Variable venturi carburetor

Abstract

A variable venturi carburetor for a combustion engine has an uprighted cup-shaped piston head which forms an integral part of a venturi within a fuel-and-air mixing passage carried by a carburetor body, and a needle that projects rigidly downward from the head into a fuel feed passage. The position of the piston head controls air flow by adjusting the air flow cross-section of the variable venturi, and the needle simultaneously controls fuel flow into the fuel-and-air mixing passage at the venturi via obstruction of the fuel feed passage. The piston head and needle move in unison by a flexible diaphragm engaged to and disposed above the head. An atmospheric chamber is defined below the diaphragm and a vacuum chamber is defined generally above the diaphragm. A vacuum passage extends through the bottom of the head communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage at the venturi and the vacuum chamber. As vacuum at the venturi increases, the volume of the vacuum chamber decreases and the flexing diaphragm moves the head partially out of the fuel-and-air mixing passage until a balance of forces between the vacuum draw and the resilient compression of a spring disposed within the vacuum chamber and which biases the head into the passage is reached. During cold engine starts, cold idling, and cold acceleration, a cold engine priming device sensing the temperate of the engine and delivers additional fuel into the fuel-and-air mixing passage from a fuel chamber when the engine is below a pre-set value.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a carburetor, and more particularly to a variable venturi carburetor having a fuel priming cold start device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In a conventional carburetor a fuel-and-air mixing passage extends usually horizontally through a carburetor body providing a fuel-and-air mixture to the crankcase of a combustion engine. A throttle valve or plate in the passage and near the passage outlet is supported by a shaft carried by the body and extending transversely through the passage, pivots within the passage to control the fuel-and-air mixture flow, which in-part controls the revolutions per minute, rate, of an operating engine. Similarly, a pivoting choke plate is supported within the passage by the body to control the amount of air flow through a venturi with a fixed cross-sectional area disposed in the passage between the throttle and choke plates. A main fuel feed tube communicates transversely into the fuel-and-air mixing passage to emit liquid fuel into the passage for mixing with air. The amount of emitted liquid fuel is dependent upon the amount of vacuum created at the venturi by the operating engine. Typically, for engine idle conditions, a separate fuel nozzle is provided at or near the throttle plate and the main fuel feed tube is reserved for higher speed engine operating conditions.

[0004] Unfortunately, for cold engine starts, cold idle and cold acceleration, the operating engine requires a richer or higher ratio of fuel-to-air to start and operate smoothly. Providing the proper additional amounts of fuel for varying air flow amounts for different engine transients (i.e. cranking, idle, and acceleration) is difficult. Often, providing the proper ratio of fuel and air for cold idle conditions will lead to an engine stall during cold acceleration. Furthermore, providing the proper ratio of fuel while maintaining emission performance standards is also difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A variable venturi area carburetor for a combustion engine has an uprighted cup-shaped piston head which forms an integral part of a venturi within a fuel-and-air mixing passage carried by a carburetor body, and a needle that projects rigidly downward from the head into a fuel feed passage that communicates with a fuel chamber at atmospheric pressure. The position of the piston head controls air flow by adjusting the air flow cross-sectional area of the variable venturi, and the needle simultaneously controls fuel flow into the fuel-and-air mixing passage at the venturi via obstruction of the fuel feed passage. The piston head and needle are moved in unison by a flexible diaphragm engaged to and disposed above the head. An atmospheric chamber is defined below the diaphragm and a vacuum chamber is defined generally above the diaphragm. A vacuum pressure passage extends through the bottom of the head communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage at the venturi and the vacuum chamber. As vacuum at the venturi increases, the volume of the vacuum chamber decreases and the flexing diaphragm moves the head partially out of the fuel-and-air mixing passage until a balance is reached of forces produced by the vacuum acting on the diaphragm and a resilient compression spring disposed within the vacuum chamber which biases the head into the passage. Retraction of the piston head is opposed by the spring force to increase the magnitude of the vacuum produced by the venturi and thereby creating a rich mixture of fuel-and-air when required. During cold engine starts, cold idling, and cold acceleration, a cold engine priming device senses the temperature of the engine and delivers additional fuel into the fuel-and-air mixing passage from a fuel chamber when the engine temperature is below a pre-set value.

[0006] Objects, features, and advantages of this invention include a variable venturi type carburetor which provides and increased quantity of fuel to the fuel-and-air mixing passage when a cranking or running engine is below an optimum running temperature without operator intervention. Another advantage of the present invention is a reliable, robust and relatively inexpensive to manufacture carburetor that causes an engine to start, idle and accelerate smoothly and reliably at cold temperatures without requiring a traditional choke plate or valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a part diagrammatic and a side sectional view of a variable venturi carburetor having a cold-start fuel priming device of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the variable venturi carburetor illustrating a cross section of a needle and fuel feed tube when in an open position taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a partial diagrammatic and a fragmentary sectional view of a second embodiment of the variable venturi carburetor illustrating a cold-start fuel priming device;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a part diagrammatic and a side sectional view of a third embodiment of the variable venturi carburetor; and

[0012] FIG. 5 is an enlarged section view of a fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve of the variable venturi carburetor of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Referring in more details to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a variable venturi carburetor (A) embodying with the present invention. Air flows into the carburetor (A) from an air filter (not shown) at an inlet 13a of a fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 which extends longitudinally through and is defined by a body 6 of the carburetor (A). From the inlet 13a, the filtered air travels through a variable venturi created by an obstruction or movable upright cup shaped piston head 18 where it mixes with a rich mixture of fuel-and-air emitted from a fuel feed tube 28 during high engine running conditions. The piston head 18 is slidably received in a bore 8 and is movable in a substantially linear fashion transversely into and out of the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 thereby adjusting the cross sectional flow area at the effective venturi location of the carburetor (A). The resultant fuel-and-air mixture flows through a butterfly type throttle valve 14 having a rotatable shaft 15 supported by the body 6 and extending transversely through the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 between the piston head 18 and an outlet 13b of the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 leading to an intake manifold of a combustion engine, not shown.

[0014] Fuel is supplied to the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13, during hot idle conditions of the engine, through a fuel idle passage 17. Passage 17 communicates between an idle fuel nozzle 16 disposed just upstream of the throttle valve 14 when the valve is substantially closed and a jet screw 25 disposed at the opposite end which communicates with a fuel reservoir or chamber 26 carried beneath the carburetor body 6 and defined by the body 6 and a fuel bowl 24 engaged to the underside of body 6.

[0015] Preferably, the carburetor is a float type and the fuel reservoir 26 contains a float 23 with an arm 29 which projects from the float 23 and is supported pivotally at an opposite end by a shaft 30 carried by the fuel reservoir wall 24. A fuel inlet valve or head 31 bears on an intermediate part of the pivoting arm 29 so that as the arm 29 pivots down and up the inlet valve 31 opens and closes the end of a passage communicating with a fuel inlet 22 for receiving liquid fuel from a remote fuel tank, not shown. When the fuel level of the fuel chamber 26 lowers, the float 23 moves downward so that the inlet valve 31 is opened by the arm 29 or moves away from its valve seat and liquid fuel from the inlet 22 flows into the fuel chamber 26. When the fuel level within the fuel chamber 26 increases the float 23 moves up so that the inlet valve 31 is moved up by the arm 29 until the fuel inlet 32 is blocked or closed by the valve bearing on its seat. The present invention is not limited to a float type carburetor chamber 26 and can be a fuel chamber of a diaphragm type carburetor which is common in smaller two stroke combustion engines.

[0016] The piston head 18, which sealably fits and slides within a cylinder bore 8 defined by a wall 8a of the carburetor body 6, is biased into the fuel-and-air passage 13 via a spring 4 and moves transversely in and out of the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 via a pressure differential acting on the diaphragm 3. When air flows through the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 beneath the protruding bottom portion 18a of the piston head 18, a venturi effect is created producing a low pressure pocket or vacuum which is introduced into a vacuum chamber 5 via a vacuum passage 19 which communicates with the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 through the bottom portion 18a of the piston head 18.

[0017] When the engine is running, actuation or retraction of the piston head 18 occurs when the throttle valve 14 opens to increase fuel and air flow to the engine. The increase in air flow creates an increase in the venturi induced vacuum beneath the head 18. This vacuum increase is applied to the vacuum chamber 5 and acts on the diaphragm 3 to move the head 18 upward against the resilient force of spring 4 that yieldably biases the head 18 into the passage 13. Thus, where the opening degree of the throttle valve 14 is controlled externally of the carburetor (A), the position of the head 18 is automatically adjusted internally and in accordance with the load of the engine.

[0018] With the application of a float-type fuel chamber 26, the cylinder bore 8 extends substantially vertically. The piston head 18 has a blind bore 18c with a cylindrical sidewall 18b. The vacuum chamber 5 is defined between a lid 2, a flexible diaphragm 3 and the piston head 18a. The spring 4 is interposed between the lid 2 and the blind bore 18c of the piston head 18 and within the vacuum chamber 5. The spring 4 is held concentrically in place by a downward protrusion 2a formed in the lid 2 and the blind bore 18c of the piston head 18. The diaphragm 3 is substantially annular in shape having an inward perimeter or peripheral edge 3a fastened to an upper end of the cup shaped piston head 18 via a pair of upper and lower retaining washers 9 engaged concentrically to an upper edge head 18. An outer peripheral edge 3b of the diaphragm 3 is fastened sealably between an upper portion of the carburetor body 6 and the lid 2. The retaining washers 9 lie within an imaginary plane disposed substantially perpendicular to a centerline of the cylinder bore 8. The washers 9 engage an upward facing surface of the body 6 when the head 18 protrudes to a maximum degree into the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13.

[0019] The vacuum chamber 5 is defined above the diaphragm 3, and an atmospheric chamber 10 is disposed below the vacuum pressure chamber 5 and defined between the diaphragm 3 and the carburetor body 6. As the head 18 moves upward within the cylinder bore 8, the inner peripheral edge 3a moves upward causing the diaphragm 3 to flex. The atmospheric chamber 10 is exposed to filtered atmosphere via an atmospheric passage 12 which communicates with the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 at the inlet 13a, just downstream of the air filter (not shown).

[0020] The fuel regulating needle 20 projects rigidly downward from the bottom portion 18a of the piston head 18 into a main fuel feed tube 28 which extends through the body 6 and projects slightly upward into the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 from a bottom portion 26a of the float chamber 26. The upper end of the fuel regulating needle 20 is supported by a support 7 engaged to the surface 18b of the bottom portion 18a of the head 18. The feed tube 28 defines a fuel feed passage 28a which communicates between the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 beneath the head 18 and the fuel chamber 26 when the needle 20 is not fully inserted to its maximum degree into the passage 28a. That is, as the piston head 18 moves, the regulating needle 20 moves into or partially out of the main fuel feed tube 28 thereby controlling the amount of a rich fuel-and-air mixture entering the fuel-and-air passage 13. Engaged to a bottom end of the main fuel feed tube 28 is a fuel jet 27.

[0021] An upper and lower portion 28c, 28d of the main fuel tube 28 are engaged circumferentially and sealably to the carburetor body 6. Located between the engagements of the upper and lower portions 28c, 28d to the body 6 is an axial extending substantially annular air pocket 28e defined substantially radially between the fuel feed tube 28 and body 6. The annular pocket 28e communicates with an air inlet port 28f disposed at or near the inlet 13a of the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 to supply filtered air at or near atmospheric pressure to the pocket 28e. The air from the annular pocket 28e enters a mid portion of the main fuel supply tube 28 via a series of diametrically opposed apertures 28d spaced axially along the tube 28. This air mixes with fuel traveling through the fuel jet 27 into the feed passage or pre-mixing chamber 28a thereby supplying a rich fuel-and-air mixture through a radial clearance 28g into the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 at high engine RPM running or load conditions when the throttle is at least partially open, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A.

[0022] The regulating needle 20 tapers radially inward as it projects axially outward from the bottom portion 18a of the piston head 18. When the head 18 is fully inserted into the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13, the upper portion 28c of the main fuel feed tube 28 is engaged slideably and sealably to a short untapered cylindrical surface portion of the needle 20. This prevents any rich mixture of fuel-and-air from flowing into the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 at the venturi location at engine idle. During hot idle conditions the engine must therefore rely on all fuel entering the carburetor via the fuel idle nozzle 16. With the head 18 partially or fully retracted during high vacuum conditions, a varying radial clearance 28g defined between the upper portion 28c of the main fuel feed tube 28 and the tapered portion of the regulating needle 20 is created allowing a rich mixture of fuel-and-air to flow from the pre-mixing chamber 28a into the fuel and air mixing passage 13. Also, as the needle 20 moves upward, a greater number of apertures 28d are exposed to the volumetrically increasing pre-mixing chamber 28a which further increases the flow of the rich fuel-and-air mixture.

[0023] Because a cold engine requires a richer mixture of fuel-and-air to reliably start, the liquid fuel flow from the fuel idle nozzle 16 disposed near the throttle valve during cold start conditions of the engine is not sufficient. Consequently, a fuel priming device 41 is integrated into the variable venturi carburetor (A). It should also be noted that the device 41 will assist in the smooth acceleration of a cold engine just after start for similar reasons. Device 41 has an isolation valve 41a, an inlet passage 32 which extends from the bottom portion 26a of the float chamber 26 within the approximate vicinity of the fuel jet 27 of the main fuel feed tube 28, and an outlet passage 33 which communicates between the isolation valve 41a and a cold idle fuel nozzle 21 disposed at or near the venturi location just upstream of the main fuel feed tube 28 thereby promoting liquid fuel flow via differential pressure. The cold idle fuel nozzle 21 is disposed under the piston head bottom 18a in the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 because it is at this venturi location that the strongest vacuum exists, necessary for flowing fuel through the nozzle 21.

[0024] The isolation valve 41a is an electromagnetic or electric solenoid valve having a valve body integral with a plunger 43 inserted into an electromagnetic coil 42. The plunger 43 is biased by the force of a spring 45 toward an outlet port 41b on the end wall of a valve chamber 44 defined by the valve body 6. An outlet orifice 41c is located on and communicates through a peripheral wall of the valve body to the inlet passage 32. The electromagnetic coil 42 is connected or powered by a supply battery or direct current power source 47 via a thermal switch 46. The thermal switch 46 comprises a thermal tap or temperature sensor disposed for example on a wall of the engine (not shown) in order to close the device circuit when the temperature of the engine wall is below a fixed or preset value. In this manner, the isolation valve 41a is open so that fuel is drawn out by the air intake vacuum of the venturi portion of the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 only when engine temperatures are below a preset valve.

[0025] During operation, when the electromagnetic coil 42 of the isolation valve 41a is energized just after the engine is started, and at low temperatures, the valve body or plunger 43 is forced against and overcomes the resilience of the spring 45 in order to open the passage 33. Once open, the liquid fuel from the fuel chamber 26 flows into the fuel nozzle 21 via the passages 32 and 33. The quantity of fuel flowing into the variable venturi portion thereby increases and a richer mixture is supplied to the engine, thus stabilizing idling and accelerating properties of a cold running engine.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, a partial illustration of a second embodiment of the variable venturi carburetor (A′) is shown. The electromagnetic isolation valve 41a of the first embodiment is replaced with a check valve 4a′ of the second embodiment. The check valve 41a′ can only open upon a strong air intake vacuum communicated from a venturi of a fuel-and-air mixing passage 13′, exposed via a fuel nozzle 21′ and disposed under a piston head 18′. Such a strong vacuum will exist when the head 18′ is extended fully into passage 13′, and not when it is retracted.

[0027] As shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, a third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. A cold-start fuel priming device 41″ delivers a rich mixture of fuel-and-air just downstream of the throttle valve 14″ within the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13″ when the engine is cold, and at idle or initial acceleration. The primary device 41″ has a master rich fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve (C) and a dual functioning air isolation or bypass valve (B) which is slave to the mixture isolation valve (C). Priming device 41″ is triggered by engine temperature acting on the mixture isolation valve (C) which has a heat sensitive element 64 which expands above a pre-established value thereby closing the valve. Likewise, the element 64 contracts when temperatures fall below the pre-established value, and the valve opens. When valve (C) is open (i.e. engine is cold) and the engine is running at idle (i.e. throttle valve 14 is closed), a vacuum pressure is sensed from passage 13 and through the open master valve (C) that acts on the slave air bypass valve (B). This acting vacuum pressure causes a diaphragm 52 within slave bypass valve (B) to flex, opening the normally closed bypass valve (B) against the resilient force of a spring 54 exerted against the diaphragm 52. When open, the vacuum pressure chamber 5 of the carburetor (A) is caused to communicate directly with the atmosphere chamber 10 reducing the differential pressure across the diaphragm 3. With the reduction in differential pressure, the resilient force of spring 4 is capable of pushing the head 18 into the passage 13 enabling the needle 71 to isolate or close-off the substantially lower fuel-and-air mixture flow originating from the fuel feed passage 28a. Consequently, until the cold engine heats up, fuel and some air is supplied to the operating engine solely or substantially from the master isolation valve (C). During this time, the main fuel feed passage 28 is inactive. Accordingly, cold engine idling is stabilized, and even initial cold engine acceleration is made smooth since the primary device 41″ is functioning.

[0028] The master isolation valve (C) receives liquid fuel via a fuel inlet conduit 75 communicating between the valve (C) and a lower portion 26a″ of the fuel chamber 26″. A portion of the combustible air flows to an air port 67 carried by valve (C) via an air supply conduit 79 which communicates between a filtered air source at substantially atmospheric pressure and the air port 67. Preferably, inlet 13a is an ideal air source, being filtered and near atmospheric pressure. An air operating conduit 78 communicates between an operating chamber 55 of the slave valve (B) and a portion of the air supply conduit 79 located between the master valve (C) and a reduction orifice 79a carried by the conduit 79 . The reduction orifice 79a assures enough vacuum draw through air operating conduit 78 to open the slave valve (B).

[0029] The air operating chamber 55 is defined between one side (left as illustrated) of the diaphragm 52 and a lid 51a engaged along the diaphragm's perimeter to a valve body 51. An atmospheric or reference chamber 56 is defined between an opposite side of the diaphragm 52 and the valve body 51. The perimeter of the diaphragm 52 is engaged and sealed between the lid 51 a and the valve body 51. A valve head 58 is engaged to the approximate center of the diaphragm 52 and projects through the reference chamber 56 and into a blind bore or bypass chamber 58a carried by the valve body 51.

[0030] Communicating with the bypass chamber 58a is an inlet port 59 and a diametrically opposed outlet port 57. The inlet port 59 communicates with the atmosphere chamber 10 of the carburetor (A″) via an atmospheric conduit 76, and the outlet port 57 communicates with the vacuum chamber 5 via a vacuum conduit 77.

[0031] When the valve head 58 is seated within the bypass chamber 58a by the biasing force of spring 54, the atmospheric conduit 76 is isolated from the vacuum conduit 77. However, when a vacuum exists within operating chamber 55 sufficient to overcome the spring 54 resilience, the diaphragm flexes into the operating chamber 55 and simultaneously moves the valve head 58, to a degree, out of the bypass chamber 58a so that the ports 57 and 59 are exposed to one-another and the conduits 76 and 77 communicate. Consequently, the vacuum chamber 5 loses vacuum and the piston 18 moves to project further into the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13 shutting off fuel flow through the fuel feed passage 13 via the needle 20.

[0032] When master valve (C) is open, liquid fuel enters valve (C) via a fuel conduit 75 through a fuel port 69 carried by lower housing 66. The fuel then mixes with air entering via the air supply conduit 79 and through port 67 carried by lower housing 66 and is thus delivered to the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13″ just downstream of the throttle valve 14″ via a rich mixture conduit 80 which extends between the fuel port 69 and a nozzle 21 disposed in the passage 13″. After the engine sufficiently warms the heat sensitive element 64 expands closing the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve (C). This closure stops any fuel-and-air mixture flow through the mixture conduit 80, closes valve (B) which restores vacuum in chamber 5 causing the piston 18 to retract which begins fuel flow through the fuel feed passage 28.

[0033] The heat sensitive element 64 of the mixture isolation valve (C) is mushroom shaped and volumetrically expands when heated by the operating engine. Element 64 is housed within and engaged against the bottom of an inverted blind bore carried by an upper housing 62 disposed above and inter-engaged to the lower housing 66. A stem or piston 64a extends unitarily and concentrically downward from and enlarged head 64b of the mushroom shaped heat sensitive member 64 and fits into a tube or cylinder 74. The cylinder 74 fits into a tube 72 disposed radially inward from and engaged circumferentially to a lower end of the upper housing 62. A rod 73 is embedded within and protrudes concentrically downward from the piston 64a within the cylinder 74 and contacts an upward facing bottom surface of the cylinder 74.

[0034] The heat sensitive member 64 is biased upward against the upper housing 62 as the cylinder 74 is forced upward against the rod 73 by a coiled primary spring 74b. The primary spring 74b is interposed radially between the cylinder 74 and the tube 72 and axially compressible between a radially outward projecting rim 74e of the cylinder 74 and a bottom radially inward projecting rim 72a of the tube 72. A radial clearance between the contracted head 64b and the upper housing 62 permits radial expansion of the head 64b when heated. A resilient o-ring 64c seats within a circumferential channel of the enlarged head 64b and spans the radial clearance to contact the upper housing 62 thereby centering the heat sensitive element with respect to the upper housing 62. The radial distance of the clearance is sufficient enough to permit radial expansion of the enlarged head 64b when heated. The o-ring is capable of compressing accordingly between the head 64b and upper housing 62 so that the head expansion does not damage or distort the housing 62.

[0035] A hollow rod 74a extends unitarily and concentrically downward from an enlarged flange bottom 74d of the cylinder 74 and is connected via a loss motion coupling 75 to an upper hollow part 65a of a secondary piston 65 fitted slideably into the lower housing 66 generally below the tube 72. The housing 66 interconnects rigidly to the housing 62 via the tube 72 preventing axial slipage. The hollow rod 74a is urged in a direction away from the piston 65 by the force of a secondary coil spring 74c. A needle 71 supported rigidly on the secondary piston 65 inserts concentrically into a fuel nozzle 68 fitted into and circumferentially sealed to the lower part of the valve housing 66. The peripheral wall of the lower housing 66 carries the air port 67 of conduit 76 and the mixture port 70 of conduit 80. The air port 67 is substantially opposed diametrically to the mixture port 70 of the mixture conduit 80. A lower end of the lower housing 66 disposed axially below the nozzle 68 carries the fuel port 69 of the liquid fuel conduit 75.

[0036] As the heat sensitive member 64 heats and therefore expands axially the primary spring 74b compresses as cylinder 74 moves axially downward carrying hollow rod 74a, the secondary spring 74c, the secondary piston 65 and the needle 71 with it. Because the frictional resistance radially between the adjacent lower housing 66 and the secondary piston 65, and radially between the needle 71 and the nozzle 68, are minimal relative to the compression resistance or force of the secondary spring 74c, the secondary spring 74c compression is zero or minimal and the hollow rod 74a remains in direct axial contact or near contact with the secondary piston 65. In other words, it is not until the needle 71 is fully inserted into the nozzle 68 that any axial motion of the heat sensitive element 64 is lost within the loss motion coupling 75.

[0037] When the needle 71 is fully inserted into the nozzle 68, thereby blocking all fuel flow, and an annular bottom 65b of the secondary piston 65 seats against the top of the nozzle 68, the secondary spring 74a will begin to compress if the heat sensitive member 64 continues to expand axially thereby producing a lost axial motion in the coupling 75. Should this occur, the hollow rod 74a moves axially with respect to the now stationary secondary piston 65, inserting further into the hollow portion 65a. In this way, the secondary spring 74c protects the valve (C) from thermal expansion damage.

[0038] In operation, and when cranking the cold engine, strong vacuum exerts on the nozzle 21″. Furthermore, mixture isolation valve (C) is open because the heat sensitive element 64 is in the contracted state, so that the cylinder 74, the piston 64a and the piston 65 are pushed up by the force of the primary spring 74b, and the air port 67, the fuel port 69 and the mixture port 70 are communicated with one another via the housing. Accordingly, air in the operating chamber 55 of the bypass valve (B) is sucked into the lower housing 66 via the orifice 53a, the outlet 53, the conduit 78, the conduit 79, and the air port 67, whereby the valve head 58 of the bypass valve (B) retracts and opens against the force of the spring 54.

[0039] Within the mixture isolation valve (C), liquid fuel in the fuel chamber 26″ is sucked or flows into the lower housing 66 via the fuel conduit 75 and the fuel inlet port 69. The liquid fuel from the fuel nozzle 68 is mixed with air incoming from port 67 and the rich mixture is ultimately supplied to the engine via the mixture port 70, the mixture conduit 80, the nozzle 21″ and the fuel-and-air mixing passage 13″. Accordingly, engine idling is stabilized during the cold-start. Even the fuel-and-air mixing passage opening degree of the butterfly type throttle valve 14″ is made large to some extent during warming up of the engine, the smooth acceleration can be obtained since the rich mixture isolation valve (C) is in operation.

[0040] While the forms of the invention herein disclosed constitute presently preferred embodiments, many others are possible. It is not intended herein to mention all the possible equivalent forms or ramifications of the invention. It is understood that the terms used herein are merely descriptive, rather than limiting, and that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A variable venturi carburetor of a combustion engine having a body defining a fuel-and-air mixing passage communicating through the body between an inlet and outlet, a fuel chamber carried by the body, and a throttle valve disposed within the fuel-and-air mixing passage, the variable venturi carburetor comprising: a wall of the body defining a bore communicating with the fuel-and-air mixing passage between the throttle valve and the inlet of the fuel-and-air mixing passage; a fuel feed passage communicating with the fuel-and-air mixing passage and opposed diametrically to the bore, the fuel feed passage communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage and the fuel chamber; a vacuum chamber carried by the body; an elongated piston head disposed slideably within the bore and projecting into the fuel-and-air mixing passage; and a needle projecting longitudinally from a bottom portion of the elongated piston head and into the fuel feed passage.

2. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 1 comprising a vacuum passage extended through the bottom portion of the piston head and communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage and the vacuum chamber.

3. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 2 comprising: the fuel feed passage being defined by a fuel feed tube carried by the body, the fuel feed tube having an aperture extended laterally through the fuel feed tube and communicating between the fuel feed passage and air at atmospheric pressurize; and a variable clearance of the fuel feed passage, the clearance defined laterally between the needle and the fuel feed tube and communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage and the fuel chamber, the clearance being zero or minimal in flow cross section when the piston head is inserted to a maximum degree into the fuel-and-air mixing passage and being maximum in flow cross section when the piston head is retracted to a full degree from the fuel-and-air mixing passage.

4. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 3 comprising an air pocket defined laterally between the fuel feed tube and the carburetor body, the aperture communicating between the fuel feed passage and the air pocket, the air pocket being in communication with air at atmospheric pressure.

5. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 4 comprising an air orifice disposed at the inlet of the fuel-and-air mixing passage, the orifice being in communication with the air pocket.

6. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 5 wherein the fuel feed passage has an upper and a lower portion both being engaged circumferentially sealably to the carburetor body, and wherein the air pocket is disposed axially between the upper and lower portions.

7. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 6 comprising: a diaphragm engaged between a peripheral edge of the piston head and the body; a lid engaged to the carburetor body, the vacuum chamber defined between the lid, the diaphragm and the outward side of the piston head; an atmospheric chamber defined between the opposite side of the diaphragm and the carburetor body; and an atmospheric passage carried by the carburetor body and communicating between the atmospheric chamber and the inlet of the fuel-and-air mixing passage.

8. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 7 comprising a spring disposed within the vacuum chamber, the spring being constructed and arranged to bias the head to a maximum degree into the fuel-and-air mixing passage.

9. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 8 wherein the spring is engaged between the lid and the outward side of the piston head, the spring being compressed upon adequate vacuum in the fuel-and-air mixing passage near the piston head causing the piston head to retract laterally outward from the fuel-and-air mixing passage.

10. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 9 comprising: a fuel idle passage communicating between the fuel chamber and the fuel-and-air mixing passage via a fuel nozzle disposed in the fuel-and-air mixing passage near the fuel feed passage; and an isolation valve constructed and arranged to open the fuel idle passage when the engine is idling cold.

11. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 10 wherein the isolation valve is electromagnetic which opens when the engine is started.

12. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 11 comprising the isolation valve having a thermo-switch, whereby the switch controls the electric power to the isolation valve thereby closing the isolation valve when an upper preset engine temperature is reached.

13. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 10 wherein the isolation valve is a biased closed check valve that opens upon a preset vacuum at the outlet.

14. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 9 comprising a fuel-and-air-mixture isolation valve having a liquid fuel port, an air port, a mixture port, a heat sensitive element, and a housing carrying the fuel, air and mixture ports and housing the heat sensitive element, the heat sensitive element being in thermal communication with the engine, the air, fuel, and mixture ports being in communication with one-another when the heat sensitive element is below a pre-established temperature, the heat sensitive element constructed and arranged to expand on temperature thereby closing the fuel and air ports.

15. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 14 comprising: an air supply conduit extended between an air source at atmospheric pressure and the air port of the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve; a vacuum conduit communicating with the vacuum chamber; an atmosphere conduit communicating with the atmospheric chamber; a normally closed bypass valve engaged operatively between the vacuum and atmosphere conduits, wherein the vacuum conduit communicates with the atmosphere conduit when the bypass valve is open; a liquid fuel conduit communicating between the fuel chamber and the fuel port of the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve; a mixture conduit communicating between fuel-and-air mixing passage near the throttle valve and the mixture port of the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve; an air operating conduit communicating between the fuel-and-air mixture valve and the bypass valve, wherein the air operating conduit, the air supply conduit and the fuel conduit communicates with the mixture conduit when the fuel-and-air mixture valve is open and is isolated from the mixture conduit when the fuel-and-air mixture valve is closed.

16. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 15 wherein the bypass valve has a flexible diaphragm, a body, an operating chamber, a reference chamber, and a bypass chamber, the flexible diaphragm engaged sealably to the body and disposed between the operating and reference chambers, the atmosphere and vacuum conduits communicating with the bypass chamber, the diaphragm constructed and arranged to extend into the bypass chamber to close the valve and retract out of the bypass chamber to close the valve upon pressure changes within the operating chamber, the air operating conduit being in communication with the operating chamber.

17. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 16 comprising a head of the bypass valve engaged concentrically to the diaphragm, the head constructed and arranged to slide sealably into and out of the bypass chamber.

18. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 17 comprising: the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve having a primary spring disposed concentrically about the heat sensitive element; a radially projecting movable rim engaged to the heat sensing element; and a stationary radially projecting rim engaged to the housing, the primary spring disposed axially compressibly between the movable and stationary rims.

19. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 18 comprising: a secondary piston engaged via a loss axial motion coupling to and below the heat sensitive element, the secondary piston having a piston seat facing downward; the loss motion coupling having a secondary spring disposed concentrically and engaged axially between the secondary piston and the heat sensitive element; and a fuel nozzle having a nozzle seat opposing the piston seat, the nozzle seat being in contact with the piston seat from below when the needle is fully inserted into the nozzle and the secondary spring is compressed.

20. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 19 wherein the primary spring compresses independently of the secondary spring.

21. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 20 comprising a cylinder disposed radially between the heat sensitive element and the housing, the cylinder having the movable rim engaged rigidly to an upper end, the cylinder engaged to the heat sensitive element, and wherein the primary spring is disposed radially between the cylinder and the housing.

22. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 21 comprising: a tube disposed radially between the housing and the cylinder and engaged rigidly to the housing, the tube having the stationary rim engaged to a lower end; and wherein the primary spring is disposed radially between the cylinder and the tube, and wherein the cylinder movable rim slidably engages the tube as the cylinder moves axially within the tube.

23. A variable venturi carburetor for a combustion engine comprising: a body; a fuel-and-air mixing passage carried by and extending through the body, the fuel-and-air mixing passage having an inlet and an outlet; a fuel chamber carried by the body below the fuel-and-air mixing passage; a wall of the body defining a cylinder bore communicating laterally with the fuel-and-air mixing passage; a fuel feed passage communicating with the fuel-and-air mixing passage and disposed concentrically and opposed diametrically to the cylinder bore, the fuel feed passage communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage and the fuel chamber; an elongated piston head disposed slideably within the cylinder bore and projecting into the fuel-and-air mixing passage, the piston head having an inward side exposed to the fuel-and-air mixing passage and being engaged sealably and slideably to the wall; a needle projecting longitudinally from the inward side of the elongated piston head and into the fuel feed passage; and a clearance of the fuel feed passage defined radially between the body and the needle, the clearance communicating with the fuel-and-air mixing passage, wherein a flow cross section of the clearance varies with axial movement of the needle.

24. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 23 comprising a fuel priming device having a fuel idle passage communicating between the fuel chamber and the fuel-and-air mixing passage via a fuel nozzle disposed in the fuel-and-air mixing passage near the fuel feed passage and an isolation valve constructed and arranged to open the fuel idle passage when the engine is idling cold.

25. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 24 wherein the isolation valve is electromagnetic which opens when the engine is started.

26. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 25 comprising the isolation valve having a thermo-switch, whereby the switch controls the electric power to the isolation valve thereby closing the isolation valve when an upper preset engine temperature is reached.

27. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 24 wherein the isolation valve is a biased closed check valve that opens upon a preset vacuum at the outlet.

28. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 23 comprising: a flexible diaphragm engaged radially between the body and the piston head; a vacuum chamber; an atmosphere chamber disposed below the vacuum chamber; a diaphragm disposed between the vacuum chamber and the atmosphere chamber, the vacuum chamber being defined by an outward side of the piston head and the diaphragm; and a vacuum passage extended through the piston head and communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage beneath the piston head and the vacuum chamber.

29. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 28 comprising: a throttle valve disposed within the fuel-and-air mixing passage and between the outlet of the fuel-and-air mixing passage and the piston head; a fuel-and-air-mixture isolation valve having a liquid fuel port, an air port, a mixture port, a heat sensitive element, and a housing carrying the fuel, air and mixture ports and housing the heat sensitive element, the heat sensitive element being in thermal communication with the engine, the air, fuel, and mixture ports being in communication with one-another when the heat sensitive element is below a pre-established temperature, the heat sensitive element constructed and arranged to expand on temperature thereby closing the fuel and air ports; an air supply conduit extended between an air source at atmospheric pressure and the air port of the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve; a vacuum conduit communicating with the vacuum of the vacuum chamber; an atmosphere conduit communicating with the atmospheric chamber; a liquid fuel conduit communicating between the fuel chamber and the fuel port of the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve; a mixture conduit communicating between the fuel-and-air mixing passage near the throttle valve and the mixture port of the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve; a normally closed bypass valve engaged operatively between the vacuum and atmosphere conduits, wherein the vacuum conduit communicates with the atmosphere conduit when the bypass valve is open; and an air operating conduit communicating between the fuel-and-air mixture valve and the bypass valve, wherein the air operating conduit, the air supply conduit and the fuel conduit communicates with the mixture conduit when the fuel-and-air mixture valve is open and is isolated from the mixture conduit when the fuel-and-air mixture valve is closed.

30. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 29 wherein the bypass valve has a flexible diaphragm, a body, an operating chamber, a reference chamber, and a bypass chamber, the flexible diaphragm engaged sealably to the body and disposed between the operating and reference chambers, the atmosphere and vacuum conduits communicating with the bypass chamber, the diaphragm constructed and arranged to extend into the bypass chamber to close the valve and retract out of the bypass chamber to close the valve upon pressure changes within the operating chamber, the air operating conduit being in communication with the operating chamber.

31. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 30 comprising a head of the bypass valve engaged concentrically to the diaphragm, the head constructed and arranged to slide sealably into and out of the bypass chamber.

32. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 31 comprising: the fuel-and-air mixture isolation valve having a primary spring disposed concentrically about the heat sensitive element; a radially projecting movable rim engaged to the heat sensing element; and a stationary radially projecting rim engaged to the housing, the primary spring disposed axially compressibly between the movable and stationary rims.

33. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 32 comprising: a secondary piston engaged via a loss axial motion couplying to and below the heat sensitive element, the secondary piston having a piston seat facing downward; the loss motion coupling having a secondary spring disposed concentrically and engaged axially between the secondary piston and the heat sensitive element; and a fuel nozzle having a nozzle seat opposing the piston seat, the nozzle seat being in contact with the piston seat from below when the needle is fully inserted into the nozzle and the secondary spring is compressed.

34. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 33 wherein the primary spring compresses independently of the secondary spring.

35. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 34 comprising a cylinder disposed radially between the heat sensitive element and the housing, the cylinder having the movable rim engaged rigidly to an upper end, the cylinder engaged to the heat sensitive element, and wherein the primary spring is disposed radially between the cylinder and the housing.

36. The variable venturi carburetor set forth in claim 35 comprising a tube disposed radially between the housing and the cylinder and engaged rigidly to the housing, the tube having the stationary rim engaged to a lower end.