network consisting of a stacking of steel turnings which produces a sponge like surface. Exhaust gas from the engine are introduced into an inlet port which communicates with the outer housing to heat the fuel which is injected into the inner housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Inventors: Xavier B. Budnicki, Barbara A. Budnicki, executrix
  • Patent number: 4476841
    Abstract: An improved fuel injection system for a spark ignition multicylinder internal combustion engine includes a fuel heater tank for vaporizing liquid fuel and accumulating a supply of fuel vapors. The fuel vapors are pressurized by an air pump driven by the internal combustion engine, and a plurality of injection nozzles are located in the intake manifold at positions as close to the intake valves as possible. A control valve mechanism supplies fuel vapors accumulated in the fuel heater tank to each of the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Inventor: Charles E. Duckworth
  • Patent number: 4469075
    Abstract: A fuel system and electronic control therefor which is especially designed for use with an internal combustion engine or the like in which said fuel system is operable to provide fuel fumes or vapor to the engine from a source of liquid ignitable vaporizable fuel, such as gasoline, of sufficient quantity whereby to significantly increase the efficiency of the engine and thus substantially increase the per gallon mileage rate for the engine when used in an automotive vehicle or the like, and one using liquid fuel as the original fuel source. The system incorporates an electronic control operable to monitor a plurality of engine parameters and which control is responsive to a change in engine demand for said fuel and resultant change in one or more of said engine parameters to maintain the optimum ratio of vaporized fuel and air in the mixture delivered to the engine for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Assignee: V.G.A.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Jackson, George I. Arndt, James L. Maynard
  • Patent number: 4452214
    Abstract: A fuel mixing device is provided an more particularly on improved fuel mixing device for an internal combustion engine which improves the fuel efficiency of the engine to obtain a more complete utilization of the power transmitting properties of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1984
    Assignee: Fuel Efficiency Co.
    Inventor: Byron M. Dahl
  • Patent number: 4448175
    Abstract: Fuel apparatus including a fuel vaporizing portion, an air conveying portion, a heating portion and a flow control portion; the fuel vaporizing portion including an enclosed chamber, the chamber including a liquid reservoir section and a vapor expansion section, the vapor expansion section including a plurality of baffles providing a tortuous path through the expansion section, a liquid fuel inlet to the chamber and a vapor outlet from the chamber, a first vapor conduit connecting the chamber outlet with a carburetor of an engine, a second vapor conduit connecting the engine carburetor with the chamber adjacent the vapor expansion section thereof; the air conveying portion including an air intake section, a divider for air flowing through the air intake section, a first duct for conveying one part of the air flow to a point adjacent the liquid reservoir section of the enclosed chamber, a second duct for conveying a second part of the air flow to the first vapor conduit; the heating portion being disposed adja
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1984
    Inventors: Bruce L. Darvial, Phillip L. Heintz, John S. Smith, Lee A. Walth
  • Patent number: 4425892
    Abstract: Means for creating continuously variable stratified air fuel mixtures at the intake of an internal combustion engine are described wherein the air fuel ratio and/or the kinds of fuel molecules vary through the mixture. Compression ignition delay gradients can be created by use of these continuously variable stratified mixtures and in consequence a gradual occurrence of compression ignition can be achieved with great reduction of engine noise and improvements in engine utilization efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Inventor: Joseph C. Firey
  • Patent number: 4412521
    Abstract: An evaporative carburetor has a normally pressure-tight chamber which houses an evaporator tray to which a fuel supply delivers gasoline. A first air passage in the carburetor chamber communicates from a first, automatically-valved, air inlet to pick up gasoline particles and vapor from the evaporator tray. A second air passage communicates from the evaporator tray to a mixing region and includes a particle arrester. A heater maintains the evaporator tray and the second passage above a selected temperature. A second, externally-controlled, valved inlet feeds air to the mixing region, and a third air passage communicates from the mixing region to a throttled output port. An aqueous control liquid is injected into the air stream in the third passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1983
    Inventor: John C. Silva, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4409946
    Abstract: A fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, the system includes a vessel to provide fuel vapor and a nozzle to mix the vapor with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Vaporpak Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Geoffrey P. Sandford, Paull A. Alekna
  • Patent number: 4401095
    Abstract: A device for forming a charge of fuel and air and for delivering the charge to an engine for combustion, the invention and the several embodiments thereof primarily comprise a chamber within which air and fuel are caused to mix. Fuel is introduced into the chamber and into contact with air which is caused to flow through the chamber. A portion of the fuel is vaporized within the chamber and is directed along with commingled air to the engine for combustion. That portion of the fuel which is not vaporized is returned to the fuel tank. Air is drawn into the chamber preferably by the influence of a vacuum created by the engine, the air preferably entering the chamber from more than one inlet and mixing with fuel introduced near the top of the chamber and onto a shroud over which at least a portion of the fuel spreads into a relatively thin layer as the fuel flows toward the lower portion of the chamber to mix with the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1983
    Assignee: Taylor C. Miller, Jr.
    Inventor: Walter A. DuLoft
  • Patent number: 4399794
    Abstract: This carburetion system for automobiles serves to increase gasoline mileage greatly, and it consists primarily of a regulator for metering drops of fuel onto a motor-driven fan in a fuel and air mixing chamber. It further includes a heat expansion cylinder connected to the mixing chamber, so as to vaporize the mixture fully and completely by exhaust gases of the engine, prior to the fuel and air gas entering the cylinders of the automobile engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1983
    Inventor: David C. Gagnon
  • Patent number: 4397286
    Abstract: A fuel system especially designed for use with an internal combustion engine or the like in which fuel system is operable therewith to provide fuel fumes or vapor to the engine from a source of liquid ignitable vaporizable fuel, such as gasoline, of sufficient quantity whereby to significantly increase the efficiency of the engine and thus substantially increase the per gallon mileage rate for the engine when used in an automotive vehicle or the like, and one using liquid fuel as the original fuel source. The system includes improved means for fuming the liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: V.G.A.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Jackson, George I. Arndt
  • Patent number: 4388911
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a defined fuel vapor-air mixture for engines with an intake manifold. The apparatus including a float chamber and a vaporizing chamber accommodating a heated vaporizer surface. The intake manifold is provided with a first fixed restrictor or nozzle and a liquid space of the float chamber and a liquid space of the vaporizing chamber are connected with each other by a conduit. A gas space of the float chamber, as seen in a flow direction upstream of the first restrictor or nozzle, and a gas space of the vaporizing chamber as seen in a flow direction downstream of the restrictor or nozzle, are respectively connected to the intake manifold by means of conduits. A conduit from the gas space of the vaporizing chamber into the intake manifold is provided with a second fixed restrictor or nozzle causing a pressure drop of about 85%-99.99% of the first restrictor or nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Klaus Lindenmaier
  • Patent number: 4386593
    Abstract: A fuel-air injection control system is provided for internal combustion engines using gasoline as a fuel. The system includes a vacuum pump which is connected to an airtight fuel supply tank containing a liquid gasoline such that operation of the vacuum pump causes a portion of the liquid gasoline to be continuously vaporized. The vaporized but unheated gasoline is passed through a filter where unwanted contaminants are removed and is delivered to the intake ducts of the internal combustion engine. Heated air is also supplied to these intake ducts and the vaporized gasoline combines with heated combustion air therein for subsequent ignition in the combustion chambers. The flow of heated combustion air is controlled by the operator to control the speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignees: William Dan Douglas, Jr., Diane Douglas Wood, Paul E. Conway
    Inventor: Oscar Tibbs
  • Patent number: 4379770
    Abstract: A constant pressure carburettor comprises a mixing chamber 2 which is surrounded by a heating jacket 12, an operator controlled throttle valve 3 at the downstream end of the chamber 2, a fuel feeder 5, 6 at the upstream end of the mixing chamber and a choke valve 10 at an air inlet to the carburettor. The choke valve 10 is, in use, controlled automatically by the air flow into the carburettor in dependence on the opening of the throttle valve 3 and the speed of the engine to which the carburettor is fitted. The choke valve 10 tends to produce vortices or turbulence in the air flow and this tends to cause the fuel supplied by the feeder 5, 6 to the wall of the chamber 2 to be prematurely removed before it is heated. This adversely affects the vaporization of the fuel and the formation of the air-fuel mixture. To avoid turbulence or vortices in the chamber 2, a stabilization conduit 16 is provided between the choke valve 10 and the fuel feeder 5, 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1983
    Assignee: Bosch & Pierburg System ohG
    Inventors: Valerio Bianchi, Anwar Abidin, Dieter Thonnessen
  • Patent number: 4376423
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of saturating liquid fuel with air, oxygen, or another gas for injecting into an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is provided with a gas compressor or pump for compressing air or oxygen, which is directed into a fuel saturator having a dense, porous material or stone therein and having a liquid hydrocarbon fuel being fed therethrough. Compressed gas is fed onto one side of the stone and is forced therethrough for saturation into the liquid fuel, which is then fed into a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. Gas that separates from the liquid fuel is trapped and vapor is removed therefrom. The fuel saturator uses a gas saturation stone, which may be hollow in one end for feeding a compressed gas thereinto, while the other side is surrounded with the liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The liquid hydrocarbon fuel may be fed around a spiralling passageway adjacent the stone for a more complete saturation of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignees: William C. Knapstein, Carol A. Knapstein
    Inventor: Paul E. Knapstein
  • Patent number: 4372280
    Abstract: Hot water is transmitted from an automobile's cooling system to a fuel vaporizer wherein it is utilized to heat gasoline to a vapor state. Air is drawn into the fuel vaporizer utilizing carburetor vacuum and is added to the vapor and drawn into the carburetor. Vaporized fuel and outside air are mixed in a separate dry vapor section within the vaporizer and the amount of air allowed to enter the fuel vaporizer is controlled utilizing a valve system. In this manner, the fuel-air vapor is more efficiently burned in the engine and improved gas mileage is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1983
    Assignee: JEB Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerry W. Adams
  • Patent number: 4370970
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing a combustible fuel/air mixture in which the fuel is completely vaporized for operating an internal combustion engine. Exhaust gases from the engine (40) pass through a heating manifold (8) in a vaporization chamber (2) to raise the temperature of a body of volatile liquid fuel in the bottom of the chamber. An air stream is also heated by passing it in heat exchange relation with hot exhaust gases from the engine. The stream of heated air is then drawn through an enclosed vapor space (6) at the top of the vaporization chamber, and fuel vapors are entrained therein. The fuel vapor-containing air stream is then mixed with additional air in a mixing chamber (26) to produce a combustible fuel/air mixture which is conveyed to the intake manifold (38) of the engine. Safety screens (64) are provided to prevent entry of sparks or flame into the fuel chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Inventor: Paul R. Kunz
  • Patent number: 4368712
    Abstract: A fuel system and electronic control therefor which is especially designed for use with an internal combustion engine or the like in which said fuel system is operable to provide fuel fumes or vapor to the engine from a source of liquid ignitable vaporizable fuel, such as gasoline, of sufficient quantity whereby to significantly increase the efficiency of the engine and thus substantially increase the per gallon mileage rate for the engine when used in an automotive vehicle or the like, and one using liquid fuel as the original fuel source. The system incorporates an electronic control operable to monitor the combustion of the vaporizable fuel and which control is responsive to a change in engine demand for said fuel to maintain the optimum ratio of vaporized fuel and air in the mixture delivered to the engine for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Assignee: V.G.A.S., Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Jackson, George I. Arndt, James L. Maynard