Heating Of Combustible Mixture Patents (Class 123/543)
  • Publication number: 20100101543
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention may take the form of a system that may use the heat removed from an exhaust stream during an exhaust gas recirculation process to heat the fuel consumed by a turbomachine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Andres J. Garcia-Crespo, Amit S. Toprani
  • Publication number: 20100095907
    Abstract: The invention provides for a system and method for creating an optimized fuel/air mixture for more efficient combustion. The system in accordance with the invention includes an ozone generator and a gasifier that receives liquid fuel and ozone and creates an optimized fuel of mixture. The optimized fuel/air mixture is then delivered to the cylinders of a combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventor: Carlos A. Plata
  • Publication number: 20100031933
    Abstract: A system and assemblies for a fuel supply system are provided. The system includes a water heater assembly configured to heat a flow of water by mixing progressively higher grade heated flows of at least one of steam and water from a multi-stage heat exchanger arrangement, a fuel inlet flow path configured to receive a flow of fuel, and a fuel heater including a first flow path coupled in flow communication with the fuel inlet flow path and a second flow path coupled in flow communication with the water heater assembly wherein the fuel heater is configured to transfer heat from the flow of water to the flow of fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Prakash Narayan, Shinoj Vakkayil Chandrabose
  • Publication number: 20090314260
    Abstract: A start control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which takes an amount of a fuel vaporized from a heated fuel into consideration to prevent deterioration of startability due to an overrich or overlean condition caused by an excessive or insufficient amount of the vaporized fuel and to realize improvement of cold startability. The start control apparatus includes: a heater (14) for heating a fuel to be supplied to the internal combustion engine; fuel heating control unit (22) for energizing the heater when a cooling water temperature is less than an internal combustion engine start possible water temperature value to heat the fuel; and start time fuel setting unit (26) for setting a start time fuel injection amount of the internal combustion engine according to a fuel temperature after the fuel is heated by the fuel heating control unit (22), an alcohol concentration, and the cooling water temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu MAEDA, Hideki Takubo
  • Patent number: 7621262
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine coupled in a hybrid powertrain, the method comprising of extracting waste energy from a component of an electrical power system of the hybrid powertrain, and adjusting intake air temperature during homogeneous charge compression ignition operation of the engine by using said extracted waste energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael W. Zubeck
  • Publication number: 20090266342
    Abstract: This invention relates to the creation of an environmentally friendlier, higher efficiency fuel supply system for the composition of on demand vaporized fuel-air mixture for an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Nicholas S. Morales
  • Publication number: 20090250040
    Abstract: A method for improving combustion efficiency as combusting a pure substance is disclosed. The method is started from deciding an environmental temperature of a combustion environment, setting a first temperature higher than the environmental temperature, and uniformly heating the pure substance to the first temperature so as to shorten the temperature drop between the outer surface and the inner portion of the pure substance as far as possible. Simultaneously, after a combustion-supporting gas is provided and heated to a second temperature and the combustion-supporting gas is supplied to the combustion environment, the pure substance is ignited. The steps described above can accelerate the temperature raising as combusting the pure substance, so as to be more close to complete combustion, thereby improving efficiency and reducing contaminant production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Wen-Hsiung PAN, Kuan-Yu PAN
  • Publication number: 20090241896
    Abstract: An ignition system for use with an engine is disclosed. The ignition system may have an igniter connected to selectively ignite a fuel mixture within the engine, an injector located to inject a non-combustible gas into the engine, and a controller in communication with the igniter and the injector. The controller may be configured to energize the igniter during a first mode of engine operation to ignite the fuel mixture, and cease energizing the igniter during a second mode of engine operation. The controller may also be configured to actuate the injector during the second mode of engine operation to promote auto-ignition of the fuel mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Scott B. Fiveland, Jonathan William Anders
  • Publication number: 20090241914
    Abstract: A gas powered internal combustion engine in which the gas is provided from pressurized liquid gas in an LPG container and in which the LPG container is rigidly mounted adjacent to the internal combustion engine at a preselected angle to be in conductive heat transfer relationship to the internal combustion engine and in vibration receiving relationship to the internal combustion engine whereby the liquified gas in the LPG container is heated and the effective surface area thereof is increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: Bernardo J. Herzer
  • Publication number: 20090235903
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an HCCI air intake system for HEV, wherein the air outlet of the compressor is simultaneously connected to a hot channel and a cold channel, the hot channel is connected to the cylinder of the HCCI gasoline engine via the electrical drive system, coolant heat exchanger, engine exhaust heat exchanger and a throttle valve, while the cold channel is directly connected to the cylinder of the HCCI gasoline engine via another throttle valve. The hot channel is provided with at least one bypass valve for discharging air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation
    Inventors: Jialin Yang, Fang Shui
  • Publication number: 20090199822
    Abstract: A fuel delivery system comprises a fuel rail having a flow channel therein. The fuel delivery system further comprises a fuel injector cup that includes a base at a first end thereof, an opening at a second end thereof opposite the first end, and an inner cavity disposed between the base and the opening. The first end of the fuel injector cup is configured to be disposed within the flow channel of the fuel rail. The fuel delivery system further comprises a heating element. The fuel rail of the fuel delivery system further includes a port therein that is configured for receiving the heating element. Additionally, the fuel injector cup of the fuel delivery system further includes an aperture therein also configured for receiving the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Inventor: Robert J. Doherty
  • Patent number: 7549412
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine and its method of operation including at least one embodiment operating on a six-stroke cycle and including at least one piston and cylinder assembly. The six-stroke cycle includes two power strokes, the latter of which is the result of a water to steam conversion process utilizing the heat of the exhaust gas from the first power stroke. A second embodiment comprises a hybrid power generating assembly incorporating alternative, first and second power sources respectively comprising an internal combustion engine and a water injection engine, the latter of which operates on the water to steam conversion process, wherein the required heat therefore is derived from the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine. Another preferred embodiment comprises the utilization of different normally wasted heat sources from an IC engine for the generation of sufficient work energy to drive a power take-off, such as hybrid drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Inventor: Satnarine Singh
  • Publication number: 20090143957
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for automatically controlling an internal combustion engine, wherein, in a first controller mode, a charge air temperature controller is set as dominant for a map-controlled thermostatic valve, and, in a second controller mode, a coolant temperature limit controller is set as dominant for the map-controlled thermostatic valve. Upstream of a recooler, a coolant flow is divided into a recooler coolant flow and a bypass coolant flow as a function of the position of the map-controlled thermostatic valve. Downstream of the recooler, the temperature of the charge air cooler coolant flow is determined from the combined fractions of the recooler coolant flow and the bypass coolant flow to control the charge air temperature (TLL) or to control the coolant temperature (TKM).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventor: Armin Dolker
  • Patent number: 7537000
    Abstract: In order to suppress freezing of a water content within a breather tube, a heater (13) is arranged within a breather tube (11) joining a cylinder head cover (10) and an air cleaner (8). A main body of the breather tube (11) is constituted by a joint tube (18) arranged in a middle, and partial tubes (22, 23) connected to both ends thereof. The heater (13) has a heating element (14) corresponding to a heating element, and has a heater case (21) accommodating the heating element (14) in a state of being pinched by electrodes (15), and is arranged in a center portion of the joint 18. A slot (18a) for inserting the heater (13) is formed in the joint tube 18. A heat radiating body (20) extended along the breather tube (11) is joined to the heater case (21). An outer peripheral portion of the breather tube (11) is covered by an insulative outer tube (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takahiro Ideguchi, Koichi Asai, Toshikazu Nakamura, Ryo Saito, Katsuhiro Nakagawa, Yasushi Fujita
  • Publication number: 20090120396
    Abstract: A method for starting an internal combustion engine under cold conditions. The intake manifold throttle valve is held closed and spark ignition is suspended. Fuel and air are admitted into the cylinders and the pistons are cranked for a plurality of revolutions. During each engine revolution cycle, the fuel/air mixture is compressed and heated adiabatically by the energy of the engine starter motor, and the mixture is exhausted into the exhaust manifold. During valve overlap a portion of the mixture is withdrawn into the cylinder and recompressed in the next cycle. Additional fuel may be injected to replace lost fuel. After several engine cycles, the fuel/air mixture becomes heated to a temperature above the flashpoint of the mixture. Sparking is re-established to fire the warmed mixture, and the intake throttle valve is re-enabled. The first firing can provide sufficient heat to continue spark-firing of newly-introduced mixture thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Roberto G. Krenus, Frans M.M. Theunissen
