Method and apparatus to provide oxygen enriched air to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine

• US 20050199231A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ruth I. Heider
• Original Assignee: James E. Heider
• Inventors: Heider, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,128,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/585
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/12 the apparatus having means for generating such gases using rays and simultaneously generating ozone F02M27/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

This invention describes a method which can be used to improve the output torque and resulting horsepower of internal combustion engines while lowering the overall pollution experienced with these engines. This invention will allow smaller displacement engines to be used in transportation vehicles without sacrifice of driveability. In some applications existing high horsepower engines can be boosted to even higher output levels. This invention describes an on board system that separates nitrogen (N₂) from air leaving an oxygen (O₂) enriched air that is used in combination with fuel to improve operation of the engine during its various modes of operation (start-up, acceleration, cruise, deceleration and idle).

Claims

1. A vehicle having:

(a) an internal combustion engine;

(b) an on board system to produce oxygen enriched air; and

(c) means for delivering said oxygen enriched air and fuel to said internal combustion drive engine.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the level of oxygen delivered to the internal combustion engine is in the range of 22% to 36% and said delivery is on an intermittent basis.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the level of oxygen delivered to the internal combustion engine is in the range of 22% to 28% and said delivery is on a continuous basis.

25. A vehicle according to claim 2 wherein fuel is delivered to said internal combustion engine in greater quantities when the level of oxygen delivered to said engine is in the range of 22% to 36% than when the level of oxygen delivered to said engine is less than 22%.

4. A method for providing oxygen enriched air to an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a molecular sieve for receiving and expelling air, said sieve having the property (i) of absorbing at least a portion of nitrogen from air moving therethrough under pressure such that air expelled therefrom has a higher concentration of oxygen than atmospheric air and (ii) upon being exposed to atmosphere at normal atmospheric pressure, desorbing at least a portion of said nitrogen;

(b) delivering air to and through said molecular sieve under pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to form oxygen enriched air;

(c) delivering said oxygen enriched air to an internal combustion engine;

(d) stopping step (b); and

(e) venting said molecular sieve to atmosphere.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein during step (b) air is passed over a synthetic zeolite molecular sieve.

6. The method according to claim 4 further including the steps of

(f) providing a second molecular sieve having the same properties as the molecular sieve of step (a);

(g) delivering air to and through said second molecular sieve when the delivery of air to and through the molecular sieve of step (a) is stopped; and

(h) delivering oxygen enriched air from said second molecular sieve to said internal combustion engine.

7. The method according to claim 4 further including the step of delivering said oxygen enriched air to a storage container prior to delivering it to said internal combustion engine.

24. The method according to claim 4 further including the step of delivering fuel to said internal combustion engine, said fuel being delivered in greater quantities during step (c) than during step (d).

8. A method for providing oxygen enriched air to an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of:

(a) providing first and second molecular sieves for receiving and expelling air, said sieves having the property (i) of absorbing at least a portion of nitrogen from air moving therethrough under pressure such that air expelled therefrom has a higher concentration of oxygen than atmospheric air and (ii) upon being exposed to atmosphere at normal atmospheric pressure, desorbing at least a portion of said nitrogen;

(b) delivering air to and through said first molecular sieve under pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to form oxygen enriched air;

(c) Delivering said oxygen enriched air to an internal combustion engine;

(d) stopping step (b);

(e) venting said first molecular sieve to atmosphere;

(f) delivering air to and through said second molecular sieve under pressure higher than atmospheric pressure to form oxygen enriched air;

(g) delivering said oxygen enriched air from said second molecular sieve to said internal combustion engine;

(h) stopping step (g); and

(i) venting said second molecular sieve to atmosphere.

9. The method according to claim 8 further including the step of delivering said oxygen enriched air to a storage container prior to delivering it to said internal combustion engine.

10. The method according to claim 8 further including the steps of delivering said oxygen enriched air from said first molecular sieve to a storage container prior to delivering it to said internal combustion engine and delivering said oxygen enriched air from said second molecular sieve to a storage container prior to delivering it to said internal combustion engine.

11. Apparatus for providing oxygen enriched air to an internal combustion engine comprising:

(a) a molecular sieve for receiving and expelling air, said sieve having the property (i) of absorbing at least a portion of nitrogen from air moving therethrough under pressure such that air expelled therefrom has a higher concentration of oxygen than atmospheric air and (ii) upon being exposed to atmosphere at normal atmospheric pressure, desorbing at least a portion of said nitrogen;

(b) means for delivering air to and through said molecular sieve under pressure higher than atmospheric pressure;

(c) a passageway between said molecular sieve and said internal combustion engine; and

(d) a vent for venting said molecular sieve to atmosphere; and

(e) a plurality of valves operable to close said vent when the flow of air through said molecular sieve and to said internal combustion engine is open and to open said vent when the flow of air between said molecular sieve and said internal combustion engine is closed.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 further including a storage container positioned to receive oxygen enriched air from said molecular sieve and deliver it to said engine.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 further including a sensor for detecting the amount of oxygen in air leaving said molecular sieve.

14. Apparatus for providing oxygen enriched air to an internal combustion engine comprising:

(a) first and second molecular sieves for receiving and expelling air, said sieves having the property (i) of absorbing at least a portion of nitrogen from air moving therethrough under pressure such that air expelled therefrom has a higher concentration of oxygen than atmospheric air and (ii) upon being exposed to atmosphere at normal atmospheric pressure, desorbing at least a portion of said nitrogen;

(b) means for sequentially delivering air under pressure to said first molecular sieve and to said second molecular sieve;

(c) a first set of valves preventing the flow of air under pressure to said second molecular sieve when said air is flowing to said first molecular sieve and preventing the flow of air under pressure to said first molecular sieve when said air is flowing to said second molecular sieve;

(d) a second set of valves operable to provide an open vent to atmosphere for said second molecular sieve when said first set of valves is preventing the flow thereto of air under pressure and to provide an open vent to atmosphere for said first molecular sieve when said first set of valves is preventing the flow thereto of air under pressure; and

(e) passageways between each of said first and second molecular sieves and said internal combustion engine.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 further including a chamber for storing oxygen enriched air, said storage chamber positioned to receive oxygen enriched air from at least one of said first and second molecular sieves and deliver it to said internal combustion engine.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 further including a first sensor for detecting the amount of oxygen in air leaving said first molecular sieve and a second sensor for detecting the amount of oxygen in air leaving said second molecular sieve, said first sensor actuatable upon a reduction in oxygen in air leaving said first molecular sieve to stop the flow of air therethrough and said second sensor actuatable upon a reduction in oxygen in air leaving said second molecular sieve to stop the flow of air therethrough.

17. A method for operating an internal combustion engine comprising the steps of

(a) delivering combustible fuel to a combustion chamber of said engine

(b) delivering air including oxygen and nitrogen to said combustion compartment with said fuel

(c) prior to step (b) passing at least a portion of said air under pressure greater than atmospheric through a molecular sieve to reduce the concentration of nitrogen and provide oxygen enrichment to said air being delivered.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the concentration of oxygen in the delivered air does not exceed 28% and oxygen enriched air is delivered substantially continuously.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein the concentration of oxygen in the delivered air exceeds 28% and oxygen enriched air is delivered intermittently.

20. The method according to claim 19 further including the steps of storing at least a portion of said oxygen enriched air prior to delivering it to said combustion chamber.

21. The method according to claim 17 further including the steps of

(i) stopping the flow of air through said molecular sieve;

(ii) venting said molecular sieve to atmosphere;

(iii) during at least a portion of the time air is stopped from flowing through said molecular sieve, causing air to flow through a second molecular sieve; and

(iv) delivering air from said second molecular sieve to said combustion chamber.

22. The method according to claim 21 further including the step of applying a vacuum to said molecular sieve during said step of venting.

23. The method according to claim 17 further including the step of increasing the amount of fuel delivered to said engine prior to step (b).