IE76922B1 - An electronically controlled fuel pretreatment apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Fuel flowing from the tank 1 to the engine 7 is heated in a unit 3 associated with the cooling water return line 9 to the radiator 8 and then passes through a unit 4 which provides heating under the control of an electronic unit (12, Fig. 2). The electronic unit has a temperature input from a sensor 5 upstream of a fuel injection pump 6.

Description

AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED FUEL PRETREATMENT APPARATUS This description deals with fuel pretreatment apparatus, which is electronically operated and used especially for internal combustion engines. Its aim is to allow for proper fuel burnout, and thus greater engine performance and less residue.

The apparatus proposed is a review and improvement on Spanish patent, number 8800293, which refers to an electronic fluid heating system, with special application to internal combustion engines, and patent, number 9002247, which refers to improvements in fluid heating systems applied to internal combustion engines. Both patents mentioned belong to the same patentee and are the result of experience gathered over the years from prototypes installed in different motor vehicles throughout the EEC and Mexico City.

This invention is applied in industries related to internal combustion engines and, especially, in automotion.

According to the present invention there is provided an electronically controlled fuel pretreatment apparatus which can be applied to an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising a pre-heating unit in which, in use, a fuel supply conduit for the engine passes through a coolant conduit between the engine and a coolant radiator such that the fuel is warmed, a fuel treatment unit, subsequent to the pre-heating unit, through which fuel passes prior to combustion in the engine, a set of sensors, inserted between the treatment unit and an injection pump of the engine, which provide information about the fuel prior to the fuel being injected into the engine, and an electronic control' center, to which sensor information is sent, which controls the pre-heating and fuel treatment units to determine optimal fuel temperature.

The fuel pretreatment apparatus proposed herein, which is electronically operated and especially applied to internal combustion engines, constitutes an important improvement over the prior art. This is true because greater engine performance is achieved with subsequent energy-saving advantages. In addition, less residue is emitted, meaning considerably less pollutants.

The whole apparatus provides the engine with standard . fuel that is improved as the right kind of fuel is supplied when needed. This is brought about by two electronically operated units (which we will call PREUNIT and UNIT), thanks to a Power Module, Temperature-sensing Devices and a Computation Center.

The following is a detailed account of the equipment proposed: After filtering the fuel, the latter (gasoline, gas7 oil, etc.) is led towards a PREUNIT where it is treated.

This PREUNIT is located in the hot water sleeve that goes ’ from the engine to the car radiator, where the fuel, cold from the tank, will find itself thermically sandwiched in because of hot water being circulated in a metal case that surrounds it. The case includes a snake-like copper electrolytic tube through which the fuel passes. Minerals (ZAMAC) are cast over this case in a layer and on top of this layer a special type of resistance in the form of a coat is placed which produces this thermic sandwich.

Afterwards, fibreglass-enriched polycarbonate or NORIL is injected in the outer layer of the above PREUNIT which causes thermic insulation and prevents ions from escaping. These same ions will allow for a break-up of long chains of hydrocarbons, which will cause more fuelling to take place thanks to the dissociation of the many molecules that form 0 same. In addition, the fuel is gasified at an accelerated rate and then led to the UNIT.

On its way to the UNIT, the fuel changes temperature once again, ready to be treated with different heat intensity and with other minerals, as described below: The UNIT core is made up of a special resistance, which is encased and is located in a case, which is, in turn, surrounded by the snake-like tube through which the fuel passes. Minerals are cast on top and the whole unit is covered by the same insulant as above and together a unit is formed.

’Before the fuel enters the injection pump (carburettor, nozzle, etc.), a group of electronic sensors come in contact with same. These sensors will send information to the CONTROL CENTER.

This CONTROL CENTER is specifically designed to maintain fuel at the right temperature on the basis of different parameters such as kinds of fuel (gasoline, gas-oil, fueloil, etc.), engine range (low range, medium range, high range, etc.), cubic measurement and fuel consumption of the motor vehicle where the system will be installed, etc.

The fuel, which has been pretreated but not consumed, will go back to the tank by return circulation, causing a ΐ series of reactions to take place which through continued · use avoid heavy hydrocarbon or tar sedimentation at the ' base.

The equipment works properly thanks to the CONTROL CENTER which acts on an electronically-powered module, which controls the power to heaters by connecting and disconnecting same according to the information received from the sensors. In this way, fuel temperature is always at an optimum, irrespective of its circulation, external temperature or atmospheric pressure.

The system's CONTROL CENTER has security systems attached and they are as follows: 1. Once engine contact is established, the CONTROL CENTER checks the system, putting into operation resistances when the engine is on so that the alternator starts loading and therefore battery is not consumed. 2. The sensors send information to the CONTROL CENTER and by means of the Power Module, the resistances are disconnected. 3. When fuel leaves the UNIT and passes the group of sensors, there is a resettable-Electronic Sensor that, 20°C before the fuel is self-inf lamed, disconnects the whole system. 4. If 'for whatever reason no use of the equipment is to be made, the CONTROL CENTER has a ON-OFF switch mechanism that disconnects it. In this case, the engine works like any other conventional engine. ί . Lastly, the CONTROL CENTER electronic programming that allows prepare the fuel while the engine is is endowed with the Equipment to off. This is done with the help of a timer, which is of great thermal importance when starting the engine cold.

The CONTROL UNIT is specifically designed to maintain 5 the right fuel temperature, by means of sensors, as well as control the Power Module which activates the operation of the preheating and heating fuel Units. This is a device which is found on the front panel of the vehicle or machine and battery-fed by the machine's own battery. Its technical functions or controls are as follows: A. It times the retard of the system's activation in order to avoid battery overload and battery consumption in excess. This timing is approximately 30 seconds long.

B. It independently controls fuel preheating and heating Units depending on the Senor-measured and detected temperatures.

C. Once the preheater has reached the right temperature, it times the retard of the system's activation which is approximately 2 minutes.

D. It checks the system's heating resistances during initial timing once connected and advises of any malfunctioning.

E. The device includes security alarm systems which advise of any possible dangerous breakdowns, especially if 0 they are Sensor, Power Module, Security Thermostat, Contact or battery failures. When this happens, the corresponding signal is activated and the Equipment becomes inactive in order to avoid major breakdowns occurring.

F. The Control Center has built-in LED bars which light up when the system is overheating. In this way, as the system increases in temperature, LEDs 1 to 5 light up, acting as a light code of the Equipment's operation.

Likewise, there is a time clock which allows for the Equipment’s advance programming.

As a complement of the description already made and in .order to aid towards a better understanding of the invention’s features, two diagrams are attached to this < descriptive brief (forming a part of same), in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, as follows: Figure l is a diagram of several internal combustion engine components in which the fuel-feeding lines have been substituted by the Equipment that is being patented.

The numbering that appears on the diagram corresponds to the following parts of the engine or Equipment, as follows: 1. - Fuel Tank 2. - Fuel Filters 3. - Equipment Preunit 4. - Equipment Unit . - Equipment Sensor 6. - Injection Pump 7. - Engine 8. - Radiator 9. - Water Sleeve As described above, the fuel comes out of the Tank (1) and goes through the filters (2), reaches the Preunit (3) where it undergoes its first treatment thanks to the heat emitted from the water sleeve (9) in which it is inserted.

It later travels to the Equipment Unit (4) and from there, passes through the Sensors (5) , arriving at the injection pump (6) for its subsequent injection in the engine (7) .

Figure 2 is a diagram of the equipment' s electrical system:- t The numbers indicated correspond to the following parts of the Equipment: 3. - Equipment Preunit 4. - Equipment Unit Ί .- Equipment Sensors . - Power Module 11. - Battery 12. - Control Center It is not considered necessary to include drawings corresponding to other Equipment components as they are adequately described in the previous Patents on which this patent is based.

Neither is it considered necessary to make this 10 description more extensive as any expert in the field easily understands the scope of the invention and the advantages derived from same.

The materials, shape, size and placement of the elements are subject to change, provided that the invention in itself is not altered.

It will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. An electronically controlled fuel pretreatment apparatus which can be applied to an internal combustion engine, the apparatus comprising a pre-heating unit in which, in use, a fuel supply conduit for the engine passes through a coolant conduit between the engine and a coolant radiator such that the fuel is warmed, a fuel treatment unit, subsequent to the pre-heating unit, through which fuel passes prior to combustion in the engine, a set of sensors, inserted between the treatment unit and an injection pump of the engine, which provide information about the fuel prior to the fuel being injected into the engine and an electronic control center, to which sensor information is sent, which controls the pre-heating and fuel treatment units to determine optimal fuel temperature.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control center gives exact instructions so that the right fuel temperature can be achieved, checks the apparatus' proper functioning, including its own sensors, connects or disconnects said apparatus, maintaining security margins, timing, alarm system in case of breakdowns automatically stopping operation, and a visual informative signalling system.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein control center instructions pass to a Power Module which activates the operation of the fuel pre-heating and treatment units.

4. . An electronically controlled fuel· pretreatment apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.