Abstract: An apparatus for preheating the fuel and carburetor of an internal combustion engine and for improving vaporization of the fuel is disclosed herein which comprises a fuel chamber received within a cylindrical heat chamber including a heated liquid therein. The apparatus further includes a vaporization assembly mounted between the carburetor and intake manifold and providing, consecutively, a first screen, heat tubes and second screen. Means are provided for circulating the heat medium between the heat chamber, in which the medium is heated, and the vaporization assembly. Pump means are also provided for moving the fuel from the fuel chamber to the carburetor.

Abstract: A fuel vaporizer carburetor provides a continuous mixture of vaporized fuel and combustion air for operation of an internal combustion engine to meet the requirements of a wide range of engine operating conditions. Fuel vapor and combustion air undergo turbulent intermixing in an elongated mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is enclosed by a tubular wick of fiber mesh material which is saturated with fuel vapors and fuel condensate. The fuel vapors are generated by heating fuel in a float bowl which underlies the wick. Combustion air is admitted through a plurality of angularly spaced openings and is conducted through the porous flow passage provided by the tubular wick prior to entry into the mixing chamber. This arrangement produces a cyclonic, whirling movement which promotes intermixing of the combustion air and fuel vapors. Turbulence is induced at an intermediate point in the mixing chamber by a tapered sidewall housing section.

Abstract: A liquid vaporizing attachment is provided for a combustion engine including an air and fuel charge forming device defining an air and fuel passage extending therethrough, an induction passage inlet end for receiving an air and fuel charge from the charge forming device and an engine exhaust system. The attachment defines an intermediate passage extending therethrough including inlet and outlet ends communicated with the outlet end of the air and fuel passage and the induction passage inlet end, respectively. The intermediate passage includes heating structure operatively associated therewith for heating fluid flowing therethrough and liquid vapor injection structure for injecting a heated liquid vapor into the intermediate passage. The intermediate passage includes a horizontal major length portion thereof and upwardly and downwardly opening inlet and outlet end portions, respectively, defining the inlet and outlet ends of the intermediate passage.

Abstract: An improved carburetor (10) is disclosed and claimed by this application. The carburetor (10) includes an updraft section (16), a crossdraft section (18), and a downdraft section (20). The updraft section (16) includes a mixing chamber (22) in which fuel and air are mixed. This mixture formed therein passes into a plenum (84) of the crossdraft section (18) through which a plurality of ducts (88) extend. A hot fluid passes through these ducts (88) to heat the mixture passing through the plenum (84). The mixture, thereafter, passes through a plenum outlet (86) into another plenum (104) of the downdraft section (20) and to an intake manifold (12) for distributing the mixture to the cylinders of the engine.

Abstract: A preheating device for the inlet manifold of an internal combustion engine, comprising at least one probe projecting into the exhaust manifold of the engine connected via a heat-conductive metallic rod or pipe to a second probe projecting into the inlet manifold, for transferring heat from the exhaust manifold to the fuel-air charge flowing through the inlet manifold. The probe disposed in the inlet manifold may be provided with an electrical heating element such as to preheat the interior of the inlet manifold prior to starting the engine, and providing heat to the fuel-air charge during cold starts of the engine.

Abstract: A fuel economizing and pollution reducing device for interposition between the conventional carburetor and intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. An exhaust gas heated exchange tube extends through the interior of the device, providing a constriction, or a reduction in the cross-sectional area, of the interior of the device. The fuel-air mixture entering from the carburetor is abruptly directed through this constriction by a deflection plate. Thus, the inducted mixture flowing past the heat exchange tube is subjected to an increase in both heat and velocity, producing improved atomization and vaporization of the fuel in the air. Beyond the heat exchange tube, a turbulent effect is created, promoting further vaporization of the fuel and intermixture of air therewith. In a preferred embodiment, these dual effects are enhanced by a mixing plate which is positioned downstream of the constriction.

Abstract: Heating apparatus for the air-fuel mixture of a vehicle engine including a perforated grid placed across the flow of the air-fuel mixture. The grid is spaced downward from the outlet of the carburetor. A bypass housing formed of permeable screen material may be placed with an open inlet end registered with the carburetor outlet and with an open outlet end registered with the face of the heating grid. During engine start and idle modes with or without use of a choke all of the fuel-air mixture passes through the grid. During off-idle engine modes which require substantially greater flow rates, a portion of the mixture may bypass the grid and pass through the permeable walls of the bypass housing.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine of the open cycle type in which a porous, heat retaining regenerative member is placed in a cylinder head between the reciprocal piston and the intake and exhaust valve thereof. The regenerator member is heated to high temperatures during the exhaust cycle of the engine and preheats a fresh charge of air during the compression stroke of the engine so that, when the compressed air charge is mixed and ignited with a fuel charge, the engine's efficiency will be increased and the engine may operate at a lower compression ratio, thereby reducing heat loss to the engine. In one embodiment, the piston has means for releasably coupling the regenerator member therewith for movement with the piston during two of the strokes of the cycle of operation of the engine, the coupling and uncoupling being a function of the position of the piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: In an intermittent process, hot reaction by-products are collected and stored in a thermal reservoir to provide heat when the process is not operating. In the preferred embodiment of a vehicle having a heat engine which derives power from a reaction of an alkali metal with water, molten alkali hydroxides are separated from a gaseous exhaust and stored in a thermal reservoir. In frigid weather prior to starting, a thermal exchange fluid transfers heat from the thermal reservoir to melt sufficient alkali metal and water to assure an engine start.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for heating fuel in water cooled diesel or gasoline burning engines for preventing performance loss due to extremely cold weather conditions. The device is comprised of a jacketed flow through tube communicating with the engine such that the water heated thereby is passed directly through the tube heating the fuel which is flowing through the jacketed portion of the tube to the engine.