Internal-combustion engines – Multiple cylinder
Patent
1988-01-19
1989-11-14
Okonsky, David A.
Internal-combustion engines
Multiple cylinder
123543, 123437, F02B 3100
Patent
active
048799750
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns means by which automotive piston internal combustion engines may be converted to operate on ethanol and methanol fuel.
Following the Oil Shock of 1973, considerable experimentation was undertaken into the use of alcohol fuels as fuel extenders or as fuels in their ownright. In countries where organic feedstocks can be successfully grown in large quantities for the production of ethanol, or where natural gas is readily available for conversion into methanol, the use of alcohol fuels is well established.
In most cases, engines converted to alcohol fuel operation were originally manufactured to operate on gasoline. As a result of deficiencies in the conversion method, the operation of converted vehicles is often less than satisfactory. Disabilities experienced in alcohol-fuelled engines are: difficulty in starting, stumbling and rough running when cold, stalling due to carburettor icing after operating at low power, excessive emissions and generally poor fuel economy. Attempts have been made to rectify the starting and cold running problems by changing to an alternative supply of gasoline before stopping the engine, the starting and running the engine on the reserve supply of gasoline until it reaches operating temperature.
The present invention aims generally to provide a means of converting a gasoline powered automotive engine to alcohol fuel operation in such a way as to eliminate or minimise the abovementioned operating problems. More particularly the present invention aims at providing improvements in various aspects of engine design which are intended to achieve improved engine performance when using alcohol or alcohol based fuels and which can be used independently or in combination.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a caburetion and manifolding means to allow the efficient operation of piston internal combustion engines on fuels having a high latent heat of vaporisation such as ethanol and methanol, comprising a variable venturi type carburetion means, a first and larger manifolding means to be used during medium to high power operation, and a second and smaller manifolding means to be used during starting, idling and low power operation. Conveniently said improvement comprises providing passage means discharging said filtered heated air immediately upstream of the fuel discharge orifice. Preferably, the filtered heated air is heated by exhaust gases from said engine.
According to a preferred aspect of the present invention a butterfly valve is provided to regulate the flow of fuel-air mixture through the said first and larger inlet manifolding means, the flow of fuel-air mixture through the said second and smaller inlet manifolding means being taken off from a point upstream of the said butterfly valve and thence regulated by a barrel type valve, the operating means of which are sequentially linked to the operating means of the said butterfly valve. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the auxiliary manifold distribution arrangement includes means for heating the fuel/air charge passing there through. To achieve this heating, a transversely extending section of the auxiliary manifold distribution arrangement is provided with passage means in heat exchange relationship therewith adapted to pass fluid from the engine cooling system, conveniently the thermostat bypass circuit.
Preferably an electrically operating auxiliary heating means may be provided upstream of the secondary throttle means adapted to heat and assist in vapouring fuel only during engine start up.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a manifold arrangement for induction of a fuel/air charge into a six cylinder engine, wherein the said first and larger inlet manifolding means is made with a circular entry opening in area one unit, leading to runners of an internal rectangular shape, a smooth transition from circular to rectangular shape occurring between the said inlet opening and the branching of the separate runners for cylinder
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4276862 (1981-07-01), Matsumoto
patent: 4300504 (1981-11-01), Tezuka
patent: 4318380 (1982-03-01), Matsumoto
patent: 4625687 (1986-12-01), Hatamura et al.
patent: 4714063 (1987-12-01), Oda et al.
Bennett Automotive Technology Pty. Ltd.
Okonsky David A.
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