How the Holley 847 Carburetor Works

Holley 847

Figure 1

Holley 847

Figure 2

Holley 847

Figure 3

Holley 847

Figure 4

Holley 847

Figure 5

Holley 847
Figure 6

Holley 847 Carburetor Kit

Purpose of the Carburetor

The carburetor delivers a combustible mixture of fuel and air to the intake manifold of the engine. It automatically controls the amount of fuel being mixed with the air to meet changing engine operating conditions, delivering a greater amount of fuel when high power output is required and less fuel for economical cruising.

 The Engine

 The effect of the engine upon the carburetor may be compared with that of a suction pump. As each piston moves downward on its intake stroke, a partial vacuum is created in the cylinder. This draws the fuel air mixture from the carburetor and intake manifold into the cylinder through the opened intake valve. fig 1

If an engine was intended to run at only one speed and load, its carburetor could consist of a simple nozzle spraying fuel from a gravity feed tank into the intake manifold. fig 2. Once the rate of flow of the fuel was adjusted to give a satisfactory mixture, no change would be necessary.

The Venturi

Since the operating conditions of an automotive engine are subject to constant change, the carburetor must automatically adjust the fuel flow
for these changes. The venturi in the carburetor provides a force which controls the fuel discharge in the normal cruising speed range.

The venturi is a specially designed restriction which causes air to momentarily increase its speed while passing through it. This creates a drop in air pressure, commonly called vacuum, in the venturi. As the speed of the air flow in the carburetor increases with an increase in engine speed, the vacuum in the venturi becomes correspondingly greater. This vacuum in the venturi is utilized to pull the required amount of fuel from the fuel supply in the carburetor, as will be described later.

The relationship of air pressure to velocity can be illustrated by a simple experiment. Hold the edge of a sheet of paper to your lower lip, allowing the rest of the sheet to hang limp. Blow across the top of the paper and you will notice that it rises. Air in motion over the top of the paper exerts less pressure than the normal atmospheric pressure of the stationary air under the paper, and the difference in pressure moves the paper upward. You will also notice that, as the speed of the air is increased, the pressure above the paper is decreased correspondingly, moving the paper still higher. Differences in air pressure similar to the example given here provide the basic force for carburetor operation.

 The Main Metering System

Figure 4

The main metering system, which provides fuel for cruising speeds, is a continuous passage from the float chamber to the main discharge nozzle. The main discharge nozzle is located at the center of the venturi in the area of the greatest vacuum. The float chamber, containing fuel, is vented to the carburetor air inlet, where the air pressure is practically atmospheric, being only slightly affected by the restriction of the air cleaner. The air pressure on the fuel in the float chamber is greater than the air pressure in the venturi. This difference in pressure forces fuel through the main metering system. The fuel flows from the float chamber through the main metering jet and into the bottom of the main well. It is drawn from the main well through an angle channel and is discharged from the main discharge nozzle.

The main metering system delivers an economical mixture of approximately one part of fuel to sixteen parts of air by weight.

These proportions may vary slightly for different engines due to their design, but the figures are satisfactory for purposes of illustration. The metering, or measuring, of the fuel flow is accomplished primarily by the main metering jet, the smallest fuel restriction in the main metering system.
Air Bleeds

Figure 4

The fuel supplied to the cylinders must be vaporized to burn completely during the power stroke of the piston. Fuel which enters the cylinders in liquid form burns too slowly and is wasted. Vaporization of the fuel discharge is aided by air bleed passages which introduce air into the stream of fuel before it is discharged. This emulsion of fuel and air responds more readily to any change in vacuum and vaporizes more efficiently when it is discharged.

 The Throttle

Figure 4

The throttle plate in the carburetor bore governs the power output of the engine by regulating the amount of fuel air mixture admitted to the intake manifold. It is controlled by the driver of the vehicle through the accelerator pedal.

 The Float System

Figure 4

The float system provides a constant supply of fuel in the float chamber for use by the fuel metering systems in the carburetor. Fuel under pressure from the fuel pump enters the float chamber through the fuel inlet needle valve. The float, which rises or lowers with the fuel level in the float chamber, controls the fuel inlet needle valve to admit only enough fuel to replace that being used.

When the engine is started, the fuel level in the float chamber begins to drop as fuel is used. The float is lowered, opening the fuel inlet needle valve and allowing more fuel to enter the float chamber. When the fuel in the float chamber rises to a specified level, the needle valve will restrict the flow of fuel into the float chamber so that only enough fuel is admitted to replace that being used, thus maintaining a constant fuel level. Actually, the fuel level will drop slightly as engine speed increases, since the needle valve must be opened more to meet the increased fuel demands of the engine.

 Low Power Operation

 At idle and low speeds, the air flow through the carburetor is greatly reduced and the vacuum in the venturi is too weak to draw fuel from the main metering system. The nearly closed throttle plate restricts the flow of air into the engine, resulting in a strong manifold vacuum.

 The Idle System

Figure 5

During low power operation, the pressure difference between the manifold and the float chamber forces fuel through the idle system. The fuel flows through the main metering jet into the bottom of the main well, where it is drawn upward through the idle tube. The narrow tip at the bottom of the idle tube is a calibrated restriction which primarily meters the flow of fuel in the idle system.

 Idle Mixture

Figure 5

Fuel distribution in the manifold is usually not as efficient at idle and low speeds as it is in the normal cruising range. The idle system delivers a rich mixture so that all cylinders will receive enough fuel. The mixture at idle can be adjusted to meet the needs of the individual engine by setting the idle adjusting needle. The idle adjusting needle controls the amount of fuel discharged at the idle discharge hole only. This determines the mixture ratio delivered at idle.

 Off Idle Operation

Figure 5

When
the throttle plate is moved past the idle transfer hole, exposing it to manifold vacuum, fuel is also discharged from this hole. Otherwise, the idle system functions the same as is explained in paragraph 9. As the throttle plate is opened wider and engine speed increases, the main metering system begins to supply fuel and the idle system flow is reduced. As the cruising speed range is reached, the main metering system takes over completely, supplying all the fuel needed for engine operation. The two systems are engineered to provide a smooth gradual change with not flat spots in off idle performance.

 High Power Operation

 When the load on the engine is great enough to require high power output, the mixture must be enriched to approximately one part of fuel to twelve parts of air by weight. This mixture, while not as economical as the one to sixteen ratio delivered for normal cruising, enables the engine to develop full power output at all speeds above the idle range. The power enrichment system automatically supplies the added fuel only when it is needed.

 The Power Enrichment System

Figure 6

The power enrichment system is actuated by manifold vacuum, which gives a true indication of the power demands placed on the engine. When a high load is placed on the engine, an above normal opening of the throttle plate is necessary to maintain speed. The open throttle plate offers less resistance to engine suction and the manifold vacuum is reduced.

 Manifold vacuum is transmitted through the vacuum passage in the carburetor to the piston in the vacuum chamber. The vacuum acting on the piston at idle and normal cruising speeds is strong enough to hold the piston up in the vacuum chamber, compressing the spring on the piston stem. When high power demands reduce manifold vacuum beyond a predetermined point, the spring expands to force the piston and stem assembly down. This

depresses the pin in the center of the power valve, opening the valve. Fuel from the float chamber flows through the center of the valve and out calibrated holes in its side. These holes meter the fuel flow to provide the necessary enrichment. The fuel flows through a passage to the main well where it joins the fuel flow in the main metering system, enriching the mixture for full power. In the dual carburetors used on V type engines, one power valve supplies fuel to both main wells. A restriction is added in the fuel passages leading to the two main wells to assure that they both recieve the same amount of fuel from the power valve.

 Acceleration

 When the engine is accelerated, there is a slight lag in response of the previously described systems. Gasoline, being heavier than air, is more difficult to move. The air flow responds almost immediately to a suddenly opened throttle, but there is a brief interval before the fuel in the narrow passages can gain speed and maintain the fuel air balance. The accelerating pump system operates during this period, supplying the necessary fuel until the other systems can again provide the proper mixture.

 Accelerating Pump System

Figure 7

The accelerating pump is linked to the throttle operating mechanism so the pump will operate when the throttle opening is increased upon acceleration. When the throttle is closed, the pump piston is up in the well and fuel enters the well through a passage from the float chamber. The pump inlet ball check valve permits fuel to enter the pump well but prevents a reverse flow of fuel when the pump is operated. The pump
operating rod, which is linked to the throttle lever, moves downward as the throttle is opened. The horizontal arm at the top of the pump operating rod slides down in the slot in the pump piston stem, compressing the pump spring. The spring presses the pump piston down, forcing fuel through the passage to the pump discharge needle valve. The fuel, under pressure from the pump piston, unseats the pump discharge needle valve and flows past it and out the pump discharge nozzle. The pump discharge needle valve closes the passage when the pump is not discharging fuel. In addition to preventing fuel from being drawn from the pump well by the suction of the airstream at high speeds, the needle valve seals the passage so that air will not be drawn into the system when the throttle is again closed and the pump piston is raised to draw in another charge of fuel. The narrow passage in the pump discharge nozzle is a calibrated restriction which provides a resistance to the flow of fuel. The resistance opposes the pressure of the pump spring to prolong the discharge for smoother engine operation.

 Cold Starting

 When starting a cold engine, much of the atomized fuel from the carburetor condenses to a liquid on contact with the cold surfaces of the intake manifold. The fuel in liquid form burns too slowly in the cylinders, causing loss of power and stalling.

 

The choke provides a means of enriching the fuel discharge so that enough vaporized fuel reaches the cylinders to permit the engine to run smoothly during the warm up period.

 The Choke

Figure 8

Closing the choke plate in the carburetor air inlet confines the strong manifold vacuum within the carburetor. The normal pressure of the air in the float chamber forces fuel through the idle system and main metering system, resulting in an increased fuel discharge to the engine. When the engine starts, manifold vacuum draws enough air through the poppet valve in the choke plate to prevent flooding the engine. A fast idle linkage between the choke and throttle operating mechanisms provides a greater throttle opening at idle during choking, increasing idle rpm to prevent stalling. The choke enriches until the manifold is warm enough to prevent condensation of the normal fuel discharge. Then, choking is no longer necessary.

During the warm up period, the choke should be gradually moved toward the wide open position, reducing the degree of choking as the termperature of the intake manifold rises. As manifold temperature rises, less vaporized fuel is condensed to a liquid before reaching the cylinders. Consequently, the mixture does not need to be enriched as much as when the engine was started. Also, the engine does not require as rich a mixture at higher speeds as it does at idle. The airflow through the carburetor provides a force which automatically controls the degree of enrichment for varying engine speeds during intermediate choke settings. How this is accomplished is explained in the next paragraph.

On most models, the carburetor choke lever is not directly connected to the choke shaft. Instead, at the end of the choke shaft there is a small lever which terminates between the edges of a V shaped notch in the choke lever. When the choke lever is in either the full open or full closed position, one edge of the notch holds the choke shaft lever firmly in the required position. However, at any intermediate choke lever position between the full open and full closed positions, the V shaped notch allows the choke shaft lever a limited range of movement. A spring attached to the choke shaft lever and anchored to the carburetor tends to hold the choke plate toward the closed end of this limited range. The choke shaft is offset from the center line of the choke plate, thus presenting a larger portion of the choke plate on one side of the shaft to the airflow through the carburetor. This tends to open the choke plate against the tension of the spring as the airflow increases with increasing engine speed. The tension of the smaller airflow at low engine speeds to decrease the choke opening. The spring tension opposing the variable force acting on the offset choke plate provides automatic control of the choke plate opening for various engine speeds during partial choking operation.

 

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