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US4731990A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Internal combustion engine system and method with reduced noxious emissions

Assignee: MUNK EVELYN
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Filing: 1986-12-31
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Granted: 1988-03-22
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Expires: 2006-12-31
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Abstract

Abstract An ultrasonic fog generator can be used to advantage in injecting a fog into the input air of a combustion chamber, in order to improve the efficiency of the combustion chamber and reduce the noxious emissions in the exhaust. In accordance with a feature of the disclosure, a sensor is provided to sense the concentration of noxious emissions in the exhaust of the combustion chamber. The volume per unit time of the injected fog is increased as the concentration of the noxious emissions increases, and controlled to a preselected emissions setpoint. In accordance with a further feature of the disclosure, a supply of chemical suitable for reacting with a component of the noxious emissions is provided, along with means for combining the chemical with the water supplied to the fogging device.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael Munk

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 18:41
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23L; F23L7/00; F23L7/002; F02; F02C; F02C3/00; F02C3/20; F02C3/30; F02C7/00; F02C7/12; F02C7/14; F02C7/141; F02C7/143; F02C7/1435; F02C9/00; F02C9/48; F23J; F23J7/00; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 121 words
For use in conjunction with a combustion-based system including a combustion chamber having an exhaust, a source of input air and a source of fuel for providing input air and fuel to said combustion chamber, and means communicating with said combustion chamber for obtaining power from said combustion; a method for reducing noxious emissions from said system, comprising the steps of: generating a fog having a droplet size of the order of ten microns or less, and injecting the fog into said input air, such that said fog evaporates to dryness in the input air; sensing the concentration of emissions in the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; and controlling said fog in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 121 words
For use in conjunction with a combustion-based system including a combustion chamber having an exhaust, a source of input air and a source of fuel for providing input air and fuel to said combustion chamber, and means communicating with said combustion chamber for obtaining power from said combustion; a method for reducing noxious emissions from said system, comprising the steps of: generating a fog having a droplet size of the order of ten microns or less, and injecting the fog into said input air, such that said fog evaporates to dryness in the input air; sensing the concentration of emissions in the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; and controlling said fog in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said step of controlling said fog in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions comprises controlling a supply of water and a supply of compressed air to the fog being generated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps of supplying a chemical suitable for reacting with a component of said noxious emissions, and combining said chemical with the water supplied to said fogging device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method as defined in claim 3, wherein said step of combining said chemical with said water supplied to said fogging device is controlled by the sensing of noxious emissions in said exhaust gases.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 115 words
For use in conjunction with a combustion-based system including a combustion chamber having an exhaust, a source of input air and a source of fuel for providing input air and fuel to said combustion chamber, and means communicating with said combustion chamber for obtaining power from said combustion; a method for reducing noxious emissions from said system, comprising the steps of: generating a fog, and injecting the fog into said input air; sensing the concentration of emissions in the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; and controlling said fog in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions by controlling a supply of water and a supply of compressed air to the fog being generated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 115 words
For use in conjunction with a combustion-based system including a combustion chamber having an exhaust, a source of input air and a source of fuel for providing input air and fuel to said combustion chamber, and means communicating with said combustion chamber for obtaining power from said combustion; a method for reducing noxious emissions from said system, comprising the steps of: generating a fog, and injecting the fog into said input air; sensing the concentration of emissions in the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; and controlling said fog in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions by controlling a supply of water and a supply of compressed air to the fog being generated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 37 words
The method as defined by claim 5, further comprising the steps of supplying a chemical suitable for reacting with a component of said noxious emissions, and combining said chemical with the water supplied to said fogging device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method as defined in claim 6, wherein said step of combining said chemical with said water supplied to said fogging device is controlled by the sensing of noxious emissions in said exhaust gases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 152 words
For use in conjunction with a combustion-based system including a combustion chamber having an exhaust, a source of input air and a source of fuel for providing input air and fuel to said combustion chamber, and means communicatinq with said combustion chamber for obtaining power from said combustion; a method for reducing noxious emissions from said system, comprising the steps of: generating a fog, and injecting the fog into said input air; sensing the concentration of emissions in the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; controlling said fog in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions; and supplying a chemical suitable for reacting with a component of said noxious emissions, and combining said chemical with the water supplied to said fogging device, said step of combining said chemical with said water supplied to said fogging device being controlled in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions in said exhaust gases.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 152 words
For use in conjunction with a combustion-based system including a combustion chamber having an exhaust, a source of input air and a source of fuel for providing input air and fuel to said combustion chamber, and means communicatinq with said combustion chamber for obtaining power from said combustion; a method for reducing noxious emissions from said system, comprising the steps of: generating a fog, and injecting the fog into said input air; sensing the concentration of emissions in the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber; controlling said fog in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions; and supplying a chemical suitable for reacting with a component of said noxious emissions, and combining said chemical with the water supplied to said fogging device, said step of combining said chemical with said water supplied to said fogging device being controlled in accordance with the sensed concentration of noxious emissions in said exhaust gases.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-03-22 1991-09-21 1992-03-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-03-22 1995-09-21 1996-03-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-03-22 1999-09-21 2000-03-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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