JOHN ANTHONY NORCIA
Pilots at Wood Duck Rd, Columbia, SC

4683843, Aug 4, 1987

Aug 13, 1986

6/896055

John A. Norcia - Columbia SC
William M. Wheatley - Columbia SC
Michael D. Norcia - Columbia SC

Ram Automotive Company - Columbia SC

F02B 7512

123 1A

A fuel charging system which injects nitrous oxide into the engine of a high performance vehicle to provide an instant burst of power to the vehicle. A nitrous oxide supply line feeds nitrous oxide under pressure from a supply container thereof into the vehicle engine through a spray bar. A normally closed solenoid valve controls the flow of nitrous oxide into the vehicle engine through the supply line. The supply line also is connected to a vent tube having a normally open solenoid valve controlling the flow of nitrous oxide thereto. The vent valve communicates with a one-way low pressure actuated check valve and vents any nitrous oxide leaking past the closed solenoid control valve into the atmosphere to prevent the harmful buildup of nitrous oxide in the engine. A pair of pressure actuated electrical switches are connected to and actuated by the pressure of the oil and fuel sources of the vehicle to prevent the actuation of the nitrous oxide control valve if a sufficient supply of fuel is not available to mix with the nitrous oxide and if the engine RPM is not sufficient for receiving the additional burst of power. The check valve reduces momentary back pressure in the nitrous oxide flow line which heretofore occurred at the time when increased power is needed most in a race.

4967884, Nov 6, 1990

Oct 25, 1989

7/426429

John A. Norcia - Columbia SC

Ram Automotive of South Carolina, Inc. - Columbia SC

B60K 4124, F16D 6704

192 13A

An improved hydraulic clutch engagement system for use in a drag racing motor vehicle provides automatic engagement of the clutch for launching the car at the start of a race, without sacrificing manual control of the clutch necessary for power staging the car at the starting line prior to the race. A clutch assembly is movable between engaged and disengaged positions, wherein the car is driven when the clutch assembly is engaged. A slave cylinder is mounted adjacent to the clutch assembly. Main and return fluid lines extend between and flowingly connect the slave cylinder to a master cylinder. A pedal is operatively connected to the master cylinder for manually controlling the clutch assembly through displacement of a hydraulic fluid. A normally-closed solenoid valve is incorporated into the return line. A push button activated control device automatically electrically controls movement of the solenoid valve between its closed and open positions, and simultaneously controls locking and release of the vehicle brakes, respectively.

4640323, Feb 3, 1987

Sep 27, 1985

6/784672

John A. Norcia - Columbia SC
Ray Bickar - Blythewood SC
William M. Wheatley - Elgin SC

Ram Automotive Company - Columbia SC

B65B 310

141 18

A portable system for filling bottles with nitrous oxide from a large supply cylinder of nitrous oxide at ambient temperature. The supply cylinder is connected by a conduit to a cylinder of inert gas which is under a considerably higher pressure than that of the nitrous oxide through a valve. The bottle to be filled is connected to the cylinder of nitrous oxide by another conduit. The inert gas through a pressure regulator maintains a blanket of high pressure inert gas above the liquid nitrous oxide in the cylinder to force the nitrous oxide from the cylinder and into the bottle. The valve when in a first position enables the cylinder of nitrous oxide to be connected to the cylinder of inert gas to maintain the pressurized blanket of gas above the nitrous oxide and then when in a second position enables the inert gas to force the nitrous oxide into the bottle. Maintaining a proper supply of inert gas above the liquid nitrous oxide permits the entire contents of the supply cylinder to be transferred to refill bottles at ambient temperature.