Internal combustion engine pollution control apparatus

Claim 2

In an internal combustion engine having means for introducing predetermined quantities of fuel and air into the engine cylinders; spark plugs for said cylinders, respectively; and ignition means for sequentially applying current pulses to said spark plugs to effect ignition of the fuel and air mixtures in said cylinders, a pollution control apparatus comprising: a source of pressurized oxygen; oxygen distribution means, including conduits arranged to carry oxygen from said source for introduction into said cylinders, respectively, and further including normally closed flow control devices in said conduits, respectively, each responsive to a current impulse to open and allow a pRedetermined quantity of oxygen to pass through the associated one of said conduits whereby oxygen may be introduced into said cylinders in predetermined sequence for mixture with said fuel and air prior to said ignition; and leads electrically coupling said spark plugs and said flow control devices, respectively, in parallel whereby application of current impulses to said spark plugs also operates said flow control devices, the coupling of said leads being such that the flow control device for each cylinder is operated ahead of the spark plug for that cylinder.

Claim 3

The pollution control apparatus of claim 1, including a plurality of adapters interposed between said spark plugs, respectively, and the engine cylinder block, each of said adapters being coupled to one of said conduits and defining a passage to the associated spark plug port of the engine cylinder block whereby oxygen may be introduced into said cylinders through said spark plug ports.

Claim 4

The pollution control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for introducing predetermined quantities of fuel and air includes an intake manifold having branches connected to each of said cylinders, said conduits being connected to said intake manifold adjacent said branches, respectively.

Claim 5

The pollution control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for introducing predetermined quantities of fuel and air includes a carburetor operable by an accelerator pedal to vary the quantity of said fuel and air mixture according to the position of said pedal; said oxygen distribution means including an oxygen throttle valve interposed between said source and said conduits and operable by said accelerator pedal to vary the quantity of oxygen carried from said source.

Claim 6

The pollution control apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for introducing predetermined quantities of fuel and air includes a fuel line for carrying fuel to said engine; and including a normally closed fuel shut-off valve in said fuel line coupled to said oxygen distribution means, said fuel shut-off valve being responsive to oxygen flow through said distribution means to move to an open position.

Claim 7

The pollution control apparatus of claim 1 wherein the internal combustion engine is characterized by intake, compression, power and exhaust strokes, and said parallel leads are operative to effect pulsing of the spark plug of one cylinder simultaneously with pulsing of the flow control device of another cylinder about to commence its intake stroke.

Claim 8

In a four-cycle internal combustion engine having means for introducing predetermined quantities of fuel and air into the engine cylinders, including an intake manifold having branches connected to each of said cylinders, and a carburetor connected to said intake manifold; spark plugs for said cylinders, respectively; and ignition means for sequentially applying current impulses to said spark plugs to effect ignition of the fuel and air mixture in said cylinders, a pollution control apparatus comprising: a source of pressurized oxygen; oxygen distribution means, including conduits arranged to carry oxygen from said source to said branches of said manifold, respectively, and further including normally closed flow control devices in said conduits, respectively, and further including normally closed flow control devices in said conduits, respectively, each responsive to a current impulse to open and allow a predetermined quantity of oxygen to pass through the associated one of said conduits; and leads electrically coupling said spark plugs and said flow control devices, respectively, in parallel whereby application of a current impulse to each of said spark plugs also operates the flow control device of a cylinder about to commence its intake stroke whereby oxygen may be introduced into said cylinders in proper sequence for mixture with said fuel and air prior to said ignition.

Claim 9

In a four-cycle internal combustion engine having means for introducing predetermined quantities of fuel and air into the engine cylinders, including an intake manifold having branches connected to each of said cylinders, and a carburetor connected to said intake manifold; spark plugs for said cylinders, respectively; and ignition means for sequentially applying current impulses to said spark plugs to effect ignition of the fuel and air mixture in said cylinders, a pollution control apparatus comprising: a source of pressurized oxygen; oxygen distribution means, including conduits arranged to carry oxygen from said source to said branches of said manifold, respectively, and further including normally closed flow control devices in said conduits, respectively, and further including normally closed flow control devices in said conduits, respectively, each responsive to a current impulse to open and allow a predetermined quantity of oxygen to pass through the associated one of said conduits; and leads electrically coupling said spark plugs and said flow control devices, respectively, in parallel whereby application of a current impulse to each of said spark plugs also operates the flow control device of a cylinder about to commence its intake stroke whereby oxygen may be introduced into said cylinders in proper sequence for mixture with said fuel and air prior to said ignition.

Claim 10

The pollution control apparatus of claim 7 wherein said flow control devices are each constituted of a soLenoid operated valve.