ATOMIZING FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM
An engine that includes an air intake, a combustion chamber, an air passageway that is configured to channel air from the air intake toward the combustion chamber, a carburetor, a throttle plate, and a fuel atomizer. The carburetor includes a fuel bowl with a fuel well, a carburetor passageway that is fluidly coupled to the air passageway and configured to channel air and fuel to the combustion chamber, and a carburetor nozzle that has an inlet configured to receive fuel from the fuel well and an outlet disposed proximate to a constricted section of the carburetor passageway. The throttle plate is disposed downstream of the carburetor nozzle, and the fuel atomizer is configured to provide fuel to the carburetor passageway.
1 . An engine comprising:
an air intake;
a combustion chamber;
an air passageway configured to channel air from the air intake toward the combustion chamber;
a carburetor including
a fuel bowl including a fuel well,
a carburetor passageway fluidly coupled to the air passageway and configured to channel air and fuel to the combustion chamber, and
a carburetor nozzle including an inlet configured to receive fuel from the fuel well and an outlet disposed proximate to a constricted section of the carburetor passageway;
a throttle plate disposed downstream of the carburetor nozzle; and
a fuel atomizer configured to provide fuel to the carburetor passageway.
2 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the fuel atomizer includes a piezoelectric actuator.
3 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the fuel atomizer provides fuel to the carburetor passageway in response to a load signal.
4 . The engine of claim 3 , wherein the load signal is a function of at least one of a throttle position, a power boost signal, a load detector output signal, and an environmental condition.
5 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the fuel atomizer includes an atomizer nozzle disposed upstream of the constricted section.
6 . The engine of claim 5 , wherein the atomizer nozzle is fluidly coupled to a portion of the air passageway between the air intake and the carburetor passageway.
7 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the fuel atomizer is fluidly coupled to the fuel bowl of the carburetor.
8 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein a fuel supply line fluidly couples the fuel bowl of the carburetor and the fuel atomizer and a flow control valve controls a flow rate of fuel within the fuel supply line.
9 . The engine of claim 1 , wherein the fuel atomizer is configured to perform a cold start operation.
10 . A fuel delivery assembly comprising:
an air passageway configured to channel air;
a carburetor including
a fuel bowl including a fuel well,
a carburetor passageway fluidly coupled to the air passageway and defining a constricted section, and
a carburetor nozzle including an inlet configured to receive fuel from the fuel well and an outlet disposed proximate to the constricted section; and
a fuel atomizer including a piezoelectric actuator configured to provide fuel to a flow of air passing through the carburetor passageway.
11 . The fuel delivery assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fuel atomizer is configured to provide the fuel in response to a load signal.
12 . The fuel delivery assembly of claim 11 , wherein the load signal is a function of at least one of a throttle position, a power boost signal, and a load detector output signal.
13 . The fuel delivery assembly of claim 10 , wherein the fuel atomizer is configured to perform a cold start operation.
14 . A carburetor comprising:
a fuel bowl;
a piezoelectric fuel atomizer positioned within the fuel bowl and configured to atomize fuel disposed within the fuel bowl; and
an outlet conduit coupled to the fuel bowl and configured to deliver atomized fuel to a manifold.
15 . The carburetor of claim 14 , wherein the piezoelectric fuel atomizer is disposed on a bottom surface of the fuel bowl.
16 . The carburetor of claim 14 , wherein the piezoelectric fuel atomizer is configured to float within the fuel.
17 . The carburetor of claim 14 , wherein the fuel atomizer includes a piezoelectric actuator.
18 . The carburetor of claim 14 , wherein the fuel atomizer is configured to provide the fuel in response to a load signal.
19 . The carburetor of claim 14 , wherein the fuel bowl includes a vent disposed along an outer surface of the fuel bowl, the vent configured to allow a flow of air between the fuel bowl and atmospheric air.
20 . The carburetor of claim 14 , wherein the fuel atomizer is configured to perform a cold start operation.