Claims
- 1. A method for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine by means of an enclosed vapor chamber connected to the engine manifold, said vapor chamber being internally divided into a lower fuel section and an upper vapor section by an intervening absorbent vaporizer which contacts liquid fuel provided to said lower fuel section which includes the steps of providing only liquid fuel to said fuel section below said vaporizer to maintain a shallow level of liquid fuel in said lower fuel section, storing fuel vapor formed from said liquid fuel by said vaporizer in the upper vapor section above said vaporizer, admitting only a controlled volume of ambient air through a single inlet at one side of said vapor chamber into said upper vapor section at a point adjacent the top thereof and remote from the surface of said absorbent vaporizer to prevent the air so admitted from becoming excessively saturated with fuel, causing said air to move completely across said upper vapor section above the vaporizer to a single remote outlet adjacent the top of the upper vapor section at a point on the side of said vapor chamber opposite said inlet and remote from the surface of said absorbent vaporizer, agitating the airstream substantially throughout the entire flow path across said upper vapor section between the point where said ambient air is admitted to said upper vapor section and the remote outlet to equalize any stratification of vapors, and conducting a vapor fuel-air mixture from the outlet to the engine intake manifold under the influence of the engine suction.
- 2. A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine comprising in combination with an engine and its intake manifold:
- (a) a source of liquid fuel,
- (b) a fuel vapor chamber including an enclosed housing, a vaporizer of absorbent material mounted within said enclosed housing and having a main body portion comparable in area to the horizontal cross-section of the enclosed housing, the main body portion being mounted to divide the interior of said enclosed housing into a lower fuel section and an upper vapor section above said fuel section, said vaporizer having portions in contact with liquid fuel in said lower fuel section when fuel is admitted thereto, fuel inlet means in the lower portion of said housing to supply only liquid fuel to said lower fuel section from said liquid fuel source, a single air inlet means formed on one side of said enclosed housing, said air inlet means being positioned adjacent the top of said upper vapor section at a point remote from the surface of said vaporizer main body portion to admit only air to said upper vapor section and to prevent the air so admitted from becoming excessively saturated with fuel, air outlet means formed on the side of said enclosed housing opposite said air inlet means, said air outlet means being positioned adjacent the top of said upper vapor section at a point remote from the surface of said vaporizer main body portion to convey air and entrained vapors from said upper vapor section, said air inlet and outlet means operating to create airflow completely across the extent of said upper vapor section, and baffle means mounted in the path of the airflow across said upper vapor section between said air inlet means and outlet means to agitate the air substantially throughout the entire flow path between said air inlet means and air outlet means to equalize any stratification from vapors,
- (c) a throttle assembly connected to control the flow of air and entrained vapors to said engine intake manifold, said throttle assembly including a throttle housing connected to the engine intake manifold and having an open end remote from the point of connection with said manifold, said open end being normally closed by a spring loaded backfire release cover means which opens under pressure to prevent a vapor fuel line explosion, and throttle valve means mounted within said throttle housing and operative to control the air and vapor flow to said manifold, and
- (d) connection means extending between said fuel vapor chamber and said throttle housing to convey air and entrained vapors from said outlet means to the interior of said throttle housing at a point above said throttle valve means.
- 3. The fuel supply system of claim 1 wherein said connection means includes a flow line connected between said vapor chamber and said throttle housing, said flowline including at least one one-way valve means to preclude an air-vapor back flow toward said vapor chamber.
- 4. The fuel supply system of claim 3 wherein said throttle valve means includes adjusting means to preset the idle control for said engine, said throttle housing being provided with a bleed port positioned between said throttle valve means and the connection to said engine intake manifold.
- 5. A fuel vapor chamber for a fuel supply system in an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply and an intake manifold comprising an enclosed housing, a vaporizer of absorbent material mounted within said enclosed housing and having a main body portion comparable in area to the horizontal cross-section of the enclosed housing, the main body portion being mounted to divide the interior of said enclosed housing into a lower fuel section and an upper vapor section, said vaporizer having portions in contact with liquid fuel in said lower fuel section when fuel is admitted thereto, fuel inlet means formed in the lower section of said enclosed housing to supply only liquid fuel to said lower fuel section from a fuel supply, an air inlet means formed in a first sidewall of said enclosed housing, said air inlet means being positioned adjacent the top of said upper vapor section at a point remote from the surface of said vaporizer main body portion to admit only air to said upper vapor section and to prevent the air so admitted from becoming excessively saturated with fuel, air outlet means formed in a second sidewall of said housing opposite said air inlet means, said air outlet means being positioned adjacent the top of said upper vapor section at a point remote from the surface of said vaporizer main body portion to convey air and entrained vapors from said upper vapor section, said air inlet and outlet means operating to create air flow completely across the extent of said vapor section, and a baffle means mounted in the path of the airflow across said upper vapor section between said air inlet means and air outlet means, said baffle means operating to agitate the air flowing between said air inlet means and air outlet means along substantially the entire flow path thereof to equalize any stratification of vapors.
- 6. The fuel vapor chamber of claim 15 which includes pressure responsive valve means formed in said housing above said vaporizer main body, said pressure responsive valve means operating to release pressure from said upper vapor section should excessive vapor pressure develop within said housing.
- 7. The fuel vapor chamber of claim 6 wherein said fuel inlet means includes float valve means operative to maintain a shallow level of liquid fuel in said lower fuel section, said vaporizer including spaced, perforated vertical wings extending downwardly from said main body portion into the liquid fuel in said lower fuel section but terminating above the bottom of said lower fuel section, and said air inlet means includes regulating valve means to regulate the volume of air admitted to said upper vapor section.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 724,708 filed Sept. 20, 1976.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
724708 |
Sep 1976 |
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