GB2056310A

GB2056310A - Oxygen generating device

Info

Publication number: GB2056310A
Application number: GB7942398A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: KAWAMATA J
Current assignee: KAWAMATA J
Priority date: 1979-05-16
Filing date: 1979-12-07
Publication date: 1981-03-18
Also published as: JPS55151150A

Abstract

An oxygen generating device comprises a plurality of vessels (36) arranged in a closed chamber (18) to move along a curved path, each vessel for containing a catalytic material (37) which can react with hydrogen peroxide solution to generate oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide (2a) solution is dropped to the curved path of the vessels as droplets. During rotation of the vessels, unreacted hydrogen peroxide solution is drained and recovered. The device is designed for supplying oxygen to an internal combustion engine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Oxygen generating device The present invention relates to an oxygen generating device which is, preferably, used in connection with an internal combustion engine.

It is known in the art that more complete combustion of fuel is obtained when oxygen is additionally supplied into the mixture of air and fuel. However, as it is widely known, oxygen is usually contained in a gas cylinder under high pressure, so that it has been difficult to control the supply of oxygen to the combustion chambers. In addition, the oxygen contained in the gas cylinder is very expensive, so that the supply of oxygen from the gas cylinder could not be economical even though some fuel could be saved thereby.

Another problem is that the gas cylinder to be used for supplying the oxygen has a relatively small, limited capacity, so that the gas cylinder has to be replaced with a new one or replenished with fresh oxygen within a short period.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the above disadvantages caused by the use of a gas cylinder.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can generate oxygen by chemical reaction for continuously supplying a small amount of oxygen into combustion chambers of an internal combustion engine.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device which can generate oxygen economically for a long period of time.

An object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a device of the type set forth above which can control the amount of oxygen generated by the chemical action.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for generating oxygen for use in connection with an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a substantially closed first chamber, a plurality of vessels provided in said chamber each for containing a catalytic material and movable along a curved path, said catalytic material being such as to react with hydrogen peroxide solution to generate oxygen, means for dropping hydrogen peroxide solution in the form of droplets into said curved path, and means for draining unreacted hydrogen peroxide solution from said vessels while said vessels are moved along said curved path.

Thus, when the device is in use, hydrogen peroxide solution is dropped in droplets into the curved path of the vessels in such a manner that the catalytic materials in the vessels can react successively in turn with hydrogen peroxide solution. During rotation of the vessels, unreacted hydrogen peroxide solution is preferably drained and recovered.

Preferably, these vessels are mounted to the periphery of a wheel which is rotatable about a horizontal axis, so that these vessels can rotate in the manner of a water wheel. Each vessel is covered at the open end thereof with a perforated sheet or mesh so as to allow the hydrogen peroxide solution to pass therethrough but to prevent the catalytic material in the vessel from falling therethrough while the vessel is rotated on the wheel.

The catalytic material used in the present invention is, preferably, manganese dioxide (MnO2) but is not limited thereto. However, other catalytic materials, which can generate oxygen by chemical reaction with hydrogen peroxide solution can be used.

The present invention will be further described in the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof with reference to accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of a tank for storing hydrogen peroxide solution: Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned side view of a device for generating oxygen according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a partially sectioned side view of a water storage tank; Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned plane view of a blower unit for supplying oxygen to a combustion engine; Fig. 6 is a front end view of the blower unit in Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing interconnections and installation of the present device.

In Fig. 1, a tank 1 is shown for storing hydrogen peroxide solution (H202) 2 which is automatically supplied to an oxygen generating device shown in Fig. 2. The tank 1 comprises an inner storage chamber 3 and an outer casing 4 separated from each other by a glass wool 5 interposed therebetween. Preferably, the inner storing chamber 3 is covered at its outer surface with an aluminum plate 6. Likewise, the outer casing 4 is covered at its inner surface with an aluminum plate 7.

Provided through the upper plates of the inner storing chamber 3 as well as the outer casing 4 are a replenish pipe 8, a safety valve 9, an outflow pipe 10 and an air inlet pipe 1 The outer casing 4 has an air pump room 12 attached on one side surface thereof in which an air pump (not shown) is disposed and through which the air inlet pipe 11 is connected with the air pump.The air pump room 12 has an electrical switch by which electric current is supplied to lines 1 3a and 1 3b to operate the air pump so as to supply pressurized air into the inner storage chamber 3 through the air inlet pipe 1 The inner storage chamber 3 is cushioned by two springs 14 which are provided in two boxes 15, respectively, integral with the lower plate of the outer casing 4 and acting against the bottom plate of the inner storage chamber 3 to urge the latter upwardly.

In such a construction of the storage tank 1 for hydrogen peroxide solution 2, initially, fresh hydrogen peroxide solution 2 is filled into the storage chamber 3. Then, the switch is operated to supply electric current to the air pump, whereby pressurized air is supplied into the storing chamber 3. When the pressure in the storage chamber 3 is built up or has accumulated to a predetermined valve, the hydrogen peroxide solution 2 is expelled from the storage chamber through the outflow pipe 10 into oxygen generating device 16 shown in Fig. 2. If the pressure in the storage chamber 3 becomes abnormally high, the safety valve 9 is raised against spring force to release the pressurized air to the atmosphere.

The oxygen generating device 16 shown in Fig.

2 is generally divided into three sections, i.e. an upper liquid control chamber 17, a lower reaction chamber 18 and an oxygen control chamber 19.

The liquid control chamber 17 is connected with the outflow pipe 10 of the storage chamber 3 through an upright pipe 20, so that the hydrogen peroxide solution expelled from the storage chamber is fed into the liquid control chamber 17 and temporarily stored therein. The liquid control chamber 1 7 contains a level control device therein, which comprises a valve 21 pivoted to the lower end portion of the upright pipe 20 to open or close the lower end opening thereof. The valve 21 has a horizontal arm 21a contacting the upper surface of a float member 22. The float member 22 is arranged to be moved up and down along two guide poles 23 and 24, which are fixed to the bottom plate of the liquid control chamber 17 and pass through the float member 22.The horizontal arm 21 a of the valve 21 has a vertical rod 25 upwardly extending beyond the liquid control chamber 17 and entering into a switch box 26.

The upper end of the rod 25 has a movable contact 27, which is cooperable with fixed contacts 28 to supply an electric current to the air pump in the air pump room 12.

In the position shown in Fig. 2, enough hydrogen peroxide solution 2a is stored in the liquid control chamber 17, so that the float member 22 is raised to close the lower open end of the upright pipe 20 by means of the valve 21 and that the movable contact 27 at the upper end of the rod 25 is separated from the fixed contact to cut-off the supply of electric current to the air pump. In the event that the hydrogen peroxide solution 2a is decreased to a certain level by consumption thereof, the float member 22 as well as the arm 21 a of the valve 21 descends whereby the movable contact 27 co-acts with the fixed contacts. Thus; the air pump is operated to expel the hydrogen peroxide solution from the storage tank 1 in Fig. 1 to the upright pipe 20 in Fig. 2.The lower end of the upright pipe 20 is now opened by the lowering of the valve arm 21 a with the result that the hydrogen peroxide solution is fed into the control chamber 17 through the upright pipe 20.

By such operation of the level control device, the hydrogen peroxide solution is always stored for a certain time in the liquid control chamber 17.

The liquid control chamber 17 has a valve hole 29 made through the lower plate thereof, through which the upper liquid control chamber 1 7 communicates with the lower reaction chamber 18. The valve hole 29 comprises a partially tapered vertical hole 29a and a plurality of radial holes 29b communicating with each other.

Extending partially into the vertical hole 29a is a lower end of a valve rod 30. The upper end of the valve rod 30 extends outwardly beyond the liquid control chamber and is pivotally connected by a pin 31 to a lever 32 which in turn is pivotably connected by pins 33 to a bracket 34 secured on the upper plate of the liquid control chamber 1 7.

The valve rod 30 is urged upwardly by a spring 35 wound around the pin 33 on the bracket 34 and acting against the pin 31 in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2. The valve rod 30 shown in Fig.

2 is at the elevated position, so that the radial valve holes 29b communicate with the vertical hole 29a to supply the hydrogen peroxide solution to the lower reaction chamber 1 8 in the form of droplets.

In the reaction chamber 18, oxygen is generated by chemical reaction of hydrogen peroxide solution with catalytic materials such as manganese dioxide (MnO2). In this embodiment, six vessels 36 filled with the catalytic materials 37 are provided for rotation in the manner of a water wheel. That is, the vessels 36 are mounted on a wheel 38 and extend in the radial direction with a free space between the adjacent vessels. The wheel 38 is rotatably supported on a horizontal axis 39 which in turn is supported on brackets 40 secured to the chamber 1 8. Each vessel 36 filled with the catalytic material 37 is covered with a net or a perforated sheet at the upper open end thereof, so that the catalytic material therein does not fall out at any rotary position of the vessel.The vertical valve hole 29a in the liquid control chamber 17 is formed in such a manner that the droplets of hydrogen peroxide solution are dropped into the vessels successively in turn while these vessels are rotating about the axis 39. The hydrogen peroxide solution dropped into the vessel reacts with the catalytic material and generates oxygen in the reaction chamber 1 8.

These vessels 36 are arranged so as to rotate by a predetermined angle about the axis 39 when one of the vessels is filled with the hydrogen peroxide solution, so that another succeeding vessel 36 takes up the position below the vertical valve hole 29a. These vessels 36 may be driven to rotate by a mechanical device or by the weight of the hydrogen peroxide solution filled into one of the vessels.

Provided on the bottom of the reaction chamber, there is a fixed box 41 also filled with catalytic material 42 of the same type as set forth above. The fixed box 41 has a plurality of small holes 43 made through the bottom plate thereof.

Likewise, the reaction chamber 1 8 also has small holes 44 which pass through the bottom plate thereof. During the rotation of the vessels 36, unreacted hydrogen peroxide solution and water produced by the reaction of the solution with the catalytic material are drained downwardly through the covering net or perforated sheet when the vessel is moved down to a lower inclined position.

The drained unreacted solution, as well as the water, are then collected by the fixed box 41, in which the unreacted solution is again subjected to reaction with the catalytic material 42 therein.

Then, water collected in the fixed box and produced therein by the reaction drains further, down through small holes 43 in the fixed box and is discharged from out of the reaction chamber 1 8 through holes 44 and a hose 45.

The reaction chamber becomes hot through the heat generated by the chemical reaction, so that the catalytic material having the rereacted solution and water drained out will be dried until the time comes when it is again under the valve hole 29, from which fresh solution is dropped into the vessel. Accordingly, after one rotation of the vessel, when the hydrogen peroxide solution is dropped as droplets into the vessel, the solution reacts just as it does with fresh catalytic material and, therefore, oxygen is generated effectively.

The oxygen generated in the reaction chamber 18 is filled therein and then enters the upper oxygen control chamber 19. This control chamber 1 9 is provided above the reaction chamber 1 8 adjacent the liquid control chamber 1 7 and is defined by a cylindrical casing 46 which contains water therein. Disposed at the centre part of the control chamber 1 9 is an inverted U-shaped pipe 47 one end of which is open to the reaction chamber 1 8. A small float member 48 is provided around the pipe 47 and guided thereby. The lower end of the float member 48 is connected with an arm of a check valve 49 which is pivoted to the other open end of the pipe 47. This float member 48 normally urges the arm of the check valve upwardly to close the open end of the pipe.

However, the check valve cannot function at all to prevent the flow of oxygen from the inside of the inverted U-shaped pipe 47 to the outside thereof.

Disposed outside the pipe 47 but inside the cylindrical casing 46 is a floating tower member 50, the lower end of which is opened and the upper end of which is integrally provided with a hollow tube 51. This tube 51 is provided for supplying oxygen accumulated in the oxygen control chamber to a blower shown in Fig. 5. The tube 51 penetrates through a cover plate 52 of the cylindrical casing 46 and engages with an adjusting screw 53 therethrough. This adjusting screw 53 is moved up and down by rotation thereof. One end of the lever 32 contacts the upper surface of the adjusting screw, the lever 32 being pivotally connected with the valve rod 30 in the liquid control chamber 1 7. Provided between the cover plate 52 and the adjusting screw 53 is a rubber cap 54 for sealing the escape of oxygen.

In such construction of the oxygen control chamber, when the oxygen is generated and filled into the reaction chamber, it enters into the inverted U-shaped pipe 47 from one end thereof and is expelled into the floating tower member 50 through the check valve 49. When the amount of oxygen in the floating tower member 50 has accumulated up to a certain valve, the tower member 50 is moved up by the gas pressure built up therein, whereby the adjusting screw 53 causes the lever 32 to rotate in the clockwise direction about the pin 33. By such rotation of the lever 32, the valve rod 30 descends so as to close the valve hole 29 in the liquid control chamber 1 7.

Accordingly, the supply of hydrogen peroxide solution 2a into the reaction chamber 1 8 is interrupted. On the other hand, when the gas pressure in the floating tower member 50 is decreased due to a reduction in the oxygen generation, the tower member moves down, whereby the lever 32 contacting the adjusting screw 53 under spring pressure is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 2 to elevate the valve rod 30 and to open the valve hole 29 for supply of the hydrogen peroxide solution into the reaction chamber 1 8. The pressure value of oxygen in the floating tower member for operating the valve rod can be adjusted by moving the adjusting screw 53 up or down.The check valve 49 at the open end of the inverted U-shaped pipe 47 is operated to prevent the water in the tower member 50 being drawn into the reaction chamber 1 8 when the temperature in the reaction chamber is reduced.

The oxygen generating device 16 is covered with cylindrical upper and lower jackets 55 and 56, both of which are joined together at their free end portions by a detachable annular metal fastener 57. In order to keep the pressure in the upper liquid control chamber 1 7 equal to that in the reaction chamber 18, both of the chambers 1 7 and 18 are communicated with each other by a hollow member 58 extending from the lower plate of the liquid control chamber 17 to a level above the hydrogen peroxide solution 2a.

As set forth above, according to the oxygen generating device shown in Fig. 2, hydrogen peroxide solution is automatically supplied and stored in the liquid control chamber to a predetermined level. The supply of the hydrogen peroxide solution to the reaction chamber 1 8 is also automatically controlled in accordance with the amount of oxygen generated in the reaction chamber 1 8 and, therefore, the amount of oxygen supplied by the present device 16 becomes constant.The catalytic materials, which contact the hydrogen peroxide solution for chemical reaction therewith, are filled in several rotating vessels, so that during the period in which a vessel undergoes a rotation and come to a predetermined position in which the hydrogen peroxide solution is drop fed, unreacted hydrogen peroxide solution as well as water produced by the chemical reaction are drained and the catalytic materials are dried by the heat in the reaction chamber 1 8. These dried catalytic materials can then effectively react with the hydrogen peroxide solution as if they were fresh ones.

Reference is now made to a water drainage tank 58 shown in Fig. 4, into which water produced by the chemical reaction and discharged from the reaction chamber 1 8 in Fig. 2 is collected. The drainage tank 58 comprises a cylindrical housing 59, a cover plate 60 on the upper open end of the housing 59, a valve rod 61 extending into the housing through the centre part of the cover plate 60, and a float member 62 floating on the collected water in the housing 59.

The cover plate 60 has a hollow pipe 63 therethrough on which the hose 45 is attached to lead the water discharged from the reaction chamber into the drainage tank. Also provided through the cover plate 60 is a rod 64 having the lower end connected to the float member 62 and upper end connected with a conductive plate 65.

This conductive plate 65 co-operates with fixed contacts 66 on the cover plate 60 to close an electric circuit on lines 67a and 67b when the float member 62 is raised to a predetermined level. When the electric circuit is closed, a lamp is lit to signal the achievement of the predetermined level of water.

The valve rod 61 has a valve body 68 at the lower end thereof which is contained in a valve box 69. This valve box 69 allows the valve body 68 to move up and down and has radial holes 70 at the lower portion thereof. The housing 59 has a tapered hole 71 at the center of the bottom plate into which the tapered end of the valve body 68 enters to close the tapered hole 71. The tapered hole 71 is connected with a drain hose 72. The upper end of the valve rod 61 is connected with one end of an angle member 73 in such a manner that when the other end of the angle member 73 is pulled by a rope 74, the valve rod 61 is raised to open the tapered hole 71 for drainage of the collected water.

With such a construction of the drainage tank, when the water in the tank is collected to a predetermined amount, the alarm lamp lights.

Thus, by pulling the rope 74, the valve rod 61 is raised to drain the water to the outside of the drainage tank. On the other hand, when the pulling force is released, the valve rod 61 descends by its weight and valve body 68 closes the tapered drain hole 71.

Reference is now made to a blower 75 shown in Figs. 5 and 6, by which oxygen generated in the oxygen generating device 16 is fed into combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine. The blower 75 is mounted on a supporting plate 76 by metal strips 77 and screws 78. The blower 75 comprises a cylindrical main housing 79, a tapered front casing 80 connected to the forward end of the housing 79, bellows 81 connected to the forward end of the front casing, and an end cap 82 covering the rear open end of the main housing. Disposed inside the main housing 79 is a motor 83 having a fan 84 connected to an output shaft thereof. The tapered front cussing 80 has a plurality of small holes 85 through the peripheral wall thereof through which oxygen supplied from the oxygen generating device is injected.The end cap 82 is provided with an air intake port therethrough which is covered with a net 86. The air intake port is also covered with a semi-circular shaped adjusting plate 87 which is rotatably mounted on the end cap by a screw 88, whereby the amount of air drawn into the main housing can be adjusted by rotating the adjusting plate 87.

Also mounted upon the supporting plate 76 is a valve cock 89 by which the supply of oxygen to the blower 75 is allowed or interrupted. The cock 89 has an operation handle 90 extending in both directions thereform. One end of the handle 90 is connected with a tension spring 91, which is attached to supporting plate 76 at one end thereof to urge the cock 89 toward closed position, while the other end of the handle 90 is connected with a wire rope 92 which in turn is operatively connected with an acceleration pedal (not shown) of the automobile.

The valve cock 89 is connected at one port thereof with a hose 93, which in turn is connected with a hollow end part of the tower member 50 of the oxygen control chamber 19. The other port of the valve cock 89 is connected to branched pipes 94 through a hose 95 and a connector 96. The branched pipes 94 extend into the tapered front casing 80 through small holes 85 thereof, whereby when the valve cock 89 is turned to the open position, the interior of the tapered front casing 80 is communicated with the oxygen control chamber 1 9. In the position shown in Fig.

5, the valve cock 89 takes a closed position by means of the tension spring 91.

When the acceleration pedal of the automobile is pressed down, the wire rope 92 is pulled against the tension spring 91, with the result that the valve cock 89 is turned to the open position. At this time, an electric current is supplied to the blower 83 through wires 93 in a known manner and therefore the fan 84 is operated. Thus, oxygen is drawn from the oxygen control chamber into the tapered front casing 80 which is connected to an intake passage of the internal combustion engine.

Accordingly, in case of acceleration of the automobile, oxygen is additionally supplied to the combustion chambers to improve the combustion of fuel and to increase the power of the engine. On the other hand, when the pressure on the acceleration-pedal is released, the valve cock is turned to the closed position by the tension spring 91.

Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention adapted to supply additional oxygen to an internal combustion engine of the automobile.

In this embodiment, the blower 75 is mounted to an intake port of an air cleaner 97.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, many modifications and alterations may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the blower 75 may be omitted by directly connecting the branched pipes 94 to an intake manifold of the engine. Also, the water drainage tank 58 may be omitted by allowing the water from the reaction chamber to be directly drained to the ground.

Claims

1. A device for generating oxygen for use in connection with an internal combustion engine, said device comprising a substantially closed first chamber, a plurality of vessels provided in said chamber each for containing a catalytic material and movable along a curved path, said catalytic material being such as to react with hydrogen peroxide solution to generate oxygen, means for dropping hydrogen peroxide solution in the form of droplets into said curved path, and means for draining unreacted hydrogen peroxide solution from said vessels while said vessels are moved along said curved path.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vessels are mounted to the periphery of a wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis, each of said vessels being covered at the open end thereof with a perforated sheet or mesh having dimensions such as to allow said hydrogen peroxide solution to pass therethrough but to prevent said catalytic material in said vessel from falling therethrough while said vessel is rotated on said wheel.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, said device further comprising a casing provided below said vessels for containing catalytic material therein which reacts with the hydrogen peroxide solution to generate oxygen, said casing being adapted to collect the unreacted hydrogen peroxide solution drained from said vessels while the latter move along said curved path.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, said device further comprising a second chamber integrally provided above said first chamber for containing hydrogen peroxide solution, said second chamber having a valve hole through which said second chamber communicates with said first chamber, said valve hole being located above the curved path of said vessels in said first chamber and arranged such that the hydrogen peroxide solution is dropped into one of said vessels as droplets.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied to said second chamber from a separate storage chamber by operation of an electric pump, said second chamber having a float switch means for controlling the operation of said electric pump.

6. A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5 further comprising a third chamber provided above said first chamber adjacent to said second chamber, said third chamber having an opening through which oxygen generated in said first chamber is collected in said third chamber, said third chamber also having control means which are operable by oxygen accumulated in said third chamber for controlling the opening of said valve hole in said second chamber.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control means comprising a floating tower supported by water, a valve rod engageable with said valve hole, and a connecting member attached to said floating tower at one end portion thereof and pivoted to said valve rod at the other end portion thereof in such a manner that when said floating tower is raised by the oxygen accumulated therein, said valve rod is lowered to close said valve hole in said second chambers

8. A device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said third chamber is connected with means for supplying the oxygen to an internal combustion engine.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said oxygen supply means comprises a valve cock operatively connected with an acceleration pedal of an automobile, said valve cock being opened to supply said oxygen to said engine when said pedal is pushed down.

10. A device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a blower for feeding the oxygen into an air intake passage of said engine.

11. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said first chamber has vent holes through the bottom plate thereof for draining water produced by the chemical reaction of said hydrogen peroxide solution with said catalytic material.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said first chamber is connected with a water drainage tank through said vent holes thereof, said water drainage tank containing a float switch means and a valve means operable for discharging water to the outside of said tank.

13. A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said float switch means is connected with an alarm lamp so as to light the lamp when the water in said tank reaches a predetermined filling level.

14. A device for generating oxygen substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 without reference to any of Figures 1,4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.