US4617026A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for improving the fuel economy of an internal combustion engine using fuel having hydroxyl-containing ester additive
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1984-08-15
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Granted: 1986-10-14
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Expires: 2004-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A method of reducing fuel consumption in an automotive internal combustion engine which comprises operating said engine on gasoline hydrocarbon fuel containing an effective fuel reducing amount of a selected additive which is a hydroxyl-containing ester of a monocarboxylic acid and a glycol or trihydric alcohol, said ester additive having at least one free hydroxyl group.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold Shaub
- 👤 Walter E. Waddey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:57
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/10; C10L1/14; C10L1/18; C10L1/19; C10L1/191; C10L1/192; C10L1/198; C10L1/1985
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of reducing fuel consumption in an automotive internal combustion engine, which comprises operating said engine on a hydrocarbon fuel consisting essentially of a major amount of a liquid hydrocarbon of the gasoline boiling range, antioxidant, detergent, and/or corrosion inhibitor additive and from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the fuel, of an additive which is an ester of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having about 12 to about 30 carbon atoms and a glycol or trihydric alcohol, said glycol being an alkane diol or oxa-alkane diol with said alkane being a straight chain hydrocarbon of about 2 to about 5 carbon atoms and said trihydric alcohol having a straight chain hydrocarbon structure of about 3 to about 6 carbon atoms, said ester having at least one free hydroxyl group, whereby said fuel including the ester additive effectively reaches the upper cylinder of said engine and thereby reduces the fuel consumed in the operation thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of reducing fuel consumption in an automotive internal combustion engine, which comprises operating said engine on a hydrocarbon fuel consisting essentially of a major amount of a liquid hydrocarbon of the gasoline boiling range, antioxidant, detergent, and/or corrosion inhibitor additive and from about 0.001 to about 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the fuel, of an additive which is an ester of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having about 12 to about 30 carbon atoms and a glycol or trihydric alcohol, said glycol being an alkane diol or oxa-alkane diol with said alkane being a straight chain hydrocarbon of about 2 to about 5 carbon atoms and said trihydric alcohol having a straight chain hydrocarbon structure of about 3 to about 6 carbon atoms, said ester having at least one free hydroxyl group, whereby said fuel including the ester additive effectively reaches the upper cylinder of said engine and thereby reduces the fuel consumed in the operation thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said acid has about 14 to about 28 carbon atoms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the alkane in the glycol contains about 2 to about 3 carbon atoms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said acid has about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein trihydric alcohol is used to obtain said ester additive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said trihydric alcohol is glycerol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said acid has about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fuel contains from about 0.01 to about 1% by weight of said ester additive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said acid has about 14 to about 28 carbon atoms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the alkane in the glycol contains about 2 to about 3 carbon atoms.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said acid has about 16 to about 22 carbon atoms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 wherein trihydric alcohol is used to obtain said ester additive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said trihydric alcohol is glycerol.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said acid is oleic acid.
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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) | 1989-10-13 | 1990-04-14 | 1990-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-13 | 1994-04-14 | 1994-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-13 | 1998-04-14 | 1998-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |