US3875918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable area intake manifold for internal combustion
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-08-08
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A flexible intake manifold for internal combustion engines comprising a flexible tubing made of rubber or plastic being gasoline resistant. The flexible tubing can be used in place of the normal solid wall intake manifold, the flexible tubing having its wall thickness thinned at an intermediate portion thereof whereby the tubing will collapse at the thinned section from its normally circular cross section to a figure eight configuration in response to the manifold vacuum occurring during engine operation. The flexible thinned section of the intake manifold allows its size to be automatically adjusted in a continuous manner responsive to the vacuum produced by the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard S Loynd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:53
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M35/00; F02M35/10; F02M35/104; F02M35/108; F02D; F02D9/00; F02D9/08; F02D9/18; F02M35/10091; F02M35/10118; F02M35/10137; F02M35/10144; F02M35/10242; F02M35/10301; F02M35/1015; F02M35/10183; F02M35/10209; F02M35/10229; F05; F05C; F05C2225/00; F05C2225/02; F05C2225/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
An automatic fuel control system comprising a fuel supply source, a fuel consumption means operating under a vacuum suction to draw a fuel-air mixture therein, and flexible duct means having a collapsible wall being responsive to the amount of said vacuum, one end of said duct means connected to said fuel supply source and the other end connected to said fuel consumption means, the cross-sectional area of said duct means varying inversely continuously with the amount of suction at said fuel consumption means to control the velocity of the fuel-air mixture entering said fuel consumption means, said flexible duct means comprising a collapsible tubing connected at its ends between said fuel supply source and said fuel consumption means, said tubing having thinned walls at an intermediate portion thereof and thickened walls at its ends, said intermediate thinned portion being responsive to the amount of suction of said fuel consumption means whereby the fuel-air mixture velocity varies responsive to engine loads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
An automatic fuel control system comprising a fuel supply source, a fuel consumption means operating under a vacuum suction to draw a fuel-air mixture therein, and flexible duct means having a collapsible wall being responsive to the amount of said vacuum, one end of said duct means connected to said fuel supply source and the other end connected to said fuel consumption means, the cross-sectional area of said duct means varying inversely continuously with the amount of suction at said fuel consumption means to control the velocity of the fuel-air mixture entering said fuel consumption means, said flexible duct means comprising a collapsible tubing connected at its ends between said fuel supply source and said fuel consumption means, said tubing having thinned walls at an intermediate portion thereof and thickened walls at its ends, said intermediate thinned portion being responsive to the amount of suction of said fuel consumption means whereby the fuel-air mixture velocity varies responsive to engine loads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cross-section of said intermediate portion is circular under minimum suction and collapses to a dumbbell configuration at maximum suction of said fuel consumption means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel supply source comprises a carburetor, and said fuel consumption means comprises an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders including intake and exhaust ports, said carburetor being connected to said internal combustion engine through said flexible duct means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said duct means comprises a collapsible intake manifold having an intermediate wall thickness portion thinned at the manifold intersection with the intake port of said cylinders.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cylinders are individually connected to at least one carburetor through said intake manifold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said duct means comprises a dual manifold having at least one collapsible tubing having a cross-sectional area being responsive to the suction of said engine, primary and secondary carburetors connected to said engine through said dual manifold to supply a fuel-air mixture at a velocity which is a function of the amount of vacuum of said engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said dual manifold comprises primary and secondary tubings, said primary tubing projecting from said secondary tubing at an acute angle to the direction of fuel-air mixture supply, said collapsible tubing having one end connected to said primary tubing and the other end connected to said primary carburetor to control the velocity of the fuel-air mixture entering said cylinders, said secondary tubing being connected to said cylinders to supply an auxiliary fuel-air mixture therein in response to the operating condition of said engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said dual manifold is connected to each cylinder of said engine and to said primary and secondary carburetors to supply said fuel-air mixture to the cylinders in accordance to a predetermined condition of said engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the collapsible tubing is made of a resilient material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said resilient material is fuel resistant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said resilient material is rubber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said resilient material is plastic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an elongated rigid tube, said collapsible tubing being enclosed within said elongated tube to prevent excessive expansion of said collapsible tubing due to positive pressures generated at said fuel consumption means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An automotive fuel control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion is provided with stiffening means to control the corss-sectional configuration of the flexible duct means in its collasped state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |