System and method for delivering combustible liquids

#The present invention generally relates to engine fuel systems and, more particularly, to combustible fuel devices that generate combustible vapors such as internal combustion engines.

#Heretofore, combustible vapors were directed into the cylinders of internal combustion engines using either carburetors or fuel injectors. Fuel injectors were either continuous or pulsed. The continuous fuel injectors directed the combustible vapor into an intake manifold, and when an intake valve opened, the vapor was drawn into the cylinder by the piston. The pulsed fuel injectors directed fuel vapor on command into either a region upstream of each intake valve or directly into the combustion chambers. Both of these fuel delivery systems are highly developed, well known, and have been in use for decades.

#As environmental regulations become more and more stringent, there is an increasing need for more precise control of the fuel/air stoichiometry in the combustion chambers of an engine. Several problems continue to persist in conventional fuel delivery technology. For instance, if excessive fuel is used or too little air is mixed with the fuel, the amount of hydrocarbon emissions increases correspondingly. Also, for fuel injectors, the orifices change in size over time; they get larger due to mechanical wear and smaller due to clogging from both the constituents in the fuel and small particles that are not removed by the fuel filter. In addition, the requirement for more precise fuel and air metering to meet environmental and fuel economy regulations has caused both carburetors and fuel injectors to become more and more expensive.

#The invention is better understood with reference to the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Rather, emphasis has instead been placed upon clearly illustrating the invention. Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts through the several views.

#FIG. 1 is a is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 is a top, side and perspective view, partially diagrammatic, of an apparatus for generating a combustible vapor for an internal combustion engine according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the invention. Reference numeral 14 generally indicates an apparatus for generating a combustible vapor for an internal combustion engine, hereinafter called a “fuel injector” for brevity. A fuel injector 14 includes a drop ejector 30 and an airflow control valve 34. The drop ejector 30 creates discrete numbers of drops of a substantially fixed quantum of size. The drop ejector 30 is fluidically connected, preferably under low pressure, to a fuel reservoir 18 containing combustible fuel. The fuel from the fuel reservoir 18 is preferably delivered to the drop ejector using a pressure regulator 32 and an operational standpipe 36 to prevent fuel leakage from the drop ejector 30 in non-use-situations. Preferably, the drop ejector 30 is removable and replaceable by a typical consumer. A control circuit 20 controls the drop ejector 30 and airflow control valve 34. The control circuit 20 is preferably connected to a throttle 23, which is controlled by a user, and a load sensor 27 that monitors and senses the load of the combustible fuel device. The airflow control valve 34 regulates the flow of air that is mixed with the fuel ejected from the drop ejector 30 to create a combustible vapor 17 used by the internal combustion engine or other combustible fuel device.

#FIGS. 2-10 illustrate various views and perspectives of an embodiment of the present invention, which includes additional details of the fuel injector 14 relative to the block diagram of FIG. 1. Referring first to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fuel injector 14 has a main body 15 that is mounted either on an intake manifold 16 or proximate to the intake valves (not shown) of an internal combustion engine. The main body 15 and all of the parts, unless noted otherwise in this document, are preferably made of Nylon 6, an injected molded polymer that is resistant to gasoline and other engine fuels. The fuel injector can be used on either 2 cycle or 4 cycle spark ignition engines or 2 cycle or 4 cycle compression ignition engines. A function of the fuel injector is to produce very small, metered quantum or digital drops of combustible fuel and to channel a controlled amount of air through the drops and thereby generate a combustible vapor 17. The combustible vapor 17 is drawn into the cylinders of the engine by either the vacuum created by the motion of the piston(s) or by an exterior air pump, not shown, such as a supercharger and/or a turbocharger.

#In FIGS. 2 and 3, connected to the main body 15 is a fuel reservoir 18. The fuel reservoir may or may not be connected to a fuel pump (not shown) but gravity feed of the fuel is inexpensive and is preferable because only a minimal fuel pressure is required for the fuel injector. The fuel can be any type of gasoline, Diesel fuels, alcohols, fuel oils and kerosenes, in short, any combustible fuel or fuel combination that will power an internal combustion engine or other combustible fuel device such as lanterns, stove, heaters and generators.