US 4,869,850 AGranted

Rotor-type carburetor apparatus and associated methods

AssigneeKwik Products International Corporation

InventorsElbert M. Hubbard, Rudolf Diener

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Abstract

An improved rotor-type carburetor for use with an internal combustion engine is provided which, in one embodiment, is adjustable to selectively vary its constant fuel-air ratio by axially moving an internal body portion thereof relative to the turbine rotor assembly of the carburetor. Alternatively, the constant fuel-air ratio of the carburetor may be altered simply by replacing such internal body portion with a differently configured one. Undesirable fuel delivery from the turbine rotor to the engine during turbine spin-down is significantly diminished through the use of an internal fuel reservoir structure, formed within the carburetor body, which functions to capture and retain unneeded fuel discharged from the rotor during turbine spin-down periods. During turbine spin-up periods (e.g., when the engine is being started) the reservoir-retained fuel is released into the engine's incoming air stream to hasten fuel delivery to the engiune during initial portions of turbine spin-up periods. Additionally, various structural improvements are incorporated into the carburetor. Included in these improvements are a carburetor body construction in which three generally annular sections are telescopingly interengaged to form the outer body of the carburetor, and the provision of improved sealing structures to better inhibit fuel leakage from the turbine rotor assembly.

Claims43

Dependent claims

In a rotor-type carburetor adapted to provide to an internal combustion engine an air-fuel mixture having an essentially constant fuel-air ratio at all engine speeds, said carburetor having an annular body which has an axis and whose inner surface defines an air flow passage, said carburetor further having a bladed turbine rotor disposed in said air flow passage for rotation about said axis, apparatus for selectively altering said fuel-air ratio, said apparatus comprising means for selectively altering the effective cross-sectional area of said air flow passage extending axially along the bladed portion of said turbine rotor;

said body including a first member defining a portion of the inner surface of said air flow passage adjacent said blades and being rotatable relative to the balance of said body;
said area-altering means including means for selectively axially moving said first member relative to said turbine rotor, said means for selectively axially moving said first member functioning in response to relative rotation between said first member and the balance of said body and including a radially projecting pin secured thereto, and an axially ramped surface formed in the balance of said body and operatively engaging said pin;
said balance of said body including second and third members circumscribing said first member and being rotatable about said axis relative to one another;
said ramped surface being formed in said second member;
said second member having an adjusting member secured thereto, and being configured and positioned to facilitate manual movement thereof to cause rotation of said second member about said axis;
said third member being adapted to be secured against rotation about said axis, and having a holding member secured thereto and positioned adjacent said adjusting member;
said third member having a pair of facing surfaces positioned to prevent appreciable circumferential movement of said pin;
and
said apparatus further comprising means for selectively preventing relative movement between said adjusting member and said holding member.

6 more elements

Constant fuel-air ratio rotor-type carburetor apparatus comprising:

(a) a plurality of generally annular sections slidably and telescopingly interengaged, and forming a hollow, generally annular body circumscribing an axis and defining an axially extending air flow passage, one of said sections defining an axially extending, conically sloping inner surface of said passage;
(b) support means carried by said body;
(c) a bladed turbine rotor carried by said support means for rotation within said air flow passage in response to air flow therethrough;
and
(d) passageway means formed in said turbine rotor for defining a centrifugal pump for drawing fuel from a source thereof and discharging a fine fuel mist in response to rotation of said turbine rotor.

2 more elements

A rotor-type carburetor comprising:

a hollow cylindrical body axially insertable in a vertically extending air induction pipe of an internal combustion engine, said body being defined by releasably interconnectable upper and lower sections and having an axially extending interior air flow passage for flowing ingested air to the engine,
said lower body section having axially centrally supported bearing means carried thereby,
said upper body section having secured thereto, for movement therewith, a downwardly extending, axially central fuel supply tube adapted to receive fuel from a source thereof, said fuel supply tube having an open lower end positioned below the level of fuel in said source thereof;
bladed turbine rotor means coaxially circumscribing said fuel supply tube within said air flow passage and supported by said bearing means to be rotationally driven by ingested air downwardly traversing said air flow passage, the bladed portion of said turbine rotor means having an upper end and a lower end;
passageway means formed in said turbine rotor means for defining a centrifugal pump for drawing fuel from said fuel supply tube, and discharging a fine fuel mist for mixture with ingested air traversing said air flow passage, in response to rotation of said turbine rotor means, said passageway means including:
an inlet portion having an inlet end adapted to receive fuel from said fuel supply tube and an outlet end positioned above the level of fuel in said source thereof,
a discharge portion having an inlet end communicating with said outlet end of said inlet portion, and an outlet end positioned below said lower end of said bladed portion of said turbine rotor means, and
orifice means, positioned in said outlet end of said inlet portion of said passageway means, for precisely metering the flow of fuel through said carburetor.

5 more elements

A rotor-type carburetor comprising:

a hollow cylindrical body axially insertable in a vertically extending air induction pipe of an internal combustion engine, said body having an upper section, a lower section, and an axially extending interior air flow passage for flowing ingested air to the engine;
a downwardly extending, axially central fuel supply tube secured to said upper body section for movement therewith and adapted to receive fuel from a source thereof;
first bearing means axially centrally carried by said upper body section;
second bearing means axially centrally carried by said lower body section;
cooperating means on said upper and lower body sections for releasably interconnecting them to define said body and to bring said first and second bearing means into an axially spaced and aligned relationship;
bladed turbine rotor means coaxially circumscribing said fuel supply tube within said air flow passage and supported by said first and second bearing means for driven rotation by ingested air downwardly traversing said air flow passage;
passageway means formed in said turbine rotor means for defining a centrifugal pump operative to draw fuel from said fuel supply tube, and discharge a fine fuel mist for mixture with ingested air traversing said air flow passage, in response to rotation of said turbine rotor means;
and
orifice means for precisely metering the flow of fuel through said carburetor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/142,302Filed 29 Dec 1987 · continuation
Priority: 30 Jun 1986
Granted: 26 Sep 1989
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F02M 7/133
Other installations, with moving parts, for influencing fuel/air ratio, e.g. having valves: auxiliary jets, i.e. operating only under certain…
F02D 35/0053
Controlling fuel supply: by means of a carburettor
F02D 35/0069
By means of a carburettor: controlling the fuel flow only
F02M 1/16
Carburettors with means for facilitating engine's starting or its idling below operational temperatures: other means for enriching fuel-air…