US4561861A
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US
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Motor fuel composition
Assignee: TEXCO Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1984-11-01
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Granted: 1985-12-31
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Expires: 2004-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A clear stable motor fuel composition having an improved octane rating comprising alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3 to 9.0 vol. %, about 2.0 to 10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof; water to provide a total water concentration of about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % (basis motor fuel composition); about 0.01 to 2.0 weight percent (basis motor fuel composition) of a nonionic surfactant represented by the formula alpha-hydro omega-hydroxy-poly (oxyethylene) poly (oxypropylene) poly (oxyethylene) block copolymer; and the balance comprising the base fuel gasoline.
Inventors
- 👤 Marshall E. Davis
- 👤 Rodney L. Sung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:14
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/02; C10L1/023; C10L1/32; C10L1/328; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S516/00; Y10S516/922; Y10S516/923
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A clear stable motor fuel composition of the "water-in-petroleum" type microemulsion in which the average particle diameter of the dispersed phase is about 0.1 micron or smaller, said motor fuel composition comprising a mixture of alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3 to 9.0 vol. %; about 2.0 to 10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof; water to provide a total water concentration of about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. %; about 0.01 to 2.0 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant represented by Formula I, as follows: ##STR3## where: a+c is an integer in the range of about 8.0-16.0, and b is an integer in the range of about 12-22; and the balance of said motor fuel composition comprising gasoline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A clear stable motor fuel composition of the "water-in-petroleum" type microemulsion in which the average particle diameter of the dispersed phase is about 0.1 micron or smaller, said motor fuel composition comprising a mixture of alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3 to 9.0 vol. %; about 2.0 to 10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof; water to provide a total water concentration of about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. %; about 0.01 to 2.0 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant represented by Formula I, as follows: ##STR3## where: a+c is an integer in the range of about 8.0-16.0, and b is an integer in the range of about 12-22; and the balance of said motor fuel composition comprising gasoline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The motor fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the volumetric ratio of tertiary butyl alcohol and/or isopropanol to methanol and/or ethanol is in the range of about 0.30 to 3.0.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The motor fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the surfactant is present in the amount of about 0.10 to 3.0 weight percent of the total motor fuel composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The motor fuel composition of claim 1 wherein the water is about 0.30 to 0.40 weight percent of the total motor fuel composition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The motor fuel composition of claim 1 where in structural Formula I a+c is an integer in the range of about 11.9 to 15.9, and b is an integer in the range of about 18.1 to 21.1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
184 words
A process for producing a clear stable motor fuel composition comprising mixture together the following ingredients to form a microemulsion of the "water-in-petroleum" type in which the average particle diameter of the dispersed phase is about 0.1 microns or smaller: an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3.0 to 9.0 vol. %; about 2.0-10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof; water to provide a total water concentration of about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. %; about 0.10 to 3.0 of a nonionic surfactant having a molecular weight in the range of about 1200 to 1750 and which is represented by structural Formula I, as follows: ##STR4## where: a+c is an integer in the range of about 8.0-16.0, and b is an integer in the range of about 12-22; and the balance of said motor fuel composition comprising the base fuel gasoline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
A process for producing a clear stable motor fuel composition comprising mixture together the following ingredients to form a microemulsion of the "water-in-petroleum" type in which the average particle diameter of the dispersed phase is about 0.1 microns or smaller: an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3.0 to 9.0 vol. %; about 2.0-10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof; water to provide a total water concentration of about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. %; about 0.10 to 3.0 of a nonionic surfactant having a molecular weight in the range of about 1200 to 1750 and which is represented by structural Formula I, as follows: ##STR4## where: a+c is an integer in the range of about 8.0-16.0, and b is an integer in the range of about 12-22; and the balance of said motor fuel composition comprising the base fuel gasoline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of said water is provided dissolved in said gasoline and/or alcohol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the volume ratio of tertiary butyl alcohol and/or isopropanol to methanol and/or ethanol is in the range of about 0.3 to 3.0.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
