Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A pollution control device for reducing the quantity of pollutant mixed with the gaseous products of combustion of hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a chamber having an inlet for entry of the combustion products into the chamber and an outlet for exhaust of gases from the chamber so that gases flow through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet; a plurality of baskets arranged in tandem and spaced from each other, each basket being open at its upstream end and closed at its downstream end; each basket having a side wall comprising copper which provides openings for passage of gas therethrough; means for introducing atmospheric air into a first of said baskets located upstream from a second of said baskets; means comprising spaced electrodes forming a spark gap located in the region between said first and second baskets; means producing intermittent sparks across said gap; said inlet being connected to the exhaust of an internal combustion engine having firing cylinder and piston means, and means causing a spark to jump across the gap each time a charge of fuel fires in a cylinder; and said engine having a carburetor for mixing air with a hydrocarbon fuel, and conduit means leading from a portion of the chamber of the first basket to conduct gaseous products from the last-mentioned position to an entry way into the carburetor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
A pollution control device for reducing the quantity of pollutant mixed with the gaseous products of combustion of hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a chamber having an inlet for entry of the combustion products into the chamber and an outlet for exhaust of gases from the chamber so that gases flow through the chamber from the inlet to the outlet; a plurality of baskets arranged in tandem and spaced from each other, each basket being open at its upstream end and closed at its downstream end; each basket having a side wall comprising copper which provides openings for passage of gas therethrough; means for introducing atmospheric air into a first of said baskets located upstream from a second of said baskets; means comprising spaced electrodes forming a spark gap located in the region between said first and second baskets; means producing intermittent sparks across said gap; said inlet being connected to the exhaust of an internal combustion engine having firing cylinder and piston means, and means causing a spark to jump across the gap each time a charge of fuel fires in a cylinder; and said engine having a carburetor for mixing air with a hydrocarbon fuel, and conduit means leading from a portion of the chamber of the first basket to conduct gaseous products from the last-mentioned position to an entry way into the carburetor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 1 in which copper electrodes arranged to comprise a second spark gap are positioned at said entry way, and a source of alternating voltage means creating a spark at said second spark gap at the frequency of said source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
Method of reducing the quantity of pollutant mixed with the gaseous products of combustion of hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine which comprises: mixing the combustion products with atmospheric air, straining the mixture through an expandable basket comprising lengths of small cross-section copper wires placed closely together, offering variable porosity with respect to the passage of gas between the wires, and subjecting the strained mixture to intermittent sparks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
Method of reducing the quantity of pollutant mixed with the gaseous products of combustion of hydrocarbon fuel in an internal combustion engine which comprises: mixing the combustion products with atmospheric air, straining the mixture through an expandable basket comprising lengths of small cross-section copper wires placed closely together, offering variable porosity with respect to the passage of gas between the wires, and subjecting the strained mixture to intermittent sparks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Method according to claim 3 in which a portion of the mixture subsequent to the straining is fed back to the entrance to the air intake of a carburetor of the engine and subjecting the feedback portion together with the air taken into the carburetor at the air intake, to intermittent sparks.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
Method according to claim 3 in which heat developed by chemical reaction of the combustion products with the copper is reflected to the area where the reaction occurs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
Method according to claim 3 in which there is a second straining of the mixture following its being subjected to the intermittent sparks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
Method according to claim 3 in which the sparks are blue sparks.