Vapor fueled engine

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Patent Application Publication Aug. 21, 2008 Sheet 2 of 4 US 2008/0196703 A1

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VAPORFUELED ENGINE is known that the desired reading for the voltage output of the sensor as measured by the control is, e.g., 3 volts. At startup,

RELATED APPLICATIONS the reading will typically beat, e.g., 4 volts, indicating a too 0001. The present application is a continuation of and rich mixture but desirable for startup and warming of the claims priority to Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. engine. After a time delay to accommodate warm up, any 10/578,693, entitled “Vapor Fueled Engine' filed on May 9, reading above or below, e.g., 3, will activate the control for 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by opening and closing the valve or valves which control ambi reference in its entirety. Patent application Ser. No. 10/578, ent air flow and vaporized fuel flow (more accurately an 693 is the U.S. National Stage Entry of a PCT that claims enriched mixture of air and fuel). For example, a 3.2 reading priority to now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,907.866, having a filing will produce an opening of the ambient air valve and/or a date of Nov. 11, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is hereby closing of the vaporized fuel flow. A 2.8 reading will produce incorporated by reference in its entirety. the reverse.

0009. Whereas it would be presumed and has been

FIELD OF THE INVENTION assumed that an established fixed setting of fuel-to-air mix ture would produce a stabilized mixture throughout the 0002 This invention relates to the use of vaporized fuel to operation of the engine, Such has been determined to be not power an engine and, more particularly, to improvements that the case. There are many variables that need to be controlled enhance fuel efficiency. or accommodated. The liquid fuel temperature is known to

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

have the greatest impact on hydrocarbon emissions and fuel efficiency, and that temperature will vary by small but very 0003. It is known that under some conditions the use of significant degrees of temperature due to environmental vaporized fuel versus liquid fuel for gasoline powered changes, i.e., temperature, elevation, humidity, and the like. vehicles can reduce the emission of hydrocarbons conveyed Thus, in the preferred embodiment, a quantity of fuel to be into the atmosphere, while also increasing fuel efficiency. The vaporized is precisely temperature controlled to Substantially problem that has lingered is how to obtain and retain those eliminate the effect of such environmental variables. benefits over the changing conditions in which Such vehicles 0010 Regardless, there still remain significant changes are typically driven. that are not controlled simply by maintaining the liquid fuel temperature. These remaining variables are accordingly

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION accommodated by monitoring the 0° sensors. To the extent 0004 As known and as described in the commonly owned that the fuel mixture strays from the desired reading from the

herein by reference), fuel efficiency can be improved by heat setting of a valve or valves.

ing a quantity of gasoline to cause vaporization, directing the 0011 Whereas the above improvements are considered vapor into a stream of ambient air, establishing a desired the primary features for the preferred embodiment, the fol air-to-fuel mixture and directing the mixture into the intake lowing is also considered to provide additional benefit. manifold of an engine. 0012 Again in the preferred embodiment, a quantity of 0005. Whereas the system as disclosed in the above appli liquid fuel, e.g., one gallon of fuel, is inserted into a vapor cation has resulted in significant improvement, it has not ization tank. The fuel occupies, e.g., the lower half of the tank, achieved the consistency of operation desired. and a heating element and temperature sensor is provided in 0006. It is known that there is an optimum fuel-to-air the fuel-containing portion of the tank. The temperature is set mixture that needs to be maintained. A fuel-to-air mixture of and maintained at, e.g., 74 degrees, and that temperature 1 to 20 is likely too rich resulting in an unacceptable percent causes vaporization of the fuel, the vapor rising from the age of hydrocarbons in the fuel that are not properly com liquid surface into the upper half of the tank. Within the tank, busted and fuel efficiency is reduced. A 1 to 40 mixture is too in the upper half, there is an ambient air inlet and a vaporized lean with today's catalytic converters (CATs) and produces an fuel outlet. A sequence of baffles directs air from the inlet and emission of nitrogen oxide that is prohibited by the EPA across the surface of the liquid fuel to the outlet which is emission standards. A fuel-to-air mixture of about 1 to 30 is connected to an outer first conduit. The ambient air tempera about optimal for current gasoline engines used in vehicles ture is stabilized by its movement over the liquid and in the and an objective of the invention is to control the fuel-to-air process mixes with the rising fuel vapor. As expelled through mixture to maintain the ratio in the range Substantially at, e.g., the outlet and into the first conduit, such becomes the vapor 1 to 30. ized fuel heretofore alluded to and which is perhaps more 0007 Consistent with the above objective, the mixture is correctly identified as an enriched fuel air mixture. A second monitored and adjusted throughout operation of the engine. ary Source of ambient air is conducted through a second This is accomplished automatically by the use of valves that conduit and merges with the vaporized fuel of the first con control the flow of vapor fuel and/or ambient air that is mixed duit. Prior to saidjoining of the air and vaporized fuel, at each prior to entry of the vapor fuel into the engine's intake mani or a selected one of the first and second conduits, control fold. The valves are coupled to a control that is in turn coupled valves are provided which control the flow volume from the to a vehicle's 0° sensor which senses 0° emissions in a vehi respective conduits to vary the amount of ambient air and cle's exhaust (a standard feature on most modern vehicles.) It vaporized fuel that is combined into a third conduit or con has been learned that the 0° emissions are directly related to tinuing conduit (also referred to as a mixing chamber) which hydrocarbon emissions which as explained is a reflection of in turn conveys the mixture to the engine's intake manifold. the fuel-to-air mixture. 0013. A further problem for which a solution had to be 0008. In the preferred embodiment, an electrical output derived was the discovery that the process as described, when from the 0° sensor is transmitted to the mentioned control. It vaporizing the common gasolines that are commercially

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available, generates a liquid residual that does not readily 0023 Conduit 18 includes a valve 28 which controls the vaporize, e.g., at the temperature setting considered other Volume of ambient air that is directed into a mixing chamber wise optimal. Over a period of time, this liquid residual 3O.

becomes a greater and greater portion of the liquid content of 0024. Returning to the vapor-producing tank 26, the tank the vaporization tank. Thus, a provision is made for a periodic is provided with flow control apparatus, e.g., baffles, which purging of the liquid residual from the tank. will be later explained, but for this overview description it will 0014 Whereas it was determined that the residual liquid be understood that air from conduit 20 (as controlled by valve burned acceptably well in conventional engines, and particu 22) enters the tank 26 through the top 24, liquid fuel 28 is larly to the extent that the systems of the preferred embodi drawn from a gas tank 32 via conduit 34, hot water heating ment are adaptable and applied as retrofits to such conven coils immersed in the liquid fuel via inlets and outlets 36, 38 tional engines, a first solution is the alternate running of the heat the gas/fuel 28 and generate vapors 40. The vapors are engine, i.e., on vaporized fuel as described above, and then, as picked up by the airflow from air conduit 20 and directed out desired, converting back to conventional liquid fuel operation through conduit 42 to the mixing chamber 30 but controlled wherein the residual liquid is used to fuel the engine. A by valve 44. The air vapor mixture of conduit 42 is intermixed recycling procedure may be established to (a) fill the tank in mixing chamber 30 with ambient air from conduit 18, and with e.g., a gallon of liquid gasoline; (b) vaporizing 80% of the mixture is directed through the intake port 10 and from the fuel and then Switching to conventional engine operation there into the combustion tank of the engine. to burn off the liquid residual; and (c) refill the tank and switch 0025 Reference is now also directed to FIG. 2 which back to vaporized fuel. Other solutions are certainly contem illustrates an automatic control process for the air, vapor, and plated. The residual can be simply extracted from the tank on fuel flow rates referred to in FIG.1. Each valve 22, 28 and 44 a periodic basis, stored until refueling is required, and then are opened and closed as desired (between any of the unlim disposed of or preferably transferred for use in a conventional ited positions between fully opened and fully closed) by engine use. It is theorized that the residual can also be elimi motors, e.g., Stepper motorS 22'28" and 44'. nated by periodic higher temperature vaporization which may vaporize the residual at some but acceptable loss of efficiency. 0026. It has been determined that fuel efficiency can be 0015 The invention will be more fully appreciated and measured by the hydrocarbons that are emitted from the understood by reference to the following detailed description vehicle exhaust. Unfortunately, the elimination of hydrocar and drawings referred to therein. bons from gasoline-produced engines currently available cannot be total as such produces an undesired and unpermit

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

ted emission of nitrogen oxides. Thus, one first determines the level of nitrogen oxide that is permitted and then the lowest level of hydrocarbons that will stay within the limits permit 0016 FIG. 1 is a schematic overview of a preferred ted for the restriction on nitrogen oxide. embodiment of the invention; 0027. It has further been determined that 0° detectors for 0017 FIG. 2 is an operational diagram of the system uti detecting a level of 0° in the vehicle's exhaust and which have lized for the embodiment of FIG. 1; been incorporated into the exhaust system of later model 0018 FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the vaporization tank vehicles, are directly related to the level of hydrocarbons in of FIG. 1; and that same exhaust. Thus, one can determine what 0° reading 0019 FIG. 4 is a further exploded view illustrating in of the detector 14 produces the optimum fuel efficiency. For particular the control valves of the system of FIGS. 1 and 2. example, a desired hydrocarbon level may be determined to exist when the 0° monitor produces a reading of 3 volts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 0028. Returning to FIG. 1, it has been determined that fuel EMBODIMENT efficiency is achieved by controlling the ratio of fuel-to-air mixture achieved at the mixing chamber 30 from which the 0020 Reference is made to FIG.1, which provides a sche mixture enters the engine intake throttle body. It is known that matic overview of the components of a system in accordance the vapor-air-mixture directed into the mixing chamber 30 with the present invention. A gasoline-powered engine as from conduit 42 is too rich, e.g., 1 part fuel to 10 parts air, and labeled, includes an intake port 10 connected to the engine's of course the air only from conduit 18 has zero parts fuel. The throttle body. The engine, when operating, draws air and fuel desired mixture may be that which achieves a 30 to 1 ratio, through port 10. The engine includes an exhaust pipe 12 that e.g., of 2 cubic feet of air, through valve 28 for each cubic foot is equipped with an 0° sensor 14. The engine, intake port 10 of air/vapor through valve 44.

and 0° detector 14 may be standard equipment provided for a 0029 Whereas the valves 28 and 44 can be set to achieve conventional gasoline-driven vehicle, and the remainder of the desired mixture at a givenpoint in time, it has been learned the components of the illustrated embodiment are incorpo that many factors affect the ratio achieved in the vapor/fuel rated into the system to achieve the objectives of the present mixture flowing through conduit 42. invention. 0030 Assuming a specific hydrocarbon emission is 0021. Item 16 represents an air box through which ambi desired, a reading of the 0° detector will verify that this ent air is drawn when operating the engine. Air conducting desired mixture has been achieved, as that reading also indi conduits 18 and 20 from airbox 16 provide the desired airflow cates the hydrocarbons in the exhaust. As explained, a fixed to the remainder of the system as will be described. setting will not likely achieve the optimum ratio over any 0022 Conduit 20 includes a valve 22 that controls the given period of time. Any temperature change, any eleva volume of air directed through conduit 20 and which is con tional change and even differences in fuel make up will skew veyed to a vapor producing tank 26 via the tanks top or cover the vapor/fuel mixture flowing from the tank 26 to the mixing 24. chamber 30.

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0031. Accordingly, the valves 22, 28 and 44 are operated holes to fasten the components together. A float 86 contained by stepper motors 22, 28' and 44' (illustrated in the flow chart in the box 48 determines the level of liquid gasoline contained of FIG. 2 and in exploded perspective view in FIG. 4) which in the box. The liquid gasoline enters the box through conduit stepper motors are automatically operated by computer C. 34 and a recycling conduit 90 is provided to drain and/or Computer C monitors the 0° and thus the hydrocarbon emis circulate the gasoline in the vaporizing tank 26 as may be sions in exhaust 12 and should those readings indicate too desired.

high or too low hydrocarbons, the stepper motors are acti 0038. In operation liquid gasoline is filled to a level of vated by the computer to change the relative fluid volumes about 3/4 inch in the bottom of the box 48 which is above the from conduit 18 and conduit 42. Should the reading show a position of the heater coils 50 and below the top of the baffle too high hydrocarbon level, the vapor?air flow of conduit 44 grid 56. The baffle grid 56 and baffle plate 62 primarily needs to be lessened, e.g., the valve 44 closed, or, e.g., the prevent sloshing of the gasoline during driving of the vehicle. valve 28 opened, or, e.g., both closing of valve 44 and opening As the liquid gasoline vaporizes (induced by the heating coil of valve 28. 50) air from inlet 78 is dispersed across the liquid surface via 0032. The adjustment may take place in stages, i.e., a 1° baffle plates 72 and 68 which collects vapors 40 (see FIG. 1) closing of valve 44, a re-reading of the 0° detector followed by and is then directed through outlet 80 and to the mixing repeated partial closing of valve 44 or alternatively the partial chamber 30 via conduit 42 as previously discussed. opening of valve 18 or a combination of both. Valve 22 can 0039. As gasoline is vaporized and drawn from the surface also be a factor as restricting airflow into conduit 20 will slow of the liquid gasoline, the gasoline level diminishes which is the flow of air to the tank 26, thus to conduit 40, while also detected by the float 86. As determined desirable by the diverting more airflow through valve 28. system, the gasoline is replenished through inlet 34. After 0033. The structure as described enables the designer to Some period of time, the gasoline starts to become contami design a system that will theoretically provide the desired nated (does not vaporize) and it is desirable to purge the tank. result in fuel-to-air mixture (e.g., 1 to 30) as deemed desir This can be done by converting the engine to gasoline use and able, but then in recognition of the impact of Small environ drawing the residual gas of the tank 26 through the conven mental changes that produce Substantial deviations in effi tional gas injection system. It can also be simply drained into ciency, provide automatic adjustments that are responsive to a holding tank and utilized for other power equipment, e.g., a real time readouts from an exhaust monitor, e.g., an 0° detec powered law mower.

tOr 0040. Whereas the above is considered a preferred 0034. Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which illustrates embodiment, the reader will readily understand that numer the components of the vaporizing tank 26. The tank 26 con ous modifications and variations may be made without sists of a metal box 48 having dimensions of about 4"x8"x departing from the intended scope of the invention. Accord 12". Fitted to the bottom of the tank is a hot water coil 50 that ingly, the invention is not limited to the structures as includes an inlet 52 and outlet 54 which, when assembled to described above but fully encompasses the definitions of the the box 48, extends from the box via inlet 52 and outlet 54'. appended claims.

0035) Seated onto the box bottom and over the coil 50 is a baffle grid56. The plates of the baffle grid 56 include slots 58 which enable the seating of the grid over the coil 50. Baffle What is claimed is:

grid56 includes fastener tabs 60 and assembled to the fastener 1. An apparatus comprising:

tabs 60 is a lower baffle plate 62 having spaced circular an input block configured to receive a combustion exhaust opening 64. The baffle plate 62 is seated below the upper edge data signal output by an exhaust sensor, the combustion of box 48 (defined by flange 84) and affixed to the flange 84 exhaust data signal indicating a carbon level present in is an upper baffle plate 66. Extending flanges 68 of baffle plate an amount of combustion exhaust; and 66 protrude laterally from the box and provide the means to an output block configured to transmit a valve control secure the box 48 to the body of the vehicle. Upper flange 68 signal to one or more of a plurality of valves, the valve has rectangular openings 70. control signal to control a mixture of an amount of 0036) Secured to the upper baffle plate 66 and in alignment vaporized fuel and an amount of air to maintain a desired with an air inlet to be described is a secondary upper baffle fuel-to-air mixture based on the received combustion plate 72, reduced in size and secured to the upper plate 66 so exhaust data signal.

as to cover a substantial portion of the opening 70'. Provided 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the combustion in this secondary plate is a plurality of Small holes, e.g., five exhaust data signal is a Voltage output by the exhaust sensor. holes 74 having a size of about a quarter inch in diameter. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: Baffle plate 72 provides an impediment to airflow from air inlet 78 and diverts the air flow laterally and downwardly the input block is further configured to receive liquid fuel within the tank 26. temperature data output by a temperature sensor coupled 0037 Completing the assembly is the top or cover 24 to a vaporization tank; and which has a complex shape which can be described as a the output block is further configured to transmit a tem distorted pyramid shape. The apex of the pyramid shape is perature control signal to a heating element, the tem positioned at one end whereat an air inlet 78 is provided A perature control signal to control a temperature of an vapor air outlet 80 is provided at the same end but along the amount of liquid fuel to generate the amount of vapor side wall of the pyramid shape. A flange 82 forming the ized fuel based on the received liquid fuel temperature peripheral edge of the top 24 includes bolt holes which lineup data.

with bolt holes in flange portion 76 of baffle plate 66 and with 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the temperature con bolt holes in a flange 84 forming the peripheral edge of box trol signal causes the heating element to increase the tempera 48. Bolts (not shown) are inserted through the aligned bolt ture of the amount of liquid fuel.

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5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output block is 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the recycling com further configured to transmit a signal to a heating element to prises Switching engine operation to liquid fuel operation enable the heating element to increase a temperature of the from vapor fuel operation.

amount of vaporized fuel. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the recycling com 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the combustion prises extracting the another portion of the quantity of liquid exhaust data signal includes information relating to oxygen fuel from the vaporization tank. (“O'”) emissions, and the apparatus is configured to deter 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the recycling occurs mine the presence of carbon content based on the O emis after vaporization of the portion of the liquid fuel. sions. 14. A system comprising:

a vaporization tank including a fuel Supply conduit to 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output block is receive liquid fuel and a recycling conduit to recycle a further configured to transmit a fuel control signal to a fuel residual portion of the liquid fuel; tank, the fuel control signal to selectively provide the amount a heating element, coupled to the vaporization tank, con of vaporized fuel or an amount of liquid fuel to a combustion figured to controllably increase a temperature of the chamber. liquid fuel to generate vaporized fuel; and 8. A method comprising: a controller, coupled to the vaporization tank and the heat inducting liquid fuel into a vaporization tank; ing element, to controllably increase the temperature of increasing a temperature of the liquid fuel in the vaporiza the liquid fuel to generate the vaporized fuel and to tion tank to an increased temperature to vaporize a por control the recycling conduit to recycle a residual por tion of the liquid fuel; and tion of the liquid fuel that does not vaporize. controlling an amount of air to be mixed with the vaporized 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the heating element is portion of the liquid fuel in response to exhaust condi further configured to controllably increase a temperature of tions. the vaporized fuel.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising a combus 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling com tion engine that is configured to combust the vaporized fuel or prises controlling the amount of air to be mixed with the the recycled liquid fuel.

vaporized portion of the liquid fuel in response to a signal 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is con indicating a carbon level in an amount of combustion exhaust. figured to transmit signals to the combustion engine, the 10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: signals indicating whether the engine is to run on the vapor recycling another portion of the quantity of liquid fuel, ized fuel or the recycled residual portion of the liquid fuel. wherein the another portion of the quantity of liquid fuel does not vaporize at the increased temperature. c c c c c