Air intake system for an internal combustion engine

Claim 2

Apparatus for supplying a mixture of combustion gas and fuel to an internal combustion engine, said apparatus for use with a source of combustion gas and a source of fuel, said apparatus comprising: a housing having a first inlet for combustion gas from said source of combustion gas to enter said housing, a second inlet for fuel from said source of fuel to enter said housing, and an outlet in fluid connection with said engine; means for mixing said combustion gas and said fuel, said mixing means positioned in said housing; and means for generating negatively-charged molecules having the formula [MO x ] - , where M is a positive ion of said electrically conducting material, O is oxygen, and x is a number ≧3, said generating means in fluid connection with said first inlet so that said negatively-charged molecules are mixed with combustion gas supplied to said mixing means.

Claim 3

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating means further comprises: means for forming a plasma field; an electrically conducting material positioned in said plasma field; means for separating oxygen into oxygen ions; means for accelerating said oxygen ions toward said plasma field; means for confining said oxygen ions in said plasma field so that said oxygen ions strike said material and release positive ions therefrom, whereby at least a portion of said oxygen ions become bound to said positive ions to form said negatively-charged molecules.

Claim 4

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein combustion gas entering said mixing means has a concentration of said negatively-charged molecules, further comprising means for controlling said concentration.

Claim 5

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said generating means has an inlet connected to a source of oxygen and an outlet connected to said first inlet of said mixing means, further comprising means for preventing particles from entering said inlet of said generating means when oxygen enters therein.

Claim 6

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a conduit connecting said generating means to said first inlet; and a flame arrestor disposed in said conduit.

Claim 7

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising; a conduit connecting said generating means to said first inlet; and a blowback valve disposed in said conduit, said blowback valve allowing passage of said negatively-charged molecules from said generating means to said mixing means, said blowback valve preventing passage of fluid from said mixing means to said generating means.

Claim 8

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said mixing means further comprises a carburetor with an air intake filter, said filter having an inlet adapted for receiving air and an outlet in fluid connection with said carburetor, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a conduit connecting said generating means to said inlet of said air intake filter.

Claim 9

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said mixing means further comprises a fuel injector with an air intake plenum, and wherein said apparatus further comprises at least one conduit connecting said generating means to said air intake plenum.

Claim 10

Apparatus for supplying a mixture of combustion gas and fuel to an internal combustion engine, said apparatus for use with a source of combustion gas and a source of fuel, said apparatus comprising: means for mixing combustion gas and fuel, said mixing means having a first inlet for combustion gas from said source of combustion gas to enter said mixing means, a second inlet for fuel from said source of fuel to enter said mixing means, and an outlet in fluid connection with said engine; a housing made of a non-electrically conducting material, said housing having a first opening for oxygen from a source of oxygen to enter said housing and a second, opposing opening; a cathode positioned in said housing near said first opening, said cathode having a plurality of throughholes through which said oxygen can pass; and an anode positioned in said housing and spaced apart from said cathode so as to define a gap therebetween, said anode having a first portion near said second opening and an adjacent second portion, said first portion formed to accelerate ions electromagnetically from inside said housing through said second opening when said source of direct electrical current is applied across said anode and cathode, said second portion being in the form of a plurality of electrodes flaring outwardly and toward said cathode so as to form a plasma between said second portion and said cathode when said electrical current is applied to said cathode and said anode, said plasma ionizing said oxygen entering said housing through said first opening and producing charged molecules that are accelerated by said first portion of said anode through and from said housing, said second opening in fluid connection with said first inlet of said mixing means so that said charged molecules are mixed with combustion gas and fuel supplied to said engine.

Claim 11

Apparatus for supplying a mixture of combustion gas and fuel to an internal combustion engine, said apparatus for use with a source of combustion gas and a source of fuel, said apparatus comprising: means for mixing combustion gas and fuel, said mixing means having a first inlet for combustion gas from said source of combustion gas to enter said mixing means, a second inlet for fuel from said source of fuel to enter said mixing means, and an outlet in fluid connection with said engine; a housing made of a non-electrically conducting material, said housing having a first opening for oxygen from a source of oxygen to enter said housing and a second, opposing opening; a cathode positioned in said housing near said first opening, said cathode having a plurality of throughholes through which said oxygen can pass; and an anode positioned in said housing and spaced apart from said cathode so as to define a gap therebetween, said anode having a first portion near said second opening and an adjacent second portion, said first portion formed to accelerate ions electromagnetically from inside said housing through said second opening when said source of direct electrical current is applied across said anode and cathode, said second portion being in the form of a plurality of electrodes flaring outwardly and toward said cathode so as to form a plasma between said second portion and said cathode when said electrical current is applied to said cathode and said anode, said plasma ionizing said oxygen entering said housing through said first opening and producing charged molecules that are accelerated by said first portion of said anode through and from said housing, said second opening in fluid connection with said first inlet of said mixing means so that said charged molecules are mixed with combustion gas and fuel supplied to said engine.

Claim 12

The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said anode and said cathode are made of different conductors.

Claim 13

The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said anode is made of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and aluminum alloys.

Claim 14

The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein combustion gas entering said mixing means has a concentration of said negatively-charged molecules, further comprising means for controlling said concentration.

Claim 15

The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising: a conduit connecting said second opening to said first inlet; and a flame arrestor disposed in said conduit.

Claim 16

The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising; a conduit connecting said second opening to said first inlet; and a blowback valve disposed in said conduit, said blowback valve allowing passage of said negatively-charged molecules from said generating means to said mixing means, said blowback valve preventing passage of fluid from said mixing means to said generating means.

Claim 17

The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said first portion of said anode further comprises a conducting rod having a first end and a second end, said first end positioned near said first opening, said second end electrically connected to said second portion, so that, when a source of direct electrical current is applied to said anode and said cathode, said second portion forms a plasma with said cathode that ionizes oxygen entering said first opening, said conducting rod accelerating electromagnetically ions escaping said plasma toward said second end and from said housing; and means for mixing said ions with air.

Claim 18

Apparatus for powering a vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine; means for supplying fuel to said engine; means for supplying combustion gas to said engine; and means for generating negatively-charged molecules having the formula [MO x ] - , where M is a positive ion of said electrically conducting material, O is oxygen, and x is a number ≧3, said generating means in fluid connection with said gas-supplying means so that said negatively-charged molecules are mixed with combustion gas supplied to said engine.

Claim 19

Apparatus for powering a vehicle, comprising: an internal combustion engine; means for supplying fuel to said engine; means for supplying combustion gas to said engine; and means for generating negatively-charged molecules having the formula [MO x ] - , where M is a positive ion of said electrically conducting material, O is oxygen, and x is a number ≧3, said generating means in fluid connection with said gas-supplying means so that said negatively-charged molecules are mixed with combustion gas supplied to said engine.

Claim 20

The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said generating means further comprises: means for forming a plasma field; an electrically conducting material positioned in said plasma field; means for separating said oxygen into oxygen ions; means for accelerating said oxygen ions toward said plasma field; means for confining said oxygen ions in said plasma field so that said oxygen ions strike said material and release positive ions therefrom, whereby at least a portion of said oxygen ions become bound to said positive ions to form said negatively-charged molecules.

Claim 21

The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said generating means further comprises: a housing made of a non-electrically conducting material, said housing having a first opening for oxygen to enter said housing and a second, opposing opening, said second opening in fluid connection with said gas-supplying means; a cathode positioned in said housing near said first opening, said cathode having a plurality of throughholes through which said oxygen can pass; an anode positioned in said housing and spaced apart from said cathode so as to define a gap therebetween, said anode having a first portion near said second opening and an adjacent second portion, said first portion formed to accelerate ions electromagnetically from inside said housing through said second opening when a source of direct electrical current is applied across said anode and cathode, said second portion being in the form of a plurality of electrodes flaring outwardly and toward said cathode so as to form a plasma between said second portion and said cathode when said electrical current is applied to said cathode and said anode, said plasma ionizing said oxygen entering said housing through said first opening and producing charged molecules that are accelerated by said first portion of said anode through and from said housing, at least a portion of said charged molecules passing through said second opening and entering said gas-supplying means.

Claim 22

The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein combustion gas entering said engine contains a concentration of said negatively-charged molecules, further comprising means for controlling said concentration.

Claim 23

The apparatus as recited in claim 16, further comprising; a conduit connecting said outlet to said gas-supplying means; a flame arrestor disposed in said conduit; and a blowback valve disposed in said conduit.