AU688944B2

AU688944B2 - Gas installations to motors

Info

Publication number: AU688944B2
Application number: AU30668/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruce Boucaut
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-14
Filing date: 1995-09-14
Publication date: 1998-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 2015-09-14
Also published as: AU3066895A

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT o o o Invention Title: "GAS INSTALLATIONS TO MOTORS" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "GAS INSTALLATIONS TO MOTORS" THIS INVENTION relates to gas installations to motors and, in particular, for installing a gas installation assembly and more suitably a liquid petroleum gas (LPG) assembly to a motor or engine which usually is of the internal combustion type. While the invention is particularly directed to stationary motors, the invention can also be utilized in relation to motors for use in vehicles if desired.

Hitherto when it was desired to install an LPG gas assembly to an existing stationary motor, which motor could be utilized for driving pumps, generators, machines and the like, such installation could only be carried out by a licensed gasfitter and required special knowledge and expertise. In this regard, sometimes it was desired to convert an existing stationary motor from being powered by gasoline or petrol to an alternative fuel such as LPG or alternatively, it was desired to install the 15 LPG gas assembly directly to a new stationary motor.

In any event, it was the usual procedure for the licensed gasfitter to install a conventional LPG gas assembly to a stationary motor comprising a gas container, (ii) a converter and regulator assembly, ~(iii) a conduit interconnecting the gas container and the converter and 20 regulator assembly, (iv) a gas mixer, and a conduit interconnecting the converter and regulator assembly to the gas mixer whereby the gas mixer and converter and regulator assembly were separately attached to a casing of the stationary motor. Usually the gas mixer was attached directly to a top surface of the motor casing by the use of a plurality of I I 3 mounting bolts and a bracket was utilized to attach the converter and regulator assembly to a side surface of the motor casing. After attachment of the gas mixer and the converter and regulator assembly to the motor casing, conduit (iii) was then attached to the gas container by an excess flow valve usually associated therewith. The gas container was therefore normally located beside the motor casing.

After attachment of the abovementioned LPG gas assembly to the stationary motor, it was then necessary to check the entire LPG assembly thoroughly for gas leaks and tune the assembly as well as 1 0 setting carbon dioxide gas levels and also setting the desired relationship between the air and gas the gas-air ratio or setting) as appropriate for the particular motor to which the LPG assembly was being installed.

It will therefore be appreciated from the foregoing that installation of an LPG assembly to an existing stationary motor was a 15 highly skilled task requiring an experienced and competent gas fitter having the appropriate qualifications. However, in situations where the location of the stationary motor was remote from large towns or cities, the installation of an LPG assembly to a stationary motor could be very expensive because it was then usually incumbent on the owner of the stationary motor to pay the transportation expenses of the gasfitter.

As background art relevant to this invention, reference may be made to methods of conversion of conventional fuel IC engines to operate with alternative gaseous fuels such as US5203305, US5150685, DE3332923, EP135856, US4387689, DE3142430, US4386594,

I

SU968501, FR2620770, US4375798, AU21785/83 and W081/00282.

Reference also may be made to Australian Specification 89143/82 (555198) which describes an internal IC engine air/gas mixer unit adapted to be received and fitted within a space normally occupied by a conventional air cleaner and being matchable with a conventional gas supply unit and carburettor so as to provide an additional alternative fuel to liquid fuel normally supplied to the carburettor.

It therefore will be appreciated that in one aspect, the invention provides a gas installation assembly for installation to motors 1o usually of the internal combustion type which do not require installation by a licensed gasfitter and thus the problem as described above in regard to installation of gas assemblies to motors at remote locations may be alleviated.

oe o eeeo ee eoo• •oe e o e oe 15 installation In another aspect the invention provides a method of using the abovementioned gas installation assembly.

The gas installation assembly of the invention therefore includes:a converter and/or regulator; a gas mixer; and a conduit providing fluid communication between the converter and/or regulator and the gas mixer which conduit is sealed to atmosphere to ensure a predetermined amount of gas flows to the gas mixer in use in accordance with a m U;~ -f 4 desired gas/air ratio.

The gas installation assembly may also include support means which may be attached to the motor during installation. The support means may include a support frame or support flange attached to the gas mixer for attachment to the motor.

The gas installation assembly of the invention may include the gas storage container or the gas storage container may be supplied separately. Preferably there is also supplied a support member for the gas storage container which gas storage container suitably is in the form 1 0 of a gas bottle. The support member may comprise a support frame or support housing to maintain the gas bottle in a fixed position adjacent the motor to which the gas installation assembly is being installed The conduit preferably comprises a rigid pipe assembly interconnecting the converter and/or regulator to the gas mixer and 1 5 suitably therefore is relatively short in length when compared, for example, to the additional conduit hereinafter described. The rigid pipe assembly may be covered with sealant on an external surface thereof or otherwise modified to indicate to the user that the rigid pipe assembly is not meant to be touched or interfered with in any way since the amount of 20 gas flowing to the gas mixer and thus the gas/air ratio will have already been calculated prior to sale or supply of the gas installation assembly to the user There also may be provided an additional conduit which establishes gas flow communication between the gas container and the 6 converter and/or regulator. Such additional conduit may be attached to the excess flow valve of the gas bottle in any suitable manner.

The gas installation assembly of the invention may be used in regard to supply of gas in vapor form or the supply of gas in liquid form such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG). When supply of gas in vapor form is intended, there is no need for a converter and thus there is only a requirement for a regulator which controls the pressure of the gas to accord with predetermined requirements e.g. of the order of 0-18 psi.

However, most preferably the gas installation assembly of 1 0 the invention is intended for supply of LPG and hence there is a requirement for a converter to convert the liquid gas to the gaseous state.

In this regard, the converter may be supplied with suitable heating means and thus may be connected to a source of heating fluid in use. Preferably therefore the converter will also have a regulator facility or will be 1 5 provided with an in-built regulator. The converter may also have an in- .built fuel lock which prevents gas flowing to the motor in use when the motor is shut off.

The fuel lock may be a component which is separate to the converter or regulator but it is highly desirable that the fuel lock be incorporated in the converter or regulator.

The gas mixer may be a separate component which is S• attachable to an existing carburettor assembly of the motor or the gas mixer may be provided in an assembly of gas mixer and gas carburettor Alternatively, separate components of gas mixer and gas carburettor may 7 be utilized. However, the former arrangement is preferred.

The gas installation assemblies of the invention are initially manufactured and fitted to test motors before sale or supply and may be dyno tuned, gas leak tested, fuel lock off tested and carbon dioxide levels set. They also may be supplied with a complete instruction sheet for installation purposes.

In another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a method of installation of the gas installation assembly of the invention to a motor which includes the step of attaching the assembly to the motor.

Reference may now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 1 which shows an LPG assembly including a support frame 11 having vertical frame members 12 for supporting a gas bottle or gas container (not shown). Each frame i member 12 is provided with a leg 13 each having spiked ends 14 for 15 insertion into soft ground until the ground reaches platform 14A.

Alternatively, if it is desired to attach support frame 11 to a concrete slab the legs 13 may be omitted and the platform 14A attached directly to the concrete slab by bolts 15 inserted through holes (not shown) in platform 14A There is also provided a base 16 which is welded to vertical frame 20 members 12 for supporting the gas bottle. There is further provided chain 17 for holding the gas bottle in desired position on support frame 11 with the assistance of latch 18.

There is also provided a horizontal frame member 19 at the top of support frame 11 which may be impacted by a hammer or the like I I 8 to push support frame 11 into the ground using legs 13 if desired There is also provided a retaining collar 20 which is part of frame member 19 which has a rubber insert (not shown). The gas conduit 21 which is usually a rubber hose may be supported by collar 20 and suitably there is provided a screw clamp 22 for this purpose. The gas conduit 21 is fitted to a conventional excess flow valve 23 which is usually attached to the gas bottle (not shown). In this context, gas conduit 21 is attached to at 24 to an outlet 25 of excess flow valve 23 as shown.

The gas conduit 21 is attached at 26 to an elbow inlet 27 of 1 0 a converter/regulator assembly 28 which converts the LPG from a liquid state to a gaseous state. To this end, there are provided hoses 29 fitted to a source of heating fluid (not shown) which allow heating fluid to pass into converter 28 in heat exchange relationship with LPG to convert same from a liquid state to a gaseous state. One hose 29 functions an inlet for 1 5 the heating fluid and the other hose functions as an outlet for the heating fluid. Each hose 29 is attached by hose clamps 30 to elbows 31 which function as access ports into converter/regulator assembly 28. The :.converter/regulator assembly 28 is also provided with a built in fuel lock 32 which prevents gas from flowing into carburettor 33 unless the motor 20 or engine is turning over or idling The converter/regulator assembly 28 may also include a regulator valve (not shown) for regulating or controlling the pressure change when the liquid gas at an operating pressure of around 160 psi may be converted to an operating pressure of 0-10 psi when a gas is 9 formed in converter/regulator assembly 28.

The converter/regulator assembly 28 is in fluid communication with gas mixer 34 by a fluid conduit assembly comprising a reducing component or bush 37 provided with a hexagonal nut or nipple 38 which interconnects converter/regulator assembly 28 to inlet flange or port 39 of mixer 34. It is important to stress that fluid conduit assembly 35 is fully sealed and is therefore covered in sealant shown in a dark colour. Gas mixer 34 is also provided with an idle mixture regulating screw 41.

1o There is also provided a lever 42 attached to one side of carburettor 33 which has its movement controlled by spring 43 attached at one end to lever 42 and at the other end to an extension 44A of a bracket 44 which interconnects converter/regulator assembly 28 and carburettor 33 Bracket 44 is attched to converter/regulator assembly 28 by retaining 1 5 screws 45 as shown and to carburettor 33 by retaining screws 46. There are also provided sealing gaskets 47 There is also provided a throttle cable assembly 48 which includes actuating handle 49, attachment bracket 50 which attaches handle 49 to the stationary motor (not shown), outer cable 52 and inner 2o cable 53 which is attched to lever 42 as shown Outer cable 52 is attached to bracket 44 at 55, The throttle cable assembly also includes a .pair of levers (not shown) which are pivotally attached to carburettor 34 on a side not shown in the drawing. The pair of levers (not shown) have a connection member interconnecting each lever so that they may move in unison upon operation of throttle cable assembly 48. There is also provided a spindle 56 which extends through carburettor 33 and is rotationally mounted thereto so as to ensure that lever 42 moves simultaneously with the pair of levers on the remote side of carburettor 33.

There is also provided air cleaner 57 which is usually a paper element mounted on top of carburettor 33. Air cleaner 57 is clamped to a top flange 58 of carburettor 33 by clamping element 59.

Carburettor 33 is also provided with a base flange 60 having attachment apertures 61 which facilitate attachment of base flange 60 and gasket 63 to stationary motor (not shown) by connection studs or screws 62. If required, adaptor plate 64 is provided which may be attached to base flange 60 and gasket 63 by connection studs 62 and attached to stationary motor by studs or screws 62A.

The installation method of the invention in regard to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing may include the following steps:ro o RL S lb remove existing petrol carburettor from motor; fit new gas carburettor/mixer (33, 34) to motor using gasket and attachment bolts and nuts supplied with the gas installation assembly; connect heater hoses 29 to converter/regulator assembly 28 fit accelerator or throttle cable assembly 48 to bracket 44;

I

11 place gas b"ttle on support frame 11, and turn the gas tap of the container on slowly to check all fittings for leaks *e

I.

Claims

1. A gas installation assembly for installation to motors which includes:- a converter and/or regulator; (ii) a gas mixer; and (iii) a conduit providing fluid communication between the converter and/or regulator and the gas mixer which conduit is sealed to atmosphere or-ethewise todified to ensure a predetermined amount of gas :10 flows to the gas mixer in use in accordance with a desired gas/air ratio.

2. A gas installation assembly as claimed in Claim 1 which also Sincludes an additional conduit attackhble to a gas storage container. S

3. A gas installation assembly as claimed in Claim 2 also S including the gas storage container.

4. A gas installation assembly as claimed in Claim 3 which also includes a support member for the gas storage container to maintain the gas storage container in a fixed position adjacent the motor in use. A gas installation assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the conduit comprises a rigid pipe assembly interconnecting the converter and/or regulator to the gas mixer.

6. A gas installation assembly as claimed in Claim 5 wherein an external surface of the rigid pipe assembly is covered with sealant or is otherwise marked to indicate that disconnection is to be avoided. 13 7 gas installation assembly as claimed in any preceding claim including a converter and regulator.

8. A gas installation assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1-6 including a regulator.

9. A gas installation assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the gas mixer is part of an assembly of gas mixer and gas carburettor. A gas installation assembly as claimed in any preceding claim also including support means attachable to the motor during 1 0 installation.

11. A gas installation assembly for installation to motors substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of installation of the gas installation assembly as 15 claimed in any preceding claim to a motor which includes the step of attaching the gas installation assembly to the motor. DATED this fourteenth day of September 1995. BRUCE BOUCAUT by his Patent Attorneys, FISHER KELLY. cc o a r r I I 1 14 ABSTRACT A gas installation assembly (10) for installation to motors which includes a converter and/or regulator a gas mixer (34) and a conduit (35) providing fluid communication between the converter and/or regulator (28) and the gas mixer (34) which conduit is sealed to atmosphere or otherwise modified to ensure a predetermined amount of gas flows to the gas mixer (34) in use in accordance with a desired gas/air ratio. S* .*12