US1591665A

US1591665A - Liquid fuel

Info

Publication number: US1591665A
Application number: US695379A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Gustavus J Esselen
Original assignee: United Fruit Co
Current assignee: United Fruit Co
Priority date: 1924-02-26
Filing date: 1924-02-26
Publication date: 1926-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1943-07-06

Description

Patented July 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES eusravus J. ESSELEN, .132, or SWAMPSCO PATENTL'IOF-FICE.

TT, MASSACHUSETTS, 'ASSIGNOR TO UNITED FRUIT OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF EW JERSEY.-

nmurn FUEL.

tion engines, it is desirableto mix with the fuel an amount of lubricating .oil equiva lent, e. g.,

lubricating the cylinder walls of an internal .combustion engine .should be used, the particular gradedepending upon the type and size of engine. Lubricating oil, however, is not internal combustion engines of this type successfully when an alcohol motor fuel is used, in order that'suchfuel may carry the lubricant, it is necessary that a medium be provided, a relatively small quantity of which will maintain the lubricant intimately mixed or blended with the fuel. At the same time, such a medium must be inexpensive and must not interfere with the use of the fuel for power purposes; that is, the residue which remains after the fuel has been consumed must be in a gaseous or liquid condition in order that it may readily pass outwith the other'products of'combustion, and not solidify upon the cooling of the enine at the conclusion of a run. Such medium must itself remain intimately mixed with the fuel and not separate out. upon the drop in temperature due tothe vaporization of the fuel, or at any normal temperature, and must also remain soluble with the lubricant and the fuel. I have found that a small amount of an alkali (sodium, potassium or ammonium) salt of a higher fatty acid, such as palmitic, stearic, or oleic acid and the like, will accomplish the desired results and maintain the lubricant intimately mixed with the fuel. Though suchsalts are preferably used, there may be employed instead the acids from which these salts are formed.

My invention is obviously capable of bein'g carried out indifferent ways, though for the. purpose of illustration I shall here describe but two examples which show how it 0 may be applied. Ordinarily when alcohol is used as a fuel for internal combustion to about 1%-4% of the, volume of the fuel. A lubricating oil suitable for use in miscible with alcohol. Therefore, to operate 26, 1924. Serial no. 695,379.

engines, some other constituent is added, e. g., ether. Accordingly, I have in the examples which follow set forth-fuelscontaining ether, which I preferably employ. The lnvention, however, is useful for any alcohol fuel, though it will be found desirable to use more of the blending medium the higher the proportion of alcohol.

orinstance, a fuel made in accordance with my invention ma be comprised as follows :-60 parts by vo ume of ethyl alcohol, partsby volume of ether, 2 parts by volume of lubricating oil, 1/30 to part of e. g..ammonium stearate.

- It is understood that any higher fatty .acid or an alkali salt of such acid may be used in lieu of the ammonium stearate.

. Another example of a fuel made in accordance. with my invention may be comprised as follows :80 ethyl alcohol, 20 parts y volume of ether, 2 parts by volume of lubricating oil, to Apart of e. g. ammonium stearate.

It is evident that the examples above described are, to be regarded as but illustrative of my invention and not in any way limiting the scope thereof, as it is clear that various changes in the amounts of the constituents may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention and suitable ways of utilizing and practising it what I claim'and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:-

, 1. A fuelconsisting mainly of ethyl alcohol, and containing an alkali salt ofa higher fatty acid, and lubricating oil.

2. A fuel consisting mainly of ethyl alcohol, and containing a. higher fatty acid and lubricating oil.

3. A fuel consisting mainly of ethyl alco- .hol and ether, and containing an alkali salt of a higher fatty acid and lubricating oil. 4:. A fuel consisting mainly of ethyl alcohol and ether, and containing a higher fatty acid and lubricating oil.

5. An alcohol fuel comprisin at least parts by volume of ethyl alcoho a substanarts by volume of l tial amount of lubricating oil, a higher fatty acid, and ether. I

6. An alcohol fuel comprising at least 60 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol, a substantial amount of lubricating oil, an alkali salt of a higher fatty acid, and ether. 7

7 An alcohol fuel comprising at least .60 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol, ether, a substantial amount of lubricating oil, and a salt of a fatty acid.

8. A fuel consisting mainly of ethyl alco hol and ether and containing lubricating oil, and less than 25% of a fatty acid. 10

9. A fuel consisting mainly of ethyl alco hol and ether and containing lubricating oil, and less than 25% of a higher fatty acid.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed m name. I

USTAVUS J. ESSELEN, JR.