US5427077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for delivering a volatile combustible vapor and atmospheric air mixture to internal combustion engines
Assignee: Gasifier Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-07
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Granted: 1995-06-27
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Expires: 2014-04-07
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a system for delivering an air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine in a virtually complete gaseous form. The system is essentially comprised of a converter which dries intake air and combines the dried air with gas vapor and an air modulator for adding additional atmospheric air to the air-gas vapor mixture. The convertor contains an activated charcoal substance which enhance evaporation of the fuel, prevents "gumming" of the fuel in the convertor, and inhibits condensation of the fuel after evaporation. The air-gas vapor mixture is then fed to an internal combustion engine. In a first embodiment, the system may be installed as an add-on apparatus to an automotive engine which already uses fuel injection as fuel feeding means. In that embodiment, disabling means are installed to disable the fuel injectors. In a second embodiment, the system may be utilized as original equipment for feeding an air-fuel vapor mixture to an internal combustion engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack J. Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:41
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M17/00; F02M17/18; F02M17/20; F02M17/22; F02M17/24; F02M33/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/83
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for supplying an air-fuel vapor mixture to an internal combustion engine comprising: a gas generator for producing a stable vapor from a volatile liquid fuel including; a substantially closed container including, a first inlet means for feeding liquid fuel to said container, a second inlet for feeding atmospheric air to said container, vaporizing means for vaporizing the liquid fuel including, wicking means for vaporizing the liquid fuel in the air and for creating an air-fuel vapor mixture, stabilizing means for inhibiting fractionation of the vaporized fuel and for inhibiting the vaporized fuel from condensing back into a liquid form, means for maintaining the stabilizing means in contact with the liquid fuel, and said container further including an outlet for feeding the air-fuel vapor mixture to an internal combustion engine.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for supplying an air-fuel vapor mixture to an internal combustion engine comprising: a gas generator for producing a stable vapor from a volatile liquid fuel including; a substantially closed container including, a first inlet means for feeding liquid fuel to said container, a second inlet for feeding atmospheric air to said container, vaporizing means for vaporizing the liquid fuel including, wicking means for vaporizing the liquid fuel in the air and for creating an air-fuel vapor mixture, stabilizing means for inhibiting fractionation of the vaporized fuel and for inhibiting the vaporized fuel from condensing back into a liquid form, means for maintaining the stabilizing means in contact with the liquid fuel, and said container further including an outlet for feeding the air-fuel vapor mixture to an internal combustion engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second inlet includes: a desiccant filter for removing moisture and debris from the atmospheric air; and an input port on said container near said filter for allowing demoisturized air from said filter into said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means includes a charcoal material treated with a metallic salt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means includes a charcoal material treated with a material selected from a group consisting of cupric chloride, silver chloride, and nickel chloride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including a liquid level regulating means for maintaining the liquid fuel at a predetermined level within said container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said regulating means includes a float activated solenoid valve, wherein when said predetermined level of liquid fuel in said container is reached, said float activates said solenoid to close said first inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stabilizing means is adapted to be submerged in the liquid fuel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said wicking means includes an open-celled foam polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said wicking means is comprised of a polyurethane foam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a cell size is approximately 60 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the automobile engine includes a fuel injection system having a low pressure return liquid fuel line returning from fuel injectors to a liquid fuel source, said apparatus further including; an inlet fuel line for connecting said first inlet to the low pressure return fuel line for supplying liquid fuel to said apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including: an air modulator for mixing the air-fuel vapor mixture with additional atmospheric air including; a first input port coupled to said gas generator outlet for receiving the air-fuel vapor mixture; a second input port for receiving atmospheric air; an output port coupled to an air horn of an internal combustion engine; and an outlet port for feeding the mixture of the air-fuel vapor mixture and the atmospheric air to the internal combustion engine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said air modulator further includes variable restriction means for controlling a ratio of additional atmospheric air to the atmospheric air-fuel vapor mixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said restriction means includes a valve disposed near said second modulator input port.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said valve is a flapper valve biased into a substantially closed position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said flapper valve opens in response to pressure differential between air horn inlet pressure and atmospheric pressure.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for generating an air-fuel vapor mixture from liquid fuel and air comprising: means for conducting liquid fuel into said apparatus; means for vaporizing the liquid and for mixing the vaporized fuel and air within said apparatus; stabilizing means for inhibiting fractionation of the vaporized fuel and for inhibiting the vaporized fuel from condensing back into a liquid form; and means for maintaining the stabilizing means in contact with the liquid fuel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
73 words
An apparatus for generating an air-fuel vapor mixture from liquid fuel and air comprising: means for conducting liquid fuel into said apparatus; means for vaporizing the liquid and for mixing the vaporized fuel and air within said apparatus; stabilizing means for inhibiting fractionation of the vaporized fuel and for inhibiting the vaporized fuel from condensing back into a liquid form; and means for maintaining the stabilizing means in contact with the liquid fuel.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of fuel treatment comprising the steps of: a) placing a stabilizing means in contact with liquid fuel so as to prevent fractionation of the fuel into individual constituents of the fuel in liquid form; and b) vaporizing the fuel in air to create an air-fuel vapor mixture, wherein said stabilizing means inhibits the condensation of the vaporized fuel back into liquid form.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of fuel treatment comprising the steps of: a) placing a stabilizing means in contact with liquid fuel so as to prevent fractionation of the fuel into individual constituents of the fuel in liquid form; and b) vaporizing the fuel in air to create an air-fuel vapor mixture, wherein said stabilizing means inhibits the condensation of the vaporized fuel back into liquid form.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of demoisturizing the air prior to mixing with the vaporized fuel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of combining the demoisturized air-fuel vapor mixture with additional air to create a final air-fuel vapor mixture.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of combusting the air-fuel vapor mixture.
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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) | 1998-06-26 | 1998-12-26 | 1999-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-26 | 2002-12-26 | 2003-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-26 | 2006-12-26 | 2007-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |