Patent US4538583A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4538583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fuel evaporation apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1984-08-10
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Granted: 1985-09-03
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Expires: 2004-08-10
Abstract
Abstract This device relates to a novel system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine. The system includes a two-stage evaporator serially mounted within the fuel supply system of the internal combustion engine. The evaporator includes a first stage having fuel supply orifices to inject fuel at the top of a chamber in which are mounted a pair of spaced thermal discs. The evaporated fuel is then conducted to the second stage of the evaporator where it is further expanded in a spiral tube heated by, for example, exhaust gases and then conducted to a venturi stack via a fuel supply manifold to the intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. Use of the system results in increased gas mileage as the high degree of vaporization of the fuel results in a much greater efficiency in the burning thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory Earl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:39
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M31/00; F02M31/02; F02M31/12; F02M31/125; F02M31/16; F02M31/18; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An evaporator apparatus for use in the fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: (a) housing means including an opening closed by removable cover means; (b) inlet means for admission of fuel to chamber means said inlet means comprising pore means provided at spaced locations about said chamber means; (c) thermal disc means mounted in said chamber means, said thermal disc means being controllably heated whereby fuel from said inlet means impinging upon said thermal disc means is vaporized; (d) outlet means for evacuating vaporized fuel from said chamber means; and (e) said cover means defining a trough having an inlet port connectable to a supply of fuel, said pore means communicating said trough with said chamber means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An evaporator apparatus for use in the fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine, comprising: (a) housing means including an opening closed by removable cover means; (b) inlet means for admission of fuel to chamber means said inlet means comprising pore means provided at spaced locations about said chamber means; (c) thermal disc means mounted in said chamber means, said thermal disc means being controllably heated whereby fuel from said inlet means impinging upon said thermal disc means is vaporized; (d) outlet means for evacuating vaporized fuel from said chamber means; and (e) said cover means defining a trough having an inlet port connectable to a supply of fuel, said pore means communicating said trough with said chamber means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said thermal disc means comprises a first thermal disc and a second thermal disc, said first thermal disc having a width approximately one-half the width of said second thermal disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention of claim 2, wherein said first thermal disc is mounted in said chamber means closer to said inlet means than said second thermal disc, and each said thermal disc includes: (a) a plurality of holes therein; (b) a heating element mounted in each said hole, and (c) said heating elements being controllably connected to a source of electrical current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 3, wherein each said thermal disc includes temperature sensor means connected to controller means, said controller means controlling the flow of electrical current to said heating elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein said outlet means communicates with a spiral conduit contained within further chamber means, said spiral conduit having further outlet means conveying said vaporized fuel in said spiral conduit out of said further chamber means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 5, wherein said further chamber means includes: (a) an inlet; (b) an outlet; (c) means supplying engine exhaust fumes to said inlet; and (d) means exhausting engine exhaust fumes from said outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The invention of claim 6, wherein said inlet includes valve means and said outlet includes temperature sensor means connected to control means, said control means controlling said valve means responsive to the temperature at said outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 5, wherein said further outlet means conveys vaporized fuel to a fuel block via two conduits, a first conduit directly connecting with said fuel block and a second conduit connecting with said fuel block via vapor pump means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 8, wherein said fuel block comprises a manifold which supplies vaporized fuel to venturi stack means of a carburetor of said engine.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of vaporizing fuel comprising the steps of: (a) conveying said fuel to a trough under pressure, said trough being located on a cover means removably attached to a housing defining chamber means, said cover means closing an opening in said housing; (b) atomizing said fuel by forcing said fuel through a plurality of pore means located in said trough; (c) impinging said atomized fuel onto a heated surface within said chamber means which at least partially vaporized said fuel; (d) conveying said fuel in heat exchange relationship with engine exhaust fumes; and (e) conveying said fuel to a carburetor of said engine in completely vaporized condition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of vaporizing fuel comprising the steps of: (a) conveying said fuel to a trough under pressure, said trough being located on a cover means removably attached to a housing defining chamber means, said cover means closing an opening in said housing; (b) atomizing said fuel by forcing said fuel through a plurality of pore means located in said trough; (c) impinging said atomized fuel onto a heated surface within said chamber means which at least partially vaporized said fuel; (d) conveying said fuel in heat exchange relationship with engine exhaust fumes; and (e) conveying said fuel to a carburetor of said engine in completely vaporized condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 2, wherein each said thermal disc includes a plurality of holes therein.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-09-02 | 1989-03-04 | 1989-09-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-09-02 | 1993-03-04 | 1993-09-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-09-02 | 1997-03-04 | 1997-09-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |