US3885539A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Precombustion catalyst device for use with an internal combustion engine employing a vaporizable liquid fuel and an engine utilizing such a device
Assignee: Hydro Catalyst Corp
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Filing: 1974-01-23
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-01-23
Abstract
Abstract A precombustion catalyst device in which a mixture of air and liquid fuel particles successively pass through a pair of spaced screens having surfaces of different catalytic metals such as cadmium and nickel. The screens are held in closely spaced relationship from one another and spaced from ground by gaskets. Such devices are shown and described in U.S.L. Pat. Nos. 2,899,949 and 3,682,608. Pursuant to the present invention the gaskets, unlike the previously employed gaskets, contain an electrolyte, preferably one providing anions, for example, glycerol, the gaskets thereby forming high resistance paths between the screens and between each screen and engine ground. The resistance value of each path is in the order of 1 to 50 X 106 ohms. This change in gaskets has been found to improve the operation of the previous precombustion catalyst devices, making the same more reliable, raising previously obtained gasoline mileage improvement, and further reducing pollutants and lowering octane ratings without causing knocking.
Inventors
- 👤 J Byron Hicks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:56
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M27/00; F02M27/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A precombustion catalyst means for interposition between the carburetor and the engine intake of an internal combustion engine employing a vaporizable liquid fuel, said means comprising a pair of spaced foraminous members of dissimilar catalytic metals and a gasket supporting said members spaced from one another and spaced from the carburetor and from the engine intake, said gasket providing a resistance between said members and between each member and engine ground in the order of 1 X 106 to 50 X 106 ohms.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A precombustion catalyst means for interposition between the carburetor and the engine intake of an internal combustion engine employing a vaporizable liquid fuel, said means comprising a pair of spaced foraminous members of dissimilar catalytic metals and a gasket supporting said members spaced from one another and spaced from the carburetor and from the engine intake, said gasket providing a resistance between said members and between each member and engine ground in the order of 1 X 106 to 50 X 106 ohms.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 1 wherein the gasket contains an electrolyte in the electrical path between the members and between each member and engine ground.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 2 wherein the electrolyte provides anions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 3 wherein the anions are hydroxyl anions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 4 wherein the electrolyte is an organic liquid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 5 wherein the electrolyte has a boiling point of at least 250*C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 6 wherein the electrolyte is an alcohol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 7 wherein the alcohol is polyhydric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 6 wherein the electrolyte is a polyol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 5 wherein the electrolyte is glycerine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 2 wherein the resistance provided by the gasket is between about 3 X 106 to 8 X 106 ohms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 2 wherein the gasket includes upper and lower cover layers having a low coefficient of heat conductivity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 12 wherein the cover layers are resistant to heat.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 12 wherein the cover layers are substantially impervious to the electrolyte.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A precombustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 14 wherein the cover layers have a very high resistivity and means is provided to electrically shunt each of said layers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
A four cycle internal combustion engine having a carburetor, a fuel/air intake and a pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 1 between the carburetor outlet and the fuel/air intake.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A two cycle internal combustion engine having a carburetor, a fuel/air inTake and a pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 1 betweeen the carburetor outlet and the fuel/air intake.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
A precombustion catalyst means for interposition between the carubretor and the engine intake of an internal combustion engine employing a vaporizable liquid fuel, said means comprising a pair of spaced foraminous members of dissimilar catalytic metals and a gasket supporting said members spaced from one another and spaced from the carburetor and from the engine intake, said gasket containing an electrolyte in the electrical path between the members and between each member and engine ground
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
A precombustion catalyst means for interposition between the carubretor and the engine intake of an internal combustion engine employing a vaporizable liquid fuel, said means comprising a pair of spaced foraminous members of dissimilar catalytic metals and a gasket supporting said members spaced from one another and spaced from the carburetor and from the engine intake, said gasket containing an electrolyte in the electrical path between the members and between each member and engine ground
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pre-combustion catalyst means as set forth in claim 18 wherin the electrolyte provides anions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 19 wherein the anions are hydroxyl anions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 20 wherein the electrolyte is an organic liquid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 21 wherein the electrolyte has a boiling point of at least 250*C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 22 wherein the electrolyte in an alcohol.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 23 wherein the alcohol is polyhydric.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 22 wherein the electrolyte is a polyol.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 21 wherein the electrolyte is glycerine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 18 wherein the gasket includes upper and lower cover layers having a low coefficient of heat conductivity.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 27 wherein the cover layers are resistant to heat.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 27 wherein the cover layers are substantially impervious to the electrolyte.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 29 wherein the cover layers have a very high resistivity and means is provided to electrically shunt each of said layers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
151 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 18 wherein the gasket includes an upper and a lower cover layer of high resistivity and a low coefficient of heat conductivity, and at least three intermediate layers between the cover layers, said layers being stacked and having at least one passageway therethrough defined by the spaced foraminous members, one intermediate layer being disposed between a cover layer and the peripheral zone of a foraminous member, at least one intermediate layer being disposed between the peripheral zones of the foraminous members and one intermediate layer being disposed between the peripheral zone of the other foraminous member and the other cover layer, means to electrically shunt each of the cover layers, the intermediate layers being impregnated with electrolyte to impart a resistance between said members and between each member and engine ground in the order of 1 X 106 to 50 X 106 ohms.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 31 wherein there are at least four intermediate layers, at least two of said intermediate layers being disposed between the peripheral zones of the foraminous members.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
A pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 31 wherein the resistance imparted by the intermediate layers is between about 3 X 106 and 8 X 106 ohms.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
A four cycle internal combustion engine having a carburetor, a fuel/air intake and a pre-combustion catalyst as set forth in claim 18 between the carburetor outlet and the fuel/air intake.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
A two cycle internal combustion engine having a carburetor, a fuel/air intake and a pre-combustion catalyst device as set forth in claim 18 between the carburetor outlet and the fuel/air intake.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |