Secondary air supply system for internal combustion engine

Abstract

The present specification discloses a system for providing a secondary air supply to an internal combustion engine so as to reduce undesirable exhaust gases. The system includes a hose running from a region of higher pressure to the exhaust port of the engine so as to supply air to such port. The area of higher pressure preferably comes from either a forward portion of the vehicle or from a high pressure region within the clutch compartment of the engine. A one-way valve is provided adjacent the exhaust port to eliminate any back flow. The method of providing secondary air supply is also disclosed.

1 . A secondary air supply system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising: 
 a. a one-way valve in fluid communication with an exhaust port of the engine; and    b. a fluid channel extending from a region of relatively high air pressure at the front of the vehicle to the exhaust port of the engine; said one-way valve being coupled to said fluid channel.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid channel comprises a hose extending from forward of a radiator of the engine.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said one-way valve comprises a reed valve.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said one-way valve is coupled to the exhaust port of the engine, said fluid channel having a rearward end being coupled to said one-way valve.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a short passage is disposed in the exhaust port running from said one-way valve into a region of exhaust gas exit from the combustion chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein a region of said short passage is cooled with an engine coolant.  
     
     
         7 . A secondary air supply system for an internal combustion engine having a clutch compartment with a clutch and a clutch fan, the system comprising: 
 a. a fluid channel extending from the clutch compartment to an exhaust port of the combustion chamber of the engine; and    b. a one-way valve in fluid communication with said fluid channel.    
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said fluid channel includes an air inlet in a region of relatively high air pressure created by the clutch fan.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said fluid channel is created with a hose extending from the clutch compartment to the exhaust port.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said one-way valve comprises a reed valve coupled to the exhaust port.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein a short passage is disposed in the exhaust port running from said one-way valve.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1   1 , wherein said short passage is cooled with engine coolant.  
     
     
         13 . A method of supplying a secondary air supply to the hot exhaust of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising channeling air from a forward end of said vehicle at a region of relatively high air pressure through a one-way valve to the hot exhaust gases exiting the combustion chamber of the engine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the air is channeled from a location in front of an engine coolant system.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the air is channeled to a reed valve coupled to an exhaust port of the engine.  
     
     
         16 . A method of supplying a secondary air supply to the hot exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine having a clutch compartment with a clutch fan, the method comprising channeling air from the clutch compartment, through a one-way valve, to an exhaust port of the engine, wherein the air channeled from the clutch compartment is from a region of relatively high pressure compared to the pressure at the exhaust port of the engine between exhaust pulses.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein air is fed to the channel from a region of the clutch compartment where the clutch fan blows air, creating a region of higher air pressure.