초록 ▼

A fuel supply system 10 for an internal combustion engine includes a housing 12 defining a chamber 14 and provided with an inlet opening 16 upstream of the chamber 14 and an outlet opening 18 downstream of the chamber 14. The fuel injector 20 sprays a fuel mist into the chamber 14. A heater 22 heats

A fuel supply system 10 for an internal combustion engine includes a housing 12 defining a chamber 14 and provided with an inlet opening 16 upstream of the chamber 14 and an outlet opening 18 downstream of the chamber 14. The fuel injector 20 sprays a fuel mist into the chamber 14. A heater 22 heats air flowing into the chamber 14 via inlet 16 to a temperature of between 110° C.-260° C. Pressure within the chamber 14 is also negative relative to ambient pressure. The fuel sprayed into the chamber 14 via the fuel injector 20 is thermally cracked so that a mixture of thermally cracked fuel and heated air flows out from the outlet 18 for combustion in combustion chambers of the engine.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel system for an internal combustion (IC) engine, said system comprising:a housing defining a thermal cracking chamber, and provided with an air inlet opening upstream of said chamber and an outlet opening downstream of said chamber; a fuel injector that injects a fuel mist into said chamber;

1. A fuel system for an internal combustion (IC) engine, said system comprising:a housing defining a thermal cracking chamber, and provided with an air inlet opening upstream of said chamber and an outlet opening downstream of said chamber; a fuel injector that injects a fuel mist into said chamber; an air heater that heats air flowing through said inlet opening into said chamber to a temperature in the range of 110°-260° C.; a controller coupled with said fuel injector to control the injection of said fuel mist into said chamber; and, an air temperature sensor for providing a first signal to said controller indicative of the temperature of air flowing into said chamber through said inlet opening, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said fuel mist inversely with variations in said air temperature; whereby, in use, said fuel is thermally cracked in said chamber by collision with molecules of said heated air to form a thermally cracked fuel and heated air mixture, which is supplied to a fuel intake manifold of said IC engine via said outlet opening. 2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust manifold of said IC engine and providing a second signal to said controller indicative of the oxygen content of exhaust gases produced by combustion of said cracked fuel in said IC engine, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said fuel mist inversely with variations in said oxygen content.3. The system according to claim 2 further comprising a valve provided in said outlet and adapted for coupling to an accelerator control of a vehicle in which said IC engine is mounted, said valve having a minimum open position providing maximum restriction to flow of said cracked fuel to said fuel intake manifold, and a maximum open position providing minimum restriction to flow of said cracked fuel to said fuel intake manifold, and a valve position sensor providing a third signal to said controller indicative of the degree of openness of said valve, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said mist in proportion to the degree of openness of said valve.4. The system according to claim 3 further comprising a cold start fuel injector for spraying a fuel mist into a conduit coupled to said outlet on initial operation of said internal combustion engine.5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said controller is operatively coupled to said cold start fuel injector for controlling the volume of fuel in the fuel mist spray by said cold start injector on the basis of said air temperature such that said controller disables said cold start fuel injector when said air temperature is above a threshold temperature.6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said inlet opening is of a diameter less than a diameter of said chamber whereby pressure of said heated air is reduced upon flowing through said inlet opening into said chamber.7. The system according to claim 6 wherein said outlet opening is of a diameter less than said inlet opening.8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said chamber is of a diameter at least two and half times the diameter of said outlet opening.9. The system according to claim 8 wherein said inlet opening and outlet opening are separated by a distance of at least 20 cm.10. The system according to claim 9 wherein said inlet opening has a diameter of approximately 60 mm.11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said outlet opening has a diameter of approximately 42 mm.12. The system according to claim 6 wherein said fuel injector comprises one or more orifices arranged about said inlet opening.13. The system according to claim 6 wherein said inlet opening is formed with a downstream portion of progressively increasing diameter.14. A fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprising:a chamber having first and second opposite end walls and a side wall extending between said opposite end walls, with an inlet opening formed in said first wall and an outlet opening formed in said second wall; a fuel injector for injecting a fuel mist into said chamber; an air heater for heating air to a temperature of between 110° C. to 260° C.; a conduit for directing said heated air into said chamber through said air inlet; a controller coupled with said fuel injector to control the injection of said fuel mist into said chamber; and, an air temperature sensor for providing a first signal to said controller indicative of the temperature of air flowing into said chamber through said inlet opening, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said fuel mist inversely with variations in said air temperature; said fuel mist mixing with said heated air in said chamber to cause thermal cracking of said fuel and form a thermally cracked fuel and heated air mixture, said mixture being drawn from said outlet for combustion in a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine. 15. The system according to claim 14 further comprising an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust manifold of said IC engine and providing a second signal to said controller indicative of the oxygen content of exhaust gases produced by combustion of said cracked fuel in said IC engine, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said fuel mist inversely with variations in said oxygen content.16. The system according to claim 15 further comprising a valve provided in said outlet and adapted for coupling to an accelerator control of a vehicle in which said IC engine is mounted, said valve having a minimum open position providing maximum restriction to flow of said cracked fuel to said fuel intake manifold, and a maximum open position providing minimum restriction to flow of said cracked fuel to said fuel intake manifold, and a valve position sensor providing a third signal to said controller indicative of the degree of openness of said valve, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said mist in proportion to the degree of openness of said valve.17. The system according to claim 16 further comprising a cold start fuel injector for spraying a fuel mist into a conduit coupled to said outlet on initial operation of said internal combustion engine.18. The system according to claim 17 further comprising said controller further operatively coupled to said cold start fuel injector for controlling the volume of fuel in the fuel mist spray by said cold start injector on the basis of said air temperature such that said controller disables said cold start fuel injector when said air temperature is above a threshold temperature.19. The system according to claim 14 wherein said inlet opening is of a diameter less than a diameter of said chamber whereby pressure of said heated air is reduced upon flowing through said inlet opening into said chamber.20. The system according to claim 19 wherein said outlet opening is of a diameter less than said inlet opening.21. The system according to claim 20 wherein said chamber is of a diameter at least two and half times the diameter of said outlet opening.22. The system according to claim 21 wherein said inlet opening and outlet opening are separated by a distance of at least 20 cm.23. The system according to claim 22 wherein said inlet opening has a diameter of approximately 60 mm.24. The system according to claim 23 wherein said outlet opening has a diameter of approximately 42 mm.25. The system according to claim 24 wherein said fuel injector includes one or more orifices arranged about said inlet opening.26. The system according to claim 25 wherein said inlet opening is formed with a downstream portion of progressively increasing diameter.27. The system according to claim 14 wherein said fuel injector sprays fuel into said chamber from said first wall.28. A method of conditioning liquid fuel prior to combustion in an internal combustion engine, said method comprising:providing a chamber with an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at an opposite end; injecting a mist of liquid fuel into said chamber; introducing heated fresh air at a temperature of between 110° C. to 260° C. into said chamber via said inlet opening; mixing said fuel with said heated air to thermally crack said liquid fuel and form a thermally cracked fuel and heated air mixture; and drawing said mixture from said outlet for combustion in said internal combustion engine. 29. A fuel system for an internal combustion (IC) engine, said system comprising:a housing defining a thermal cracking chamber, and provided with an air inlet opening upstream of said chamber and an outlet opening downstream of said chamber; a fuel injector for injecting a fuel mist into said chamber; and, an air heater that heats fresh air prior to flowing through said inlet opening into said chamber to a temperature in the range of 110°-260° C.; said fuel being thermally cracked in said chamber by collision with molecules of said heated air to form a thermally cracked fuel and heated air mixture, which is supplied to a fuel intake manifold of said IC engine via said outlet opening. 30. The system according to claim 29 further comprising a controller coupled with said fuel injector to control the injection of said fuel mist into said chamber.31. The system according to claim 30 further comprising an air temperature sensor for providing a first signal to said controller indicative of the temperature of air flowing into said chamber through said inlet opening, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said fuel mist inversely with variations in said air temperature.32. The system according to claim 31 further comprising an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust manifold of said IC engine and providing a second signal to said controller indicative of the oxygen content of exhaust gases produced by combustion of said cracked fuel in said IC engine, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said fuel mist inversely with variations in said oxygen content.33. The system according to claim 32 further comprising a valve provided in said outlet and adapted for coupling to an accelerator control of a vehicle in which said IC engine is mounted, said valve having a minimum open position providing maximum restriction to flow of said cracked fuel to said fuel intake manifold, and a maximum open position providing minimum restriction to flow of said cracked fuel to said fuel intake manifold, and a valve position sensor providing a third signal to said controller indicative of the degree of openness of said valve, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said mist in proportion to the degree of openness of said valve.34. The system according to claim 33 further comprising a cold start fuel injector for spraying a fuel mist into a conduit coupled to said outlet on initial operation of said internal combustion engine.35. The system according to claim 34 wherein said controller is operatively coupled to said cold start fuel injector for controlling the volume of fuel in the fuel mist spray by said cold star injector on the basis of said air temperature such that said controller disables said cold start fuel injector when said air temperature is above a threshold temperature.36. The system according to claim 29 wherein said inlet opening is of a diameter less than a diameter of said chamber whereby pressure of said heated air is reduced upon flowing through said inlet opening into said chamber.37. The system according to claim 36 wherein said outlet opening is of a diameter less than said inlet opening.38. A fuel system for an internal combustion engine comprising:a chamber having first and second opposite end walls and a side wall extending between said opposite end walls, with an inlet opening formed in said first wall and an outlet opening formed in said second wall; a fuel injector for injecting a fuel mist into said chamber; an air heater for heating fresh air prior to said fresh air flowing into said chamber through said inlet opening; a conduit for directing said heated air into said chamber through said air inlet; said inlet opening, chamber and outlet opening relatively dimensioned to cause a reduction in pressure of said heated air when it flows into said chamber; said fuel mist mixing with said heated air in said chamber to cause thermal cracking of said fuel and form a thermally cracked fuel and heated air mixture, said mixture being drawn from said outlet for combustion in a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine. 39. The system according to claim 38 further comprising a controller coupled with said fuel injector to control the injection of said fuel mist into said chamber.40. The system according to claim 39 further comprising an air temperature sensor for providing a first signal to said controller indicative of the temperature of air flowing into said chamber through said inlet opening, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said fuel mist inversely with variations in said air temperature.41. The system according to claim 40 further comprising an oxygen sensor disposed in an exhaust manifold of said IC engine and providing a second signal to said controller indicative of the oxygen content of exhaust gases produced by combustion of said cracked fuel in said IC engine, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said fuel mist inversely with variations in said oxygen content.42. The system according to claim 41 further comprising a valve provided in said outlet and adapted for coupling to an accelerator control of a vehicle in which said IC engine is mounted, said valve having a minimum open position providing maximum restriction to flow of said cracked fuel to said fuel intake manifold, and a maximum open position providing minimum restriction to flow of said cracked fuel to said fuel intake manifold, and a valve position sensor providing a third signal to said controller indicative of the degree of openness of said valve, and wherein said controller is programmed to vary the volume of fuel in said mist in proportion to the degree of openness of said valve.43. The system according to claim 42 further comprising a cold start fuel injector for spraying a fuel mist into a conduit coupled to said outlet on initial operation of said internal combustion engine.44. The system according to claim 43 wherein said controller further operatively coupled to said cold start fuel injector for controlling the volume of fuel in the fuel mist spray by said cold start injector on the basis of said air temperature such that said controller disables said cold start fuel injector when said air temperature is above a threshold temperature.45. The system according to claim 38 wherein said inlet opening is of a diameter less than a diameter of said chamber whereby pressure of said heated air is reduced upon flowing through said inlet opening into said chamber.46. The system according to claim 45 wherein said outlet opening is of a diameter less than said inlet opening.47. A method of conditioning liquid fuel prior to combustion in an internal combustion engine, said method comprising:providing a chamber with an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at an opposite end; injecting a mist of liquid fuel into said chamber; introducing fresh heated air into said chamber via said inlet opening; reducing pressure of said heated air upon entry into said chamber; mixing said fuel with said heated air to thermally crack said liquid fuel and form a thermally cracked fuel and heated air mixture; and, drawing said mixture from said outlet for combustion in said internal combustion engine. 48. The method according to claim 47 wherein said fresh air is heated to a temperature of between 110° C. to 260° C.