Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In an internal-combustion engine comprising a set of combustion cylinders provided with an intake manifold for the aspiration of an air/fuel mixture and an exhaust manifold for the discharge of hot combustion gases, a carburetor forming a mixing chamber which opens into an entrance of said intake manifold, a throttle valve in said carburetor separating said mixing chamber from said entrance, and storage means for holding a supply of liquid fuel to be aspirated in vaporized form into said mixing chamber for admixture with an air stream drawn into said intake manifold, the improvement wherein said storage means comprises a main fuel tank to be filled with a relatively light hydrocarbon and an ancillary fuel tank to be filled with a relatively heavy hydrocarbon, said main fuel tank being provided with first conduit means opening into said mixing chamber upstream of said entrance, said ancillary fuel tank being provided with second conduit means opening at a location downstream of said throttle valve into a space of said carburetor separating said mixing chamber from said entrance, said second conduit means including a boiling chamber positioned in heat-exchanging relationship with the combustion gases passing through said exhaust manifold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In an internal-combustion engine comprising a set of combustion cylinders provided with an intake manifold for the aspiration of an air/fuel mixture and an exhaust manifold for the discharge of hot combustion gases, a carburetor forming a mixing chamber which opens into an entrance of said intake manifold, a throttle valve in said carburetor separating said mixing chamber from said entrance, and storage means for holding a supply of liquid fuel to be aspirated in vaporized form into said mixing chamber for admixture with an air stream drawn into said intake manifold, the improvement wherein said storage means comprises a main fuel tank to be filled with a relatively light hydrocarbon and an ancillary fuel tank to be filled with a relatively heavy hydrocarbon, said main fuel tank being provided with first conduit means opening into said mixing chamber upstream of said entrance, said ancillary fuel tank being provided with second conduit means opening at a location downstream of said throttle valve into a space of said carburetor separating said mixing chamber from said entrance, said second conduit means including a boiling chamber positioned in heat-exchanging relationship with the combustion gases passing through said exhaust manifold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said mixing chamber has an air inlet including a filter for aspirated ambient air, said filter being provided with heating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement defined in claim 2, further comprising automatic choke means including a flap valve disposed between said filter and said mixing chamber, said flap valve and said throttle valve being provided with additional heating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement defined in claim 3 wherein said intake manifold is provided with a stationary plate opposite said entrance for intercepting and deflecting the oncoming flow of air/fuel mixture, said plate being provided with further heating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement defined in claim 4 wherein said plate is provided with an adsorbent layer for promoting the vaporization of residual hydrocarbon droplets entrained by said air/fuel mixture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improvement defined in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein all said heating means include battery-operated electric heaters and channels for the circulation of fluids heated by the engine, further comprising switchover means coupled with said automatic choke means for changing from electric heating to fluidic heating substantially concurrently with a movement of said flap valve from a flow-restricting position to a wide-open position at the end of a starting phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement defined in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein said throttle valve is provided with an adsorbent layer for promoting the vaporization of residual hydrocarbon droplets entrained by the aspirated air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said boiling chamber is provided with a bottom drain for liquid residue and with duct means for recirculating said residue from said drain to an elevated lateral inlet of said boiling chamber, said duct means including a pump driven by said combustion gases during operation of the engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said boiling chamber is substantially cylindrical and rotatably journaled in an extension of said exhaust manifold and is provided with drive means for continuous rotation about the axis thereof during operation of the engine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improvement defined in claim 9 wherein said boiling chamber comprises a plurality of coaxial shells of heat-conducting material forming at least one annular compartment communicating with the interior of the boiling chamber for receiving unevaporated hydrocarbon and exposing same to more intense heating by the surrounding combustion gases.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement defined in claim 9 or 10 wherein said drive means comprises a set of vanes on said boiling chamber positioned for impulsion by the discharged combustion gases.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improvement defined in claim 8, 9 or 10 wherein said second conduit means comprises a supply pipe extending from said ancillary fuel tank into one end of said boiling chamber, an exhaust pipe extending from the opposite end of said boiling chamber to said carburetor, and a venting pipe connecting said boiling chamber with the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement defined in claim 12 wherein said venting pipe extends to an inlet of said mixing chamber separated from the ambient atmosphere by an air filter provided with heating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement defined in claim 12 wherein said venting pipe enters said boiling chamber at said opposite end, said exhaust pipe having an extremity projecting within said boiling chamber beyond said venting pipe and deviating therefrom to promote vortex generation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improvement defined in claim 12 wherein said boiling chamber is further provided with an additional pipe communicating with a buffer chamber through a pressure-relief valve allowing excess heavy hydrocarbon to pass in vaporized form from said boiling chamber to said buffer chamber and letting condensed heavy hydrocarbon return from said buffer chamber to said boiling chamber.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The improvement defined in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein said second conduit means includes valve means coupled with said automatic choke means for blocking the flow of said heavy hydrocarbon from said ancillary fuel tank to said downstream location in a flow-restricting starting position of said flap valve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said boiling chamber is provided with temperature-stabilizing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement defined in claim 17 wherein said temperature-stabilizing means comprises thermostatically controlled shield means interposable between said exhaust manifold and said boiling chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement defined in claim 17 wherein said temperature-stabilizing means comprises a bypass for said combustion gases provided with thermostatically controlled valve means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement defined in claim 17 wherein said temperature-stabilizing means comprises a peripheral jacket surrounding said boiling chamber and thermostatically controlled valve means for directing a flow of cooling fluid through said jacket.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement defined in claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, further comprising an additional conduit linking said air inlet with said space.