Patent US3901197A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3901197A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for reforming the quality of fuel oil in an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1974-05-01
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for supplying combustible material to an internal combustion engine including feeding a first portion of fuel and air to a reformer, diverting a part of the first portion into a separate path in the reformer, burning at least a portion of the part of the first portion of fuel and utilizing the heat to heat up and vaporize the remaining part of the first portion of fuel to reform it into a mixture of decomposition and oxidation products, and introducing the mixture as well as a second portion of fuel and air into a combustion chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaaki Noguchi
- 👤 Masaharu Sumiyoshi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:27
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M27/00; F02M27/02; F02B; F02B53/00; F02B53/02; F02M31/00; F02M31/02; F02M31/16; F02M31/163; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/32; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A METHOD FOR SUPPLYING COMBUSTABLE MATERIAL TO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: FEEDING A FIRST PORTION OF FUEL AND A FIRST PORTION OF AIR TO A FUEL REFORMER: DIVERTING A PART OF SAID FIRST PORTION OF FUEL AND SAID FIRST PORTION OF AIR INTO A SEPARATE PATH WITHIN SAID FUEL REFORMER: BURNING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID PART OF SAID FIRST PORTION OF FUEL TO FORM A COMBUSTION PRODUCTS AND UTILIZING THE HEAT OF SAID BURNING TO HEAT UP AND VAPORIZE THE REMAINING PART OF SAID FIRST PORTION OF FUEL AND TO REFORM SAID FIRST PORTION OF FUEL INTO A MIXTURE INCLUDING DECOMPOSITION AND OXIDATION PRODUCTS: AND INTRODUCING SAID MIXTURE INCLUDING DECOMPOSITION AND OXIDATION PRODUCTS AS WELL AS A SECOND PORTION OF FUEL WHICH HAS NOT BEEN REFORMED AND A SECOND PORTION OF AIR INTO A COMBUSTION CHAMBER OF THE ENGINE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A METHOD FOR SUPPLYING COMBUSTABLE MATERIAL TO AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: FEEDING A FIRST PORTION OF FUEL AND A FIRST PORTION OF AIR TO A FUEL REFORMER: DIVERTING A PART OF SAID FIRST PORTION OF FUEL AND SAID FIRST PORTION OF AIR INTO A SEPARATE PATH WITHIN SAID FUEL REFORMER: BURNING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID PART OF SAID FIRST PORTION OF FUEL TO FORM A COMBUSTION PRODUCTS AND UTILIZING THE HEAT OF SAID BURNING TO HEAT UP AND VAPORIZE THE REMAINING PART OF SAID FIRST PORTION OF FUEL AND TO REFORM SAID FIRST PORTION OF FUEL INTO A MIXTURE INCLUDING DECOMPOSITION AND OXIDATION PRODUCTS: AND INTRODUCING SAID MIXTURE INCLUDING DECOMPOSITION AND OXIDATION PRODUCTS AS WELL AS A SECOND PORTION OF FUEL WHICH HAS NOT BEEN REFORMED AND A SECOND PORTION OF AIR INTO A COMBUSTION CHAMBER OF THE ENGINE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said first portion of said fuel is reformed into said mixture including decomposition and oxidation products in the presence of a catalyst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: converging said remaining part of said first portion of fuel with said combustion products to reform said first portion of said fuel into a mixture including decomposition and oxidation products prior to introducing said mixture into said combustion chamber of the engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of introducing said mixture including decomposition and oxidation products to a catalyst.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
180 words
A device for supplying combustible material to an internal combustion engine comprising: a first fuel and air supply system connected to a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine; a second fuel and air supply system for supplying a fuel-air mixture; a fuel reformer connected to said second fuel and air supply system; and a conduit for connecting said fuel reformer to said combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine; said fuel reformer comprising: a first and a second passage each connected to said second fuel and air supply system, a portion of said fuel and air entering into said first passage and the remaining portion entering into said second passage, said second passage being in heat exchange relation with said first passage; an igniter in said first passage for igniting said portion of said fuel and air and thereby heating said remaining portion in said second passage; and a plenum chamber connected to said first and said second passage for forming a confluence of said first passage and said second passage, said plenum chamber being connected to said conduit.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
180 words
A device for supplying combustible material to an internal combustion engine comprising: a first fuel and air supply system connected to a combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine; a second fuel and air supply system for supplying a fuel-air mixture; a fuel reformer connected to said second fuel and air supply system; and a conduit for connecting said fuel reformer to said combustion chamber of said internal combustion engine; said fuel reformer comprising: a first and a second passage each connected to said second fuel and air supply system, a portion of said fuel and air entering into said first passage and the remaining portion entering into said second passage, said second passage being in heat exchange relation with said first passage; an igniter in said first passage for igniting said portion of said fuel and air and thereby heating said remaining portion in said second passage; and a plenum chamber connected to said first and said second passage for forming a confluence of said first passage and said second passage, said plenum chamber being connected to said conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a catalyst interposed between said plenum chamber and said conduit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
141 words
A device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said second passage comprises: an inlet chamber connected to said second fuel and air supply system; and at least one heat-conducting pipe connected at one end thereof to said inlet chamber and at the other end thereof to said plenum chamber; and wherein said first passage comprises an outer shell connected at one end thereof to said inlet chamber and at the other end thereof to said plenum chamber and enclosing said inlet chamber and said heat-conducting pipe; and at least one partition disposed in said outer shell and dividing said outer shell into at least two sections, said sections communicating with each other, said inlet chamber having an opening whereby said inlet chamber is in communication with said outer shell; and wherein said igniter is disposed within one of said sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said reformer further comprises a backfire preventing screen disposed between said igniter and said opening, said opening and said one of said sections wherein said igniter is disposed communicating only through said screen.
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) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |