US3888954A

US3888954A - Liquid vaporising unit

Info

Publication number: US3888954A
Application number: US349658A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Eberle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-09
Filing date: 1973-04-09
Publication date: 1975-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-10

Abstract

The device comprises a liquid container and a plurality of capilliary wicks extending from the container and extending across an air-flow passage. By varying the level of liquid in the container and/or the degree of wick exposed in the air-flow passage, control of the vapor-air mixture is assured.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,888,954

Eberle June 10, 1975 [5 LIQUID VAPORISING UNIT 1.707,249 4/1929 Bre'geaut 261/99 x 2,038,031 4/1936 Doyle [761 lnvemor- Eberle 2027 28th Ave-1 2,323,721 7/1943 McLindon 261/107 x Calgary Alberta Canada 2.73 538 2/1956 Barlow 261/18 A [22] Filed: Apr. 9, 1973 Prtmary ExaminerFrank W. Lutter PP NOJ 349,658 Assistant Examiner-William Cuchlinski, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmStanley G. Ade

[52] US. Cl 261/18 A; 261/36 A; 261/99;

26l/l07; 26l/DIG. 6 ABSTRACT I [5 1] Int. Cl. F02m /02 The device comprises a liquid container and a plural- [58] Field of Search 261/105, 107, 18, 36 A, ity of capilliary wicks extending from the container 261/72, 96, 99, DIG. 6 and extending across an air-flow passage. By varying the level of liquid in the container and/or the degree [56] References Cited of wick exposed in the air-flow passage, control of the UNITED STATES PATENTS vapor-air mixture is assured.

1,623,053 4/1927 Howard et al. 261/18 R 16 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 38 72. I mzmmmam m 1H mam mam -r z "1111 11111111111 23 1 I l W f\ 25 26A se-- /so 66 G9 24 c-"T-B'W- r E .1[T' 1 1- '1 r 19 a -\\\\lL// I r I 20- 4 21 LIQUID VAPORISING UNIT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improvements in liquid vaporizing units which are adapted for use either as humidifiers in hot air furnaces or, as carburetors in internal combustion engines using a volatile fuel such as gasoline as a source of power.

Humidifiers normally have a fixed area exposed to the air flow, said area being adapted to pick up water from a container so that the air passing over the area, evaporates the water thus increasing the humidity. However, such devices are not controllable and are in general unsatisfactory for many conditions.

Conventional carburetors used for internal combustion engines rely on the venturi effect of a volume of air passing over a jet having a level of gasoline just below the outlet of the jet so that the decreased pressure present above the jet due to the venturi effect, withdraws fuel or gasoline from the jet in a spray form.

Such devices also suffer from many disadvantages, one of which is due to the fact that varying weather conditions affect the operation of the carburetor. Another disadvantage resides in the fact that it is difficult to add other liquids such as water vapor, the use of which is believed to be advantageous under many conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes these disadvantages and although the description and drawings illustrate the device as used as a carburetor, nevertheless it will be appreciated that it can be used equally as well as a humidifier for a hot air furnace.

The present device overcomes faults in existing equipment by the provision of capilliary wicks or strips, one end of which is inserted within the liquid to be evaporated and the other end of which is extended across a flow of air through an air passageway so that evaporation can occur. By varying the level of fuel within the container and/or by varying the amount of wick or strip exposed to the air stream, control may be obtained.

The principal object and essence of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which varying amounts of capilliary strips can be provided within an air stream thus controlling the evaporation of liquid from the capilliary strips.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described is to provide a method of introducing water vapor to the fuel mixture, if the device is being used as a carburetor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the air is readily pre-heated when the device is being used as a carburetor, thus assisting in adequate mixing of the air/fuel mixture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is suitable for use with small or large engines, it merely being necessary to increase the area of the air passageway together with the number of capilliary strips which may extend thereacross.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which includes a novel back-fired damper assembly particularly suitable for use with thistype of carburetor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the relative volume of water vapor and gasoline vapor may be varied within limits.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and other such objects and advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the device shown broken away for clarity.

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary view of one alternative embodyment of the tensioning means.

FIG. 1B ia a fragmentary view of a second alternative embodyment of the tensioning means.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of an air filter usable with the device.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of an alternative air filter with air pre-heating means therein.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, it should be appreciated that the description and the drawings show the device as used as a carburetor but by the elimination of the air filter and the backfired assembly, the device is readily usable as a humidifier without further modification.

The device consists of a liquid container 10 which in this embodiment includes a first container 1 1 and a second container 12 each situated upon one side of an air passageway 13, the cross sectional configuration of which is preferably rectangular as shown in FIG. 3.

Reference character 14 shows means for conveying liquid from a source (not illustrated) to the containers 11 and 12 and if a volatile fluid such as gasoline is being used in both containers, then a union 15 connects with two intake pipes 16 which in turn connect with liquid intakes 17, one of which is provided for each container 11 and 12.

If, however, one of the containers is adapted to contain liquid fuel and the other to contain, for example, water, then the union 15 is not used, but rather the intake 14 is connected directly to the intakes 17 in one of the containers such as container 12.

Under these circumstances, a water connection shown in phantom by reference character 18 is provided for the other container 11 and connected to a source of water.

Means are provided to control the liquid level within containers l1 and 12, consisting of an overflow pipe assembly collectively designated 19, there being one such assembly for each container.

Each assembly 19 includes a length of pipe 20 connected by a union 21 to the interior of the containers 11 and 12, by means of a gland nut 22.

The upper or overflow end 23 of the pipe is connected back to the source of fuel (not illustrated).

The gland nut 22 permits the assembly 19 to be moved in a vertical arc illustrated by reference character 24 so that the level within the container is controlled by the position of the overflow outlet 23.

In the present view shown in FIG. 1, the liquid level would be as illustrated by the dotted line 25.

At least one capillary strip 26 is provided and in the present embodiment, a plurality of said strips is shown extending clear across the width of the containers.

Each strip is mounted for extension and retraction across the air passage 13 by means of a control bracket assembly collectively designated 27.

One end 28 of the strips extending from container 12 are secured to one side of the control bracket assembly 27 and one end 29 of the strips extending from the container 11, are also secured to the control bracket assembly as will hereinafter be described.

Means are provided to tension the strips 26 relative to the attached

ends

28 and 29, and in FIG. 1, one such method is shown in container 11 while two alternative methods are shown in container 12.

The portion 26A of the strips 26 within the containers are of course immersed in liquid at all times and the tensioning device shown in container 11 consists of a recoil spring assembly 30 to which the end of strip 26 is secured. This recoil spring assembly is conventional in structure and is similar to a roller blind recoil assembly without the ratchet. It normally supplies tension to the strip, but permits same to be moved across the passageway l3, unwinding the required amount of strip to permit this action.

The strip 26 passes over a guide roller 31 which permits the portion of the strip spanning the air passageway 13, to enter same normal to the direction of air travelling through the passageway as indicated by arrow 32. 1

All of the recoil assemblies 30 are mounted upon a common shaft 33 held within a U-shaped brackets 34 at each side of the container and the rollers 31 are also held upon a common shaft held within U-shaped brackets 35 also at each side of the container.

The control bracket assembly 27 includes an actuator arm 36 consisting of two members 37 and a cross member 38. The members 37 are journalled for horizontal movement upon the top of the containers, by means of guide rollers 39 journalled upon pins 40 extending above the containers as clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

These arms 37 are slotted as at 41 and terminate in a capillary strip securing bar 42 which is secured transversely across the ends of arms 37 and across the width of the container 13.

Right angled brackets 43 are secured upon each end of this securing bar 42 and the ends 28 of the capilliary strips 26 extending from chamber 12, are secured to a cross bar 44 extending between these brackets 43.

This means that if the actuating bar 36 is moved in the direction of double-headed arrow 45, the portions of the capilliary strips 26 spanning the air passage 13 varies from a minimum position to a maximum position. In FIG. 1, they are shown at almost the maximum position and span almost the entire width of the passageway.

A further capillary strip securing bar 46 is provided with right angled brackets 47 and the ends 29 of the strips 26 extending from container 11 are secured to this cross bar 48 in turn secured to the right angled brackets 47. It will be noted that the further securing bar 46 passes under the arms 37 of the actuator bar 36 so that it is retained in position andpermits movement across the air passage 13 by means collectively designated 49.

Said means includes pulleys 50 journalled for rotation in a horizontal plane upon pivots 51 situated upon the upper side of the container. Flexible means such as cables 52 extend around the pulleys and one end of these cables is secured to adjacent the ends of the sec- 0nd or self-securing bar 46 at points indicated by reference character 53.

The other ends extend around the pulleys and attach to clamps 54 mounted through the aforementioned slots 41 in the arms 37.

This means that as the actuating bar 36 is moved in the direction of arrow 45, the securing bars 46 and 42 move either together or apart due to the interaction of the pulley and cable assembly 49.

This means that the capillary strips 26 from chamber or container 12 moves across the air passage 13 at the same time as the strips 26 from container 11 and it is desirable that these strips are in alternate relationship one with the other in order to give an even exposure of the strips relative to the air passage 13.

However, if different fluids are used in the containers, the adjustable clamps 54 permit the relationship between the

bars

42 and 46 to be varied so that, for example, the strips in container 12 may extend farther across the passage than the strips in container 11 thus giving, for example, a great percentage of gasoline to water vapor.

The cables 52 are maintained in a tensioned relationship relative to points 53 and 54, by the provision of springs 55 extending between fixed points 56 on one side of container 11, and fixed points 57 on the ends of the securing bar 46.

When used as a carburetor, it is necessary to provide a method of preventing back fires from reaching the capilliary strips and reference should be made to FIG. 1 in which is shown a rectangular plate 58 which is held in a stationary or fixed position against strips 59, said plate being multi-apertured as indicated by reference character 60.

Spaced below this plate is a movable plate 61 normally resting upon ledges 62 extending inwardly from the walls of the air passage 13 and spaced from plate 58. This plate is also multi-apertured as indicated by reference character 63 and these apertures are staggered or misaligned with respect to apertures 60.

Plate'61 is capable of vertical movement upwardly into interfacial relationship with the underside of the stationary plate 58 in the event that a back fire occurs thus generating pressure in the lower end 13A of the air passage. Under these circumstances, due to the misalignment of apertures 60 and 63, the passageway is shut off and no flame can pass through these plates to the capillary strips 26 extending across the air passage above the plates. I

Means are provided to vent this excess pressure and take the form of a fire or flame door 64 situated one upon each end of the air passage 13. These doors are hinged to the outside of the end walls by hinges 65 and a tension spring 66 extends between the doors and across the passage and assists in holding them closed, it being understood that normally vacuum will be present within this air passage due to air passing therethrough.

In the event that excess pressure is generated within the air passage below

plates

58 and 61, plate 61 moves upwardly thus closing off the passage and excess pressure is vented through the doors 64.

Previously described is the principal method of providing tension to the capillary strips 26. Also shown in FIG. 1 on the right-hand side thereof are two alternate methods one of which consists of a tension spring 67 extending between an anchor point 68 within the container 12 and being secured to the strip 26 along the length thereof with excess material 26B lying loosely on the bottom of the container in order to ensure adequate cross sectional area for efficient capillary pick-up of the liquid within the container.

Also shown in phantom is an alternative method which merely consists of a weight 69 secured along the length 26 below the guide roller 31 which supplies the required tension to strips 26.

When used as a carburetor, an air filter assembly 70 is provided consisting of a rectangular casing 71, having turn screws 72 provided adjacent the corners, normally engaging within brackets 72' secured adjacent the outside corners of the casing forming the device and clearly shown in FIG. 1.

Within this rectangular casing 71 is an air guiding baffle 73 directing air towards the intake end of the air passage 13, and a pair of

screens

74 and 75 having filtering material 76 therebetween. These screens are provided with frames (not illustrated) which are slightly resilient so that they can be frictionally held against the insides of the casing 71 in the position shown in FIG. 2. An upward pull upon a handle 77 secured to the uppermost screen 75, will enable same to be removed readily and easily.

Under certain circumstances, it is desirable to preheat the air passing into the air intake 13 through the air filter 70, and to this end, a surrounding radiator 78 extends around the periphery of the casing 71 with all air passing through the radiator and then downwardly through the screens into the air intake 13.

The radiator is provided with a water or coolant intake 79 and a similar discharge conduit 80 both of which are connected to the conventional car radiator system shown schematically by reference character 81, thus ensuring when the engine is up to normal operating temperature, a supply of hot coolant through the radiator 78 which pre-heats the air passing therethrough into the air passage 13.

In operation, when used as a humidifier, the air filter 70 together with the

plates

58 and 61 and the doors 64 are eliminated and a source of water is connected to a The primary adjustment of the amount of liquid being evaporated may be controlled by the level of the liquid within the containers l1 and 12 by means of the overflow pipe assembly 19.

If one container holds water, the .relationship between water vapor and fuel vapor is adjusted by means of a relationship between the securing

bars

42 and 46 and the quantity of fuel being evaporated is controlled by means of the control bracket assembly being moved in the direction of double-headed arrow 45 at which time a greater or lesser proportion of capillary strips span the air passage 13, it being understood that these can be at a minimum position with no fuel being evaporated to a maximum position with the entire area of the air passage being covered by the horizontal portions of the capillary strips FIGS. 1 and 3 show the preferred method of construction in which the containers 1] and 12 are substantially rectangular and are closed with two relatively short portions 82 extending between the

end walls

83 and 84 of the containers which together with the inner longitudinal side plates 85 of the two containers, define the aforementioned air passage 13 which of course is open at the upper end as well as the lower end.

Finally it should be stressed that when used as a carburetor for internal combustion engines, the device ensures evenness of distribution of the fuel to each cylinder due to the fact that the fuel is fully vaporized and mixes with the, air as it passes through the device. Conventional carburetors on the other hand feed the fuel to the air in the form of a spray and unless this is fully vaporized before reaching the intake manifold there is nothing to ensure equal distribution of the fuel to each cylinder.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A liquid vaporizing device comprising in combination a liquid container, means to convey liquid to said container and means to control the level of liquid in said container, at least one flexible porous capillary strip of material in said container, an air flow passage, said strip of material extending into said passage and means to control the amount of material in said passage from a minimum amount to a maximum amount thereby controlling the amount of liquid evaporated from the strip of material by air passing through said passage, said means to control the amount of material in said passage including a control bracket assembly, means to mount said bracket assembly for movement across said air flow passage, one end of said capillary strip being secured to said bracket assembly, and

' means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly, said control bracket assembly including an actuating bar and a capillary strip securing bar secured at right angles to one end of said actuating bar, and spring means reacting between said assembly and said container normally biassing said assembly to the minimum material amount within said passage.

2. The device according to claim 1, said device being adapted for use as a carburetor, at least one of said containers being connected to a source of liquid fuel such as gasoline, a backfire damper assembly in said air flow passage, said assembly including a stationary apertured plate spanning said passage below said capillary strips, a further apertured plate in said passage normally spaced below said stationary plate, means mounting said further apertured plate for limited vertical movement in said passage, from a spaced apart position to an interfacial contact position with said stationary plate, the apertures in said plates being misaligned so that passage through said plates is shut off when in the said interfacial contact position, and at least one exhaust door in the wall of said passage and below said plates and spring means normally biassing said door to the closed position, but permitting opening of said door against spring pressure when the pressure within said passage exceeds the strength of said spring means.

3. The device according to claim 2 in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means, intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

4. The device according to claim 1 in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

5. A liquid vaporizing device comprising in combination a pair of liquid containers, means to convey liquids to said containers and means to control the level of liquid in said containers, at least one flexible porous capillary strip of material in each of said containers, an air flow passage, each of said strip extending into said air flow passage from opposite sides thereof, said containers being situated one upon each side of said air flow passage, and means to control the amount of material in said passage from a minimum amount to a maximum amount thereby controlling the amount of liquid evaporating from the strips of material by air passing through said passage, said means to control the amount of material in said passage including the control bracket assembly, means to mount said assembly for movement across said passage, one end of each of said capillary strips being secured to said assembly and means on said strips for tensioning said strips relative to said brackets, said control bracket assembly including a actuating bar and a pair of capillary strip securing bars, one of said capillary strips being secured to one of said capillary strip securing bars, the other of said capillary strips being secured to the other of said capillary strips securing bars, one of said capillary strips securing bars being secured at right angles to one end of said actuating bar and means mounting the other of said capillary strips securing bars for opposite movement to said first capillary strips securing bars when the latter is moved by said actuating bar.

6. The device according to claim 5 including means to selectively vary the relationship between said capillary strip securing bars thereby varying the amounts of one capillary strip relative to the other exposed across said passage.

7. The device according to claim 6, in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative'to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

8. The device according toclaim 6 in. which said means includes a pulley assembly mounted on said container, flexible means extending around said pulley, said flexible means being anchored at one end thereof to the other of said capillary strips securing bar, the other end of said flexible means secured in adjustable relationship to said actuator bar, and spring means tensioning said flexible means.

9. The device according to claim 8 in which said means on said strip' for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

10. The device according to claim 5, said device being adapted for use as a carburetor, at least one of said containers being connected to a source of liquid fuel such as gasoline, a backfire damper assembly in said passage, said assembly including a stationary apertured plate spanning said passage below said capillary strips, a further apertured plate in said passage normally spaced below said stationary plate, means mounting said further apertured plate for limited vertical movement in said passage, from a spaced apart position to an interfacial contact position with said stationary plate, the apertures in said plates being misaligned so that passage through said plates is shut off when in the said interfacial contact position, and at least one exhaust door in the wall of said passage and below said plates and spring means normally biassing said door to the closed position, but permitting opening of said door against spring pressure when the pressure within said passage exceeds the strength of said spring means.

11. The device according to claim 10 in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

12. The device according to claim 10 including means to selectively vary the relationship between said capillary strip securing bars thereby varying the amount of one capillary strip relative to the other exposed across said passage.

13. The device according to claim 12 in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly'and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

14. The device according to claim 12 in which said means includes a pulley assembly mounted on said container, flexible means extending around said pulley, said flexible means being anchored at one end thereof to the other of said capillary strips securing bar, the other end of said flexible means secured in adjustable relationship to said actuator bar, and spring means tensioning said flexible means.

15. The device according to claim 14 in which said means 'on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

Claims

1. A liquid vaporizing device comprising in combination a liquid container, means to convey liquid to said container and means to control the level of liquid in said container, at least one flexible porous capillary strip of material in said container, an air flow passage, said strip of material extending into said passage and means to control the amount of material in said passage from a minimum amount to a maximum amount thereby controlling the amount of liquid evaporated from the strip of material by air passing through said passage, said means to control the amount of material in said passage including a control bracket assembly, means to mount saId bracket assembly for movement across said air flow passage, one end of said capillary strip being secured to said bracket assembly, and means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly, said control bracket assembly including an actuating bar and a capillary strip securing bar secured at right angles to one end of said actuating bar, and spring means reacting between said assembly and said container normally biassing said assembly to the minimum material amount within said passage.

7. The deviCe according to claim 6, in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

8. The device according to claim 6 in which said means includes a pulley assembly mounted on said container, flexible means extending around said pulley, said flexible means being anchored at one end thereof to the other of said capillary strips securing bar, the other end of said flexible means secured in adjustable relationship to said actuator bar, and spring means tensioning said flexible means.

9. The device according to claim 8 in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

13. The device according to claim 12 in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

15. The device according to claim 14 in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.

16. The device according to claim 5, in which said means on said strip for tensioning said strip relative to said bracket assembly includes a spring-loaded recoil assembly in said container, said strip being secured to said recoil assembly and guide means intermediate said recoil assembly and the said one end of said strip.