Building Carbureting Unit

Figures 2-22 and 2-23 show exploded views of the carbureting unit; the list of materials is given in Table 2-4 (all figures and tables mentioned in Sect. 2 are presented at the end of Sect. 2). In the following instructions, all item numbers refer both to Figs. 2-22 and 2-23 and to Table 2-4. The following is a simple and easy way to assemble a carburetor to achieve both air mixture and throttle control. It can be mounted to either updraft or downdraft manifolds by simply turning the unit over. Most of the fabrication procedure below is devoted to the assembly of two butterfly valves: one for the throttle valve and one for the air mixture valve. The remainder of the carburetor unit can be assembled from ordinary, threaded plumbing parts.

The inside diameter of the piping used in the carburetor unit must be related to the size of the engine and should never be smaller than the intake opening on the engine manifold. If in doubt on the inside diameter for the pipe and/or hose sizes, always go with a larger diameter. This will reduce friction losses and will give longer operating hours between cleanings.

When the wood gas leaves the filter unit it should normally be below 180°F. About 2 ft from the filter container, an automotive water hose can be connected to the pipe on the carbureting unit. This rubber hose will keep engine vibration from creating air leaks in the filter unit or in the connecting piping. The hose must be a fairly new item; such hoses have a steel spring inside to keep them from collapsing when negative pressure is applied. The spring will soon rust if it has first been subjected to water and then to the hot wood gas enriched with hydrogen.

The fabrication procedure for the assembly of two butterfly valves follows:

1. The manifold adapter (Item 1C in Fig. 2-22) must be fitted with bolts and/or holes for mounting onto the engine’s existing intake manifold. Because gasoline engines are produced with so many different types of intake manifolds, ingenuity and common sense must be used to modify the manifold adapter (Item 1C) for each different engine to be operated on wood gas. A gasket (Item 7C) should be cut to match the shape of the engine intake fitting.

2. The butterfly valve (Item 3C) is shown in Figs. 2-24 and 2-25; two such valves are required. A 3/8-in. hole should be drilled through the diameter of each valve body (Item 1CC) at the midpoint of its length.

3. The valve plate (Item 2CC) must be oval in shape with the dimensions given in Table 2-4. An oval valve plate must be used so that, in the closed position, the valve will be about 10° off center. This will ensure that the valve will come to a complete stop in the closed position.

4. The edges of the valve plate (Item 2CC), around the longer diameter of the oval, should be beveled to provide a positive, airtight closure. Two evenly spaced, 1/4-in.
holes should be drilled along the shorter diameter of the oval plate.

5. The valve support rod (Item 3CC) should be filed or ground flat on one side as shown in Fig. 2-24; the fiat area must begin 1/4 in. from one end and must continue for a distance equal to the inside diameter of the valve body (Item 1CC).

6. Two 3/16-in. holes should be drilled into the fiat area of the valve support rod (Item 3CC); these holes must align with the holes in the valve plate (Item 2CC). They must also be tapped (with threads) to accept the valve plate screws (Item 4CC).

7. The butterfly valve (Item 3C) should be assembled by first placing the valve support rod (Item 3CC) through the hole in the valve body (Item 1CC). The valve plate (Item 2CC) should be dropped into one end of the valve body and then inserted into the fiat area of the valve support rod. The two screws (Item 4CC) should be used to attach the valve plate to the support rod. Check to see that the assembled valve plate rotates freely and seats completely in the closed position.

8. A nut (Item 6CC) should be welded flat against one side of the throttle arm (Item 5CC) near its end. A 1/8-in. hole should be drilled into the side of the nut and must be threaded to accept the set screw (Item 7CC). At least one hole should be drilled into the throttle arm for attachment of the engine throttle control or air control linkages.

9. Place the nut (Item 6CC) on the throttle arm over the end of the valve support rod (Item 3CC) and use the set screw (Item 7CC) to secure the assembly. The throttle arm can be placed in any convenient orientation. Assembled butterfly valves are shown in Fig. 2-26.

10. The remaining parts of the carburetor assembly should be screwed together as shown in Fig. 2-27. Pipe thread compound should be used to make airtight connections. The assembled carburetor unit should be attached to the engine’s intake manifold as shown in Fig. 2-28

11. This prototype gasifier was designed to operate if gasoline were unavailable; but, if dual operation on wood and gasoline is desired, the elbow (Item 2C) could be replaced with a tee, allowing a gasoline carburetor to also be mounted.

12. The arm on the butterfly valve (Item 3C) which is closest to the elbow (Item 2C) is to be connected to the foot- (or, on tractors, hand-) operated accelerator. The other butterfly valve is to be used as the air mixture control valve and can be operated with a manual choke cable. If the engine has an automatic choking device, then a hand-operated choke cable should be installed. Both butterfly valves and their connecting control linkages must operate smoothly with the ability to adjust the valve yet keep it stationary in the selected position during operation. The linkages must close the valves airtight when the engine is off.

13. The air inlet (Item 6C) should be connected by an extension hose or pipe, either iron or plastic, to the existing engine’s air filter in order to prevent road dust or agricultural residue from entering the engine.

14. The wood gas inlet (Item 5C) is to be connected to the outlet piping (Item 10B as shown in Fig. 2-15) from the wood gas filter unit. Part of this connection should be a high-temperature rubber or neoprene hose to absorb engine vibration.

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