Noxious gas minimizing method and apparatus for an internal-combustion engine

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the amount of said liquid is varied as the output of the engine is varied in proportion to the change in amounts of nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide gases which would be produced at the corresponding outputs of the engine in the absence of the injection of the ammonia water.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the internal combustion engine has a suction pipe between an air intake, and the combution chamber, and the step of injecting the ammonia water comprises feeding the ammonia water into the suction pipe in the proportions for the various outputs of the engine in response to the values of the negative pressure in the suction pipe at the various outputs of the engine.

Claim 7

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said control means comprises a cam engaged with said valve means and having a profile with peaks and the valleys in substantially direct proportion to the amounts of noxious gases which would be produced at various outputs of the engine in the absence of the injection of the liquid, a suction chamber coupled to said suction pipe and having a diaphragm therein movable in response to the negative pressure in said suction pipe at various outputs of the engine, said cam being coupled to said diaphragm, whereby when the negative pressure in said suction pipe changes in response to changed output of the engine, the cam is moved by the diaphragm to move the needle valve to adjust the amount of liquid injected into the suction pipe in accordance with the cam profile.

Claim 8

A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the ratio of the volume of the injected ammonia water to that of fuel is a maximum of 0.5

Claim 9

A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising stopping the engine a certain time after the ammonia water injection is stopped, whereby the liquid in the engine is removed during the time it runs without ammonia water injection taking place, and the engine is thereby protected from the effects of the ammonia water when the engine is not running.

Claim 10

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said control means comprises a slidable switch contact, a suction chamber coupled to said suction pipe and having a diaphragm therein movable in response to the negative pressure in said suction pipe, said slidable switch contact being coupled to said diaphragm, an electromagnet connected to said valve means for moving the valve means in proportion to the current therethrough, and a plurality of parallel circuits each having a resistance therein directly proportional to the quantity of noxious gases produced at one output of the engine, each circuit having a contact engageable by the slidable switch contact during movement of the slidable switch contact, said parallel circuits and slidable switch contact being coupled with said electromagnet, whereby when the slidable switch contact moves as the negative pressure in the suction pipe changes, the electromagnet moves the needle valve in accordance with the resistances in the various parallel circuits.

Claim 11

An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said resistances are variable resistances.

Claim 12

An apParatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said control means comprises a suction chamber coupled to said suction pipe and having a diaphragm therein movable in response to the negative pressure in said suction pipe, and said valve means is a needle valve connected to said diaphragm and movable thereby in response to changing pressure in said suction pipe, and a small supply pipe from said supply of liquid and having a control valve therein and opening into said supply pipe between the needle valve and the suction pipe for supplying a minimum amount of liquid when the needle valve is closed.

Claim 13

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a manually adjustable control valve in said supply pipe between the needle valve and the supply of liquid for setting the maximum amount of liquid which can be supplied.

Claim 14

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising means for causing the engine to run for a time after the supply of liquid is shut off, said means comprising a shut off valve in said supply pipe between said supply of liquid and said valve means, a primary ignition switch for said engine, delay means coupled to said primary ignition switch for opening of said primary ignition switch after a delay, and switch means coupled to said shut off valve and said delay means for closing said shut off valve and actuating said delay means, whereby said liquid is shut off and thereafter the engine runs for a period of time so that no liquid remains in the combustion space after the engine has stopped.

Claim 15

An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which said shut off valve is an electromagnetically actuated valve and said switch means deenergizes said electromagnetically actuated valve for closing it.

Claim 16

An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said shut off valve is a mechanical valve and said switch means is mechanically connected to said shut off valve for opening and closing it.

Claim 17

An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which said delay means is an electrical delay means comprising a delay circuit and a relay for actuating said primary ignition switch, said delay means keeping said relay energized for a time after said switch means actuates said delay means.

Claim 18

An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which said delay means is a mechanical delay means comprising a magnetically swingable arm swingable between a first position disengaged from said primary ignition switch and a second position engaged with said primary ignition switch to open it, electromagnet means for swinging said arm to said first position when engaged, spring means coupled to said arm urging it toward the second position, and governor means coupled to said arm for slowing the movement of the arm when the electromagnet means is deenergized.