Fuel system

Claim 2

A fuel system for a gasoline fueled spark ignited internal combustion engine comprising a gasoline source, a conduit connecting said gasoline source through fuel switching means to the fuel inlet of a carburetor mounted on the engine intake manifold, a vaporizing chamber, a second conduit connecting said gasoline source to said vaporizing chamber, pump means in said second conduit adapted to pump gasoline into said vaporizing chamber, a one-way check valve in said second conduit between said pump means and said vaporizing chamber adapted to allow flow towards said chamber but stop reverse flow, heating means in said vaporizing chamber adapted to vaporize a volatile portion of said gasoline pumped into said chamber thereby increasing the pressure in said chamber, a vapor conduit connecting said chamber with condensing means, a one-way check valve in said vapor conduit adapted to allow flow towards said condensing means in response to said increased pressure in said chamber and to stop reverse flow whereby said volatile portion is condensed forming condensate, a container for said condensate connected to said condensing means, and a condensate conduit connecting said container through said valve switching means to said fuel inlet of said carburetor, said fuel switching means functioning to deliver said condensate to said fuel inlet when said engine is below operating temperature and to deliver said gasoline to said fuel inlet when said engine is at or above operating temperature.

Claim 3

A dual fuel system of claim 1, wherein said engine is liquid cooled and said heating means are provided by a heat exchange conduit adapted to be in heat exchange contact with said gasoline in said vaporizing chamber, said heat exchange conduit being connected to the engine liquid coolant system and adapted to circulate heated engine liquid coolant through said heat exchange conduit.

Claim 4

A fuel system for a gasoline fueled spark ignited internal combustion engine comprising a gasoline source, a conduit connecting said gasoline source through fuel switching means to the fuel inlet of a carburetor mounted on the engine intake manifold, a vaporizing chamber, a second conduit connecting said gasoline source to said vaporizing chamber, pump means in said second conduit adapted to pump gasoline into said vaporizing chamber, a one-way check valve in said second conduit between said pump means and said vaporizing chamber adapted to allow flow towards said chamber but stop reverse flow, heating means in said vaporizing chamber adapted to vaporize a volatile portion of said gasoline pumped into said chamber thereby increasing the pressure in said chamber, a vapor conduit connecting said chamber with condensing means, a one-way check valve in said vapor conduit adapted to allow flow towards said condensing means in response to said increased pressure in said chamber and to stop reverse flow whereby said volatile portion is condensed forming condensate, a container for said condensate connected to said condensing means, a condensate conduit connecting said container through said valve switching means to said fuel inlet of said carburetor, said fuel switching means functioning to deliver said condensate to said fuel inlet when said engine is below operating temperature and to deliver said gasoline to said fuel inlet when said engine is at or above operating temperature, a drain conduit connecting the bottom of said vaporizing chamber to said gasoline source, a drain valve in said drain conduit adapted to remain closed when the pressure in said vaporizing chamber is above atmospheric and to open when said pressure drops to substantially atmospheric, a vent conduit connecting the top of said vaporizing chamber to said gasoline source, a vent valve in said vent conduit, and a liquid level sensor in said condensate container adapted to (1) close said vent valve, and (2) start said pump means when the liquid condensate level drops below a predetermined level.

Claim 5

A fuel system for a gasoline fueled spark ignited internal combustion engine comprising a gasoline source, a conduit connecting said gasoline source through fuel switching means to the fuel inlet of a carburetor mounted on the engine intake manifold, a vaporizing chamber, a second conduit connecting said gasoline source to said vaporizing chamber, pump means in said second conduit adapted to pump gasoline into said vaporizing chamber, a one-way check valve in said second conduit between said pump means and said vaporizing chamber adapted to allow flow towards said chamber but stop reverse flow, heating means in said vaporizing chamber adapted to vaporize a volatile portion of said gasoline pumped into said chamber thereby increasing the pressure in said chamber, a vapor conduit connecting said chamber with condensing means, a one-way check valve in said vapor conduit adapted to allow flow towards said condensing means in response to said increased pressure in said chamber and to stop reverse flow whereby said volatile portion is condensed forming condensate, a container for said condensate connected to said condensing means, a condensate conduit connecting said container through said valve switching means to said fuel inlet of said carburetor, said fuel switching means functioning to deliver said condensate to said fuel inlet when said engine is below operating temperature and to deliver said gasoline to said fuel inlet when said engine is at or above operating temperature, a drain conduit connecting the bottom of said vaporizing chamber to said gasoline source, a drain valve in said drain conduit adapted to remain closed when the pressure in said vaporizing chamber is above atmospheric and to open when said pressure drops to substantially atmospheric, a vent conduit connecting the top of said vaporizing chamber to said gasoline source, a vent valve in said vent conduit, and a liquid level sensor in said condensate container adapted to (1) close said vent valve, and (2) start said pump means when the liquid condensate level drops below a predetermined level.

Claim 6

A fuel system of claim 3 wherein said drain valve is a float-actuated valve adapted to (1) remain closed when said vaporizing chamber is under pressure or is substantially empty, and (2) open when said vaporizing chamber contains a substantial amount of liquid and is at substantially atmospheric pressure.