Air Sensors, Inc.

Impco Technologies, Inc.

Impco Technoligies, Inc.

David H Smith

David E Bennett

Craig D Mawle

Kenneth E Miller

A dual fuel injector for an engine is selectively controlled to either inject a liquid fuel such as gasoline or a gaseous fuel such as butane or propane to the engine. The injection of one fuel or the other is effected by alternatively feeding a pulsating voltage of one polarity or he other to the coil of an electrically controlled injector. The injector has a permanent magnet armature which is driven in one direction in response to pulses fed to its surrounding coil of one polarity and the opposite direction in response to pulses fed to the coil of the other polarity. When the armature is driven in a first direction, it drives a pintle attached thereto in that direction. The pintle in turn drives against a spring urged valve to open this valve, thereby permitting gasoline to pass through the control injector from where it is injected into the engine in a pulsating manner. When the armature is driven in an opposite direction, it drives a pintle in this same opposite direction against a second spring urged valve to open this valve to permit pulsating gaseous fuel to pass through the injector to the engine.

Dual fuel injector

An internal combustion engine is fueled with a controlled mixture of natural gas and air which mixture is regulated by a regulator responsive to an electronic controller. In the event of a system failure with the electronic controller shutting down, a backup regulator automatically bypasses the normal regulator to provide temporary operation with a predetermined acceptable constant gas mixture.

Backup control for natural gas fueled internal combustion engine

A gaseous fuel injector has a ball valve which is spring urged to a closed position. Positioned below this valve is the armature of an electromagnetic solenoid having an extension which abuts against the ball valve. The ball valve is normally closed against a valve seat to prevent passage of gas through the injector. With each actuation of the solenoid, the armature extension drives the ball valve upwardly from its valve seat to provide an injection of gas from the injector. The ball valve member, limit stops on the armature, and the surface along which the armature slides are all fabricated of durable, heat resistant plastic material which resists wear, provides low friction and are dimensionally stable over varying environmental conditions.

Gaseous fuel injector for internal combustion engine

A throttle body for an internal-combustion engine having a hollow venturi member positioned within the body. The member has a first portion projecting out of the body at its intake end, and a second portion positioned generally centrally within the body air duct upstream from a throttle plate. The second portion has an exterior surface spaced inward from the body interior sidewall to form an annular venturi passage therebetween. The first and second portions define an enclosed air channel. Circumferentially distributed entry openings in the first portion open exterior of the body duct for entry of air into the channel, and circumferentially distributed exit openings in the second portion communicating with the venturi air passage for the exit of air from the channel. The channel and the entry and exit openings define a sample flow path of air from a location exterior of the duct to a location adjacent to the venturi passage representative of the air mass flow through the duct. An anemometer sensor is positioned in the channel in the sample airflow path. The first portion of the venturi member has a bluff body shape to create a low pressure zone thereabout when air through the body duct is reversed to substantially eliminate airflow through the venturi member as a result of engine backflow pulsations.

Throttle body with internally mounted anemometer

A control system for internal combustion engines, including a first conduit for the flow of intake air, and a second conduit for the flow of natural gas to be mixed with the air for combustion. The flow of the air is variable over a range of mass flow rates during operation of the engine and an air mass sensor is positioned to sense the mass flow rate in the first conduit and generate a first flow rate signal indicating the mass flow rate. A natural gas mass sensor is positioned to sense the mass flow rate of the gas in the second conduit and to generate a second flow rate signal indicating the mass flow rate of the natural gas. The first and second flow rate signals are compared in an electronic controller that generates a control signal if the first and second flow rates vary from a predetermined ratio. The ratio is selected to provide a substantially stoichiometric ratio of air and natural gas. A valve is provided to adjustably control the flow rate of the natural gas in response to the control signal to maintain the preselected ratio. A sensor and shutoff valve are also provided for terminating the flow of the natural gas when its pressure falls below a predetermined pressure, allowing immediate flow of gasoline to the engine, thus assuring smooth, continued operation of the vehicle. A throttle body has a natural gas distribution ring in the throat of the body and provides a curtain flow of gas.

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Mercer Island, WA, United States of America

David H Smith