COMBUSTION ENGINE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to enhancement of internal combustion engine performance and more specifically to a method and apparatus for transforming vented out gas into ionized hydrocarbon gas vapors, which can be fed back to the combustion chamber of the engine to enhance its performance.

The present invention is actually an improvement of the method and apparatus for reforming gas vapors disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,562 and U.S Pat. No. 7,004,152 issued to the same inventor.

Said U.S Patents discloses an apparatus for treating vented out gas coming from the positive crankcase and fuel tank of an internal combustion engine system, wherein the gas is treated with massive amount of electrons (mass spectra) introduced by an electron emitting means in a gas vapor treatment chamber made therefor. The introduction of electrons to these dense and partially positive gas vapors causes dissociation of ions thereby resulting in a reformed and highly potent hydrocarbon gas vapors. These hydrocarbon gas vapors are then oxidized by allowing them to mix with the air/fuel mixture in the air induction system of the internal combustion engine, which is then introduced in the combustion chamber. Since the reformed hydrocarbon gas vapors are highly potent, combustion is greatly enhanced, thus resulting in improved engine efficiency and increased engine power. Furthermore, fuel consumption is greatly reduced and smoke emission, which is highly detrimental to the environment, is minimized if not totally eliminated.

Both of the aforesaid inventions has been proven to actively perform its intended purpose when utilized in older engine versions, however, when adapted to typical engines with engine computer unit (ECU) their performance seems to be not in its optimal expectation. The engine computer unit (ECU), which is capable of processing data coming from the oxygen sensor of the engine, validates and automatically adjusts the setting of the engine if changes occur in its performance. Since the utilization of the device causes an increase in efficiency in the engine, there occurs also an increase in oxygen to the exhaust fumes. The perceived lean condition is transmitted to the computer unit where the data is processed, thereby resulting in automatic adjustment of the setting conforming to the detected change. Such adjustment results in automatic addition of fuel in conformity with the increased oxygen to attain the programmed ideal air/fuel ratio setting in the computer unit. The sum effect with the use of the device, therefore, is not too significant.

The herein invention as disclosed provides improvement in the apparatus wherein a signal altering means is provided which would allow the effective functioning of the apparatus even on computer controlled engines. The signal altering means facilitates altering the signal from the oxygen sensor such that no activating signal is transmitted to the computer unit even when the operating efficiency of the engine is enhanced by the apparatus of the present invention. This would allow the engine to operate in its original air/fuel ratio setting without any command from the computer unit for additional fuel.

The improvement therefore provides a significant breakthrough in making the performance of the engine efficient even though the engine is computer controlled.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be realized upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention'

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is a diagram of the apparatus of the present invention ,

Figure 4A is an illustrative diagram of the oxygen sensor enhancing module of the present invention, and

Figure 4B is an illustrative diagram of the air and fuel ratio (AFR) sensor enhancing module of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an apparatus 10 for reforming gas vapors being made such that it is capable of communicating with possible gas vapor source in the internal combustion engine, such as positive crankcase ventilation, fuel tank vent or air induction system. Apparatus 10 includes a reforming means 11 and a system operating unit 12 being arranged in combination thereof. Said reforming means being capable of allowing entry of gas vapor from a gas vapor source and exit of reformed gas vapor, which is subsequently is introduced in the combustion chamber. System operating unit 12 is being made such that it is capable of facilitating the reforming process of the apparatus on an internal combustion engine with or without a computer operating system. Reforming means 11 includes a treatment chamber 11a being made such that it is capable of allowing entry of gas vapor from the gas vapor source and exit of reformed gas vapors for feeding to the combustion chamber of the engine, and an electron emitting means 13 disposed within the treatment chamber. Entry and exit of gas vapors is being facilitated by a gas vapor intake port 14 in communication with the gas vapor source and reformed gas vapor discharge port 15 in communication with the combustion chamber. Said system operating unit 12 includes a voltage multiplier module 16, an oxygen sensor enhancing module 17 and an air and fuel ratio (AFR) sensor enhancing module 18, each being connected to a power supply P with a capacity of 12-24V AC. Voltage multiplier module 16 being in communication with the electronic emitting means 13 wherein it is capable of introducing electrons thereof such that there will be dissociation of ions of the gas vapors passing in the treatment chamber. Such dissociation results in reformed hydrocarbon gas vapors, which is then introduced in the combustion chamber. Since the reformed hydrocarbon gas vapors are highly potent, combustion is greatly enhanced, thus resulting in improved engine efficiency and increase engine power. Said electron emitting means 13 is preferably an electronic emitter having capacity of emitting high potential through passage of high electromotive force derived from the lower voltage electrical system of the engine. Oxygen sensor enhancing module 17 consists of an oscillator block 19 being connected to an isolation transformer block 20 and a regulator/rectifier block 21 in communication with the isolation transformer. The oscillator block 19 is capable of exciting the primary winding of the isolation transformer block so that the output voltage can be rectified and regulated by the regulator block. The output of the said regulator block will be used to alter the voltage signal of the oxygen sensor before reaching the engine computer unit (ECU). The positive signal line of the oxygen sensor of the engine computer unit (ECU) is cut and made to connect with the regulated output of the regulator block to prevent the ECU from falsely detecting a perceived lean mixture due to the presence of extra oxygen in the exhaust gas after the apparatus is installed in the engine. Said air and fuel (AFR) sensor enhancing module 18 consists of a constant current source block 22 and a voltage regulator block 23 in communication thereof. The constant current source block 22 is being made such that it is capable of setting the current required which the voltage is kept constant by the voltage regulator block. The current and voltage regulated output is then used to modify the signal sent by the AFR sensor to the engine computer unit (ECU). The current pump line from the AFR sensor is spliced and connected to the output of the AFR sensor enhancing module to prevent the ECU from falsely detecting a perceived lean mixture due to the presence of extra oxygen in the exhaust gas after the apparatus is installed in the engine.

The provision of oxygen sensor enhancing module 17 and AFR sensor enhancing module in the system prevents the engine computer unit (ECU) from performing its automatic lean mixture adjustment due to the addition of reformed hydrocarbon gas vapor in the combustion chamber. Such occurrence allows the apparatus to facilitate engine efficiency and increase power without additional fuel in the air and fuel ratio setting of the engine due to the presence of extra oxygen in the exhaust gas of the engine.