Method and apparatus for utilizing gaseous and liquid fuels in an internal combustion engine

• US 5,816,224 A
• Filed: 05/02/1995
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Welsh Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welsh Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Welsh, James W., Welsh, Jonathan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US08/432,658
• Time in Patent Office: 1,253 Days
• Field of Search: 123/27 GE, 123/525, 123/526, 123/527, 123/575, 123/557, 123/518, 123/519, 123/520
• US Class Current: 123/525
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0647 the gaseous fuel being liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], liquefied natural gas [LNG], compressed natural gas [CNG] or dimethyl ether [DME]
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0665 Tanks, e.g. multiple tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0678 Pressure or flow regulators therefor; Fuel metering valves therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0681 Shut-off valves; Check valves; Safety valves; Pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0697 Arrangement of fuel supply systems on engines or vehicle bodies; Components of the fuel supply system being combined with another device
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/081 Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 13/08 Carburettors adapted to use liquid and gaseous fuels, e.g. alternatively
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0224 Secondary gaseous fuel storages
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0236 Multi-way valves; Multiple valves forming a multi-way valve system
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0242 Shut-off valves; Check valves; Safety valves; Pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0287 characterised by the transition from liquid to gaseous phase F02M21/06 takes precedence; Injection in liquid phase; Cooling and low temperature storage
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0293 Safety devices; Fail-safe measures
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0332 Safety valves or pressure relief valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0338 Pressure regulators
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0341 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/033 : Small pressure, e.g. for liquefied gas
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/036 : Very high pressure (>80 bar)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0413 : with floats
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0473 : Time or time periods
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0636 : Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/016 : Preventing slosh
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/02 : Improving properties related to fluid or fluid transfer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/066 : for feeding engines for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/02 : for filling with liquefied gases
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 : Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86196 : Separable with valved-connecting passage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86212 : Plural compartments formed by baffles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86228 : With communicating opening in common walls of tanks or compartments

Abstract

A system for storing, handling, and controlling the delivery of the gaseous fuel to internal combustion engine powered devices adapted to run simultaneously on both a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel. The invention provides a control system having a float controlled solenoid for ensuring that a consistent supply of dry gas is delivered to the engine. The invention uses the sensors and computer of the existing electronic fuel delivery system of the device to adjust the amount of liquid fuel delivery to compensate for the amount of gaseous fuel injection. The invention provides a gaseous fuel control system for a dual fuel device which is integrated and compact, and which preferably includes a fuel fill connection for the gaseous fuel. The invention also provides a horizontal fuel reservoir comprised of end interconnected parallel conduits and, preferably, includes two separate compartments and a pressure relief system for permitting expansion into a relief compartment from a main compartment. It also provides horizontal and vertical interchangeable reservoirs with expansion properties filled by weight.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing both gaseous and liquid fuels in a standard internal combustion engine having an air intake, at least one combustion chamber, an electronically controlled liquid fuel delivery device and a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of completeness of combustion in said engine, said liquid fuel delivery device being controlled at least in part by said parameter indicative of completeness of combustion, comprising the steps of:

sensing said parameter indicative of completeness of combustion in said engine,

supplying liquid fuel from said liquid fuel delivery device into either said air intake or said at least one combustion chamber of said engine at a rate dependent at least in part on said sensed parameter indicative of completeness of combustion, and

while said engine is operating, separately supplying gaseous fuel to said air intake at a substantially constant flow rate.

2. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of positively blocking flow of gaseous fuel to said air intake unless said engine is operating.

3. The method defined in claim 2, further comprising the step of detecting the presence of at least one parameter indicative of engine operation and wherein said step of positively blocking flow of gaseous fuel is performed by means of a solenoid valve adapted to close in the absence of detection of said parameter indicative of engine operation.

4. The method defined in claim 3, wherein said parameter indicative of engine operation includes an electrical output which substantially instantaneously indicates engine operation.

5. The method defined in claim 4, wherein said parameter indicative of engine operation further includes the ignition being in the "on" position.

6. An apparatus for utilizing both gaseous and liquid fuels in a standard internal combustion engine having an intake and at least one combustion chamber comprising:

a sensor for sensing a parameter indicative of completeness of combustion in said engine,

an electronically controlled liquid fuel delivery device for delivering liquid fuel into either said air intake or said at least one combustion chamber at a rate controlled at least in part by said parameter indicative of completeness of combustion sensed by said sensor,

means for supplying liquid fuel to said liquid fuel delivery device, and

means for separately supplying gaseous fuel to said air intake at a substantially constant flow rate while said engine in operating, said rate being substantially independent of engine load.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6, further comprising means for positively blocking flow of gaseous fuel to said air intake unless said engine is operating.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 7, wherein said means for positively blocking flow of gaseous fuel includes means for detecting at least one parameter indicative of engine operation and a solenoid valve, said solenoid valve being adapted to be in the closed position in the absence of detection of said parameter indicative of engine operation.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8, wherein said means for detecting at least one parameter indicative of engine operation detects presence of a predetermined amount of oil pressure.

10. A gaseous fuel storage system for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a gaseous fuel storage reservoir,

an output conduit from said gaseous fuel storage reservoir to the intake of said engine, and

a spring loaded check valve operatively connected between said storage reservoir and said output conduit and adapted to permit only outflow from said storage reservoir into said output conduit and only when at least a minimum differential pressure exists across said spring loaded check valve, said minimum differential pressure being sufficient to prevent the formation of a vacuum in said storage reservoir when the pressure in said output conduit is equal to engine vacuum produced in said intake when said engine is operating.

11. An apparatus for utilizing both gaseous fuel and liquid fuels in a standard internal combustion engine, comprising:

means for storing liquid fuel,

means for storing gaseous fuel,

conduit means for transporting gaseous fuel from said gaseous fuel storage means, said conduit means being positioned in relation to said gaseous fuel storage reservoir such that, at times, a mixed phase of said gaseous fuel including both gaseous fuel in the gas phase and gaseous fuel in the liquid phase may be transported through said conduit means,

a synergizer comprising a hollow body having a lower portion capable of holding a quantity of liquid phase gaseous fuel and an upper portion intended to be filled with gas phase gaseous fuel and substantially free of said liquid phase fuel, said lower portion including an inlet for receiving said gaseous fuel from said conduit means disposed on said lower portion of said hollow body, and said upper portion including an outlet,

a float reciprocally movable between a lower first position and a higher second position within said hollow body, said float including metallic material,

a proximity switch disposed outside said hollow body and responsive to the movement of said float between its first position and its second position to change the condition of said proximity switch from closed to open,

a solenoid valve operatively connected to said inlet of slid hollow body and responsive to the condition of said proximity switch so that when the quantity of liquid present in said hollow body is sufficient to move said float from its first position to its second position and before said quantity of said liquid is sufficiently large to rise to the position of said outlet, said solenoid valve will close, and when the quantity of liquid present in said hollow body becomes sufficiently small to cause said float to move from its second position to its first position, said solenoid valve will open.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said float is adapted to free float in said hollow body.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 11, wherein a portion of said conduit means includes a preheater for warming the gaseous fuel in said conduit, said preheater being positioned in relation to a hot portion of said engine so that heat is transmitted to said preheater.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 13, wherein said preheater is positioned in contact with the hot portion of said engine such that heat from said hot portion of said engine will be radiantly transmitted to said radiant heat transfer plate to preheat the gaseous fuel in said conduit.

15. A device having an internal combustion engine adapted to operate simultaneously on both a liquid fuel and a gaseous fuel comprising:

a liquid fuel storage vessel,

a gaseous fuel storage reservoir,

means for supplying liquid fuel to said engine,

means for separately supplying gaseous fuel from said gaseous fuel storage reservoir to an air intake of said engine,

means for supplying said gaseous fuel to said air intake at a substantially constant flow rate while said engine is operating, and

means for indirectly measuring the amount of gaseous fuel supplied from said gaseous fuel storage reservoir after a period of operation of said device after a fill-up of said gaseous fuel storage reservoir to a predetermined amount of said gaseous fuel, said means including a timing device having a display, means for resetting said timing device to an initial value, means for initiating timing by said timing device when said means for supplying said gaseous fuel is operating and for terminating timing by said timing device when said means for supplying said gaseous fuel is not operating so that, the display displays information that is representative of the amount of gaseous fuel remaining.