Water vapor injection system

Claim 2

A process of generating and injecting water vapor into an air-fuel mixture passing from a carburetor of a combustion engine comprising: (a) forcing ambient air into and through an air inlet means; (b) preheating said ambient air to at least 100° C. while the same is being forced through said air inlet means; (c) directing the forced heated air from said air inlet means directly into a volume of water contained in a water container wherein moisture becomes associated with the air moving through the water as an evenly dispersed foaming action is realized as the forced heated air moves through the volume of water; (d) continuing to force the cooled moistened air from said water vapor container through an air outlet means; (e) directing the moistened air in said air outlet means to said engine carburetor and discharging the moistened air directly into the air intake area of said engine carburetor; and (f) mixing said moistened air with the air-fuel mixture passing through the engine carburetor prior to the combined mixture reaching the engine intake manifold.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein directing the forced heated air from said air inlet means directly into the volume of water contained in a water container includes vaporizing water about the interface between the heated air and the surronding water, resulting in water molecules being combined with the passing air.

Claim 4

A water vapor injection system for adding moist air to the air-fuel mixture passing through a carburetor into the combustion chamber of an engine, said water vapor system comprising: a water container means completely independent of the engine and engine cooling system adapted to contain a volume of water therein for moistening air being passed therethrough prior to reaching said engine; an air inlet means operatively connected to said water container means, and including interior air inlet means extending interiorly of said container means and having air exit opening means disposed at a position below the normal level of the water in said container means; an air pump means operatively connected to said air inlet means for forcing ambient air therethrough and into said water container means and out said air exit opening means and through said volume of water within said container means, such that an evenly dispersed foaming action is realized as the forced air moves through the water in said water container means and the air becomes moistened air in the process; means for heating the forced air generated by said pump means to at least 100° C. prior to entering said water container means in order that the heated air passing through the water as air bubbles may act to vaporize water about the interface between the heated air bubbles and the surrounding water; and an air outlet means operatively connected between said water container means and the carburetor intake area of said engine for receiving the moistened air leaving said water container means and delivering the same to the carburetor of said engine where said moistened air mixes with the air-fuel mixture passing from the carburetor into the combination chambers of said engine.

Claim 5

A water vapor injection system for adding moist air to the air-fuel mixture passing through a carburetor into the combustion chamber of an engine, said water vapor system comprising: a water container means completely independent of the engine and engine cooling system adapted to contain a volume of water therein for moistening air being passed therethrough prior to reaching said engine; an air inlet means operatively connected to said water container means, and including interior air inlet means extending interiorly of said container means and having air exit opening means disposed at a position below the normal level of the water in said container means; an air pump means operatively connected to said air inlet means for forcing ambient air therethrough and into said water container means and out said air exit opening means and through said volume of water within said container means, such that an evenly dispersed foaming action is realized as the forced air moves through the water in said water container means and the air becomes moistened air in the process; means for heating the forced air generated by said pump means to at least 100° C. prior to entering said water container means in order that the heated air passing through the water as air bubbles may act to vaporize water about the interface between the heated air bubbles and the surrounding water; and an air outlet means operatively connected between said water container means and the carburetor intake area of said engine for receiving the moistened air leaving said water container means and delivering the same to the carburetor of said engine where said moistened air mixes with the air-fuel mixture passing from the carburetor into the combination chambers of said engine.

Claim 6

The water vapor injection system of claim 3 wherein said means for heating the forced air includes an exhaust manifold associated with said engine, and wherein said air inlet means is directed through said exhaust manifold to form a heat exchanger wherein heat associated with the exhaust gases is transferred to air passing through said air inlet means.

Claim 7

The water vapor injection system of claim 4 wherein said water container means includes a series of spaced apart vertical baffles extending across the bottom portion of said water container for minimizing the surging of the water during operation; and wherein said interior air inlet means is looped in an elevational fashion to prevent water from draining from the water container into said air inlet means.

Claim 8

The water vapor injection system of claim 5 wherein said water container includes upper baffle means disposed about the top thereof.

Claim 9

The water vapor injection system of claim 3 wherein said water vapor injection system further includes means for automatically replenishing water as the water is vaporized in said water container means by controlling the flow of water from a water supply to said water container means in response to the effective water level change in said water container.

Claim 10

The water vapor injection system of claim 6 wherein said water container means is provided with a generally horizontal screen disposed above said baffles disposed in the lower portion of said water container means to generally diffuse any water and/or air bubbles passing therethrough.

Claim 11

The water vapor injection system of claim 3 wherein said water vapor injection system is provided with control means for effectively stopping the flow of moistened air into said carburetor prior to engine shut down.

Claim 12

The water vapor injection system of claim 9 wherein said control means includes valve means interconnected in said air inlet means between said air pump means and said means for heating the air passing in said air inlet means in order that the air generated by said air pump means can be diverted from said air inlet means prior to the air reaching said heating means, such that the flow of heated air through said water container means and into the carburetor can be stopped prior to engine shut-down.