Method and apparatus for vaporizing fuel

A fuel vaporizer for use in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• housing means constructed of a material having high thermal conductivity and defining an interior chamber, the housing means further defining an inlet connected to a fuel injector at which a fuel is injected into the chamber, an air intake hole comprising a one-way air intake valve, and an outlet through which the fuel exits the chamber;
• heating means to heat at least one surface of the interior chamber sufficiently to boil the liquid fuel upon contact with the at least one surface, the heating means comprising at least one resistance heating element mounted exterior to the interior chamber and proximate to the at least one surface of the chamber, and, an electronic control means to control the temperature of the at least one resistance heating element, the electronic control means comprising a thermostatic temperature control connected to the heating means;
• and,
• pre-heating means disposed in a fuel line connected to the fuel injector, comprising a fuel line heater with an electronic temperature controller attached thereto.

A method of vaporizing a liquid fuel prior to its entry into at least one of a plurality of combustion chambers located in an internal combustion engine, comprising:

• interposing a fuel vaporizer between a fuel injector and an intake manifold, the fuel vaporizer comprising, housing means constructed of a material having high thermal conductivity and defining an interior chamber, the housing means further defining an inlet connected to a fuel injector at which a fuel is injected into the chamber, an air intake hole comprising a one-way air intake valve, and an outlet through which the fuel exits the chamber;
• injecting the liquid fuel into the interior chamber of the fuel vaporizer by means of the fuel injector fitted securely to the inlet of the fuel vaporizer;
• heating the liquid fuel to boiling;
• and,
• evacuating the fuel vapor from the chamber through the outlet connection to the intake manifold under a partial vacuum, air entering the chamber through the air intake hole to allow the evacuation of the fuel vapor.