US5377644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Metering volatile fuel components to a combustion engine
Assignee: Schaeffler Engineering GmbH
•
Filing: 1993-05-21
•
Granted: 1995-01-03
•
Expires: 2013-05-21
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for the directed collecting and metering of volatile fuel components for an engine, including a container with a regenerable storage device for collecting volatile fuel components from the fuel store. The storage device is connected to the engine fuel inlet through a metering valve which is controlled to supply the previously collected components to optimize engine performance by a controlled feed of the volatile components into the fuel mixture according to the particular engine operating conditions. In accordance with the invention, the device controls the metering valve dependent upon the desired mixture of volatile fuel components for the particular running conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Harald Krohm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 18:08
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02D; F02D41/00; F02D41/0025; F02D41/003; F02D41/0032; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/08; F02M25/0854; F02M25/089
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for selectively collecting and separately metering individual different volatile fuel components and fractions to an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, comprising: regenerable storage means for selectively collecting different volatile fuel components from the fuel supply; connecting means including a metering valve connecting said storage means with a fuel inlet of the engine, and control means for controlling said metering valve in response to respectively different predetermined engine operating conditions to selectively release at least a specific one of said volatile components from said storage means to said fuel inlet during one of said predetermined engine operating condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus for selectively collecting and separately metering individual different volatile fuel components and fractions to an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, comprising: regenerable storage means for selectively collecting different volatile fuel components from the fuel supply; connecting means including a metering valve connecting said storage means with a fuel inlet of the engine, and control means for controlling said metering valve in response to respectively different predetermined engine operating conditions to selectively release at least a specific one of said volatile components from said storage means to said fuel inlet during one of said predetermined engine operating condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means operates to add said collected volatile fuel components into the fuel inlet during the different, predetermined engine operating conditions including cold starting, hot running, acceleration, and conditions giving rise to a danger of engine knocking.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said connecting means further comprises a pump connected to a conduit connecting said storage means with the engine fuel inlet and wherein the control means further controls the pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said storage means includes an active charcoal filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means including at least one valve controlled by said control means for connecting said storage means with the atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for heating at least a part of said storage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for collecting and metering volatile fuel components and fractions to an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, comprising: at least one regenerable storage means for collecting volatile fuel components from the fuel supply which comprises at least one first storage unit including a plurality of separate storage areas for the separate collection of separated volatile components; connecting means including a metering valve connecting said at least one storage means with a fuel inlet of the engine, control means for controlling said metering valve in response to engine operating conditions to selectively release said volatile components from said at least one storage means to said fuel inlet during such preselected engine operating conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for collecting and metering volatile fuel components and fractions to an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, comprising: at least one regenerable storage means for collecting volatile fuel components from the fuel supply which comprises at least one first storage unit including a plurality of separate storage areas for the separate collection of separated volatile components; connecting means including a metering valve connecting said at least one storage means with a fuel inlet of the engine, control means for controlling said metering valve in response to engine operating conditions to selectively release said volatile components from said at least one storage means to said fuel inlet during such preselected engine operating conditions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said control means operates for the specific release of individual volatile components from individual storage areas of said at least one first storage unit for desired mixing of volatile fuel components, said mixing being in response to a program controlling said control means, said program depending upon the respective selected engine operating condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising heating means for individually heating at least one of said separate storage means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for collecting and metering volatile fuel components and fractions to an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, comprising: at least one regenerable storage means for collecting volatile fuel components from the fuel supply comprising a plurality of second storage units, each of said second storage units separately collecting a specified component, connecting means including a metering valve connecting said at least one storage means with a fuel inlet of the engine, and control means for controlling said metering valve in response to engine operating conditions to selectively release said components from said at least one storage means to said fuel inlet during such preselected engine operating conditions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for collecting and metering volatile fuel components and fractions to an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, comprising: at least one regenerable storage means for collecting volatile fuel components from the fuel supply comprising a plurality of second storage units, each of said second storage units separately collecting a specified component, connecting means including a metering valve connecting said at least one storage means with a fuel inlet of the engine, and control means for controlling said metering valve in response to engine operating conditions to selectively release said components from said at least one storage means to said fuel inlet during such preselected engine operating conditions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said control means operates for the specific release of individual volatile components from said plurality of second storage units of said storage means for desired mixing of volatile fuel components, said mixing being in response to a program controlling said control means, said program depending upon the respective selected engine operating condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising heating means for individually heating at least one of said separate storage units.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
104 words
Process for the differentiated collection and allotment of individual volatile fuel components separated from a fuel supply for use in combustion engines, comprising the steps of: selecting individual fuel components from said fuel supply as fractions on the basis of differentiation of their vaporization temperatures; collecting the fractions in individual storage units corresponding to the vaporization temperature ranges of the respective fractions; and supplying selected fractions to the engine fuel inlet to enhance engine performance in response to selected engine behavior, said supplying on the basis of the boiling properties of the selected fractions and the effect on engine behavior of the supplied fractions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
Process for the differentiated collection and allotment of individual volatile fuel components separated from a fuel supply for use in combustion engines, comprising the steps of: selecting individual fuel components from said fuel supply as fractions on the basis of differentiation of their vaporization temperatures; collecting the fractions in individual storage units corresponding to the vaporization temperature ranges of the respective fractions; and supplying selected fractions to the engine fuel inlet to enhance engine performance in response to selected engine behavior, said supplying on the basis of the boiling properties of the selected fractions and the effect on engine behavior of the supplied fractions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the fractions are supplied by vaporization of said fuel supply and vaporization of the fuel supply occurs naturally.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of heating the fuel supply to vaporize the fuel components.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control means is responsive to a computer program.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3763839A
Cited
US3926168A
Cited
US3933130A
Cited
US4070828A
Cited
US4279233A
Cited
US4524746A
Cited
US4598686A
Cited
US4862856A
Cited
US5054453A
Cited
US4846135A
Cited
US5048501A
Cited
US5054454A
Cited
US5193512A
Cited
US5173095A
Cited
US5158054A
Cited
US5216998A
Cited
US5170765A
Cited
US5224456A
Cited
US5231969A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-07-04 | 1999-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-02 | 2002-07-04 | 2003-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-02 | 2006-07-04 | 2007-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |