US4091779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for influencing thermo-chemical reactions
Assignee: Daimler Benz AG
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Filing: 1975-11-28
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Granted: 1978-05-30
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Expires: 1995-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for influencing thermo-chemical reactions by means of an electric field, in which the ions formed by the reaction itself are directed by the application of the electric field in order to control the further reaction progress.
Inventors
- 👤 Helmut Saufferer
- 👤 Karl Willmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:36
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23C; F23C99/00; F23C99/001; F02; F02B; F02B51/00; F02B51/04; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B75/00; F02B75/12; F02B2075/125; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for influencing thermo-chemical reactions by means of an electric field, comprising the step of directing the ions formed by the reaction itself, as opposed to ionizing of the reactant mixture, by applying the electric field in order to control the further reaction progress.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for influencing thermo-chemical reactions by means of an electric field, comprising the step of directing the ions formed by the reaction itself, as opposed to ionizing of the reactant mixture, by applying the electric field in order to control the further reaction progress.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method according to claim 1, for influencing the combustion in a combustion chamber having areas of oxygen deficiency, comprising the step of sucking the ions by means of the electric field out of the areas of strong oxygen deficiency in the combustion chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, for influencing the combustion in a combustion chamber provided with quench areas, comprising the step of directing the ions by means of the electric field into the quench areas of the chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, for influencing the combustion in a combustion chamber, comprising the step of continuously taking along the ions in the flame front by means of the electric field.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 1, for influencing the combustion in a combustion chamber, comprising the step of fanning the ions by means of the electric field into an ion wind enhancing the mixing of the oxygen with fuel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, for the NO x -reduction during the combustion in a Diesel engine, comprising the steps of returning the exhaust gases of the engine and retarding the instant of fuel injection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement for influencing thermo-chemical reactions by electric field means, characterized in that, as opposed to ionizing the reactant mixture, the ions produced by the thermo-chemical reaction itself are directed by the application of the electric field means in such a manner as to control the further reaction progress.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
An arrangement for influencing thermo-chemical reactions by electric field means, characterized in that, as opposed to ionizing the reactant mixture, the ions produced by the thermo-chemical reaction itself are directed by the application of the electric field means in such a manner as to control the further reaction progress.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, for influencing the combustion in a combustion chamber having areas of oxygen deficiency, characterized by means including the electric field means for sucking the ions out of areas of oxygen deficiency within the combustion chamber by means of the electric field means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, for influencing the combustion in a combustion chamber provided with quench areas, characterized by means including the electric field means for directing the ions by means of the electric field means into the quench areas of the chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, for influencing the combustion in a combustion chamber, characterized by means including the electric field means for continuously taking along the ions in the flame front by means of electric field means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by means including the electric field means for fanning the ions into an ion wind enhancing the mixing of the oxygen with the fuel by means of the electric field means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An arrangement according to claim 7, for the NO x -reduction during the combustion in a Diesel engine, characterized by an exhaust gas return means, and means for retarding the instant of the fuel injection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
An arrangement for influencing thermo-chemical reactions within a space means provided therefor, characterized by at least two electrode body means electrically insulated from one another, which have such a configuration and such a position in relation to the space means provided for the thermo-chemical reaction that a voltage applied therebetween leads to a field distribution directing the ions resulting from the reaction itself, as opposed to ionizing of the reactant mixture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
An arrangement for influencing thermo-chemical reactions within a space means provided therefor, characterized by at least two electrode body means electrically insulated from one another, which have such a configuration and such a position in relation to the space means provided for the thermo-chemical reaction that a voltage applied therebetween leads to a field distribution directing the ions resulting from the reaction itself, as opposed to ionizing of the reactant mixture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
An arrangement with a combustion chamber means according to claim 13, characterized in that a field electrode means forming one of the electrode body means is arranged in the combustion chamber means, which is connected to one pole of a high voltage source whose other pole is connected with the conductive boundary wall means of the combustion chamber means insulated with respect to the field electrode means and forming a part of the other electrode body means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that the field electrode means is connected with the positive pole of the high voltage source and the wall means of the combustion chamber means with the negative pole thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement according to claim 15, characterized in that the high voltage source supplies a voltage of about 5 to 10 kv.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, for an Otto engine, characterized in that the field electrode means is secured high-voltage insulated at a cylinder head in proximity of a spark plug and has at least one of the characteristics consisting of relatively large heat transfer and heat capacity in order to decrease temperature peaks for purposes of avoiding misfirings.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement according to claim 17, characterized in that the field electrode has both a relatively large heat transfer capacity and a relatively large heat storage capacity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
40 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, for a Diesel engine, characterized in that the field electrode means is a lattice-like structure extending through the cylinder head and secured in an insulated manner at the inner wall of the cylinder head.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement according to claim 19, for a pre-chamber Diesel engine, characterized in that a second electrode means is arranged in the pre-chamber which is electrically insulated with respect to the walls of the pre-chamber and is at a high voltage.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, for an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection, characterized by an injection nozzle means electrically insulated with respect to the remaining engine block and connected as field electrode means to a high voltage source.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, for a pre-chamber Diesel engine, characterized in that the pre-chamber together with its connecting channel between pre-chamber and main chamber is electrically insulated with respect to the remaining engine block and is at a high voltage.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
50 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, for a pre-chamber Diesel engine, characterized by a heat capacity ball means disposed in the pre-chamber and retained by webs, said ball means being electrically insulated with respect to the remaining structure and being connected as field electrode means to a high voltage source.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
An arrangement according to claim 16, characterized by means for varying the electric potentials of the electrode means as a function of the piston position of the engine.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
An arrangement according to claim 13, for a burner with a substantially open flame, characterized in that two substantially parallel flat electrode means are arranged on opposite sides of the burner flame which are connected with the poles of a high voltage source.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement with a burner nozzle means according to claim 25, characterized in that the burner nozzle means is electrically connected with one of the electrode means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
An arrangement with a burner nozzle means according to claim 13, for a burner with a substantially open flame, characterized in tha a substantially cylindrical electrode means surrounding the burner flame is connected to the negative pole of a high voltage source and the burner nozzle means is connected to the positive pole thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
An arrangement according to claim 27, characterized in that the electrode means are mesh-like.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
An arrangement according to claim 25, characterized in that the electrode means are mesh-like.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
59 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, for an Otto engine, characterized in that the field electrode means is secured high-voltage insulated at a cylinder head in proximity of a spark plug and has at least one of the characteristics consisting of relatively large heat transfer and heat capacity in order to decrease temperature peaks for purposes of avoiding misfirings.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, for a Diesel engine, characterized in that the field electrode means is a lattice-like structure extending through the cylinder head and secured in an insulated manner at the inner wall of the cylinder head.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement according to claim 31, for a pre-chamber Diesel engine, characterized in that a second electrode means is arranged in the pre-chamber which is electrically insulated with respect to the walls of the pre-chamber and is at a high voltage.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, for an internal combustion engine with direct fuel injection, characterized by an injection nozzle means electrically insulated with respect to the remaining engine block and connected as field electrode means to a high voltage source.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, for a pre-chamber Diesel engine, characterized in that the pre-chamber together with its connecting channel between pre-chamber and main chamber is electrically insulated with respect to the remaining engine block and is at a high voltage.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
50 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, for a pre-chamber Diesel engine, characterized by a heat capacity ball means disposed in the pre-chamber and retained by webs, said ball means being electrically insulated with respect to the remaining structure and being connected as field electrode means to a high voltage source.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
An arrangement according to claim 14, characterized by means for varying the electric potentials of the electrode means as a function of the piston position of the engine.
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) | 1981-05-29 | 1981-11-28 | 1982-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-29 | 1985-11-28 | 1986-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-29 | 1989-11-28 | 1990-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |