SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING AN ENGINE TO AN ALTERNATE FUEL

• US 20100176518A1
• Filed: 01/09/2009
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Original Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
• Inventors: Halfmann, Aaron, Dehn, James J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,196,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 261/35
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 13/046 arranged in parallel, e.g. initial and main carburettor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 13/06 the carburettors using different fuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/08 Carburetor primers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/67 Carburetors with vented bowl

Abstract

An engine conversion kit for converting an engine that combusts gasoline to an engine that combusts a fuel other than gasoline, such as E85 which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline includes a carburetor having a vent passageway that defines a vent size, and an automatic choke system. The kit includes a second carburetor including a primer passageway and a second vent passageway having a second vent size that is smaller than the vent size. The second carburetor is adapted to attach to the engine and replace the carburetor. A primer bulb is configured to connect to the engine and is operable to force air into the primer passageway

Claims

1. An engine conversion kit for converting an engine that combusts gasoline to an engine that combusts a fuel other than gasoline, the engine including a first carburetor having a vent passageway that defines a first vent size and an automatic choke and priming system, the kit comprising:

a second carburetor including a primer passageway and a second vent passageway having a second vent size that is smaller than the first vent size, the second carburetor adapted to attach to the engine and replace the first carburetor; and

a primer bulb adapted to connect to the engine and operable to force air into the primer passageway.

2. The engine conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the second carburetor includes a main jet having a main jet aperture that has a flow area that is about 40 percent larger than a main jet flow area of the first carburetor.

3. The engine conversion kit of claim 2, wherein the second carburetor includes a slow jet having a slow jet aperture that has a flow area that is about 40 percent larger than a slow jet flow area of the first carburetor.

10. The engine conversion kit of claim 1, further comprising:

an air cleaner base having a primer bulb housing configured to retain the primer bulb.

11. The engine conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the primer bulb includes a one-way valve.

12. The engine conversion kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a gasket configured to be disposed adjacent the second carburetor and configured to permit flow through the primer passageway.

13. The engine conversion kit of claim 12, wherein the gasket has an opening therein that is configured to be aligned with the primer passageway.

14. The engine conversion kit of claim 13, wherein the gasket is asymetrical.

15. The engine conversion kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a gasket made from a material that is compatible with ethanol-based fuels.

16. The engine conversion kit of claim 1, wherein the second carburetor is at least one of made from, coated with, and plated with a material that is compatible with ethanol-based fuels.

4. A method of converting an engine that combusts gasoline to an engine that combusts a fuel other than gasoline, the engine including a first carburetor having a vent passageway that defines a first vent size and an automatic choke and priming system, the method comprising:

removing the first carburetor from the engine;

attaching a second carburetor to the engine in place of the first carburetor, the second carburetor providing a primer passageway and a second vent passageway having a second vent size that is smaller than the first vent size; and

connecting a primer bulb to the engine, wherein the primer bulb is operable to direct air into the primer passageway.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising providing, in the second carburetor, a main jet having a main jet aperture that has a flow area that is about 40 percent larger than a main jet flow area of the first carburetor.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing, in the second carburetor, a slow jet having a slow jet aperture that has a flow area that is about 40 percent larger than a slow jet flow area of the first carburetor.

17. The method of claim 4, wherein the engine includes a primer bulb housing, the method further comprising:

removing a primer blank from the primer bulb housing before connecting the primer bulb.

18. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing an air cleaner base having a primer bulb housing; and

removing a primer blank from the primer bulb housing before connecting the primer bulb.

19. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing a first air cleaner base on the engine;

removing the first air cleaner base from the engine; and

attaching a second air cleaner base to the engine that has a primer bulb housing.

20. The method of claim 4, wherein the attaching a second carburetor act includes attaching a second carburetor that is at least one of made from, coated with and plated with a material that is compatible with ethanol-based fuels.

21. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

positioning a gasket adjacent the second carburetor such that an opening in the gasket is aligned with the primer passageway.

22. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing an asymetrical gasket adjacent the first carburetor; and

re-positioning the gasket adjacent the second carburetor such that flow is permitted in the primer passageway past the gasket.

23. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing a gasket adjacent the first carburetor;

modifying the gasket to create an opening in the gasket; and

aligning the opening with the primer passageway.

7. A replacement carburetor for an engine configured to combust a first fuel, the engine including an air cleaner, and a first carburetor having a fuel bowl, a first vent passageway having a first flow area, and a first vent passageway that extends between the air cleaner and the fuel bowl, the first vent passageway being blocked to inhibit flow along the first vent passageway, the replacement carburetor configured to be attached to the engine to allow the engine to combust a second fuel, the replacement carburetor comprising:

a carburetor body including a first flange, a second flange, and a carburetor throat therebetween;

a fuel bowl coupled to the body and configured to contain a volume of fuel;

a second vent passageway at least partially defined by the carburetor body and extending between the first flange and the fuel bowl, the second vent passageway defining a second flow area that is smaller than the first flow area; and

a second primer passageway configured to provide an uninterrupted flow of air between the air cleaner and the fuel bowl.

8. The replacement carburetor of claim 7, further comprising a main jet coupled to the carburetor body and having a main jet aperture that has a flow area that is about 40 percent larger than a main jet flow area of the first carburetor.

9. The replacement carburetor of claim 8, further comprising a slow jet coupled to the carburetor body and having a slow jet aperture that has a flow area that is about 40 percent larger than a slow jet flow area of the first carburetor.

24. The replacement carburetor of claim 7, further comprising:

a gasket adjacent the first vent passageway configured to inhibit flow along the first vent passageway.

25. The replacement carburetor of claim 7, further comprising:

a plug in the first vent passageway configured to inhibit flow along the first vent passageway.

26. The replacement carburetor of claim 7, wherein the carburetor is at least one made from, coated with and plated with a material that is compatible with ethanol-based fuels.