Patent US4112889A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4112889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fuel system and vaporizer for internal combustion engines
Assignee: Energy Research Inc
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Filing: 1976-11-26
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Granted: 1978-09-12
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Expires: 1996-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A fuel system for an internal combustion engine of the piston type vaporizes a liquid fuel and water and mixes the resulting gaseous fuel and water vapor with air in a metering valve which communicates with the internal combustion engine. A device operating at a very high temperature, for example 1800° F. is used in the vaporization of the fuel. The high temperature gaseous state of the fuel represents molecules of the greatest degree of separation from each other providing the greatest opportunity for contact of the reacting species in the gaseous condition as chemical reactions occur only between particles at the atomic or molecular level and it is necessary for the reacting species to be in actual contact at the time of reaction. The fuel system therefore enables complete combustion and the elimination of the atmospheric pollutants common in the operation of internal combustion engines.
Inventors
- 👤 Webster B. Harpman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:44
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M31/00; F02M31/02; F02M31/16; F02M31/18; F02M25/00; F02M25/022; F02M25/0221; F02M25/0225; F02M25/032; F02M25/035; F02M31/12; F02M31/125; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
An improved fuel system for an internal combustion engine having an inlet manifold; a metering valve in communication therewith arranged to control air flowing therethrough and to control and introduce gaseous fuel into said air and direct said air and gaseous fuel to said inlet manifold, a water vaporizer and a supply of water therefor and a liquid fuel vaporizer and a supply of liquid fuel therefor, heating means for said water and fuel vaporizers for generating water vapor and hot gaseous fuel under pressure respectively and means establishing communication between said water vapor and said metering valve and between said liquid fuel vaporizer and said metering valve, said liquid fuel vaporizer including means responsive to temprature to exclusively control the vaporization of said liquid fuel, a pressure regulator device in said communication means between said liquid fuel vaporizer and said metering valve arranged to control the pressure of and to permit said hot gaseous fuel to flow only from said pressure regulator device to said metering valve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
An improved fuel system for an internal combustion engine having an inlet manifold; a metering valve in communication therewith arranged to control air flowing therethrough and to control and introduce gaseous fuel into said air and direct said air and gaseous fuel to said inlet manifold, a water vaporizer and a supply of water therefor and a liquid fuel vaporizer and a supply of liquid fuel therefor, heating means for said water and fuel vaporizers for generating water vapor and hot gaseous fuel under pressure respectively and means establishing communication between said water vapor and said metering valve and between said liquid fuel vaporizer and said metering valve, said liquid fuel vaporizer including means responsive to temprature to exclusively control the vaporization of said liquid fuel, a pressure regulator device in said communication means between said liquid fuel vaporizer and said metering valve arranged to control the pressure of and to permit said hot gaseous fuel to flow only from said pressure regulator device to said metering valve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The fuel system of claim 1 and wherein a one way valve is located in said communication means downstream with respect to said pressure regulator device, said one way valve being open toward said metering valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The fuel system of claim 1 and wherein the heating means for said liquid fuel vaporizer is an electric resistance heating device in the vaporizer operating at temperatures between 700° F. and 1800° F. and having a flat unbroken area against which said liquid fuel is delivered for flash point vaporization thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel system of claim 1 and wherein the liquid fuel vaporizer and the metering valve are directly connected to one another to insure delivery of the hot gaseous fuel thereto.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fuel system of claim 1 and wherein said pressure regulator device is incorporated in said liquid fuel vaporizer and heated thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuel system of claim 1 and wherein said pressure regulator device, at least one control valve and said communication means are incorporated in said liquid fuel vaporizer and heated thereby.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
118 words
The method of forming a gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of delivering liquid fuel onto a heated surface in a first chamber to form a hot gas, controlling the temperature and pressure of said hot gas in said first chamber independently of the operating temperatures of other regions of said internal combustion engine, permitting the hot gas to flow through a mechanical pressure regulator so as to reduce the pressure thereof, permitting the hot gas to flow through mechanical valves for regulating the volume thereof, delivering hot water vapor into said hot gas downstream of said pressure regulator, and delivering said hot gaseous fuel into the inlet manifold of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
118 words
The method of forming a gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of delivering liquid fuel onto a heated surface in a first chamber to form a hot gas, controlling the temperature and pressure of said hot gas in said first chamber independently of the operating temperatures of other regions of said internal combustion engine, permitting the hot gas to flow through a mechanical pressure regulator so as to reduce the pressure thereof, permitting the hot gas to flow through mechanical valves for regulating the volume thereof, delivering hot water vapor into said hot gas downstream of said pressure regulator, and delivering said hot gaseous fuel into the inlet manifold of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 7 and wherein said hot gas is permitted to flow through a heated mechanical pressure regulator so as to prevent loss of heat from said hot gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 and wherein said hot gas is permitted to flow through a heated mechanical pressure regulator and through heated mechanical valves so as to prevent loss of heat from said hot gas.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-11 | 1982-03-13 | 1982-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-11 | 1986-03-13 | 1986-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-11 | 1990-03-13 | 1990-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |