Fuel and air mixing apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for blending a combustion mixture of fuel and air, and introducing said mixture into the manifold of an internal combustion engine in response to operation of an accelerator, comprising: a mixing chamber mounted in association with said manifold to sense changes in pressure beneath said chamber in response to operation of said accelerator, and including: air supply means, including air orifice means in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber, fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber, the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said manifold and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined approximately constant area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture, and port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said manifold.

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber is mounted in communication with said manifold and has a plurality of air intake ports leading into the interior of said chamber from an ambient air source, and a plurality of fuel intake ports leading into the interior of said chamber from a fuel source; the cross-sectional areas of the fuel and air intake ports, respectively, selected to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio; said intake ports structured to deliver air and fuel into said chamber under turbulent conditions.

Claim 4

Apparatus for blending a combustion mixture of fuel and air, and introducing said mixture into the carburetor of an internal combustion engine, comprising: a mixing chamber mounted in association with said carburetor to sense changes in pressure within said carburetor, and including: air supply mean, including air orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber, fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber, the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said carburetor and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture, and port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said carburetor at a rate determined by the pressure within said carburetor.

Claim 5

Apparatus for blending a combustion mixture of fuel and air, and introducing said mixture into the carburetor of an internal combustion engine, comprising: a mixing chamber mounted in association with said carburetor to sense changes in pressure within said carburetor, and including: air supply mean, including air orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber, fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber, the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said carburetor and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture, and port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said carburetor at a rate determined by the pressure within said carburetor.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mixing chamber is mounted in communication with said carburetor and has a plurality of air intake ports leading into the interior of said chamber from an ambient air source, and a plurality of fuel intake ports leading into the interior of said chamber from a fuel source; the cross-sectional areas of the fuel and air intake ports, respectively, selected to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 4 mounted within a conventional air filter of an internal combustion engine, which filter defines an outer chamber in communication with an air source.

Claim 8

A fuel system for introducing a low molecular weight fuel air mixture into a manifold, comprising: tank means for storing said low molecular weight fuel under pressure; regulator means connected between said tank means and said manifold for providing a supply of said fuel in a gaseous state at a regulated pressure; a mixing chamber mounted in association with said manifold to sense changes in pressure within said manifold, and including: air supply means, including air orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber, fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said manifold and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture; and port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said manifold at a rate determined by the pressure beneath the mixing chamber.

Claim 9

A fuel system for introducing a low molecular weight fuel air mixture into a manifold, comprising: tank means for storing said low molecular weight fuel under pressure; regulator means connected between said tank means and said manifold for providing a supply of said fuel in a gaseous state at a regulated pressure; a mixing chamber mounted in association with said manifold to sense changes in pressure within said manifold, and including: air supply means, including air orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber, fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said manifold and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture; and port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said manifold at a rate determined by the pressure beneath the mixing chamber.

Claim 10

A fuel system according to claim 6, wherein said fuel is stored as a liquid and is passed through pressure reduction means and heat exchange means, thereby to vaporize it prior to introduction to said regulator.

Claim 11

A fuel system according to claim 7, wherein said fuel is propane and the area equivalence ratio is selected at about 19.

Claim 12

A fuel system according to claim 8, wherein the regulator means maintain the pressure of the hydrocarbon fuel entering the mixing chamber at a positive pressure near the pressure of the ambient air.

Claim 13

A fuel system according to claim 9, wherein fuel line temperature regulator means maintain the temperature of the fuel entering the mixing chamber at approximately the same temperature as the ambient air entering the mixing chamber.

Claim 14

A fuel system for introducing a low molecular weight fuel air mixture into a carburetor, comprising: tank means for storing said fuel under pressure; regulator means connected between said tank means and said carburetor for providing a supply of said fuel in a gaseous state at a regulated pressure; a mixing chamber mounted in association with said carburetor to sense changes in pressure within said carburetor, and including: air supply means, including air orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said carburetor and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture; and port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said manifold at a rate determined by the pressure within said carburetor.

Claim 15

A fuel system for introducing a low molecular weight fuel air mixture into a carburetor, comprising: tank means for storing said fuel under pressure; regulator means connected between said tank means and said carburetor for providing a supply of said fuel in a gaseous state at a regulated pressure; a mixing chamber mounted in association with said carburetor to sense changes in pressure within said carburetor, and including: air supply means, including air orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means of fixed cross-sectional area in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said carburetor and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture; and port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said manifold at a rate determined by the pressure within said carburetor.

Claim 16

A fuel system according to claim 11 mounted within a conventional air filter of an internal combustion engine, which filter defines an outer chamber in communication with an air source.

Claim 17

A fuel system according to claim 11, wherein said fuel is propane and the equivalence ratio is at about 19.

Claim 18

A fuel system according to claim 11, wherein said fuel is hydrogen gas and the equivalence ratio is selected from within the range of about 8 to about 9.

Claim 19

A fuel system according to claim 11, wherein the means for varying the pressure within the carburetor comprises an engine manifold creating a vacuum in registration with the carburetor and mixing chamber.

Claim 20

A fuel system according to claim 11, wherein the regulator means maintain the pressure of the fuel entering the mixing chamber at a positive pressure near the pressure of the ambient air.

Claim 21

A fuel system according to claim 11, wherein fuel line temperature regulator means maintain the temperature of the fuel entering the mixing chamber at approximately the same temperature as that of the intake air entering the mixing chamber.

Claim 22

A dual fuel system for alternatively introducing low molecular weight fuel into the carburetor of a conventional gasoline engine fuel system, comprising: tank means for storing said fuel under pressure; regulator means connected between said tank means for providing a supply of said fuel in a gaseous state at a regulated pressure; a mixing chamber mounted in association with said carburetor to sense changes in pressure within said carburetor, and including: air supply means, including air orifice means in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said carburetor and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture; port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said carburetor at a rate determined by the pressure within said carburetor; and a switch for selectively connecting a fuel terminal to open the circuit of said low molecular weight fuel to the mixing chamber while shutting off a supply of gasoline to the carburetor; or a gasoline terminal to close the circuit of said low molecular weight fuel to the mixing chamber while opening the supply of gasoline to the carburetor.

Claim 23

A dual fuel system for alternatively introducing low molecular weight fuel into the carburetor of a conventional gasoline engine fuel system, comprising: tank means for storing said fuel under pressure; regulator means connected between said tank means for providing a supply of said fuel in a gaseous state at a regulated pressure; a mixing chamber mounted in association with said carburetor to sense changes in pressure within said carburetor, and including: air supply means, including air orifice means in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver air into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; fuel supply means, including fuel orifice means in communication with the interior of said chamber to deliver fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber; the flow-through capacities of said air orifice means and said fuel orifice means being selected to provide the volume requirements of said carburetor and proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined area equivalence ratio, and the flow characteristics of said air supply means and said fuel supply means being selected to effect rapid blending within said chamber, thereby to produce a combustion mixture; port means for transferring said combustion mixture to said carburetor at a rate determined by the pressure within said carburetor; and a switch for selectively connecting a fuel terminal to open the circuit of said low molecular weight fuel to the mixing chamber while shutting off a supply of gasoline to the carburetor; or a gasoline terminal to close the circuit of said low molecular weight fuel to the mixing chamber while opening the supply of gasoline to the carburetor.

Claim 24

A dual fuel system according to claim 18, wherein said fuel is a hydrocarbon fuel stored as a liquid and is passed through heat exchange means, thereby to vaporize it prior to introduction to said regulator means.

Claim 25

An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the mixing chamber is mounted in communication with said carburetor and has a plurality of air intake ports leading into the interior of said chamber from an ambient air source, and a plurality of fuel intake ports leading into the interior of said chamber from a fuel source; the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the fuel and air intake ports proportioned relatively to effect a predetermined equivalence ratio to provide the volume requirements of said carburetor, and said intake ports structured to deliver turbulent air and fuel into said chamber at a rate determined by the pressure within said chamber for blending a combustion mixture for delivery into said manifold at a rate determined by the pressure within said manifold.

Claim 26

A dual fuel system according to claim 18, wherein the mixing chamber for blending a combustion mixture is mounted within a conventional air filter of an internal combustion engine in communication with said carburetor.

Claim 27

A dual fuel system according to claim 18, wherein said fuel is propane and the equivalence ratio is selected from within a range of about 15 to about 17.

Claim 28

A dual fuel system according to claim 18, wherein said fuel is hydrogen gas and the equivalence ratio is selected from within a range of about 8 to about 9.

Claim 29

A dual fuel system according to claim 18, wherein the means for varying the pressure within the carburetor comprises an engine manifold creating a vacuum in registration with the carburetor and mixing chamber.

Claim 30

A dual fuel system according to claim 18, wherein regulator means maintain the pressure of the fuel entering the mixing chamber at approximately the same pressure as that of the intake air entering the mixing chamber.

Claim 31

A dual fuel system according to claim 18, wherein fuel line temperature regulator means maintain the temperature of the fuel entering the mixer at approximtely the same temperature as that of the intake air entering the mixing chamber.

Claim 34

A method according to claim 27, wherein said air and fuel are supplied at approximately the same temperature and pressure.

Claim 35

A method according to claim 28, wherein said air and fuel are supplied at approximately ambient conditions.

Claim 36

A method according to claim 27, wherein said air and fuel are transferred from said mixing chamber, through a carburetor and then into said manifold.

Claim 37

A method according to claim 27, wherein said fuel orifice means comprises a plurality of intake ports.

Claim 38

A method according to claim 31, wherein said air orifice means comprises a plurality of air intake ports.