Fuel treating apparatus for internal combustion engines and method of operating same

Claim 1

Apparatus for treating fuel continuously being supplied to an internal combustion engine, having a fuel line through which fuel is pumped, comprising; reservoir means for storing a quantity of a liquid fuel additive, said reservoir means having an outlet; mixing means having an additive inlet and a mixing chamber connected in fluid communication with the engine fuel line, said additive inlet communicating with said mixing chamber and communicating with the reservoir outlet; agitating means mounted in said mixing chamber for dispersing small quantities of additive supplied from said reservoir means through said additive inlet with fuel flowing under pressure from the fuel line through said mixing chamber to form a fuel mixture for use in the engine; means connected in fluid communication between said reservoir outlet and said additive inlet for conveying said fuel additive to said mixing chamber; outlet means connected in fluid communication with said mixing chamber for supplying continuously said fuel mixture to the engine; wherein said mixing means includes a pressurizing fluid inlet, further including fluid pumping means for supplying fluid under pressure to said fluid inlet in sufficient quantity to force said fuel mixture from said mixing chamber to said outlet means; further including said additive stored in said reservoir means, said additive being a combustible oil or grease, which is added to fuel, flowing through said mixing chamber, in a minor proportion of the weight of said fuel; further including means mounted on said reservoir means for heating said additive in said reservoir means to maintain said additive in a flowable state; and wherein said additive conveying means includes valve means connected in fluid communication between said reservoir outlet and said additive inlet for controlling the flow of said additive from said reservoir means to said mixing means.