Vaporizer Apparatus

This invention relates generally to vaporizers, and more particularly concerns apparatus for enhancing the vaporization of liquid particles entrained in a gaseous carrier.

There is a need in many fields for economizing in the usage of liquids dispersed in gaseous carriers. Enhanced economy can be achieved if the extent of vaporization is increased, i.e., if the liquid particles dispersed in the carrier are sub-divided or vaporized to greater extent. This is particularly important in the field of carburetion, where the degree of combustion efficiency is a direct function of the extent of vaporization of fuel in the air carrier; however, to my knowledge, prior devices lacked the unusual combinations of structure, modes of operation and results now afforded by the present vaporizer apparatus. For example, present day carburetors do not sufficiently disperse or atomize the fuel particles in the carrier air stream, whereby fuel economy greatly suffers.

It is a major object of the invention to provide vaporization enhancing apparatus meeting the above needs, and overcoming the problems of prior devices, a particularly important application being in the field of fuel particle vaporization in an air stream.

Basically, the apparatus comprises:

A. MEANS INCLUDING A CHAMBER DEFINING AT LEAST TWO FLOW PATHS FOR THE CARRIER AND PARTICLES, THE CARRIER AND PARTICLE IN EACH PATH DEFINING A FLOW STREAM,

B. SAID MEANS INCLUDING SURFACES DIRECTING THE STREAMS ALTERNATELY TO MERGE WITH MUTUAL IMPINGEMENT AND TO SEPARATE, AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS THEREALONG.

As will appear, the flow path defining means may advantageously include generally parallel plates between which and at the sides of which the flow paths merge and separate, the paths desirably extending in serpentine relation to provide very compact and efficient apparatus; further, baffles are provided proximate the plate sides to cause the separating and merging flow streams to individually divide and recombine, for enhancing vaporization efficiency as will appear. In this regard advantage is repeatedly taken of the induced impingement of the flow streams and components of same, and their expansion, to cause or enhance atomization or vaporization of the fuel particles.

The process may otherwise be described as follows: In essence a carbureting section is utilized as a first stage, coupled or followed by multiple stages which produce a series of actions including coalescense and then dissemination, alternately, by a redundancy of steps. It could be further explained that the heterogenous mixture which leaves the first stage is caused to go through a series of baffles or barriers which by reason of the path it follows causes it to go through alternate areas of high and then low pressures due to the multiplicity of paths and directions, causing a complex diffusion until a homogenous state of gaseous fuel and air mix is achieved. However, due to the gasifying of the fuel, additional air is desirably diffused into the present homogenous mix and further dispersed at a rate proportional to need of the engine. Two series of multiple jets are utilized, each of which is controlled by a linkage to the butterfly valve and interconnected as by means such as gears. Each of these two stages of multiple air-injectors can be adjusted independently in both the low and high volume positions, which establishes proportional variations at all positions between the high and low volumn settings. The change does not have to be linear but will be determined by the requirements of the type of engine and its normal loads. In addition, an air passage conduit conducts air from the area immediately beneath the control butterfly valve, on the high side of the butterfly, to control mixture valves, as will be described.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of vaporizer apparatus incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is plan view taken in section on lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on lines 2--2 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view taken in section on lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section on lines 5--5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical section on lines 6--6 of FIG. 4;

While the description will proceed with reference to use of the invention to vaporize liquid fuel particles in an air carrier, it will be understood that the invention has other vaporizing uses, such as dehydration, use in distillation processes, etc.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, an air-fuel carburetor 10 is shown mounted on a vaporizer 11 incorporating the invention. Air enters the carburetor at 12, and air entraining "atomized" liquid fuel particles leaves the vaporizer at 13. Merely for purposes of illustration, fasteners 14 are shown to retain the carburetor on the vaporizer.

The vaporizer basically comprises means including a chamber 15 defining at least two flow paths for the carrier and liquid particles (in this case air and fuel particles entering the vaporizer from the carburetor), the carrier and particles in each path defining a flow stream; and such means includes surfaces directing the streams alternately to merge with mutual impingement (so as to optimize fuel particle break-up) and thereafter separate, at different locations along such flow paths. Chamber 15 may for example include upper and lower sections 15a and 15b joined together as by fasteners 16. The sections respectively define interior recesses or hollows 16a and 16b within which the flow paths are defined and extend in serpentine relation.

More specifically, the flow path defining means may with unusual advantage include parallel upper and lower plates 17 and 18 with integral baffles thereon, the upper plate with the baffles being similar to the lower plate with its baffles, or the two may be alike. A divider plate 100 extends intermediate the upper and lower plates, and parallel thereto. All of such structure fits closely between the interior surfaces 19a and 19b of chamber upper and lower walls 20a and 20b, respectively. Also, the plate 17 extends transversely between the interior surfaces of the side walls 21-24 of the upper section 15a, and plate 18 extends transversely between the interior surfaces of the side walls 25-28 of the lower section 15b.

FIGS. 2-4 clearly show the definition, by the flow path defining means, of multiple flow paths, one of which is indicated by arrow sequence 30a- 30e, and another of which is indicated by the arrow sequence 31a-31e. Thus, for example, the entering air and fuel particle streams enter the vaporizer from the carburetor as designated by arrows 30a and 31a passing downward through entrance ports 32 and 33 respectively in the upper section wall 20a. The flow streams then travel laterally oppositely in zones 34 and 35 above plate 17. The latter forms downward through openings 36 and 37 at its lateral extremities to pass the separated flow streams downwardly, as indicated by arrows 30b and 31b, enabling the streams to return laterally toward one another in zones 38 and 39 between plates 17 and 100.

After merging with impingement upon downward travel through central through openings 40 in divider plate 100, the two flow streams again separate as indicated by arrows 30c and 31c. The flow streams then travel laterally oppositely in zones 41 and 42 between plates 100 and 18. The latter forms downward through openings 43 and 44 at its lateral extremities to pass the separated flow streams downwardly as indicated by arrows 30d and 31d, facilitating return lateral flow toward one another in zones 45 and 46 between plate 18 and wall 20b of chamber lower section 15b. The streams then leave the vaporizer via exit openings 47 and 48, for flow via manifold passages to the engine 50, as indicated by arrow 51 in FIG. 3.

The flow path defining means may with unusual advantage include certain baffles proximate certain plate sides for causing separating flow streams to themselves divide and combine, enhancing vaporization. As an example of this, note spaced and staggered baffles in rows 52 and 53 in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the paths of separating flow streams 30a and 31a, each of which divides and combines as indicated by arrows 30b' and 30b", for example. Similarly, the flow path defining means may with unusual advantages include other baffles proximate other plate sides causing the merging flow streams to themselves divide and recombine. For example, note the spaced and staggered baffles in rows 54-58 in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the paths of merging flow streams 30b and 31b, each of which divides and recombines while flowing past and between the baffles in such rows. All the baffles in rows 52-58 are integral with plate 17, as seen in FIG. 6.

Likewise, baffles in rows 59-63 divide and recombine the separating flow streams 30c and 31c, in zones 41 and 42 (such baffle rows corresponding to baffle rows 52-58 in inverse order), and baffles in rows 64 and 65 divide and recombine the merging flow streams 30d and 31d in zones 45 and 46 (such baffle rows corresponding to baffle rows 52 and 53, in inverse order). All the baffles in rows 59-65 are integral with plate 18 as seen in FIG. 6. Accordingly, the assembly is quite simple, as it includes only the two chamber sections 15a and 15b, the upper and lower plates 17 and 18 with associated integral baffles, and divider plate 100, thereby enabling rapid installation and servicing, all without disassembly of the carburetor structure per se. Also, the vaporizer may be employed with a wide range of carburetors, and only the sizes of the entrance and exit openings or ports 32, 33, 47 and 48 need be altered.

Another important aspect of the invention concerns the provision of valve controlled means for supplying additional carrier gas (as for example air) to at least one of the described flow paths within the vaporizer. Such means may include valve controlled side ports or jets 70 and 71 in sections 15a and 15b, ports 70 communicating with zone 38, and ports 71 with zone 45. Rotary valve spindles 72 and 73 in bores 74 and 75 in those sections control flow of air via the ports from the exterior to the listed zones to vary the fuel air ratio or mixture, as may be necessary or desirable. Gears 76 and 77 on the spindles are in mesh to simultaneously control the rotation of both valve spindles, admitting more air to each port, simultaneously, as the spindles turn. In this regard, the carburetor typically has a butterfly valve control mechanism including crank 78, and the latter may be coupled as at 79 with spindle 72, so that increased flow of auxiliary air to the vaporizer zones 38 and 45 occurs in response to increased opening of the butterfly valve; i.e., the mixture may be "leaned out" , for greater fuel economy, as the efficiency of vaporization is enhanced due to higher flow rates of air and fuel particles through the vaporizer. The spindles can be adjustably rotated relative to each other, to increase or decrease the amount of air delivery via the ports, as required.

Air passage conduit 81 carries air from the area 90 immediately under the control butterfly valves 91 and 91a (on the high side of the butterfly) to the control mixture valves 72 and 73. This prevents upsetting or improper functioning of vacuum advance mechanism for the ignition spark. It also provides clean air, as the air taken from conduit inlets 81a and 81b has gone through the normal air cleaner. Also, the vacuum control for the spark advance is not disturbed. The conduit 81 and inlets 81a and 81b may take various forms, and the filtered air provided at inlets 81a and 81b may be provided by any suitable air cleaning means.