THROTTLE STRUCTURE FOR IMPARTING SUPERSONIC FLOW CHARACTERISTICS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

摘要

Abstract of the DisclosureA combustible mixture of air and minute fuel drop-lets is produced for supply to the cylinders of an internalcombustion engine. The engine includes a carburetor havinga main air passageway in it, and an intake manifold inter-posed between the engine and the carburetor. The intakemanifold includes at least one wall defining a plurality offluid passageways operatively connected to the carburetorand to the combustion chambers of the engine. A throttlestructure is mounted in the intake manifold. The combustiblemixture is formed by introducing liquid fuel into a streamof intake air and uniformly distributing the fuel in theair by passing the air and fuel mixture through a constrictionto increase the velocity of the mixture to sonic speed. Theconstriction occurs at the throttle structure in the mani-fold. The area of the constriction and the amount of fuelentering the air stream are adjustable for correlation withengine demand. After passing through the constriction, theair/fuel mixture is accelerated to supersonic velocity andthereafter decelerated to subsonic velocity to produce ashock zone where the fuel droplets are believed to be furthersubdivided. The supersonic and subsonic mixture speeds areobtained at the outlet of the throttle structure in the mani-fold. Thereafter, the mixture is inducted into the combustionchambers of the engine. Preferably, the throttle structureincludes a cylinder movably mounted in the intake manifold.A plate either is suspended in or forms a part of the intakemanifold. The plate and cylinder coact to provide the con-striction, supersonic and subsonic zones of the mixture flow.Means are provided on the cylinder for delimiting those zonesof mixture flow.