GB2465001A

GB2465001A - Device for enriching i.c. engine intake air and an intake air filter

Info

Publication number: GB2465001A
Application number: GB0818097A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Lindsay Heeley; Stella Sheffield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-10-03
Filing date: 2008-10-03
Publication date: 2010-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-03
Also published as: GB2465001B; GB0818097D0

Abstract

A device which can be retrofitted to petrol engines, or fitted to new engines during production, enriches the air used in the combustion cycle leading to improved fuel efficiency and a reduction in the vehicle emissions. Filtered air is drawn through a chamber 2 containing an oil based liquid A, eg upper cylinder lubricant, and is then delivered to the air intake X. The chamber 2 contains a liquid in a lower section 2B which is separated from an upper section 2A by a baffle 4 having apertures 4A. Air enters intake port 5 via a venturi 8 and passes down a tube 6 and bubbles through the liquid A. The air is withdrawn from the upper section 2A via outlet port 9. Crankcase gases may also be supplied to the engine via a pipe 14. The air filter which provides filtered air directly to the engine and to the enrichment chamber 2 comprises three boxes 7A-7C containing knitted copper mesh of decreasing mesh size.

Description

Title: Apparatus for Enriching Air for an Engine The present invention relates to an apparatus for enriching air for an engine.

Many vehicles are driven by a petrol engine. Such engines typically have an air intake manifold which at a lower pressure to ambient air which draws air in through an air filter to be mixed with petrol. The petrol and air mixture is then delivered into a cylinder. A problem with such engines is that the combustion is not always complete causing unwanted emissions from the exhaust and a lack of fuel economy.

The invention seeks to provide an apparatus for enriching air for an engine to provide improved combustion leading to improved fuel efficiency and reduced unwanted emissions.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for enriching air for an engine comprising: a) a substantially enclosed chamber adapted to contam an oil-based liquid, b) at least one air inlet to deliver ambient air into a lower section of the chamber, c) an air outlet to withdraw air from an upper section of the chamber for delivery to an engine air intake manifold, and d) a baffle in the chamber between the upper and lower section, said baffle having at least one aperture allowing air to pass through the baffle, in use said chamber is partly filled with an oil-based liquid and air is drawn through the air inlet through the oil based liquid to enrich the air, and enriched air passes from the air outlet through the air intake manifold of an engine from where it is mixed with fuel for combustion, said baffle preventing oil based liquid from exiting the air outlet.

Preferably the air inlet receives air through a venturi.

Preferably the air inlet is at the top of the chamber with a tube extending inside the chamber to the bottom of the chamber.

Preferably the chamber includes a liquid level indicator. The indicator may be in the form of a sight glass.

Preferably a flow regulator is provided to control flow of air from the air outlet and the air inlet manifold.

Preferable the oil-based liquid is an upper cylinder lubricant.

Preferably the apparatus is adapted to enrich air for petrol engines.

Preferably the baffle is inclined across the chamber.

Preferably a filter is provided to filter air before it the air enters the chamber air inlet. The filter may be formed of a knitted copper mesh. The filter may include two or more sections each with different mesh sizes. The invention also extends to a filter per se of knitted copper mesh two or more sections each with different mesh sizes.

The invention also extends to a vehicle incorporating the above apparatus.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view, and Figure 2 shows a cross section view of the apparatus with an engine.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an apparatus 1 for enriching air for introducing into the air intake manifold "X" of a petrol engine in a vehicle (not shown).

Apparatus I has a substantially enclosed chamber 2 adapted to contain an oil-based liquid in the form of upper cylinder lubricant "A". Lubricant "A" can be replenished through a filler cap 3. Chamber 2 is divided into an upper section 2A and a lower section 2B by means of an inclined baffle 4 with apertures 4A above the level of lubricant "A". Apertures 4A allow air to pass through the baffle 4.

At least one air inlet is provided having an inlet port 5 at the top of chamber 2 leading to a tube 6 to deliver ambient air into the bottom of lubricant "A" in lower section 2B of the chamber.

The air port 5 receives air from a filter 7 through a venturi 8. Venturi 8 accelerates air into the port 5.

An air outlet port 9 is provided to withdraw air from an upper section 2B of the chamber for delivery to the engine air intake manifold "X" through a sight glass 10, reducing valve 11, flow regulator 12 and one way valve 13. Air from the engine crankcase is also fed through one way valve 13 to the intake manifold "X" through pipe 14.

Chamber 2 includes a liquid level indicator in the form of a sight glass 15.

Filter 7 has three boxes 7A,7B,7C through which air is passed from a filter inlet 7D. Each box is filled with a knitted copper mesh of a different mesh size, with the mesh of box 7A the largest size and the mesh of box 7C the smallest size. The primary function of the filter is to filter air entering the intake manifold "X". Filer 7 however also provides filtered air to apparatus 1.

When the engine is running, the pressure in manifold "X" is below ambient air pressure and so draws air through the apparatus 1. In use air enters filter 7 through inlet 7D and passes through each of the boxes 7A,7B,7C. Air filtered in filter 7 then (in addition to passing through to manifold "X") passes through venturi 8 where it is accelerated through inlet port 5 and down pipe 6 into the lubricant "A". Air emerges as bubbles "B" in the lubricant absorbing small amounts of evaporated lubricant. The so lubricant enriched air passes through the baffle apertures 4A, out through outlet 9 into the air intake manifold "X" where it is mixed with fuel for combustion.

It has been found that the engine running on enriched air leads to improved fuel efficiency and reduced unwanted emissions due to, inter alia, improved combustion.

Baffle 4 prevents the lubricant "A" from slopping around the chamber and exiting the chamber exit port 9 with the air, whilst the apertures 4A allow the enriched air from the end of pipe 6 to pass through the baffle 4.

Sight glass 15 allows the level of lubricant "A" in the chamber 2 to be monitored and replenished as required through filler cap 3.

Although only one air intake 5 with tube 6 is shown, two or more may be provided to help improve the air enrichment process.

The inventions also relates to a filter having two or more boxes or chambers each with different mesh sizes of a knitted copper mesh.

The apparatus of the invention may be fitted to new engines or retro-fitted to old engines.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims 1. A device which, when fitted can increase the fuel efficiency and reduce unwanted emissions of petrol engines.
2. A device according to claim 1 which can improve the combustion efficiency of petrol engines.
3. A device according to claim 1 which can reduce the fuel costs for petrol engines.
4. A device according to claim 1 which can give more power than a standard petrol engine vehicle.
5. A device which according to claim 1 can reduce wear on piston rings and cylinder walls in petrol engines.
6. A device which according to claim 1 can increase the volume into the intake manifold.
7. A device which according to claim 1 can seal top piston rings for brtter compression.
8. A device according to claimi which can increase the longevity of the catalytic converter.
9. A device which according to claim 1 can lubricate valve seat guides and removes carbon deposits.
1O.A device which according to claim 1 can be fitted to new engines or retrofitted to existing engines. * * * S. S * 555 * S SSS*S*..*S* * SSS..... * . * *S * ) S *.S S *5 S * . * S.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS1. An apparatus for enriching air for an engine comprising: (a) a substantially enclosed chamber adapted to contain an oil based liquid, (b) at least one air inlet to deliver ambient air into a lower section of the chamber, (c) an air outlet to withdraw air from an upper section of the chamber for delivery to an engine air intake manifold, (d) a baffle in the chamber between the upper and lower section, said baffle having at least one aperture allowing air to pass through the baffle, in use said chamber is partly filled with an oil based liquid and air is drawn through the air inlet through the oil based liquid to enrich the air and enriched air passes from the air inlet through the air intake manifold of an engine from where it is mixed with fuel for combustion, said baffle preventing oil based liquid from exiting the air outlet.2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the air inlet receives air through a venturi.3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the air inlet is at the top of the chamber with a tube extending inside the chamber to the bottom of the chamber.4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the chamber includes a level indicator.5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the indicator is in the form of a sight glass.6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a flow regulator is provided to control flow of air from the air outlet and the air inlet manifold.7. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the oil-based liquid is an upper cylinder lubricant.8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is adapted to enrich air for petrol engines.9. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the baffle is inclined across the chamber.10. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein a filter is provided to filter air before it enters the chamber air inlet.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the filter is formed of a knitted copper mesh.
12. An apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the filter includes two or more sections each with different mesh sizes. L.
13. An apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the apparatus can be fitted to new engines or retro fitted to old engines.
14, An apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.
15. A vehicle incorporating the apparatus of any of claims I to 14.
16. A filter of knitted copper mesh having two or more sections each with different mesh sizes,
17. A filter substantially as herein described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.
18. A vehicle incorporating the filter of claim 16 or 17.