Thermal choke, autostart generator system, and method of use thereof

• US 10,030,609 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Dewey Electronics Corp.
• Original Assignee: Ini Power Systems Inc. (The Dewey Electronics Corp.)
• Inventors: Markoski, Larry J., Simmons, Timothy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Long T
• Application Number:
  US14/933,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20170130676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 1/02 Arrangements for cooling cylinders or cylinder heads, e.g. ducting cooling-air from its pressure source to cylinders or along cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 11/02 convertible from fuel-air mixture compression to air compression or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/048 Portable engine-generator combinations
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/16 Engines characterised by number of cylinders, e.g. single-cylinder engines F02B75/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/02 characterised by hand, foot, or like operator controlled initiation means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 1/12 with means for electrically heating thermostat
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 29/04 having screens, gratings, baffles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/005 using a heat-pipe heat-pipe per se F28D
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/135 Fuel-air mixture
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 31/18 to vaporise fuel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A thermal choke, includes (1) a body, comprising a heat conductive material, (2) an electric heater, on or in the body, (3) a temperature sensor, on or in the body, and (4) a fin, in a channel surrounded by the body. The thermal choke is configured to fit between a throttle assembly and a cylinder of a spark ignition engine.

Claims

1. An engine, comprising:

(A) a throttle assembly,

(B) a cylinder, fluidly connected to the throttle assembly,

(C) a spark plug, in the cylinder, and

(D) a thermal choke, between the throttle assembly and the cylinder,

(E) a gasket spacer comprising a heat insulating material, between the throttle assembly and the thermal choke, and

(F) a gasket spacer comprising a heat insulating material, between the cylinder and the thermal choke,

wherein the throttle assembly comprises;

(I) a fuel bowl,

(II) a temperature sensor, on the fuel bowl, and

(III) a carburetor,

the thermal choke comprises

(i) a thermal choke body, comprising a heat conductive material,

(ii) a plurality of electric heaters on or in the thermal choke body,

(iii) a temperature sensor, on or in the thermal choke body, and

(iv) a plurality of fins, in a channel surrounded by the thermal choke body, and the heat conductive material comprises metal.

2. The engine of claim 1, wherein the heat conductive material comprises brass.

3. A method of generating electricity, wherein the electricity is generated using the engine of claim 2.

4. The engine of claim 1, further comprising:

(G) a primary fuel tank, fluidly connected to the cylinder,

(H) an air intake path, fluidly connecting atmosphere to the cylinder, and

(I) a coolant path, which provides a flow path for coolant to cool the cylinder.

5. A method of reducing start-up emissions from an engine, comprising:

providing the engine of claim 1;

supplying electricity to the thermal choke to heat the thermal choke; and

starting the engine.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the engine is started with a heavy fuel.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the engine is started with JP-8.

8. A method of generating electricity, wherein the electricity is generated using the engine of claim 1.

9. A method of generating electricity, wherein the electricity is generated using the engine of claim 1 and the engine is started with a heavy fuel.

10. A method of generating electricity, wherein the electricity is generated using the engine of claim 1 and the engine is started with JP-8.