Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to an improved car-
buretor system for an internal combustion engine, and in
particular, to a novel apparatus and process for atomizing a
fuel-air mixture by producing a f~mnel-type flow pattern for
the mixture as it exits from the carburetor and aerodynamically
driving the mixture through a foraminous member before passing
the mixture into the intake manifold of the engine.
This application relates to applicants' corresponding
U.S. Patent 3,934,569 issued January 27, 1976 for "Apparatus
and Method for Atomizing Fuel-Air in a Carburetion System".
The operation of an internal combustion engine
requires that the liquid fuel which it burns, such as gaso-
line, be mixed with air in proper amounts prior to combustion.
A carburetor functions to create the optimum fuel-air mixture
at all speeds and loads of the engine, by subdividing or
atomizing the liquid fuel and intimately mixing the minute
particles with the air introduced into the carburetor. Under
ideal conditions, the fuel-air mixture furnished to the engine's
intake manifold is a homogeneous mixture of small fuel par-
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ticles in air. This atomization produces the maximum poweroutput of the engine, and imparts to the mixture sufficient
composition and strength to develop maximum economy for all
conditions of engine operation. When the fuel and air are
properly mixed, optimum combustion of the fuel results,
limiting the am~unt of unburned fuel and smoke exhausting into
the atmosphere and thereby reducing pollution of the environ-
ment.
` Of the numerous prior devices which have been pro-
vided to secure more efficient atomization of the liquid fuel
in carburetor systems, several include the use of a wire mesh
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screen located in the passageway between the carburetor and
intake manifold of the engine. The screen breaks up, cr
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atomizes, the fuel particles which are then more able to in-
timately mix with the air. Certain of these prior devices
include a fan adapted to partially break up the flow of the
fuel and air current from the carburetor, and to produce a
swirling motion to enhance the mixing capability of the system
' prior to passing the mixture through the screen.
Heretofore, the use of mesh materials or screens to
provide proper atomization in a carburetion system has pro-
vided adequate results up to a certain point. It has been
found that fuel systems on standard automobile engines equip-
~ ped with screen atomizers have a tendency to ~choke out" when
- certain speeds are reached. This is due to the reduction of
effective flow rate of the mixture through the passage con-
necting the carburetor and intake manifold to the point that
insufficient fuel-air mixture is being supplied to the engine.
The area of the passageway is reduced by the cumulative area
of the wire or fabric elements making up the mesh, and the
flow rate, which is a function of the area across the passage,
is similarly reduced. For example, an average six cylinder
engine will stop operating at 70 miles per hour while an eight
cylinder engine will choke out at approximately 50 miles per
hour.
Since modern highway travel requires that automobile
engines operate at speeds higher than fifty or seventy miles
per hour, the use of a screen in the passage between the car-
buretor and intake manifold has been severely limited. This
results in a severe disadvantage to the automobile owner, and
to the public in general. First, the driver is denied of the
opportunity to increase the efficiency and gas milage economy
of his vehicle by installing a screen atomizer in his car-
buretion system. Second and most important, the public is
denied the advantages of inGreased Pollutant control and
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cleaner air, since the amount of smoke and un-combusted fuel
exhausted into the air is reduced by the use of such screens.
It is an object of this invention, therefore, to
provide a fuel-air mixture atomization system for an internal
combustion engine which will function at all speeds of opera-
tion of the engine and which will provide the proper amount
of atomization of liquid fuel and air necessary for optimum
engine performance.
It is further an object of this invention to provide
a carburetion system for an internal combustion engine wherein
the flow rate of the fuel-air mixture passing from the car-
buretor through an atomizing device to the intake manifold of
~; the engine is sufficient to prevent the engine from stalling
at normal and high operating speeds and loads.
An additional object of my invention is to provide a
fuel-air mixture atomizing device for the carburetion sys~em
of an internal combustion engine which creates a funnel-type
flow pattern for the fuel-air mixture as it passes from the
carburetor to the intake manifold of the engine.
Still another object of my invention is to provide
a carburetion system for an internal combustion engine wherein
a fuel-air mixture is driven in a funnel-type flow pattern
through an atomizing member disposed in the flow path of the
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fuel-air mixture.
An additional object of the present invention is to
provide a carburetion system for an internal combustion engine
wherein the fuel-air mixture flowing through a passageway
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between the carburetor and the intake manifold of the engine is
driven in a circular motion toward the outer wall of the passage-
way, and simultaneously driven through a foraminous atomizingelement located in the passageway.
Yet another object of my invention is to provide a
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foraminous element for atomizing a fuel-air mixture in a car-
buretion system for an internal combustion engine, the forami-
nous element including aerodynamic means for creating a
funnel-type flow pattern for the fuel-air mixture in the
system.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide a novel process for driving a fuel-air mixture in a
carburetion system in a circular motion adjacent the outer
wall of a passageway containing the fuel-air mixture, and
; 10 through an atomizing element forming part of the system.
A further and most important object of the present
invention is to provide a carburetion system for an internal
combustion engine which achieves increased engine efficiency,
greater fuel economy, and while so doing, abates the dangers
of air pollution by reducing the amount of hydrocarbons and
carbon monoxide emissions from the engine.
According to one aspect of my invention, an atomi~-
ing member such as a foraminous element is located in the
passageway carrying a fuel-air mixture from the carburetor
to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The
foraminous element which may be either substantially flat or
have a dished or depression configuration, includes an aperture
therethrough which is circumferentially surrounded by a re-
inforced rim or grommet element having an aerodynamic surface
; facing into the fuel-air mixture flow. The aperture can be
either centrally disposed or disposed at a distance from the
center. The fuel-air mixture is drawn into the passageway at
a predetermined flow rate by the vacuum created in the intake
manifold during operation of the engine. As the mixture flows
into the passageway, the aerodynamic surface of the grommet
element creates a funnel-type flow pattern by causing the fuel-
air mixture to be driven in a clrcular motion toward the outer
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wall of the ~assageway. The swirling fuel-air mixture is then
drawn through the foraminous atomizing member where the drop-
: lets are further reduced in size to enhance complete combus-
tion.
The nature of a preferred embodiment of the invention
should become more apparent from a study of the attached
drawings in conjunction with the following specification
wherein:
. Figure 1 is a plan view of the foraminous atomizing
member, gasket, and aerodynamic element which is centrally
located forming a first embodiment of the present invention;
:
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of
Figure 1, taken along the line 2-2;
Figure 3 is a detail view of the aerodynamic ele-
ment shown in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 is a side elevation view of a carburetion
~' system embodying the embodiment of the present invention as
shown in Figure l;
~-. Figure 5 is another side elevation of the carburetion
system embodying the embodiment of the present invention as
sh~wn in Figure 1, diagrammatically showing the fuel-air mix-
ture flow pattern during operation of the system; and
Figure 6 is a plan view of an additional embodiment
~ of the atomizing and aerodynamic members of my invention
:.j` adapted for use with multi-barrel carburetion systems;
Figure 7 is a plan view of a second embodiment of
:: the present invention, wherein the aerodynamic element is
, disposed at a distance from the axial center of the foraminous
element;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment
of the present invention, wherein the foraminous element of
the atomizer comprises a dished depression configuration in
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which the aerodynamic element i8 located; and
Figure 9 is a side elevation of the embodiment of
the invention disclosed in Figure 8, diagrammatically showing
the fuel-air mixture flow pattern during operation of the
system.
Referring to the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7
disclose an atomizing member generally designated by the
numeral 10. The atomizing member includes a gasket assembly 12
having an opening 14. A foraminous element 16 extends across
opening 14 and is held in a sandwich-like manner by the upper
and lower portions of gasket assembly 12. Holes 13 are pro-
vided in gasket assembly 12 to enable the atomizing member
to be installed at the point of juncture of the carburetor and
intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, as will be
explained.
` Foraminous element 16 is preferably a bronze wire
screen or a fabric mesh screen, having a density of approxi-
mately 20 apertures per linear inch. It is to be understood
that the foraminous element 16 may be composed of other known
- 20 materials such as stainless steel, meshed fabrics, a per-
` forated plate, and be of various known materials without
departing from the scope of the invention. Additionally,
` foraminous element 16 may be replaced with other known fuel-
air mixture atomizing members within the teaching of my
invention.
' Located either in the center of foraminous
element 16 (Figure 1) or disposed at a distance from the
center (Figure 7) is an aperture 18, such as could be cut by
a ~14 leather cutter. A reinforcing rim is disposed around
the circumference of aperture 13, as best disclosed in
Figure 3. In the embodiment of Figure 1 the reinforcing rim
comprises a grommet 20 having a curved upper surface 22 and a
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substantially flat lower surface 24. The portion of forami-
nous element 16 adjacent aperture 18 is clamped between the
upper and lower surfaces 22, 24 of grommet 20, and thereby
held in place surrounding aperture 18~
The curvature of the upper surface 22 of grommet 20
comprises an aerodynamic structure. The purpose of this con-
struction is to create a funnel-type flow pattern of the
fuel-air mixture in the carburetion system in which atomiz-
ing member 10 is used.
The atomizing member 10 thus described is adapted
to be used in the carburetion system of an internal combustion
engine, the essential features of which are illustrated in
Figures 4 and 5. A standard single barrel carburetor is
designated 26, and has a passageway 28 at the lower end there-
of for the flow of a fuel-air mixture from the carburetor. A
butterfly valve 38 is located in passage 28 and controls the
flow of the fuel-air mixture through the carburetion system.
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A flange 30 projects outwardly from the lowermost portion of
the carburetor, and is adapted to mount the carburetor on
intake manifold 36. A flange 32 extends outward from a passage-
way 34 forming part of engine intake manifold 36. Passage-
way 34 is adapted to permit the fuel-air mixture in passage-
way 28 to be conveyed to intake manifold 36. A plurality of
bolts 40 project through holes 46 to secure carburetor 26 in
proper alignment relative to intake manifold 36.
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In the preferred embodiment of my invention, atomiz-
ing member 10 is fastened by means of bolts 40 between
flanges 30 and 32 of carburetor passageway 28 and intake mani-
fold passageway 34. If butterfly valve 38 is located near the
lower end of passageway 28, the butterfly valve 1s liable to
remain caught in an open position if it contacts screen 16 or
grommet 20, which is undesirable for obvious re~sons.
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One solution is to install a shim or lift element 42
to prevent the butterfly valve from contacting foraminous
element 16 or grommet 20 when moved to a full open position.
Lift element 42 includes an opening 44 through which butter-
fly valve 38, as it pivots to an open position, and the fuel-
air mixture from the carburetor are allowed to pass unob-
structed.
Alternately, as shown in the embodiment of my inven-
tion disclosed in Figure 8, the atomizing member 10 can be
designed with foraminous element 216 having a center dished
depression 50. As is shown in Figure 9, this enables butter-
fly valve 38 to move to a full open position without contacting
foraminous element 216 or grommet 20. Additionally, the
grommet 20 is located deeper into the intake manifold, which
is,
increases the effect of the swirling fuel-air mixture in
passageway 28. In other material respects, the construction
and operation of the embodiment of the atomizing member shown
in Figure 8 is the same as that of the embodiment of
Figures 1-5.
Atomizing member 10 is installed in the carburetion
system with foraminous element 16 extending transversely across
passageway 28 and 34. Also upper or aerodynamic surface 22
! of grommet 20 is located in passageway 28 facing opposite the
direction of flow of the fuel-air mixture flowing from the
carburetor. Gasket assembl~ 12 secures the outer portion of
foraminous element 16 such that a fluid-tight seal is formed
between flanges 30 and 32, preventing the escape into the at-
mosphere of any fuel-air mixture.
In operation, a fuel-air mixture is drawn from
carburetor 26 through passageway 28 toward intake manifold 36
by operation of the internal combustion engine. As the fuel-
air mixture enters the portion of the passageway 28 above
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atomizing member 10, the aerodynamic characteristic of upper
surface 22 of grommet 20 causes the fuel-air mixture to
develop a funnel-type flow pattern whereby the mixture is
driven in a circular motion toward the outer wall of passage-
way 28. Simultaneously, the mixture is drawn through passage-
way 28 in an axial direction through foraminous element 16
which further atomizes the droplets of fuel-air mixture into
smaller particles to enhance complete combustion of the fuel
by increasing the total contact area of the fuel.
The turbulent or swirling motion imparted to the
fuel-air mixture by the aerodynamic upper surface 22 of grom-
met 20 twhich is diagrammatically illustrated by the numeral 48
in Figure 5) causes the fuel-air mixture to move at a faster
rate compared to drawing the mixture directly through forami-
nous element 16. Therefore, the flow rate of mixture is in-
creased through the foraminous element, preventing a cut-off
, at normal and high engine operating speeds.
The present invention allows intake manifold 36 to
be supplied with an adequate quantity of fuel-air mixture
.'
despite the presence of foraminous element 16 in the flow path
of the mixture. By atomizing the fuel-air mixture into fine
particles by means of foraminous element 16, greater fuel
; economy is achieved, and the quantity of hydrocarbons and car-
bon monoxide created is significantly reduced as a result of
`- more complete combustion of the fuel by the internal combus-
tion engine. The aerodynamic surface 22 of grommet 20 permits
~ foraminous element 16 to be installed in passageway 28 without
;` inhibiting movement of the quantity of fuel-air mixture which
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must be delivered to intake manifold 36 at normal and high
engine operating speeds and loads to prevent stall or cut-off.
The above is a description of the preferred embodi-
ments of my invention as installed on a single barrel carburetor
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system. However, atomizing member 10, or its equivalent, may
just as readily be adapted for use in conjunction with a
multi-barrel carburetion system. An exam~le of such a con-
struction is illustrated in Figure 6, wherein 110 is an
atomizing member having a gasket assembly 112 adapted to be
installed between a multi-barrel carburetor and an intake
manifold for an internal combustion engine. Openings 114
; and 115 are provided in gasket assembly 112, and foraminouselements 116 and 117 extend across each opening. The center
of each foraminous element includes an aperture 118 having a
,
; grommet 120 around the circumference thereof. As explained
in conjunction with the embodiment of Figures 1 and 4,
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grommet 120 comprises an aerodynamic curved upper surface
which faces opposite the direction of flow of the fuel-air
- mixture coming from the carburetor. In other material respects,
the construction and operation of the emb~diment of the
atomizing member shown in Figure 6 is the same as that of the
~ embodiment of Figures 1-5.
-,; The embodiment of Figure 7 is particularly adapted
:.
'' 20 for increased efficiency where the engine to which the des-cribed carburetor is attached is operated for extended periods
at partially open throttle settings. By locating grommet 20
off of center partial opening of butterfly valve 38 will not
restrict access to the grommet. Instead, grommet 20 will be
:~ located in a path between the wall of passageway.28 and the
circumference tip of partially open valve 38. It has been
found that this off-center location of grommet Z0 increases
the effectiveness of my atomizer when the throttle is partially
open.
It will be understood that modifications and varia-
tions of the improved carburetion system disclosed herein may
be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the inven-
', tion and the ,scope of the appended claims.
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