BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Worldwide pollution has mandated a reduction of harmful emissions caused by fossil fuel engines or energy producing means. In one aspect, the present invention is a simplified emission control device which may be placed in the air filter or other convenient location of the incoming air or oxidizer stream of an engine or energy producing means to attempt to increase the production of energy by, enhance combustion in and reduce toxic emissions from the engine or energy producing means.

There have been numerous disclosures of emission control devices. Some of these describe delivering a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent into a combustion chamber. One example of such a disclosure is found in U.S. Patent No. 4,475,483 issued in the name of B. Robinson. Mr. Robinson teaches bubbling air through a container of catalytic solution and passing that air into the incoming air stream of a combustion engine or energy producing means.

Other disclosures of note are found in U.S. Patent No. 4,306,519 issued to Schoenhard; U.S. Patent No. 4,557,222 issued to Nelson; U.S. Patent No. 4, 306,520 issued to Slaton; U.S. Patent No. 4,016,827 issued to Wentworth, Jr.; U.S. Patent No. 4,014,637 issued to Scena; U.S. Patent No. 3,862,819 issued to Wentworth, Jr.; and U.S. Patent No. 3,450,116 issued to Knight. All of the devices described in these patents attempt to improve the combustion process by effecting the incoming air stream. Each of these devices employ complex mechanical and/or electrical means and/or modifications of the engine and

its related parts to introduce the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent into the incoming air. One aspect of the present invention greatly simplifies this procedure in that it employs no mechanical or electrical components and has no moving parts. Instead it uses a simple out-gassing capillary action to release the catalyst, combustion improvement material, or agent into the incoming air stream. Because of its design simplicity, it requires no mechanical expertise to use or install.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect there is disclosed herein a device comprised of an outer covering; an inside agent; and means to enable the inside agent to out-gas through the outer covering. In a further aspect, disclosed herein is a free standing, disposable container holding catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent which may be placed in the air intake system of an engine or energy producing means. The catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent is able to pass through the container so that as air passes over the container, the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent mixes with the air. Once the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent is exhausted, the empty container is removed and a new, full container is placed in its place.

In a further aspect the foregoing invention is modified so that replacement time is longer and so that the user has the option of placing the catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent and container in a more readily accessible place than the air intake system of an engine or energy producing means.

The present invention also comprises a device for use with an energy producing means. The device is comprised of a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent which outgasses at a controlled rate, the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent being placed in association with the energy producing means such that when the energy producing means is operating the catalyst,

combustion improvement material or agent will facilitate the ability of the energy producing means to produce energy.

In another aspect, the present invention comprises a device for use with an energy producing means. The device is comprised of an outer casing of at least one layer and a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent contained by the casing. The casing allows the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent to pass through it at a controlled rate, the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent enhancing the capabilities of the energy producing device.

In a further aspect the present invention comprises a delivery means for delivering a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent. The delivery means may be comprised of an air impermeable casing for holding the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent and a means to deliver the catalyst combustion improvement material or agent in a controlled or measured manner to its destination.

The present invention also comprises a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent delivery system for an energy producing device comprised of a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent reservoir and a carrier means for carrying the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent from said reservoir to said energy producing device.

Herein disclosed then is a simplified means for introducing an agent to enhance combustion into the air stream of an energy producing means. Also disclosed are catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent delivery assemblies for a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent which assemblies are appealing to the individual who prefers not to deal directly with the air intake systems of an engine or energy producing means. Most of the assemblies require no engine or air intake system modification. Those that do, require minimal modification. All of the assemblies have a limited number of parts, are simple to manufacture and maintain, and are easy to use.

Although throughout this description an engine is often referred to, the disclosure contemplates any energy producing device in which the use of a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent is considered or in which the use of a delivery system is considered.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of the device of figure 1.

Figure 3A is a diagrammatic view of the invention of figure 1 in an air filter.

Figure 3B is a diagrammatic view of an automobile with an air filter. Figure 3C is a diagrammatic view of the invention of figure 1 placed in an air filter.

Figure 4 is a top view of an open air filter with the invention of figure 1 therein.

Figure 5 is further modified embodiment of figure 1 showing a diagrammatic view of a catalyst, combustion improvement material, or agent and container housed in an air impervious sealed outside casing.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a one way flapper valve which may be used in any one of the embodiments of figures 7 through 9.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side view of a free standing delivery device for the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent and container of figures 1, 5 or similar inventions. Figure 8 is a further embodiment figure 7.

Figure 9 is yet a further embodiment of figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention as seen in figure l, is a device (1) which may be placed anywhere in the air intake system of a combustion engine or energy producing means.

The device (1) includes an out-gassing catalyst, combustion

improvement material or agent (100) within its generally tubular body or otherwise shaped outer container (102) . Such catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is known in the art and may include diluted platinum chloride or like substances. The body or outer container (102) is made of a flexible or non flexible material such as plastic which enables the out-gassing of the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) at a given rate into the incoming air stream of a combustion engine or energy producing means.

A plurality of perforations (13) or other openings are defined in body or outer container (102) to control the rate of the out-gassing of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) through body or outer container (102) . Body or outer container (102) may contain catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) in a form such as in an absorbent material or in absorbent beads which are fully moistened by the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) . The absorbent material or beads would assist and affect the evaporation rate of the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) . The perforations (13) may extend along the entire surface of the body or outer container (102) or may, as shown in figure 1, be spaced intermittently along a line which defines the circumference of the covering. Instead the perforations may be simply pores in the material which makes up container (102) .

Wicks (11), as seen in figure 1, may also be used to facilitate the outgassing of the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) . Wicks (11) are seen to intermittently surround the diameter of body or outer container (102) . Other positioning of wicks (11) is contemplated however, such as paralleling the length of the body or outer container (102) or lying at an angle with respect thereto. Wicks (11) can be made of an absorbent material such as felt which will absorb the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) from inside body or outer container (102) and allow it to evaporate outside of body or outer container (102) . On the other

hand, wicks (11) may be made from body or outer container (102) or other material may be used, even non absorbent material, as long as the material has a wicking effect. I figure 1, wicks (11) are shown intermittently and evenly spaced along the length of body or outer container (102) . Clip (14) extends from the end of body or outer container (102) for clipping the device (1) inside an air filter or other convenient location to affect the incoming air or oxidizing stream of an energy producing means. The use of a clip (14) is optional.

Figure 2 shows the end view of body or outer container (102) . In this view, device (1) has somewhat of an egg shape or the shape of a somewhat collapsed circle. Body or outer container (102) is preferably sealed, the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) having been added before sealing or injected into container (102) after sealing.

Figure 3A shows air cleaner (2000) containing device (1) of Figure 1. Air cleaner (2000) is part of the air intake system of an automobile engine. The top cover (21) of the air cleaner (2000) is marked as is the car or truck engine (23) to which the air cleaner (2000) is secured. Air filter (22) is seen resting within air cleaner (2000) and the end of device (1) is seen located between the air filter (22) and the outside edge of air cleaner (2000) .

In Figure 3B an air cleaner (2000) is shown located in an automobile (3000) . The automobile engine (34) is attached to the air cleaner (2000) . The air intake of the air cleaner (2000) is denoted by reference numeral (33).

In Figure 3C a closer view of the air cleaner (2000) of Figure 3B is shown. The device (1) of figure 1 is now seen to lie within the air intake (33) of the air cleaner (2000) . Clip (14) secures the device (1) of figure 1 to the air intake (33) of the air cleaner (2000) by resting over the outside surface of the intake (33) so that the device (1) of figure 1 can be placed inside the air intake (33) of air cleaner (2000) . Although clip (14) is

shown herein, other securement means may also be used.

Figure 4 is a top view of an air cleaner (2000) with the top cover (21) removed. The throat of the carburetor (43) can be seen from this view. A circular air filter (42) lies around the outer circumference of the inside portion of air cleaner (2000) . Parallelling this arrangement is device (1) of figure 1 lying between the outside wall of air cleaner (2000) and the outside inner surface of air filter (42) . This embodiment is merely an amplification of Figure 3A.

From the foregoing it is apparent that device (1) can be fitted in multiple places to affect the incoming air stream of a combustion engine or energy producing means. In such positioning, it will out-gas catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) to attempt to improve the combustion efficiency and reduce harmful emissions of a combustion engine or energy producing means. Device (1) is easy to install, remove and replace, and is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. As can be seen, device (1) is merely dropped into the air filter system of an energy producing means. It may be clipped in place or the clip may be omitted altogether. There are no mechanical or electrical parts in device (1) and use of device (1) requires no mechanical alteration or adjustment of the air intake system of a combustion engine or energy producing means. By controlling the number of perforations and wicks, or the porosity of material (102) the rate of out¬ gassing can be controlled.

Figure 5 is a modified invention of that shown in figure 1. Where possible, like parts make use of like reference numerals. In figure 5, a diagrammatic side view of a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) contained in a flexible, sealed, outer container (102) , the two of which are contained in a further outside housing (104) is shown. While both container (102) and housing (104) are shown herein to be somewhat sausage-like in shape, other shapes are within the contemplation of the invention. The form in which catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is manufactured depends

in part upon the material of container (102) and vice versa. In fact, catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) could be manufactured in a fashion to obviate the need for container (102) . Thus when referring herein to catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) , or for that fact device (l) , catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) may or may not include container (102) depending upon how catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is manufactured. An understanding of these latter statements will become readily apparent to the reader upon further reading herein.

It is intended that catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) be available to mix with air that passes into an energy producing means or engine air intake system. It is also intended that catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) be easily positioned in the energy producing means or engine air intake system. These goals may be met in various ways.

One manner is to form catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) into a solid (including crystals and powders) which will slowly evaporate into the air as air passes over it. The reader is familiar with solid air fresheners for the home that are manufactured in this fashion. In such an instance, container (102) is no longer necessary. It may also be formed into a solid such as of the form of smelling salts or moth balls and then container (102) may or may not be required. If catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is manufactured into a solid form or if it is manufactured such that it must be contained in container (102) through which it outgasses, it could be sold in a generally air impervious housing (104) . When it is desired to use catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100), the user merely removes housing (104) , and places the catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100) in the air intake system of an engine or energy producing means.

In manufacturing catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) as a solid and any container (102) , it is also an option to use materials which are heat sensitive such that the solid of catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100) will not readily evaporate until certain temperatures are reached. This embodiment is preferable so that the solid of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) evaporates only when the engine or energy producing means is running.

A second form that catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) may take is that of a soft gel. One such gel that may be used is Polyacrylamide with less than .05% Acrylamide Monomer. This gel is particularly good for an alcohol or water-based catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent since this gel absorbs such a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent and allows it to gradually off gas. Other gels may be used as will be evident to those skilled in the art. The chosen gel is likely held in container

(102) , which container (102) is preferably clear to enable the user to ascertain without touching it, whether container (102) is empty or not. Container (102) is to be made of a material or agent that would allow the gel to ooze, outgas, or generally pass therethrough at a controlled rate so that the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) contained in the gel could mix with air passing over container (102) . If container (102) is to be wrapped or must adjust in shape such as when placed in an air filter, then container (102) , should be flexible. Further either or both container (102) and catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) in a gel may be temperature sensitive so that passage of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) through container (102) occurs only when the engine or energy producing means is running. One container material which may be used for container (102) is Copolymer of Hexamethylene Adipamide and Caprolactam—Nylon 66/6 Copolymer. The common name of this material is Zytel which

is a trademark. Its CAS Registry No.is 24993-04-2 and has a melting point of 235-250 degrees centigrade. This material is used in very thin thicknesses of 1 to 2 mils. A range of .5 to 3.5 thousandths of an inch is acceptable. This material is porous enough to allow both the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent and any vapor such as water or alcohol or other vapor to escape through it. Any thickness that would allow this action is acceptable. The material used for container (102) must be heat- resistant to the temperatures normally found where it is to be placed yet porous enough to allow both the water or alcohol or other vapor and the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent to off-gas through it. With this criteria in mind, one skilled in the art will readily appreciate the full range of materials that may be used for container (102) other than that which has been specifically set forth herein.

In the gel embodiment, container (102) , and catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) in gel form and contained in container (102) are sold in air impervious housing (104) . In use, air impervious housing (104) is removed to access container (102) . Container (102) containing gel catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is then placed in the air delivery system of an engine or energy producing means.

In a third form, catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) may be a liquid and again, container (102) would likely be necessary and chosen for the controlled release of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) therethrough. This might occur only when the liquid reaches a temperature such that it becomes a gas and passes therethrough, or may occur at room temperature or below. In this embodiment also, it is possible that either one or both container (102) and catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100) in liquid form are manufactured such that the release of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) in the air passing over container (102) occurs only at certain temperatures such as when the engine or energy

producing means is running.

The fourth form which catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100) may take is that of a gas, again likely housed in container (102) . The controlled passage of the gas catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) through container (102) would dictate the container (102) material and temperature sensitivity if desired, would also dictate the type of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent gas (100) and/or container (102) . In all of the previous instances herein, housing (104) is merely an air impervious container used for sale and protection before use of the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) or catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and container (102) . In all of the previous instances herein in which container (102) is appropriate, it is understood that container (102) may be comprised of one or numerous layers to assist in the control of the out-gassing of the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent therethrough. In practice, instances of use of 1 through 4 layers have occurred. In fact, even if the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent is in a solid form, one or more layers of container (102) may still be used therearound to control the rate of out-gassing. One method of use is that first a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) with one or no container (102) is placed in the air intake system of the engine or energy producing means. When this catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent is exhausted and if the user wishes the next catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) to last longer or not to outgas as much, a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) with more than one container (102) or a thicker and/or denser and/or less porous container (102) is used.

The air filter or air intake system associated with the engine or energy producing means could as well be modified to directly contain catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) so that catalyst,

combustion improvement material or agent (100) will outgas into the engine or energy producing means as air passes through the air filter or air intake system.

Figure 6 discloses a one-way flapper valve (600) well known to those skilled in the art. Flapper or flapper valve (600) is used to releasably seal various of the openings described in the following figures. This sort of valve may be mechanically or electrically controlled. The former may occur due to a change of pressure causing the valve (600) to move out of its position in which it seals an opening. It is recognized that valve (600) is never in a position to abut immovably against catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and any container (102) in which catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) may be held. This is accomplished by the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and any container (102) being secured in place such that abutment does not occur, or the material of valve (600) and or the container (102) which holds catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) being such as to enable valve (600) to slide over the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and container (102) . This may be the case if the valve flap of valve (600) is made of a soft pliable material and/or the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is a gas, liquid or gel which is compressible or movable and held in a pliant container (102) .

Figure 7 is a first embodiment of a free- standing delivery system for any of the embodiments noted above, or for devices similar to these. As noted earlier herein, it may be inconvenient or undesirable to place a catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) in the air intake system of an engine or energy producing means. Thus the delivery system herein resolves this problem.

In figure 7, a flexible, air impervious hose or tube (200) extends at end (202) out of air intake inlet (302) of an air intake system (300) of an engine or energy

producing means. Hose end (202) lies generally in parallel with the major axis of incoming air in air intake outlet (302) . Thus, air that will exit from hose end (202) will flow in the same direction as air that is passing into air intake inlet (302) . Hose end (202) is not intended to block air intake inlet (302) or in any way negatively affect air intake system (300) . In one embodiment making use of the air intake system of an automobile, hose end (202) is inserted the equivalent of four diameters of the air intake inlet (302) into air intake inlet (302). Hose or tube (200) is in outside diameter, not greater than one inch for an automobile size engine. Hose or tube (200) may be larger or smaller for larger or smaller engines or energy producing means. Generally, the wall thickness of hose or tube

(200) is kept to a minimum bearing in mind the need for durability and flexibility of hose or tube (200) and the desire to maximize the inside diameter of hose or tube (200) . Hose end (202) may merely rest inside of air intake inlet (302) or clip therein. The interest is merely to have hose end (202) of hose or tube (200) extend far enough into the air intake system (300) so that air passing through the hose or tube (200) passes into air intake system (300) and does not generally spill out of air intake inlet (302) . Further, hose end (202) should not extend so far into air intake system (300) so as to negatively impact the functioning of air intake system (300) .

The other end (204) of hose or tube (200) connects sealingly to casing, reservoir or container (206) . While one end of casing, reservoir or container (206) connects to hose end (204) , the other end is filled with air pervious filter (208) . Thus air that passes through filter (208) , passes through casing, reservoir or container (206) into hose end (204) . Other than its inclusion of air filter (208) , casing, reservoir or container (206) is generally to be air impervious.

Inside of casing, reservoir or container (206) and spaced therefrom, is catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and any container (102) that may be

required to contain catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and allow catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) to pass therethrough at a controlled rate. Of course, if catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is a solid or a powder, it may be that no container (102) is required.

In the figure 7 embodiment, one may remove air pervious filter (208) to remove and replace catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and any container (102) . In such an instance, filter (208) might have a tab extending from its outside to facilitate its removal from the end of casing, reservoir or container (206) . Making casing, reservoir or container (206) of a clear, air impervious material enables the user to view whether catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100) needs to be added.

Casing, reservoir or container (206) may include clip means to hold it in a desired place such as inside the grill of a car. Or, it may be otherwise fastened in place as would be readily evident to those skilled in the art.

Numerous modifications of the foregoing embodiment in figure 7 will be readily evident to the reader. Filter (208) may be a porous material which fits within the end of casing, reservoir or container (206) or it may be a hinged end of casing, reservoir or container (206) with a plurality of openings. It is also within the contemplation of the invention that a non porous flap (600) such as that seen in figure 6 might be movably connected at the end where filter (208) is placed such that when air passes through filter (208) , flap (600) is moved out of place to allow air to pass through casing, reservoir or container (206), over catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100) and any container (102) and into hose or tube (200) . Or, filter (208) may be replaced in its entirety with flap (600) . Similarly, there may be a movable flap (600) at hose end (202) . With such flaps (600) , catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and any container (102) are kept in a generally

sealed situation inside casing, reservoir or container (206) until air begins to pass through filter (208) . When the engine or energy producing means is operated, flap (600) would open to allow air to pass through container (206) .

While filter (208) is shown at an end of casing, reservoir or container (206) , it is also possible that instead, filter (208) may lie elsewhere in casing, reservoir or container (206) , such as in the side parallel to the major axis of casing, reservoir or container (206) with the remainder of casing, reservoir or container (206) being generally sealed.

It has been suggested herein that filter (208) be removed to replace the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and container (102) . However, it is also possible that casing, reservoir or container (206) is manufactured otherwise to open for access to its contents and to replace filter (208) . Such may be the situation if filter (208) were not used at all and only a flapper valve (600) were used. Or, casing, reservoir or container (206) may be comprised of two pieces which slidably engage and disengage with each other. Casing, reservoir or container (206) may be flexible or non flexible as desired as long as catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and any container (102) are protected thereby and may be easily placed therein and as long as air can readily pass through casing, reservoir or container (206) over catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and any container (102) . It is believed however, that a generally non flexible to hard casing, reservoir or container (206) is preferable in this embodiment.

The length of hose or tube (200) will be chosen to: 1) maximize the effectiveness of the delivery of air passing through casing, reservoir or container (206) and hose or tube (200) into air intake system (300) , and 2) facilitate the positioning of casing.

reservoir or container (206) for ease of access by the user and for maximum exposure to air that is to pass into the air intake system (300) . A modified delivery system is illustrated in figure 8. Parts similar to those previously described will bear the same reference numerals. In the embodiment of figure 8, hose or tube (200) houses wick (400). Wick (400) extends out of both hose ends (202) and (204) , and at hose end (202) lies transverse to the air flow which passes through air filter inlet (302) . Thus, in this embodiment, hose end (202) does not enter the air intake system (300) parallel to and at air intake inlet (302) . Instead, it requires a further opening (304) in the air intake system (300) so that hose end (202) and wick (400) may extend transverse to the flow of air entering air intake inlet (302) . Hose end (204) should fit sealingly within opening (304) . Hose (200) may be manufactured with wick (400) therein or the two may be sold separately, and the wick (400) then slid into hose (200) . The extension of hose end (204) and wick (400) into air intake system (300) is again, intended to negatively affect as little as possible the air flow into air intake system (300) .

At other hose end (204) , wick (400) extends into catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent

(100) and container (102) . In this embodiment, catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is preferably a liquid or gel as the intention is that the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) soak into wick (400) . In that way, catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is delivered via wick (400) into air intake system (300) . It is within the contemplation of the invention that wick (400) is sold presoaked in catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) so that even before connection into catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and container (102) , wick (400) is ready for use. In such instance, wick (400) would be packaged in an air tight container which may be removed only to expose the wick

ends, or sold in air tight hose or tube (200) . Further, since delivery of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) is by wick (400) in this embodiment, there is no longer any need for container (102) to enable catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) to pass in a controlled manner therethrough. Thus in this embodiment, container (102) would be manufactured more as housing (104) , that is of an air tight material. On the other hand, it may be that casing, reservoir or container (206) would be filled with catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) negating the need for any container (102) . In this instance, the end of casing, reservoir or container (206) into which wick (400) must enter would either have an opening for wick (400) which may be opened upon attachment to wick (400) or may be of a material which may be readily pierced to place wick (400) therein with hose end (204) abutting that end. In this latter situation, once all of catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100) is used, either casing, reservoir or container (206) may be refilled, or a new full casing attached to wick (400) .

In the embodiment of figure 8, casing, reservoir or container (206) no longer includes filter (208) or a flapper valve (600) . Instead, it is sealed closed with a portion preferably being removably or movably attached to allow access to its inside to place catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) therein. Further, casing, reservoir or container (206) need not be spaced from catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and certainly is not, if filled with catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) . Casing, reservoir or container (206) can be flexible or not, but is preferably clear so that the amount of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) therein may be readily ascertained. Casing, reservoir or container (206) is understood to be made of an air impervious material.

Because of the constant presence of wick (400) in air intake system (300) , air intake system (300) may also be modified to have a flapper valve (600) at air

intake inlet (302) to close off that inlet. This would keep wick (400) from being exposed to air until air begins to pass through the air intake system (300) . In such a modification however, the flapper valve (600) might be electronically controlled so that once ignition of the engine or energy producing means is begun, the flapper valve (600) opens. An alternative possibility would be to have wick (400) and hose end (202) held retractably in a sealed manner perhaps in a separate means that opened into opening (304) or in association with a valve or door that sealed opening (304) . This sealed means would have a valve which opened to allow at least wick (400) to extend into engine air inlet duct (302) through opening (304) when air begins to pass through engine air inlet duct (302) . Or, the valve or door that operated in association with wick (400) and hose (202) would open to allow at least wick (400) to extend into engine air inlet duct (302) through opening (304) . Thus, a sensor device could keep opening (304) closed until air began to pass through air inlet (302) . At that time the sensor would detect the air flow and open the valve or door thereby opening (304) so that at least wick (400) could protrude through opening (304) into air inlet duct (302).

The length of hose or tube (200) bears the same considerations as noted above.

The foregoing embodiment could be modified so that the wick (400) instead, extended within and parallel to or at an angle with respect to air intake inlet (302) . In such an embodiment it is possible that wick (400) extends directly in the opening for air intake inlet (302) rather than being introduced through opening (304) . One such manner of handling this would be to modify figure 7 so that wick (400) extended from casing, reservoir or container (206) through hose (200) into air intake inlet (302) . In this instance, filter (208) would be replaced with a solid end to seal casing, reservoir or container (206) , wick (400) would extend into catalyst, combustion enhancing material, or agent (100) if held in a separate container or directly into casing, reservoir or container

(206) if casing, reservoir or container (206) were filled with catalyst, combustion enhancing material, or agent (100) . The length of hose end (202) would no longer be that set forth above, but wick (400) would instead extend that length into air intake filter (302) .

Figure 9 presents the final embodiment of a delivery system herein. Again, like parts will contain like reference numerals. Here, hose or tube (200) is interrupted by connection to a circular or otherwise configured screened cavity (500) . The connection is a fluid connection such that that which passes through screened cavity (500) may pass into hose or tube (200) and vice versa.

Screened cavity (500) and those portions of hose or tube (200) which connect to screened cavity (500) are held in casing, reservoir or container (206) . Casing, reservoir or container (206) is again formed of an air impervious material and contains catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) . Casing, reservoir or container (206) is fully sealed except where hose or tube (200) passes out of it and where there is a sealable opening to add additional catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) . On the other hand, casing, reservoir or container (206) may be sold in a sealed state having catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) therein as well as screened cavity (500) and the attached portions of tube or hose (206) . Tube or hose (200) is generally air impervious.

Circular screened cavity (500) may be comprised of a base support lattice covered with a material such as that described with respect to container (102) . That is a material that will allow catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) contained in casing, reservoir or container (206) to pass into screened cavity at a controlled rate. Thus, as air passes through a first part of tube or hose (200) into screened cavity (500) and out of a second part of tube or hose (200) , the air will mix with the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) that passes through the circular screened cavity

(500) . It is understood that one end of tube or hose (200) will extend into the air intake system (300) while another end will be placed for passage of air therethrough such as in the grill of an automobile. Flapper valves (600) may be used in hose or tube (200) or in screen cavity (500) , so that air does not pass through screened cavity (500) until the engine or energy producing means connected to the air intake system is running. Further, and as in all previous embodiments, materials may be chosen for heat sensitivity such that catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) does not mix with the air until certain temperatures are reached.

A further modification of figure 7 would be to include a motor to pull, push or propel air from the inside of container (206) through hose (200) into the air filter system (300) . This motor could be placed at either end (204), (202) of hose (200), intermediate of hose (200) or in container (206) such that the addition of this motor would facilitate propelling, pushing or pulling air over catalyst,combustion improvement material or agent (100) and into the air intake system. This sort of modification would also be applicable in figure 9 so that the motor is placed again to propel, push or pull air past the catalyst, combustion improvement catalyst or agent (100) to mix with the outgassing portions of catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) and be delivered into the air intake system of the engine or energy producing means.

A modification that may be made to any of the embodiments herein would be to connect the catalyst, combustion improvement material or agent (100) directly into the vacuum line of an engine or energy producing means. The catalyst, combustion material, or agent would, of course, be housed in an air impermeable cover so that only the vacuum effect would allow it to out gas into the engine system. Thus, in figure 7, filter (208) would be replaced by an air impervious end, and hose or tube (200) , rather than connecting into air intake inlet (302) would connect directly into the vacuum system. In figure 8, wick

(400) would instead extend into the vacuum system of the engine or energy producing means, and in figure 9, that portion of tube or hose (200) that was meant to be open to air would be absent or closed, with casing, reservoir, or container (206) being fully sealed except for the extension of hose or tube (200) thereout into the vacuum portion of the engine or energy producing means rather than into the air inlet system (300) . In summary, this modification would involve catalyst, combustion improvement material, or agent (100) housed in an air impermeable cover and connected into the vacuum system of an energy producing means, such that when the vacuum system is in operation, catalyst, combustion improvement material, or agent (100) will outgas into the vacuum system.

This invention is claimed as follows.