Abstract An internal combustion engine in which heat is derived from the engine cooling system and/or the exhaust to heat a working fluid in a closed circulatory system. This heat transforms the working fluid into a gas which is delivered to a turbine which drives a generator. The generator delivers DC current to an electrolysis cell in which water is decomposed. The water is decomposed by the electric current into its oxygen and hydrogen components. The oxygen is passed to the air intake of the engine carburetors, while the hydrogen is conveyed to a carburetor therefor. Also included is a carburetor for conventional hydrocarbon fuels. The two carburetors are connected by linkage which may be operated either manually or by pressure to vary the ratio of the carbureted fuels which are delivered to the engine. Certain auxiliary equipment is provided in the form of an air-cooled condenser in the working fluid system, a supply tank for the hydrocarbon fuel, which ordinarily is gasoline, a water supply tank, a tank for receiving hydrogen under pressure, a pump for the hydrocarbon fuel, a pump for the working fluid system, a pump for delivering water from the water tank to the electrolysis cell and a hydrogen pump which passes hydrogen to the hydrogen carburetor and/or the hydrogen tank. In a modification, power is derived from the engine exhaust to drive a turbo-generator which delivers DC current to the electrolysis cell. This current may be supplemented by that provided by a generator that is driven by a turbine powered by the working fluid of a system that is heated by the cooling system of the engine.
In an internal combustion engine, a. an engine block; b. an exhaust pipe extending from said block; c. a turbo-generator comprising a turbine communicating with said exhaust pipe to be powered by exhaust gases emanating from said exhaust pipe and a generator driven by said turbine and producing a DC current; d. an electrolysis cell containing water and connected to said generator so that the DC current therefrom decomposes the water into oxygen and hydrogen; e. a water tank for supplying water to said electrolysis cell; f. a hydrogen carburetor on a engine block for delivering hydrogen to a combustion chamber in said block; g. conduit extending from said electrolysis cell to said hydrogen carburetor which conveys hydrogen from the cell to the carburetor; h. a hydrocarbon fuel carburetor on said engine block and connected to said hydrocarbon fuel tank, and i. linkage connected to said carburetors and operable to vary the ratio of hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuel which is introduced into the combustion chamber of said engine block.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
In an internal combustion engine, a. an engine block; b. an exhaust pipe extending from said block; c. a turbo-generator comprising a turbine communicating with said exhaust pipe to be powered by exhaust gases emanating from said exhaust pipe and a generator driven by said turbine and producing a DC current; d. an electrolysis cell containing water and connected to said generator so that the DC current therefrom decomposes the water into oxygen and hydrogen; e. a water tank for supplying water to said electrolysis cell; f. a hydrogen carburetor on a engine block for delivering hydrogen to a combustion chamber in said block; g. conduit extending from said electrolysis cell to said hydrogen carburetor which conveys hydrogen from the cell to the carburetor; h. a hydrocarbon fuel carburetor on said engine block and connected to said hydrocarbon fuel tank, and i. linkage connected to said carburetors and operable to vary the ratio of hydrogen and hydrocarbon fuel which is introduced into the combustion chamber of said engine block.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 1 in which the engine includes a cooling system, together with a closed circuit working fluid system in heat conducting relation to said cooling system and including a pump for circulating the working fluid, a condenser for converting a gaseous state of said working fluid to a liquid state, a turbine powered by said working fluid, and a generator driven by said turbine for delivering DC current to said electrolysis cell to supplement the current supplied by the generator of said turbo-generator.