Patent US3835903A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3835903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for warming cooling and/or lubricating media of internal combustion engines
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1971-04-29
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1991-04-29
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus is provided for positively warming a cooling medium and/or lubricating medium for gasoline-powered internal combustion engines of motor vehicles thereby to reduce concentrations of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon-monoxides in the engine exhaust gases emitted when the engine is running cold or being warmed up. The apparatus includes a combustor for combusting a supplied fuel into hot gases and a heat exchanging means which is in contact with portions of the cooling and/or lubricating media. The combustor is controlled by an electric control means which is responsive to a variation in the temperature of the cooling or lubricating medium so that the hot gases are produced therein when the temperature of the medium is lower than a level which is predetermined empirically in consideration of the concentrations of the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon-monoxides which would otherwise be emitted before the temperature of the cooling or lubricating media reaches a satisfactory operating temperature. The fuel to be supplied to the combustor may be a liquefied fuel gas stored in an independent container or a usual fuel supplied from a fuel circuit for the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 K Masaki
- 👤 H Nishimura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:02
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01M; F01M5/00; F01M5/02; F01M5/001; F02; F02B; F02B75/00; F02B75/10; F02M; F02M2700/00; F02M2700/34
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for positively warming at least one of cooling and lubricating media for an automotive gasoline-powered internal combustion engine having cooling and lubricating circuits, comprising: a source of fuel; an injection nozzle communicating with said source of fuel; valve means interposed between said source of fuel and said injection nozzle actuatable to open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from said source to said injection nozzle; a combustor into which said injection nozzle opens for delivery of fuel thereto and combustion of fuel therein and conversion of fuel to hot gas, said combustor being in association with at least one of said cooling and lubricating circuits through a passage for transferring heat from the hot gas to at least one of said cooling and lubricating media; and an electric control circuit including switch means responsive to the temperature of one of said cooling and lubricating media movable to a closed position when the temperature is lower than a predetermined level to complete said electric control circuit, control means connected to said switch means to actuate said valve means, and another control means connected to said switch means to fire fuel delivered to said combustor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
An apparatus for positively warming at least one of cooling and lubricating media for an automotive gasoline-powered internal combustion engine having cooling and lubricating circuits, comprising: a source of fuel; an injection nozzle communicating with said source of fuel; valve means interposed between said source of fuel and said injection nozzle actuatable to open and closed positions for controlling fuel flow from said source to said injection nozzle; a combustor into which said injection nozzle opens for delivery of fuel thereto and combustion of fuel therein and conversion of fuel to hot gas, said combustor being in association with at least one of said cooling and lubricating circuits through a passage for transferring heat from the hot gas to at least one of said cooling and lubricating media; and an electric control circuit including switch means responsive to the temperature of one of said cooling and lubricating media movable to a closed position when the temperature is lower than a predetermined level to complete said electric control circuit, control means connected to said switch means to actuate said valve means, and another control means connected to said switch means to fire fuel delivered to said combustor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An aparatus according to claim 1, wherein said source of fuel comprises a container storing a liquefied fuel gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said source of fuel comprises means cooperative with a fuel supply system of said engine for supplying a combustible mixture to said injection nozzle when said valve means is open.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a branch passage branched from a fuel passage of said fuel supply system of the engine for drawing an engine fuel into said branch, said valve means being interposed in said branch passage, and an evaporator communicating with said branch passage and having a heating means connected to said electric control circuit, said heating means being actuated to atomize said engine fuel into said combustible mixture when said electric control circuit is completed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said evaporator further has a one-way check valve for preventing said combustible mixture from flowing back into said branch passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a mixture passage opened into a space over the surface of a liquid fuel in a float chamber of said fuel supply system and into the open air and communicating with said nozzle, said valve means being interposed in said mixture passage, and an exhaust passage leading from said passage of said combustor and communicating with an intake manifold of said engine for drawing a suction into said mixture passage to pass the combustible mixture into said nozzle and for warming up the engine combustible mixture with the gases discharged from said exhaust passage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said last-mentioned means further comprises a valve interposed in said exhaust passage and controlled by said electric control circuit to be actuated to open when the switch means is closed to complete the electric control circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An appAratus according to claim 1, wherein said passage includes a chamber through which at least one of said cooling and lubricating circuits is passed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said passage includes a chamber with which at least either of said cooling and lubricating circuits is held in contact.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said cooling circuit is partly clad in a water jacket which is located in an intake manifold of said engine and which is held substantially in contact with said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means includes an igniter directed into said combustor and connected to said electric control circuit for being caused to fire when the switch means is closed to complete said electric control circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said combustor further includes means defining an air inlet port extending around said injection nozzle for supplying air into said combustor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said combustor further includes means defining primary and secondary air inlet ports which are separate from each other for supplying primary and secondary air into said combustor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said air inlet ports are vented directly from the open air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said air inlet ports communicate with a blower driven by a motor which is connected to said electric control circuit and which is actuated when said electric control circuit is completed for forcedly supplying air into said combustor through said primary and secondary air inlet ports.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said primary and secondary air inlet ports are formed concentrically around said injection nozzle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said primary air inlet port extends around said injection nozzle and said secondary air inlet port is located on the downstream side of said combustor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust passage leading from said combustor and opened adjacent one of an intake manifold, a carburetor and an engine air cleaner.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electric control means has interposed therein an ignition switch for said engine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said air inlet port communicates with a blower driven by a motor which is connected to said electric control circuit and which is actuated when said electric control circuit is completed for forcedly supplying air into said combustor through said air inlet port.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said electric control means has interposed therein an ignition switch for said engine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3355877A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |