TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a processor and method for treating a liquid fuel having volatile and nonvolatile components and also relates to an engine fuel system incorporating the processor that performs the method as well as to a gas/liquid fuel dispersion provided by the processor and the method.

BACKGROUND ART

Certain liquid fuels such as gasoline have volatile components and nonvolatile components. The volatile components for conventional gasoline constitute approximately 45% of its total volume and include butane, pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, benzene and toluene. When conventional gasoline is exposed to the atmosphere, these volatile components will eventually totally vaporize leaving only the nonvolatile components .

United States Patent 4,426,984 Gilbert discloses apparatus for gasifying a volatile liquid fuel such as gasoline, methanol and the like for combustion by an internal combustion engine.

Other fuel carburetors and delivery systems for f el are disclosed by United States Patents : 349,211 Cottrell; 527,639 Westcott; 1,180,389 Friend; 1,598,243 Chapin; 1,883,142 Wannack; 1,889,162 Thomas et al; 2,351,072 Schmidt; 2, 565, 767 Gaskell, Jr.; 3,199,847 Wahnish; 3,325,152 Wahnish; 3,338,223 Williams; 3,986,846 Bivins, Jr.; 4,011,847 Fortino; 4,149,853

DesMarais, Jr. et al; 4,270,505 Johnson; 4,271,098 Henning et al; 4,399,079 Lowe; 4,551,153 Won; 5,004,571 Litz et al; 5,108,662 Litz et al; and 5,168,836 Kraus.

United States Patent 3,900,420 Sebba discloses what is referred to as a microgas emulsion of a fine dispersion of gas bubbles of colloidal dimensions in a continuous liquid phase containing a soluble emulsifier such that the emulsion behaves like a Newtonian liquid.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved processor for treating a liquid fuel having volatile components and nonvolatile components, such as gasoline.

In carrying out the above object, the processor includes a housing defining an enclosed fuel chamber. An inlet into the housing is provided for delivering the liquid fuel under pressure into the fuel chamber to provide filling of the fuel chamber. Cavitation apparatus of the processor provides cavitation of the liquid fuel to generate small gas fuel bubbles that are dispersed throughout the liquid fuel in the fuel chamber to provide a gas/liquid fuel dispersion. An outlet from the housing delivers the gas/liquid fuel dispersion from the fuel chamber for combustion.

In one construction of the processor, the cavitation apparatus includes at least one restricted opening through which the pressurized liquid fuel flows to generate the gas fuel bubbles. This restricted opening of the cavitation apparatus directs the pressurized liquid fuel flowing therethrough downwardly

or horizontally within the fuel chamber. Most preferably, this construction of the cavitation apparatus includes a plurality of restricted openings through which the pressurized liquid fuel flows to generate the gas bubbles. These restricted openings of the cavitation apparatus direct the pressurized liquid fuel flowing therethrough downwardly or horizontally within the fuel chamber. One preferred construction of the processor has the inlet provided with an inlet tube extending downwardly within the fuel chamber through the upper extremity thereof, and the cavitation apparatus includes a supply manifold fed pressurized liquid fuel from the inlet tube and having a lower distribution plate including the restricted openings through which the pressurized liquid fuel is introduced downwardly into the fuel chamber to generate the gas fuel bubbles . Another preferred construction of the processor has the inlet provided with an inlet tube extending downwardly within the fuel chamber through the upper extremity thereof and has the cavitation apparatus including the restricted openings which extend horizontally through the inlet tube from which the pressurized liquid fuel flows horizontally into the fuel chamber to generate the gas fuel bubbles.

Another construction of the processor for treating a liquid fuel has the cavitation apparatus constructed to include a pump having an input for receiving fuel from the fuel chamber to provide pressurization thereof and having an output that feeds pressurized liquid fuel to the restricted openings for flow therethrough in a recirculating manner that generates the gas fuel bubbles. One construction of this processor with the recirculating flow has the pump located entirely within the fuel chamber of the housing. Another construction of the processor with the

recirculating flow has the pump provided with one portion located within the fuel chamber of the housing and provided with another portion located externally of the housing. A further embodiment of the processor having the recirculating flow is constructed with the pump located entirely outside of the housing.

Another construction of the cavitation apparatus of the processor includes a mixer that mixes the liquid fuel to generate the gas fuel bubbles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for treating a liquid fuel having volatile components and nonvolatile components.

In carrying out the above object, the method for treating a liquid fuel having volatile components and nonvolatile components is performed by pressurizing the liquid fuel and introducing the pressurized liquid fuel into a housing within an enclosed fuel chamber of the housing to provide filling of the fuel chamber. The liquid fuel within the fuel chamber is subjected to cavitation to generate small gas fuel bubbles that are dispersed throughout the liquid fuel in the fuel chamber to provide a gas/liquid fuel dispersion that is delivered from the fuel chamber for combustion.

In one practice, the method for treating a liquid fuel is performed by flow of the pressurized liquid fuel through at least one restricted opening to provide the cavitation that generates the gas fuel bubbles. This flow of the pressurized liquid fuel is disclosed as being directed downwardly or horizontally upon flow through the restricted opening. Most preferably, the pressurized liquid fuel flows through a plurality of restricted openings to provide the

cavitation that generates the gas fuel bubbles and the pressured fuel is directed downwardly or horizontally upon flow through the restricted openings. In one practice, the pressurized liquid fuel is fed directly to the restricted openings upon introduction inlet . In another practice, the liquid fuel is pumped from the fuel chamber and pressurized for flow through the restricted openings in a recirculating manner.

In another practice of the method, the liquid fuel is mixed to provide the cavitation that generates the gas fuel bubbles .

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved engine fuel system.

In carrying out the above object, an engine fuel system incorporating the present invention includes a tank for storing a liquid fuel having volatile components and nonvolatile components and also includes a pump for receiving the liquid fuel from the tank to pressurize the liquid fuel. A processor of the system has a housing defining an enclosed fuel chamber and having an inlet for delivering the pressurized liquid fuel from the pump into the fuel chamber to provide filling of the fuel chamber. The processor also has cavitation apparatus that provides cavitation of the liquid fuel to generate small gas bubbles that are dispersed throughout the liquid fuel to provide a gas/liquid fuel dispersion. The housing also has an outlet from the fuel chamber for delivering the gas/liquid fuel dispersion for combustion.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved f el .

In carrying out the above object, the fuel according to the present invention is a dispersion of small gas fuel bubbles dispersed throughout a liquid fuel and provided by cavitating a liquid fuel having volatile components and nonvolatile components within an enclosed and filled chamber to generate the small gas fuel bubbles that are dispersed throughout the liquid fuel.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of an engine fuel system constructed in accordance with the invention and including a processor constructed in accordance therewith to perform the method thereof that provides a gas/liquid fuel dispersion of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view taken in the same direction as FIG. 1 but in section through the processor that treats the liquid fuel;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view taken along the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 2 to illustrate cavitation apparatus of the processor which in this embodiment includes at least one and preferably a plurality of restricted openings through which pressurized liquid fuel is delivered in a downward direction into a fuel chamber of a housing of the processor;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG.

2 of another embodiment of the processor wherein restricted openings deliver pressurized liquid fuel horizontally into the fuel chamber instead of downwardly;

FIGURE 5 is a plan sectional view taken along the direction of line 5-5 in FIG. 4 to illustrate the restricted opening through which the pressurized liquid fuel flows;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view through another embodiment of the processor which includes a pump located within the fuel chamber of the housing and operable to provide a recirculating flow of fuel through restricted openings;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view taken along the direction of line 7-7 in FIG. 6 to illustrate the restricted openings through which the fuel flows;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 of another embodiment wherein the pump that provides the recirculating flow through the restricted opening is located both internally and externally of the housing defining the fuel chamber;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom plan view taken in section along the direction of line 9-9 in FIG. 8 to illustrate the restricted openings through which the fuel is recirculated;

FIGURE 10 is a somewhat schematic view of another embodiment of the processor which includes a pump that is located entirely outside of the housing; and

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of another embodiment wherein the cavitation apparatus includes a mixer.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an engine fuel system of the invention is generally indicated by 10 and provides delivery of a fuel to an engine 12 in a manner that is hereinafter more fully described. The engine 12 illustrated has a fuel rail 14 that distributes the fuel to fuel injectors 16 for delivery into the engine cylinders for combustion.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the fuel system 10 includes a storage tank 18 for storing a liquid fuel 20 such as gasoline that has volatile components and nonvolatile components. A conventional fuel pump 22 of the fuel system receives the liquid fuel from the tank 20 and pressurizes the liquid fuel to a conventional pressure such as on the order of about 42 psi. From the fuel pump 22, the pressurized liquid fuel is delivered through a conduit 24 to a processor 26 that is constructed in accordance with the invention to provide the method thereof as is hereinafter more fully described. From the processor 26, the treated fuel is delivered through a conduit 28 to the engine fuel rail 14 for the distribution to the fuel injectors 16 as previously described. A low pressure return line 29 from the fuel rail 14 provides delivery of unused fuel back to the fuel tank 18.

With reference to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the construction of the fuel processor 26 as well as its method of operation will be described in an integrated manner to facilitate an understanding of the different

aspects of the invention. This processor 26 includes a housing 30 of any suitable construction that defines an enclosed fuel chamber 32. An inlet 34 of the housing 30 is provided for delivering the pressurized liquid fuel from the conduit 24 into the fuel chamber 32 to provide filling of the fuel chamber. Cavitation apparatus 38 of the processor is illustrated as being immersed within the fuel and is constructed to provide cavitation thereof to generate small gas fuel bubbles that are dispersed throughout the liquid fuel to provide a gas/liquid fuel dispersion that behaves like a Newtonian liquid despite the inclusion of the gas bubbles. An outlet 42 of the housing 30 provides delivery of the gas/liquid fuel dispersion from the fuel chamber 32 for combustion.

Fuel treated by this processor 26 in accordance with the method thereof has been found to provide enhanced power to an engine as well as increased fuel efficiency by providing greater mileage per gallon of fuel.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the cavitation apparatus 38 illustrated includes at least one restricted opening 44 and, in fact, includes a plurality of the restricted openings 44 as also shown in FIG. 3. The pressurized liquid fuel is introduced into the chamber 32 directly from the housing inlet 34 through these restricted openings 44 to generate the gas fuel bubbles. The dynamic reduction of pressure which occurs when a liquid fuel flows through such a restricted opening causes the cavitation which is a rapid, almost explosive, change of phase from liquid to vapor occurring whenever the absolute pressure of such a flowing liquid drops below a critical value. Initially, the cavitation occurs as minute vapor and

gas-filled traveling cavities that grow rapidly and then collapse as they are swept from a lower pressure to a higher pressure region after passage through the restricted openings. In this construction, each restricted opening 44 of the cavitation apparatus 38 directs the pressurized liquid fuel flowing therethrough downwardly into the filled fuel chamber 32.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the inlet 34 of the housing 30 is illustrated as having an inlet tube 46 that is communicated with the conduit 24 and that extends downwardly within the fuel chamber 32 through its upper extremity. The cavitation apparatus 38 is supported by the lower end of the inlet tube 46 and fed pressurized liquid fuel from the inlet tube. A supply manifold 48 of the cavitation apparatus has a lower distribution plate 50 that defines the restricted openings 44 through which the pressurized liquid fuel is introduced downwardly into the fuel chamber 32 to generate the gas fuel bubbles. As illustrated, the restricted openings 44 are arranged in radial inner and outer sets from the center of the round distribution plate 50 and there are twenty such restricted openings with ten in the radial inner set and ten in the radial outer set and with the inner and outer openings radially aligned with each other. These restricted openings 44 of the embodiment illustrated have a diameter of 0.040 of an inch.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of the processor 26a is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in that its cavitation apparatus 28 includes at least one and preferably a plurality of the restricted openings 44 that are fed pressurized liquid fuel directly from the inlet 24 for flow into the fuel chamber 32. However, the restricted fuel openings 44 of

this embodiment feed the fuel horizontally into the filled fuel chamber as opposed to downwardly and are located on a downward extension of the inlet tube 46 whose lower end 47 is closed. The openings 44 illustrated are arranged in upper and lower sets with each set having four openings spaced circumferentially at 90o as shown. These restricted openings 44 have a diameter of 0.031 of an inch and were made by electrical discharge machining which allows a smaller size than can be done with drilling. Also it should be noted that a longer length of the restricted openings 44 provides additional heating of the fuel upon passage therethrough so as to increase the amount of fuel that is vaporized by the cavitation. Thus, thickening of the wall of the inlet tube 46 or other component through which the restricted openings 44 extend will provide increased generation of the gas bubbles by the cavitation.

It should also be appreciated that one or more restricted openings can also direct the pressurized liquid fuel into the fuel chamber upwardly or in an inclined direction as well as downwardly and horizontally. Furthermore, the flow can be in different directions from different openings within the fuel chamber.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, another embodiment of the processor 26b has its cavitation apparatus 38 provided with a pump 52 having an input 54 for receiving fuel from the fuel chamber 32 to provide pressurization thereof and having an output 56 that feeds pressurized liquid fuel to the restricted openings 44 for flow therethrough in a recirculating manner that generates the gas fuel bubbles by cavitation. More specifically, this embodiment of the processor has the pump 52 located entirely within the fuel chamber 32 of

the housing 30 in a generally upstanding manner with its lower end supported by a mount 58 within a sump 60 where the pump input 54 receives the fuel to be pressurized. Output 56 of the pump is sealed by O-ring 62 to the supply manifold 48 whose lower face 64 includes five circumferentially spaced restricted openings 44 through which the pressurized fuel flows to provide the cavitation. A wire conduit 66 at the upper extremity of pump 52 supports electrical wires 68 and 70 that are received by associated notches 72 in the periphery of the manifold 48 to allow passage upwardly and connection to terminals 74 and 76 in order to energize the pump for its operation. With this embodiment of the processor, the pressurized fuel upon passage through the restricted openings 44 is directed downwardly in the same manner as the previously described embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, another embodiment of the processor 26c also includes a pump 52 that provides for recirculating flow of the fuel through the restricted openings 44 like the embodiment of FIGS.

6 and 7. However, this embodiment of the processor 26c has the pump 52 provided with one portion 78 located within the fuel chamber 32 of the housing 30 and also provided with another portion 80 located externally of the housing. More specifically, as illustrated, the one portion 78 located within the fuel chamber 32 includes the pump input 54 through which fuel is received into the pump from the fuel chamber. Furthermore, the other pump portion 80 located externally of the housing 30 includes the pump output 56 that feeds the pressurized fuel to an external conduit 82 which is communicated to feed the pressurized fuel back into the fuel chamber to an annular manifold 84 that extends around the pump 52 and is supported within the housing by circumferentially spaced mounts 86. The pump 52 thus has a vertically

elongated shape that extends through the interior of the annular manifold 84 and the annular manifold is provided with the restricted openings 44 that allow for- flow of the pressurized fuel downwardly around the pump to provide the small gas fuel bubbles as previously described.

With reference to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the processor 26d includes a pump 52 for providing the recirculating flow of fuel through restricted openings within the fuel chamber in the same manner as the embodiments 26b shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and 26c shown in FIGS. 8 and 9; however, this embodiment of the processor has the pump 52 located entirely outside of the housing 30. More specifically, a conduit 88 extending from the fuel chamber within the housing 30 provides fuel to the pump input 54 while the pump output 56 is communicated by a conduit 82 like the embodiment of FIG. 8 to the restricted openings to provide the pressurized fuel flow therethrough and generation of the small gas fuel bubbles. With this embodiment, the flow through the restricted openings can be either downwardly such as with the embodiment of FIG. 2, horizontally such as with the embodiment of FIG. 4, upwardly, in an inclined direction, or in different directions as previously described.

With reference to FIG. 11, another embodiment of the processor 26e has the same construction as the previously described embodiments except as will be noted such that much of the prior description is applicable and will not be repeated. However, in this embodiment of the processor 26e, the cavitation apparatus 38' includes a mixer 90 supported by a rotary shaft 92 within the fuel chamber 32. A motor 94 rotatively drives the shaft 92 such that blades 96 of the mixer 52

provide the cavitation of the liquid fuel to generate the small gas fuel bubbles that are dispersed throughout the liquid fuel to provide the gas/liquid fuel dispersion. Thus, rotation of the shaft 92 as shown by rotary arrow 98 under the driving of the motor 94 provides rotation of the mixer 90 so that its blades 96 have the liquid flowing therearound to provide cavitation. In this embodiment as shown, the inlet tube 46 extends downwardly at the upper extremity of the housing into the fuel chamber.

In addition to the fuel system 10, the processor 26, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d and 26e and the method for treating the fuel performed by the processor, the invention also involves the resultant fuel which is a dispersion of small gas fuel bubbles distributed throughout the liquid fuel and provided by cavitating the liquid fuel of volatile components and nonvolatile components within the enclosed and filled chamber 32 to generate the small gas fuel bubbles that are dispersed throughout the liquid fuel as previously described. It is believed that the resultant small gas fuel bubbles have a size on the order of microns or so and that, while the dispersion has a lesser density than the fuel before treating due to the dispersed gas bubbles, it still is a Newtonian liquid like the liquid fuel before treating.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.