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A modified internal combustion engine useful as a power plant in automotive vehicles is operated on an admixture of air and fuel vapor. An apparatus is disclosed for generating the fuel vapor from a volatile normally liquid fuel of the type useful in operating a conventional internal combustion engi

A modified internal combustion engine useful as a power plant in automotive vehicles is operated on an admixture of air and fuel vapor. An apparatus is disclosed for generating the fuel vapor from a volatile normally liquid fuel of the type useful in operating a conventional internal combustion engine having a prior art carburetor. Apparatus is also disclosed for safely handling and controlling the fuel vapor thus generated, and utilizing the same in the operation of the internal combustion engine. In a further aspect, a novel method is provided for generating vapor of a volatile liquid fuel and operating an internal combustion engine therewith. The method is also useful in modifying a conventional internal combustion engine including a prior art carburetor. The resultant modified internal combustion engine operates more efficiently and with lower exhaust emissions.

대표청구항 ▼

In apparatus for generating vapor of a volatile liquid fuel for an internal combustion engine and operating an internal combustion engine therewith, the said apparatus including vessel means containing the said fuel vapor thus generated in the interior thereof and an internal combustion engine, the

In apparatus for generating vapor of a volatile liquid fuel for an internal combustion engine and operating an internal combustion engine therewith, the said apparatus including vessel means containing the said fuel vapor thus generated in the interior thereof and an internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders for combustion of the fuel vapor and air-fuel vapor supply means for supplying a combustible admixture of air and fuel vapor to the cylinders in response to reduced pressure within the cylinders, the said air-fuel vapor supply means including an intake manifold means in communication with the interior of the cylinders, air-fuel vapor conduit means in communication with the interior of the said intake manifold means and throttle means in the said air-fuel vapor conduit means upstream of the said manifold means whereby suction is applied to the said air-fuel vapor conduit means and a combustible admixture of air and fuel vapor is supplied to the cylinders as needed for operating the internal combustion engine at varying speeds controlled by the said throttle means, the improvement which comprises air-fuel vapor conduit means having first and second end portions, the said first end portion being in communication with the interior of the intake manifold means and the said second end portion being in communication with a first portion of the interior of the said vessel means containing the fuel vapor whereby when the internal combustion engine is operating the said air-fuel vapor supply means supplies fuel vapor to the cylinders and suction is applied to the said air-fuel vapor conduit means which causes fuel vapor to be withdrawn from the first portion of the said vessel means by suction and passed through the air-fuel vapor conduit means to the said intake manifold means, the interior of the said vessel means being maintained under a pressure no greater than the ambient atmospheric pressure and the contents thereof being unheated by an extraneous source of heat, means in a second portion of the interior of the said vessel means for vaporizing volatile normally liquid fuel for an internal combustion engine to thereby produce additional fuel vapor in the said vessel means, the said vaporizing means being effective for vaporizing unheated volatile liquid fuel at a pressure not exceeding the ambient atmospheric pressure and with the resulting fuel vapor phase in the said first portion being free of suspended liquid fuel droplets whereby the fuel vapor contained in the said first portion of the said vessel means is unheated by an extraneous source of heat, is under a pressure no greater than the ambient atmospheric pressure and is free of suspended finely divided liquid fuel, the said vaporizing means including means for withdrawing said unheated liquid fuel from a body thereof and introducing an excess of the resultant withdrawn liquid fuel into the said second portion of the vessel means, means including rotary means for producing through the action of centrifugal force a plurality of relatively large particles of liquid fuel from the said withdrawn liquid fuel, and means for further subdividing through an impact action the said relatively large particles of liquid fuel into a plurality of finely divided dispersible liquid fuel particles and dispersing the same in the said second portion of the vessel means to thereby vaporize a portion of the said withdrawn liquid fuel and produce fuel vapor, diaphragm means for dividing the interior of the said vessel means into the said first and second portions, the diaphragm means having a plurality of openings therein of a size to allow passage of the fuel vapor produced in the said second portion into the said first portion of the vessel means, the said openings in the diaphragm being of a size to retain the said relatively large and finely divided particles of liquid fuel in the said second portion of the vessel means, and means for withdrawing the said excess of liquid fuel from the said second portion of the vessel means.