WO2006099657A1

WO2006099657A1 - In-line continuous fuel catalytic and magnetic treatment system

Info

Publication number: WO2006099657A1
Application number: PCT/AU2006/000292
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ross James Turner
Original assignee: Ross James Turner
Priority date: 2005-03-21
Filing date: 2006-03-06
Publication date: 2006-09-28
Also published as: CN101146990B; NZ562705A; CN101146990A

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus for the continuous addition of tin to fuel. The apparatus (1) comprises: a non-magnetic cylinder (2) having end pieces (3, 4) suitable for attachment into a fuel line; a lateral ring magnet (9, 10) inside each end of the cylinder, wherein the poles of the magnets are opposed and each of the magnets is housed within a magnetic material (15, 16) which protects the periphery and bore of the magnet; at least one external magnetic member (5, 6) positioned between the magnets; a lateral member (11, 12) inwardly adjacent to each of the magnets, which member has a plurality of openings for passage of fuel; and a plurality of tin-containing disks (13) between the lateral members, adjacent tin-containing disks having between them an abrasion plate (14) comprising a serrated disk with abrasive surfaces. The invention also provides a method of improving the performance of an internal combustion engine by installing the subject apparatus in a fuel supply line of the engine.

Description

In-line continuous fuel catalytic and magnetic treatment system

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention described herein relates to in-line fuel catalyst systems. In particular, the invention is directed to an apparatus for continuous in-line addition of tin to fuel, although the scope of the invention is not necessarily limited thereto.

BACKGROUND ART

Lead was first used in petrol as an anti-knock agent in 1926. Environmental pressures led to the introduction of exhaust catalysts for controlling emissions in 1989 in Australia. This necessitated the use of unleaded petrol in order to protect the exhaust catalysts. However, unleaded fuel has the disadvantages of poor performance and engine damage.

The effects of tin on fossil fuels and oils date back to 1922. For example, in 1941 a tin- based fuel additive was used by the RAF to overcome problems caused by poor fuel quality that had plagued its Hurricane aircraft operating from Murmansk in Russia.

Tin based fuel additives were introduced in the 1960s and, with the advent of unleaded fuel in the 1980s, promoted as a means of allowing engines designed for leaded fuel to run on unleaded fuel. However, unlike lead additives, tin additives are relatively insoluble in fuel.

It is an aim of the invention to provide a continuous in-line source of soluble tin for addition to fuel, which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages or problems described above, or which at least provides the consumer with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for the continuous addition of tin to fuel, the apparatus comprising: a non-magnetic cylinder, said cylinder having end pieces suitable for attachment into a fuel line; a lateral ring magnet inside each end of said cylinder, wherein the poles of said magnets are opposed and each said magnet is housed within a magnetic material which protects the periphery and bore of said magnet; at least one external magnetic member positioned between said magnets; a lateral member inwardly adjacent to each said magnet, said member having a plurality of openings for passage of fuel; and a plurality of tin-containing disks between said lateral members, adjacent tin-containing disks having therebetween an abrasion plate comprising a serrated disk with abrasive surfaces.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of improving the performance of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising installing in a fuel supply line of said engine an apparatus according to the first embodiment.

With regard to the cylinder of the apparatus according to the first embodiment, a preferred material is a non-magnetic stainless steel. However, it will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that any non-magnetic material can be used although the cylinder is typically metal.

With regard to the cylinder end-pieces, these can be any connector suitable for including the apparatus into a fuel line. Such connectors include compression fittings, flared fittings or barbed fittings over which a flexible hose can slide.

The ring magnets of the apparatus are typically rare earth magnets. A preferred magnet is a neodymium magnet. The housing for each ring magnet typically comprises a pair of flanged tubular sections, the flange of each one of the pair abutting a face of the magnet with the tubular section extending into the bore of the magnet.

The external magnetic member can be any suitable material but is typically a strip of steel surrounding the cylinder. The magnetic member is advantageously a steel mounting clip. In one form of the apparatus, two spaced-apart magnetic members are provided, positioned inwardly of the ring magnets. The two magnetic members can be spaced-apart by an elongate member which can also serve as a mounting member.

The lateral member of the apparatus is preferably cup-shaped, with the concave surfaces facing the ends of said cylinder. The plurality of openings in the member, typically positioned at the periphery thereof, aids distribution of fuel about the tin-alloy disks.

The serrated disks of the abrasion plates are typically manufactured from metal with the abrasive surfaces comprising a multitude of teeth or ridges machined into the surfaces of a disk. Alternatively, the surfaces of the disk can be coated with an abrasive material such as diamond dust or carborundum. The disks are sized to ensure a clearance fit with the cylinder. The disk can thus rotate and move axially along the cylinder as the tin-alloy disks abrade and the abrasion plates are drawn inwardly under the influence of the magnets. Each abrasion plate advantageously has at least one hole therethrough. Typically there are 6 or 8 holes through the abrasion disk but there can be as many as 30 or more.

The cylinder has an internal diameter which is 15 to 20% greater than the diameter of the tin-alloy disks. This allows fuel to flow between the edges of the disks and the inside- surface of the cylinder. The length of the cylinder is determined by the number of tin-alloy disks to be included in the apparatus, with allowance for other components. Apparatus comprising 2 tin-alloy disks is adequate for small engines such as lawnmower engines and the like. Apparatus used in conjunction with motor vehicle engines can have from 2 to 12 tin-alloy disks, depending on the capacity of the engine. Industrial engines typically utilise an apparatus in the fuel-line which comprises up to 30 tin-alloy disks.

The tin-alloy disks can be made from any suitable alloy. A preferred alloy consists of 10-12% antimony, 10-12% lead and the balance tin.

The apparatus of the invention is not flow-specific, and can be installed in either direction.

The apparatus functions in the method of the invention in the following manner:

Fuel passes through the ring magnet, and the end plate ensures that the fuel is then dispersed evenly into the cylinder. As the fuel passes through the section of the cylinder containing the tin-alloy disks, tin is liberated into the fuel, resulting in fuel with improved combustion properties.

Tin is liberated from the tin-alloy disks by virtue of the action of the abrasion plates on the adjacent tin-alloy disks. This abrasion is effected by vibration of the engine in which the apparatus of the invention is installed, the vibration causing the disks to rotate. The action is also effected by turbulent flow of fuel through the serrations at the periphery of each abrasion plate which again assists disk rotation.

The attractive forces between the two opposed ring magnets, and forces between each magnet and the external magnetic member, ensure that the tin-alloy disks remain closely packed against the abrasion plates. The foregoing ensures continuous abrasion of the tin-alloy disks, and therefore continuous liberation of tin into the fuel stream. - A -

It is not necessary for both ring magnets to move as the tin-alloy disks abrade. In some circumstances, it is convenient to install the apparatus at an angle: about 5° for example. In such a circumstance, the lowermost ring magnet tends to remain in the some position while the uppermost ring magnet can move downwardly through being attracted to the external magnetic member, still ensuring that the tin-alloy disks remain closely packed against the abrasion plates.

The fuel exits the cylinder by passing through the other end plate, said end plate ensuring that the fuel exits in an even flow through the second ring magnet.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practice, one or more preferred embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of an abrasion plate included in the device depicted in

Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the ring magnet 4.

Figure 5 is an exploded side view of a ring magnet with its housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown apparatus 1 comprising cylinder 2, connectors 3 and 4, and magnetic clips 5 and 6 about cylinder 2. Magnetic clips 5 and 6 are spaced apart by elongate member 6a which also serves as a mounting bar. The apparatus is connected into a fuel line by way of the tubular extensions of connectors 3 and 4. Fuel in the fuel line enters the apparatus from either end of the cylinder 2, and exits from the opposite end. The arrows indicate the direction of attraction of the ring magnets (not shown) for each other and for clips 5 and 6, and the direction of movement of the ring magnets with time.

With regard to Figure 2, a cross-sectional view of the apparatus comprising this drawing shows end plugs 7 and 8, housed ring magnets 9 and 10, end plates 11 and 12, a plurality of tin-alloy disks, one of which is item 13, and a plurality of abrasion plates, one of which is item 14, packed in the internal space of cylinder 2. The housing for each ring magnet 9 and 10 comprises a pair of flanged tubes, 15 and 16, and 17 and 18, respectively. These will be described in greater detail below.

The fuel in a fuel line (not shown in the drawings) enters the apparatus through the end plug 8, and passes through the middle of the ring magnet 10. End plate 12 distributes the fuel evenly to the periphery of the cylinder 2. The fuel flows over and around tin-alloy disks 13 and abrasion plate 14 to collect at the second end plate 11. The tin-rich fuel then exits through the second ring magnet 9 and end plug 7.

An abrasion plate is shown in greater detail in Figure 3. Plate 19 has a serrated periphery 20 and six holes through the central portion of the disk comprising the plate, one of which holes is item 21.

Figure 4 is an end view of one of the ring magnets of the apparatus. Bore 22 of ring magnet (item 9 or 10 of Figure 2) can be seen in the figure.

In Figure 5 there is shown a side view of one of the ring magnets of the apparatus (item

9 of Figure 2 for example). Magnet 9 has on one face a flanged tubular member 23 and on the other face an identical member 24. Members 23 and 24 are opposed so that in situ the tubular portions 25 and 26 are located in the bore 22 of ring magnet 9.

The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The term "comprise" and variants of the term such as "comprises" or "comprising" are used herein to denote the inclusion of a stated integer or stated integers but not to exclude any other integer or any other integers, unless in the context or usage an exclusive interpretation of the term is required.

Any reference to publications cited in this specification is not an admission that the disclosures constitute common general knowledge in Australia.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the continuous addition of tin to fuel, the apparatus comprising: a non-magnetic cylinder, said cylinder having end pieces suitable for attachment into a fuel line; a lateral ring magnet inside each end of said cylinder, wherein the poles of said magnets are opposed and each said magnet is housed within a magnetic material which protects the periphery and bore of said magnet; at least one external magnetic member positioned between said magnets; a lateral member inwardly adjacent to each said magnet, said member having a plurality of openings for passage of fuel; and a plurality of tin-containing disks between said lateral members, adjacent tin-containing disks having therebetween an abrasion plate comprising a serrated disk with abrasive surfaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cylinder of the apparatus comprises a nonmagnetic stainless steel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said cylinder end-pieces comprise connectors selected from the group consisting of compression fittings, flared fittings and barbed fittings.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnets are rare earth magnets.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said rare earth magnets are neodymium magnets.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing for each ring magnet comprises a pair of flanged tubular sections, the flange of each one of the pair abutting a face of the magnet with the tubular section extending into the bore of the magnet.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnetic member comprises a steel mounting clip.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein two spaced-apart magnetic members are provided, positioned inwardly of the ring magnets, optionally spaced-apart by an elongate member which can also serve as a mounting member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lateral member is cup-shaped, with the concave surfaces of said member facing the ends of said cylinder.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said serrated disks are metal with the abrasive surfaces comprising a multitude of teeth or ridges machined into the surfaces of a disk.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the abrasive surfaces of said serrated disks comprise a coating of an abrasive material.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the abrasive material is selected from the group consisting of diamond dust and carborundum.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each said abrasion plate has at least one hole therethrough.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each said abrasion plate has up to thirty holes therethrough.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cylinder has an internal diameter which is 15 to 20% greater than the diameter of the tin-alloy disks.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising two tin-alloy disks.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising two to twelve tin-alloy disks.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising thirty tin-alloy disks.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tin-alloy disks each consist of 10- 12% antimony, 10-12% lead and the balance tin.

20. A method of improving the performance of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising installing in a fuel supply line of said engine an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 19.