US4376423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for saturating a liquid fuel with a gas and an internal combustion engine
Assignee: JONES KENT L
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Filing: 1981-06-08
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Granted: 1983-03-15
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Expires: 2001-06-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and a method of saturating liquid fuel with air, oxygen, or another gas for injecting into an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is provided with a gas compressor or pump for compressing air or oxygen, which is directed into a fuel saturator having a dense, porous material or stone therein and having a liquid hydrocarbon fuel being fed therethrough. Compressed gas is fed onto one side of the stone and is forced therethrough for saturation into the liquid fuel, which is then fed into a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine. Gas that separates from the liquid fuel is trapped and vapor is removed therefrom. The fuel saturator uses a gas saturation stone, which may be hollow in one end for feeding a compressed gas thereinto, while the other side is surrounded with the liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The liquid hydrocarbon fuel may be fed around a spiralling passageway adjacent the stone for a more complete saturation of the fuel.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E. Knapstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:31
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M63/00; F02M71/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An internal combustion engine having a gas saturator for saturating liquid fuel with a gas, comprising in combination: an internal combustion engine; a gas saturation means for saturating gas into a liquid fuel and having a liquid fuel inlet and a liquid fuel outlet and a gas inlet; gas compressor means for compressing a gas, said gas compressor means being connected to said gas saturation means gas inlet for directing gas under pressure into said gas saturation means; and means for directing a liquid fuel saturated with gas from said gas saturation means into said internal combustion engine combustion chambers whereby a liquid fuel saturated with a gas is burned in an internal combustion engine.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
An internal combustion engine having a gas saturator for saturating liquid fuel with a gas, comprising in combination: an internal combustion engine; a gas saturation means for saturating gas into a liquid fuel and having a liquid fuel inlet and a liquid fuel outlet and a gas inlet; gas compressor means for compressing a gas, said gas compressor means being connected to said gas saturation means gas inlet for directing gas under pressure into said gas saturation means; and means for directing a liquid fuel saturated with gas from said gas saturation means into said internal combustion engine combustion chambers whereby a liquid fuel saturated with a gas is burned in an internal combustion engine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the gas saturation means includes a dense, porous material for feeding a liquid fuel on one side thereof and a compressed gas on the other side thereof for saturating said liquid fuel with said gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, in which said gas saturation means has a gas bleed off for bleeding off excess gas from said gas saturator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, in which said gas compressor means includes an air pump connected to an air regulator to said fuel saturator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 3, in which said gas bleed off is fed through to a fuel trap for capturing vapor in said gas being bled from said fuel saturator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 5, in which said bleed off line includes an in-line check valve therein to prevent gas under pressure from being fed from said fuel trap back to said fuel saturator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, in which said fuel trap includes a foamed polymer material therein for capturing liquid fuel therein and a fuel line connecting said fuel trap to said fuel tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, in which said line connecting said fuel trap to said fuel tank has a fuel pump and a check valve located therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, in which liquid fuel saturated with gas being fed from said fuel saturator passes through a fuel filter having a gas bleed off line attached thereto for bleeding off gas to said fuel trap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9, in which said bleed off line from said fuel filter has a check valve therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, in which said fuel from said fuel filter is fed into a fuel injector pump for injection into the engine combustion chambers and each fuel injector line has a fuel bleed off return line connected to said fuel trap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, in which said fuel trap has a pressure relief valve attached thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 12, in which said fuel trap has a line connected therefrom into the intake air line of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus in accordance with claim 13, in which said gas line from said fuel trap to said intake air line has a check valve therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which said fuel saturator has a cylindrical dense, porous material therein having a spiralling fuel guide formed therearound for directing liquid fuel around said dense, porous material in a spiralling passageway.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which said gas compressor means includes an air pump connected to an air regulator to said fuel saturator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 16, in which said gas compressor means is an air pump connected to said fuel saturator through an air filter and an air check valve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
In an internal combustion engine, a method for saturating liquid fuel with gas, comprising the steps of: compressing a gas; applying said compressed gas against one side of a dense, porous material; passing a liquid fuel under pressure against the other side of said dense, porous material for saturating said liquid fuel with gas through said dense, porous material; and injecting said gas saturated liquid fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
In an internal combustion engine, a method for saturating liquid fuel with gas, comprising the steps of: compressing a gas; applying said compressed gas against one side of a dense, porous material; passing a liquid fuel under pressure against the other side of said dense, porous material for saturating said liquid fuel with gas through said dense, porous material; and injecting said gas saturated liquid fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in accordance with claim 18, including the step of trapping gas released from said saturated liquid fuel.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method in accordance with claim 19, including the step of trapping vapor from said gas released from said saturated liquid in a vapor trap.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 20, including feeding released gas passing through said vapor trap back to the engine air intake.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method in accordance with claim 18, in which the step of passing a liquid fuel under pressure against the other side of a dense, porous material includes passing the liquid fuel adjacent said stone in a spiralling pattern around said dense, porous material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 22, in which the step of compressing a gas includes compressing atmospheric air in an air compressor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method in accordance with claim 18, in which the step of compressing includes storing the compressed gas in a cylinder.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in accordance with claim 24, in which the step of compressing gas includes compressing oxygen into a compressed oxygen cylinder.
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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) | 1986-03-14 | 1986-09-13 | 1987-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-14 | 1990-09-13 | 1991-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-14 | 1994-09-13 | 1995-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |