Method and apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, which system comprises:
- a fuel control valve for metering fuel to the inlet of the engine;
a governor for monitoring the power output of the engine and adjusting the fuel control valve;
a fuel mixture controller responsive to the governor;
a first valve for regulating the supply of a first fuel of low quality;
a second valve for regulating the supply of a second fuel of high quality responsive to the fuel mixture controller; and
a mixer for combining the first and second fuels supplied by the first and second valves respectively and supplying the fuel mixture to the fuel control valve;
the controller being set so as to open the second valve only when the desired power output of the engine is not achieved.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel supply system is provided for an internal combustion engine. The system comprises a fuel control valve metering fuel to the inlet of the engine and a governor for monitoring the output of the engine and adjusting the fuel control valve. A first fuel of low quality is fed to the inlet of the engine through a first valve regulating the supply of the first fuel. A fuel mixture controller responds to output signals from the governor and adjusts the position of a second valve for regulating the supply of a second fuel of high quality. The first and second fuels are combined in a mixture before being fed to the fuel control valve and the inlet of the engine.
107 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A fuel supply system for an internal combustion engine, which system comprises:
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a fuel control valve for metering fuel to the inlet of the engine; a governor for monitoring the power output of the engine and adjusting the fuel control valve; a fuel mixture controller responsive to the governor; a first valve for regulating the supply of a first fuel of low quality; a second valve for regulating the supply of a second fuel of high quality responsive to the fuel mixture controller; and a mixer for combining the first and second fuels supplied by the first and second valves respectively and supplying the fuel mixture to the fuel control valve; the controller being set so as to open the second valve only when the desired power output of the engine is not achieved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for operating an internal combustion engine, which method comprises:
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supplying a first fuel of low quality to the inlet of the engine; monitoring the power output of the engine and comparing the output with a desired engine output; maintaining the desired engine output by adjusting the supply rate of the first fuel to the engine; providing a supply of a second fuel of high quality; and if the desired output is not achieved by the supply of the first fuel alone, supplying the second fuel to the inlet of the engine in an amount to achieve the desired power output of the engine. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An internal combustion engine comprising
a fuel inlet; -
a fuel control valve for metering fuel to the fuel inlet; a governor for monitoring the power output of the engine and adjusting the position of the fuel control valve; a fuel mixture controller responsive to the governor; a first valve for regulating the supply of a first fuel of low quality; a second valve for regulating the supply of a second fuel of high quality responsive to the fuel mixture controller; a mixer for combining the first and second fuels supplied by the first and second valves respectively and supplying the fuel mixture to the fuel control valve; the controller being set so as to open the second valve only when the desired power output of the engine is not achieved. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for operating an internal combustion engine, which method comprises supplying a first fuel of low quality to the inlet of the engine;
- and supplying a second fuel of high quality to the inlet of the engine in an amount to achieve a desired power output of the engine.
- View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. An internal combustion engine for operating with a hydrocarbon gas as a fuel, comprising a fuel inlet and a fuel supply system for supplying fuel to the fuel inlet, the fuel supply system comprising:
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a fuel control valve for metering fuel to the inlet of the engine; a governor for monitoring the power output of the engine and adjusting the fuel control valve; a fuel mixture controller responsive to the governor; a first valve for regulating the supply of associated gas to the engine; a second valve for regulating the supply of fuel gas responsive to the fuel mixture controller; a mixer for combining the associated gas and the fuel gas supplied by the first and second valves respectively and supplying the fuel mixture to the fuel control valve; and an ignition timing controller responsive to the fuel mixture controller and connected to the ignition system of the engine; the controller being set so as to open the second valve only when the desired power output of the engine is not achieved.
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Specification