Apparatus for operating internal combustion engines

Claim 1

IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE WITH A CARBURETED MIXTURE COMPRISING COMBUSTIBLE VAPOR DERIVED FROM CRUDE PETROLEUM BY HEAT EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST GAS: THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH CONSISTS OF A CRUDE PETROLEUM VAPORIZER COMPRISING A TANK CONTAINING A BODY OF PIECES OF SURFACE-EXTENDING MATERIAL OF IRREGULAR STRUCTURE SAID TANK BEING DISPOSED IN A POSITION CONDUCIVE TO GRAVITATIONAL FLOW OF THE PETROLEUM THERETHROUGH, A HEAT-EMITTING CONDUIT EXTENDING MATERIAL AND TANK AND SAID BODY OF SURFACE-EXTENDING MATERIAL AND HAVING AN INLET AT ONE END THEREOF COMMUNICATING WITH SAID EXHAUST GAS OUTLET TO THEREBY HEAT SAID SURFACE-EXTENDING MATERIAL, A CASING HAVING AN ELONGATED PETROLEUM PREHEATING CHAMBER, THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID HEAT-EMITTING CONDUIT EXTENDING EXTERIORLY OF SAID VAPORIZING TANK THROUGH SAID PETROLEUM PREHEATING CHAMBER, A PETROLEUM FEEDING CONDUIT COMMUNICATING WITH A SOURCE OF CRUDE PETROLEUM ADAPTED FOR UNIFORMLY FEEDING THE CRUDE PETROLEUM INTO SAID PREHEATING CHAMBER, A DISCHARGE CONDUIT FOR SAID CHAMBER ADAPTED TO DISCHARGE THE PREHEATED PETROLEUM INTO SAID TANK FOR CONTINUOUS GRAVITY FLOW THROUGH THE HEATED BODY OF SAID SURFACE-EXTENDNG MATERIAL TO THEREBY PRODUCE A FRACTION OF GASOLINE VAPOR THEREFROM, MEANS PERMITTING A DISCHARGE OF THE PETROLEUM RESIDUE FROM SAID TANK, MEANS ADAPTED FOR FEEDING THE GASOLINE VAPOR FROM SAID TANK TOGETHER WITH AN ADMIXTURE OF AIR INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF SAID ENGINE RESPONSIVELY TO SUCTION IN THE ENGINE CYLINDER, AND VALVE-REGULATED MEANS FOR ADMITING AIR INTO SAID TANK TO PARTIALLY RELIEVE THE SUCTION OF THE ENGINE PROJECTED INTO THE VAPORIZING TANK.