초록 ▼

A novel method and improved apparatus are disclosed for generating fuel vapor from a volatile normally liquid fuel, safely handling and controlling the fuel vapor, and utilizing the same in the operation of an internal combustion engine. Preferably, the fuel vapor is generated by introducing the liq

A novel method and improved apparatus are disclosed for generating fuel vapor from a volatile normally liquid fuel, safely handling and controlling the fuel vapor, and utilizing the same in the operation of an internal combustion engine. Preferably, the fuel vapor is generated by introducing the liquid fuel under pressure into the lower portion of a vessel via an elongated tubular member having a plurality of spaced openings. The pressurized liquid fuel flows from the openings under vigorous conditions of agitation and fuel vapor is evolved from the liquid surface without forming finely subdivided liquid droplets in the vapor phase. Air is mixed with fuel vapor in the upper portion of the vessel in an amount sufficient to lower the dew point, but insufficient to produce an explosive mixture. The mixture is withdrawn from the vessel and, after adding sufficient air to produce an explosive mixture and for efficient combustion, is passed to the intake manifold. Prior to entering the intake manifold, the fuel vapor, the air admixed therewith, and the admixture of air and fuel vapor remain cool and are not heated to an elevated temperature by an extraneous source of heat. They also are maintained under a pressure not greater than atmospheric, and are passed through the system solely in response to suction from the intake manifold and without being placed under superatmospheric pressure. In a further aspect, the above novel method and improved apparatus are used in modifying a conventional internal combustion engine having a prior art carburetor. The resultant modified internal combustion engine operates more efficiently and with lower undesirable 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 an upper 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 an upper 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 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 as initially generated being free of suspended liquid fuel droplets whereby the fuel vapor contained in the interior 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 applying pressure to the said liquid fuel and means for substantially continuously introducing an excess of the resultant pressurized liquid fuel into a lower portion of the said vessel means under vigorous conditions of agitation to thereby vaporize a portion of the liquid fuel, the said pressurized liquid fuel being introduced into the said vessel means at a rate sufficiently in excess of the vaporization rate whereby an agitated body of a freshly introduced liquid fuel phase is present in the lower portion of the said vessel means and a fuel vapor phase is present above the resultant liquid fuel phase in the upper portion of the interior of the said vessel means, the said means for introducing the pressurized liquid fuel including conduit means positioned adjacent the bottom of the said lower portion of the vessel means having a plurality of spaced openings formed therein through which fresh pressurized liquid fuel is introduced into the said lower portion of the vessel means, the said means for introducing pressurized liquid fuel also including means for controlling the rate at which the pressurized liquid fuel is introduced through the said plurality of openings and thereby controlling the rate at which the liquid fuel is vaporized, the said conduit means and plurality of openings therein being arranged in spaced relationship across the said lower portion of the vessel means and being effective to introduce the pressurized liquid fuel into the said lower portion of the vessel means substantially uniformly across the surface area thereof and under vigorous agitation conditions without forming a substantial amount of finely subdivided liquid fuel that becomes suspended in the fuel vapor phase, the fuel vapor phase in the said upper portion of the interior of the vessel means being free of liquid fuel in the form of finely subdivided particles when withdrawn via the said air-fuel vapor conduit means, and means for withdrawing liquid fuel from the liquid fuel phase in the lower portion of the said vessel means at a rate to maintain a desired liquid level while substantially continuously introducing the said pressurized liquid fuel.