APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FUEL TO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
Apparatus for heating and vaporizing a liquid hydrocarbon fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine includes a housing (10) having an inlet (24) and an outlet (26). Spaced baffle members (30, 32, 42) are located withing the interior (12) of the housing (10) which divide the housing into segments. Openings (40) are provided in the baffle member (30, 32, 34) which allow for the passage of the fuel and cause the fuel to deviate from a straight line during passage through the housing. The baffle members (30, 32, 34) and the housing (10) are heated to promote vaporization of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel. Exhaust may be introduced into the interior of the housing and mixed with the vaporized and heated fuel. Further heating of the mixture can result in reformation of at least some of the mixture prior to its introduction into an internal combustion engine.