GB2355491A

GB2355491A - Fuel conditioning device comprising tin and magnesium

Info

Publication number: GB2355491A
Application number: GB9924809A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Leonard Lucas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-10-21
Filing date: 1999-10-21
Publication date: 2001-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-21
Also published as: GB9924809D0; GB2355491B

Abstract

The device comprises tin and magnesium, eg in the form of separate sheet metal elements 6 with the magnesium elements interposed between a larger number of tin elements such that the overall magnesium to tin ratio is 5-40%, preferably 10-30%. The sheet metal elements 6 may be dished, with a square outline. The elements 6 may be mounted on a ferrous metal rod 7 in an elongate ferrous metal casing 1 which has fuel inlet and outlet couplings 2, 3. A magnet 4 may be located by a spring 5 adjacent the outlet 3. Each element 6 may have a plurality of fuel-conducting apertures 14b formed by punching a hole through the sheet 6 without removing any material so that the material surrounding each aperture 14b projects towards the inside of the dish shape with a ragged edge to ensure that the apertures are not blocked by the adjacent sheet. Two rods 7, each carrying elements 6, may be provided end-to-end.

Description

2355491 P922 Michael Leonard Lucas FUEL CONDITIONING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to conditioning devices for hydrocarbon fuels such as petroleum or diesel.

BACKGROUND

For several decades it has been known to increase the combustion efficiency of hydrocarbon fuels by contact, prior to ignition, with amalgams containing mercury and lead, usually in presence of a magnetic field.

In recent years there has been a move away from using lead in fuel, and alternative materials are being sought which will produce similar, or even better results.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of fuel conditioning device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

2 P922 The present invention proposes a fuel conditioning device which comprises tin and magnesium.

The ratio of magnesium to tin is preferably between 5% and 40%, and is ideally between 10% and 30%.

It has been found that the tin and magnesium need not be intimately combined as in an amalgam. in fact, very good results can be achieved using separate tin and magnesium elements. The elements may comprise tin and magnesium sheet elements, preferably with the magnesium elements interposed between a larger number of tin elements to achieve the preferred ratio of the two metals.

The metal sheet elements are preferably contained within an elongate casing having a fuel inlet at one end and a fuel outlet at the opposite end. The casing preferably contains a magnet.

In a preferred form of the fuel conditioning device the casing comprises a ferrous metal. At least one elongate ferrous metal element preferably passes through the metal sheet elements. Furthermore, the tin and metal elements are preferably disposed between ferrous metal end elements.

In a preferred configuration each of the metal sheets is preferably of a substantially square outline formed into a dish shape.

An elongate ferrous metal element preferably passes through the central region of a plurality of the sheet elements.

3 P922 The sheet elements preferably contain a plurality of fuel-conducting apertures. The apertures are preferably formed by punching a hole through the sheet without removing any material so that the material surrounding each aperture projects to one side of the sheet, preferably towards the inside of the dish shape. The apertures preferably have a ragged edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fuel conditioning device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a detailed side view of one of the metal sheet elements of the device; and - igure 3 is an end view of the same sheet element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the device comprises a cylindrical case 1 of steel or other ferrous metal. Opposite ends of the case are provided with suitable inlet and outlet couplings 2 and 3 allowing the device to be connected in a fuel supply pipe to a petrol or diesel engine. Adjacent to the outlet 3, the 4 P922 case contains a magnet 4 of rectangular transverse cross section, which is longitudinally located by a compression spring 5.

Between the inlet 2 and the magnet 4, a steel rod 7 extends axially of the casing 1, carrying a series of metal sheet elements 6. The rod 7 has a head 8 which has a flat face for making a good magnetic contact with the magnet 4, whilst the opposite end of the rod is rivetted over at 9 to retain the elements 6 thereon.

Immediately following the rivetted head 9 the rod carries a spacer element 10, which is a steel strip with the ends turned back to form a U- shape. The function of the spacer element is to prevent the assembly of the rod 7 and elements 6 from blocking the inlet 2. It will be appreciated that any other suitable form of spacer could be used, e.g. another compression spring. The metal sheet elements 6 are formed of steel, tin and magnesium and are arranged in the following order, from the spacer element'l 0 to the magnet 4: 1 x steel; 2 x tin; 1 x magnesium; 4 x tin; 1 x magnesium; 2 x tin; 1 x steel. Therefore, the ratio of magnesium to tin (by volume) is 2:8 or 25%. Other sequences could be used to obtain a similar ratio of magnesium to tin.

The two steel sheet elements form a magnetic bridge between the rod 7 and the casing 1 which ensures that the lines of magnetic flux produced by the magnet 4 are concentrated around the tin and magnesium elements, thereby ensuring that a high magnetic field is produced around the metal elements.

The structure of the metal sheet elements 6 can be seen from Fig.s 2 and 3. Each sheet is formed from a square piece of metal which is punched into P922 a concave former to produce a dish shape. At the same time, projections in the former punch five apertures 14 in the sheet, deforming the metal towards the interiorof the dish shape without removing any material from the sheet, so that each aperture has a ragged edge 16 (Fig. 2). One of the apertures 14a is located at the centre of the sheet 6 to receive the rod 7 whilstthe remaining four apertures 14bare disposed circumferentially about the aperture 14a, adjacent to the four side edges of the sheet.

As shown in Fig. 2, successive sheets are rotated at 45' intervals on the rod 7 so that the corners 15 of one sheet cup the four sides of the next sheet. (The sheets are shown separated in Fig. 2 for clarity.) This ensures that the apertures 14b are not axially aligned so that the fuel is constrained to adopt a tortuous and turbulent path around the sheet elements 6 on passing through the case 1. The ragged edges of the apertures 14b ensures that the apertures are not blocked by the adjacent sheet.

Whilst the described arrangement allows the maximum number of sheets to be stacked in a given length and ensures maximum exposure of the fuel to the magnesium and tin elements it is also possible to reverse some of the sheets. For example, the steel sheet adjacent to the magnet 4 may conveniently be reversed to ensure a good magnetic contact between the magnet and the head 8.

Under the influence of the strong magnetic field in the presence of the tin and magnesium elements chemical changes take place in the hydrocarbon fuel resulting in modification of the hydrocarbon side chains. Such preconditioning has been shown to produce more efficient combustion.

6 P922 Although a single rod 7 is shown in the example, two or more rods can be disposed end-to-end, each carrying a number of sheet elements 6.

Claims

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present

in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

7 P922 CLAIMS 1 A fuel conditioning device which comprises tin and magnesium.
2 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 1, in which the ratio of magnesium to tin is between 5% and 40%
3 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 1, in which the ratio of magnesium to tin is between 10% and 30%.
4 A fuel conditioning device according to any preceding claim, which includes separate tin and magnesium elements.
A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 4, in which the magnesium elements are interposed between a larger number of tin elements.
6 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 4 or 5, in which the elements comprise tin and magnesium sheets.
7 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 6, in which each of the metal sheets is of a substantially square outline formed into a dish shape.

8 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 6 or 7, in which the elements contain a plurality of fuel-conducting apertures.
8 P922 9 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 8, in which the apertures are formed by punching a hole through the sheet without removing any material so that the material surrounding each aperture projects to one side of the sheet.

A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 9, in which the material surrounding each aperture projects towards the inside of the dish shape.

11 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 9 or 10, in which the apertures have a ragged edge.

12 A fuel conditioning device according to any of Claim 4 to 11, in which the elements are contained within an elongate casing having a fuel inlet at one end and a fuel outlet at the opposite end.

13 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 12, in which the casing contains a magnet.

14 A fuel conditioning device according to Claim 12 or 13, in which the casing comprises a ferrous metal.

A fuel conditioning device according to any of Claims 4 to 14, in which the elements are disposed between ferrous metal end elements.

16 A fuel conditioning device according to any of Claims 4 to 15, in which at least one elongate ferrous metal element passes through the elements.
9 P922 17 A fuel conditioning device substantially as described with reference to the drawings.