Patent US4099503A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4099503A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Means for imparting supersonic flow characteristics in the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Carter Automotive Co Inc
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Filing: 1976-09-29
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Granted: 1978-07-11
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Expires: 1996-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A combustible mixture of air and minute fuel droplets is produced for supply to the cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The engine includes a carburetor having a main air passageway in it, and an intake manifold interposed between the engine and the carburetor. The intake manifold includes at least one wall defining a plurality of fluid passageways operatively connected to the carburetor and to the combustion chambers of the engine. A throttle structure is mounted in the intake manifold. The combustible mixture is formed by introducing liquid fuel into a stream of intake air and uniformly distributing the fuel in the air by passing the air and fuel mixture through a constriction to increase the velocity of the mixture to sonic speed. The constriction occurs at the throttle structure in the manifold. The area of constriction and the amount of the fuel entering the air stream are adjustable for correlation with engine demand. After passing through the constriction, the air/fuel mixture is accelerated to supersonic velocity and thereafter decelerated to subsonic velocity to produce a shock zone where the fuel droplets are believed to be further subdivided. The supersonic and subsonic mixture speeds are obtained at the outlet of the throttle structure in the manifold. Thereafter, the mixture is inducted into the combustion chambers of the engine. Preferably, the throttle structure includes a tubular device having at least one end movably mounted in the intake manifold. A plate either is suspended in or forms a part of the intake manifold. The plate and tubular structure coact to provide the constriction, supersonic and subsonic zones of mixture flow.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward H. Casey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:51
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D9/00; F02D9/08; F02D9/12; F02M; F02M9/00; F02M9/12; F02M9/127
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an intake manifold for distributing fluid to the engine, said manifold having an enclosure, said enclosure defining at least one fluid passage in said manifold; a carburetor for supplying a fuel/air mixture to said intake manifold, said carburetor having an air passage in it operatively connected to the fluid passage of said intake manifold, fuel supply means operatively connected to said air passage, and means for combining the fuel and air in said air passage upstream of said intake manifold; and throttle valve means for controlling fluid flow through said intake manifold, said throttle valve means having an outlet positioned in said intake manifold, said throttle valve means comprising tubular means movable between a first position and a second position for controlling the area of the outlet opening, and means in said manifold for coacting with said tubular means to define a valve opening in said manifold, said manifold means and said tubular means together defining a converging section, a restriction, and a diverging section for fluid flow, said converging, restriction and diverging sections creating supersonic fluid flow conditions in said manifold in at least one operating position of said tubular means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, comprising: an intake manifold for distributing fluid to the engine, said manifold having an enclosure, said enclosure defining at least one fluid passage in said manifold; a carburetor for supplying a fuel/air mixture to said intake manifold, said carburetor having an air passage in it operatively connected to the fluid passage of said intake manifold, fuel supply means operatively connected to said air passage, and means for combining the fuel and air in said air passage upstream of said intake manifold; and throttle valve means for controlling fluid flow through said intake manifold, said throttle valve means having an outlet positioned in said intake manifold, said throttle valve means comprising tubular means movable between a first position and a second position for controlling the area of the outlet opening, and means in said manifold for coacting with said tubular means to define a valve opening in said manifold, said manifold means and said tubular means together defining a converging section, a restriction, and a diverging section for fluid flow, said converging, restriction and diverging sections creating supersonic fluid flow conditions in said manifold in at least one operating position of said tubular means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fuel supply system of claim 1 wherein said manifold means comprises a lip integrally formed with said manifold, said lip and said tubular means defining said converging section, restriction and diverging section for fluid flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said intake manifold includes a bottom wall acting to define said fluid passage, said bottom wall having an opening formed in it, said manifold opening being aligned axially with the air passage in said carburetor, and a plate, said plate being mounted to close the opening in said intake manifold, said plate including a base, said base having a wall which, with said tubular means, defines a converging section, a restriction and a diverging section for fluid flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fluid system of claim 3 wherein said plate includes a conic section radially inboard of said base section, said conic section being symmetrically arranged with respect to said air passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The fuel system of claim 4 wherein said tubular means comprises a cylinder having a first end operatively associated with said carburetor, and a second end extending within said intake manifold, said second end coacting with said plate to enable said fuel supply system to create the supersonic fluid flow condition in said manifold.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The fuel supply system of claim 5 including an exhaust manifold, said exhaust manifold being positioned adjacent said intake manifold, said exhaust manifold having an opening in it permitting communication between said exhaust manifold and one side of said plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
The fluid system of claim 1 wherein said throttle valve means comprises a drop-in structure adapted to extend within said intake manifold, said drop-in structure including a plate, said plate, together with said tubular means, defining a converging section, a restriction and a diverging section for fluid flow; and means for attaching said drop-in structure to said carburetor.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for supplying a uniform combustible mixture of liquid fuel and air to the intake ports of an internal combustion engine, comprising: an intake manifold operatively connected to the intake ports, said intake manifold having a passage through it; a carburetor for supplying a fuel/air mixture to said intake manifold, said carburetor having an air passage in it communicating with a passage in said intake manifold; means for supplying liquid fuel to the air passage of said carburetor, said fuel supply means being connected to the air passage; and throttle means having an inlet in the air passage of said carburetor downstream of the connection between said fuel supply means and said air passage, said throttle valve means having an outlet in the passage of said inlet manifold upstream of the intake ports of the internal combustion engine, said throttle valve comprising tubular means adapted to abut a part internal of said intake manifold in a first position, and to be remote from said part in a second position, the part internal of said intake manifold passageway defining, in conjunction with said tubular means, a converging section, a restriction at the point of maximum convergence, and a diverging section downstream of the restriction, said structure creating a sonic wave in the fluid flow in said intake manifold.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
218 words
A system for supplying a uniform combustible mixture of liquid fuel and air to the intake ports of an internal combustion engine, comprising: an intake manifold operatively connected to the intake ports, said intake manifold having a passage through it; a carburetor for supplying a fuel/air mixture to said intake manifold, said carburetor having an air passage in it communicating with a passage in said intake manifold; means for supplying liquid fuel to the air passage of said carburetor, said fuel supply means being connected to the air passage; and throttle means having an inlet in the air passage of said carburetor downstream of the connection between said fuel supply means and said air passage, said throttle valve means having an outlet in the passage of said inlet manifold upstream of the intake ports of the internal combustion engine, said throttle valve comprising tubular means adapted to abut a part internal of said intake manifold in a first position, and to be remote from said part in a second position, the part internal of said intake manifold passageway defining, in conjunction with said tubular means, a converging section, a restriction at the point of maximum convergence, and a diverging section downstream of the restriction, said structure creating a sonic wave in the fluid flow in said intake manifold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the part internal of said intake manifold comprises a wall of said manifold, said wall having a lip formed in it, said lip, together with said tubular means, defining the converging section, the restriction and the diverging section for fluid flow.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
231 words
A system for supplying a uniform combustible mixture of liquid fuel and air to the intake ports of an internal combustion engine, comprising: an intake manifold operatively connected to the intake ports of said engine, said intake manifold having a passageway through it, said passageway being delimited by at least one wall; a carburetor for supplying a fuel/air mixture to said intake manifold, said carburetor having an air passage in it communicating with the passage in said intake manifold; means for supplying liquid fuel to the air passage of said carburetor, connected to the air passage; and valve means having an inlet in the air passage of said carburetor downstream of the connection between said fuel supply means and said air passage, said valve means having an outlet in the passage of said inlet manifold upstream of the intake ports of the internal combustion engine, said valve means comprising a tubular member mounted for movement between at least a first position and a second position in said intake manifold, and a part internal of said intake manifold passage, the part internal of said intake manifold passage defining, in conjunction with said tubular member, a converging section, a restriction at the point of maximum convergence, and a diverging section downstream of the restriction, said structure creating a sonic wave in the fluid flow in at least one position of said tubular member.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
231 words
A system for supplying a uniform combustible mixture of liquid fuel and air to the intake ports of an internal combustion engine, comprising: an intake manifold operatively connected to the intake ports of said engine, said intake manifold having a passageway through it, said passageway being delimited by at least one wall; a carburetor for supplying a fuel/air mixture to said intake manifold, said carburetor having an air passage in it communicating with the passage in said intake manifold; means for supplying liquid fuel to the air passage of said carburetor, connected to the air passage; and valve means having an inlet in the air passage of said carburetor downstream of the connection between said fuel supply means and said air passage, said valve means having an outlet in the passage of said inlet manifold upstream of the intake ports of the internal combustion engine, said valve means comprising a tubular member mounted for movement between at least a first position and a second position in said intake manifold, and a part internal of said intake manifold passage, the part internal of said intake manifold passage defining, in conjunction with said tubular member, a converging section, a restriction at the point of maximum convergence, and a diverging section downstream of the restriction, said structure creating a sonic wave in the fluid flow in at least one position of said tubular member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The supply means of claim 10 wherein said movable means comprises a cylinder, said cylinder having a side wall having a material thickness, said material thickness having a chamfer associated with it so that the material thickness defines, in conjunction with the part internal of said intake manifold, the converging section and point of maximum convergence for said valve means.
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) | 1981-07-10 | 1982-01-09 | 1982-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-10 | 1986-01-09 | 1986-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-10 | 1990-01-09 | 1990-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |