Fuel regenerated non-polluting internal combustion engine

• US 4,099,489 A
• Filed: 11/22/1976
• Issued: 07/11/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Curtis E. Bradley
• Original Assignee: Curtis E. Bradley
• Inventors: Bradley, Curtis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reynolds, David D.
• Application Number:
  US05/744,193
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 123/1 A, 123/3, 123/41.2, 123/41.21, 123/119 E, 123/121, 123/DIG. 12, 60/39.18 B, 60/616, 60/618
• US Class Current: 123/3
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/14 including at least one combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 25/005 the working fluid being steam, created by combustion of hydrogen with oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2043/106 Hydrogen obtained by electrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/08 Plants characterised by the engines using gaseous fuel generated in the plant from solid fuel, e.g. wood
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 123/12 Hydrogen

Abstract

An internal combustion engine in which heat is derived from the engine cooling system and the exhaust to heat a working fluid and to transform it into a gas which drives a turbine which operates a generator. Direct current from the latter is delivered to an electrolysis cell containing purified water which is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is injected under pressure into the combustion chambers of the engine while the hydrogen is also injected under pressure into a carburetor where it is combined with conventional hydrocarbon fuel.

Claims

1. In an internal combustion engine;

(a) an engine block providing at least one combustion chamber;

(b) an exhaust pipe extending from said block;

(c) a partially closed system for a working fluid in the form of water and gas emanating therefrom by heating of the water and including a pump for circulating the working fluid through the system, a turbine which is operated by the working fluid in a gaseous state, and a condenser for returning the working fluid from a gaseous state to water;

(d) a heat exchanger disposed about said exhaust pipe and through which said working fluid system passes to derive heat from said exhaust pipe and heat the working fluid;

(e) a generator driven by said turbine to produce an electric current;

(f) an electrolysis cell containing water and connected to said generator whereby current from said generator decomposes the water into oxygen and hydrogen;

(g) a water tank connected to said working fluid system by a conduit including a water purifier, and a piper for taking purified water from said system and delivering it to said electrolysis cell;

(h) a hydrogen carburetor on said engine block for delivering hydrogen to a combustion chamber in said block;

(i) a conduit extending from said electrolysis cell to said hydrogen carburetor and which conveys hydrogen from said cell and delivers it to said hydrogen carburetor under pressure by the heat of said cell and the pump which circulates the working fluid;

(j) a fuel tank for a hydrocarbon fuel;

(k) a hydrocarbon fuel carburetor on said engine block and connected to said hydrocarbon fuel tank; and

(l) means for conveying oxygen from said electrolysis cell and delivering it under pressure to said combustion chamber by pressure generated by said cell and the pump which circulates the working fluid.

2. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 in which there is a second heat generator closely adjacent to said condenser and through which that portion of the working fluid system in which the working fluid in a gaseous state passes.

3. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 in which the engine includes a cooling system and the working fluid system is associated therewith to derive heat therefrom.

4. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 in which the generator generates AC current together with a power conditioner including a rectifier, a transformer and a voltage regulator for converting said AC current to DC current of a required voltage which is delivered to said electrolysis cell.

5. The internal combustion engine of claim 4 in which water is drawn from said water tank through said conduit connected to said working fluid system by a motor driven pump included in said last mentioned conduit;

and electric lines between said motor and said power conditioner.

6. The internal combustion engine of claim 4 together with a second generator for AC current which is connected to said power conditioner and having a drive shaft operatively connected to the traction driving mechanism of the vehicle in which the engine is installed and rendered effective by the momentum of the vehicle as it is being slowed.

7. The internal combustion engine of claim 4 together with a battery which is connected to said rectifier.

8. The internal combustion engine of claim 1 in which the engine is of the Otto type and includes a plurality of combustion chambers.

9. In an internal combustion engine:

(a) an engine block providing at least one combustion chamber;

(b) an exhaust pipe extending from said block;

(c) a partially closed system for a working fluid in the form of water and gas emanating thereform by heating of the water and including a pump for circulating the working fluid through the system, a turbine which is operated by the working fluid in gaseous state, and a condenser for returning the working fluid from a gaseous state to water;

(d) a heat exchanger disposed about said exhaust pipe and through which said working fluid system passes to derive heat from said exhaust pipe and heat the working fluid;

(e) a generator driven by said turbine to produce an electric current;

(f) an electrolysis cell containing water and connected to said generator whereby current from said generator decomposes the water into oxygen and hydrogen;

(g) a water tank connected to said working fluid system by a conduit including a water purifier, and a pipe for taking purified water from said system and delivering it to said electrolysis cell;

(h) means for conveying hydrogen from said electrolysis cell and delivering it under pressure to a combustion chamber in said block by pressure generated by said cell and the pump which circulates the working fluid;

(i) a fuel tank for a hydrocarbon fuel;

(j) means for delivering said hydrocarbon from said fuel tank to said combustion chamber; and

(k) means for conveying oxygen from said electrolysis cell and delivering it under pressure to said combustion chamber by pressure generated by said cell and the pump which circulated the working fluid.

10. The internal combustion engine of claim 9 in which the engine is of the turbine type and includes a combustion chamber.

11. The internal combustion engine of claim 9 in which the engine is a diesel engine including a plurality of combustion chambers and the hydrogen, hydrocarbon fuel, and oxygen are all injected under pressure into the combustion chambers.