Fuel saving apparatus for multiple cylinder internal combustion engines

Abstract

Fuel saving apparatus for controlling the supply of fuel to one or more selected cylinders of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprises a remotely and independently controlled fuel saving valve operably positioned to provide selective communication between the cylinder clearance volume and a filtered air portion of the engine carburetor. The valve is closed for normal, full power engine operation, and open for predetermined low engine power demand periods. The opening of said valve so severely reduces cylinder intake vacuum and resultant air-fuel influx as to render temporarily ineffective the cylinder, thereby reducing engine fuel consumption.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A fuel saving apparatus for multiple cylinder spark ignition internal combustion engines having a carburetor filtered air portion, said apparatus comprising: a. an elongated tubular body member including an externally threaded first body portion adapted for sealing engagement within an engine cylinder spark plug aperture;   b. an apertured second body portion being internally threaded and adapted for sealingly receiving and engaging therein a spark plug;   c. a third body portion disposed adjacent said second body portion and including an aperture therethrough;   d. said body member including a central longitudinal aperture interconnecting the first, second and third body portions; and   e. a valve member in said third body portion and adapted to move between an open and a closed condition respectively for opening and closing said third body portion aperture, said valve member having first and second ends; said valve member first end being sealingly attached to said third body portion about the aperture therein; said valve member second end being adapted for connection with said filtered air portion; said valve member, in said open condition causing cylinder intake vacuum to be reduced to the extent that an engine cylinder having connection therewith is rendered temporarily ineffective and engine fuel consumption is thereby reduced.   
     
     
       2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said body member includes inner and outer side walls;   b. a water jacket cavity is formed between said inner and outer side walls and is adapted to contain fluid therein for cooling said body member; and   c. said body member outer wall has inlet and outlet apertures therethrough; said inlet and outlet apertures having connection with said water jacket cavity and being adapted for connection with a flowing coolant fluid system of said engine.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including: a. a cylindrical valve tube for facilitating the engagement of said apparatus and said engine spark plug aperture; said valve tube having a first end thereof sealingly attached to said third body portion about the aperture therein;   b. said valve tube extending opposingly from the first body portion and at an oblique angle to a body central axis; and   c. a valve tube second end having connection with said valve member first end.   
     
     
       4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. means for remotely operating said valve member are operably attached thereto for opening and closing said third body portion aperture.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said valve member comprises a valve and a mating valve seat;   b. a valve stem having a first end thereof attached to said valve for translating said valve relative to said valve seat, said valve stem having a second end thereof connected with said operating means; and   c. operating means comprises a vacuum controlled piston.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. said valve member comprises a frustoconical valve and mating valve seat; and   b. the larger surface of said valve is disposed inwardlymost of said body member.   
     
     
       7. In a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine including a carburetor and a plurality of cylinders each of which has a piston, said cylinders respectively forming a combustion chamber clearance volume above said respective pistons, and an intake and exhaust valve associated with said respective cylinders, the improvement of .Iadd.a device rendering temporarily ineffective selected engine cylinders during low engine power demand periods for reducing fuel consumption, said device comprising: .Iaddend. (a) an independently controlled fuel saving third valve member operably associated with at least one of the cylinders .[.and adapted to selectively.]. .Iadd.so as to .Iaddend.provide communication between said clearance volume and the atmosphere .Iadd.during the low engine demand periods; .Iaddend.   (b) said third valve member, when open, severely reducing cylinder intake vacuum and resultant air-fuel influx to the extent that said one cylinder is rendered temporarily ineffective .Iadd.during the low engine demand periods, .Iaddend.thereby reducing engine fuel consumption.   
     
     
       8. The improvement as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. said third valve member communicates with said carburetor whereby exhaust from said third valve member is introduced into said carburetor.   
     
     
       9. A multiple cylinder internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 7 wherein: a. each of said cylinders includes a spark plug aperture and a spark plug;   b. said third valve member comprises a tubular body including an externally threaded first body portion removably and sealingly engaging said spark plug aperture;   c. an apertured second body portion is internally threaded and removably and sealingly receives and engages therein a spark plug;   d. an apertured third body portion disposed adjacent said second body portion;   e. said body member includes a central longitudinal aperture interconnecting the first, second and third body portion; and   f. a valve member for opening and closing said third body portion aperture and having first and second ends; said valve member first end being sealingly attached to said third body portion about the aperture therein; said valve member second end having connection with said carburetor.   
     
     
       10. A multiple cylinder internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 9 including: a. a cylindrical valve tube for facilitating the engagement of said fuel saving third valve and said engine spark plug aperture; said valve tube having a first end thereof sealingly attached to said third body portion about the aperture therein;   b. said valve tube extending opposingly from the first body portion and at an oblique angle to a body central axis; and   c. a valve tube second end having connection with said valve member first end.