Combustion engine

Claim 1

In an internal combustion engine of the type that has a plurality of cylinders each cylinder having a reciprocating piston, an intake means for enabling the timed introduction of fuel within each of said cylinders, an exhaust means for enabling the timed exhausting of the contents of each of said cylinders, and spark plug means for igniting fuel within each said cylinders, the improvement comprising rich carburetor means for forming a first mixture of a hydrocarbon fuel with only enough air to partially oxidize said hydrocarbon fuel when ignited, first means for introducing said first mixture into one of said cylinders from said rich carburetor means through its intake means to be compressed and ignited by operation of said internal combustion engine whereby hydrogen rich gases are formed in said one of said cylinders, said first means including first valve means for determining the amount of said first mixture introduced into said one of said cylinders, lean carburetor means for forming a second mixture of hydrogen rich gases and enough air to fully oxidize said hydrogen rich gases, means for transferring hydrogen rich gases from said one of said cylinders to said lean carburetor means, second means for introducing said second mixture into the remaining cylinders of said engine through their intake means for use as a fuel, said second means including a second valve means for determining the amount of said second mixture introduced into the remaining cylinders of said engine, and a throttle control means coupled to both said valve means for simultaneously controlling the respective amounts of first and second mixtures passed by both said valve means.