Fuel-cooling system

Claim 2

A fuel injection system for supplying fuel from a fuel source to an intake manifold of an engine comprising: an intake tube forming an extension of the intake manifold for supplying air to the intake manifold; first and second fuel injection nozzles mounted, respectively, on the intake manifold and the intake tube; conduit Means for connecting said first and second fuel injection nozzles to the fuel source; pump means for supplying fuel through said conduit means to said nozzles to cause the nozzles to inject fuel into the intake manifold and the intake tube, respectively, whereby the fuel injected into said intake tube vaporizes, the fuel injected by said nozzles constituting a primary fuel supply, said pump means supplying fuel to said first nozzle at various engine operating conditions including nonidling conditions; and means defining a fuel-cooling jacket extending at least part way around said intake tube, at least a substantial portion of said cooling jacket lying downstream of said second nozzle, said cooling jacket forming a portion of said conduit means so that at least some of the fuel from the fuel source including at least a substantial portion of said primary fuel supply can flow therethrough in heat exchange relationship with the fuel in said intake tube whereby the latent heat of vaporization from the fuel in said intake tube cools said portion of the primary fuel supply as it flows through said cooling jacket.

Claim 3

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fuel-cooling jacket has an inlet for receiving fuel from the fuel source and an outlet, said fuel-cooling jacket having first and second end portions, said inlet and said outlet being located closely adjacent said first and second end portions, respectively, whereby the fuel must flow substantially completely through said cooling jacket in traveling from said inlet to said outlet.

Claim 4

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 1 including coupling means for connecting said intake tube to said intake manifold, said coupling means providing a heat-insulating barrier to minimize heat transfer between the intake manifold and the intake tube.

Claim 5

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 3 wherein said fuel-cooling jacket completely surrounds said intake tube and said second fuel injection nozzle is mounted at the end thereof remote from said intake manifold, said fuel-cooling jacket having an inlet and an outlet located at opposite ends of said fuel-cooling jacket, and said fuel-cooling jacket being surrounded by an insulating jacket constructed of heat-insulating material.

Claim 6

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 1 wherein said intake tube includes a ram tube.

Claim 7

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 1 including a supercharger and means for connecting the intake tube to the supercharger.

Claim 8

A fuel-cooling system for use in a fuel system for supplying fuel to an engine, said fuel-cooling system comprising: first and second conduits for supplying air to first and second cylinders of the engine; first and second fuel injection nozzles mounted, respectively, on said first and second conduits to inject fuel into said conduits, the fuel injected by said fuel injection nozzles into said conduits vaporizing to cool the air in the conduits and the conduits; first and second fuel-cooling jackets surrounding said first and second conduits, respectively, at least a substantial portion of each of said fuel-cooling jackets lying downstream of its respective fuel injection nozzle, each of said fuel-cooling jackets having upstream and downstream end portions with the downstream end portion being downstream of the associated fuel injection nozzle; said first fuel-cooling jacket having an inlet closely adjacent one end portion thereof and an outlet closely adjacent the other end portion thereof, said inlet being connectable to the fuel system to receive fuel therefrom; said second fuel-cooling jacket having an inlet closely adjacent one end portion thereof and an outlet closely adjacent said other end portion thereof; and conduit means extending between said outlet of said first fuel-cooling jacket and said inlet of said second fuel-cooling jacket for providing a fuel passage between said fuel-cooling jackets whereby the fuel supplied to said inlet is cooled by the vaporization of fuel in the conduits and the fuel is required to flow substantially completely through the full length of each of said first and second fuel-cooling jackets.

Claim 9

A fuel-cooling system for use in a fuel system for supplying fuel to an engine, said fuel-cooling system comprising: first and second conduits for supplying air to first and second cylinders of the engine; first and second fuel injection nozzles mounted, respectively, on said first and second conduits to inject fuel into said conduits, the fuel injected by said fuel injection nozzles into said conduits vaporizing to cool the air in the conduits and the conduits; first and second fuel-cooling jackets surrounding said first and second conduits, respectively, at least a substantial portion of each of said fuel-cooling jackets lying downstream of its respective fuel injection nozzle, each of said fuel-cooling jackets having upstream and downstream end portions with the downstream end portion being downstream of the associated fuel injection nozzle; said first fuel-cooling jacket having an inlet closely adjacent one end portion thereof and an outlet closely adjacent the other end portion thereof, said inlet being connectable to the fuel system to receive fuel therefrom; said second fuel-cooling jacket having an inlet closely adjacent one end portion thereof and an outlet closely adjacent said other end portion thereof; and conduit means extending between said outlet of said first fuel-cooling jacket and said inlet of said second fuel-cooling jacket for providing a fuel passage between said fuel-cooling jackets whereby the fuel supplied to said inlet is cooled by the vaporization of fuel in the conduits and the fuel is required to flow substantially completely through the full length of each of said first and second fuel-cooling jackets.

Claim 10

A fuel-cooling system as defined in claim 7 wherein said other end portion of said first fuel-cooling jacket is said upstream end portion and said one end portion of said second fuel-cooling jacket is said downstream end portion thereof.

Claim 11

A fuel-cooling system as defined in claim 7 including a heat-insulating jacket surrounding at least one of said fuel-cooling jackets.

Claim 12

A fuel-cooling system as defined in claim 7 wherein said first conduit includes an intake tube, said intake tube being connectable to an intake manifold of the engine, said fuel-cooling system including coupling means for connecting said intake tube to the intake manifold, said coupling providing a heat-insulating barrier between said intake tube and the intake manifold to thereby minimize heat transfer from the intake manifold to the intake tube.

Claim 13

A fuel injection system for conducting fuel from a fuel source to an engine comprising: means for directing fuel into the engine; conduit means for conducting fuel from the fuel source to said means for directing; means for supplying the fuel from the fuel source through said conduit means to the engine; fuel-cooling means downstream of the fuel source and upstream of said means for directing for cooling at least some of the fuel supplied by said means for supplying; said means for supplying including a fuel injection pump downstream of said fuel-cooling means; a secondary fuel tank upstream of said fuel injection pump; and bypass means downstream of said fuel-cooling means for bypassing at least some of any excess fuel pumped by said fuel injection pump into said secondary fuel tank while the engine runs, said fuel injection pump pumping the fuel from the secondary fuel tank to said means for directing.

Claim 14

A fuel injection system for conducting fuel from a fuel source to an engine comprising: means for directing fuel into the engine; conduit means for conducting fuel from the fuel source to said means for directing; means for supplying the fuel from the fuel source through said conduit means to the engine; fuel-cooling means downstream of the fuel source and upstream of said means for directing for cooling at least some of the fuel supplied by said means for supplying; said means for supplying including a fuel injection pump downstream of said fuel-cooling means; a secondary fuel tank upstream of said fuel injection pump; and bypass means downstream of said fuel-cooling means for bypassing at least some of any excess fuel pumped by said fuel injection pump into said secondary fuel tank while the engine runs, said fuel injection pump pumping the fuel from the secondary fuel tank to said means for directing.

Claim 15

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 11 including means for limiting the maximum quantity of fuel which can be contained in the secondary fuel tank to an amount less than the amount which is containable at said source.

Claim 16

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 11 including means upstream of said fuel injection pump for separating any vapors in the fuel supplied thereto.

Claim 17

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 11 wherein said secondary fuel tank is downstream of said fuel-cooling means.

Claim 18

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 11 wherein the bottom of said secondary fuel tank is at an elevation above said fuel injection pump whereby the fuel injection pump is kept well primed.

Claim 19

A fuel injection system for an engine having a plurality of cylinders comprising: a main fuel tank adapted to contain fuel for operating the engine; a plurality of intake conduits mounted on said engine for supplying air thereto, one of said intake conduits being provided for each of said cylinders of the engine; means for directing fuel into each of said intake conduits, the fuel in each of said intake conduits vaporizing; a plurality of heat exchangers mounted, respectively, in exchange relationship with at least some of said intake conduits; a secondary fuel tank adapted to contain fuel, said secondary fuel tank being capable of containing less fuel than said main fuel tank; means for supplying fuel from said main fuel tank through at least one of said heat exchangers to said secondary fuel tank, the heat of vaporization of the vaporized fuel in the intake conduit cooling the fuel in said one heat exchanger; a fuel pump for pumping fuel from said secondary fuel tank to said means for directing, said fuel pump being downstream of said secondary fuel tank; bypass means on the discharge side of said fuel pump for directing excess fuel through at least another of said heat exchangers to cool such excess fuel; and means for returning at least some of the excess fuel from said another heat exchanger to the secondary fuel tank.

Claim 20

A fuel injection system for an engine having a plurality of cylinders comprising: a main fuel tank adapted to contain fuel for operating the engine; a plurality of intake conduits mounted on said engine for supplying air thereto, one of said intake conduits being provided for each of said cylinders of the engine; means for directing fuel into each of said intake conduits, the fuel in each of said intake conduits vaporizing; a plurality of heat exchangers mounted, respectively, in exchange relationship with at least some of said intake conduits; a secondary fuel tank adapted to contain fuel, said secondary fuel tank being capable of containing less fuel than said main fuel tank; means for supplying fuel from said main fuel tank through at least one of said heat exchangers to said secondary fuel tank, the heat of vaporization of the vaporized fuel in the intake conduit cooling the fuel in said one heat exchanger; a fuel pump for pumping fuel from said secondary fuel tank to said means for directing, said fuel pump being downstream of said secondary fuel tank; bypass means on the discharge side of said fuel pump for directing excess fuel through at least another of said heat exchangers to cool such excess fuel; and means for returning at least some of the excess fuel from said another heat exchanger to the secondary fuel tank.

Claim 21

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 16 wherein said means for directing includes a main nozzle and an auxiliary nozzle for each of said intake conduits, said system including a metering valve downstream of said pump for controlling fuel flow to said nozzles.

Claim 22

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 16 wherein said secondary fuel tank lies above said main fuel tank, said system including a standpipe in said secondary fuel tank for limiting the maximum amount of fuel that can be contained therein and for initiating gravity flow of any fuel in excess of said maximum amount back to said main fuel tank.

Claim 23

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 16 wherein said secondary fuel tank is vented to provide for vapor separation of any vapors in the fuel supplied thereto.

Claim 24

A fuel injection system for conducting fuel from a fuel source to an engine comprising: means for directing fuel into the engine; conduit means for conducting fuel from the fuel source to said means for directing; means for supplying the fuel from the fuel source through said conduit means to the engine, said means for supplying including a fuel pump; fuel-cooling means for cooling at least some of the fuel in said conduit means; and a secondary fuel tank for receiving at least some of the fuel cooled by said fuel-cooling means when the engine is running, said fuel pump being supplied with fuel from said secondary fuel tank.

Claim 25

A fuel injection system for conducting fuel from a fuel source to an engine comprising: means for directing fuel into the engine; conduit means for conducting fuel from the fuel source to said means for directing; means for supplying the fuel from the fuel source through said conduit means to the engine, said means for supplying including a fuel pump; fuel-cooling means for cooling at least some of the fuel in said conduit means; and a secondary fuel tank for receiving at least some of the fuel cooled by said fuel-cooling means when the engine is running, said fuel pump being supplied with fuel from said secondary fuel tank.

Claim 26

A fuel injection system for supplying fuel from a fuel source to an engine comprising: means for directing fuel into the engine; fuel-cooling means upstream of said means for directing and downstream of said fuel source for cooling the fuel supplied thereto; means for supplying fuel from said fuel source through said fuel-cooling means to provide relatively cool fuel; a secondary fuel tank; a conduit for supplying the relatively cool fuel from the fuel-cooling means to the secondary fuel tank when the engine is running; pump means for supplying the relatively cool fuel from said secondary fuel tank to said means for directing; and said secondary fuel tank including means for separating any vapors which may exist in the fuel supplied thereto whereby the pump means receives relatively cool and relatively vapor free fuel.

Claim 27

A fuel injection system for supplying fuel from a fuel source to an engine comprising: means for directing fuel into the engine; fuel-cooling means upstream of said means for directing and downstream of said fuel source for cooling the fuel supplied thereto; means for supplying fuel from said fuel source through said fuel-cooling means to provide relatively cool fuel; a secondary fuel tank; a conduit for supplying the relatively cool fuel from the fuel-cooling means to the secondary fuel tank when the engine is running; pump means for supplying the relatively cool fuel from said secondary fuel tank to said means for directing; and said secondary fuel tank including means for separating any vapors which may exist in the fuel supplied thereto whereby the pump means receives relatively cool and relatively vapor free fuel.

Claim 28

A fuel injection system as defined in claim 21 wherein the fuel pump is subject to pumping excess fuel and including means for returning at least some of such excess fuel to the secondary fuel tank without passing said some of such fuel through the fuel source.

Claim 29

A fuel-cooling system for use in a fuel system for supplying fuel to an intake manifold of an engine comprising: a ram tube having an open end for supplying air from said open end to the engine; a coupling for mounting the ram tube on the intake manifold, said coupling providing a heat-insulating barrier between said intake manifold and the ram tube to reduce heat conduction from the intake manifold to the ram tube and being constructed at least in part of a heat insulating material to thereby further reduce heat conduction from the intake manifold to the ram tube; a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with said ram tube, said heat exchanger being connectable to the fuel system so that fuel from the system can pass therethrough; and a fuel injection nozzle for supplying fuel to the ram tube at a predetermined location therein, the fuel being vaporized in said ram tube, the latent heat of vaporization of the vaporized fuel cooling the ram tube, at least a portion of said heat exchanger means being downstream of said fuel injection nozzle whereby the fuel in said heat exchanger is cooled by the heat of vaporization of the fuel in said ram tube.

Claim 30

A fuel-cooling system for use in a fuel system for supplying fuel to an intake manifold of an engine comprising: a ram tube having an open end for supplying air from said open end to the engine; a coupling for mounting the ram tube on the intake manifold, said coupling providing a heat-insulating barrier between said intake manifold and the ram tube to reduce heat conduction from the intake manifold to the ram tube and being constructed at least in part of a heat insulating material to thereby further reduce heat conduction from the intake manifold to the ram tube; a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with said ram tube, said heat exchanger being connectable to the fuel system so that fuel from the system can pass therethrough; and a fuel injection nozzle for supplying fuel to the ram tube at a predetermined location therein, the fuel being vaporized in said ram tube, the latent heat of vaporization of the vaporized fuel cooling the ram tube, at least a portion of said heat exchanger means being downstream of said fuel injection nozzle whereby the fuel in said heat exchanger is cooled by the heat of vaporization of the fuel in said ram tube.

Claim 31

A fuel cooling system as defined in claim 23 wherein said coupling includes a band of heat-insulating material surrounding the adjacent end portions of tHe ram tube and the intake manifold, said band being in engagement with said end portions, said coupling including a circumferential flange of heat-insulating material lying between the adjacent ends of the ram tube and the intake manifold.