Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Heating of combustible mixture
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-20
2004-04-27
McMahon, Marguerite (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Heating of combustible mixture
C123S557000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06725846
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to internal combustion engines, and more particularly relates to enhancing fuel efficiency in carbureted internal combustion engines.
2. Background Art
The internal combustion engine has made modern transportation possible through the use of engine-powered vehicles. Many modern cars, trucks, buses, and other vehicles use internal combustion engines. Two known types of internal combustion engines are fuel-injected engines and carbureted engines. Fuel injected engines typically inject a spray of fuel into each cylinder at the appropriate time. Carbureted engines include a carburetor that injects air and fuel into an intake manifold, which distributes the fuel/air mixture to each cylinder as needed.
Many known inventions recognize that the efficiency of an internal combustion engine may be increased if the fuel is converted from its liquid state to vapor before burning the fuel in the cylinders. Some of these inventions enhance the vaporization of fuel by providing a longer path between the carburetor and intake manifold. Examples of these inventions are shown in “Elongated Fuel-Air Bypass for Internal Combustion Engine”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,059 to Wallace et al.; “Fuel Vaporizer”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,031,875 to Tyler; and “Carburetor Heater”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,899 to Chilton. Some known devices enhance vaporization of fuel by heating the fuel. Examples of devices that vaporize fuel using exhaust heat are shown in the Chilton patent referenced above; in “Engine Fuel Vaporizer”, U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,849 to Chester et al.; and in “Fuel Vaporizer Manifold”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,518 to Hamm.
The patent to Hamm referenced above discloses a heated block that is placed between the carburetor and intake manifold on an internal combustion engine. The block includes several heating tubes with fins that increase the heated surface area. One problem with the Hamm device is that the tubes and fins reduce the area through which fuel and air many travel, thereby restricting the flow of fuel and air, which can change the performance characteristics of the engine. Without a way for providing a heated fuel vaporizer block that does not restrict the flow of fuel and air from carburetor to intake manifold, the automotive industry will continue to suffer from less efficient ways of vaporizing fuel in a carbureted engine.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
According to the preferred embodiments, a heated fuel vaporizer block includes a substantially solid, heated surface onto which liquid gasoline from a carburetor is directed, thereby turning the liquid gasoline into vapor. The fuel vaporizer block includes an opening that does not reduce or constrict the flow of fuel and air between the carburetor and intake manifold. The fuel vaporizer block may have a heated surface with a variety of geometrical configurations, including an inclined surface, a concave surface, and a concave surface that includes a plurality of orifices and a plurality of channels for directing fuel into the plurality of orifices. In addition, the heated surface that the fuel strikes may include a platinum coating to reduce emissions and increase the efficiency of the engine. The fuel vaporizer block can be heated using any suitable form of heat, including electrical heating element, engine coolant, exhaust, and automatic transmission fluid. In addition, the heated surface that the fuel strikes may include a platinum coating to reduce emissions and increase the efficiency of the engine. The preferred embodiments include a retrofit kit that allows the fuel vaporizer block to be easily installed on an existing carbureted engine.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3872849 (1975-03-01), Chester et al.
patent: 3943900 (1976-03-01), Primrose
patent: 4031875 (1977-06-01), Tyler
patent: 4072138 (1978-02-01), Hawkins et al.
patent: 4100899 (1978-07-01), Chilton
patent: 4108125 (1978-08-01), Marcoux et al.
patent: 4230081 (1980-10-01), Meek
patent: 4364365 (1982-12-01), Gendron
patent: 4395998 (1983-08-01), Chou
patent: 4483304 (1984-11-01), Yukoi et al.
patent: 4495928 (1985-01-01), Cook
patent: 4512323 (1985-04-01), Ruth et al.
patent: 4674465 (1987-06-01), Jimenez
patent: 4836173 (1989-06-01), Stires, Jr.
patent: 4986907 (1991-01-01), Montemayor Uzeta
patent: 5019120 (1991-05-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5040518 (1991-08-01), Hamm
patent: 5140967 (1992-08-01), Scherenberg et al.
patent: 5394838 (1995-03-01), Chandler
patent: 5408973 (1995-04-01), Spangjer
patent: 5769059 (1998-06-01), Wallace et al.
patent: 5778860 (1998-07-01), Garcia
patent: 6067971 (2000-05-01), Cikanek, Jr. et al.
Robinson, “Homogeneous Catalysis of Gasoline Combustion by Platinum and Rhenium”, American Chemical Society, p. 8-18 (Apr. 11, 1984).
Martin Derek P.
Martin & Associates LLC
McMahon Marguerite
LandOfFree
Heated fuel vaporizer block, kit and method does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Heated fuel vaporizer block, kit and method, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Heated fuel vaporizer block, kit and method will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3228412