Fuel system for an internal combustion engine

Claim 2

A fuel supply system for an internal combuation engine having an air induction passage provided with a venturi, a fuel reservoir for liquid fuel, a first fuel vaporizing chamber having a first heat source associated therewith, pump means connected to said fuel reservoir and to said first fuel vaporizing chamber for supplying fuel from said fuel reservoir to said first fuel vaporizing chamber, a second fuel vaporizing and storage chamber for light end fuel having a second heat source associated therewith, a vapor separator and valve controlled conduit means connecting said second fuel vaporizing chamber to said first fuel vaporizing chamber whereby only the light end fuel portion of the fuel vapor generated in said first fuel vaporizing chamber flows to said second fuel vaporizing and storage chamber and, valve controlled conduit means selectively connecting said first fuel vaporizing chamber and said second fuel vaporizing chamber to said venturi.

Claim 3

A fuel supply system according to claim 1 wherein said vapor separator and valve controlled conduit means includes a heat exchanger conduit connected to said first fuel vaporizing chamber for the flow of fuel vapors therefrom, a thermostat valve at one end thereof for controlling the flow of fuel vapor from said first fuel vaporizing chamber into said heat exchanger conduit and a one-way check valve at the opposite end of said heat exchanger conduit to prevent the flow of fuel vapor from said second fuel vaporizing and storage chamber to said first fuel vaporizing chamber.

Claim 4

A fuel supply system according to claim 2 wherein said first heat source includes an electrical heating coil connectable through a first switch to a source of electrical power and wherein said second heat source includes a second electrical heating coil connectable through said first switch and an engine operating temperature sensitive switch to said source of electrical power and wherein said valve controlled conduit means includes a solenoid controlled valve connected in parallel with said second electrical heating coil.

Claim 5

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine having an induction passage provided with a venturi, a fuel reservoir for liquid fuel, a first fuel vaporizing chamber having a first heat source associated therewith, energizing means connected to said first heat source for energizing said first heat source during engine operation, pump means connected to said fuel reservoir and to said first fuel vaporizing chamber for supplying fuel from said fuel reservoir to said first fuel vaporizing chamber, a second fuel vaporizing and storage chamber having a second heat source associated therewith, said energizing means including means connected to said second heat source for energizing said second heat source as a function of an engine operating condition, a vapor separator and valve controlled conduit means connecting said second fuel vaporizing chamber with said first fuel vaporizing chamber whereby fuel vapors flowing therein from said first fuel vaporizing chamber are separated so that only the light end fuel vapors flow to said second fuel vaporizing and storage chamber and, valve controlled conduit means operatively connecting said second fuel vaporizing chamber to said venturi when said second heat source is being energized and to connect said first fuel vaporizing chamber to said venturi when said second heat source is not being energized.

Claim 6

A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine having an induction passage provided with a venturi, a fuel reservoir for liquid fuel, a first fuel vaporizing chamber having a first heat source associated therewith, energizing means connected to said first heat source for energizing said first heat source during engine operation, pump means connected to said fuel reservoir and to said first fuel vaporizing chamber for supplying fuel from said fuel reservoir to said first fuel vaporizing chamber, a second fuel vaporizing and storage chamber having a second heat source associated therewith, said energizing means including means connected to said second heat source for energizing said second heat source as a function of an engine operating condition, a vapor separator and valve controlled conduit means connecting said second fuel vaporizing chamber with said first fuel vaporizing chamber whereby fuel vapors flowing therein from said first fuel vaporizing chamber are separated so that only the light end fuel vapors flow to said second fuel vaporizing and storage chamber and, valve controlled conduit means operatively connecting said second fuel vaporizing chamber to said venturi when said second heat source is being energized and to connect said first fuel vaporizing chamber to said venturi when said second heat source is not being energized.

Claim 7

A fuel supply system according tO claim 4 wherein said vapor separator and valve controlled conduit means includes a heat exchanger conduit connected to said first fuel vaporizing chamber for the flow of fuel vapors therefrom, a thermostat valve at one end thereof for controlling the flow of fuel vapor from said first fuel vaporizing chamber into said heat exchanger conduit and a one-way check valve at the opposite end of said heat exchanger conduit to prevent the flow of fuel vapor from said second fuel vaporizing and storage chamber to said first fuel vaporizing chamber.

Claim 8

A fuel supply system according to claim 4 wherein said first heat source is a first electrical heating coil and said second heat source is a second electrical heating coil and wherein said energizing means includes a source of electrical power connectable through a first switch to said first electrical heating coil and to said second electrical heating coil and an engine operating temperature sensitive switch interposed between said first switch and said second electrical heating coil, and wherein said valve controlled conduit means includes a solenoid controlled valve connected in parallel with said second electrical heating coil.