Remote mixture control tool

Abstract

A mixture control device is disclosed that is used to test internal combustion engines. The device is usually temporarily installed on an engine to test catalytic converters, to clean internal engine parts, or to determine specific operating problems with an engine. The device can also be used as a teaching aid to show different operating conditions without making permanent or difficult adjustments. The device can also be used in racing applications to allow a driver to adjust the mixture of an engine, while on the course, to ensure peak efficiency under varying race conditions. The device consists of a housing that has a plenum formed within its center. The plenum runs the entire length of the housing. A venturi port is also formed on the housing and it feeds fuel and air into the plenum for injection into an engine. Fuel is supplied through an internal tank and is supplied to the venturi port through a small hose and a needle valve assembly. The fuel tank has a two different outlet ports to allow convenient placement of the device during use. Two valves control the amount of air and air-fuel mixture that are injected into the engine. An outlet port is fastened to one end of the device to allow the user to inject the supplemental mixture into any convenient port on a vehicle.

I claim: 
     
       1. A remote mixture control device for testing and adjusting internal combustion engines comprising: (a) a housing being generally rectangular and having a front, a back, a top, and a bottom, said housing also having a plenum cavity extending from the front of said housing to the back of said housing, forming an open channel through the .[.latitudinal.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.center of the housing, said housing also having a venturi port extending from the top of said housing into the plenum, at an oblique angle thereto:   (b) a holding tank integrally formed within said housing, said holding tank also having an inlet port for filling, at least one ventilation port, and at least one outlet port;   (c) a .[.liquid.]. .Iadd.fuel .Iaddend.that is stored in said holding tank for delivery from the remote mixture device into the engine;   (d) a first control valve means within said venturi port to control the flow of .[.liquids.]. .Iadd.fuels .Iaddend.from said holding tank through said venturi port;   (e) a hose removably connected to said tank and said valve means to enable .[.liquids.]. .Iadd.fuels .Iaddend.stored in said holding tank to be transported into said venturi port;   (f) a second control valve means rotatably mounted in said housing to control the .[.latitudinal.[. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.flow of air through the plenum;   (g) a third control valve means rotatably mounted within said housing, below said venturi port, downstream of said first valve means to control the flow of air through said venturi port; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   (h) nozzle means removably attached to the front of said housing such that said nozzle means covers the plenum and acts to direct the .[.liquid-air.]. .Iadd.fuel-air .Iaddend.mixture from the housing.   
     
     
       2. The remote mixture control device of claim 1 wherein the first control valve means comprises a needle valve assembly. 
     
     
       3. The remote mixture control device of claim 1 wherein the second control valve means comprises: (a) a cylinder having walls, a length greater than its width and having a hole, passing through the cylinder, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said cylinder being rotatably installed within said housing such that said cylinder is placed perpendicularly within the plenum of said housing with respect to the direction of an air flow through said plenum and such that the hole within said cylinder is aligned with said air flow when said control valve is open, and such that said hole in said cylinder is perpendicular to said plenum when the cylinder is turned one quarter turn such that the wall of said cylinder is aligned with said plenum, thereby preventing the air flow through said plenum when said control valve is closed;   (b) handle means fixedly attached to said cylinder to permit free rotation of said cylinder; and   (c) locking means to restrain said cylinder within said housing.   
     
     
       4. The remote mixture control device of claim 1 wherein the third control valve means comprises: (a) a cylinder having walls, a length greater than its width and having ahole, passing through the cylinder perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said cylinder being rotatably installed within said housing such that said cylinder is placed perpendicularly within the plenum of said housing with respect to the venturi port of said housing and such that the hole within said cylinder is aligned with said venturi port when said control valve is open, and such that said hole in said cylinder is perpendicular to said venturi port when the cylinder is turned one quarter turn such that the wall of said cylinder is aligned with said venturi port, thereby preventing the air flow through said venturi port when said control valve is closed;   (b) handle means fixedly attached to said cylinder to permit free rotation of said cylinder; and   (c) locking means to restrain said cylinder within said housing.   
     
     
       5. The remote mixture device of claim 1 wherein said nozzle means comprise: (a) an outlet having a generally cylindrical shape and having a front portion and a rear portion, said outlet being tapered in the front portion and being threaded in the rear portion.   (b) restraining means fixedly installed within the front portion of said plenum;   (c) a ball slidably placed within said plenum such than said restraining means prevent the free movement of the ball into the rear portion of said plenum;   (d) a spring removably placed in contact with said ball and further being held by said outlet and compressed by said outlet when said outlet is screwed into said housing.   
     
     
       6. The remote mixture control device of claim 1 wherein said .[.liquid.]. .Iadd.fuel .Iaddend.comprises gasoline. .[.7. The remote mixture device of claim 1 wherein said liquid comprises a solvent cleaning fluid for use in internal combustion engines..]. .Iadd.8. A portable and detachable remote mixture control device for adjusting internal combustion engines by adjustably varying the amount of air and fuel to the engine, comprising: a. a portable housing having a plenum cavity which has an inlet and an outlet, the housing further having a venturi port in fluid communication with the cavity;   b. a fuel container supportably connected to said housing;   c. first control valve means communicating with the venturi port and the fuel container to adjustably vary the flow of fuel from the container into the venturi port;   d. second control valve means in fluid communication with inlet to the plenum cavity for adjustbly varying the flow of air through the cavity; and   e. third control valve means communicating with the venturi port and the plenum cavity to controllably vary the flow of fuel through the plenum inlet and the plenum cavity..Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A device as defined in claim 8, further comprising:   fluid connection means for communicating fluid from the outlet of the plenum cavity to a manifold vacuum port on the internal combustion engine, the fluid connection means having further means for removably connecting the device to the manifold vacuum port of the internal combustion   
     
     
        engine..Iaddend. .Iadd.10.  A device as defined in claim 9, further comprising: spark arrester-backfire protector means for protecting the device from backfire pressure and sparks from the engine..Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A portable and detachable remote mixture control device for adjusting internal combustion engines by controllably varying the amount of air and fuel to the engine, comprising:   a. a portable housing having a plenum cavity with an inlet and an outlet, the housing further having a fuel inlet port in fluid communication with the cavity;   b. a fuel container connected to said housing;   c. a first control valve communicating with the fuel inlet port and being in further fluid communication with the fuel container and the atmosphere, the first valve being manually adjustable to adjustably vary the amount of fuel provided to the fuel inlet port;   d. a second control valve in fluid communication with the inlet to the plenum cavity and the atmosphere, the second valve being manually adjustable to adjustably vary the flow of air through the cavity; and   e. a third control valve in fluid communication with the first control valve and the plenum cavity through the fuel inlet port to the plenum cavity, the third valve being manually adjustable to adjustably vary the flow of fuel into the plenum cavity through the fuel inlet port..Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A device as defined in claim 11, further comprising:   a fluid connection having a first end in fluid communication with the outlet of the plenum cavity downstream of the first, second, and third valves, and having a second end that is adapted for removable connection to a manifold vacuum port on the internal combustion engine..Iaddend. .Iadd.13. A device as defined in claim 12, further comprising:   a check valve located between the plenum cavity and the first end of the fluid connection..Iaddend. .Iadd.14. A device as defined in claim 11, further comprising:   means for directing the contents of the plenum away from the housing..Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein the first control valve comprises a needle valve..Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A device as defined in claim 11, wherein the third control valve is located downstream of the first control valve..Iaddend. .Iadd.17. A device as defined in claim 11, further comprising a spark arrestor-backfire protector..Iaddend.