US4145998A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hot fuel gas generator
Assignee: Econo Fuel Systems Inc
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Filing: 1977-01-24
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Granted: 1979-03-27
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Expires: 1997-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A hot fuel gas generator for an internal combustion engine simultaneously vaporizes gasoline and water in a multi-chambered heated pressure vessel having built in regulators for controlling pressure and volume and delivers the resulting superheated steam and gaseous fuel to the internal combustion engine downstream from the usual carburetor. A single device operating at a very high temperature, for example 1600° F., is used for the simultaneous vaporization of the fuel and water to develop desirable working pressure and volume. The high temperature steam and gaseous fuel positions the fuel molecules at the greatest degree of separation from each other providing the greatest opportunity for contact of the oxygen, the reacting species in the gaseous condition as chemical reactions occur only between particles at the atomic or molecular level and it is necessary for the reacting species to be in actual contact at the time of reaction. The hot fuel gas produced therefore enables complete combustion and the elimination of the atmospheric pollutants common in the operation of internal combustion engines and increases the energy obtained from the fuel.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred G. Mahoney
- 👤 Webster B. Harpman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:11
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B47/00; F02B47/02; F02B43/00; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a hot gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine, comprising, separately and simultaneously delivering only a hydrocarbon and water at a predetermined ratio into a closed chamber, heating said hydrocarbon and water in said chamber to a temperature sufficient to simultaneously change the hydrocarbon to a gas and the water to steam and to thereby space the hydrocarbon molecules apart a sufficient degree to support substantially complete combustion in said engine, regulating the volume and directional flow of the hot gaseous fuel, and directing the hot gaseous fuel from said chamber to a point of combustion in said internal combustion engine.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a hot gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine, comprising, separately and simultaneously delivering only a hydrocarbon and water at a predetermined ratio into a closed chamber, heating said hydrocarbon and water in said chamber to a temperature sufficient to simultaneously change the hydrocarbon to a gas and the water to steam and to thereby space the hydrocarbon molecules apart a sufficient degree to support substantially complete combustion in said engine, regulating the volume and directional flow of the hot gaseous fuel, and directing the hot gaseous fuel from said chamber to a point of combustion in said internal combustion engine.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a hot gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine, comprising, premixing and simultaenously delivering only a hydrocarbon and water at a predetermined ratio into a closed chamber, heating said hydrocarbon and water in said chamber to a temperature sufficient to simultaneously change the hydrocarbon to a gas and the water to steam and to thereby space the hydrocarbon molecules apart a sufficient degree to support substantially complete combustion in said engine, regulating the volume and directional flow of the hot gaseous fuel, and directing the hot gaseous fuel from said chamber to a point of combustion in said internal combustion engine.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of making a hot gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine, comprising, premixing and simultaenously delivering only a hydrocarbon and water at a predetermined ratio into a closed chamber, heating said hydrocarbon and water in said chamber to a temperature sufficient to simultaneously change the hydrocarbon to a gas and the water to steam and to thereby space the hydrocarbon molecules apart a sufficient degree to support substantially complete combustion in said engine, regulating the volume and directional flow of the hot gaseous fuel, and directing the hot gaseous fuel from said chamber to a point of combustion in said internal combustion engine.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
101 words
The method of making a gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of simultaneously delivering only gasoline and water in a known ratio into a closed chamber heated to a temperature above 600° F. to form a hot expanding gaseous fuel that is partially super heated steam wherein the molecules of the gasoline are spaced by the heat and more widely spaced by the super heated steam, regulating the volume and directional flow of said hot gaseous fuel and directing said hot gaseous fuel from said heated chamber to a point of combustion in said internal combustion engine.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
101 words
The method of making a gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of simultaneously delivering only gasoline and water in a known ratio into a closed chamber heated to a temperature above 600° F. to form a hot expanding gaseous fuel that is partially super heated steam wherein the molecules of the gasoline are spaced by the heat and more widely spaced by the super heated steam, regulating the volume and directional flow of said hot gaseous fuel and directing said hot gaseous fuel from said heated chamber to a point of combustion in said internal combustion engine.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
94 words
The method of making a hot gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine from gasoline and water in a known ratio comprising the steps of increasing the spacing between the molecules of the gasoline by heating the same sufficiently to change the gasoline to a gas and further spacing said molecules of the gasoline by heating the water sufficiently to produce a super heated steam simultaneously with said gas, regulating the volume and directional flow of said hot gaseous fuel and directing the same to a point of combustion in said internal combustion engine.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
94 words
The method of making a hot gaseous fuel for an internal combustion engine from gasoline and water in a known ratio comprising the steps of increasing the spacing between the molecules of the gasoline by heating the same sufficiently to change the gasoline to a gas and further spacing said molecules of the gasoline by heating the water sufficiently to produce a super heated steam simultaneously with said gas, regulating the volume and directional flow of said hot gaseous fuel and directing the same to a point of combustion in said internal combustion engine.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-26 | 1982-09-25 | 1983-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-26 | 1986-09-25 | 1987-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-26 | 1990-09-25 | 1991-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |