Automatic starting fluid dispenser

Claim 1

An apparatus for automatically injecting a pressurized starting fluid from a valved cannister into an air intake passage of an internal combustion engine provided with starter means, said apparatus comprising: an injector mounted in the air intake passage to inject starting fluid into the passage; an electrically activated valve actuator having an intake bore coupled to the valved cannister and an exit bore coupled to the injector, said valve actuator, when actuated, operating to continuously pass starting fluid from the valved cannister, through the intake and exit bores, to the injector; reservoir means in fluid communication with the injector for temporarily storing a predetermined volume of starting fluid during the period when the valve actuator is activated, and for supplying said predetermined volume of starting fluid to the injector immediately following deactivation of the valve actuator; means for automatically activating the valve actuator during operation of the starter means, such that the valve actuator is automatically controlled to cause starting fluid to be injected into the air intake passage during and immediately following operation of the starter means.

Claim 2

An apparatus for automatically injecting a pressurized starting fluid from a valved cannister into an air intake passage of an internal combustion engine provided with starter means, said apparatus comprising: an injector mounted in the air intake passage to inject starting fluid into the passage; an electrically activated valve actuator having an intake bore coupled to the valved cannister and an exit bore coupled to the injector, said valve actuator, when actuated, operating to continuously pass starting fluid from the valved cannister, through the intake and exit bores, to the injector; reservoir means in fluid communication with the injector for temporarily storing a predetermined volume of starting fluid during the period when the valve actuator is activated, and for supplying said predetermined volume of starting fluid to the injector immediately following deactivation of the valve actuator; means for automatically activating the valve actuator during operation of the starter means, such that the valve actuator is automatically controlled to cause starting fluid to be injected into the air intake passage during and immediately following operation of the starter means.

Claim 16

An apparatus for injecting a pressurized starting fluid stored in a cannister having a valve into an air intake passage of an internal combustion engine provided with starter means, said apparatus comprising: a stator adapted for connection to a portion of the cannister, said portion situated adjacent the cannister valve; an intake bore defined in the stator and aligned with the cannister valve; an electrical coil secured to the stator and defining a central volume; an armature disposed in the central volume; a drive rod positioned in the intake bore and the central volume between the armature and the cannister valve, said rod, armature, and coil cooperating to actuate the cannister valve when the coil is energized, thereby passing starter fluid from the cannister through the intake bore, into the central volume of the coil; an exit bore adjacent the central volume of the coil; a reservoir formed by a cavity in the armature in fluid communication with the exit bore, said reservoir adapted to temporarily store a predetermined volume of starting fluid during actuation of the cannister valve, and to supply this volume of starting fluid to the exit bore following deactuation of the cannister valve; an injector mounted in the air intake passageway; a conduit interconnecting the exit bore and the injector; and electrical means connected to the coil and responsive to the starter means for energizing the coil during operation of the starter means, thereby ensuring continuous actuation of the cannister valve and injection of starting fluid into the air intake passage throughout operation of the starter means, said electrical means further including thermostat means for preventing the coil from being energized when engine temperature is above a preselected value.

Claim 17

An apparatus for injecting a pressurized starting fluid stored in a cannister having a valve into an air intake passage of an internal combustion engine provided with starter means, said apparatus comprising: a stator adapted for connection to a portion of the cannister, said portion situated adjacent the cannister valve; an intake bore defined in the stator and aligned with the cannister valve; an electrical coil secured to the stator and defining a central volume; an armature disposed in the central volume; a drive rod positioned in the intake bore and the central volume between the armature and the cannister valve, said rod, armature, and coil cooperating to actuate the cannister valve when the coil is energized, thereby passing starter fluid from the cannister through the intake bore, into the central volume of the coil; an exit bore adjacent the central volume of the coil; a reservoir formed by a cavity in the armature in fluid communication with the exit bore, said reservoir adapted to temporarily store a predetermined volume of starting fluid during actuation of the cannister valve, and to supply this volume of starting fluid to the exit bore following deactuation of the cannister valve; an injector mounted in the air intake passageway; a conduit interconnecting the exit bore and the injector; and electrical means connected to the coil and responsive to the starter means for energizing the coil during operation of the starter means, thereby ensuring continuous actuation of the cannister valve and injection of starting fluid into the air intake passage throughout operation of the starter means, said electrical means further including thermostat means for preventing the coil from being energized when engine temperature is above a preselected value.

Claim 21

An apparatus for injecting a pressurized starting fluid stored in a cannister having a valve into an air intake passage of an internal combustion engine provided with starter means, said apparatus comprising: a stator adapted for connection to a portion of the cannister, said portion situated adjacent the cannister valve; an intake bore defined in the stator and aligned with the cannister valve; an electrical coil secured to the stator and defining a central volume; a tubular member disposed in the central volume; an armature disposed in the tubular member having a length less than that of the tubular member; a drive rod positioned in the intake bore and the central volume between the armature and the cannister valve, said rod, armature, and coil cooperating to actuate the cannister valve when the coil is energized, thereby passing starter fluid from the cannister through the intake bore, into the central volume of the coil; an exit bore adjacent the central volume of the coil; a reservoir formed between the tubular member and the armature in fluid communication with the exit bore, said reservoir adapted to temporarily store a predetermined volume of starting fluid during actuation of the cannister valve, and to supply this volume of starting fluid to the exit bore following deactuation of the cannister valve; an injector mounted in the air intake passageway; a conduit interconnecting the exit bore and the injector; and electrical means connected to the coil and responsive to the starter means for energizing the coil during operation of the starter means, thereby ensuring continuous actuation of the cannister valve and injection of starting fluid into the air intake passage throughout operation of the starter means, said electrical means further including thermostat means for preventing the coil from being energized when engine temperature is above a preselected value.

Claim 22

An apparatus for injecting a pressurized starting fluid stored in a cannister having a valve into an air intake passage of an internal combustion engine provided with starter means, said apparatus comprising: a stator adapted for connection to a portion of the cannister, said portion situated adjacent the cannister valve; an intake bore defined in the stator and aligned with the cannister valve; an electrical coil secured to the stator and defining a central volume; a tubular member disposed in the central volume; an armature disposed in the tubular member having a length less than that of the tubular member; a drive rod positioned in the intake bore and the central volume between the armature and the cannister valve, said rod, armature, and coil cooperating to actuate the cannister valve when the coil is energized, thereby passing starter fluid from the cannister through the intake bore, into the central volume of the coil; an exit bore adjacent the central volume of the coil; a reservoir formed between the tubular member and the armature in fluid communication with the exit bore, said reservoir adapted to temporarily store a predetermined volume of starting fluid during actuation of the cannister valve, and to supply this volume of starting fluid to the exit bore following deactuation of the cannister valve; an injector mounted in the air intake passageway; a conduit interconnecting the exit bore and the injector; and electrical means connected to the coil and responsive to the starter means for energizing the coil during operation of the starter means, thereby ensuring continuous actuation of the cannister valve and injection of starting fluid into the air intake passage throughout operation of the starter means, said electrical means further including thermostat means for preventing the coil from being energized when engine temperature is above a preselected value.