Elongated fuel-air bypass for internal conbustion engine

Abstract

An elongated fuel-air bypass is connected between an outlet port of a fuel-air mixing device and an inlet port of an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine. The elongated bypass apparatus includes an elongated bypass conduit formed of a thermally conductive material and which has sufficient length, exterior surface area and thermal conductivity to enable it to cause liquid fuel introduced through the fuel-air mixing device to change from a liquid state to a gaseous state prior entry into the one or more cylinders of the internal combustion engine. Turbulence creating mechanisms, such as venturis or baffles, are provided in the elongated bypass conduit for creating turbulence in the fuel-air mixture flowing therethrough. An after-air supply tube is provided to supply after-air near an upstream end of the fuel-air bypass conduit, and is controlled by an after-air valve to provide for a lean fuel-air mixture. Also provided is a liquid additive system for supplying water and/or alcohol into the fuel-air bypass conduit. A start-up fuel injection system is provided to inject a burst of fuel into the fuel-air bypass conduit at initial start-up of the internal combustion engine. At least one reparticulation reservoir is provided in the bottom of a portion of the fuel-air bypass conduit in order to enable quick start-up of the engine after flooding.