Patent US4240381A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4240381A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal combustion engine system
Assignee: Purification Sciences Inc
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Filing: 1979-05-08
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Granted: 1980-12-23
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Expires: 1999-05-08
Abstract
Abstract An internal combustion engine 10 wherein only some compression is carried out in the engine 10 and including a tank 30 of compressed air, a pressure regulator 34, a fuel injector 28, and means 40 and 50 for connecting the foot pedal 38 to the pressure regulator 34 and the fuel injector 28, for controlling air and fuel feed to the combustion chambers 22 in response to throttle demand during high power demand conditions. The engine 10 compresses its own air for cruise conditions but uses stored compressed air (charged from a wayside source) for higher power demand. The engine can use spark or heat ignition, provides full expansion, can be two or four stroke and of the diesel or gasoline type. Compressed air can be generated more efficiently using central station power with a vast savings in the amount of oil consumed. Oxygen enriched (60-80% O 2 ) compressed air can be used without high temperature problems because of the only partial compression and the high (cooling) expansion ratio and higher rpm.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank E. Lowther
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:04
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B41/00; F02B47/00; F02B47/04; F02B47/06; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine including at least one piston-cylinder-combustion chamber system comprising the steps of: (a) operating each piston-cylinder-combustion chamber system to provide at least partial strokes consisting of inlet, compression, power, and exhaust strokes; (b) operating said compression stroke with a compression ratio substantially less than the expansion ratio to provide only enough oxygen to accommodate only enough fuel to supply power cruise conditions; (c) storing a supply of oxygen-containing compressed gas in a tank adjacent to said internal combustion engine; and (d) increasing the power of said engine in response to throttle demand for more power than is available from said operating steps, by feeding compressed gas from said tank to each combustion chamber during the end of said compression stroke and prior to said power stroke and also feeding a corresponding additional quantity of fuel to said combustion chamber with said compressed gas.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine including at least one piston-cylinder-combustion chamber system comprising the steps of: (a) operating each piston-cylinder-combustion chamber system to provide at least partial strokes consisting of inlet, compression, power, and exhaust strokes; (b) operating said compression stroke with a compression ratio substantially less than the expansion ratio to provide only enough oxygen to accommodate only enough fuel to supply power cruise conditions; (c) storing a supply of oxygen-containing compressed gas in a tank adjacent to said internal combustion engine; and (d) increasing the power of said engine in response to throttle demand for more power than is available from said operating steps, by feeding compressed gas from said tank to each combustion chamber during the end of said compression stroke and prior to said power stroke and also feeding a corresponding additional quantity of fuel to said combustion chamber with said compressed gas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1 including controlling the pressure of the compressed gas fed from said tank into said combustion chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein said controlling step comprises controlling a pressure regulator in a conduit from said tank to said engine in response to throttle demand.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 including spark igniting the compressed gas-fuel mixture in said combustion chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 including heat igniting the compressed gas-fuel mixture in said combustion chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said storing step comprises storing a compressed gas containing at least 20% oxygen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein said storing step comprises storing a compressed gas containing a higher percentage of oxygen than is contained in ambient air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein said storing step includes charging said tank to a pressure of about 2500 psi.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 including heat exchanging the hot exhaust gas from said internal combustion engine with the compressed gas being fed from said tank to said combustion chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said fuel feeding step comprises injecting fuel into said combustion chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said fuel injection comprises injecting fuel after said compressed gas has been fed into said combustion chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 10 wherein said fuel injection comprises injecting fuel into each combustion chamber substantially simultaneously with said step of feeding compressed gas into said combustion chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said engine is a four stroke gasoline engine and including leaving the inlet valve open during a first, substantial portion of the compression stroke, wherein substantially no compression is done until said inlet valve closes during a later portion of said compression stroke.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said increasing step comprises injecting compressed gas from said tank, and fuel, into each combustion chamber simultaneously, toward the end of said compression stroke and just prior to each piston reaching T.D.C.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 14 including spark igniting the mixture of fuel and compressed gas in each combustion chamber at the beginning of each power stroke.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said engine is a two stroke gasoline engine using fuel injection and including leaving the exhaust valve open during a first, substantial portion of the movement of each piston from B.D.C. to T.D.C. whereby substantially no compression is done until said exhaust valve closes during the later portion of said compression stroke.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 16 wherein said increasing step comprises injecting compressed gas from said tank, and fuel, into each combustion chamber simultaneously, toward the end of the compression stroke and just prior to each piston reaching T.D.C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 17 including spark igniting the mixture of fuel and compressed gas in each combustion chamber at the beginning of each power stroke.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said engine is a four stroke diesel type engine and including the step of leaving the inlet valve open during a first, substantial portion of the compression stroke and means for closing said inlet valve during a second portion of the compression stroke, wherein substantially no compression is done until said inlet valve closes during said later portion of the compression stroke and means for injecting fuel into each combustion chamber during the start of the power stroke and including means for igniting the fuel-gas mixture in said combustion chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein said igniting step comprises spark igniting said mixture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 19 wherein said increasing step comprises injecting compressed gas from said tank into each combustion chamber toward the end of said compression stroke and subsequently injecting fuel into said combustion chamber during the beginning of said power stroke.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said engine is a two stroke diesel type engine and includes the step of leaving the exhaust valve open during a first, substantial portion of the movement of each piston from B.D.C. to T.D.C. whereby substantially no compression is done until said exhaust valve closes during a later portion of said compression stroke and injecting compressed gas from said tank into each combustion chamber toward the end of the compression stroke and then subsequently injecting fuel into each combustion chamber toward the beginning of said power stroke and igniting the mixture of fuel and gas in said combustion chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 22 wherein said igniting comprises spark igniting said mixture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 22 including the step of heat exchanging the exhaust gas from said engine with the compressed gas fed from said tank to each combustion chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus comprising: (a) an internal combustion engine including at least one piston-cylinder-combustion chamber system; (b) means for operating said system to provide at least partial strokes consisting of inlet, compression, power, and exhaust strokes; (c) means for operating said compression stroke with a compression ratio substantially less than the expansion ratio to provide only enough oxygen to oxidize only enough fuel to supply power for cruise conditions; (d) a tank for storing oxygen containing compressed gas and a conduit for feeding compressed gas from said tank to each combustion chamber; and (e) means for increasing the power of said engine in response to throttle demand for more power than is available from said compression ratio, comprising means for feeding compressed gas from said tank to each combustion chamber during the end of said compression stroke and prior to said power stroke, and also feeding a corresponding additional quantity of fuel to said combustion chamber with said compressed gas.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus comprising: (a) an internal combustion engine including at least one piston-cylinder-combustion chamber system; (b) means for operating said system to provide at least partial strokes consisting of inlet, compression, power, and exhaust strokes; (c) means for operating said compression stroke with a compression ratio substantially less than the expansion ratio to provide only enough oxygen to oxidize only enough fuel to supply power for cruise conditions; (d) a tank for storing oxygen containing compressed gas and a conduit for feeding compressed gas from said tank to each combustion chamber; and (e) means for increasing the power of said engine in response to throttle demand for more power than is available from said compression ratio, comprising means for feeding compressed gas from said tank to each combustion chamber during the end of said compression stroke and prior to said power stroke, and also feeding a corresponding additional quantity of fuel to said combustion chamber with said compressed gas.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 including means for controlling the flow of compressed gas from said tank through said conduit and to said at least one combustion chamber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said control means comprises a pressure regulator connected to a throttle for controlling the pressure of the compressed gas fed out of said tank in response to throttle demand.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 including means for spark igniting a compressed gas-fuel mixture in said at least one combustion chamber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 including means for heat igniting a compressed gas-fuel mixture in said at least one combustion chamber.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 including means for injecting fuel into said at least one combustion chamber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said fuel injection means comprises means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber after said compressed gas has been fed into said combustion chamber.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said fuel injection means comprises means for injecting fuel substantially simultaneously with the feeding of compressed gas into said combustion chamber.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 30 wherein said fuel injection means includes means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber prior to feeding compressed gas into said combustion chamber.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said internal combustion engine is a four stroke engine.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said engine is a gasoline engine and including means for holding the inlet valve open during a first, substantial portion of the compression stroke wherein substantially no compression is done until said inlet valve closes during a later portion of said compression stroke, and means for closing said inlet valve during said later portion of the compression stroke.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein said means for increasing the power comprises means for injecting compressed gas from said tank, and fuel, into each combustion chamber simultaneously toward the end of said compression stroke and just prior to each piston reaching top dead center.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 36 including means for spark igniting the mixture of fuel and compressed gas in each combustion chamber at the beginning of each power stroke.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
91 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said engine is a two-stroke gasoline engine including means for injecting fuel into each combustion chamber and including means for maintaining the exhaust valve open during a first, substantial portion of the movement of each piston from B.D.C. to T.D.C. and means for closing the exhaust valve during a later portion of the movement of the piston from B.D.C. to T.D.C., whereby substantially no compression is done in said combustion chamber until said exhaust valve closes during said later portion of said combustion stroke.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 38 wherein said means for increasing the power comprises means for injecting compressed gas from said tank, and fuel, into each combustion chamber simultaneously, toward the end of the combustion stroke and just prior to each piston reaching T.D.C.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus according to claim 39 including means for spark igniting the mixture of fuel and compressed gas in each combustion chamber at the beginning of each power stroke.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
121 words
The apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said engine is a diesel type of engine and including means for maintaining the inlet valve open during a first, substantial portion of the compression stroke and for closing said inlet valve during a later portion of said compression stroke wherein substantially no compression is done in said combustion chamber until said inlet valve closes, and including means for injecting compressed gas from said tank into said combustion chamber toward the end of said compression stroke and just prior to each piston reaching T.D.C. and means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber after said piston reaches T.D.C. and means for igniting the fuel-gas mixture in said combustion chamber after said piston reaches T.D.C.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein said means for igniting said mixture comprises a spark plug.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein said means for igniting said mixture includes means for heat exchanging exhaust gas from said engine with said compressed gas being fed into said combustion chamber from said tank.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus according to claim 38 wherein said engine is a diesel type of engine and including means for maintaining the exhaust valve open during a first, substantial portion of the movement of each piston from B.D.C. to T.D.C. and for closing the exhaust valve during a later portion of the movement of the piston from B.D.C. to T.D.C., whereby substantially no compression is done during said first portion and means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber when the piston is approximately at top dead center and means for igniting the fuel-air mixture in said combustion chamber.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 44 wherein said igniting means includes a spark plug.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 44 wherein said igniting means includes means for heat exchanging the exhaust gas from said engine with the compressed gas fed into said combustion chamber from said tank.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said engine is a diesel type and operating said power stroke with an expansion ratio of about 16:1 and operating said compression stroke with a compression ratio of about 9:1.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said engine is a diesel type and operating said power stroke with an expansion ratio of about 8:1 and operating said compression stroke with a compression ratio of about 4.5:1.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said engine has a compression ratio of about 9:1 and an expansion ratio of about 16:1.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein said engine has a compression ratio of about 4.5:1 and an expansion ratio of about 8:1.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 including storing in said tank a composition including 60%-80% oxygen.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 including stored gas in said tank including 60%-80% oxygen.
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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) | 1983-12-23 | 1984-06-23 | 1984-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-23 | 1988-06-23 | 1988-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-23 | 1992-06-23 | 1992-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |