US2270400A - Fuel - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 20, 1942 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE".

FUEL

Joseph A. Wyler, Allentown, Pa., assignor to Trojan Powder Company, Allentown, Pa.

No Drawing.

2 Claims.

ject is to improve the combustion characteris-"t tics of fuels generally used in' automobile and aeroplane engines.

Other and further objects will become apparent upon a perusal of this specification.

I have discovered that the addition or small proportions of tetranitromethane (C(NOzh) to oils used in Diesel engines produces a fuel of improved characteristics. In general I may use as much as by weight, of tetranitromethane in the final mixture, although I prefer about 0.5- 1.5%. In a test, using an oil which was already of an especially high quality (octane number of 68), in an engine which was also of exceptionally high quality (in which the combustion-accelerating reagent would have less chance of showing improvement than it would have in the average compression-ignition engine) compared to the usual compression-ignition engines, it was found that the addition of 4% of tetra'nitromethane produced a fuel which gave a higher maximum cylinder pressure (without knock) for the same advance angle, an improved exhaust appearance, a general improvement inthe combustion of the fuel, a decrease in the ignition la by 1 crankshaft degree in at 2,000 R. P. M. and permitted four degrees further retardation of injection before misfiring occurred. With an inferior fuel-oil to start with these improvements would be more marked, or a lesser amount of tetranitromethane could be used for obtaining the same relative improvement.

Application November 30, 1939, Serial No. 306,813

(Cl. 44-9) I The solubility and volatility of tetranitro- 'methane are exceptionally favorable for its usev not only in .the heavier paraflinic oils, but also in the lighter petroleum distillates as kerosene 5 and gasoline. Tetranitromethane dissolves in all proportions in these materials, has a boiling point of about 127 C. and a very favorable vapor tension. It is insoluble in water and, when dry, is non-corrosive to metals.

10 Applicant is aware of the disclosure of such agents as methyl nitrate, (CHaNOs) ethyl nitrate,

butyl nitrate, and the like, for use in improv-.

ing the ignition characteristics of oils and wishes to emphasize that his agent, tetranitromethane,

is a material of an entirely different chemical and molecular constitution and is not in itself an explosive, as are methyl and ethyl nitrates.

Although my improved fuel is intended mainly i for Diesel engine use. I may use a mixture of gasoline and tetranitromethanes, say about 95 parts (by weight) of gasoline to as much as 5 parts (by weight) of tetranitromethane in autoi motive engines in order to obtain improved combustion characteristics. B I do not limit myself to the above description except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. The method of accelerating the ignition of liquid fuels in an internal combustion engine of the typewherein ignition of the fuel is spontaneously effected by injection into the compressed air in the engine cylinder which comprises admixing with the fuel prior to ignition a minor proportion of tetranitromethane.

2. The method of accelerating the ignition or liquid fuels in an internal combustion engine of the type wherein ignition of the fuel is spontaneously effected by injection into the compressed air in the engine cylinder which comprises admixmg with the fuel prior to ignition about 0.5% of tetran'itromethane.

w JOSEPH A. WYLER,