Variable venturi nozzle-matrix carburetor add methods for intermixing fuel and air

An apparatus for substantially homogeneously intermixing flows of fuel and air to be supplied to an engine or the like, which comprises:

• a. a chamber having an upper portion adapted for receiving mainstream flows of fuel and air, an intermediate converging venturi portion and a lower portion adapted for discharging a substantially homogeneously intermixed flow of fuel and air into an engine intake system, and
• b. a nozzle-matrix disposed transversely across the chamber in said intermediate region,
• said nozzle-matrix including a number of closely spaced nozzle cells which are arranged for dividing said mainstream flows of fuel and air directed thereto into a number of nozzle cell subflows and for focusing the subflows from the nozzle cells to a common cross flow mixing zone defined by the nozzle-matrix center of curvature and downstream of the nozzle-matrix to cause substantially homogeneous intermixing of the fuel and air;
• at least most of the nozzle cells having cross sections which converge towards said common mixing zone and having nozzle cell lengths at least comparable to cross sectional dimensions thereof.

A method for substantially homogeneously intermixing flows of fuel and air or the like in a flow-through mixing chamber, which comprises the steps of:

• a. forming a matrix having a number of closely spaced nozzle cells into at least a two dimensional arcuate shape having the nozzle cells oriented, structured, and arranged to focus flows therefrom towards a common, cross flow mixing zone (;) defined by the nozzle-matrix center of curvature, and having the nozzle cells converging towards said mixing zone and furthermore forming the nozzle cells to have lengths at least comparable with cross sectional dimensions;
• b. installing the matrix across at least a portion of the mixing chamber with the common cross flow mixing zone generally downstream of the nozzle cells;
• c. flowing at least portions of mainstream flows of fuel and air received into the chamber through the nozzle-matrix so that said portions are divided into subflows through said nozzle cells for substantially homogeneously intermixing the fuel and air at said cross flow mixing zone, and
• d. discharging said substantially homogeneously intermixed fuel and air from the chamber.

Apparatus for substantially homogeneously intermixing flows of fuel and air to be supplied to an engine or the like, which comprises:

• a. a chamber adapted for receiving mainstream flows of fuel and air and for discharging a substantially homogeneous mixture of said flows,
• said chamber being formed in a general Y-shape or having first and second upper arms and a lower arm.
• b. first, second and third nozzle matrices each including a number of nozzle arranged in generally parallel flow, as opposed to series flow, relationship,
• said first nozzle matrix being disposed across the lower arm of the chamber and the second and third nozzle matrices being disposed, respectively, across the first and second chamber upper arms,
• the second and third nozzle matrices being disposed for receiving at least a portion of at least one of the mainstream flows of fuel and air and for causing said received flow portion to be divided into separate subflows through the nozzle cells, at least some of the nozzle cells being arranged, oriented and structured to direct the subflows towards at least one cross flow mixing zone adapted for substantially homogeneously intermixing fuel and air from the mainstream flows, the first nozzle-matrix being positioned to receive merging flows from the third and second nozzle-matrices and for causing flows therefrom to be divided into separate subflows through the nozzel cells thereof, at least some of the nozzle cells of the first nozzle-matrix being arranged, oriented and structured to focus subflows therefrom towards at least one cross flow mixing zone associated therewith, for further intermixing fuel and air flow mixtures from the second and third nozzle matrices.

Apparatus for substantially homogenously intermixing flows of fuel and air to be supplied to an engine or the like, which comprises:

• a. a chamber adapted for receiving mainstream flows of fuel and air and for discharging a substantially homogeneous mixture of said flows,
• b. at least one nozzle-matrix including a number of nozzle cells arranged in generally parallel flow, as opposed to series flow, relationship,
• the nozzle-matrix being formed in an open, egg crate like configuration having elongate first, generally parallel wall elements in a first direction and elongate second generally parallel wall elements in a second direction which is generally orthogonal to the first direction, the first and second elements intersecting to form the nozzle cells, the nozzle cells thereby being formed having generally rectangular cross sections, at least the first wall elements being constructed of a flexible corrugated material, thereby permitting the nozzle-matrix to be formed into at least a two-dimensional curved structure, upper portions of said first wall elements being capable of being stretched and lower portions of said first elements being capable of compressed so as to permit said flexing,
• said nozzle-matrix being disposed within the chamber in a position adapted for receiving at least a portion of the mainstream flows of fuel and air and for causing said received flow portion to be divided into separate subflows through the nozzel cells,
• at least some of said nozzle cells being arranged, oriented and structured to focus said towards at least one cross flow mixing zone adapted for substantially homogeneously intermixing fuel and air from said mainstream flows.