System for reducing and controlling exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines

Claim 2

In a system for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine by adding a supplemental supply of atmospheric air to an intake manifold associated with the engine, the improvement comprising a blower means which can be mounted on or near the engine which is to be controlled, said blower means having (a) an inlet means for receiving air from a source external to the engine and (b) an outlet means for forcing compressed air into the intake manifold of the engine, and said blower means being driven by an electric motor Means, an electrical heating means associated with the outlet means of said blower means for preheating the compressed air which is supplied to the engine, and control means associated with said heating means for controlling its operation, and a one-way valve means located in said outlet means of the blower means to automatically control flow of compressed air to the engine and to prevent a backflow of compressed gases from the engine back into the blower means.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said outlet means of said blower means includes a conduit means forming a communication between the positive pressure side of the blower means and the intake manifold of the engine, said conduit means containing said heating means and said one-way valve means.

Claim 4

The system of claim 2 wherein said conduit means communicates with said intake manifold at a point downstream from a carburetor means associated with a fuel delivery system for said engine.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said blower means is a variable speed type of blower operatively connected to a throttle linkage associated with the engine so that the blower speed is adjusted in direct relationship with engine speed.

Claim 6

The system of claim 1 wherein said heating means is in the form of an electrical resistance heating device.

Claim 7

The system of claim 2 wherein said heating means comprises an electrical heating coil contained within a portion of said conduit means for heating compressed air as it passes through the conduit means.

Claim 8

The system of claim 1 and including fluid injecting means in combination with the exhaust emission control system.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 wherein said fluid injecting means comprises a device for mixing air and water and for supplying the resulting vapor mixture to the supplemental air charge from said blower means at a point downstream from the positive pressure side of the blower means.

Claim 10

In a system for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine, the combination comprising a blower means for forcing a supplemental supply of compressed air into said engine at a point in a fuel delivery system which is downstream from a carburetor associated with the engine, said blower means being operated by an electrically driven motor means, and liquid vapor injecting means for introducing an air and liquid vapor mixture into the fuel delivery system of said engine, said liquid vapor means including a reservoir for liquid and a pumping means for pumping liquid from the reservoir to a zone where the liquid is mixed with air, said blower means and said liquid vapor injecting means both being contained within a single housing which can be easily carried on an internal combustion engine or in an engine compartment for operative connection to a standard fuel delivery system for the engine and said housing being generally divided into upper and lower sections with said reservoir for liquid being in the lower section and substantially separated from the upper section by a splash plate element positioned between the upper and lower sections.

Claim 11

In a system for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine, the combination comprising a blower means for forcing a supplemental supply of compressed air into said engine at a point in a fuel delivery system which is downstream from a carburetor associated with the engine, said blower means being operated by an electrically driven motor means, and liquid vapor injecting means for introducing an air and liquid vapor mixture into the fuel delivery system of said engine, said liquid vapor means including a reservoir for liquid and a pumping means for pumping liquid from the reservoir to a zone where the liquid is mixed with air, said blower means and said liquid vapor injecting means both being contained within a single housing which can be easily carried on an internal combustion engine or in an engine compartment for operative connection to a standard fuel delivery system for the engine and said housing being generally divided into upper and lower sections with said reservoir for liquid being in the lower section and substantially separated from the upper section by a splash plate element positioned between the upper and lower sections.

Claim 12

The system of claim 9 wherein said pumping means is located in said reservoir and is driven by the same motor means that drives said blower means.

Claim 13

The system of claim 10 wherein said motor means is of a variable speed type so that the operations of said blower means and said liquid vapor injecting means can be related to speed of said engine.

Claim 14

The system of claim 10, and including a float control means in said reservoir for sensing the level of liquid in said reservoir and for breaking an electrical circuit for said motor means in the event that liquid in said reservoir reaches a predetermined low level.

Claim 15

The system of claim 12 wherein said float control means includes a visual indicator arm extending upwardly through said housing so as to be visible from outside of the housing.

Claim 16

The system of claim 10 and including a humidistat control means for controlling the operAtion of said motor means in accordance with preferred humidity conditions for desired engine operation.

Claim 17

In a system for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine, the combination comprising a blower means for forcing a supplemental supply of compressed air into said engine at a point in a fuel delivery system which is downstream from a carburetor associated with the engine, said blower means being operated by an electrically driven motor means, and liquid vapor injecting means for introducing an air and liquid vapor mixture into the fuel delivery system of said engine, said liquid vapor means including a reservoir for liquid and a pumping means for pumping liquid from the reservoir to a zone where the liquid is mixed with air, said pumping means of said liquid vapor injecting means further comprising a pumping tube which is operatively connected to an impeller portion of said blower means and which extends into said reservoir so that rotation of the impeller will cause the tube to rotate to thereby draw liquid upwardly into the impeller, and including an outlet passageway between said blower means and a vapor mixing zone where said liquid is mixed with compressed air from the blower means.

Claim 18

In a system for controlling exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine, the combination comprising a blower means for forcing a supplemental supply of compressed air into said engine at a point in a fuel delivery system which is downstream from a carburetor associated with the engine, said blower means being operated by an electrically driven motor means, and liquid vapor injecting means for introducing an air and liquid vapor mixture into the fuel delivery system of said engine, said liquid vapor means including a reservoir for liquid and a pumping means for pumping liquid from the reservoir to a zone where the liquid is mixed with air, said pumping means of said liquid vapor injecting means further comprising a pumping tube which is operatively connected to an impeller portion of said blower means and which extends into said reservoir so that rotation of the impeller will cause the tube to rotate to thereby draw liquid upwardly into the impeller, and including an outlet passageway between said blower means and a vapor mixing zone where said liquid is mixed with compressed air from the blower means.

Claim 19

The system of claim 15 and including a plurality of foraminous screens arranged downstream of said mixing zone so that the mixed liquid and air vapor must pass through said screens before being introduced into an intake manifold portion of an internal combustion engine.

Claim 20

In a system for controlling exhaust emissions resulting from operation of an internal combustion engine, the combination comprising: a blower means for forcing a supplemental supply of compressed air into the combustion chamber areas of said engine by introducing said supplemental supply of compressed air into a fuel delivery system at a point which is downstream from a carburetor or other fuel mixing system of the engine, said blower means being operated by a variable speed electrically driven motor means, liquid vapor injecting means for introducing an air and liquid vapor mixture into said fuel delivery system at a point which is also downstream of a carburetor or other fuel mixing system associated with the engine, said liquid vapor means including a reservoir for liquid and a pumping means for pumping liquid from the reservoir to a zone where it is mixed with air prior to introduction into said fuel delivery system.

Claim 21

In a system for controlling exhaust emissions resulting from operation of an internal combustion engine, the combination comprising: a blower means for forcing a supplemental supply of compressed air into the combustion chamber areas of said engine by introducing said supplemental supply of compressed air into a fuel delivery system at a point which is downstream from a carburetor or other fuel mixing system of the engine, said blower means being operated by a variable speed electrically driven motor means, liquid vapor injecting means for introducing an air and liquid vapor mixture into said fuel delivery system at a point which is also downstream of a carburetor or other fuel mixing system associated with the engine, said liquid vapor means including a reservoir for liquid and a pumping means for pumping liquid from the reservoir to a zone where it is mixed with air prior to introduction into said fuel delivery system.

Claim 22

The system of claim 17 wherein said blower means and said liquid vapor injecting means are both contained within a single housing which can be easily carried on an internal combustion engine or in an engine compartment for operative connection to a standard fuel delivery system for the engine.

Claim 23

The system of claim 18 wherein said housing is generally divided into upper and lower sections with said reservoir for liquid being in the lower section and substantially separated from the upper section by a splash plate element positioned between the upper and lower sections.

Claim 24

The system of claim 17 and including a humidistat control means for controlling the operation of the pumping means associated with the liquid vapor injecting means in accordance with sensed humidity conditions sensed by said humidistat.