US4020811A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recirculating fuel feed and vaporization apparatus and method
Assignee: VENTUR E Inc OF RICHMOND
•
Filing: 1974-11-18
•
Granted: 1977-05-03
•
Expires: 1994-11-18
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed an apparatus for ensuring maximum vaporization of fuel before entry into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus comprises an extension of the carburetor which separates vaporized fuel from droplets of fuel which remain unvaporized or which are condensed before entering the intake manifold. The unvaporized fuel is collected and subjected to heat generated at the engine exhaust pipe. In particular, heated ambient air heats and vaporizes the unvaporized fuel. The thusly vaporized fuel is then re-introduced into the fuel-air mixture exiting the carburetor, and subsequently enters the intake manifold.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward P. LaForce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:28
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M33/00; F02M33/02; F02M33/04; F02M33/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/55
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
An apparatus for vaporizing fuel prior to introduction into the combustion chambers of an engine, in combination with said engine, the apparatus comprising: a carburetor extension for receiving the fuel-air mixture from a carburetor; separator means for separating the vaporized fuel from the fuel droplets prior to entry into the combustion chambers, said separator means including flow reversal means for diverting the flow direction of vaporized fuel by on the order of 180° while not substantially affecting the flow direction of fuel droplets; collecting means for collecting the fuel droplets, said collecting means being positioned downstream of said carburetor extension; a plurality of heater stages for heating said fuel droplets, said heater stages including at least a first heater stage positioned downstream of said carburetor extension and a second heater stage positioned downstream of said first heater stage; a first conduit for connecting said collecting means to said first heater stage for delivering fuel droplets from said collecting means to said first heater stage; a second conduit for connecting said first heater stage to said second heater stage for delivering vaporized fuel from said first to said second heater stage; and a third conduit for connecting said second heater stage to said carburetor extension for delivering reheated vaporized fuel to said carburetor extension.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
213 words
An apparatus for vaporizing fuel prior to introduction into the combustion chambers of an engine, in combination with said engine, the apparatus comprising: a carburetor extension for receiving the fuel-air mixture from a carburetor; separator means for separating the vaporized fuel from the fuel droplets prior to entry into the combustion chambers, said separator means including flow reversal means for diverting the flow direction of vaporized fuel by on the order of 180° while not substantially affecting the flow direction of fuel droplets; collecting means for collecting the fuel droplets, said collecting means being positioned downstream of said carburetor extension; a plurality of heater stages for heating said fuel droplets, said heater stages including at least a first heater stage positioned downstream of said carburetor extension and a second heater stage positioned downstream of said first heater stage; a first conduit for connecting said collecting means to said first heater stage for delivering fuel droplets from said collecting means to said first heater stage; a second conduit for connecting said first heater stage to said second heater stage for delivering vaporized fuel from said first to said second heater stage; and a third conduit for connecting said second heater stage to said carburetor extension for delivering reheated vaporized fuel to said carburetor extension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carburetor has a jet of a predetermined cross-sectional area, and wherein said first and third conduits have cross-sectional areas four times the cross-sectional area of said jet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carburetor has a jet of a predetermined cross-sectional area, and wherein the cross-sectional area of said second conduit is 16 times the cross-sectional area of said jet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1, including a jet nozzle positioned on the end of said third conduit.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine, for ensuring complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture introduced to the combustion chambers of an engine, the apparatus comprising: means for feeding the fuel-air mixture to a separation site; means at said separation site for diverting the flow direction of that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises vaporized fuel through on the order of 180° without substantially affecting the flow direction of that portion which comprises fuel in an unvaporized state, for thereby separating out of said fuel-air mixture, that portion which comprises fuel in an unvaporized state; means for delivering that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises vaporized fuel to the engine's combustion chambers; heater means for heating that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises unvaporized fuel so that at least a portion of the same is vaporized; and means for delivering the heated vaporized fuel-air mixture to said separation site.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for use with an internal combustion engine, for ensuring complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture introduced to the combustion chambers of an engine, the apparatus comprising: means for feeding the fuel-air mixture to a separation site; means at said separation site for diverting the flow direction of that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises vaporized fuel through on the order of 180° without substantially affecting the flow direction of that portion which comprises fuel in an unvaporized state, for thereby separating out of said fuel-air mixture, that portion which comprises fuel in an unvaporized state; means for delivering that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises vaporized fuel to the engine's combustion chambers; heater means for heating that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises unvaporized fuel so that at least a portion of the same is vaporized; and means for delivering the heated vaporized fuel-air mixture to said separation site.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 5, including a heat riser surrounding said separation site.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6, including a source of heated air connected to said heat riser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said source of heated air comprises a collection means associated with the exhaust of the engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 8, including air conduits for connecting said heat riser to said third conduit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said heater means includes first and second heater stages having first and second stage heat transfer means for transferring heat from the engine exhaust pipe to said fuel-air mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first stage heat transfer means comprises a groove positioned around the outer periphery of said engine exhaust pipe, and means for transferring said fuel droplets from said first conduit to said groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second stage heater comprises a plurality of heat transmitting surfaces to deliver heat from the exhaust gases to the fuel-air mixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said groove is substantially square shaped.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said groove has a V-shaped trough at the bottom thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10, including heat conducting plates positioned inside said engine exhaust pipe to transmit heat from the exhaust gases to the fuel-air mixture.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said separation site is in fluid communication with an engine intake manifold.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said engine is an internal combustion engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine; and wherein the expansion ratio of said engine is in excess of its compression ratio.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for ensuring complete vaporization of fuel prior to entry into the intake manifold of an engine, the apparatus comprising: a carburetor having an outlet end through which a fuel-air mixture exits; a carburetor extension for separating vaporized fuel from unvaporized fuel droplets; means for reversing the flow direction of the vaporized fuel by on the order of 180° and for delivering the vaporized fuel to said intake manifold; a heater for vaporizing said unvaporized fuel droplets; means for delivering said unvaporized fuel droplets to said heater; and means for introducing fuel vaporized by said heater to said carburetor extension.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for ensuring complete vaporization of fuel prior to entry into the intake manifold of an engine, the apparatus comprising: a carburetor having an outlet end through which a fuel-air mixture exits; a carburetor extension for separating vaporized fuel from unvaporized fuel droplets; means for reversing the flow direction of the vaporized fuel by on the order of 180° and for delivering the vaporized fuel to said intake manifold; a heater for vaporizing said unvaporized fuel droplets; means for delivering said unvaporized fuel droplets to said heater; and means for introducing fuel vaporized by said heater to said carburetor extension.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of vaporizing fuel prior to introduction into the combustion chambers of an engine, the method comprising the steps of: separating vaporized fuel from fuel droplets prior to entry into the combustion chambers by reversing the flow direction of the vaporized fuel by on the order of 180° without affecting the flow direction of fuel droplets; collecting the fuel droplets in a collecting means; preheating said fuel droplets in said collecting means; directing said fuel droplets into a first heater stage; vaporizing said droplets in said first heater stage; directing said vaporized fuel into a second heater stage; reheating said vaporized fuel in said second heater stage; and directing said vaporized reheated fuel into the fuel-air mixture exiting the carburetor of said engine.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of vaporizing fuel prior to introduction into the combustion chambers of an engine, the method comprising the steps of: separating vaporized fuel from fuel droplets prior to entry into the combustion chambers by reversing the flow direction of the vaporized fuel by on the order of 180° without affecting the flow direction of fuel droplets; collecting the fuel droplets in a collecting means; preheating said fuel droplets in said collecting means; directing said fuel droplets into a first heater stage; vaporizing said droplets in said first heater stage; directing said vaporized fuel into a second heater stage; reheating said vaporized fuel in said second heater stage; and directing said vaporized reheated fuel into the fuel-air mixture exiting the carburetor of said engine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of vaporizing said fuel droplets in said first heater stage includes effecting contact between said fuel and the hot exhaust pipe of said engine.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of reheating said vaporized fuel in said second heater stage includes effecting contact between said vaporized fuel and the hot exhaust pipe of said engine.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of preheating said fuel droplets includes passing heated ambient air around said collecting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the step of preheating said fuel droplets further includes the steps of: removing said heated air from said collecting means; and introducing said heated air removed from said collecting means into the flow of vaporized fuel into said carburetor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said second heater stage is in near proximity to said carburetor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 21, wherein the contact between said fuel droplets and the hot engine exhaust pipe comprises the steps of: transferring said fuel droplets to a groove positioned on the periphery of said exhaust pipe; and maintaining said fuel in said groove until said fuel is vaporized.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of introducing said vaporized fuel into the mixture exiting said carburetor includes directing said vaporized fuel through a jet nozzle.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of ensuring complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture introduced to the combustion chambers of an engine, the method comprising: feeding the fuel-air mixture to a separation site; separating out of said fuel-air mixture, that portion which comprises fuel in an unvaporized state by diverting the flow direction of that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises vaporized fuel through substantially 180° without substantially affecting the flow direction of that portion which comprises fuel in an unvaporized state; delivering that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises vaporized fuel to the engine's combustion chambers; heating that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises unvaporized fuel so that at least a portion of the same is vaporized; and delivering the heated vaporized fuel-air mixture to said separation site.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of ensuring complete combustion of the fuel-air mixture introduced to the combustion chambers of an engine, the method comprising: feeding the fuel-air mixture to a separation site; separating out of said fuel-air mixture, that portion which comprises fuel in an unvaporized state by diverting the flow direction of that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises vaporized fuel through substantially 180° without substantially affecting the flow direction of that portion which comprises fuel in an unvaporized state; delivering that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises vaporized fuel to the engine's combustion chambers; heating that portion of the fuel-air mixture which comprises unvaporized fuel so that at least a portion of the same is vaporized; and delivering the heated vaporized fuel-air mixture to said separation site.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method recited in claim 28, wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine; and wherein the expansion ratio is in excess of the compression ratio of said engine.
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) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |