US2603557A - Supplementary fuel - Google Patents

Supplementary fuel Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2603557A
US2603557A US48697A US4869748A US2603557A US 2603557 A US2603557 A US 2603557A US 48697 A US48697 A US 48697A US 4869748 A US4869748 A US 4869748A US 2603557 A US2603557 A US 2603557A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
fuel
alcohol
specific gravity
kerosene
emulsifier
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US48697A
Inventor
Milton S Roush
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
Original Assignee
Thompson Products Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thompson Products Inc filed Critical Thompson Products Inc
Priority to US48697A priority Critical patent/US2603557A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2603557A publication Critical patent/US2603557A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L1/00Liquid carbonaceous fuels
    • C10L1/02Liquid carbonaceous fuels essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only
    • C10L1/023Liquid carbonaceous fuels essentially based on components consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen only for spark ignition
    • CCHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C10PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; PEAT
    • C10LFUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G, C10K; LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; ADDING MATERIALS TO FUELS OR FIRES TO REDUCE SMOKE OR UNDESIRABLE DEPOSITS OR TO FACILITATE SOOT REMOVAL; FIRELIGHTERS
    • C10L1/00Liquid carbonaceous fuels
    • C10L1/10Liquid carbonaceous fuels containing additives
    • C10L1/103Liquid carbonaceous fuels containing additives stabilisation of anti-knock agents

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an anti-detonant type of supplementary 'fuelflfor internal combustion engines, and includes a method for preparing the fuel in stable non corrosive form.
  • this invention deal with a stable alcohol-water-oil emulsion which can contain more than 80 rnonohydric alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol ,or isopropanol, and as much as 3 cc. pergallontetraethyl lead without forming precipitates even' when' heated or exposed to oxidizing atmospheres.
  • rnonohydric alcohol such as methanol, ethanol ,or isopropanol
  • a detonation-inhibiting ,supplem'etary' fuel composed' essentially of alcohol and water, and preferably also con,- taining tetraethyl 'xlead, r is rendered I stable and non-corrosive by incorporating small-amounts 'of corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiers and oils .Qr other hydrocarbons whieh are normally immiscible in the alcohol solution. It has been found that oxidation products produced by oxidation of the alcohol content. of the fuel will form slimes'and precipitates which clog filters, metering valves, and feedtubes, rendering the fuel unsatisfactory for commercial use.
  • the supplementary fuel of this invention contains such an agent and the main power fuel may be free from such agents; thereby effecting appreciable economies in" the" operation of the engine. Because the tetraethyl lead isonly'introduced into the engine during a small percentageof its operating cycle; deleterious; deposits of leadoxide formedin the engine by oxidation of the tetraethyl lead are minimized. I r I The fuel of this invention is preparedbyfirst dissolving the tetraethylle'adin the alcohol and then diluting the solution with a part only of the Water.
  • the corrosion inhibitor and 'mulsifier such as a soluble oilcomposed of petr'oleumsodb um sulfonates of the'green'acid type, fatty sodium soaps and a glycol, is'adm'ixed with suificient kerosene to reduce its specific gravity to'about the specific gravity of the alcohol solution
  • a small amount of water is then slowly stirredj into the kerosene-diluted soluble oil.
  • the resulting mixture is then slowly stirred intothe leadec o'ntaining diluted alcohol'to formthe stable emulsion. If the emulsifier is first' added tothe Water-containing solution andrthe kerosene then added, stratification will occur.
  • an'object of the invention to provide an anti-detonant type supplementary fuel form ternal combustion engines containing small amounts of corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiers for stabilizing the fuel even when used in contact with corrodiblemetals.
  • a further object oftheinvention is to provide an' anti-detonant-type supplementary fuel coi'n posed essentially'of alcoholand. water and stabilized with a corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier having a specific gravity balanced with thespecific gravity of the alcohol-water solution.
  • Another object of the invention isto are de a stable alcohol-water -oil emulsion which can 5011- tain moreftha'nBO monohydric' alcohol, asiiiiuch as-3 c'c. er'gallon tetraethyl-lead, and aflhydro carbon in an amountinsufficient to have a power fuel-value' '3'
  • a specific object of the invention isjtoprovide an anti-detonant supplementary fuelfor internal combustion engines which is composed of 80 to 90% methanol, 10 to 20% water, up to 3 cc.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide an antidetonant supplementary fuel for internal combustion engines which is composed essentially of alcohol and water but is stabilized against oxidation and heat deterioration by small amounts of immiscible hydrocarbons rendered compatible with the solution by minute amounts of a suitable emulsifier.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a stable, alcohol-type antidetonant fuel by admixing a corrosion inhibiting emulsifier with a hydrocarbon such as kerosene prior to the incorporation of the emulsifier into the alcohol solution, thereby avoiding stratiflcation of the fuel.
  • Afurther object of the invention is to provide a method of" forming stable alcohol-type fuels with immiscible ingredients by balancing the specific gravities of the immiscible ingredients relative to the alcohol solution.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide a supplemetary fuel which is immiscible with gasoline and is composed-essentially of alcohol and water together with minute amounts of alcohol-insoluble ingredients stabilized in colloidally dispersed condition in the alcohol solution.
  • Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an internal combustion engine and fuel intake assembly equipped with a supplementary fuel injector or meteringdevice for supplying supplementary fuel of this invention to the intake manifold of the engine.
  • Figure 2 is avertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation. of the fuel injector or metering device used for supplying the supplementary fuel of thisinvention "to the engine in properly metered required amounts only when needed b the engine. I r
  • a high compression internal combustion engine E is equipped with the customary air and fuel-chargingassembly including an air cleaner [0, and a carburetor I 1 receiving air from the cleaner iii.
  • a main power fuel from the feed line 12 supplies fuel to the carburetor l l for admixture with the air to form the power fuel-air mixture.
  • a mounting block I3 is interposed be-.
  • the atomized power fuel-air mixture from the carburetor H passes through the block I3 to the inlet l4 and is distributed by the manifold [5 to the cylinders of the engine.
  • the conventional fan i6 is provided on the engine.
  • a relatively small tankil'l. for the supplementary anti-detonant fuel of this invention is mounted on the fire wall [8 of the vehicle driven by the engine E.-
  • the supplementary anti-detonant fuel is fed from the tank I! through a feed line I9 to a metering device 20 mounted on the block l3.
  • the metering device 20 includes a float 2
  • the float 2! is mounted in a float chamber 23 receiving the fuel from the inlet valve 22.
  • the float chamber 23 is-vented to the atmosphere at 124 and fuel under. atmospheric pressure in the neat chamber flows through a passage 25 to a diaphragm-controlled metering valve 26 andthence through a passageway 21 to a nozzle or jet pipe 28 carried by the block I 3 and opening downstream into the inlet l4. 7
  • the metering valve 26 has a stem portion 26a slidably mounted in a boss provided by' the float chamber-defining casing. The upper endof this stem is connected to adiaphra'gm 29 which sepa,-
  • the spring chamber 30 is vented by a passageway 3
  • a spring 32 is mounted in the spring chamber 30 andis adjusted by means: of an adjusting.
  • the spring32 is effective to move the metering valve 26 toward open position because the decreased vacuum in the cham ber 30 is insuflicient to overcome the spring pressure.
  • Supplementary fuel isithereupon injected in amounts determined by the, opening of the metering valve and is discharged through the nozzle 28 to comminglefwith the atomized power fuel (gasoline) and air mixture in the inlet I4.
  • the nozzle 28 has its discharge orifice facing downstream so. that the supplementary fuel will be intimately admixed in line spray form with the main power fuel-air mixture.
  • the intake manifold pressure decreases to increase the vacuum in the chamber 30. likelihood of detonation decreases and the diaphragm 29 will pull the metering valve to closed position or sub: stantially closed position.
  • the throttle T controls the feed of the main power fuel-air mix to the inlet [4 and, of course, when this throttle is substantially closed, the intake vacuum is high
  • the degree of intake vacuum is therefore a function of the degree of opening of this throttle T and supplementary fuel is introduced under fullthrottle conditions under the influence of the intake manifold pressure con trolled by a linkage arrangement with the throttle valve.
  • the main fuel supplied to the carburetor I I by'the feed line I2 will be free from expensive antii-detonants such as tetraethyl lead or, if. desired, can contain smaller amounts of such anti-detonants than are necessary for satisfactory operation of the engine when all ofthe anti-detcnant isifed with thepower fuel.
  • the supplementary fuel of this invention entirely ofisets the antidetonant deficiency of the main fuel.
  • tetraethyl lead Pb(C2H5)4 throughout this specification and in the claims denotes the commercial product containing ethylene dibromide and ethylene dichloride in minor amounts.
  • This commercial product under the present Federal health laws of the United States, can only be used in maximum concentrations in fuels which are vended to the public, in amounts up to 3 cc. per gallon, and the supplementary fuels of this invention therefore contain sufficient solvents for the tetraethyl lead to prevent its con.- centration beyond the legal limits.
  • the supplementary fuel should-contain sufficient alcohol to dissolve this amount of tetraethyl lead.
  • the fuels should contain at least 73.5% methanol, at least. 55.1% ethanol, or at least 38.5% isopropanol.
  • methanol methanol
  • ethanol methanol
  • isopropanol methanol
  • lesser amounts of thetetraethyl lead could be used with fuels containing larger percentages of water.
  • l 1 I The corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiers used for stabilizing the fuels of this invention are wetting agents which coat metal-surfaces and emulsify such immiscible materials as aqueous alcohol solutions and petroleum hydrocarbons.
  • Fatty acid soaps such as sodium or potassium saltsof oleic
  • stearic, linoleic, and ricinoleic acids,- and rosin soaps, suchas sodium or potassium abietates, are satisfactory. These soaps conventionally contain free glycerine or other glycols which are soluble in water, and liquid at room temperatures.
  • the preferred corrosion-resisting emulsifier has the following composition expressed in-percentages by weight:
  • a suitable corrosion-inihibiting emulsifier of the above listed preferred type is known as Penola 2210, and is manufactured by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey..v This material has a specific gravity of 1.05 to 1.10. 'It'can be diluted with a petroleum hydrocarbon such as kerosene to yield a mixture having a reduced specific gravity that is balanced with the specific gravity of the alcohol-water solution of the fuel.
  • the corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier It is preferred to dilute the corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier with sufficient lighter petroleum hydrocarbon so that the resulting diluted mixture has a specific gravity that is not appreciably more than, and preferably slightly less than, the water-alcoholsolution in which it is to be used; When these conditions are maintained, the resulting emulsion will'be stable at all temperatures including the high temperatures encoun- 6 teredunder the hood of an engine where the supplementary fuel is stored in a tank such as II.
  • This petroleum hydrocarbon dilutedcorrosion-inhibiting emulsifier serves a three-fold function, as :follows; r
  • the -kerosene or other petroleum hydrocarbon to be admixed with the corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier should preferably have a specific gravity in the range from about 0.78 to about 0.81, so that the blending of the kerosene with the emulsifier in varying proportions will result in specific gravities extending over the desired range determined by the specific gravity of the alcohol-water solution.
  • the specific gravity of this mixture will be 0.843, and a suitable kerosene-diluted emulsifier can be obtained by mixing 5 parts of kerosene with 1 part of the above-described Penola type emulsifienwhich has an average specific gravity of 1.07.
  • kerosene-soluble-oil mixture having a specific gravity of 0.845.
  • the specific gravity of the kerosene-emulsifier mixture lie within the range of from 0.95 to 1.05 times the specific gravity of the: desired alcohol-water solution.
  • the specific gravity of theemulsifier. can therefore be easily controlled by controlling the percentage of the kerosene in the mixture.
  • the emulsifier itself is-. used,-in very minute quantities, being less 1than,1%,by weight of the fuel and preferably only about fl of 1% by weight of the fuel.
  • the following specific example illustrates a preferred method of compounding a supplementary; fuel according to this invention composed essentially of methanol and water:"
  • tetraethyl lead areadded to 0.84 to 0.86 gallon of pure methanol.
  • the tetraethyl lead will readily dissolve in the alcohol. If the commercial 62 mix yellow *E thyl anti-knock compound is used, about 4.72 to 5.05 cc. are dissolved into the alcohol. The methanol-tetraethyl lead solution is then diluted with 0.13 gallon of water and is allowed to stand.
  • a soluble oil corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier of the Penola type consisting mainly of alkali metal salts of sulfonated petroleum acids of the green acid type with small amounts of fatty acid soaps, such as sodium oleate and free glycols such as diethylene glycol in the amount of 3.83 to 4.15 grams is slowly stirred into 24.90 to 25.70 cc. of kerosene having a specific gravity of .78 to .81.
  • the emulsifier has a specific, gravity of about 1.05 to 1.10. The stirring is continued to produce a mixture of uniform viscosity. About 0.02 gallon of water is then slowly stirred into the kerosene mixture.
  • emulsifier be admixed with the kerosene prior to the incorporation of the water, in order to produce a stable emulsion.
  • the uniform mixture of emulsifier, kerosene, and water is then added slowly to the alcohol solution, with constant stirring to produce the stable emulsion.
  • the kerosene content of Y the thus produced stableemulsion is somewhat in excess of the amount necessary for insuring the reduction of the specific gravity of the emulsifier to the specific gravity of the alcohol-water solution so as to allow for some loss through evaporation. It has been found that some of this kerosene will separate to form a very thin layer covering the top of the fuel and thereby further protecting it against oxidation; In general, the kerosene or other hydrocarbonisused within the range of from '75 to 90% by weight of'the weight'of the 'emulsifier.
  • the kerosene-dilutedemulsifier is present in amounts equivalent to'about A of 1% by weight of the'fuel.
  • a mixture of 75% ker osene and 25% emulsifier can be prepared and added to the alcohol solution in an amount equivalent to about by weight of the fuel.
  • kerosene in the amount equivalent to about of 1% by weight of the fuel can then be added to provide the excess kerosene for insuringfhe maintenance of the'specific gravity of the emulsifier within the desired range.
  • the above-indicated'procedures for producing the methanol-type fuel can be used to produce fuels composed of these other alcohols.
  • gasoline-immiscible anti-detonating supplementary fuels composed essentially of aqueous solutions of' monohydric alcohol containing'from 1 to 5' carbon atoms such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol,.'are rendered stable and non-corrosive by the addition of corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiers and petroleum hydrocarbons such askeros e'ne.
  • 'Ihese fuels preferably contain 'antikno ck agents such as tetraethyl lead/The alcohol content of the fuel can vary over awide range, but'should be sufficient to maintain the tetraethyl lead in solution.
  • Very effective fuels containfrom 80 to 90% alcohol and from to 20 water, with the preferred fuels containing about 85% alcohol and about water.
  • the preferred corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier for use with the fuels of this invention is composed of a sodium salt ofsulfonated petroleum acids of the green acid type, small amounts of fatty acid soaps and free glycols. These emulsifiers are diluted with hydrocarbons such as kerosene to reduce their specific gravity to lie within the range of about 0.95 to 1.05 times the specific gravity of the aqueous alcohol solution. -When so diluted, the emulsifiers will produce a stable emulsion.
  • the added hydrocarbons present are in amounts insufiicient'to have any power fuelenriching effect on the main power fuel fed to the engine.
  • the hydrocarbon will form a 'thinfilm on the aqueous alcohol solution to seal the" solution from contact "with the air; thereby further'protecting it against oxidation.
  • the fuels of this invention are stable even at" high temperatures and will'not form slimes and precipitates heretofore encountered with the use of alcohol-type fuels.
  • a stable anti-knock supplementary fue emulsion consisting of a solution composed of 10 to 20% by volume of water, to by volume of lower monohydric alcohol containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and about 3 cc. per gallon of tetra-ethyl-lead together with from to 1% by Weight of amixture consisting of a soluble oil corrosion inhibiting emulsifier containing alkali metal salts of sulfonated petroleum acids of the green acid type,-fatty acid soaps and glycols, and a sufficient amount of 'k'eroseneof a specfic gravity range between "about 0.78 to about 0.81 to reduce the specific gravity of said of sulfonated petroleum acids of the green acid type, fatty acid soaps and glycols, and-a suffi cient amount 'of kerosene of a specific gravity range between about 0.78 to about 0.81 to reduce the specific gravity of said mixture to about 0.95 to 1.05 times the specific gravity of said solution.

Description

July 15, 1952 M. S. ROUSH SUPPLEMENTARY FUEL Filed Spt. 10. 1948 V5.27: 0.2- 28 126. Boa 1512 E 4 WHZZ IE Patented July 15, 1952 SUPPLEMENTARY FUEL Milton S. Roush, Painesville, Ohio, assignor" to Thompson Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio; a
corporation of Ohio Application September 10, 1948; Serial No. 48,697-
e 1 v This invention relates to an anti-detonant type of supplementary 'fuelflfor internal combustion engines, and includes a method for preparing the fuel in stable non corrosive form. j
Specifically, this invention deal with a stable alcohol-water-oil emulsion which can contain more than 80 rnonohydric alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol ,or isopropanol, and as much as 3 cc. pergallontetraethyl lead without forming precipitates even' when' heated or exposed to oxidizing atmospheres. I
According to this invention, a detonation-inhibiting ,supplem'etary' fuel; composed' essentially of alcohol and water, and preferably also con,- taining tetraethyl 'xlead, r is rendered I stable and non-corrosive by incorporating small-amounts 'of corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiers and oils .Qr other hydrocarbons whieh are normally immiscible in the alcohol solution. It has been found that oxidation products produced by oxidation of the alcohol content. of the fuel will form slimes'and precipitates which clog filters, metering valves, and feedtubes, rendering the fuel unsatisfactory for commercial use. This oxidation is minimized by small amounts of oils either in theinhibitor or otherwise added; The oil addition is controlled to balance'the specific gravity of the inhibitor and emulsifier with the specific gravity of the alcohol-watersolution. Hydrocarbons, such as kerosene or heavier petroleum fractions having the desired specificgravity, are used for this purpose, but the total hydrocarbon content of the fuel is so insignificant that it will not"v interfere with the setting" of a c'arburetor to enrich the power fuel-air mixture delivered tothe engine even'when the antiedetonant fuel is introduced at a relatively high rat. It ispreferred-to use slightly more kerosene or other immiscible hydrocarbon than can be' rendered totally miscible with the alcohol solutign by {the emulsifier so that very minute quantities I of the kerosene tend to fioat to the top,ffor ning a thin covering 'film which additionally protects the fuel against-oxidation, r I I, I The anti-detonant type supplement'ary'fuels of this invention are immiscible with the conven tional hydrocarbon power fuels, such as gasoline, and therefore they arefed'to the engine in the form of a spray which is injected into the gasoline-air mixture ,s'uppliedtoit he, engine by the carburetor. Since engine detonatingconditions are only encountered whenthe vacuum in the engine intake manifold decreases as when the throttle valve is appreciably "opened and the engine is'operating'under-heavyload, the supple- 2'Claims. (Gigi-56) mentary fuel of this invention is conveniently fed to the engineonly whenneeded, and incontrolled amounts, by a metering device actuated by the intake manifold vacuum.
Since expensive anti-detonant agents, suclr as tetraethyl lead, areonly needed when the engine is operating under detonating conditions, the supplementary fuel of this invention contains such an agent and the main power fuel may be free from such agents; thereby effecting appreciable economies in" the" operation of the engine. Because the tetraethyl lead isonly'introduced into the engine during a small percentageof its operating cycle; deleterious; deposits of leadoxide formedin the engine by oxidation of the tetraethyl lead are minimized. I r I The fuel of this invention is preparedbyfirst dissolving the tetraethylle'adin the alcohol and then diluting the solution with a part only of the Water. The corrosion inhibitor and 'mulsifier, suchas a soluble oilcomposed of petr'oleumsodb um sulfonates of the'green'acid type, fatty sodium soaps and a glycol, is'adm'ixed with suificient kerosene to reduce its specific gravity to'about the specific gravity of the alcohol solution A small amount of water is then slowly stirredj into the kerosene-diluted soluble oil. The resulting mixture is then slowly stirred intothe leadec o'ntaining diluted alcohol'to formthe stable emulsion. If the emulsifier is first' added tothe Water-containing solution andrthe kerosene then added, stratification will occur. This procedure makes possible the retention'of'the tetraethyl lead in solution withoutvthe aid of large amounts of hydrocarbons asheretofore deemed essential! It is, then, an'object of the inventionto provide an anti-detonant type supplementary fuel form ternal combustion engines containing small amounts of corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiers for stabilizing the fuel even when used in contact with corrodiblemetals. v A further object oftheinvention is to provide an' anti-detonant-type supplementary fuel coi'n posed essentially'of alcoholand. water and stabilized with a corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier having a specific gravity balanced with thespecific gravity of the alcohol-water solution. f Another object of the invention isto are de a stable alcohol-water -oil emulsion which can 5011- tain moreftha'nBO monohydric' alcohol, asiiiiuch as-3 c'c. er'gallon tetraethyl-lead, and aflhydro carbon in an amountinsufficient to have a power fuel-value' '3' A specific object of the invention isjtoprovide an anti-detonant supplementary fuelfor internal combustion engines which is composed of 80 to 90% methanol, 10 to 20% water, up to 3 cc. per gallon tetraethyl lead, minute quantities of corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier containing fatty acid soaps, petroleum sulfonates of the green acid 7 ternal combustion engines in the form of a stable emulsion composed of from 10 to 90% monohydric alcohol containing from 1 to carbon atoms, and 90 to water, together with minute quantities of a corrosion-inhibiting stabilizer diluted with a hydrocarbon to render its specific gravity substantially equal to the specific gravity of the alcohol solution but freeifrom sufficient hydro carbon to have a power fuel-enriching effect.
. A still further object of the invention is to provide an antidetonant supplementary fuel for internal combustion engines which is composed essentially of alcohol and water but is stabilized against oxidation and heat deterioration by small amounts of immiscible hydrocarbons rendered compatible with the solution by minute amounts of a suitable emulsifier.
A further object of the invention is to provide a stable, alcohol-type antidetonant fuel by admixing a corrosion inhibiting emulsifier with a hydrocarbon such as kerosene prior to the incorporation of the emulsifier into the alcohol solution, thereby avoiding stratiflcation of the fuel.
Afurther object of the invention is to provide a method of" forming stable alcohol-type fuels with immiscible ingredients by balancing the specific gravities of the immiscible ingredients relative to the alcohol solution. I
A still further object of the invention is to provide a supplemetary fuel which is immiscible with gasoline and is composed-essentially of alcohol and water together with minute amounts of alcohol-insoluble ingredients stabilized in colloidally dispersed condition in the alcohol solution.
Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description including the annexed sheet of drawings which illustrates the manner in'which the supplementary fuel of this invention is metered to the engine as needed by the engine to prevent detonation therein.
On the drawings; I
Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an internal combustion engine and fuel intake assembly equipped with a supplementary fuel injector or meteringdevice for supplying supplementary fuel of this invention to the intake manifold of the engine.
Figure 2 is avertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation. of the fuel injector or metering device used for supplying the supplementary fuel of thisinvention "to the engine in properly metered required amounts only when needed b the engine. I r
As shown on the drawings: I
In Figure-l a high compression internal combustion engine E is equipped with the customary air and fuel-chargingassembly including an air cleaner [0, anda carburetor I 1 receiving air from the cleaner iii. A main power fuel from the feed line 12 supplies fuel to the carburetor l l for admixture with the air to form the power fuel-air mixture. A mounting block I3 is interposed be-.
tween the carburetor II and the inlet M of the intake manifold l5 for the engine E. The atomized power fuel-air mixture from the carburetor H passes through the block I3 to the inlet l4 and is distributed by the manifold [5 to the cylinders of the engine. The conventional fan i6 is provided on the engine.
V a r A relatively small tankil'l. for the supplementary anti-detonant fuel of this invention is mounted on the fire wall [8 of the vehicle driven by the engine E.- The supplementary anti-detonant fuel is fed from the tank I! through a feed line I9 to a metering device 20 mounted on the block l3.,
The metering device 20, as best shown in Figure 2, includes a float 2| for controlling an inlet valve 22 receiving the supplementary fuel from the feed line 19. The float 2! is mounted in a float chamber 23 receiving the fuel from the inlet valve 22. I The float chamber 23 is-vented to the atmosphere at 124 and fuel under. atmospheric pressure in the neat chamber flows through a passage 25 to a diaphragm-controlled metering valve 26 andthence through a passageway 21 to a nozzle or jet pipe 28 carried by the block I 3 and opening downstream into the inlet l4. 7
The metering valve 26 has a stem portion 26a slidably mounted in a boss provided by' the float chamber-defining casing. The upper endof this stem is connected to adiaphra'gm 29 which sepa,-
rates the float chamber 23 from a'springchamber 30. The spring chamber 30 is vented by a passageway 3| to the interior'ofthe block I3 so that the spring chamber is under the influence of the vacuum existing in the inlet 14 of the engine E. A spring 32 is mounted in the spring chamber 30 andis adjusted by means: of an adjusting.
companied by decreased vacuum or increased pressure in the inlet M, the spring32 is effective to move the metering valve 26 toward open position because the decreased vacuum in the cham ber 30 is insuflicient to overcome the spring pressure. Supplementary fuel isithereupon injected in amounts determined by the, opening of the metering valve and is discharged through the nozzle 28 to comminglefwith the atomized power fuel (gasoline) and air mixture in the inlet I4. The nozzle 28 has its discharge orifice facing downstream so. that the supplementary fuel will be intimately admixed in line spray form with the main power fuel-air mixture. Of course, as the intake manifold pressure decreases to increase the vacuum in the chamber 30. likelihood of detonation decreases and the diaphragm 29 will pull the metering valve to closed position or sub: stantially closed position. h
The throttle T controls the feed of the main power fuel-air mix to the inlet [4 and, of course, when this throttle is substantially closed, the intake vacuum is high The degree of intake vacuum is therefore a function of the degree of opening of this throttle T and supplementary fuel is introduced under fullthrottle conditions under the influence of the intake manifold pressure con trolled by a linkage arrangement with the throttle valve.
In accordance with this invention, the main fuel supplied to the carburetor I I by'the feed line I2 will be free from expensive antii-detonants such as tetraethyl lead or, if. desired, can contain smaller amounts of such anti-detonants than are necessary for satisfactory operation of the engine when all ofthe anti-detcnant isifed with thepower fuel. The supplementary fuel of this invention entirely ofisets the antidetonant deficiency of the main fuel. v 1
Reference to tetraethyl lead (Pb(C2H5)4) throughout this specification and in the claims denotes the commercial product containing ethylene dibromide and ethylene dichloride in minor amounts. This commercial product, under the present Federal health laws of the United States, can only be used in maximum concentrations in fuels which are vended to the public, in amounts up to 3 cc. per gallon, and the supplementary fuels of this invention therefore contain sufficient solvents for the tetraethyl lead to prevent its con.- centration beyond the legal limits. Thus, if 3 cc. of tetraethyl lead per gallon are to be used, the supplementary fuel should-contain sufficient alcohol to dissolve this amount of tetraethyl lead. For this purpose, the fuels should contain at least 73.5% methanol, at least. 55.1% ethanol, or at least 38.5% isopropanol. Of course,-it.should be understood that lesser amounts of thetetraethyl lead could be used with fuels containing larger percentages of water. l 1 I The corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiers used for stabilizing the fuels of this invention are wetting agents which coat metal-surfaces and emulsify such immiscible materials as aqueous alcohol solutions and petroleum hydrocarbons. Fatty acid soaps, such as sodium or potassium saltsof oleic,
stearic, linoleic, and ricinoleic acids,- and rosin soaps, suchas sodium or potassium abietates, are satisfactory. These soaps conventionally contain free glycerine or other glycols which are soluble in water, and liquid at room temperatures. The preferred corrosion-resisting emulsifier, however, has the following composition expressed in-percentages by weight:
A suitable corrosion-inihibiting emulsifier of the above listed preferred type is known as Penola 2210, and is manufactured by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey..v This material has a specific gravity of 1.05 to 1.10. 'It'can be diluted with a petroleum hydrocarbon such as kerosene to yield a mixture having a reduced specific gravity that is balanced with the specific gravity of the alcohol-water solution of the fuel.
It is preferred to dilute the corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier with sufficient lighter petroleum hydrocarbon so that the resulting diluted mixture has a specific gravity that is not appreciably more than, and preferably slightly less than, the water-alcoholsolution in which it is to be used; When these conditions are maintained, the resulting emulsion will'be stable at all temperatures including the high temperatures encoun- 6 teredunder the hood of an engine where the supplementary fuel is stored in a tank such as II. This petroleum hydrocarbon dilutedcorrosion-inhibiting emulsifier serves a three-fold function, as :follows; r
(1) Prevention of the corrosion of various metal parts in which the supplementaryffuel isstored or through which it flows en route tdthe. engine;
(2) Prevention ofthe precipitation of breakdown products of the corrosion' inhibitor;
(3) Prevention of formation-OLprecipitation products produced by oxidation of the alcohol.
The -kerosene or other petroleum hydrocarbon to be admixed with the corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiershould preferably have a specific gravity in the range from about 0.78 to about 0.81, so that the blending of the kerosene with the emulsifier in varying proportions will result in specific gravities extending over the desired range determined by the specific gravity of the alcohol-water solution. For example, if a supplementary fuel containing methanol and 15% water is desired, the specific gravity of this mixture will be 0.843, and a suitable kerosene-diluted emulsifier can be obtained by mixing 5 parts of kerosene with 1 part of the above-described Penola type emulsifienwhich has an average specific gravity of 1.07. This will yield a kerosene-soluble-oil mixture having a specific gravity of 0.845. In general, it is desirable that the specific gravity of the kerosene-emulsifier mixture lie within the range of from 0.95 to 1.05 times the specific gravity of the: desired alcohol-water solution. The specific gravity of theemulsifier. can therefore be easily controlled by controlling the percentage of the kerosene in the mixture.
The emulsifier itself is-. used,-in very minute quantities, being less 1than,1%,by weight of the fuel and preferably only about fl of 1% by weight of the fuel. The following specific example illustrates a preferred method of compounding a supplementary; fuel according to this invention composed essentially of methanol and water:"
,- a le To produce 1 gallon ofa stablesupplernentary fuel composed of about 85% by'volume of rn'ethanol, and about 15% by volume of water, 2.8 to 3.0
cc. of tetraethyl lead areadded to 0.84 to 0.86 gallon of pure methanol. The tetraethyl lead will readily dissolve in the alcohol. If the commercial 62 mix yellow *E thyl anti-knock compound is used, about 4.72 to 5.05 cc. are dissolved into the alcohol. The methanol-tetraethyl lead solution is then diluted with 0.13 gallon of water and is allowed to stand.
A soluble oil corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier of the Penola type consisting mainly of alkali metal salts of sulfonated petroleum acids of the green acid type with small amounts of fatty acid soaps, such as sodium oleate and free glycols such as diethylene glycol in the amount of 3.83 to 4.15 grams is slowly stirred into 24.90 to 25.70 cc. of kerosene having a specific gravity of .78 to .81. The emulsifier has a specific, gravity of about 1.05 to 1.10. The stirring is continued to produce a mixture of uniform viscosity. About 0.02 gallon of water is then slowly stirred into the kerosene mixture. It is important that the emulsifier be admixed with the kerosene prior to the incorporation of the water, in order to produce a stable emulsion. The uniform mixture of emulsifier, kerosene, and water is then added slowly to the alcohol solution, with constant stirring to produce the stable emulsion.
The kerosene content of Y the thus produced stableemulsion is somewhat in excess of the amount necessary for insuring the reduction of the specific gravity of the emulsifier to the specific gravity of the alcohol-water solution so as to allow for some loss through evaporation. It has been found that some of this kerosene will separate to form a very thin layer covering the top of the fuel and thereby further protecting it against oxidation; In general, the kerosene or other hydrocarbonisused within the range of from '75 to 90% by weight of'the weight'of the 'emulsifier. The kerosene-dilutedemulsifier is present in amounts equivalent to'about A of 1% by weight of the'fuel. Instead of adding all of the kerosene to the emulsifier, a mixture of 75% ker osene and 25% emulsifier can be prepared and added to the alcohol solution in an amount equivalent to about by weight of the fuel. After this addition has been completed, kerosene in the amount equivalent to about of 1% by weight of the fuel can then be added to provide the excess kerosene for insuringfhe maintenance of the'specific gravity of the emulsifier within the desired range. h
Since the specific gravity of isopropanol and ethanol is approximately the same'as the specific gravity of methanol, the above-indicated'procedures for producing the methanol-type fuel can be used to produce fuels composed of these other alcohols.
From the above descriptions it should therefore be understood that gasoline-immiscible anti-detonating supplementary fuels composed essentially of aqueous solutions of' monohydric alcohol containing'from 1 to 5' carbon atoms such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol,.'are rendered stable and non-corrosive by the addition of corrosion-inhibiting emulsifiers and petroleum hydrocarbons such askeros e'ne. 'Ihese fuels preferably contain 'antikno ck agents such as tetraethyl lead/The alcohol content of the fuel can vary over awide range, but'should be sufficient to maintain the tetraethyl lead in solution. Very effective fuels, according to this invention, containfrom 80 to 90% alcohol and from to 20 water, with the preferred fuels containing about 85% alcohol and about water. The preferred corrosion-inhibiting emulsifier for use with the fuels of this invention is composed of a sodium salt ofsulfonated petroleum acids of the green acid type, small amounts of fatty acid soaps and free glycols. These emulsifiers are diluted with hydrocarbons such as kerosene to reduce their specific gravity to lie within the range of about 0.95 to 1.05 times the specific gravity of the aqueous alcohol solution. -When so diluted, the emulsifiers will produce a stable emulsion. The added hydrocarbons present are in amounts insufiicient'to have any power fuelenriching effect on the main power fuel fed to the engine. In addition, the hydrocarbon will form a 'thinfilm on the aqueous alcohol solution to seal the" solution from contact "with the air; thereby further'protecting it against oxidation. The fuels of this invention are stable even at" high temperatures and will'not form slimes and precipitates heretofore encountered with the use of alcohol-type fuels.
It will, of course, be understood that variou details of the process and product may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims. Y i
.' I claim as my invention:
1. A stable anti-knock supplementary fue emulsion consisting of a solution composed of 10 to 20% by volume of water, to by volume of lower monohydric alcohol containing from 1 to 5 carbon atoms and about 3 cc. per gallon of tetra-ethyl-lead together with from to 1% by Weight of amixture consisting of a soluble oil corrosion inhibiting emulsifier containing alkali metal salts of sulfonated petroleum acids of the green acid type,-fatty acid soaps and glycols, and a sufficient amount of 'k'eroseneof a specfic gravity range between "about 0.78 to about 0.81 to reduce the specific gravity of said of sulfonated petroleum acids of the green acid type, fatty acid soaps and glycols, and-a suffi cient amount 'of kerosene of a specific gravity range between about 0.78 to about 0.81 to reduce the specific gravity of said mixture to about 0.95 to 1.05 times the specific gravity of said solution. I
MILTON S. ROUSH.
REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of recbifd in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name a Date 1,869,486 Lantz Augu2, 1932 2,316,739 Cook Apr. 13, 1943 2,404,094 Robertson July 16, 1946 2,429,707 Catalano Oct. 28, 1947 2,504,361 Van Hartesveldt Apr. 18,
OTHER REFERENCES 7 Sulphonation Products of Mineral Oil, Reuben Sperling, pages'890-897, Industrial and Eng. Chem., May 1948. P

Claims (1)

1. A STABLE ANTI-KNOCK SUPPLEMENTARY FUEL EMULSION CONSISTING OF A SOLUTION COMPOSED OF 10 TO 20% BY VOLUME OF WATER, 80 TO 90% BY VOLUME OF LOWER MONOHYDRIC ALCOHOL CONTAINING FROM 1 TO 5 CARBON ATOMS AND ABOUT 3 CC. PER GALLON OF TETRA-ETHYL-LEAD TOGETHER WITH FROM 3/4 TO 1% BY WEIGHT OF A MIXTURE CONSISTING OF A SOLUBLE OIL CORROSION INHIBITING EMULSIFIER CON-
US48697A 1948-09-10 1948-09-10 Supplementary fuel Expired - Lifetime US2603557A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US48697A US2603557A (en) 1948-09-10 1948-09-10 Supplementary fuel

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US48697A US2603557A (en) 1948-09-10 1948-09-10 Supplementary fuel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2603557A true US2603557A (en) 1952-07-15

Family

ID=21955939

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US48697A Expired - Lifetime US2603557A (en) 1948-09-10 1948-09-10 Supplementary fuel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2603557A (en)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2811146A (en) * 1954-05-19 1957-10-29 Spillmann Walter Charge forming device
US2873182A (en) * 1953-12-29 1959-02-10 Monsanto Chemicals Motor fuel
US2950960A (en) * 1957-02-21 1960-08-30 California Research Corp Hyrocarbon fuels
US3034874A (en) * 1955-03-07 1962-05-15 Reynolds Metals Co Blow torch fuel and method of burning same
US3779213A (en) * 1970-11-10 1973-12-18 Rivenaes Ivar Cleaning internal combustion engines or the like
US3866579A (en) * 1971-07-16 1975-02-18 Max Serruys Anti-pollution devices for internal combustion engines
US3902868A (en) * 1972-11-06 1975-09-02 Enercon Corp International Fuel additive and method for improving combustion
US4024848A (en) * 1974-05-07 1977-05-24 Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for preventing water from entering a fuel system of an internal combustion engine
US4112878A (en) * 1974-10-23 1978-09-12 Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft Internal combustion engine with a main combustion chamber and an auxiliary combustion chamber
US4199326A (en) * 1978-03-23 1980-04-22 Fung Paul S T Emulsified fuel composition and surfactant useful therein
US4302213A (en) * 1980-07-23 1981-11-24 Lezcano Miguel R Fuel compositions containing alcohol and saponified fatty material and method of preparing same
US4350133A (en) * 1980-05-19 1982-09-21 Leonard Greiner Cold start characteristics of ethanol as an automobile fuel
US4425136A (en) 1981-03-26 1984-01-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Minimally refined biomass fuel
US4451265A (en) * 1981-04-21 1984-05-29 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture Diesel fuel-aqueous alcohol microemulsions
US4595395A (en) * 1982-05-06 1986-06-17 Smith Earl J Lubricating and additive mixtures for alcohol fuels and their method of preparation
US4892560A (en) * 1983-10-20 1990-01-09 Sial Nasir M Fuels
US20100139636A1 (en) * 2008-10-14 2010-06-10 James Atherley Nitrous Oxide/Methanol Injection System
US20100139635A1 (en) * 2008-12-10 2010-06-10 Kent Carroll Progressive Nitrous Oxide Controller
US8020542B2 (en) 2008-10-14 2011-09-20 James Atherley Nitrous oxide injection system
DE102010021458B4 (en) * 2009-05-26 2016-01-21 GM Global Technology Operations LLC (n. d. Ges. d. Staates Delaware) Fuel stability system and vehicle equipped therewith

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1869486A (en) * 1927-09-06 1932-08-02 Standard Oil Co California Motor fuel
US2316739A (en) * 1941-02-24 1943-04-13 American Cyanamid Co Stabilization of tetraethyl lead and a motor fuel containing the same
US2404094A (en) * 1944-01-01 1946-07-16 Standard Oil Dev Co Motor fuels
US2429707A (en) * 1946-08-16 1947-10-28 Thompson Prod Inc Supplementary fuel
US2504361A (en) * 1947-10-11 1950-04-18 Thompson Prod Inc Antidetonant fuel

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1869486A (en) * 1927-09-06 1932-08-02 Standard Oil Co California Motor fuel
US2316739A (en) * 1941-02-24 1943-04-13 American Cyanamid Co Stabilization of tetraethyl lead and a motor fuel containing the same
US2404094A (en) * 1944-01-01 1946-07-16 Standard Oil Dev Co Motor fuels
US2429707A (en) * 1946-08-16 1947-10-28 Thompson Prod Inc Supplementary fuel
US2504361A (en) * 1947-10-11 1950-04-18 Thompson Prod Inc Antidetonant fuel

Cited By (21)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2873182A (en) * 1953-12-29 1959-02-10 Monsanto Chemicals Motor fuel
US2811146A (en) * 1954-05-19 1957-10-29 Spillmann Walter Charge forming device
US3034874A (en) * 1955-03-07 1962-05-15 Reynolds Metals Co Blow torch fuel and method of burning same
US2950960A (en) * 1957-02-21 1960-08-30 California Research Corp Hyrocarbon fuels
US3779213A (en) * 1970-11-10 1973-12-18 Rivenaes Ivar Cleaning internal combustion engines or the like
US3866579A (en) * 1971-07-16 1975-02-18 Max Serruys Anti-pollution devices for internal combustion engines
US3902868A (en) * 1972-11-06 1975-09-02 Enercon Corp International Fuel additive and method for improving combustion
US4024848A (en) * 1974-05-07 1977-05-24 Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft Arrangement for preventing water from entering a fuel system of an internal combustion engine
US4112878A (en) * 1974-10-23 1978-09-12 Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft Internal combustion engine with a main combustion chamber and an auxiliary combustion chamber
US4199326A (en) * 1978-03-23 1980-04-22 Fung Paul S T Emulsified fuel composition and surfactant useful therein
US4350133A (en) * 1980-05-19 1982-09-21 Leonard Greiner Cold start characteristics of ethanol as an automobile fuel
US4302213A (en) * 1980-07-23 1981-11-24 Lezcano Miguel R Fuel compositions containing alcohol and saponified fatty material and method of preparing same
US4425136A (en) 1981-03-26 1984-01-10 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Minimally refined biomass fuel
US4451265A (en) * 1981-04-21 1984-05-29 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of Agriculture Diesel fuel-aqueous alcohol microemulsions
US4595395A (en) * 1982-05-06 1986-06-17 Smith Earl J Lubricating and additive mixtures for alcohol fuels and their method of preparation
US4892560A (en) * 1983-10-20 1990-01-09 Sial Nasir M Fuels
US20100139636A1 (en) * 2008-10-14 2010-06-10 James Atherley Nitrous Oxide/Methanol Injection System
US8020542B2 (en) 2008-10-14 2011-09-20 James Atherley Nitrous oxide injection system
US8127751B2 (en) * 2008-10-14 2012-03-06 James Atherley Nitrous oxide/methanol injection system
US20100139635A1 (en) * 2008-12-10 2010-06-10 Kent Carroll Progressive Nitrous Oxide Controller
DE102010021458B4 (en) * 2009-05-26 2016-01-21 GM Global Technology Operations LLC (n. d. Ges. d. Staates Delaware) Fuel stability system and vehicle equipped therewith

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2603557A (en) Supplementary fuel
US1990702A (en) Method and apparatus for producing fuel mixtures
US2429707A (en) Supplementary fuel
US2504361A (en) Antidetonant fuel
US2163241A (en) Method and apparatus for utilization of low grade fuel in internal combustion engines
US2057808A (en) Carburetor
US1989113A (en) Antidetonating means
US2543514A (en) Supplementary fuel
US2034048A (en) Carburetor
US2444670A (en) Method and apparatus for forming internal-combustion engine fuel charges
US1069502A (en) Priming device for internal-combustion engines.
US1861014A (en) Apparatus for burning liquid fuels
US2695011A (en) Method of operating compression ignition engines
US1501568A (en) Aniline injector
US1609296A (en) Internal-combustion engine and method of operating the same
US1750766A (en) Method and means for regulating fuel
US1872555A (en) Carburetor
US1818240A (en) Process for improving fuel and air mixtures for internal combustion engines
US1840727A (en) Down draft carburetor
US1761388A (en) Engine heating device
US1482666A (en) Hydrocarbon motor
US1852780A (en) Carburetor
US1565453A (en) Fuel moistener
US1958381A (en) Carbureting process
US1150202A (en) Carbureter.