Induction systems for internal combustion engines

Claim 2

An induction system for an internal combustion engine, including a heat exchanger element situated in the path of hot exhaust gases leaving the engine, said heat exchanger element including an oxide forming element containing available copper, said heat exchanger element being operative to transfer hot exhaust gases heat to said oxide forming element, and said oxide forming element being in contact with a stream of oxidizing gas inducted into said induction system through said heat exchanger element, whereby the copper of said oxide forming element is raised to a temperature of at least 200* C. during operation of the engine in heated conditions between light loads and full load to produce a non-coherent copper oxide film on the surface of the oxide forming element and particles from this film are entrained by the gas stream.

Claim 3

An induction system according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing gas is air admitted through an orifice placing the heat exchanger in communication with the atmosphere.

Claim 4

An induction system according to claim 13 wherein the heat exchanger element is a copper tube and said tube is said oxide forming element.

Claim 5

An induction system according to claim 3, wherein the stream of oxidizing gas is inducted through the tube into an inlet manifold connected to the inlet ports of the engine, and the exterior of the tube is exposed to hot exhaust gases leaving the engine through an exhaust manifold connected to the exhaust ports of the engine.

Claim 6

An induction system according to claim 4, wherein means are provided to restrict the flow of air through the tube to a level which is at all times small compared to the total gas flow through the induction system.

Claim 7

The induction system of claim 1 wherein air is primarily supplied through induction means of a capacity less than that normally required for the efficient operation of the intended internal combustion engine with the particular carburettor, and the would-be air deficiency is supplied through said heat exchanger element.

Claim 8

The induction system of claim 6 wherein said induction means includes an inlet manifold having air flow controlling means with an air passage of a smaller than the acceptable normal cross section of the particular carburettor for the intended internal combustion engine.

Claim 9

The induction system of claim 7 wherein said air flow controlling means is in the form of a carburettor adjusted to provide a reduced air/fuel ratio as compared to that normally acceptable for the particular engine-carburettor combination in accordance with the gas supplied through said heat exchange element.

Claim 10

An inlet and exhaust manifold system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a tube to which atmospheric air is admitted at one end, the other end of the tube having an orifice opening into the inlet tract of the engine as selectively defined by the inlet manifold or the inlet ports of an engine to which the system is fitted, an intermediate portion of the tube passing through the exhaust manifold so as to be exposed to hot exhaust gases from an engine to which the manifold is fitted, the tube being selected from tubes formed of copper material, filled with copper material and, lined with copper material allowing the free passage of air, means connected to said tube for restricting the flow of air through the tube to a level insufficient to prevent proper working of the induction system of an engine to which the system is fitted but sufficient to entrain copper oxide particles formed in the portion of the tube exposed to the exhaust gases, said portion of the tube exposed to the exhaust gases being adapted to be heated to temperature of at least 200*C. during the normal operation of an associated engine in heated conditions between light loads and full load to produce non-coherent copper oxide.

Claim 11

An inlet and exhaust manifold system for an internal combustion engine, comprising a tube to which atmospheric air is admitted at one end, the other end of the tube having an orifice opening into the inlet tract of the engine as selectively defined by the inlet manifold or the inlet ports of an engine to which the system is fitted, an intermediate portion of the tube passing through the exhaust manifold so as to be exposed to hot exhaust gases from an engine to which the manifold is fitted, the tube being selected from tubes formed of copper material, filled with copper material and, lined with copper material allowing the free passage of air, means connected to said tube for restricting the flow of air through the tube to a level insufficient to prevent proper working of the induction system of an engine to which the system is fitted but sufficient to entrain copper oxide particles formed in the portion of the tube exposed to the exhaust gases, said portion of the tube exposed to the exhaust gases being adapted to be heated to temperature of at least 200*C. during the normal operation of an associated engine in heated conditions between light loads and full load to produce non-coherent copper oxide.

Claim 12

A manifold system according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of tubes are provided.

Claim 13

A manifold system according to claim 8, wherein a portion of at least one of the tubes upstream of the portion exposed to the exhaust gases is wound around the exhaust manifold to preheat the air passing therethrough.

Claim 14

A manifold system according to claim 8, wherein the tube terminates in an orifice in the wall of the inlet manifold adjacent the entrance thereof.

Claim 15

A manifold system according to claim 8, wherein tubes are provided terminating in nozzles which extend into each of the inlet ports of an engine to which the system is fitted.

Claim 16

A manifold system according to claim 8, wherein the tube is provided with a flow restrictor having a flow capacity equivalent to an orifice of 0.2-3.0mm diameter.

Claim 17

A manifold system according to claim 14, wherein the flow restrictor is an orifice of 0.4-0.8 mm diameter.

Claim 18

A manifold system according to claim 15 wherein the orifice is formed in a cap of flexible material closing the outer end of the tube.

Claim 19

A manifold system according to claim 13, wherein the inlet manifold is provided with at least one additional air bleed separate and apart from said tube.

Claim 20

A manifold system according to claim 8 wherein said carburettor has a bore containing a choke and a throttle valve and is fitted with a collar between the choke and the throttle valve whereby to reduce the crosssection of the bore in this region as compared to that conventionally provided for the particular engine-carburettor combination.

Claim 21

A manifold system according to claim 18, wherein the collar reduces the cross-section of the bore by about 20%.

Claim 22

A manifold system according to claim 19, wherein a further similar collar is provided immediately upstream of the choke.