US3115399A

US3115399A - Fuel composition

Info

Publication number: US3115399A
Application number: US46356A
Authority: US
Inventors: Byron E Marsh; Donald J Tucek
Original assignee: Armour and Co
Current assignee: Armour and Co
Priority date: 1960-08-01
Filing date: 1960-08-01
Publication date: 1963-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 1980-12-24

Description

United States Patent Ofiice 3,115,399

Patented Dec. 24, 1963 3,115,399 FUEL CQMPUSITION Byron E. Marsh, Broolrtield, and Donald J. Tucelr, icero, llh, assignors, by mcsne assignments, to Armour and Company, Chicago, TEL, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Filed Aug. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 46,356 8 Qlaims. (Cl. 44-66) This invention relates to improved motor fuel compositions and particularly to motor fuel compositions used in carbureted internal combustion engines.

It is well-known that automobiles often stall during cool, humid weather before the engine has warmed up. This condition is caused by ice accumulation in the carburetor and, specifically, it is caused by the formation of ice on the throttle plate and on the wall surrounding the throttle plate. The icing condition ordinarily will occur when the relative humidity is above about 50%, when the outside air temperature is between about 25 F. and 60 F, and when the engine is still cold and operating at a reduced load and speed.

The vaporization of the gasoline in the carburetor causes a refrigerating effect whereby the temperature of the throttle plate and the wall surrounding the throttle plate is reduced to a temperature substantially below that of the incoming air. As the relatively moist air passes over the cooled throttle plate and wall area, moisture will condense, and when the freezing point is reached, ice will form on the throttle plate and on the surrounding walls. Since the engine is operating at a reduced load and speed, the throttle will be only slightly open. Because the throttle'is only slightly open, ice accumulation will disturb the air fuel ratio so as to cause engine bucking. Ultimately the engine will stall when ice completely closes off the fiow of air.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fuel composition which is designed to reduce or eliminate carburetor icing. It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved gasoline fuel composition which contains a minor amount of cle-icing additive. Further objects and purposes of this invention will become obvious as the specification proceeds.

To accomplish the objects as set out above, an improved motor fuel composition has now been discovered which comprises a motor fuel and a minor amount of a zwitterion salt which may be illustrated by the general formula,

N III R" wherein R is a radical selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical. having from about one to three carbon atoms, wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein R is a radical selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein X is an integer ranging from to about 4, Y is an integer ranging from about 2 to about 6, and Z is an integer ranging from 1 to 2.

Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals coming within the meaning of R are methyl, ethyl, and propyl.

Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals coming within the meaning of R and R are hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, tetradecyl, tetradecenyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, hexadecenyl, heptadecyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl, octadecadienyl, octadecatrienyl, nonadecyl, eicosyl, heneicosyl, docosyl. It is preferred that these aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals have from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.

Mixtures of these salts may readily be utilized in our invention. Both aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals R and R" may be derived from certain naturally occurring fats and oils, such as soy bean oil, coconut oil, tallow, and the like. Tallow ordinarily comprises a mixture of the following aliphatic radicals: dodecyl, tetradecyl, tetradecenyl, hexadecyl, hexadecenyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl, octadecadienyl, and eicosyl. Coconut oil or cocoa ordinarily comprises the mixture of hexyl, octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl, and octadecadienyl radicals. Soy bean oil or soya ordinarily comprises the mixture of hexadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, octadecenyl, octadecadienyl, and octadecatrienyl radicals.

The letter X in the above formula represents the number of moles of methylene which may be used at the position indicated in the general formula. As already mentioned, X may vary from 0 to about 4. It is preferred that the number of moles of methylene represented by X be one. The letter Y also represents the number of moles of methylene which may be used at the position indicated by the general formula. Y may range from 2 to about 6. It is preferred that the number of moles of methylene represented by Y be '3.

When the letter Z is one, the compound is a mono-salt. When the letter Z is two, the compound is a di-salt.

Minor amounts of this compound may be added to a motor fuel in order to accomplish the objects as previously set out. It should be mentioned that for best results, it is preferred that the salt which is added be soluble in the motor fuel. Generally, good results are obtained when the concentration of our compound is from about 5 parts per million to about 10,000 parts per million. Ordinarily, concentrations will vary from about 20 ppm. to 200 ppm. It is desired that a sufiicient amount of additive be used so that good results will be obtained, while at the same time using a relatively minor amount so as to keep the cost at a minimum.

Our compound may be added to any motor fuel. Usually the compound is added to a motor fuel which is a mixture of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range. Since conditions required for carburetor icing ordinarily do not occur unless winter grade gasoline is being used, our compound will usually be added only to winter grade gasoline. It should be noted that a winter grade gasoline actually contributes to carburetor icing because of the higher volatility which has a greater refrigerating effect. A typical winter grade gasoline ordinarily does not have an ASTM 50% distillation value in excess of about 250 F. However, generally, the 50% ASTM distillation value will be below this.

In order to illustrate the improved results which are obtained when using our gasoline composition, we conducted tests which are described as follows:

The air temperatures were maintained at about 40 F. Tests were run at relative humidities of and to The gasoline employed was a typical volatile winter grade gasoline having an ASTM distillation range of 10% ait108 F, 50% at 186 F., and 90% at 292 F. The engine used was a 1957 Buick engine having a factory radiator, manifold, carburetor and an automatic choke. The air cleaner, radiator fan, thermo stat and fast idle linkage were removed or disconnected for purposes of reproduceability. After the engine was started, it was accelerated to 1500 rpm. (no load) and maintained at this speed for 1 minute. Then the speed was reduced to idle and allowed 30 seconds idle time. This procedure constitutes one cycle. If the engine did not stall, during the 30 second idle time, the cycle was repeated. During the 30 second idle time, any engine bucking was noted. If the engine stalled during the idle time, it was restarted and the steps of starting, accelerating to 1500 r.p.m., maintaining at this speed for 1 minute and then reducing to idle for 30 seconds, were repeated. The cycle was repeated until the throttle plate temperature rose above 32 F. or until there were three complete cycles without any stalling or bucking with a minimum of 10 complete cycles constituting a test. The compound added to the gasoline in this test was RD 3063-P (N-oleyl trirnethylene diamine salt of n-tallow 6- amino butyric acid). Concentrations tested were 50 ppm. and 100 ppm. at 75% and 90% to 95% relative humidity. Following are the results which were obtained:

TABLE 1 Total Stalls and Bucks Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 05% PJLID 50 100 50 100 ED 3063-1, 9 7 1O 8 Base Fuel 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 TABLE 2 Total Stalls Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 95% 50 100 50 100 7 7 10 8 Base FueL- 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 TABLE 3 Percent Reduction in Stalls and Bucks Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 95% P.p.m 50 100 50 100 RD 30634, percent 33 53 33 47 TABLE 4 Percent Reduction in Stalls Relative Humidity n 75% 90% to 95% P.p.m 50 100 50 100 RD 3063-1, percent 42 46 23 38 Now that the invention has been described, what we claim is:

1. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of a mixture of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range and about 5 to 10,000 ppm. of a compound having the general formula,

wherein R is a radical selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein R is a radical selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein X is an integer ranging from about to about 4, Y is an integer ranging from about 2 to about 6, and Z is an integer ranging from 1 to 2.

2. Animprov ed motor fuel consisting essentially of a mixture of hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range and about to 10,000 ppm. of a compound having the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 1 to about 3 carbon atoms, wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein X is an integer ranging from about 0 to 4, Y is an integer ranging from about 2 to 6, and Z is an integer ranging from 1 to 2.

4. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter grade gasoline and from about 5 ppm. to about 10,000 ppm. of a compound having the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.

5. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter grade gasoline and from about 5 ppm. to about 10,000 ppm. of a compound having the general formula,

6. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter grade gasoline and from about 20 ppm. to about 200 ppm. of a soluble compound having the general formula,

R R, r t i CHaOH-CH2COOH HN(CH:)3NR

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 12 to 18 carbon atoms.

7. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter grade gasoline and from about 20 ppm. to about 200 ppm. of a soluble compound having the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing, from about 12 to 18 carbon atoms.

8. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter grade gasoline and from about 20 ppm. to about 200 ppm. of a soluble compound having the general References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS formula, P

R H 2,851,345 Marsh et a1 Sept. 9, 1958 H H 5 2,886,423 Vitalis et a1 May 12, 1959 2,902,353 Becker et a1. Sept. 1, 1959 1 mam-PC0013 F 2,915,376 Raifsnider Dec. 1, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Petroleum Refining With Chemicals, by Kalichevsky et a1., 1956, Elsevier Pub. Co., page 480.

wherein R is a fatty alkyl group, derived from -tallow and R is an oleyl radical.

Claims

1. AN IMPROVED MOTOR FUEL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A MIXTURE OF HYDOCARBONS BOILING IN THE GASOLINE BOILING RANGE AND ABOUT 5 TO 10,000 P.P.M. OF A COMPOUND HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA.