Catalytic tank heater for engines

Claim 2

A catalytic heater for use for preheating liquid coolant from internal combustion engines comprising a jacket member, said jacket member being liquid tight, means to permit liquid to be transferred into and out of said jacket member, a catalytic reactor element adjacent said jacket member, fuel supply means, evaporator means adjacent said catalytic element, said fuel passing through said evaporator means to vaporized fuel outlet means, said outlet means being positioned so that vaporized fuel and air flows from said fuel outlet means toward said catalytic element, said evaporator means comprising a tube through which said fuel passes embedded in said catalytic element.

Claim 3

A flameless heater for use for preheating an internal combustion engine comprising a housing for mounting the heater in an engine compartment, means to mount an elongate tubular catalytic reactor element with its longitudinal axis extending generally vertically in said housing, fuel supply means providing a pressurized combustible fuel without using a fuel pump of the internal combustion engine on which the heater is used, an electrical preheater adjacent said catalytic element for flamelessly preheating at least a portion of said catalytic element to a temperature sufficient for a flameless heat reaction with a vaporized combustible fuel, temperature responsive control means adjacent said catalytic element for operating said fuel supply means, a vaporized fuel outlet receiving combustible fuel under pressure from said fuel supply means, said vaporized fuel outlet positioned adjacent said catalytic element to discharge vaporized fuel into the interior of said tubular catalytic reactor element such that vaporized fuel from said outlet will pass through said catalytic element when said catalytic element is heated and the fuel supply means is operated, said electrical preheater flamelessly heating at least portions of said catalytic element sufficiently to actuate said temperature responsive control means to operate said fuel supply means after said portions reach a temperature sufficient so that a flameless catalytic heat reaction occurs between said element and vaporized fuel supplied by said fuel supply means and an elongate heat exchange engine coolant jacket encircling and extending generally axially adjacent said catalytic reactor element to utilize the flameless heat produced by said heater to warm said internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine being mounted in a vehicle having a battery, said battery powering said electrical resistance preheater and said fuel supply means, and timer means limiting the length of time said electrical resistance heater is powered, said temperature responsive control means closing an electrical circuit to said fuel supply means independently of said timer means.

Claim 4

A flameless heater for use for preheating an internal combustion engine comprising a housing for mounting the heater in an engine compartment, means to mount an elongate tubular catalytic reactor element with its longitudinal axis extending generally vertically in said housing, fuel supply means providing a pressurized combustible fuel without using a fuel pump of the internal combustion engine on which the heater is used, an electrical preheater adjacent said catalytic element for flamelessly preheating at least a portion of said catalytic element to a temperature sufficient for a flameless heat reaction with a vaporized combustible fuel, temperature responsive control means adjacent said catalytic element for operating said fuel supply means, a vaporized fuel outlet receiving combustible fuel under pressure from said fuel supply means, said vaporized fuel outlet positioned adjacent said catalytic element to discharge vaporized fuel into the interior of said tubular catalytic reactor element such that vaporized fuel from said outlet will pass through said catalytic element when said catalytic element is heated and the fuel supply means is operated, said electrical preheater flamelessly heating at least portions of said catalytic element sufficiently to actuate said temperature responsive control means to operate said fuel supply means after said portions reach a temperature sufficient so that a flameless catalytic heat reaction occurs between said element and vaporized fuel supplied by said fuel supply means and an elongate heat exchange engine coolant jacket encircling and extending generally axially adjacent said catalytic reactor element to utilize the flameless heat produced by said heater to warm said internal combustion engine, said internal combustion engine being mounted in a vehicle having a battery, said battery powering said electrical resistance preheater and said fuel supply means, and timer means limiting the length of time said electrical resistance heater is powered, said temperature responsive control means closing an electrical circuit to said fuel supply means independently of said timer means.