On-board fuel additive injection systems
First Claim
1. A fuel additive system for an internal combustion engine on-board a vessel, the system comprising:
- an internal combustion engine in fluid communication with a fuel storage tank through a fuel supply line and a fuel return line, the fuel supply line transporting fuel from the fuel storage tank to the internal combustion engine and the fuel return line transporting unspent fuel from the internal combustion engine to the fuel storage tank;
a reservoir for storing a fuel additive, the reservoir being in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine; and
an injector for injecting the fuel additive into the internal combustion engine, the injector being in fluid communication with the reservoir and the internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine, the reservoir, and the injector are disposed on-board the vessel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is a fuel additive system for internal combustion engines in which the fuel additive system is disposed on-board a vessel such as marine vessel or locomotive. The fuel additive system includes a fuel additive reservoir containing a fuel additive in fluid communication with an internal combustion engine. An electronically controlled injector, such as an eductor, is in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine and a fuel level meter or sensor, fuel efficiency meter or sensor, or other meter or sensor which, upon sensing certain pre-set conditions, e.g., increase of fuel level in a fuel storage tank or decrease in fuel efficiency, the injector injects an appropriate amount of fuel additive from the fuel additive reservoir and into the fuel stream that ultimately enters the internal combustion engine.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fuel additive system for an internal combustion engine on-board a vessel, the system comprising:
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an internal combustion engine in fluid communication with a fuel storage tank through a fuel supply line and a fuel return line, the fuel supply line transporting fuel from the fuel storage tank to the internal combustion engine and the fuel return line transporting unspent fuel from the internal combustion engine to the fuel storage tank;
a reservoir for storing a fuel additive, the reservoir being in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine; and
an injector for injecting the fuel additive into the internal combustion engine, the injector being in fluid communication with the reservoir and the internal combustion engine, wherein the internal combustion engine, the reservoir, and the injector are disposed on-board the vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16)
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17. A method of injecting a fuel additive into an internal combustion engine of a vessel, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a vessel having disposed thereon an internal combustion engine in fluid communication with a fuel storage tank through a fuel supply line, the fuel supply line transporting fuel from the fuel storage tank to the internal combustion engine, a reservoir for storing a fuel additive, the reservoir being in fluid communication with the internal combustion engine, and an injector for injecting the fuel additive into the internal combustion engine;
(b) monitoring the level of fuel in the fuel storage tank;
(c) sensing an increase in the level of fuel in the fuel storage tank; and
(d) injecting an appropriate amount of a fuel additive based upon the increase in the level of fuel in the fuel storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification