Fuel expansion system

Abstract

A fuel expansion system or carburetor for internal combustion engines utilizing the bubbling of air through use of a number of bubble tubes through a supply of liquid fuel. The resulting atomized, vaporized and expanded fuel is then mixed with air and fed into the engine for combustion.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A fuel enriching carburetor device for an internal combustion engine, said device comprising: a reaction chamber operable to hold a supply of liquid fuel at a selected level therein, said reaction chamber provided with a plurality of generally vertically extending air tubes; said air tubes having a first end extending to a second end, said first end fluidly connected to a source of air, said second end submerged below said selected level of liquid fuel; said reaction chamber defining an air-fuel vapor chamber, said air-fuel vapor chamber connecting to at least one air-fuel vapor mixing conduit in fluid communication between the air-fuel vapor chamber of said reaction chamber and an intake manifold of said engine; and said air-fuel vapor mixing conduit for delivering a supply of air-fuel mixture to the engine.  
     
     
         2 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 1  further comprising fuel float means for controlling the liquid fuel level within said reaction chamber.  
     
     
         3 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 1  wherein said air-fuel vapor mixing conduit is provided with a mixing valve for controlling the air-fuel ratio provided to said engine.  
     
     
         4 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 1  further comprising a preheater for heating said supply of liquid fuel.  
     
     
         5 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 1  wherein said bubble tubes are cylindrical and of a diameter between 0.1875 inches and 0.3125 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 1  further comprising a mounting flange connection for connecting said air-fuel vapor mixing conduit to an intake manifold of said engine.  
     
     
         7 . A fuel enriching carburetor device for an internal combustion engine, said device comprising: 
 a reaction chamber operable to hold a quantity of liquid fuel at a selected level therein, said reaction chamber provided with a plurality of generally vertically extending air tubes, said air tubes having a first end extending to a second end, said first end fluidly connected to a source of air, said second end submerged below said selected level of liquid fuel so that air supplied through said air tubes is bubbled through said quantity of liquid fuel, the bubbling of said air through said level of fuel resulting in the vaporization of said fuel, and further the expansion of said fuel; and    a preheater for heating said quantity of liquid fuel;    wherein said reaction chamber further defining an air-fuel vapor chamber, said air-fuel vapor chamber connecting to at least one air-fuel vapor mixing conduit in fluid communication between the air-fuel vapor chamber of said reaction chamber and an intake manifold of said engine, said air-fuel vapor mixing conduit provided with a mixing valve for controlling air-fuel ratio provided to the engine.    
     
     
         8 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 7  further comprising fuel float means for controlling the fuel level within said reaction chamber.  
     
     
         9 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 7  wherein said bubble tubes are cylindrical and of a diameter between 0.1875 inches and 0.3125 inches.  
     
     
         10 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 7  further comprising a mounting flange connection for connecting said air-fuel vapor mixing conduit to an intake manifold of said engine.  
     
     
         11 . A device for enriching fuel supplied from a source of liquid fuel, wherein said device comprises: 
 a reaction chamber operable to hold a quantity of liquid fuel at a selected level therein, said reaction chamber provided with a plurality of generally vertically extending air tubes, said air tubes having a first end extending to a second end, said first end fluidly connected to a source of air through use of an air inlet, said second end submerged below said selected level of liquid fuel, said reaction chamber defining an air-fuel vapor chamber, said air-fuel vapor chamber connecting to at least one air-fuel vapor outlet;    an air inlet for fluidly connecting an air source with said air tubes; and    an air-fuel vapor outlet for transmission of enriched fuel vapors to a collection means.    
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising fuel float means for controlling the liquid fuel level within said reaction chamber.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  further comprising a preheater for heating said supply of liquid fuel.  
     
     
         14 . The fuel enriching carburetor device of  claim 11  wherein said bubble tubes are cylindrical and of a diameter between 0.1875 inches and 0.3125 inches.