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Title:
A DEVICE GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE VAPORS FED TO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2007/045439
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A device generating combustible vapors fed to an internal combustion or diesel engine, as well to motors converted to work with natural gas, capable to boost the horsepower of said engines o to regain the nominal horsepower delivered by the engine, comprising a closed vessel (1) having a longitudinal axis; with a removable lid (2) at its upper end and a bottom end (4) having mutually convergent surfaces until they reach a common point at the extreme lower end (14) of said vessel. Two conduits enter said vessel from its upper end (3); a first conduit (7) is connected to a vacuum source and to the means regulating the vehicle's own fuel admission to the engine, while the second conduit (5) provides a source of atmospheric air entering said vessel, extending this second conduit (5) within said vessel (1) until its free end rests adjacent to its bottom (4). Said vessel (1) determines when said lid is applied, an hermetic enclosure containing a mass of a liquid HC volatile fuel (12), being said free end of said second conduit submerged within said mass of liquid HC, establishing an air inlet (a) within said HC mass creating a state of constant turbulence (b), while the first conduit (7) determines the extraction (v) of the volatile HC vapor generated within (13). The lower end (4) of said vessel it is connected a third conduit (10) defining a draining means; each one of said conduits has it own closing valves (9, 8) capable of regulating the flow therein.

Inventors:
VALDEZ MONICA ANDREA (AR)
BORTOLUSSI OSVALDO DANIEL (AR)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2006/010010
Publication Date:
April 26, 2007
Filing Date:
October 17, 2006
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
DIETMAIR JOHANN (DE)
VALDEZ MONICA ANDREA (AR)
BORTOLUSSI OSVALDO DANIEL (AR)
International Classes:
F02M25/08; F02M17/22
Foreign References:
US4681081A1987-07-21
US5211890A1993-05-18
US5655505A1997-08-12
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
AHME, Johannes et al. (Beselerstrasse 4, Hamburg, DE)
Download PDF:
Claims:

What we claim is:

1- A DEVICE GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE VAPORS FED TO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION OR DIESEL ENGINE, AS WELL TO MOTORS CONVERTED TO WORK WITH NATURAL GAS, CAPABLE TO BOOST THE HORSEPOWER OF SAID ENGINES O TO REGAIN THE NOMINAL HORSEPOWER DELIVERED BY THE ENGINE, characterized, in that it comprises a closed vessel having a longitudinal axis; adjacent to its upper end said vessel has a removable lid, while the bottom end of said vessel defines mutually convergent surfaces until they reach a common point at the extreme lower end thereof; two separate conduits enters said vessel adjacent to its upper end, of which a first conduit is connected to a vacuum source and to the means regulating the vehicle's own fuel admission to the engine, while the second conduit provides a source of atmospheric air entering said vessel, extending this second conduit within said vessel until its free end rests adjacent to its bottom; determining said vessel when said lid is closed upon it, an hermetic enclosure within which it is lodged a mass of a liquid HC volatile fuel, being said free end of said second conduit submerged within said mass of liquid HC, establishing within said liquid mass a state of constant turbulence; said first conduit enters the upper region of said vessel and its free end is places adjacent to the upper inner vault of said vessel, determining a vacuum aspiration conduit for the volatile HC vapors thus generated

within said vessel, while from the lower end of said vessel it is connected a third conduit defining a draining means; each one of said conduits has it own closing valves. - A DEVICE GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE VAPORS, according to claim 1 , characterized in that said vacuum source is selected from a vacuum produced by the pistons of the engine and derived to the first conduit coupling same to the inlet manifold of the engine, to the power brake system of the vehicle, or to a vacuum source exter nal to the engine and acted by it, varying the magnitude of said vacuum according to the r.p.m. of the engine. - A DEVICE GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE VAPORS, according to claim 1 , characterized in that the means regulating the flow applied to the first and second conduit are selected between closing valves, a calibrated orifice, a solenoid valve, an adjustable choke of the conduit and an electro-served valve. - A DEVICE GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE VAPORS, according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the means capable of regulating the flow applied to said first and second conduit are independently operable the one from the other.

Description:

A DEVICE GENERATING COMBUSTIBLE VAPORS FED TO AN INTERNAL

COMBUSTION ENGINE Field of the invention:

This invention is related to a device generating combustible vapors fed to an internal combustion or diesel engine, as well to motors converted to work with natural gas, capable to boost the horsepower of said engines o to regain the nominal horsepower delivered by the engine.

More particularly, this instant invention is applicable to either fixed or stationary engines as well as motors destined to move or power vehicles.

In the following specification the following terms convey the following meanings: G.N.C.: Is the abbreviation for "NATURAL COMPRESSED GAS", which is an under pressure combustible gas in liquid state confined within a tank, which is converted into a vapor gas upon its liberation from its confinement and introduction into an engine. G. N. C. CONVERTED ENGINE: This term is applied to any kind of engine primarily designed to work on a liquid combustible, such as petrol. NOMINAL HORSEPOWER: Is the shaft power rating (theoretical or test measured) given by any engine according to the manufacturer's specifications. ENGINE: This term encompass all the devices, which are capable of delivering a movement and horsepower at its outlet shaft, based on fuel combustion or a fuel compression cycle.

Background of this instant invention and prior art:

It is a well known fact that when an engine's liquid fuel (such as petrol) is substituted for a GNC fuel, a decrease in the given shaft horsepower delivered by the engine could be obtained, and sometimes this loss of power can reach 30% of said nominal horsepower rating.

Even in engines without GNC fuel conversion the engine's power rating diminishes with time, owing to wear and malfunctions.

It is known the use of alcohol, (namely methanol) or water injections directly into the engine's admission which allows an improvement in said horsepower delivery, or diol solutions. The injection of these substances provides an instant increase in the engine's horsepower delivery, but also produces severe damages to the engine, hence this resort can be used for a very limited lapse of time. Besides the above, at the working temperature of the engine these solutions are very corrosive, hence the overall cost thereof is quite steep. Object of this instant invention:

It is an object of this invention to provide a device capable to restore an engine working on a liquid fuel or GNC to its original power ratings, including Diesel cycle engines, as well to restore to its nominal power ratings engines which have been subjected to a considerable degree of wear.

It is also an object of this invention that said horsepower increase should be attained though the injection of the volatile vapor fraction of the same liquid fuel (petrol) injected into the admission of the engine, and mixed with said liquid fuel, that is, the fuel volatile fraction is injected along with the usual liquid fuel.

It is also an object of this invention that said HC vapor generating unit constitutes an independent device, acting in unison with the vehicle's engine, independent of any electric, electro-mechanical or electronic connection means of said vehicle. This means that the electric and/or electronic diagrams of the vehicle are not modified by the incorporation of the device of this instant invention.

It is still another object of this invention that it restores the engine horsepower to its original manufacturer's rating, with this device working without interruption and jointly with the engine, and at an operative cost, which is practically negligible.

If the engine operates with GNC as its fuel, the device of the invention does not alter the working of said GNC injection device, while it solves some notorious known problems, such as the excessive dryness of the moving piston surfaces. Brief description of the invention:

These and other objects of this invention are attained feeding HC volatile vapors to an engine, generated through a combustible vapors generating device capable to increase the horsepower output of said engine or capable of restoring said power output to its factory nominal values, characterized, in that it comprises a closed vessel having a longitudinal axis; adjacent to its upper end said vessel has a removable lid, while the bottom end of said vessel defines mutually convergent surfaces until they reach a common point at the extreme lower end thereof; two separate conduits enters said vessel adjacent to its upper end, of which a first conduit is connected to a vacuum source and to the means regulating the vehicle's own fuel admission to

the engine, while the second conduit provides a source of atmospheric air entering said vessel, extending this second conduit within said vessel until its free end rests adjacent to its bottom; determining said vessel when said lid is closed upon it, an hermetic enclosure within which it is lodged a mass of a liquid HC volatile fuel, being said free end of said second conduit submerged within said mass of liquid HC, establishing within said liquid mass a state of constant turbulence; said first conduit enters the upper region of said vessel and its free end is places adjacent to the upper inner vault of said vessel, determining a vacuum aspiration conduit for the volatile HC vapors thus generated within said vessel, while from the lower end of said vessel it is connected a third conduit defining a draining means; each one of said conduits has it own closing valves.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention: The invention's main features and characteristics will become apparent from its following description, provided as a non limiting example of one of the several constructions thereof, and with reference to the enclosed Figure 1 , which depicts a vertical cross section of an embodiment of the invention.

In said Figure 1 , reference (1) indicates an elongated vessel capable of determining a closed hermetic inner environment. This vessel (1) may be made out of metallic or plastic lateral resistant walls, having at its upper end a vault or upper wall (3), having thereon a lid (2), which is selectively opened allowing the access to the inner volume of said vessel. The actual shape of said upper wall or vault (3) as well as the cross section of the vessel's lateral walls is not a critical factor to the ends of this instant invention.

Instead, the critical design factors for the vessel of this invention are given by the necessity of having an elongated shape with a main axis of a larger magnitude than the rest of its cross section dimensions, while its bottom end is shaped along walls converging towards its lower end (14). The shape of this convergence may vary, that is, the said walls (4) mutually convergent towards (14) may define an inverted frusto-conical wall, or they be shaped according to a revolution curve rotating along said main axis, provided all these shapes comply with the condition that said walls (4) concur towards a common point placed at the bottom (14) of said vessel.

A first conduit (7) and a second conduit (5) are introduced adjacent to the vessel's (1) upper end (3). Ideally both conduits (7, 5) enters within said vessel through the upper end (3) and near said lid (2).

Said first conduit (7) is connected to a vacuum source and to the means administering the fuel input into the engine's combustion chambers. Said vacuum source could consist in a connection to said means administering the fuel input already pertaining to the vehicle, as provided by its manufacturer. For instance, if we are dealing with an engine burning petrol as its fuel, said vacuum source may consist in a connection to the intake manifold, or else, to the fuel injection system, being the latter also valid for engines operating under the Diesel cycle. It is equally useful to the ends of this instant invention that said vacuum source may originate from the pump operating the power brake, or inclusive, from a vacuum source from the outside of the engine, (that is, a vacuum source not provided by the vehicle's manufacturer), such as a pump, a turbine, or any other means capable of providing a vacuum.

Nevertheless according to this invention, this vacuum source must comply with an important condition, mainly, that it must be able to vary the absolute value of the produced vacuum operating in the aspiration conduit (7) as a direct result of the engine's running r.p.m., hence this is the motif by which it is preferable to obtain this vacuum source through the admission or fuel intake manifold. This first conduit enters within the vessel (1) and ends adjacent to its upper wall or vault (3).

The second conduit (5) provides the inlet of atmospheric air into said vessel (1) and it is extended within said vessel until the free end (6) of (5) lays adjacent to the bottom (4) thereof, at its lowermost point. Conveniently, said free end (6) is curved, copying the slope of the inner geometry of said bottom (4).

As already said, the vessel (1) confines in its inner volume, when its lid (2) is secured, an hermetic environment, thus the first and second conduits (7, 5) enters into said vessel without allowing any other open communication with the outer environment. Within said vessel (1) is it placed a liquid mass (12) of a volatile HC, such as petrol, and the free end (6) of the second conduit remains always submerged within said liquid mass (2), determining an air outlet (b) which enters from the outer environment (a) through (5) into (12), establishing an air turbulent regime (b), which provokes a rapid and constant evaporation of the more volatile fractions of (12) establishing a constant atmosphere (v) of air saturated with HC at the upper volume (13) of said vessel (1) and above the interface of said liquid HC mass.

Said mass of air and HC vapors (v) is constantly aspired through (7) and at rate dependent of the magnitude of the vacuum created by the engine, being

said vapor mass (v) conveyed into the engine's intake manifold, wherein they enter along with the usual gasified mixture of the fuel used by said engine helping to further complete the filling of the combustion chambers of said engine.

Each conduit (5, 7) has its own flow regulating means. Said regulating means may consist in any device known to fulfil this end, such as a calibrated orifice, a valve, an electro-mechanical or electronic closing device, etc.

We notice then that said conduit (5) has, outside said vessel (1) a regulating valve (8), while conduit (7) presents under the same conditions its own valve means (9). Through said valve (8) it is possible top check the flow of air (a) entering into the vessel (1), while through valve (9) it is possible to check the flow of saturated vapors entering into the admission manifold of the engine.

Finally, the lowermost end (14) of vessel (1) has a third conduit (10) defining a drainage pipe for the liquid mass of fuel, provided with its own closing valve (11 ). Working of the device of this instant invention:

This invention implies having a device capable to perform along the original fuel injection devices pertaining to the engine, but it is not incorporated in said engine, meaning, the inclusion of this instant device does not modify the engine, its structure or its original equipment, and it works independently with said engine.

When the engine is started, it generates a vacuum, which magnitude is variable according to the r.p.m. of the engine. This vacuum is communicated through the first conduit (7) to the inner sealed volume (13) of vessel (1). This same vacuum generates the automatic entry of fresh air to (13) through (5) and

within the liquid HC volume (12) therein contained. Evidently when the vacuum magnitude increases, the more fresh air enters through (5), compensating said vacuum. This generates a turbulent regime provoking the vacuum in (13) the separation of the more volatile fraction of the HC 1 providing a saturated mixture of air, rich in said HC vapors. This mixture is absorbed by (7) and it is conveyed to the fuel inlet manifold of the engine. The calibration of the inlet of said combustible vapors is provided through a flow-regulating valve (9), and the air entrance, which compensates said vapor through the controlling valve (8).

Feeding to the engine a mass of air rich in HC volatile vapors originates at a very low cost an increase of 15% to 30% in the power output given by the engine when same operates without the device of this invention. The calibrating means (9) allows regulating the input of this additional fuel until the engine reaches its nominal horsepower rating, thus avoiding structural damages.

A main feature of this instant invention is that it allows performing continuously under any working condition of the engine, at a very limited and contained cost. It is possible to calculate in city driving an additional fuel consumption of 140 Km for each 250 CC of fuel contained in (1), while in highway driving the additional consumption is of 800 Km/ 1000 CC.

A most surprising result is obtained if this device is to be used in association with a GNC system, since besides the power rating increase up to nominal workbench ratings; it avoids the excessive dryness to be found usually in said GNC fuel injection systems, thus avoiding structural damage to the cylinders and pistons. Of the engine.

When the liquid fuel (HC) contained in (1) has lost most of its more volatile fractions, the remaining fuel is drained from (1) through (10) and upon removal of the lid 82) a fresh supply of HC is admitted into (1).

Leaving standing and unvaried the principles of this instant invention, new embodiments thereof may vary amply from the ones above depicted and mentioned as a mere illustrative example of this instant invention, leaving this novelty within the same scope given by the following claims.