221 words
A process for producing upgraded clear stable motor fuel for an internal combustion engine from a hazy mixture of gasoline-alcohol-water said mixture comprising (i) an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3 to 9.0 vol. %; (ii) about 2.0 to 10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof, wherein the volumetric ratio of tertiary butyl alcohol and/or isopropanol to methanol and/or ethanol is in the range of about 0.30 to 3.0; (iii) about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % water; and (iv) the remainder of said mixture comprising gasoline; said process comprising mixing with said hazy gasoline-alcohol-water mixture to form a clear stable microemulsion of the water-in-petroleum type in which the average particle diameter of the dispersed phase is about 0.1 micron or smaller; about 0.10 to 3.0 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant having a molecular weight in the range of about 1200 to 1750 and which is represented by structural Formula I, as follows: ##STR5## where: a+c is an integer in the range of about 8.0-16.0, and b is an integer in the range of about 12-22.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
221 words
A process for producing upgraded clear stable motor fuel for an internal combustion engine from a hazy mixture of gasoline-alcohol-water said mixture comprising (i) an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3 to 9.0 vol. %; (ii) about 2.0 to 10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof, wherein the volumetric ratio of tertiary butyl alcohol and/or isopropanol to methanol and/or ethanol is in the range of about 0.30 to 3.0; (iii) about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. % water; and (iv) the remainder of said mixture comprising gasoline; said process comprising mixing with said hazy gasoline-alcohol-water mixture to form a clear stable microemulsion of the water-in-petroleum type in which the average particle diameter of the dispersed phase is about 0.1 micron or smaller; about 0.10 to 3.0 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant having a molecular weight in the range of about 1200 to 1750 and which is represented by structural Formula I, as follows: ##STR5## where: a+c is an integer in the range of about 8.0-16.0, and b is an integer in the range of about 12-22.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 9 wherein said upgraded clear stable motor fuel has a Research Octane Number in the range of above 90 and up to about 97.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
239 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine which comprises supplying thereto and combusting therein a clear stable gasoline-alcohol-water motor fuel composition of the "water-in-petroleum" type microemulsion in which the average particle diameter of the dispersed phase is about 0.1 micron or smaller, said motor fuel composition having a Research Octane Number in the range of above 85 and up to about 102 and comprising a mixture of alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3 to 9.0 vol. %; about 2.0 to 10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof, wherein the volumetric ratio of tertiary butyl alcohol and/or isopropanol to methanol and/or ethanol is in the range of about 0.30 to 3.0; water to provide a total water concentration of about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. %; and about 0.10 to 3.0 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant having a molecular weight in the range of about 1200 to 1750 and which is represented by structural Formula I, as follows: ##STR6## where: a+c is an integer in the range of about 8.0-16.0, and b is an integer in the range of about 12-22; and the remainder of said motor fuel composition comprising the base fuel gasoline.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
239 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine which comprises supplying thereto and combusting therein a clear stable gasoline-alcohol-water motor fuel composition of the "water-in-petroleum" type microemulsion in which the average particle diameter of the dispersed phase is about 0.1 micron or smaller, said motor fuel composition having a Research Octane Number in the range of above 85 and up to about 102 and comprising a mixture of alcohol selected from the group consisting of methanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 5.0 vol. %, ethanol in the amount of about 2.0 to 10.0 vol. %, and mixtures thereof in the amount of about 3 to 9.0 vol. %; about 2.0 to 10 vol. % of a cosolvent alcohol selected from the group consisting of tertiary butyl alcohol, isopropanol, and mixtures thereof, wherein the volumetric ratio of tertiary butyl alcohol and/or isopropanol to methanol and/or ethanol is in the range of about 0.30 to 3.0; water to provide a total water concentration of about 0.1 to 0.5 wt. %; and about 0.10 to 3.0 wt. % of a nonionic surfactant having a molecular weight in the range of about 1200 to 1750 and which is represented by structural Formula I, as follows: ##STR6## where: a+c is an integer in the range of about 8.0-16.0, and b is an integer in the range of about 12-22; and the remainder of said motor fuel composition comprising the base fuel gasoline.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said internal combustion engine is spark-ignited.
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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) | 1988-12-30 | 1989-07-01 | 1989-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-30 | 1993-07-01 | 1993-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-30 | 1997-07-01 | 1997-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |