Fuel conservation system for internal combustion engines
First Claim
1. A fuel conservation system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- means for bypassing fuel through the engine to a fuel return system;
means for interrupting operation of a fuel ignition means of said engine; and
control means for automatically and concurrently activating said fuel bypass means and said ignition interruption means in response to an engine parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided for varying the number of active cylinders in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, in response to the operating requirements of the engine. When the engine reaches that part of its operating range where the torque requirement is such that operation of all of the cylinders is not required to provide adequate and efficient power, certain cylinders are rendered inactive, thereby reducing the fuel consumed by the engine. A control system is provided which, upon sensing a reduced torque requirement upon the engine, activates a switch which de-energizes the spark generating electrodes of certain cylinders, and concurrently activates solenoid valve means whereby fuel vapor in the deactivated cylinders may be bypassed through the cylinders and returned to the fuel supply system of the engine for later use. In one embodiment of the system, novel spark producing means is provided which includes the fuel bypass valve means. The spark producing means is so constructed that it may be substituted for a conventional spark plug of an internal combustion engine thereby providing for simple and economical installation of the fuel conservation system upon existing internal combustion engines.
36 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A fuel conservation system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
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means for bypassing fuel through the engine to a fuel return system; means for interrupting operation of a fuel ignition means of said engine; and control means for automatically and concurrently activating said fuel bypass means and said ignition interruption means in response to an engine parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A fuel conservation system for a vehicle having a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, comprising:
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means for sensing a plurality of engine parameters having an influence upon the fuel economy of the engine; means for bypassing fuel through one of the cylinders of the engine to a fuel return system; means for de-energizing an ignition means of said one cylinder; and control means for automatically and concurrently activating said fuel bypass means and said de-energizing means in response to a signal from said sensing means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A spark valve for use in a fuel conservation system, comprising:
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a casing including a threaded end for connection with a conventional spark plug orifice of an internal combustion engine; valve means disposed in said casing, separating an interior of said casing into first and second chambers, said valve providing fluid communication between said chambers when said valve is in an open position, and fluid isolation between said chambers when said valve is in a closed position; a fuel vapor inlet disposed in said first chamber for providing fluid communication with a cylinder of said engine; a fuel vapor outlet in said second chamber to provide fluid communication with a fuel return system; and spark producing means disposed within said first chamber; and a one way check valve connected to said fuel vapor outlet so that fuel may flow only from said second chamber to said fuel return system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for conserving fluid in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having electrical ignition means, comprising:
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sensing an engine parameter; interrupting said electrical ignition means of certain preselected cylinders of said engine in response to a predetermined change in said sensed engine parameter; bypassing, through said preselected cylinders, fuel vapor from said cylinders, concurrently with the interruption of said ignition means; and returning said fuel vapor to a fuel system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification