Fuel additive system for vehicles

• US 4,253,436 A
• Filed: 06/21/1979
• Issued: 03/03/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence L. Dudrey
• Original Assignee: Lawrence L. Dudrey
• Inventors: Dudrey, Lawrence L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELLI, RAYMOND A
• Application Number:
  US06/050,964
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 123/198 A, 123/1 A, 123/510, 123/512, 123/575, 123/576, 123/577, 123/578, 123/25 A, 123/25 E, 123/25 R, 261/18 A
• US Class Current: 123/198.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 43/00 Fuel-injection apparatus operating simultaneously on two or more fuels, or on a liquid fuel and another liquid, e.g. the other liquid being an anti-knock additive

Abstract

A liquid fuel and additive mixing apparatus for accurately proportioning the liquid additive into the liquid fuel for a vehicle such as a truck tractor includes a control unit preferably located in the cab of the truck tractor and connected to the vehicle electrical system for supplying electrical power thereto. A pump unit mounted to the truck tractor has an additive reservoir, pump, and valve controlled pressure delivery connections with the fuel tank and electrical connections with the control unit. When a known quantity of fuel is put into the truck tractor fuel tanks, the quantity is entered in the control unit and the control unit is activated to energize the pumps and open the valves for delivery to the fuel tanks of the predetermined quantity ratio of additive to the quantity of fuel put in the fuel tank. The pump is a constant output pressure pump and a nozzle orifice in the delivery connections between the valves and the fuel tanks is of a size that with a predetermined pressure, the orifice will deliver a certain quantity of additive each minute to the respective tanks for accurate proportioning of the additive and fuel therein.

Claims

1. A liquid fuel and additive mixing apparatus for accurately proportioning the liquid additive into the liquid fuel for a vehicle and the like, comprising:

(a) a vehicle having an engine, an electrical system, an operator cab and a fuel tank for containing a quantity of fuel for the engine;

(b) a reservoir means mounted on the vehicle for containing a quantity of liquid additive which is a multiple of the quantity thereof required for mixing with a full tank of fuel;

(c) means for removing said additive from the reservoir means and injecting a quantity thereof into the fuel tank at a predetermined rate and time to proportion said additive delivered to the fuel tank relative to fuel introduced therein;

said additive injecting means including pump means arranged for drawing additive from the reservoir means, means for controlling the pump output to a constant pressure and predetermined flow rate, a conduit from a pump outlet to the fuel tank, and a control valve in said conduit controlling the period of flow of additive injected into the fuel tank; and

(d) means for automatically controlling delivery of said additive to the fuel tank and including means for operating said pump means and said valve and including a timing means set in accordance with the quantity of fuel introduced into the fuel tank whereby operation of the pump means and opening of the valve is limited to a proportional time period for injecting the quantity of additive which is proportional to the quantity of fuel introduced into the fuel tank.

2. The liquid fuel and additive mixing apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said means controlling the pump output and flow rate is a constant pressure pump and an orifice in said conduit whereby the rate of injection of said additive is a predetermined quantity per interval of time.

3. The liquid fuel and additive mixing apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein:

(a) said timing means is calibrated in liquid measuring units whereby, when set for a total of said liquid measuring units of the fuel introduced into the fuel tank, said timing means operates to limit the opening of said valve for a time period during which a proportionate quantity of additive is injected into the fuel tank.

4. The liquid fuel and additive mixing apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein:

(a) said means for operating said pump means and said valve includes delay means for delaying the opening of said valve a sufficient period of time after operating said pump means to insure the delivery of said additive at a constant pressure and predetermined flow rate from said pump means.

5. The liquid flow and additive mixing apparatus set forth in claim 4 including:

(a) a pump output pressure transmitter device in said conduit for sensing the pressure of the additive therein; and

wherein

(b) said pressure transmitter device indicates failure of additive flow due to an empty reservoir.

6. The liquid flow and additive mixing apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said control valve is solenoid operated and de-energized to a closed position stopping the flow of additive to the fuel tank; and

(b) said pump means includes an electric motor operating same, said electric motor being de-energized to stop output of said pump means.

7. The liquid flow and additive mixing apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said pump means, and said control valve are mounted atop said reservoir means; and

including

(b) a cover protectively mounted on said reservoir means and enclosing said pump means and said control valve.

8. A liquid fuel and additive mixing apparatus for accurately proportioning the liquid additive into the liquid fuel for a vehicle and the like, comprising:

(a) a vehicle having an engine, an electrical system, an operator cab and a fuel tank for containing a quantity of fuel for the engine;

(b) a reservoir mounted on the vehicle for containing a quantity of liquid additive which is a multiple of the quantity thereof required for mixing with a full tank of fuel;

(c) a constant pressure pump arranged for removing said additive from the reservoir and injecting a quantity thereof into the fuel tank at a predetermined rate and time to proportion said additive delivered to the fuel tank relative to fuel introduced therein;

said pump connected to a pressure transmitter device for sensing output pressure thereof, a conduit from a pump outlet to the fuel tank, a solenoid operated control valve in said conduit controlling the period of flow of additive injected into the fuel tank, and an orifice in said conduit of a size that with a predetermined pressure of said pump, said conduit will deliver a predetermined quantity of additive per interval of time;

(d) a control unit for automatically controlling delivery of said additive to the fuel tank and including an electrical circuit for operating the pump and said control unit including a timing means operable to delay opening of said valve for a set period of time until said additive is at a normal operating pressure in said conduit, said timing means being calibrated in liquid measuring units whereby, when set for a total of said liquid measuring units of the fuel introduced into the fuel tank, said timing means controls operation of said pump and opening of said control valve to limit the opening of said control valve for a proportional time period for injecting the quantity of additive which is proportional to the quantity of fuel introduced into the fuel tank.