Internal-combustion engines – Charge forming device – Heating of combustible mixture
Patent
1986-08-14
1988-06-07
Cross, E. Rollins
Internal-combustion engines
Charge forming device
Heating of combustible mixture
123525, 123575, F02G 500
Patent
active
047489618
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to internal combustion engines.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The object of the present invention is to improve upon the engines disclosed in United Kingdom Patent Specifications No. 1,513,051 and No. 2,078,297B because, although the general principle underlying both of the inventions disclosed therein has proved to be perfectly sound, a shortcoming of both of the engines disclosed in said Specifications is the time taken to modify an existing engine in order to utilize the respective inventions. Typically, the time taken to complete an installation has been found to be somewhere between 5 and 7 hours and (because time is chargeable in addition to parts and materials) the cost has been higher than is desirable.
The term "mineral oil" as employed herein is intended to include a paraffin hydrocarbon of high molecular weight (high boiling range) which preferably contains a high proportion of branched-chain isomers. Any commercially available material containing such compounds, but devoid of oxygen-containing compounds, should be found to be suitable feedstock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention consists in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine which comprises first means for conducting a combustible fuel and air to each cylinder of the engine and second means including a heat exchanger in which at least a part of a quantity of a mineral oil (as defined above) is converted by electrically generated heat from its liquid condition to a vapour which is added to the combustible charge which is supplied to each cylinder, whereby the efficiency of the engine is improved.
In a preferred embodiment of the engine described in the preceding paragraph, said vapour may be conveyed to an intermediate element, which forms part of the engine, in order to be added to said combustible charge. In the case where the engine is a spark-ignition engine, the intermediate element is a carburettor whereas, in the case where the engine is a compression-ignition engine, the intermediate element is an air-intake device.
In an engine as described in either of the two preceding paragraphs, said heat exchanger preferably comprises at least one electrical heating element which, when energised, generates heat which is absorbed by an elongate hollow member into one end of which said liquid mineral oil flows. Said elongate hollow member preferably is a tube; said tube may be wound in a helix and, in such a case, it is preferred that the or each electrical heating element be positioned within the convolutions, or within at least some of the convolutions, of the helically wound tube. Alternatively, said tube may be straight and, in such a case, it is preferred that the or each electrical heating element be wound in a helix about the whole length of said tube or about a part of the length of said tube.
The elongate hollow member referred to in the preceding paragraph is preferably made of brass.
In an engine as described in any one of the four preceding paragraphs, said liquid mineral oil is stored in a tank. Preferably, said oil is stored in the lower part of the tank of which the upper part acts, in use, as a trap in which any part of said quantity of the mineral oil which has not become vaporized is returned to the remaining liquid mineral oil.
In one embodiment of the engine described in any one of the five preceding paragraphs, the tank is so connected to the heat exchanger that the liquid mineral oil flows from the tank into the heat exchanger under the influence of gravity. In an alternative embodiment of the engine described in any one of the five preceding paragraphs, the liquid mineral oil is drawn from the tank by a pump which pumps said oil to the heat exchanger.
In an engine as described above and according to the present invention, there may be two electrical heating elements, a thermostat being provided which operates at a predetermined temperature of the heated mineral oil to interrupt the supply of electrical current to one of said
REFERENCES:
patent: 3851633 (1974-12-01), Shih
patent: 4213433 (1980-07-01), Day
patent: 4259937 (1981-04-01), Elliott
patent: 4345141 (1982-08-01), Little
Headley Ronald G. A.
Wilkes John
Wilkes Stephen J.
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