US4612880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for control of octane requirement increase in an internal combustion engine having manifold and/or combustion surfaces which inhibit the formation of engine deposits
Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
•
Filing: 1985-03-21
•
Granted: 1986-09-23
•
Expires: 2005-03-21
Abstract
Abstract The control of the octane requirement increase phenomenon in an internal combustion engine is achieved by introducing into an internal combustion engine, having manifold and/or combustion surfaces which inhibit the formation of engine deposits, along with the combustion charge, a fuel composition containing an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of (a) an oil-soluble iron compound and (b) carboxylic acids and/or ester derivatives thereof. In particular the esters of a tertiary alcohol and an unsubstituted, mono-carboxylic acid having at least two carbon atoms, e.g., t-butylacetate, in combination with dicyclopentadienyl iron provides an effective octane requirement increase-inhibiting additive for said internal combustion engine. Preferably the manifold and combustion surfaces of said internal combustion engine are coated with a low density alumina or zirconia coating. More preferably said alumina or zirconia coating further comprises a carbon gasification catalyst, e.g. a nickel, cobalt and manganese-containing catalyst or an iron, copper and cerium-containing catalyst, dispersed therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen Brass
- 👤 Michael C. Croudace
- 👤 Timothy Wusz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:22
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/10; C10L1/14; C10L1/18; C10L1/188; C10L1/1881; C10L1/19; C10L1/30; C10L1/305; F; F02; F02B; F02B75/00; F02B75/02; F02B2075/022; F02B2075/027
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gasoline combustion charge, which comprises introducing with said combustion charge into said engine an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of (a) a gasoline-soluble iron compound and (b) a gasoline-soluble oxygen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and ester derivatives thereof, said engine having a combustion surface characterized as having a combination of thermal conductance and thermal penetration properties which inhibit the build-up of deposits resulting from combustion in said engine, without substantially raising the temperature of the incoming combustion charge.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gasoline combustion charge, which comprises introducing with said combustion charge into said engine an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of (a) a gasoline-soluble iron compound and (b) a gasoline-soluble oxygen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and ester derivatives thereof, said engine having a combustion surface characterized as having a combination of thermal conductance and thermal penetration properties which inhibit the build-up of deposits resulting from combustion in said engine, without substantially raising the temperature of the incoming combustion charge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl iron and lower alkyl substituted derivatives thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is dicyclopentadienyl iron.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said oxygen containing compound is selected from the group consisting of the esters of C 2 to C 10 monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said ester is a derivative of a C 2 to C 4 monocarboxylic acid and a C 4 to C 8 tertiary alkyl alcohol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said ester is t-butyl acetate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is dicyclopentadienyl iron and said oxygen-containing compound is t-butylacetate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is introduced into said engine at a concentration of from at least about 0.0001 to about 10 grams of iron per gallon of the fuel component of said combustion charge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said gasoline-soluble oxygen-containing compound is introduced into said engine at a concentration of from at least about 0.001 to about 10 grams per gallon of the fuel component of said combustion charge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 7 wherein dicyclopentadienyl iron is introduced into said engine at a concentration of from at least about 0.001 to about 5 grams of iron and said t-butylacetate is introduced into said engine at a concentration of at least about 0.001 to about 10 grams per gallon of the fuel component of said combustion charge.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gasoline combustion charge, which comprises introducing with said combustion charge into said engine an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of a gasoline-soluble iron compound and (b) a gasoline-soluble oxygen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and ester derivatives thereof, said engine having combustion surfaces coated with a low density alumina or zirconia coating.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gasoline combustion charge, which comprises introducing with said combustion charge into said engine an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of a gasoline-soluble iron compound and (b) a gasoline-soluble oxygen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and ester derivatives thereof, said engine having combustion surfaces coated with a low density alumina or zirconia coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said coating varies in thickness from between about 50 and 1000 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said coating is of a density ranging from between 75 and 25 percent of the density of the corresponding single crystal of alumina or zirconia.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said coating is of a density ranging from between 60 and 35 percent of the density of the corresponding single crystal of alumina or zirconia.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein a carbon gasification catalyst is dispersed within a matrix comprising a low density alumina or zirconia.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said carbon gasification catalyst comprises a combination selected from the group consisting of (1) nickel, cobalt and maganese and (2) iron, copper and cerium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said coating is provided by flame spraying said surfaces with alumina or zirconia.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising providing said coating by contacting said flame sprayed coating with an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of water-soluble salts of nickel, cobalt and manganese or iron, copper and cerium to impregnate said salts into said flame sprayed coating and heating said impregnated coating to decompose said salts to the corresponding oxides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said water-soluble salts are nitrates.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said impregnated coating is heated to a temperature of from about 300° to 400° C.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
102 words
An internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber having a surface exposed to combustion, wherein at least a portion of said surface has a combination of a thermal conductance and a thermal penetration which permits the temperature of said surface portion during the combustion process to be in excess of the temperature at which deposits form, but storing insufficient heat to substantially raise the temperature of the incoming combustion charge during the engine intake stroke and compression stroke, and wherein said surface portion is coated with a low density alumina or zirconia coating, and said coating further comprising a carbon gasification catalyst.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
102 words
An internal combustion engine comprising a combustion chamber having a surface exposed to combustion, wherein at least a portion of said surface has a combination of a thermal conductance and a thermal penetration which permits the temperature of said surface portion during the combustion process to be in excess of the temperature at which deposits form, but storing insufficient heat to substantially raise the temperature of the incoming combustion charge during the engine intake stroke and compression stroke, and wherein said surface portion is coated with a low density alumina or zirconia coating, and said coating further comprising a carbon gasification catalyst.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 21 wherein said coating varies in thickness from between about 50 and 1000 microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 21 wherein said coating is of a density ranging from between 75 and 25 percent of the density of the corresponding single crystal of alumina or zirconia.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 21 wherein said coating is of a density ranging from between 60 and 35 percent of the density of the corresponding single crystal of alumina or zirconia.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 21 wherein said carbon gasification catalyst comprises a combination of nickel, cobalt and manganese or iron, copper and cerium.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 21 wherein said coating is provided by flame spraying said surface exposed to combustion with alumina or zirconia.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
62 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 26 wherein said carbon gasification catalyst is provided by contacting said flame sprayed coating with an aqueous solution comprising a mixture of water-soluble salts of nickel, cobalt and manganese or iron, copper and cerium to impregnate said salts into said flame sprayed coating and heating said impregnated coating to decompose said salts to the corresponding oxides.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 27 wherein said water-soluble salts are nitrates.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 28 wherein said impregnated coating is heated to a temperature of from about 300° to 400° C.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The internal combustion engine of claim 25 wherein said coating comprises zirconia and a carbon gasification catalyst comprising iron, copper and cerium.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gasoline combustion charge, which comprises introducing with said combustion charge into said engine an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of (a) a gasoline-soluble iron compound and (b) a gasoline-soluble oxygen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and ester derivatives thereof, said engine having a combustion surface characterized as having a combination of thermal conductance and thermal penetration properties to promote the gasification of carbonaceous materials.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gasoline combustion charge, which comprises introducing with said combustion charge into said engine an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of (a) a gasoline-soluble iron compound and (b) a gasoline-soluble oxygen-containing compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and ester derivatives thereof, said engine having a combustion surface characterized as having a combination of thermal conductance and thermal penetration properties to promote the gasification of carbonaceous materials.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl iron and lower alkyl substituted derivatives thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is dicyclopentadienyl iron.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said oxygen containing compound is selected from the group consisting of the esters of C 2 to C 10 monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said ester is a derivative of a C 2 to C 4 monocarboxylic acid and a C 4 to C 8 tertiary alkyl alcohol.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said ester is t-butyl acetate.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is dicyclopentadienyl iron and said oxygen-containing compound is t-butylacetate.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 31 wherein the properties of said surface are further characterized in that the incoming combustion charge is not increased in temperature prior to entry into the combustion chambers of said engine, and said gasoline-soluble oxygen-containing compound has at least 2 carbon atoms.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 38 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl iron and lower alkyl substituted derivatives thereof.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 38 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is dicyclopentadienyl iron.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said oxygen containing compound is selected from the group consisting of the esters of C 2 to C 10 monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said ester is a derivative of a C 2 to C 4 monocarboxylic acid and a C 4 to C 8 tertiary alkyl alcohol.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 41 wherein said ester is t-butyl acetate.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 38 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is dicyclopentadienyl iron and said oxygen-containing compound is t-butylacetate.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl iron and lower alkyl substituted derivatives thereof and said oxygen-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of the esters of C 2 to C 10 monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl iron and lower alkyl substituted derivatives thereof and said oxygen-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of the esters of C 2 to C 10 monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is selected irom the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl iron and lower alkyl substituted derivatives thereof and said oxygen-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of the esters of C 2 to C 1O monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl iron and lower alkyl substituted derivatives thereof and said oxygen-containing compound is selected the group consisting of the esters of C 2 to C 10 monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gasoline combustion charge, whlch comprises introducing with said combustion charge into said engine an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of (a) a gasoline-soluble iron compound and (b) a gasoline-soluble oxygen compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and ester derivatives thereof, said engine having combustion surfaces coated with a relative low heat capacity coating.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine with a gasoline combustion charge, whlch comprises introducing with said combustion charge into said engine an octane requirement increase-inhibiting amount of (a) a gasoline-soluble iron compound and (b) a gasoline-soluble oxygen compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and ester derivatives thereof, said engine having combustion surfaces coated with a relative low heat capacity coating.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 49 wherein said gasoline-soluble iron compound is selected from the group consisting of cyclopentadienyl iron and lower alkyl substituted derivatives thereof and said oxygen-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of the esters of C 2 to C 10 monocarboxylic acids.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in claim 50 wherein said iron compound is present at a concentration between about 0.0001 and about 0.005 gram per gallon of fuel and said oxygen-containing compound between about 0.0001 and about 0.1 gram per gallon of fuel.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in claim 11 wherein said iron compound is present at a concentration between about 0.0001 and about 0.005 gram per gallon of fuel and said oxygen-containing compound between about 0.001 and about 0.1 gram per gallon of fuel.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in claim 4 wherein said iron compound is present at a concentration between about 0.0001 and about 0.005 gram per gallon of fuel and said oxygen-containing compound between about 0.001 and about 0.1 gram per gallon of fuel.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in claim 31 wherein said iron compound is present at a concentration between about 0.0001 and about 0.005 gram per gallon of fuel and said oxygen-containing compound between about 0.001 and about 0.1 gram per gallon of fuel.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as defined in claim 39 wherein said iron compound is present at a concentration between about 0.0001 and about 0.005 gram per gallon of fuel and said oxygen-containing compound between about 0.001 and about 0.1 gram per gallon of fuel.
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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) | 1989-09-22 | 1990-03-24 | 1990-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-22 | 1994-03-24 | 1994-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-22 | 1998-03-24 | 1998-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |