Fuel system apparatus and method

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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FUEL SYSTEM APPARATUS AND METHOD engine is provided with a gas compressor or pump for compressing air or oxygen, which is directed into a fuel

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION diffuser having a dense, porous material or Stone therein and The present invention relates to a fuel System and espe having a liquid hydrocarbon fuel being fed therethrough. cially to a fuel System for internal combustion and turbine Compressed gas is fed onto one side of the Stone and is and other engines which Saturates and diffuses a gas, Such as forced therethrough for diffusion into the liquid fuel, which air, into a liquid fuel. is then fed into a fuel injection System of an internal In the past, a great variety of internal combustion engine combustion engine.

fuel Systems have been provided for use on internal com SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION bustion engines in vehicles. Typically, a hydrocarbon fueled engine might have a carburetor in which a liquid fuel is A combustion engine fuel System apparatus Saturates and Vaporized in a fixed or variable venturi as air from the diffuses a gas, Such a air, into a liquid fuel. The apparatus atmosphere is fed through the Venturi, drawing fuel Vapor includes a fuel Saturation chamber connected to a fuel into the intake manifold and into the cylinders of the engine. 15 Supply tank for receiving a liquid fuel therefrom and also Diesel engines more commonly provide a fuel injection connected to a gas compressor for directing compressed gas System in which the fuel is injected directly into the com into the fuel Saturation chamber for Saturating a liquid fuel bustion chamber under high preSSure and does not use a being fed therein with the gas. The fuel Saturation chamber Spark to ignite the charge being injected into the cylinder. is connected to a gas diffusion chamber for diffusing gas into Typically, air has already been drawn into the cylinder and the liquid fuel and which is also connected to the gas compressed at the time the fuel is injected thereinto. It is compressor. A dense porous material, Such as a porous Stone, more common today to provide a fuel injection System for is positioned in the gas diffusion chamber for diffusing the more conventional Spark ignition internal combustion gas and liquid fuel together. The Saturation and diffused engines which work at a lower combustion chamber pres liquid fuel is then fed into a combustion engine. Aliquid fuel Sure in order to improve the efficiency of the engine. 25 heater is used to heat the fuel being fed into the fuel

The present invention is directed primarily at combustion Saturation chamber. The method includes heating a liquid engines, including diesel, turbine and Spark ignited engines, fuel from a fuel tank, then Saturating the heated liquid fuel which have fuel injection Systems and provides for the from the engine fuel tank with a gas and then directing the saturation and diffusion of the liquid hydrocarbon fuel with Saturated fuel from the fuel Saturating tank into a fuel oxygen or air under pressure through a fuel Saturator and a diffusion chamber and diffusing a gas into the liquid fuel fuel diffuser connected in tandem. The fuel diffuser requires from the Saturating chamber.

a dense but slightly porous Stone or other material which BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS forces a gas under pressure into the liquid fuel. It has been common in the past to Saturate liquids with gases, Such as Other objects, features, and advantages of the present carbon dioxide, to form Soda water or to increase the gas 35 invention will be apparent from the written description and content in malt drinkS, Such as beer. Saturated liquids, the drawings in which:

however, have to be maintained under pressure until just FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the fuel system in prior to use. The present invention first Saturates the liquid accordance with the present invention attached to an internal fuel and then utilizes a Stone Similar to the one used by combustion engine;

brewers but which has been enclosed in a casing in order to 40 FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the fuel Saturation chamber increase the diffusion of the Saturated liquid fuel with a gas. for use in FIG. 1; and

Other prior art type Systems include the use of various FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a fuel diffuser for use in the Systems for bubbling air through a liquid fuel in order to fuel system of FIG. 1.

Vaporize the fuel as well as a variety of other circuits directed primarily at vaporizing the fuel by the passing of a 45 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE gas therethrough. These Systems do no attempt to Saturate PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS the liquid with a gas but rather to vaporize the liquid in the air and are used primarily in carburetor type fuel Systems. It The present invention is for a method and apparatus for has also been known to feed gases into a carburetor at the Saturating and diffusing air or oxygen or the like with a Same time the hydrocarbon fuel is being vaporized therein 50 liquid hydrocarbon fuel for a combustion engine. and various fuel additives have been added to fuels to Saturate and Saturation are used herein to mean the modify the fuel being fed to the fuel System. An advantage process of Saturating a liquid with a gas by charging or of the present invention is that the hydrocarbon liquid fuel impregnating a gas, Such as air or oxygen, into a liquid fuel. can be Saturated with a number of gases which can then be Diffusing and diffusion are used herein to mean the dissemi used on a fuel injection System without the individual 55 nation of air or oxygen within a liquid fuel. Both processes injectors being broken by air or another gas getting into the are used in tandem to more fully incorporate a gas within a fuel injectors. That is, most fuel injectors on internal com liquid fuel in a manner that it will not separate in the internal bustion engines will not operate if air gets trapped in the combustion engine fuel injection System. injectors, So that gases cannot normally be fed with a fuel Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 3, an internal through a fuel injected System of an engine. The fuel System 60 combustion engine 10 is illustrated having a plurality of fuel can also be used to treat bulk fuels, Such as coal Slurry, injectorS 11 which are of the conventional type used in a without departing from the Spirit and Scope of the invention. diesel or Spark ignited internal combustion engine, and This invention is an improvement over prior U.S. Pat. No. along with the injection pump 12, do not have to be changed 4,376,423 to Knapstein, one of the present inventors. In this in adapting the present invention to an existing engine. prior patent, an apparatus and a method of Saturating liquid 65 The engine 10 is operated on a liquid fuel, such as No. 2 fuel with air, oxygen, or another gas is provided for injecting diesel fuel or other liquid hydrocarbon fuel, from the tank 13 into an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion having the fuel 14 fed therein. The fuel 14 is fed from the

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tank 13 through a fuel line 15 through a conventional fuel use of gases other than air which would further enhance the pump 16 and into the liquid fuel heater 17. The liquid fuel combustion process.

heater 17 may be an electrically heated fuel chamber. The The method of the present invention provides for feeding fuel is pumped through the fuel heater 17 to shutoff valve 18 a liquid fuel to the fuel inlet 20 and to the fuel saturator and shutoff valve 19 which are controlled by the float Switch container 21, compressing air or another gas in the com 22. When float Switch 22 calls for makeup fuel, the shutoff pressor 30 and feeding it into the compressed gas inlet 39 valve 18 closes and valve 19 opens to allow makeup fuel to and into the fuel Saturator container 21. The liquid fuel from enter the Saturator fuel inlet 20 and into the Saturator canister inlet 20 is directed into the Saturator container 21 and into 21. When the fuel saturator chamber 21 is full to capacity, the mounted end nozzle 40 So that the fuel is Saturated with valve 18 opens and allows fuel to return to the fuel tank 13. the air or another gas and then collected in a collection tube The saturator canister 21 allows the saturated liquid fuel 23 in the bottom of the Saturator canister 21. The air to collect in the bottom over the collection tube 23 where it Saturated fuel is delivered through a conventional fuel pump is fed to a conventional fuel pump 16. The fuel pump 16 then 16 which pumps the saturated fuel through fuel line 15 to the pumps the saturated liquid fuel through a fuel line 15 to the newly added diffuser chamber 24 to one side of the dense, diffuser chamber 24, the diffuser 24 has a container 25 and 15 porous stone 26 while the fuel is being fed on the other side inside the casing is a dense, porous material 26, Such as a thereof.

brewerS Stone, which is shown in a cylindrical shape, but The liquid fuel is saturated and diffused with air or which is hollow. The fuel from the Saturator container 21 is another gas and injected into the engine and might also fed through line 15 into inlet 27 and into the container 25. include the Steps of bleeding off the exceSS gas release into The fuel flows into the container around the stone 26 and out an intake manifold or venting the air or gas out of the of outlet 28 into a fuel line 29. Saturated and diffused fuel.

An air pump or air compressor 30 is attached to the It should be clear at this point, that while air is shown internal combustion engine 10 and may be driven by a belt being compressed, oxygen or any other gas could be diffused 31 attached to a pulley 32 connected to the crankshaft of the 25 or Saturated into the liquid fuel and that in place of the engine. Air from the atmosphere can be compressed in a compressor 30, a Small tank of compressed oxygen could be compressor 30 and is fed through an air regulator 33 through utilized without departing from the Spirit and Scope of the an air filter 34 and through an in-line air check valve 35, invention.

through an air line 36 into the diffuser chamber 24 inlet 37 The System as illustrated is also shown connected to an and into the inside of the dense, porous material 26. Under internal combustion engine but it will be clear that any preSSure, the air is forced through the dense, porous material combustion 26 where it is forced into a liquid fuel therein on the opposite including thefuel can be used for any combustion engine pretreating of bulk fuel, Such as coal Slurry, side of the porous material 26 to diffuse air into the liquid and can also be used with fuel oil for injection into furnaces fuel. The compressed air line 36 is also connected to the air or boilers.

line 38 and into regulator 33 through an in-line air check 35 Accordingly, the present invention is not to be construed valve 35 and fed therein to the Saturator container 21 to as limited to the forms shown which are to be considered saturate liquid fuel being fed from an outlet nozzle 40. The illustrative rather than restrictive. outlet nozzle 40 is shown with outlet streams but can be any What is claimed is:

number desired.

1. A combustion engine fuel treatment apparatus com

The fuel diffuser 24 has an outlet 41a from the top thereof 40 prising:

and on in-line 42 attached thereto. An in-line air check valve 43 bleeds off the Separated gas that Separates it from the a fuel tank for holding a liquid fuel; diffused fuel in the fuel diffuser 24 and is released through a gas compreSSOr, the vent line 44. a fuel Saturation chamber having a fuel inlet therein Saturated and diffused liquid fuel is fed from the fuel filter 45 connected to Said fuel tank for receiving a liquid fuel 45 through a fuel line 46 to the injector pump 12. The fuel therefrom, said fuel Saturation chamber also being filter 45 may have a gas line 47 connected thereto for connected to Said gas compressor for directing gas removing any additional gas that has escaped from the under pressure into Said fuel Saturation chamber for diffused liquid fuel as it passes through a Standard in-line air Saturating Said liquid fuel with a gas, check valve 35 and is connected with the diffuser vent line 50 a gas diffusion chamber for diffusing gas into Said liquid 42 and the Saturator vent line 41b to the vent line 44. The fuel, Said gas diffusion chamber being connected to Said saturated and diffused liquid fuel fed through the line 46 into fuel Saturation chamber for receiving Saturated liquid the injector pump 12 is injected into the fuel injectors in a fuel therefrom and to Said gas compressor for receiving conventional manner except that additional fuel bleed off gas under pressure therefrom for diffusing gas into Said lines 48 are connected to each fuel injector and each of these 55 liquid fuel; and lines has the ability to bleed off excess fuel unused by the means for directing liquid fuel Saturated and diffused with injector pump 12 and is connected to the fuel bleed off return gas from Said gas diffusion chamber into a combustion line 49 which is connected to an in-line check valve 50 engine, whereby liquid fuel Saturated and diffused with which is connected to the fuel inlet 20 which is connected to a gas is used to operate a combustion engine. the fuel Saturator container 21. 60 2. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance with An in-line air check valve 35 is connected in the vapor claim 1 in which said gas diffusion chamber has dense, return line 47 and in a similar check valve 43 and is porous material therein having at least two sides for feeding connected in the vapor return line 42 and is connected to the a liquid on one side thereof and a preSSurized gas on the main vent line 44 and may be vented and connected to the other Side thereof for diffusion Said gas into Said liquid. in-line air check valve 51 and connected to the line returned 65 3. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance with to the intake manifold lines 11 on certain engines to improve claim 2 in which said gas diffusion chamber dense, porous combustion and can enhance the combustion process by the material is a dense porous Stone.

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S 6 4. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance with 13. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance claim 2 including a liquid fuel heater connected between with claim 2 in which said compressed gas is compressed Said fuel tank and Said fuel Saturation chamber for heating a.

fuel being fed into Said fuel Saturation chamber. 14. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance 5. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance with 5 with claim 3 including a float Switch mounted in said fuel claim 2 in which Said fuel Saturation chamber inlet has a Saturation chamber and operatively connected to a valve in nozzle mounted thereto and being positioned for Said enter the fuel input to Said fuel Saturation chamber for releasing fuel into Said fuel Saturation chamber responsive to the fuel ing liquid fuel to be sprayed into Said fuel Saturator chamber level and for Said pressurized gas to impinge thereupon to Saturate in Said fuel Saturation chamber. Said liquid fuel with Said gas. 15. In a fuel treatment fuel system including a liquid fuel Storage 6. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance with comprising tank, a method for Saturating liquid fuel with a gas claim 5 in which each said fuel Saturation chamber inlet the Steps of:

nozzle sprays a plurality of Streams of fuel into Said fuel Saturating liquid fuel from a fuel Storage tank with a gas Saturator chamber through Said pressurized gas therein. in a fuel Saturating chamber; 7. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance with 15 directing Said Saturated liquid fuel from Said fuel Saturat ing tank into a fuel diffusion chamber;

claim 2 in which Said fuel Saturation chamber has a gas bleed diffusing a gas into liquid fuel received from Said Satu line extending therefrom for exceSS gas to escape from Said rating chamber in a fuel diffusion chamber; and Saturation chamber.

8. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance with directing liquid fuel Saturated and diffused with gas from claim 7 in which said fuel diffusion chamber has a gas bleed Said gas diffusion chamber into a combustion engine; line extending therefrom for exceSS gas to escape from Said whereby liquid fuel is Saturated and diffused with a gas. diffusion chamber.

16. A method for Saturating liquid fuel with a gas in accordance with claim 15 in which Step of diffusing a gas 9. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance with into a liquid fuel includes diffusing a gas through a dense, claim 8 in which Said Saturation chamber gas bleed line and porous material in Said diffusion chamber by directing a Said diffusion chamber gas bleed line are connected to form 25 liquid fuel on one side of Said dense, porous material and a a single gas bleed to atmosphere. preSSurized gas on the other side thereof for diffusion Said 10. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance gas into Said liquid.

with claim 7 in which said fuel saturation chamber gas bleed 17. A method for Saturating liquid fuel with a gas in line has a check valve therein. accordance with claim 16 including the Step of heating Said 11. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance liquid fuel prior Saturating Said liquid fuel. with claim 8 in which said fuel diffusion chamber gas bleed 18. A method for Saturating liquid fuel with a gas in line has a check valve therein. accordance with claim 17 in which the Step of diffusing a gas 12. A combustion engine fuel apparatus in accordance through a Said dense porous material includes diffusing a gas with claim 6 in which said fuel Saturation chamber com through a dense porous Stone.

pressed has a gas inlet nozzle positioned to direct com 35 pressed gas into liquid fuel being Sprayed thereinto. k k k k k