US3145694A - Slurry system for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

1964 w. R. CROOKS 3,145,694

SLURRY SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Sept- 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 OIL. SUPPLY TO on. sump NTAKE PASSAGE FRESH WATER SUPPLY ASTE SEQUENCE CONTROLLER 8 ZTDEHL SLURRY PUMP INVENTOR WILLIAM R. CRooKs BY. 9 Q

ATTORN 5Y5 Aug. 25, 1964 W. R. CROOKS SLURRY SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Sept. 6, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

VVILLIAM R. Ckoot A-r'roRNEYS United States Patent s 145 694 sruunx srsrEM rota uirnunat cor/iuusriou enemas The present invention relates to internal combustion engines; and more particularly to an improved internal combustion engine which can burn fuels which contain considerable amounts of sulfur and similar corrosive contaminants.

Oils and gases that contain sulfur, vanadium or sodium compounds are comparatively plentiful and cheap. They have not been utilized as fuel for internal combustion engines, however, because upon burning the contaminants produce oxides which either are corrosive to iron and steel, or produce oxides that are catalyzed by the iron and steel surfaces of the engine into other oxides which are corrosive to iron and steel in the presence of water vapor.

Sulfur compounds, for example, form sulfur dioxide when burned which, when in contact with the iron or steel surfaces of an internal combustion engine, is catalytically converted into sulfur trioxide. Sulfur trioxide has a great aflinity for water vapor to form sulfuric acid which, of course, is very corrosive with respect to iron and steel.

It has been found that a certain group of materials when placed over the iron and steel surfaces of the engine greatly retard if not prevent the catalytic conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide. Those materials which are non-catalytic with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide can be easily determined, and this group, although not limited to the following materials, will include calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, nickel oxide, sodium carbonate, and in general, those materials which form what are known as basic oxides. It is known that these materials prevent the catalytic conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide rather than merely neutralize the sulfuric acid when formed, because a much smaller amount of these materials is required to protect the engine than would be stoichiometrically required to neutralize the sulfuric acid which can form from the quantity of sulfur in the fuel.

These materials not only prevent the catalytic conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide but also prevent the direct contact and ensuing reaction of vanadium and sodium compounds with the steel and iron surfaces of the engine.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved method of preventing the corrosion of at least portions of the gas handling system of an internal combuston engine which includes the intake passages, combustion chamber, and exhaust passages of the engine.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine having new and improved means for protecting the engine and prolonging its useful life by depositing and maintaining a thin layer or coating of a material which is non-catalytic with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur tz'ioxide on those parts of the engine which are normally subjected to the corrosive attack of sulfur trioxide fumes and other contaminants.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of a preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the upper portion of the cylinder chamber of an internal combustion engine-the view includes a diagrammatic presentation of a slurry pumping system for injecting a slurry of a material which will form a coating on the exposed engine parts that is non-catalytic with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide into the top portion of the cylinder chamber;

FIG. 2 is a vertical, sectional view of the pumping device that is used to inject the slurry into the cylinder; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View through the exhaust valve seat in the engine shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein a cylinder block 10 having a cylinder chamber 11 therein in which a piston 12 is adapted to reciprocate. The upper end of the cylinder chamber 11 is closed off by a cylinder head 13 having an intake passage 14 which communicates with the top portion of the cylinder chamber 11. The cylinder head 13 also has an exhaust passage 15 therein for conducting the exhaust gases out of the cylinder chamber 11. Intake valve seat 16 and exhaust valve seat 17 are provided in the cylinder 11 in the usual manner. An intake valve 18 is provided with a poppet head 19 for seating on the intake valve seat 16 and a stem portion 20 that extends up out of the cylinder head 13 to be actuated by a suitable cam 21. An exhaust valve 22 having a poppet head portion 23 adapted to seat on the exhaust valve seat 17, and a stern portion 24 which extends out of the cylinder head 13 to be actuated by means of a suitable cam 25.

The internal combustion engine shown in the drawing is a supercharged one in which the intake valve 18 begins to open at approximately before top dead center of the piston 12 during the exhaust stroke when the exhaust valve 22 is open. Inasmuch as the system is supercharged, pressure from the intake passage 14 causes fresh air to sweep out the top portion of the cylinder chamber 11 and carry the swept gases out through exhaust passage 15. In the same engine the exhaust valve 22 is adapted to close approximately 80 after top center during the succeeding intake stroke when the piston 12 is moving downwardly in the cylinder chamber 11.

According to the present invention a material which is non-catalytic with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide, or one which prevents the conversion of the sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide is injected into the internal portions of the engine periodically during the operation of the engine. The slurry may be injected onto the exhaust valve seat directly so as to protect the exhaust valve, and its seat, as well as the exhaust valve passage; but in the preferred arrangement is injected into the intake passage 14 of the engine at a time when both the intake and exhaust valves are open so as to not only coat the exhaust valve 22 and its exhaust passage 15, but the entire internal surfaces of the engine adjacent the top of the cylinder chamber 11.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 for accomplishing the injection of the slurry into the top portion of the combustion chamber generally comprises a metering pump 26 for injecting the slurry into the intake passage 14 through its slurry nozzle 27. Inasmuch as slurries involve the suspension of heavy solids in aqueous solutions, the solids of the slurry tend to settle out when the slurry is allowed to set for any length of time. This being true, the metering pump 26 is supplied with a slurry from a system which recirculates a stream of slurry past the metering pump to keep the slurry in motion. The slurry system shown in the drawing comprises a slurry tank 28 having a mixer 29 therein to keep the solids of the slurry in suspension in the tank. A slurry pump 30 takes suction on the slurry tank 28 and delivers its discharge through conduit 31 to a two-way valve 32, which in one of its'positions communicates the slurry from the pump through supply line 33 to the metering pump 26. The slurry which is supplied to the line 33 is adapted to flow past the metering pump 26 to a return conduit 34 and back to the slurry tank 28.

The metering pump 26 comprises a cylinder body section 35 (see FIG. 2) having a vertically extending stepped pumping chamber 36 therein. The upper portion of the chamber 36 is counter bored as at 37 to provide an outer pumping chamber in the counter bored section, for reasons which will later be explained, and another pumping chamber 38 in the bottom of the stepped pumping chamber 36. A stepped piston 39 is provided in the stepped pumping chamber 36, so that its upper portion 40 sealingly engages the sidewalls of the counter bored section 37 and the lower portion 41 of the stepped piston 39 sealingly engages the sidewalls of the lower pumping chamber 38. The bottom of the lower pumping chamber 38 is provided with an outlet 42 which has an enlarged check valve chamber 43 therein forming a valve seat 44 against which a check valve 45 is urged by the coil spring 46. A suitable conduit 47 communicates the check valve chamber 43 to the spray nozzle 27 in the intake passage 14.

The stepped piston 39 is shown in its normal retracted position in FIG. 2 of the drawings. An annular groove 48 is provided in the side walls of the lower pumping chamber 38 immediately below the normal retracted position of the lower portion 41 of the piston 39, and the slurry supply line 33 is continually communicated to the annular groove 48 through a suitable passage 49 in the cylinder body section 35. The slurry from the supply line 33 therefore is free to fill the lower pumping chamber 38 of the metering pump 26. The annular groove 48 is also continually communicated to the return conduit 34 by means of the passageway 50 in the body section 35, so that a flow of the slurry is permitted past the lower pumping chamber 38 to prevent settling out of the slurry. Upon downward movement of the lower portion 41 of the stepped piston 39, the sidewalls of the lower portion 41 slide past the groove 48 to seal off the lower portion of the chamber 33 from the slurry supply line 33 and exhaust line 34 to force fluid out past the check valve 45 to the nozzle 27. After a predetermined downward movement, a venting passage 51 which extends axially from the bottom end of the lower piston portion 41 to a lateral opening in the sidewalls of the lower portion 41 of the piston comes into communication with the annular groove 48 to terminate the pumping action by communicating the pressure within the lower portion of the pumping chamber 38 to the return line 34. This serves the additional function of removing trapped slurry from the bottom of the lower pumping chamber 38 as will later be explained. The other function which the venting passage 51 performs is to terminate the pumping action to the slurry nozzle 27 at approximately 70 after top center of the piston 12.

In addition to spraying slurry into the intake passage 14 of the engine, the embodiment shown in the drawing is adapted to inject slurry directly upon the exhaust valve seat 17 of the engine. The injection of the slurry onto the exhaust valve seat 17 is performed by the pumping action between the counter bored section 37 of the stepped pumping chamber 36 and the upper portion 40 of the stepped piston 39. The pumping action produced between the counterbore 37 and the upper portion of the piston 40 is preferably so timed that it injects slurry onto the exhaust valve seat 17 at approximately 70 after top center of the piston 12 and continuing for approximately 20 to terminate 10 after closing of the exhaust valve 22. Slurry is admitted to the counterbore 37 by means of a recess 52 in the sidewalls of the counterbore 37, and to which counterbore 37, slurry from the supply line 33 is admitted through passageway 53. A continual flow of slurry through the recess 52 is provided by means of a passageway 54 which communicates with the return conduit 34 to prevent settling out of the slurry in the counterbore 37. Fluid pumped from the counterbore 37 flows through the passageway 55 communicating with the bottom of the counterbore to a supply conduit 56 leading to a passage 57 (see FIG. 3) that communicates with a recess 58 in the bottom'of the valve seat insert 17. The valve seat of the insert 17 is provided with a small annular recess 59 therein to which slurry from the recess 53 is communicated by a longitudinal passage 60 and a small orifice 61. The orifice 61 is very close to the valve seat 17 so that gases flowing past the valve seat 17 tend to keep the orifice 61 clean. The timing of the pumping action to the closing of the exhaust valve seat is had by positioning the recess 52 in the sidewalls of the counterbore 37 at such a point that the enlarged upper portion 40 of the stepped piston 39 just closes off the recess 52 at approximately 70 after top center of the piston 12. Pumping action continues for the balance of the downward stroke of the stepped piston 39 which terminates at approximately 90 degrees after top dead center.

The injection of slurry into the internal combustion engine need not be continuous in all engines, and in the engine shown in the drawing is adapted to be injected intermittently throughout the operation of the engine. The pumping action of the metering pump 26 as shown in the drawing is controlled by means of a hydraulic cylinder 62 which is fastened to the upper end of the cylinder body section 35 by means of an annular spacer 63 and h0lddown bolt 64. The hydraulic pumping cylinder 62 is provided with an axially extending pumping chamber 65 into the bottom end of which the upper end of the stepped piston 39 sealingly projects. The upper end of the pumping chamber 65 is closed off by means of a pumping piston 66, the top portion of which is contacted by means of a suitable rotating cam 67 (see FIG. 1) which is contoured to start the downward pumping action of the piston 66 at approximately 180 before top center and to cause the lower portion 41 of the stepped piston 39 to slide past the recess 48 at before top center. Oil is continually supplied to the pumping chamber 65 from the oil pump of the engine through the oil supply line 68. The pumping chamber 65 is also communicated to the oil sump through the return line 69. The return line 69 is provided with a shut-off valve 70, which valve 70 is closed when it is desired to actuate the stepped piston 39, and which valve 7 0 is opened when it is desired to stop the pumping action of the stepped piston 39. When the valve 70 is opened, no pressure can be built up in the pumping chamber 65 by the pumping piston 66, so that the stepped piston 39 remains in the position shown in the drawing wherein its collar 71 is held into engagement with the bottom of the hydraulic pumping cylinder 62 by means of the coil spring 72.

As indicated above, the introduction of slurry into the engine shown in the drawings is an intermittent one which is performed according to a predetermined cycle. At the end of the injection cycle, it is preferable that the slurry lines be flushed out with water in order that the solids of the slurry do not settle into the small pumping passageways when the metering pump 26 is not injecting the slurry into the engine. In the system shown in FIG. 1, a fresh water supply line 73 is communicated to the two-way valve 32. The two-way valve 32 is rotated counterclockwise after the pumping cycle to communicate the fresh water supply line '73 to the supply line 33. Fresh water is therefore swept past the pumping chambers 37 and 38 of the metering pump 26 and through the return conduit 34 to a two-way waste valve 74, which at this time is rotated clockwise 90 to communicate the return conduit 34 to a waste line 75. The two-way waste valve 74 is preferably located very close to the slurry tank 28, and the two-way supply valve 32 is preferably located very close to the discharge of the pump 30, so that substantially all of the slurry lines are flushed out by the flow of water. In addition, the recess 58 beneath the valve seat insert 17 is communicated to the return conduit 34 through a passageway 76, conduit 77, and a shut-off valve 78, so that the slurry supply lines to the orifices 61 are also flushed out with water. At the same time that the supply valve 32 and the waste valve 74 are rotated for the water flushing action, the shut-off valve 78 is opened so that the water pressure flows through the passageway 55, conduit 56, passageway 57, recess 58, and the passageway 76, through the valve 73 to the return conduit 34. When it is desired to pump slurry onto the exhaust valve seat 17, shut-off valve '78 is closed so as to hold a back pressure upon the orifice 61.

The slurry injecting cycle and purging cycle is controlled by means of a sequence controller 79, which when it initiates a slurry injecting cycle, rotates the two-way valve 32 to the position shown in the drawing, rotates the two-way waste valve 74 to the position shown in the drawing, closes valve 78 and closes valve 70. The slurry injecting cycle thereafter continues for a predetermined period of time after which the valve 7% is opened to stop the slurry injecting cycle. Shortly thereafter sequence controller 79 rotates the two-way waste valve 74 clockwise 90, opens the shut-off valve 78, and rotates the twoway supply valve 32 counterclockwise 90 to communicate water to the slurry system and thereby purge the same. This continues for a predetermined short period of time following which the sequence controller 79 closes off the water supply valve 80 to end the purging cycle.

It will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated as well as others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a new and improved internal combustion engine system which allows the engine to burn sulfur-bearing fuels without producing excessive corrosion of the internal parts of the engine. This is accomplished by injecting a slurry of a material which is noncatalyzing with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide in the engine. Those materials which are non-catalyzing will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and these materials will include calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, nickel oxide, sodium carbonate, as well as the other members of the group commonly known as the basic oxides. Of the materials mentioned, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, and nickel oxide are preferred.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the particular embodiments shown and described, and it is my intention to cover hereby all novel adaptations, modifications, and arrangements thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. The method of preventing corrosive attack to internal surfaces of four cycle internal combustion engines of the type having a gas flow passage that includes a combustion chamber, an intake passage leading to the top surfaces of said combustion chamber, an intake valve and valve seat controlling said intake passage, an exhaust passage leading from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve and valve seat controlling flow through said exhaust passage, and a piston which reciprocates toward and away from the top of said combustion chamber, said method comprising: providing means which causes said intake valve and said exhaust valve to be off of their seats simultaneously for a period of time when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber, and providing means which introduces a slurry of a material which is non-catalytic with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide into a portion of said gas flow passage when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber and said intake and exhaust valves are off of their seats.

2. The method of preventing corrosive attack to internal surfaces of four cycle internal combustion engines of the type having a gas flow passage that includes a combustion chamber, an intake passage leading to the top surfaces of said combustion chamber, an intake valve and valve seat controlling said intake passage, an exhaust passage leading from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve and valve seat controlling flow through said exhaust passage, and a piston which reciprocates toward and away from the top of said combustion chamber, said method comprising: providing means which causes said intake valve and said exhaust valve to be off of their seats simultaneously for a period of time when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber, and providing means which introduces a slurry of a material which is non-catalytic with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide into said intake passage when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber and said intake and exhaust valves are off of their seats.

3. The method of preventing corrosive attack to internal surfaces of internal combustion engines of the type having a gas flow passage that includes a combustion chamber, an intake passage leading to the top surfaces of said combustion chamber, an intake valve and valve seat controlling said intake passage, an exhaust passage leading from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve and valve seat controlling flow through said exhaust passage, and a piston which reciprocates toward and away from the top of said combustion chamber, said method comprising: introducing a slurry of a material which is noncatalytic with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide onto said exhaust valve seat when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber.

4. The method of preventing corrosive attack to internal surfaces of four cycle internal combustion engines of the type having a gas flow passage that includes a combustion chamber, an intake passage leading to the top surfaces of said combustion chamber, an intake valve and valve seat controlling said intake passage, an exhaust passage leading from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve and valve seat controlling flow through said exhaust passage, and a piston which reciprocates toward and away from the top of said combustion chamber, said method comprising: providing means which causes said intake valve and said exhaust valve to be off of their seats simultaneously for a period of time when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber, and providing means which introduces a slurry of calcium oxide into a portion of said gas flow passage when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber and said intake and exhaust valves are off of their seats.

5. The method of preventing corrosive attack to internal surfaces of four cycle internal combustion engines of the type having a gas flow passage that includes a combustion chamber, an intake passage leading to the top surfaces of said combustion chamber, an intake valve and valve seat controlling said intake passage, an exhaust passage leading from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve and valve seat controlling flow through said exhaust passage, and a piston which reciprocates toward and away from the top of said combustion chamber, said method comprising: providing means which causes said intake valve and said exhaust valve to be off of their seats simultaneously for a period of time when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber, and providing means which introduces a slurry of magnesium oxide into a portion of said gas flow passage when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber and said intake and exhaust valves are ofif of their seats.

6. The method of preventing corrosive attack to internal surfaces of four cycle internal combustion engines of the type having a gas flow passage that includes a combustion chamber, an intake passage leading to the top surfaces of said combustion chamber, an intake valve and valve seat controlling said intake passage, an exhaust passage leading from said combustion chamber, an exhaust valve and valve seat controlling flow through said exhaust passage, and a piston which reciprocates toward and away from the top of said combustion chamber, said method comprising: providing means which causes said intake valve and said exhaust valve to be off of their seats simultaneously for a period of time when said pistonis adjacent the top of said combustion chamber, and providing means which introduces a slurry of nickel oxide into a portion of said gas flow passage when said piston is adjacent the top of said combustion chamber and said intake and exhaust valves are off oftheir seats.

7. In an internal combustion engine: a housing forming a combustion chamber, said housing having an intake passage leading to said combustion chamben'and an exhaust passage leading from said combustion chamber, an intake 'valve for closing off said intake passage, an exhaust valve seat having an annular-valve seating surface in the sidewalls of said exhaust passage, said valve seat having an annular groove extending around its valve seating surface, an exhaust valve poppet for abutment with said annular valve seat, cyclic means for lifting said exhaust valve poppet periodically off of its seat and for thereafter causing said exhaust valve poppet to again engage its seat, and means for injecting a slurry of a material which is non-catalytic with respect to the conversion of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide into said annular groove in said-exhaust valve seat'while said exhaust valve poppet is off of its annular seating surface and just before said exhaust valve poppet again abuts its annular seating surface.

8. In an internal combustion engine: a housing forming a combustion chamber, said housing having an intake passage leading to said combustion chamber and an exhaust passage leading from said combustion chamber, an annular intake valve seat extending around the sidewalls of said intake passage, an intake valve poppet adapted for abutment with said intake valve seat, an annular exhaust valve seat extending around the sidewalls of said exhaust passage, an exhaust valve poppet adapted for abutment with said exhaust valve seat, a slurry pumping cylinder housing having a pumping cylinder therein which communicates with at least a portion of one of said intake and exhaust passages, a slurry displacement plunger having one end projecting into said pumping cylinder, means for admitting slurry into said pumping chamber when said plunger is withdrawn from said pumping cylinder and for conducting slurry to said exhaust valve when said plunger is moved into said pumping cylinder, a hydraulic actuating cylinder housing for said slurry plunger, said actuating cylinder housing having ahyclraulic cylinder into which the opposite end of said slurry plunger projects, a hydraulic displacement plunger in the opposite end of said hydraulic actuating cylinder, cyclic means for reciprocating said hydraulic displacement plunger, a hydraulic fluid supply line for said actuating cylinder, a hydraulic fluid exhaust line from said actuating cylinder, a shut-off valve in said hydraulic exhaust line, a slurry supply line to said slurry pumping cylinder, a slurry exhaust line from said slurry pumping cylinder, cyclic means for actuating said intake and exhaust valves, and control means for periodically closing said shut-off valve to produce a timed pumping of slurry to coat said exhaust valve.

No references cited.

Claims (1)

1. THE METHOD OF PREVENTING CORROSIVE ATTACK TO INTERNAL SURFACES OF FOUR CYCLE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES OF THE TYPE HAVING A GAS FLOW PASSAGE THAT INCLUDES A COMBUSTION CHAMBER, AN INTAKE PASSAGE LEADING TO THE TOP SURFACES OF SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER, AN INTAKE VALVE AND VALVE SEAT CONTROLLING SAID INTAKE PASSAGE, AN EXHAUST PASSAGE LEADING FROM SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER, AN EXHAUST VALVE AND VALVE SEAT CONTROLLING FLOW THROUGH SAID EXHAUST PASSAGE, AND A PISTON WHICH RECIPROCATES TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE TOP OF SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER, SAID METHOD COMPRISING: PROVIDING MEANS WHICH CAUSES SAID INTAKE VALVE AND SAID EXHAUST VALVE TO BE OFF OF THEIR SEATS SIMULTANEOUSLY FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN SAID PISTON IS ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER, AND PROVIDING MEANS WHICH INTRODUCES A SLURRY OF A MATERIAL WHICH IS NON-CATALYTIC WITH RESPECT TO THE CONVERSION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE TO SULFUR TRIOXIDE INTO A PORTION OF SAID GAS FLOW PASSAGE WHEN SAID PISTON IS ADJACENT THE TOP OF SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND SAID INTAKE AND EXHAUST VALVES ARE OFF OF THEIR SEATS.

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