Internal-combustion engines – Accessories – Covers – trays – vibrators – corrosion inhibitors – air filters
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-14
2003-05-06
Yuen, Henry C. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Accessories
Covers, trays, vibrators, corrosion inhibitors, air filters
Reexamination Certificate
active
06557517
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the decarboning of the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine using a liquid cleaner. More specifically, the present invention relates to the cleaning of the compression rings on the piston associated with the combustion chamber.
The typical internal combustion engine has at least one combustion chamber associated with a piston. On the piston are a pair of compression rings. The compression rings serve to prevent the escape of gases from the chamber around the sides of the piston during the compression stroke of the engine.
The only known method of effectively cleaning compression rings is to overhaul the engine. Overhauling involves dismantling the engine, cleaning any carbon coated parts, putting in new rings, and then reassembling. It is extremely costly and time consuming. Further, some modem engines (i.e., the Cadillac Northstar®) cannot be overhauled because of the way they are constructed. Because they cannot be overhauled, carbon buildup on the compression rings in these kinds of engines is a major concern. If the buildup on the rings becomes so great that compression within the combustion chamber unacceptable, the engine must be replaced. This has resulted in these modern engines earning the nickname “throw-away engines.”
Even though overhauling is the only effective prior art method for cleaning the compression rings, liquid cleaners have been used to clean combustion chambers in the past. One such method involves manually pouring an alcohol based cleaner into the combustion chamber after removing the spark plug and leaving the spark plug hole open.
This method has two disadvantages. First, alcohol based products tend to cause the carbon deposits to break off rather than dissolve. When carbon deposits break off between the piston rings, they become trapped. These trapped particles can cause engine problems.
Second, the open spark plug hole does not allow the user to activate the pistons during the cleaning to work the cleaner into and between the compression rings in an effective manner. If the user were to activate the pistons under this prior art method, the cleaner would splash out of the open spark plug hole. Splashed engine cleaners can eat away at external parts of the engine causing irreparable damage. Splash can be prevented by capping the spark plug hole after the cleaner has been poured in. However, capping the hole also precludes the mechanic from activating the pistons while cleaner is in the chamber. The cleaner can become trapped when the piston is in the upper range of its motion in the chamber because it cannot escape out the spark plug hole. The trapped fluid is not compressible (as is air), so the back pressure resists the movement of the piston so that the engine will not turn over. This is called “hydrolocking.” Hydrolocking an engine can cause tremendous damage to the engine's pistons and rods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a clean and simple method of inducing and maintaining cleaner in the combustion chamber during the cleaning process and an apparatus for enabling such.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a way of maintaining cleaning fluid in the combustion chamber at the same time as activating the piston that prevents fluid from being spilled onto other engine components or hydrolocking the engine.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a pressurized blowout procedure whereby fluid is forced through the exhaust system of the vehicle after cleaning by way of the application of pressurized air.
These objectives are accomplished using a new device. The device resembles and is hereinafter referred to as a “squid.” The squid has a cylindrical body with sub-cavities into which cleaner is poured. Each sub-cavity is associated with a conduit which is used to deliver the cleaner to a particular combustion chamber in an engine. Each conduit is connected to an adapter that screws into the engine block of the vehicle being serviced. The adapters are easily screwed into the spark plug opening in the combustion chamber after removing the spark plug.
The squid enables the user to clean the compression rings of the piston without overhauling the engine. Clean piston rings are essential for maintaining ideal compression ratios within the combustion chamber. The loss of compression within the combustion chamber is caused by a principle called blow-by. The build up of carbon deposits on the compression rings can cause these rings to not sit flush against the cylinder walls. This creates small gaps between the compression ring and the cylinder wall. These gaps cause the compressed air in the combustion chamber to inappropriately blow past the compression rings downwardly past the piston. This lowers engine compression ratios. Poor compression ratios can greatly reduce performance, increase harmful emissions and even completely disable an engine. Also, engine oil can enter the combustion chamber where it is burned and consumed, creating more deposits and increasing engine oil consumption.
The present invention is the only known solution to blow-by problems in a combustion chamber without overhauling the engine.
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Augustus Richard
Erwin Harold E.
Benton Jason
Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
Yuen Henry C.
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