Steam injection apparatus

Claim 1

In an internal combustion engine having an accelerator control, an exhaust manifold and an intake manifold, a steam injection apparatus comprising: a source of water, a temperature-sensitive switch arranged to operate at a predetermined engine temperative; a control valve responsive to operation of said temperative-sensitive switch and adapted for connection to a said accelerator control to control the rate of flow of water from said source, an evaporator arranged to receive water from said control valve and to receive heat from exhaust gases of said engine thereby to evaporate water passing therethrough to produce steam, and means adapted to transmit steam so produced into a said intake manifold; said control valve comprising: a housing, a water inlet conduit formed in said housing and adapted for connection to said source, a solenoid actuated valve having a valve member spring biased to close said inlet conduit and a solenoid connected to be energized upon operation of said temperative-sensitive switch to move said valve member against said spring bias thereby to open said inlet conduit to permit flow of water therethrough, a water passage conduit formed in said housing to receive water from said inlet conduit when said solenoid actuated valve is energized, a needle valve means to preset maximum flow rate through said water passage conduit and comprising a needle valve member having a conical portion disposed in said water passage conduit, said needle valve member being adjustable by screw means to cause said conical portion to restrict said conduit to an extent which is in accordance with a desired maximum water flow rate, a water flow rate control valve having a cylindrical valve member disposed for reciprocal movement in a bore in said housing to receive and control water flowing in said water passage conduit through said needle valve means; said cylindrical valve member having a flow regulating slot, of varying cross-section, in and axially extending along its periphery, linkage means adapted for connection to said accelerator control to reciprocally move said valve member in said bore in dependence upon movement of said accelerator control, wherein said slot cooperates with an outlet from said housing to vary the flow rate of water from said control valve to said evaporator in dependence on the position of said valve member in said bore so that the greater the opening of the accelerator control the greater the flow rate; and said housing outlet being adapted for connection to a conduit to said evaporator to supply water thereto.