Fuel vapor generator

Claim 2

A fuel vapor generator for an internal combustion engine including a carburetor that has a main nozzle with an outlet through which fuel is normally discharged into a venturi through which the fuel-air mixture is drawn into an intake manifold, the fuel vapor generator comprising: a hollow tubular member having interior walls which form a continuous passageway double back upon itself in an elongated configuration, the passageway terminating at open inlet and outlet ends located adjacent to one another; thermal insulating means surrounding the member at locations adjacent the inlet and outlet ends of the passageway adapted to fix the member to the exterior of a carburetor with the inlet end projecting into a portion of the venturi in receptive communication with the outlet of the main nozzle and with the outlet end projecting into the venturi downstream from the location of the inlet end to thereby direct the fuel and a portion of the air entering the carburetor through the passageway; means for heating the hollow tubular member to a temperature above the boiling point of the fuel.

Claim 3

The fuel vapor generator set out in claim 3, further comprising: a series of mesh screens each extending across the interior walls of the passageway and spaced apart from one another along the length of the passageway.

Claim 4

The fuel vapor generator as set out in claim 1, wherein said lastnamed means comprises an enclosed jacket surrounding the portion of the tubular member remote from its inlet and outlet ends, said jacket including inlet means and outlet means for circulation of heated fluid between the interior of the jacket and that portion of the exterior of the hollow tubular member enclosed by the jacket.

Claim 5

The fuel vapor generator set out in claim 1, wherein said hollow tubular member comprises: an elongated cylindrical metal tube having a cap across one end and being open at its remaining end; and an elongated plate extending across the interior of the tube from its open end to a location spaced inwardly from the cap.

Claim 6

The fuel vapor generator set out in claim 1, wherein said hollow tubular member comprises; an elongated cylindrical metal tube having a cap across one end and being open at its remaining end; and an elongated plate extending across the interior of the tube from its open end to a location spaced inwardly from the cap; said fuel vapor generator further comprising a cylindrical tubular jacket surrounding the one end of the tube and extending along a substantial part of the total length of the tube, said jacket being coaxial with the tube and spaced outwardly therefrom, the jacket being sealed about the tube at its end facing the open end of the tube and having inlet means and outlet means for circulation of heated fluid material between the interior of the jacket and that portion of the exterior of the hollow tubular member enclosed by the jacket.

Claim 7

A fuel vapor generator for an internal combustion engine including a carburetor that has a main nozzle with an outlet through which fuel is normally discharged into a venturi through which the fuel-air mixture is drawn into an intake manifold, the fuel vapor generator comprising; a hollow tubular member having interior walls which form a continuous passageway doubled back upon itself in an elongated configuration, the passageway terminating at open inlet and outlet ends located adjacent to one another, said passageway having walls made of heat-conductive material; mounting means adapted to fix the member to the exterior of a carburetor with the passageway of the member leading to the interior of the carburetor through the walls of the carburetor venturi for locating the inlet end of the passageway adjacent to the outlet of the main nozzle of the carburetor and across a portion of the venturi and for locating the outlet end of the passageway at a location downstream from the outlet of the main nozzle of the carburetor to thereby direct the fuel and a portion of the air entering the carburetor through the passageway; and means for applying heat to the walls of the passageway intermediate its respective inlet and outlet ends.

Claim 8

A fuel vapor generator for an internal combustion engine including a carburetor that has a main nozzle with an outlet through which fuel is normally discharged into a venturi through which the fuel-air mixture is drawn into an intake manifold, the fuel vapor generator comprising; a hollow tubular member having interior walls which form a continuous passageway doubled back upon itself in an elongated configuration, the passageway terminating at open inlet and outlet ends located adjacent to one another, said passageway having walls made of heat-conductive material; mounting means adapted to fix the member to the exterior of a carburetor with the passageway of the member leading to the interior of the carburetor through the walls of the carburetor venturi for locating the inlet end of the passageway adjacent to the outlet of the main nozzle of the carburetor and across a portion of the venturi and for locating the outlet end of the passageway at a location downstream from the outlet of the main nozzle of the carburetor to thereby direct the fuel and a portion of the air entering the carburetor through the passageway; and means for applying heat to the walls of the passageway intermediate its respective inlet and outlet ends.

Claim 9

A fuel vapor generator as set out in claim 6 wherein said lastnamed means comprises a fluid-receiving jacket surrounding the member remote from its inlet and outlet ends for circulation of heated fluids between the member and jacket.

Claim 10

A fuel vapor generator as set out in claim 6 wherein the mounting means comprises a thermal insulating bushing adapted to be interposed between the hollow member and the carburetor.

Claim 11

A fuel vapor generator as set out in claim 6 further comprising: a series of mesh screens each extending fully across the passageway, the screens being spaced apart from one another along the length of the passageway.

Claim 12

In a carburetor for an internal combustion engine wherein the carburetor has a main nozzle with an outlet through which fuel is discharged and a venturi through which a fuel-air mixture is drawn into an intake manifold; the improvement comprising: a hollow member having an open elongated passageway formed therein leading between an inlet end and an outlet end, said passageway having walls made of heat-conductive material; mounting means for fixing the member to the exterior of the carburetor with the passageway of the member leading to the interior of the carburetor through the walls of the carburetor venturi for locating the inlet end of the passageway adjacent to the outlet of the main nozzle of the carburetor and for locating the outlet end of the passageway in the venturi of the carburetor at a location downstream from the outlet of the main nozzle of the carburetor; and means for applying heat to the walls of the passageway intermediate its respective inlet and outlet ends.

Claim 13

In a carburetor for an internal combustion engine wherein the carburetor has a main nozzle with an outlet through which fuel is discharged and a venturi through which a fuel-air mixture is drawn into an intake manifold; the improvement comprising: a hollow member having an open elongated passageway formed therein leading between an inlet end and an outlet end, said passageway having walls made of heat-conductive material; mounting means for fixing the member to the exterior of the carburetor with the passageway of the member leading to the interior of the carburetor through the walls of the carburetor venturi for locating the inlet end of the passageway adjacent to the outlet of the main nozzle of the carburetor and for locating the outlet end of the passageway in the venturi of the carburetor at a location downstream from the outlet of the main nozzle of the carburetor; and means for applying heat to the walls of the passageway intermediate its respective inlet and outlet ends.