Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Auxiliary air or oxygen added to combustible mixture
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-21
2002-09-24
Argenbright, Tony M. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Auxiliary air or oxygen added to combustible mixture
C123S00100A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06453894
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a nitrous oxide supplemental fuel system employed with standard intake systems and used in the performance racing industry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
Performance racing encompasses all areas of the sport of racing that includes drag racing, stock car racing, speedboat racing and such. Performance racing has become one of the major spectator sports in the United States and fans from all walks of life share in the sport both as spectators and participants. There are basically two types of participants—amateur and professional. It is the fact that amateurs can participate that has made performance racing such a popular sport. It should be noted that there is little difference between the amateur participant and the professional participant: the real difference being that the amateur has other employment besides racing, which helps fund his sport.
Simply put “performance” in performance racing means maximizing the horsepower from a given ‘stock’ engine. There are numerous methods, techniques, additions, etc. that are used to improve horsepower. These techniques range from boring out cylinders, increasing the compression ratio, modifying the inlet and exhaust manifolds (tuning), modifying pistons, changing fuels from gasoline to alcohol, etc. Probably the most popular technique for improving horsepower involves the addition of Nitrous Oxide—N
2
O to the engine fuel-air system. Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas—used by the dental industry as a anesthetic) provides oxygenation to regular fuel. Essentially the oxygen radical releases more readily to oxygenate the fuel then does the O
2
molecule in regular “air.” It would be the same as injection of pure oxygen into the engine; however, N
2
O is much safer. Pure oxygen in direct contact with hydrocarbons spontaneously reacts (explodes); whereas, N
2
O and fuel requires a source of ignition.
There are several techniques used to add nitrous oxide to the fuel-air system in an engine although all of the techniques share a common mode. Essentially the common mode is the engine's regular intake system (carburetor or throttle body) coupled with a technique, method, or device to inject a metered combination of fuel and nitrous oxide into the engine whenever the driver desires more horsepower (greater speed) from the engine. Throughout this disclosure, the term ancillary fuel will mean that fuel added to the engine for on-demand increased horsepower.
One method involves injecting a metered mix of ancillary fuel and nitrous oxide into each cylinder on demand. Basically this method is simple fuel injection—a well-known technique. It is very complex for the rank amateur to install such a system on a stock engine because injection ports must be added to each cylinder on the engine. The addition of injection ports involves complex machining and puts this approach out of the means of most participants.
One popular technique involves the addition of a spray bar beneath the regular throttle body or carburetor between the throttle body or carburetor and the intake manifold to provide the mix of ancillary fuel and nitrous oxide. The device is actually a plate (about ½-inch thick) that contains two conduits each with a series of apertures. One conduit is connected to a source of nitrous oxide and the other conduit is connected to the source of fuel. Whenever the race driver desires increased horsepower, he presses a button in the driving compartment that opens a series of solenoid valves, which in turn pass fuel and nitrous oxide to the spray bar. The fuel-nitrous oxide mixture is then drawn through the intake manifold and into the engine cylinders where it is burnt.
Another popular technique involves the addition of a spray nozzle (or injection nozzle) in the air-fuel intake leading from the air filter to the throttle body or carburetor and into the engine. A spray nozzle mixes auxiliary fuel and nitrous oxide in the proper proportion for “power-injection” into the engine. (Similar to the spray bar assembly described above.) Stock automobiles have two techniques for transferring air from the air filter to the throttle body or carburetor. In the first technique, the air filter is mounted on top of and directly to the carburetor or throttle body. In the other technique, the air filter is mounted away from the carburetor/throttle body and intake air line or air ducting are (is) run between the air filter and the carburetor/throttle body.
Depending on the type of technique (air filter on top of carburetor/throttle body or air filter separate from carburetor/throttle body) used in a stock engine, the user will either jamb the spray nozzle (or nozzles) into the air filter housing or literally poke a hole (or holes) in the air ducting and use any technique that can be imagined to hold the spray nozzle in place. Usually the air ducting is made from thin plastic ripple-extruded tubes having a diameter varying between three and six inches. Being plastic, there is really no mechanical strength and the spray nozzle can fall out of the ducting. In a similar manner, the nozzle can fall out of the air filter housing. This then creates a fire hazard because, when the nozzle is no longer in its proper place, the unburned fuel and nitrous oxide is sprayed into the engine compartment.
The prior art goes mainly to the spray nozzle (U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,776 to Wood et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,476 to Grant, and U.S. Design Pat. No. D 420,364 to the present inventors), or to the spray bar plate which is to be located between the throttle body or carburetor and the engine (U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,241 to Wood et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,418 to Grant).
Wood, U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,321, discloses a Nitrous. Oxide Plate System, which shows the nitrous oxide (oxidizer) bar above the fuel bar. In his disclosure Wood states that “. . . the overall flow of air through the carburetor increases when the oxidizer system is in operation, and the level of vacuum in the carburetor increases.” Thus, it is clear that the device is designed to be used in a carbureted system. Further the disclosure clearly indicates that the device is designed to be placed between the intake manifold and the carburetor. (I.e., mounted under the carburetor.) Grant, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,418, discloses a Dual Stage Nitrous Oxide and Fuel Injection Plate, which also shows the nitrous oxide bar above the fuel bar. Additionally, Grant discloses a “crossed set” of spray bar pairs.
Other prior art found by the inventors shows or discloses various fuel nozzles in which fuel and oxidizer are mixed and sprayed into the manifold. Wood, U.S. Pat. No. 5,699,776 discloses a spray nozzle assembly that “. . . is installed in a threaded opening in the wall . . . in an intake manifold of an engine . . . ” The disclosure goes on to teach that a nozzle is required for each cylinder of the engine. Grant, U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,476, also discloses a spray nozzle assembly “. . . for mounting to a manifold of an internal combustion engine . . . ” Grant, unlike Wood, implies that only one nozzle is needed. Patrick, U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,099, discloses a complex apparatus to inject nitrous oxide into “. . . the engine's air intake . . . ” The disclosure does not explain how the associated injection nozzle should be mounted. Fischer and Jureski, U.S. Pat. No. D 420,346 to the current inventors, disclose a gas-fuel nozzle. The disclosure is a design and does not indicate a method of use or installation for the nozzle.
Thus, there remains a need for an adapter which can safely support a spray nozzle and be capable of solid installation within plastic air ducting used in the air intake system of stock engines or placed between the air filter and the carburetor/throttle body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention consists of a cylindrical adapter ring which can be metal or molded plastic. The cylindrical adapter—power ring—has several standard diameters between two and six inches, which matches the plastic air ducting used in stock automobile
Fischer James J.
Jureski James
Alworth C. W.
Argenbright Tony M.
Harris Katrina B.
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