Patent US4589377A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4589377A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-08-06
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Granted: 1986-05-20
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Expires: 2004-08-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention is related to the injection of water or other non-fuel materials into internal combustion engines, the amount of non-fuel material being injected and the time of injection being governed by such factors as mass of fuel induced, compression ratio of the engine, quality of the fuel and pre-selected peak temperature of combustion. By selection of these parameters the quantity of non-fuel material injected can be in excess of three times the quantity of fuel.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Van Dal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 15:07
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B47/00; F02B47/02; F02B3/00; F02B3/06; F02F; F02F7/00; F02F7/0085; F02F2007/0092; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
An internal combustion engine of the spark ignition or compression ignition type wherein each combustion chamber is fitted with an injector through which a quantity of water or other non-fuel material is injected into the combustion chamber, said engine comprising: (i) a piston and cylinder having a combustion chamber wherein the compression ratio of the engine is greater than that normally acceptable for the fuel used in the engine; (ii) injection means for adding to the combustion chamber an amount of water or other non-fuel material sufficient to maintain the maximum and mean temperatures of combustion at a selected level below the uncontrolled temperatures; (iii) wherein the addition is made after the fuel/air change has been ignited but prir to self-ignition of the end gas, and is initiated prior to the piston reaching the top dead center position; and (iv) wherein the air entering the combustion chamber is limited such that the volumetric efficiency of the engine is significantly lower than that normally acceptable for such an engine and the volumetric efficiency of the air intake is maintained between approximately 0.4 and 0.5.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
An internal combustion engine of the spark ignition or compression ignition type wherein each combustion chamber is fitted with an injector through which a quantity of water or other non-fuel material is injected into the combustion chamber, said engine comprising: (i) a piston and cylinder having a combustion chamber wherein the compression ratio of the engine is greater than that normally acceptable for the fuel used in the engine; (ii) injection means for adding to the combustion chamber an amount of water or other non-fuel material sufficient to maintain the maximum and mean temperatures of combustion at a selected level below the uncontrolled temperatures; (iii) wherein the addition is made after the fuel/air change has been ignited but prir to self-ignition of the end gas, and is initiated prior to the piston reaching the top dead center position; and (iv) wherein the air entering the combustion chamber is limited such that the volumetric efficiency of the engine is significantly lower than that normally acceptable for such an engine and the volumetric efficiency of the air intake is maintained between approximately 0.4 and 0.5.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio of non-fuel material injected to the fuel is in excess of 3:1 by mass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the injection means adds non-fuel material to the combustion chamber during about 30° of crankshaft rotation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 having a compression ratio of the order of 18.7:1, the fuel (unleaded motor spirit) has an octane rating of 90; the ratio of water injected to fuel is between 3.4:1 and 3.6:1 and the water is injected at 10° before top dead centre with the ignition spark at 25° before top dead centre.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the volumetric efficiency is maintained less than that which would result in pre-ignition or detonation at the compression ratio and operating pressure of the engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the injection means is operated by a rocker arm actuated by an injection cam carried on a camshaft, the injector cam being separate from and in addition to cams for operating combustion chamber inlet and outlet valves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said injector cam is positioned on a camshaft on which cams for operating the combustion chamber inlet and outlet valves are positioned.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
An internal combustion engine wherein each of the combustion chambers is fitted with an injector through which a quantity of water or other non-fuel material is injected into the combustion chamber, characterised in that (i) the amount of water or other non-fuel material is in excess of three times the amount of fuel in the induced charge; (ii) the water or other non-fuel material is injected after the fuel/air mixture has been ignited, before combustion is complete, before temperatures and pressures within the combustion chamber cause detonation, and initiation of injection is effected before the piston reaches the top dead center position; and (iii) the air flow into the combustion chamber is limited such that the volumetric efficiency of the air intake is significantly lower than that normally acceptable for the engine and is maintained between approximately 0.4 and 0.5.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
An internal combustion engine wherein each of the combustion chambers is fitted with an injector through which a quantity of water or other non-fuel material is injected into the combustion chamber, characterised in that (i) the amount of water or other non-fuel material is in excess of three times the amount of fuel in the induced charge; (ii) the water or other non-fuel material is injected after the fuel/air mixture has been ignited, before combustion is complete, before temperatures and pressures within the combustion chamber cause detonation, and initiation of injection is effected before the piston reaches the top dead center position; and (iii) the air flow into the combustion chamber is limited such that the volumetric efficiency of the air intake is significantly lower than that normally acceptable for the engine and is maintained between approximately 0.4 and 0.5.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8 wherein the injection is initiated about 15° after ignition is initiated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-19 | 1989-11-18 | 1990-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-19 | 1993-11-18 | 1994-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-19 | 1997-11-18 | 1998-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |