The invention relates to a method for conditioning in a combustion engine of the components fuel and an oxy¬ gen-containing gas such as air. By conditioning is under¬ stood producing the conditions in the mixture required for an optimal, complete combustion of this mixture. Optimal combustion is important for the efficiency of a combustion engine as well as for a minimal impact on the environment by clean combustion gases, and, when the combustion engine is applied for instance in a car, can also be important for the acceleration power of that car.

The object of the invention is to provide a method according to which conditioning can ,be realized in a sim¬ ple, inexpensive and effective manner, and which can also be applied in known combustion engines. The object of the invention is realized with a method for conditioning in a combustion engine a flow of gas containing the components fuel and oxygen, such as an air-containing mixture, which method comprises the step of: placing in the flow of fuel, oxygen-containing gas or a mixture thereof at least one element constructed of wire material of which at least a significant part extends in a direction corresponding with the direction of said flow.

It has been found that the fuel consumption of a combustion engine in which the flammable mixture is σondi- tioned according to the invention is markedly lower than in the same engine in which the method according to the inven¬ tion is not applied. The combustion gases of a combustion engine in which the flammable mixture is conditioned accor¬ ding to the invention are also much cleaner and contain a lower carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon content than those of the same engine in which the method according to the inven¬ tion is not applied.

In an embodiment of the method at least one ele¬ ment constructed of wire material is placed in a feed line for a fuel.

In another embodiment of the method at least one element construc ^* ed of wire material is placed in a feed

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line for an oxygen-containing gas. It has been found that placing an element in at least one of the feed lines of the components of the flammable mixture just prior to the moment of combining results in better combustion. Better combustion can for example also be obtained by placing at least one element constructed of wire mate¬ rial in a mixing chamber for mixing a fuel and an oxygen- containing gas.

Another method for improving the combustion can consist for example of placing at least one element con¬ structed of wire material in a transport line of a mixture containing fuel and oxygen.

The invention further relates to a device for conditioning a flammable mixture in a combustion engine which comprises a fuel feed line, a feed line for an oxy¬ gen-containing gas, a mixing chamber for mixing a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, a transport line for transporting a mixture containing fuel and oxygen and a combustion space. Such a device is known. In the known device it is not possible to condition the flammable mixture according to the invented method.

The object of the invention in addition to provi¬ ding the method is also to provide a device for condition¬ ing a flammable mixture according to the above described method.

This object is realized according to the invention with a device which is characterized by at least one ele¬ ment constructed of wire material placed in the flow of fuel, oxygen-containing gas or a mixture thereof, of which element at least a significant part extends in a direction corresponding with the direction of said flow.

A preferred embodiment of this device is charac¬ terized in that the element constructed of wire material is a wire tree consisting of at least one wire. The element constructed of wire material that characterizes the device according to the invention, can for example have a wave pattern in lengthwise direction.

The element constructed of wire material can preferably be folded over at least once whereby it consists of a number of parts running approximately parallel to each other. This step makes it possible to enlarge the active surface of the element.

The element constructed of wire material can for instance consist of separate components which run approxi¬ mately parallel to each other and which are mutually joined at the extremities. At least one element constructed of wire material is preferably arranged in a fuel feed, a feed line for an oxygen-containing gas, a mixing chamber for mixing a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, a transport line for trans¬ porting a fuel and an oxygen-containing mixture or a com- bustion space for burning a fuel and an oxygen-containing mixture. Combinations of arrangements of elements construc¬ ted of wire material in a plurality of spaces is also possible. It has been found herein that the positive ef¬ fects of arranging at least one element increase the closer it is arranged to the combustion space.

Application of the method and the device according to the inventions in combustion engines of cars resulted in substantial reductions in fuel consumption, particularly petrol consumption, L.P.G. or diesel fuel and in a substan- tial reduction of the carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon content of the exhaust gases.

The method is not limited to specific types of combustion engines but lends itself to use irrespective of the type of fuel (for example petrol, L.P.G. , diesel fuel) and irrespective of the manner in which the flammable mixture reaches the combustion chamber (via a carburetor or by means of an injection system) .

The invention will be elucidated further in the following with reference to the drawings. Herein: fig. l shows a greatly simplified schematic verti¬ cal cross section of a carburetor and a cylinder; fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an element constructed of wire material in the form of a mesh piece rolled up in lengthwise direction; fig. 3 shows a perspective view of an element constructed of wire material in the form of a piece of mesh folded over a number of times; fig. 4 is a perspective view of an element con¬ structed of wire material in the form of a wire folded over a number of times; fig. 5 is a perspective view of an element con¬ structed of wire material in the form of a piece of mesh

folded over once and having a wave pattern in lengthwise direction; and fig. 6 shows a perspective view of an element constructed of wire material that consists of separate components which run approximately parallel to each other and which are mutually joined at the extremities.

In the carburetor 1 (see fig. 1) air is drawn in known manner into the mixing chamber 2 via air filter ^' 3 and air inlet A . The fuel 5, in this case petrol, is carried into the mixing chamber 2 by means of a dosing system consisting of a float chamber 6 with float 7 and cut-off valve 8 via a main nozzle 9, a nozzle tube 10 and a nozzle aperture 11, in this example in the middle of the venturi tube 12 where the fuel is drawn along by and mixed with the air coming from the air inlet 4. The flammable mixture leaves mixing chamber 2 via the transport line 13 for the flammable mixture in the direction of the arrows 14. For the sake of a good understanding the figure further shows a venting 15 of the float chamber 6, a throttle valve 16 and a zero load system 17 indicated with dashed lines.

According to the invention the flammable mixture can be conditioned prior to leaving mixing chamber 2 via the transport line 13 by arranging elements constructed of wire material. In the figure an element 18 constructed of wire material is thus arranged in the feed line for fuel or the nozzle tube 11. In the transport line 13 for the flam¬ mable mixture an element 19 constructed of wire material is also arranged just in front of the combustion space 20. This combustion space 20 is bounded by a cylinder 21 and a piston 22.

The rolled-up piece of mesh 23 shown in fig. 2 can be placed for example in a pipe. The piece of mesh 24 folded over a number of times of fig. 3 can likewise be placed for instance in a pipe. See above the element 19 constructed of wire material that is placed in the trans¬ port line 13 for the flammable mixture in fig. 1.

The element 25 constructed of wire material shown in fig. 4 is constructed from a single wire which is folded over a number of times. The wire material 18 shown in fig. 1 roughly corresponds with the element 25 shown in fig. 4.

Shown in fig. 5 is an element 26 formed from a piece of mesh folded over and waved in lengthwise direc-

tion.

Fig. 6 shows an element 27 constructed from a number of separate wire pieces which are mutually joined at the extremities.

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