US5117802A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dual fuel system for combustion engines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-04-11
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Granted: 1992-06-02
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Expires: 2011-04-11
Abstract
Abstract A system is described that extends the driving range provided in prior art by compressed gas fuel systems and that thereby reduces the need for bi-fuel operating capability in most applications. The system can typically more than double the energy density of a compressed gas fuel storage system. The system includes apparatus for metering the fuel supplied to the engine to minimize noxious emissions.
Inventors
- 👤 Enoch J. Durbin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:04
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D19/00; F02D19/06; F02D19/08; F02D19/082; F02D19/085; F02D19/087; F02D19/088; F02B; F02B43/00; F02D19/0626; F02D19/0628; F02D19/0639; F02D19/0642; F02D19/0644; F02D19/0647; F02D19/0649; F02D19/0652; F02D19/0655; F02D19/0663; F02D19/0665; F02D19/0673; F02D19/0678; F02M; F02M19/00; F02M7/00; F02M7/10; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A dual fuel storage system, which comprises at least two fuels in a common pressurized container, wherein at least one of said fuels has a critical temperature below 20° centigrade hereafter referred to as a low critical temperature fuel (LCT), and wherein at least one of said fuels in said duel fuel system has a critical temperature at or above 20° centigrade hereafter referred to as high critical temperature fuel (HCT) such that a portion of said LCT fuel is dissolved in the second of said fuels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A dual fuel storage system, which comprises at least two fuels in a common pressurized container, wherein at least one of said fuels has a critical temperature below 20° centigrade hereafter referred to as a low critical temperature fuel (LCT), and wherein at least one of said fuels in said duel fuel system has a critical temperature at or above 20° centigrade hereafter referred to as high critical temperature fuel (HCT) such that a portion of said LCT fuel is dissolved in the second of said fuels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said LCT fuel is methane or hydrogen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said HCT fuel is ethane, propane, butane, gasoline, methanol, or ethanol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said dual fuel storage system stores fuels for use with a combustion engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as in claim 4 further comprising means for metering said dual fuels as they are drawn from said pressurized container into said combustion engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said means for metering said dual fuels comprises pressure regulator means, and fuel flow control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said fuel flow control means comprises means for metering said fuel to said combustion engine in controlled chemical proportionality with the air ingested by said combustion engine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 further comprising sensor means for sensing the exhaust products of said combustion engine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said sensor means are oxygen sensor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 8 wherein said sensor means provide a signal for adjusting said means for metering fuel to said combustion engine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
Apparatus as in claim 7 wherein said fuel metering means comprise porous structure means, with pore diameter sufficiently small so that viscous forces in the fuels flowing through said porous structure are larger--say, 50 times larger--than the inertial forces in said fuels over the desired range of such fuel flows, further comprising a second porous structure means with pore diameter sufficiently small so that viscous forces in the air flowing through said second porous structure are larger--say, 50 times larger--than the inertial forces in said air over the desired range of such air flows.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said dual fuels are drawn from the region in said pressurized container wherein said LCT fuels and HCT fuels are primarily in a gaseous state in said pressurized container.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said dual fuels are drawn from the region in said pressurized container wherein said LCT fuels and HCT fuels are primarily in a liquid state in said pressurized container.
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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) | 1995-06-02 | 1995-12-02 | 1996-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-02 | 1999-12-02 | 2000-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-02 | 2003-12-02 | 2004-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |