Abstract:
Anoxidizer and fuel plate is disclosed which discharges nitrous oxide and fuel into an intake manifold.The plated between a carburetor and an intake manifold and it provides a construction which slow the flow of the nitrous oxide so that the nitrous oxide introduced into the airstream is substantially uniformly distributed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from a provisional U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 60/163,081, filed Nov. 2, 1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in a manner consistent with this application. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a module placed between the carburetor and the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine for adding fuel and nitrous oxide to the airstream flowing from the carburetor to the engine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Nitrous oxide is a preferred oxidizer used to boost horsepower in high performance internal combustion engines. Nitrous oxide as an oxidizer is typically used in racing applications. However, in order to efficiently harness the energy provided by the nitrous oxide, the nitrous oxide should ideally be as evenly distributed as possible to the various cylinders of the engine. Nitrous plates having criss-crossing nitrous oxide and fuel feed tubes have been proposed for this purpose. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,418 is directed to a dual stage nitrous oxide and fuel injection plate having two pairs of nitrous oxide and fuel feed tubes. Each pair comprises a nitrous oxide tube and a fuel feed tube, the tubes being parallel to each other. One pair of tubes is perpendicular to the other pair. A first pair of parallel tubes is provided upstream with respect to a second pair of parallel tubes. In each pair of parallel tubes, the upstream tube is supplied with nitrous oxide, whereas the downstream tube is supplied with fuel. A plurality of spray ports are provided along the length of each tube. By having one pair of parallel tubes angled perpendicular with respect to another pair, the &#39;418 Patent attempts to create a homogeneous mixture of fuel and nitrous oxide. But the plate (or module) configuration of the &#39;418 Patent fails to do so. This is principally due to the pressure under which the nitrous oxide is supplied. 
     The &#39;418 Patent notes that the nitrous oxide is supplied in liquid form, typically on the order of 1000 psi. The nitrous oxide supply tubes in the respective tube pairs, i.e., the upper tubes in the &#39;418 Patent in each tube pair, each have an inlet supply port. The nitrous oxide is supplied to the tubes through the inlet supply ports under extremely high pressure. The spray ports are extremely small, on the order of the size of a pin hole. A pressure gradient is developed along the length of and within the nitrous oxide supply tubes. Namely, the pressure is highest within the tubes further from the supply ports. This is because the nitrous oxide“dams” against the terminal walls of the nitrous oxide supply tubes. Consequently, the higher pressure towards the terminal ends of the nitrous oxide supply tubes causes relatively more nitrous oxide to be delivered through the spray ports farthest from the inlet supply ports. Thus, an uneven distribution of nitrous oxide is introduced into the airstream. This, in turn, leads to different levels of nitrous oxide being supplied to different cylinders. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a nitrous oxide and fuel injection module which supplies a substantially uniform distribution of nitrous oxide to all of the engine&#39;s cylinders. These and other disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the nitrous oxide and fuel injection plate of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a nitrous oxide and fuel injection plate or module providing a substantially uniform distribution of nitrous oxide and fuel to the airstream passing through the plate. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nitrous oxide and fuel injection plate or module which has one or more airstreams flowing therethrough. 
     These and other objects of the preferred embodiments are provided by a fuel supply module (also referred to herein as a“module”) for adding fuel and nitrous oxide to an airstream flowing from a carburetor to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine, comprising: 
     a plate member (also referred to herein as a“plate”) for placement between the carburetor and the intake manifold to an internal combustion engine, said plate member defining an air passage (or opening) therethrough sized and shaped for passing the airstream from a carburetor to an internal combustion engine, said air passage including a central axis extending parallel to the direction of flow of the gas, including the airstream, moving through said opening; 
     at least one inlet feed port formed in said plate member for introducing nitrous oxide into said plate member; 
     at least one inlet feed port formed in said plate member for introducing fuel into said plate member; 
     a first communication passage formed in said plate member for distributing said nitrous oxide within said plate member; 
     a second communication passage formed in said plate member for distributing said fuel within said plate member; 
     at least one first discharge port formed in said plate member for discharging said nitrous oxide into said airstream, said at least one first discharge port causing said nitrous oxide to be discharged substantially evenly around the periphery of the air passage formed in said plate member; and 
     at least one second discharge port formed in said plate member for discharging said fuel into said airstream, said at least one second discharge port causing said fuel to be discharged substantially evenly around the periphery of the air passage formed in the plate member. 
     The invention is also directed to an internal combustion engine comprising a fuel supply module for adding fuel and nitrous oxide to an airstream flowing from a carburetor to an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine comprises: 
     a plate member for placement (or placed) between a carburetor and an intake manifold of the internal combustion engine, said plate member defining an air passage through it sized and shaped for passing an airstream from the carburetor to the internal combustion engine, said air passage including a central axis extending parallel to the direction of flow of the airstream moving through the air passage; 
     at least one inlet feed port formed in the plate member for introducing nitrous oxide into the plate member; 
     at least one inlet feed port formed in the plate member for introducing fuel into the plate member; 
     a first communication passage formed in the plate member for distributing the nitrous oxide within said plate member; 
     a second communication passage formed in the plate member for distributing the fuel within the plate member; 
     at least one first discharge port formed in the plate member for discharging the nitrous oxide into the airstream, said at least one first discharge port causing the nitrous oxide to be discharged substantially evenly around the periphery of the air passage formed in the plate member; and 
     at least one second discharge port formed in the plate member for discharging the fuel into the airstream, said at least one second discharge port causing the fuel to be discharged substantially evenly around the periphery of the air passage formed in the plate member. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art when the detailed description of the preferred embodiments is read in conjunction with the drawing figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the surface of the top plate member, which member faces the body plate member according to a first preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 2A is a side view of the top plate member of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 2B is a side view of the top plate member of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is top plan view of the body plate member according to the first preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 5 is side view of the body plate member of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a detail view taken from FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of the body plate member of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 8 is a detail view taken from FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along line  9 — 9  in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the bottom plate member according to the first preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 11A is a side view of the bottom plate member of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 11B is a side view of the bottom plate member of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the top plate member according to a second preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 14A is a side view of the top plate member of FIG. 13 
     FIG. 14B is a side view of the top plate member of FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken along line  15 — 15  in FIG.  13 . 
     FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the body plate member according to the second preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 17 is a side view of the body plate member of FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a side view of the body plate member according to FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 19 is a detail view taken from FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view taken along line  20 — 20  in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the bottom plate member according to the second preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 22A is a side view of the bottom plate member of FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 22B is a side view of the bottom plate member of FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view taken along line  23 — 23  in FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the top plate member according to a third preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 25A is a side view of the top plate member of FIG.  24 . 
     FIG. 25B is a side view of the top plate member of FIG.  24 . 
     FIG. 26 is a cross sectional view taken along line  26 — 26  in FIG.  24 . 
     FIG. 27 is top plan view of the body plate member according to the third preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 28 is a side view of the body plate member of FIG.  27 . 
     FIG. 29 is a side view of the body plate member according to the FIG.  27 . 
     FIG. 30 is a cross sectional view taken along line  30 — 30  in FIG.  27 . 
     FIG. 31 is a top plan view of the bottom plate member according to the third preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 32A is a side view of the bottom plate member of FIG.  31 . 
     FIG. 32B is a side view of the bottom plate member of FIG.  31 . 
     FIG. 33 is a cross sectional view taken along line  33 — 33  in FIG.  31 . 
     FIG. 34 is a cross sectional view of the module illustrating the features of the nitrous oxide fuel delivery paths according to the preferred embodiments. 
     FIG. 35 is a cross sectional view of the module illustrating the features of the fuel delivery paths according to the preferred embodiments. 
     FIG. 36 is a plan view of the top of the top plate member according to a second preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 37A is a side view of the top plate member of FIG.  36 . 
     FIG. 37B is a detail view of an area from FIG.  37 A. 
     FIG. 38 is a plan view of the bottom of the top plate member of FIG.  36 . 
     FIG. 39 is a side view of the top plate member of FIG.  36 . 
     FIG. 40 is a plan view of the bottom of the body plate member according to a second preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 41 is a side view of the body plate member of FIG.  40 . 
     FIG. 42 is a side view of the body plate member of FIG.  40 . 
     FIG. 43 is a plan view of the top of the body plate member according to a second preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 44 is a side view of the body plate member of FIG.  43 . 
     FIG. 45 is a side view of the body plate member of FIG.  43 . 
     FIG. 46 is a detail view taken from FIG.  44 . 
     FIG. 47 is a detail view taken from FIG.  45 . 
     FIG. 48 is a plan view of the bottom plate member according to a second preferred embodiment of the module. 
     FIG. 49 is a side view of the bottom plate member of FIG. 48 showing details of carburetor bolt clearance and exit radius of the air passage. 
     FIG. 50 is a side view of the bottom plate member of FIG. 48 showing details of screw holes for screws which hold the plate together. 
     FIG. 51 is a detail view taken from FIG.  49 . 
     FIG. 52 is a detail view taken from FIG.  48 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to an improved module  10  for delivering a homogeneous supply of nitrous oxide and fuel into the engine&#39;s intake manifold. The module  10  is situated between the carburetor and the intake manifold. Three preferred embodiments of the module are disclosed. Each module comprises a plate, which may be conveniently described with reference to three principal components, namely, a top plate member  20 , a bottom plate member  40  and a body plate member  30  positioned between the top and bottom plate members. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-12, the plate (also referred to herein as an “annular discharge nitrous oxide and fuel injection plate” or “module” or “annular discharge plate”)  10  according to the first preferred embodiment is illustrated. The annular discharge plate  10  comprises three main components, namely a top plate member  20  FIGS.  1 - 3 ), a body plate member  30  (FIGS.  4 - 9 ), and a bottom plate member  40  FIGS.  10 - 12 ). The top plate member  20  and bottom plate member  40  sandwich the body plate member (or “body member”)  30 , forming the completed annular discharge plate  10 . Within each of the plate members  20 ,  30 ,  40  are subcomponents which are described below. 
     With particular reference to FIGS. 1-3, the top plate member  20  comprises a top plate  210  having a top surface  212  which comes into contact with the carburetor. The top plate member  20  includes a central portion  216  through which an airstream A flows, as shown representatively in FIG. 2A. A wall (also referred to herein as a “fence”)   213  protrudes from the bottom surface  214  of the top plate member  20  inwardly of the side edges  215   a ,  215   b  thereof. The wall  213  cooperates with the body member  30  to form a restriction in the nitrous oxide feed path to slow the flow of the nitrous oxide and allow it to be distributed substantially evenly around the central portion  216  prior to the delivery into the airstream A. The wall  213  extends around the perimeter of central portion  216 . The inner side edge  215   a  of the top plate member  20  is defined by a conical surface  220 . Conical surface  220  cooperatively engages a corresponding conical surface  320  (FIG. 9) formed on the inner side edge of the body plate member  30 . A channel  222  is provided adjacent the wall  213 . A gasket is positioned within channel  222  to contain the nitrous oxide within the module. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4-9, the details of the body plate member  30  are illustrated. The body plate member  30  comprises a body plate  310  having a top surface  312  which comes into contact with the bottom surface  214  of the top plate member  20 . The body plate member  310  has a bottom surface  314 . The body plate member  30  includes a central portion  316  through which the airstream A flows, as shown representatively in FIG. 7. A nitrous oxide channel  318  is formed in the top surface  312 . When the module is assembled, the wall or fence  213  is positioned substantially centrally in the channel  318  to divide it into an outer reservoir and an inner reservoir (as discussed below). The inner side edge  315   a  of the body plate member  30  is defined by a conical surface  320 . Conical surface  320  is inclined at a 25 degree angle. Conical surfaces  220 ,  320  cooperatively engage one another upon assembly of the module  10 . 
     The body plate member  30  includes a plurality of nitrous oxide inlet feed ports  330  and fuel inlet feed ports  340  formed therearound. The nitrous oxide and fuel inlet feed ports may be threaded. The fuel supply module comprises a first communication passage for distributing nitrous oxide within the plate member. The fuel supply module also comprises a second communication passage for distributing fuel within the plate member.  30  The first and second communication passages may have any suitable construction which enables them to perform their respective functions. In one embodiment, the first communication passage includes at least one nitrous oxide feed port  330  in fluid communication with at least one communication feed path  332 . The at least one communication feed path  332  is in fluid communication with the channel (or “reservoir”)  318 , which surrounds the air passage. Each of the nitrous oxide feed ports  330  is in fluid communication with at least one communication feed path  332 . The first communication passage also includes the wall or a fence  213  (FIG. 3) which (when the module is assembled) subdivides the nitrous oxide channel  318  into an inner reservoir (closest to the center of the central portion  316 ) and an outer reservoir. 
     In one embodiment, the second communication passage comprises at least one fuel inlet feed port  340  in fluid communication with at least one communication feed path  342  (FIG.  7 ). The at least one communication feed path  342  is in fluid communication with a fuel channel (or fuel reservoir)  418  (FIG. 12) formed in the bottom plate member  40 . The second communication passage also comprises at least one discharge port  450  in fluid communication via a communication feed path  342  with a fuel channel  418 . Thus, the nitrous oxide feed ports  330  are in fluid communication via one or more communication feed paths  332  with a channel  318  (FIG.  8 ). The fuel feed ports are in fluid communication via a communication feed path  342  with the channel  418  (FIGS.  7  and  12 ). Each of the communication feed paths  332  and  342  may have any desirable construction. For example, each of the feed paths  332  may comprise a conduit which links each nitrous oxide feed port  330  with the nitrous oxide channel  318 . Similarly, each of the feed paths  342  may comprise a conduit linking each of the fuel feed ports  340  with an opening in the bottom of the body plate member at a location which communicates with the fuel channel  418 . 
     In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 4-6, each nitrous oxide feed port  330  is connected with three communication feed paths  332 A,  332 B and  332 C (FIG.  6 ). The feed paths  332 B and  332 C have their terminal openings directed towards the middle portion of that segment of the nitrous oxide channel  318  where the nitrous oxide feed port is placed, and these feed paths have a smaller diameter than the feed path  332 A. The feed path  332 A has its terminal opening directed toward the semi-circular corner of that portion of the nitrous oxide channel  318  where the nitrous oxide feed port is placed (FIGS.  4 - 6 ). The semi-circular corner corresponds approximately to the location of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine. In this embodiment, the relative dimensions and orientation of the three communication feed paths in conjunction with the geometry of the fence  213  provide a particularly advantageous and uniform nitrous oxide spray plume around the circumference of the air passage. In one preferred embodiment, the communication feed path  332 A has a diameter of 0.110 inches, and each of the communication feed paths  332 B and  332 C has a diameter of 0.040 inches. As illustrated in FIGS. 4-9, the terminal communication feed paths  332 A and  332 C are inclined at an angle of  25  degrees in the XZ plane and 30 degrees in the XY plane. 
     In one embodiment, each of the communication feed paths  342  has a diameter of 0.110 inches and is 0.125 inches deep. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 10-12, the bottom plate member  40  is illustrated. The bottom plate member  40  comprises a bottom plate  410  including a top surface  412  which comes into contact with the bottom surface  314  of the body plate member  30 . The bottom plate member  40  includes a central portion  416  through which the airstream A flows. A fuel channel  418  is formed in the top surface  412 . Fuel F (not illustrated) from fuel feed ports  340  is delivered via communication feed paths  342  into the fuel channel  418 . A plurality of spaced radial holes (or discharge ports)  450  are formed in the inner side wall  452  of bottom plate member  40 . The fuel F is delivered through radial holes  450  into the central portion  416 . A channel  422  is provided in the proximity of the wall  413 . A gasket is positioned within channel  422 . The gasket positioned in channel  422  serves to contain fuel F within fuel channel  418 . 
     Now with reference to FIGS. 34-35, the cooperation of the three principal components, namely, the top plate member  20 , the body plate member  30 , and the bottom plate member  40  will become apparent. FIGS. 34-35 representatively illustrate cross sections of the assembled module  10 . Advantageously, a small gap G (in one embodiment, approximately 4 mils or 0.004 inches) is formed between the distal end of the wall  213  and the bottom of the channel  318 . Consequently, the nitrous oxide is caused to follow a tortured path along the wall  213 , through the gap G beneath the wall  213 , then back up along the wall  213  and back down a very small gap between the mating conical surfaces  220 ,  320  before being discharged to the airstream A. Without wishing to be bound by any theory of operability, it is believed that this tortured path causes a substantially uniform distribution of the nitrous oxide prior to delivery to the airstream A. Pressure of nitrode oxide in the channel  318  is relatively high (about 900 to about 1,100 psi). When the module is assembled, the mating surfaces  220 ,  320  form a relatively tight seal with a very small gap between the two mating surfaces  220 ,  320 . That gap is about 4 to about 6 mils (i.e., about 0.004 to about 0.006 inches). Nonetheless, the high pressure of the nitrous oxide forces it to exit the nitrous oxide channel  318  through the very small gap, and be discharged in a substantially uniform manner into the airstream A, upstream from the outlet of the radial holes  450  which discharge fuel into the airstream. 
     The fuel F, on the other hand, operates under much lower pressure (7-50 psi) than the nitrous oxide. Consequently, the fuel need not be delivered in a tortured path. Instead, as illustrated in FIG. 35, the fuel is delivered into the channel  418 . From there, the fuel F enters the airstream A through the plurality of radial holes  450  formed in the inner side wall  452  of the bottom plate member  40 . 
     Dimensions of various components of the plate are not critical and may be designed by those skilled in the art for a particular technical application and the combination of the carburetor and manifold. In one embodiment, the depth of the nitrous oxide channel  318  is about 0.280 inches, the fuel channel  418  is 0.070 inches wide and 0.055 inches deep, and the bottom plate member has thirty two (32) radial holes  450  delivering fuel into the airstream A. In another embodiment, such as that shown in FIGS. 48 and 52, the bottom plate member has a series of slots having a width of 0.030 inches and a depth of 0.020 inches. 
     FIGS. 13-23 and  36 - 52  illustrate the features of a second preferred embodiment. FIGS.  24 — 33  illustrate the features of a third preferred embodiment. For example, in FIG. 49, air passage (exit)  416  of the air passage is shown and its dimensions, such as radius  501  which is 0.063 inches, and carburetor bolt clearance  502  are, also illustrated. In FIG. 50, countersunk holes  504  to hold the plate together are illustrated. FIGS. 36-52 show some alternative details of the second preferred embodiment. The same reference numerals are used in the various drawings to represent the same elements of the module. Since the basic principles of operation and construction remain the same between the various embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate the manner of constructing the second and third embodiments by reference to the discussion above. 
     Nonetheless, some of the differences between the first embodiment, and the second, and the third embodiments are summarized below. 
     In the second embodiment, the nitrous oxide inlet feed ports  330  are placed in the corners of the body plate member. Each nitrous oxide feed port  330  is connected to a single communication feed path  332  (FIGS. 16,  17 , and  18 ). In one version of the second embodiment, the communication feed path  332  has a diameter of 0.110 inches and the mating conical surfaces  220 ,  320  have an angle of 15 degrees. In one version of this embodiment, the fence  213  is approximately 0.003″ longer along the four substantially straight portions K of the top plate than in the semicircular portions of the top plate. Thus, in this version, the gap G (not shown in FIGS. 13-23) may be approximately two (2) mils along the four substantially straight (linear) portions of the top plate and approximately 4 mils in the semicircular portions of the top plate. In this second embodiment, and all other embodiments, the gap between the conical surfaces  220  and  320  is approximately 0.004—approximately 0.006 (inches), and preferably it is 0.004-0.006 inches. 
     In the third embodiment, the plate, including a top plate member, a bottom plate member and a body plate member, is subdivided into four separate circular regions, which subdivide the central portion  216  into four separate circular air passages. Each of the four separate, circular air passages delivers the mixture of air, fuel and nitrous oxide into an intake manifold. Each of the nitrous oxide feed ports  330  is connected to a single communication feed path  332  (FIGS.  28  and  29 ). In one embodiment, the communication feed path  332  has a diameter of 0.110 inches. 
     In all Figures, any dimensions shown are in inches, unless otherwise indicated. 
     The invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments. This description is illustrative only and does not limit the invention. Many variations and modifications are within the scope of the preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.