  • Patent number: 7530335
    Abstract: The internal combustion engine includes a reformer, and a heating unit composed of a power source connected to a reforming catalyst composed by carrying a catalyst on a metal foil, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode of the reforming catalyst. The reformer includes the reforming catalyst, and reforms a reforming mixture of reforming fuel and reforming air by the reforming catalyst to generate reformed gas containing hydrogen. This reformed gas is supplied to a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. Before the reforming mixture is supplied to the reforming catalyst, a temperature of the reforming catalyst is raised to a predetermined preheating temperature higher than an adiabatic reaction temperature in partial oxidation reaction, and then the internal combustion engine is started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sakurai, Kazuhiro Wakao
  • Publication number: 20090055080
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method that prevent sticking of a valve pin in a valve seat of an injector at low temperatures can be provided providing an engine control unit and an additional control device, wherein the engine control unit activates the additional control device, and activate the injector by the additional control device in such a way that the injector by moving its valve pin is heated and/or rendered viable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Stephan Kronenberg, Harry Schule, Markus Strohla
  • Publication number: 20090038592
    Abstract: Incorporates at least one thermal switch (5) in series with the heating resistor (4) of the module located on the frame (1) of said resistors (4) that cuts off current to the resistor (4) when the heater power control circuit fails. The thermal switch (5) can be between the heating resistor (4) and the earth connection of the support (6), or between the heating resistor (4) and the power supply (3) of the module. The module allows a closed-loop control using as variable the temperature of one of the resistors (4), whose resistivity can change with the temperature. Similarly, the electronic control circuit can also be integrated in the heater frame (1), allowing a closed-loop control of the dissipated power using as control variable the temperature of the frame (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Nagares, S.A.
    Inventor: Herminio Navalon Carretero
  • Patent number: 7475657
    Abstract: A V-twin engine having a crankcase and a pair of cylinders defining a V-space therebetween, wherein the V-space is substantially enclosed, and a carburetor is positioned within the V-space. An intake air preheating arrangement supplies heated intake air to the carburetor, and a carburetor heating arrangement heats the V-space and the carburetor which is positioned within the V-space. Each of the foregoing arrangements, used separately or in combination within one another, aids in preventing “freeze-up” of the carburetor during running of the engine in a cold environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Tecumseh Power Company
    Inventors: Russell J. Dopke, David R. Brower, Scot A. Koehler, Gary L. Stenz, Clyde R. Wetor, Steven T. Davis, Randall E. Sterr
  • Publication number: 20090000604
    Abstract: An engine system for a power unit is disclosed. The engine system includes an exhaust system having at least one exhaust treatment device and an air induction system having at least one heater. The heater is configured to raise the temperature of an intake flow in the air induction system in response to a physical property of the exhaust treatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Michael S. Bond, George E. Donaldson, David J. Kapparos, David A. Pierpont
  • Publication number: 20080289609
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of (a) pressurizing a liquid fuel to a pressure above 150 psig; (b) heating the liquid fuel to a temperature above 500° F. to produce a heated liquid fuel; (c) suddenly reducing the pressure of the heated liquid fuel sufficiently to vaporize the heated liquid fuel to form a vaporized hot fuel; (d) combining the vaporized hot fuel with oxygen to form a vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture; (e) introducing the vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture into the internal combustion engine; and (f) combusting the vaporized hot fuel/oxygen mixture within the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Casey Loyd
  • Patent number: 7451748
    Abstract: An EGR cooler system according to the invention includes an EGR cooler cooling device that is provided in a coolant path which is separate from the path provided with an engine cooling system which cools coolant. The EGR cooler cooling devices cools the coolant to be supplied to a water-cooled EGR cooler. The EGR cooler system also includes a water pump that circulates the coolant within the coolant path; a bypass passage through which the coolant may bypass the EGR cooler cooling device or the water-cooled EGR cooler; and a flow control valve that regulates the amount of coolant flowing into the bypass based on the temperature of the coolant flowing through the coolant path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takuya Nigoro, Tatsuhisa Yokoi, Akiyuki Iemura, Tetsuo Ide, Seiji Sasaki, Ryouhei Kusunoki, Toshio Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20080276913
    Abstract: A method of operating an internal combustion engine coupled in a hybrid powertrain, the method comprising of extracting waste energy from a component of an electrical power system of the hybrid powertrain, and adjusting intake air temperature during homogeneous charge compression ignition operation of the engine by using said extracted waste energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Michael W. Zubeck
  • Patent number: 7444996
    Abstract: A fuel vapor storage and recovery apparatus for a fuel system of a motor vehicle including an internal combustion engine with an exhaust pipe and a fuel tank containing a fuel vapor/air mixture above a liquid fuel, the exhaust pipe being close to the fuel tank. The apparatus includes a vapor storage canister including a fuel vapor adsorbent material therein, a thermal insulation mechanism for thermally insulating at least a portion of the fuel tank from the heat generated by the exhaust pipe, and a beat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to heat to a purge temperature air guided there through by absorbing heat from the thermal insulation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventor: Vincent Potier
  • Publication number: 20080257301
    Abstract: A power plant, including an internal combustion engine, a fuel conversion device that coverts a fuel to be supplied to the internal combustion engine from a before-conversion fuel to an after-conversion fuel, a first fuel supply device that supplies the fuel conversion device with the before-conversion fuel, a second fuel supply device that supplies the internal combustion engine with the after-conversion fuel, the after-conversion fuel being the fuel that has been converted by the fuel conversion device, and a controller that is communicated with the internal combustion engine, the fuel conversion device, the first fuel supply device and the second fuel supply device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Isamu HOTTA, Yutaro Minami
  • Publication number: 20080230039
    Abstract: A tubular vaporizer for vaporizing volatile liquids, and especially hydrocarbon fuels. Liquid fuel is passed into the vaporizer tube, is vaporized by heat transferred through fuel contact with the hot walls, and vaporized fuel exits the vaporizer tube. A hot carrier air stream is passed through the vaporizer with the vaporized fuel, greatly reducing the rate of buildup of deposits on the vaporizer walls; however, fueling of the vaporizer eventually must be shut down to remove the deposits. The deposits are easily removed, and the vaporizer tube completely regenerated, by passing hot air alone through the tube for a period of time. In a preferred embodiment, two parallel-path vaporization tubes and switching means therebetween are provided for alternate use and regeneration cycles, affording a continuous flow of vaporized fuel from the apparatus. The vaporizer is especially useful in providing gaseous fuel for a catalytic hydrocarbon reformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Amanda M. Weiss, Michael R. Salemi, Ryan J. Zitzka
  • Publication number: 20080163854
    Abstract: Vegetable oil fuel system for diesel engines consisting of a diesel and vegetable oil system. When started cold, the engine 20 is supplied with diesel and when the engine reaches a certain temperature, which depends on the engine design, at this point the fuel supply will switch to vegetable oil. During normal operating conditions, the engine 20 runs on vegetable oil, which is heated by a heat exchanger 16 which is supplied by engine cooling water. In addition, the vegetable oil will be electrically heated when passing through the filter 15 during cold start conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Peter Josef Karner
  • Patent number: 7373932
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for a liquefied gas fuel supply system includes a heating unit, a detecting unit and a setting unit. The liquefied gas fuel supply system vaporizes liquefied gas fuel to supply the vaporized gas fuel to an internal-combustion engine. The heating unit heats the liquefied gas fuel before the liquefied gas fuel is vaporized. The detecting unit detects vapor pressure characteristic of the liquefied gas fuel. The setting unit sets an amount of heat to be applied to the liquefied gas fuel on a basis of a detection result by the detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten LImited
    Inventors: Kenji Hayashi, Takao Komoda, Masanori Torii, Toshinari Saiki, Masayuki Kosaka, Toshimitsu Taguchi
  • Publication number: 20080035125
    Abstract: A method of operating an engine having at least one cylinder, the method comprising of directing a first air stream to an intake valve of the cylinder; directing a second, separate air stream to a second intake valve of the cylinder, said second air stream at a higher temperature than said first air stream; operating said first intake valve and adjusting at least one of an opening timing and a closing timing of said first intake valve to adjust engine output; and intermittently operating said second intake valve to maintain said higher temperature of said second air stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Mrdjan Jankovic
  • Publication number: 20070283927
    Abstract: A fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine has an injector that injects fuel into an intake system or a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, and a pressurizing device that pressurizes the fuel to a predetermined pressure. Further, the system has a first heating device that heats the fuel on an upstream side of the injector, and a second heating device that further heats the fuel heated by the first heating device. The second heating device is provided in the injector. Furthermore, the system has a control device that controls the second heating device to heat up the fuel heated by the first heating device to a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Takafumi Fukumoto, Hiroyuki Kaneko, Norihiko Kiritani, Ryuuta Yamaguchi, Yuuichi Igari
  • Publication number: 20070256661
    Abstract: A novel piston design for use in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. The piston comprises a piston body adapted for reciprocating movement within the cylinder, and a connected vaporizing ring having top and a bottom surfaces. The piston body and vaporizing ring, together with the inner sidewall of the cylinder, define a vapor chamber. The vaporizing ring has a plurality of generally cylindrically-shaped passages providing fuel/air communication paths from the top surface through the vaporizing ring into the vapor chamber. These passages are evenly-distributed throughout said vaporizing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventor: Andrew F. Smith
  • Publication number: 20070246026
    Abstract: A cylinder liner for an internal combustion diesel engine and corresponding method of construction and method of improving engine performance therewith has a cylindrical inner wall providing a bore extending along a central axis for reciprocation of a piston therein. The inner wall has an axial lower portion and an axial upper portion. The lower portion has a first diameter below a top-dead-center plane and the upper portion has a second diameter provided by a material formed as one piece with the inner wall, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Miguel Azevedo, Benjamin Louis Johnson
  • Patent number: 7219630
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine and method is disclosed wherein separate compression and power cylinders are used and a regenerator or pair of regenerators is mounted between them to provide heat for hot-air ignition. The single regenerator embodiment operates as a two-stroke cycle engine and the embodiment with an alternating pair of regenerators operates as a four-stroke cycle engine. The engine varies the amount of air entering the power cylinder to control the engine output during naturally aspirated operation using valve timing and/or volume control of dead space and can optionally include supercharging to control the engine at higher output levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Richard Patton
  • Patent number: 7213585
    Abstract: A system for an internal combustion engine, the engine having an intake and exhaust manifold, the system comprising a heat exchanger configured to extract energy from at least a heat source that heats a first portion of intake air, a spark plug coupled to the engine, an intake passage configured to deliver said first portion of heated intake air to the engine and to deliver a second portion of intake air which bypasses said heat source, and a controller configured to direct said second portion of intake air to the engine at least when utilizing said spark plug to initiate combustion and flame propagation of an air-fuel mixture, and to at least temporarily cause said first portion of intake air to flow during said spark ignition combustion so that a temperature of said first portion of intake air is maintained above a selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jialin Yang
  • Patent number: 7207323
    Abstract: A fuel conversion system having an exhaust gas generator, such as an engine or a furnace, having a heated exhaust gas outlet, a reactor vessel having a heated exhaust gas inlet in fluid communication with the heated exhaust gas outlet, having a cooled exhaust gas outlet, and containing at least one reactor tube having an exhaust gas inlet in fluid communication with the heated exhaust gas outlet, a convertible fuel inlet, and a converted fuel outlet, and a monolithic fuel conversion catalyst structure substantially centered within the at least one reactor tube and shaped to form at least one flow channel between the monolithic fuel conversion catalyst structure and an inside wall of the at least one reactor tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Utilization Technology Development, NFP
    Inventor: Klaus Heinrich Hemsath
  • Patent number: 7096859
    Abstract: A carburetor arrangement of a portable handheld work apparatus includes a carburetor (1) which is fixed to a motor housing (4) of the work apparatus by elastic support elements (2, 3). A warm air channel (5) is provided for conducting warmed air (6) to the carburetor (1). At least one part of the warm air channel (5) runs through at least one support element (2, 3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Claus-Peter Hamisch, Andreas Schulz
  • Patent number: 7013869
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronically-controlled fuel injector, for an internal combustion engine, comprising a downstream fuel injection valve located near an air intake port of each cylinder or inside a cylinder, an air intake passage which bypasses the throttle valve located upstream of a downstream fuel injection valve, and a fuel vaporizing section including an upstream fuel injection valve, and a heater which vaporizes fuel injected from the upstream fuel injection valve; and further having an air intake port located upstream of the throttle valve, air flow control section for controlling an amount of air, said fuel vaporizing section, vaporized-fuel branch section for supplying vaporized fuel to each cylinder, and a vaporized-fuel distribution passage which extends from the vaporized-fuel branch section to an opening located in each air intake pipe located downstream of the throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masami Nagano, Takanobu Ichihara, Hiroaki Saeki
  • Patent number: 7004115
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine and method is disclosed wherein separate compression and power cylinders are used and a regenerator or pair of regenerators is mounted between them to provide heat for hot-air ignition. The single regenerator embodiment operates as a two-stroke cycle engine and the embodiment with an alternating pair of regenerators operates as a four-stroke cycle engine. Valving is provided for uniflow design and the system allows variable fuel ratios. The engine uses supercharging to control the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Richard Patton
  • Patent number: 6901918
    Abstract: An engine carburetor freeze-proof apparatus that is compact in structure to minimize its impact upon the arrangement of member parts of the vehicle and lowers production cost by providing a pipe to the engine to connect a heating joint of the carburetor, combustion blow-by from the engine enters through the heating joint into a heating passage of the carburetor to heat up the carburetor thus to prevent it from being frozen, then the blow-by being discharged through an output pipe tube from the carburetor to be reclaimed by an air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Kwang Yang Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuang Jung Lin, Ching-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 6871792
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for vaporizing liquid fuel. The apparatus includes at least one capillary flow passage, the at least one capillary flow passage having an inlet end and an outlet end; a fluid control valve for placing the inlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage in fluid communication with the liquid fuel source and introducing the liquid fuel in a substantially liquid state; a heat source arranged along the at least one capillary flow passage, the heat source operable to heat the liquid fuel in the at least one capillary flow passage to a level sufficient to change at least a portion thereof from the liquid state to a vapor state and deliver a stream of substantially vaporized fuel from the outlet end of the at least one capillary flow passage; and means for cleaning deposits formed during operation of the apparatus. The flow passage can be a capillary tube heated by a resistance heater or a section of a tube heated by passing electrical energy therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Chrysalis Technologies Incorporated
    Inventor: Roberto O. Pellizzari
  • Patent number: 6854453
    Abstract: A vapor fuel injection system including an air pump having dedicated air cylinders assigned to individual engine cylinders and adapted to produce timed charges of pre-heated air adapted to push timed charges of fuel through a heat exchanger where the timed charges of fuel are converted into metered charges of fuel vapor. The charges of fuel vapor are subsequently pushed into and through fuel vapor delivery nozzles defined in the respective guide bodies of respective intake valve assemblies. After exiting the guide body of said valve assemblies, the timed charges of fuel vapor mix with intake manifold air and then are fed directly into the engine cylinders for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Inventor: Joseph Day, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6817347
    Abstract: A system for converting motor fuel, comprising an air intake system, an injector nozzle, a heater, and a catalyst. The injector nozzle injects motor fuel into the air intake to produce an air-fuel mixture. The heater vaporizes the air-fuel mixture, and the catalyst causes hydrogen to be removed from the motor fuel molecules so as to produce a gaseous mixture of air, motor fuel, and free hydrogen suitable for combustion in an internal combustion engine. The system works with a wide variety of motor fuels, and provides greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: Paul Noble
  • Patent number: 6799563
    Abstract: The “Two Stroke Internal Combustion Engine” is a piston engine operated with compression cooled by cooler 17. This is followed by heat addition from heat exchanger high-pressure side 10 at close to constant pressure (the pressure at the end of the heat addition is the same as the pressure at the start of the heat addition). Heat is then added at close to constant volume by burning fuel. This is followed by complete expansion. And finally, heat exchanger low-pressure side 40 transfers heat to heat exchanger high-pressure side 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Inventor: Edward Lawrence Warren
  • Patent number: 6782875
