Fuel injection system and method for internal combustion engine

A method for starting an internal combustion engine having carburetion means including a throttle control arranged to supply a combustible air-fuel mixture to said engine through an intake manifold comprising the steps of:

• closing said throttle control to minimize the supply of said air-fuel mixture to said engine from said carburetion means;
• operating the starter motor and ignition of said engine;
• and
• injecting, while said throttle control is closed and said starter and ignition are in operation, a limited charge of pressurized air mixed with fuel into said intake manifold through a fuel injector valve located downstream of said throttle control, whereby a controlled quantity of air mixed to provide a highly volatile and combustible air-fuel mixture is introduced into said engine to induce engine startup.

Apparatus for supplying a highly combustible air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine during engine startup, said engine including carburetion means having a throttle control arranged to supply an air-fuel mixture through an intake manifold, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a fuel injector valve coupled to said intake manifold downstream of said throttle control and having an inlet and further including an outlet nozzle in communication with said intake manifold;
• air-fuel mixing means connected to supply a combustible mixture to said injector valve inlet and including a Venturi throat, said mixing means including means for directing a flow of pressurized air to said inlet through said Venturi throat, said last mentioned means including an air compressor, a first conduit connected to supply pressurized air from said compressor to said Venturi throat, and a selectively operable cutoff valve in said first conduit for regulating the supply of pressurized air to said fuel injector valve;
• means for supplying fuel into said flow of pressurized air, said fuel being drawn into and mixed with said flow by the pressure differential produced at said Venturi throat, said fuel supply means including a fuel source and a second conduit coupling said source to said Venturi throat in said air-fuel mixing means;
• valves located in said first and second conduits
• solenoid actuating means constructed and arranged to control said cutoff valve and said fuel injector valve;
• and
• manually operable electrical switch means connected to simultaneously energize said solenoid actuators whereby an operator can manually control said air-fuel mixing means and said injector valve to cause a highly combustible mixture of air and highly atomized fuel to be fed to said engine intake manifold through said injector valve during engine startup.

Apparatus for supplying a volatile air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine having a carburetor and an intake manifold coupled thereto;

• comprising, in combination:
• air-fuel mixing means connected to supply an air-fuel mixture to said engine intake manifold and including a mixing chamber, said mixing means including means for directing a flow of pressurized air to said manifold through said mixing chamber;
• means for supplying fuel into said flow of pressurized air whereupon said fuel is mixed with said air in said mixing chamber;
• control means for selectively operating said air-fuel mixing means whereby a mixture of air and highly combustible atomized fuel is fed to said engine via said intake manifold;
• a manually operable throttle control linked to said carburetor to control the flow of fuel to said engine therefrom;
• a solenoid controlled valve included in said air-fuel mixing means for controlling the flow of said pressurized air through said mixing chamber;
• and
• a motion sensing control switch included in said control means and constructed and arranged to detect movement of said throttle control and to actuate said solenoid controlled valve to cause a charge of highly combustible air-fuel mixture to be supplied to said intake manifold in response to an acceleration motion of said throttle control.

Apparatus for supplying a volatile air-fuel mixture to an internal combustion engine having a carburetor and an intake manifold coupled thereto;

• comprising, in combination:
• air-fuel mixing means connected to supply an air-fuel mixture to said engine intake manifold and including a mixing chamber, said mixing means including means for directing a flow of pressurized air to said manifold through said mixing chamber and a valve for controlling the flow of said pressurized air through said mixing chamber;
• means for supplying fuel into said flow of pressurized air whereupon said fuel is mixed with said air in said mixing chamber;
• control means for selectively operating said air-fuel mixing means whereby a mixture of air and highly combustible atomized fuel is fed to said engine via said intake manifold;
• a manually operable movable throttle control linked to the carburetor to control the flow of fuel to said engine;
• said control means including means responsive to an acceleration movement of said throttle control to actuate said valve to cause a highly combustible air-fuel mixture to be supplied to the intake manifold of the engine.

Apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine by supplying a volatile air-fuel mixture to the engine during engine start-up comprising, in combination:

• air-fuel mixing means connected to supply, prior to starting the engine, an air-fuel mixture to the engine and including a mixing chamber, a source of air under pressure, and means for directing a flow of pressurized air from said air source through said mixing chamber;
• means for supplying fuel into said flow of pressurized air whereupon said fuel is mixed with said air in said mixing chamber;
• and
• control means for operating said air-fuel mixing means during engine start-up including a source of electrical power and means for selectively coupling said electrical power source and said air source one to the other to actuate said air source, prior to starting the engine, to supply air to said directing means, whereby a mixture of air and highly combustible, atomized fuel is supplied to the engine to start the engine, and means for disabling said control means after engine startup.

Apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine by supplying a volatile air-fuel mixture to the engine during engine start-up comprising, in combination:

• air-fuel mixing means connected to supply, prior to starting the engine, an air-fuel mixture to the engine and including a mixing chamber, a source of air under pressure, and means for directing a flow of pressurized air from said air source through said mixing chamber;
• means for supplying fuel into said flow of pressurized air whereupon said fuel is mixed with said air in said mixing chamber;
• and
• control means for operating said air-fuel mixing means during engine start-up including means for controlling the flow of pressurized air from said source, prior to starting the engine, to supply air to said directing means, whereby a mixture of air and highly combustible, atomized fuel is supplied to the engine to start the engine, and means for disabling said control means after engine startup.