Combustion engine

• US 4,041,910 A
• Filed: 04/02/1975
• Issued: 08/16/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Houseman, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Jr., Carroll B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Feinberg, Craig R.
• Application Number:
  US05/564,622
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 123/1 R, 123/37, 123/59 EC, 123/122 G, 123/122 AB, 123/59 PC, 123/DIG. 8, 123/119 A, 60/278, 60/279, 60/620
• US Class Current: 123/58.8
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/1832 eight
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/20 with cylinders all in one line
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 123/08 Multiple engine units

Abstract

An arrangement for an internal combustion engine is provided in which one or more of the cylinders of the engine are used for generating hydrogen rich gases from hydrocarbon fuels, which gases are then mixed with air and injected into the remaining cylinders to be used as fuel. When heavy load conditions are encountered, hydrocarbon fuel may be mixed with the hydrogen rich gases and air and the mixture is then injected into the remaining cylinders as fuel.

Claims

1. In an internal combustion engine of the type that has a plurality of cylinders each cylinder having a reciprocating piston, an intake means for enabling the timed introduction of fuel within each of said cylinders, an exhaust means for enabling the timed exhausting of the contents of each of said cylinders, and spark plug means for igniting fuel within each said cylinders, the improvement comprising

rich carburetor means for forming a first mixture of a hydrocarbon fuel with only enough air to partially oxidize said hydrocarbon fuel when ignited,

first means for introducing said first mixture into one of said cylinders from said rich carburetor means through its intake means to be compressed and ignited by operation of said internal combustion engine whereby hydrogen rich gases are formed in said one of said cylinders, said first means including first valve means for determining the amount of said first mixture introduced into said one of said cylinders,

lean carburetor means for forming a second mixture of hydrogen rich gases and enough air to fully oxidize said hydrogen rich gases,

means for transferring hydrogen rich gases from said one of said cylinders to said lean carburetor means,

second means for introducing said second mixture into the remaining cylinders of said engine through their intake means for use as a fuel, said second means including a second valve means for determining the amount of said second mixture introduced into the remaining cylinders of said engine, and

a throttle control means coupled to both said valve means for simultaneously controlling the respective amounts of first and second mixtures passed by both said valve means.

2. In an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1 wherein there is included

means responsive to an overload demand on said engine for enabling a hydrocarbon fuel to be introduced into lean carburetor means to be mixed thereby with said hydrogen rich gas and air.

3. In an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1 wherein there is included

heat transfer means heat coupling said means for transferring hydrogen rich gases to said first means for introducing said first mixture for heating said first mixture with heat from said hydrogen rich gases.

4. In an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1 wherein said first means introducing said first mixture into said one of said cylinders includes a prechamber in communication with said one of said cylinders and into which said first mixture is introduced to flow therefrom into said one of said cylinders.

5. In an internal combustion engine as recited in claim 1 wherein for each cylinder, there is an associated prechamber having a passageway communicating with its cylinder,

a third means for introducing said first mixture into each one of said prechambers from said rich carburetor means, and

a means for introducing a hydrocarbon fuel into said lean carburetor means to be mixed with said hydrogen rich gas and air.