Auxiliary fuel vaporizer system for an internal combustion engine

Claim 2

Apparatus to supply fuel-air mixtures to an internal combustion engine comprising: a carburetor having first and second sections, each adapted to convey fuel and air to the engine; a first valve in said first section and a second valve in said second section; first fuel supply means connected to said first section to deliver liquid fuel thereto from a fuel tank; an evaporation vessel having a first outlet in the upper region thereof and a second outlet in the lower region thereof; second fuel supply means connected to said vessel to deliver liquid fuel thereto from the fuel tank; inlet means in said vessel to permit introduction of air into said vessel; conduit means extending between said first outlet and the second section of said carburetor to convey vaporized fuel and air from said vessel to said second section; a temperature sensing means adapted to sense the temperature of exhaust gases from the engine; and means responsive to said temperature sensing means to control said valves to open said first valve and close said second valve when the measured temperature reaches a predetermined value.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a float positioned to detect a liquid level in said vessel, and means responsive to said float to pass liquid fuel from said vessel to said first chamber when the liquid level in said vessel reaches a preselected height.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inlet means comprises a conduit having a venturi therein, said first fuel supply means comprises second conduit means adapted to extend from the fuel tank to said first section, a valve in said first conduit means, said second fuel supply means comprises third conduit means extending between an upper region of said vessel and said second conduit means upstream of said valve, and further comprising means to move said valve toward a closed position in response to flow of air through said venturi.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a heater connected to said second fuel supply means to elevate the temperature of the fuel to facilitate vaporization thereof in said vessel.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first fuel supply means includes a fuel bowl which receives fuel and from which the fuel is delivered to said first section of said carburetor.

Claim 7

An auxiliary fuel vapor system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a vessel having a chamber and upper and lower ends, said upper end having a first, second, and third opening into the chamber and said lower end having an opening into the chamber; an air intake element in communication with the chamber through the upper end first opening of the vessel; a fuel intake element in communication with the chamber through the upper end second opening of the vessel; a spray nozzle on the discharge end of the fuel intake element within the vessel; first means for heating and passing fuel through the fuel intake element, the spray nozzle, and into the vessel; second means for passing air through the air intake element and into the vessel; a carburetor having first and second sections; a fuel bowl in communication with said first section; third means for passing vapors from the vessel chamber, through the upper end third opening of the vessel, and into the second section of the carburetor; fOurth means for passing fuel into the bowl; means for controlling the passage of fuel into the vessel in response to the flow of air into said vessel; means to sense the temperature of exhaust gases from the engine and to terminate the flow of vapors to said second section and initiate the flow of fuel from the bowl into said first section when the sensed temperature reaches a predetermined value; a float within the vessel; and means responsive to the float rising to a predetermined level to pass collected liquid fuel from said vessel to said first section.

Claim 8

An auxiliary fuel vapor system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a vessel having a chamber and upper and lower ends, said upper end having a first, second, and third opening into the chamber and said lower end having an opening into the chamber; an air intake element in communication with the chamber through the upper end first opening of the vessel; a fuel intake element in communication with the chamber through the upper end second opening of the vessel; a spray nozzle on the discharge end of the fuel intake element within the vessel; first means for heating and passing fuel through the fuel intake element, the spray nozzle, and into the vessel; second means for passing air through the air intake element and into the vessel; a carburetor having first and second sections; a fuel bowl in communication with said first section; third means for passing vapors from the vessel chamber, through the upper end third opening of the vessel, and into the second section of the carburetor; fOurth means for passing fuel into the bowl; means for controlling the passage of fuel into the vessel in response to the flow of air into said vessel; means to sense the temperature of exhaust gases from the engine and to terminate the flow of vapors to said second section and initiate the flow of fuel from the bowl into said first section when the sensed temperature reaches a predetermined value; a float within the vessel; and means responsive to the float rising to a predetermined level to pass collected liquid fuel from said vessel to said first section.

Claim 11

The method of claim 7 wherein the fuel sprayed into the air stream is heated to facilitate vaporization of the lower boiling constituents thereof.