Cold starting system for alcohol fueled engine

Claim 2

A cold starting system for an engine having an induction passage for air flow to the engine and a throttle in said induction passage for controlling flow therethrough, said system comprising an accelerator pump connected to said throttle and having upper and lower discharge nozzles for delivering a measured amount of liquid ethanol to said induction passage as said throttle is opened, said upper nozzle delivering liquid ethanol into said induction passage upstream of said throttle and said lower nozzle delivering liquid ethanol into said induction passage downstream of said throttle, a body defining a grid having a plurality of surfaces disposed in said induction passage downstream of said throttle at a location for intercepting substantially all liquid ethanol delivered from said lower nozzle before such liquid ethanol can impinge upon other surfaces in said induction passage, said grid being connected in an electric circuit and formed of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor material which limits current through said grid to maintain said grid at a substantially constant temperature suitable for evaporating liquid ethanol without unduly heating said air flow, a valve controlling flow through said lower nozzle, and means effective at temperatures below a selected value to cause said valve to permit flow through said lower nozzle and to energize said grid to evaporate the liquid ethanol delivered through said lower nozzle, thereby providing sufficient ethanol vapor to start the engine, said means being further effective when the engine is running to cause said valve to inhibit delivery through said lower nozzle and to deenergize said grid.

Claim 3

A cold starting system for an engine having an induction passage for air flow to the engine and a throttle in said induction passage for controlling flow therethrough, said system comprising an accelerator pump connected to said throttle and having an upper discharge nozzle and a plurality of lower discharge nozzles for delivering a measured amount of liquid ethanol to said induction passage as said throttle is opened, said upper nozzle delivering liquid ethanol to said induction passage upstream of said throttle and said lower nozzles delivering liquid ethanol across substantially the entire area of said induction passage downstream of said throttle, a body defining a grid having a plurality of surfaces disposed in said induction passage downstream of said throttle at a location for intercepting substantially all liquid ethanol delivered from said lower nozzles before such liquid ethanol can impinge upon other surfaces in said induction passage, said grid being connected in an electric circuit and formed of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor material which limits current through said grid to maintain said grid at a substantially constant temperture suitable for evaporating liquid ethanol without unduly heating said air flow, a valve for alternatively directing liquid ethanol from said accelerator pump through said upper nozzle and through said lower nozzles, and means effective at engine temperatures below a selected value to cause said valve to inhibit delivery through said upper nozzle and to permit delivery through said lower nozzles and to energize said grid to evaporate the liquid ethanol delivered through said lower nozzles, thereby providing sufficient ethanol vapor to start the engine, said means being further effective when the engine is running to cause said valve to inhibit delivery through said lower nozzles and to permit delivery through said upper nozzle and to deenergize said grid.

Claim 4

A cold starting system for an engine having an induction passage for air flow to the engine and a throttle in said induction passage for controlling flow therethrough, said system comprising an accelerator pump connected to said throttle and having an upper discharge nozzle and a plurality of lower discharge nozzles for delivering a measured amount of liquid ethanol to said induction passage as said throttle is opened, said upper nozzle delivering liquid ethanol to said induction passage upstream of said throttle and said lower nozzles delivering liquid ethanol across substantially the entire area of said induction passage downstream of said throttle, a body defining a grid having a plurality of surfaces disposed in said induction passage downstream of said throttle at a location for intercepting substantially all liquid ethanol delivered from said lower nozzles before such liquid ethanol can impinge upon other surfaces in said induction passage, said grid being connected in an electric circuit and formed of a positive temperature coefficient thermistor material which limits current through said grid to maintain said grid at a substantially constant temperture suitable for evaporating liquid ethanol without unduly heating said air flow, a valve for alternatively directing liquid ethanol from said accelerator pump through said upper nozzle and through said lower nozzles, and means effective at engine temperatures below a selected value to cause said valve to inhibit delivery through said upper nozzle and to permit delivery through said lower nozzles and to energize said grid to evaporate the liquid ethanol delivered through said lower nozzles, thereby providing sufficient ethanol vapor to start the engine, said means being further effective when the engine is running to cause said valve to inhibit delivery through said lower nozzles and to permit delivery through said upper nozzle and to deenergize said grid.