    Abstract: A system and method for conditioning and/or vaporizing fuel within an internal combustion engine in order to effectuate more complete combustion is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the system comprises a combustion chamber; a fuel conditioning cavity defined by walls fluidly connected to the combustion chamber; a fuel injector system for ejecting a fuel spray through the fuel conditioning cavity; and an electromagnetic wave source electromagnetically configured for introducing electromagnetic waves into the fuel conditioning cavity and into the fuel spray to effectuate volumetric heating of a droplet of the fuel spray once ejected from the fuel injector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yoshimoto
  • Patent number: 6729609
    Abstract: An improved carburetor arrangement includes a low-capacity fuel/air regulator for efficiently vaporizing rich mixtures of fuel and delivering them to a heat exchange vaporizer for heating and completely vaporizing the rich mixture prior to delivery to an engine intake. An existing conventional fuel atomization system is eliminated and replaced with main combustion air gallery. The air gallery forms a low pressure for drawing heated rich mixture from the vaporizer and subsequently mixing it with a larger amount of incoming fresh air from the gallery for forming a stoichiometric mixture. Preferably the mixture is passed through a mixing chamber before delivery to the engine intake. Preferably the fuel/air regulator is a low-capacity carburetor, such as that used for motorcycles, snowmobiles and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Telekinetic Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Winch
  • Patent number: 6679234
    Abstract: A manually guided implement having an internal combustion engine and a carburetor for supplying the engine with a fuel/air mixture is provided. A combustion air stream is drawn in through the carburetor by the engine. A warming medium heated up by the engine can be passed along the outer surfaces of the carburetor separate from the combustion air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Georg Maier, Ralf Tuckermann, Günter Wolf, Philipp Neumann, Rebekka Helfen, Maximilian Eberhardt
  • Patent number: 6675579
    Abstract: An intake/exhaust system and a method of controlling intake air temperature and pressure for a dual-mode homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine is provided. The system may include an air compressor including at least two output air flow paths, an intercooler for cooling air from one of the air flow paths, and heat exchangers for heating air from another one of the air flow paths. Control valves may be provided for controlling the mass ratio of air through the air flow paths to thereby control temperature and pressure of air supplied to the engine. The first air flow path may direct air to the engine via the intercooler and the second air flow path may direct air to the engine via the heat exchangers, whereby, air at first and second controlled temperatures and pressures may be supplied to the engine for operation in SI and HCCI modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Jialin Yang
  • Publication number: 20040003799
    Abstract: A carburetor heater is provided to improve the operation of a carburetor, especially in cold and/or humid conditions, by minimizing moisture freezing therein. The carburetor heater is designed to accommodate a heating element within a conductive body that is shaped to complement the outer surface of the carburetor. The heater is fastened to the carburetor and attached to other elements of the engine or vehicle so as to be isolated from engine vibrations. The heating element can be a passage coupled to a cooling system of an all-terrain vehicle, and/or a resistive element coupled to an electrical system of the all-terrain vehicle, which is representative of the variety of vehicles with which the carburetor heater may be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Bouffard, Jean-Marc Fortier
  • Patent number: 6668809
    Abstract: An improved, internal combustion, reciprocating engine employs thermal regeneration to improve its efficiency and power. Regeneration is accomplished through the use of an alternating flow heat exchanger. In one embodiment the engine consists of one or more cylinders containing a pair of opposed pistons, a hot piston and a cold piston separated by a stationary regenerator. The engine is equipped with means to introduce gaseous or liquid fuel into said hot volume, means to introduce fresh working fluid and means to remove exhaust gases from the cold volume. In one embodiment one or more exhaust ports permitting the flow of exhaust fluid out of the cylinder are located between a cold piston and the thermal regenerator and one or more intake ports permitting the flow of fresh working fluid into the cylinder are located between the cold piston and the exhaust ports. The engine can provide greater expansion than compression and can provide critical and substantial improvements over previous engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventors: Alvin Lowi, Jr., Allan J. Ferrenberg
  • Publication number: 20030217739
    Abstract: The present invention is to present a fuel-heating type fuel injection apparatus, at the startup of the engine, able to prevent fuel-attaching on the wall of the intake passage and eliminate hydro carbons in the exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicants: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Car Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Saeki, Takanobu Ichihara, Kenji Watanabe