Fuel vaporization system
OwnerCynthia Huckelberry, Peter Rienksinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and devices to actively induce turbulent flow in the intake tract of an internal combustion engine. At least certain of the devices include moving components which induce a swirling or rotating movement about a major intake axis. The adjustment to the flow provides more complete atomization or vaporization of liquid fuel components in an incoming fuel air mixture. Individual devices can be provided in individual intake runners. A single device can be provided in the plenum region of integral or monolithic intake manifolds. Rotation axes of rotating flow diverters can be inclined to also provide a tumbling or rolling component to the mixture flow. Inclined vanes of non-moving flow adjusters can also be provided to induce a tumbling flow component.
Claims22
A fuel vaporization system for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- an intake tract configured for connection to an engine;
- at least one fuel metering device connected to the intake tract and receiving air and metering fuel such that a flow of fuel and air mixture is delivered to the engine via the intake tract along a flow axis;
- and
- one or more flow adjusters having one or more moving components arranged with respect to the intake tract such that the one or more flow adjusters actively induce a swirl component about the flow axis to the flow of fuel and air mixture to improve vaporization of the fuel in the fuel and air mixture.
A flow adjuster for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a support housing having an outer surface configured to be connected with an intake tract of an internal combustion engine;
- at least one annular bearing having an outer race which is attached to an inner surface of the support housing, the at least one bearing also having an inner race;
- and
- a plurality of vanes attached to the inner race and arranged so as to define a plurality of angled faces and wherein the plurality of vanes and the inner race together define a rotating mass having a rotational inertia and wherein a flow of a fuel and air mixture through a central opening of the support housing will impinge on the plurality of angled faces so as to provide a rotational acceleration of the rotating mass to improve vaporization of the fuel in the fuel and air mixture.
A flow adjuster for an internal combustion engine comprising:
- a support housing configured to be connected with an intake tract of an internal combustion engine along a flow axis and defining a generally annular opening with a center web;
- an axle mounted to the center web;
- at least one bearing mounted to the axle;
- and
- at least one rotatable flow diverter connected via the at least one bearing to the axle wherein a flow of a fuel and air mixture through the opening of the support housing will provide a rotational acceleration of the rotating mass and a swirling component to the flow to improve vaporization of the fuel in the fuel and air mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.