Temperature control system for nitrous oxide pressurized bottle

• US 6,889,513 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2004
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clark Distribution Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clark Distribution Inc.
• Inventors: Clark, Dennis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad M.
• Application Number:
  US10/780,760
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 622/44, 62/32, 62/33, 62/36, 62/36.1, 623/231, 123/1.A, 123/541, 123/552
• US Class Current: 62/244
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00271 HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/10 adding acetylene, non-waterborne hydrogen, non-airborne oxygen, or ozone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A temperature control system for maintaining a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle at a preselected temperature and pressure for injecting nitrous oxide into an engine is disclosed. The system includes a generally box shaped insulated container having a hinged cover. The nitrous oxide pressurized oxide bottle having an outer surface is disposed within the container and fixed in the bottom thereof. The system also includes a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the nitrous oxide bottle and a thermoelectric air conditioner for heating and cooling the pressurized bottle to maintain a preselected temperature and pressure.

Claims

1. A temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle comprising:

an insulated container bounded by a plurality of thermally insulative walls defining an inner compartment surrounded by said walls and an insulative cover adapted to close said inner compartment;

a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle having an outer surface disposed within said inner compartment and means for mounting said nitrous oxide bottle within said inner compartment in a stationary position with respect to said inner compartment;

temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of said outer surface of said bottle; and

thermo-electric air conditioning means for heating and cooling said nitrous oxide pressurized bottle to thereby maintain said bottle at a preselected temperature and pressure for injecting nitrous oxide into a motor vehicle engine.

2. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 1 in which said cover is hingedly connected to one of said walls.

3. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 2 in which said temperature sensing means is in contact with said outer surface of said bottle.

4. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 3 in which said thermoelectric air conditioning means is a Peltier junction thermoelectric heat pump.

5. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 4 in which said temperature sensing means is a thermo-electric temperature control unit.

6. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 1 in which said thermally insulative walls are insulated with a polyurethane foam.

7. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 6 in which said insulative walls includes a hard plastic outer surface.

8. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 5 which includes exterior means for indicating the temperature of said surface of said bottle.

9. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 7 in which said inner compartment includes a base and said bottle includes a valve end, a valve disposed therein and means for opening and closing said valve.

10. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 9 wherein said pressurized bottle is positioned within said inner compartment with said valve end elevated by about 15°

and said means for opening and closing said valve is disposed on a upper opposite side of said bottle from said base.

11. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 5 which includes microprocessor means for automatically controlling the temperature and pressure of the nitrous oxide in said pressurized bottle.

12. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 10 as which includes means for fixing said insulated container to a motor vehicle while minimizing mechanical stress on said insulated container.

13. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 4 which includes connecting means for connecting said Peltier junction thermo-electric heat pump to a motor vehicle 12 VDC power supply and for disconnecting said connecting means for servicing the system.

14. The temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle according to claim 9 which includes fastening means for maintaining said cover in a closed position.

15. In a racing car of the type having an internal combustion engine and means for injecting nitrous oxide into the engine, the improvement comprising a temperature control system for a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle, said system including:

an insulated container bounded by a plurality of thermally insulative walls defining an inner compartment surrounded by said walls and an insulative cover adapted to close said inner compartment;

a nitrous oxide pressurized bottle having an outer surface disposed within said inner compartment and means for mounting said nitrous oxide bottle within said inner compartment in a stationary position with respect to said inner compartment;

temperature sensing means for sensing the temperature of said outer surface of said bottle; and

thermoelectric air conditioning means for heating and cooling said nitrous oxide pressurized bottle to thereby maintain said bottle at a preselected temperature and pressure for injecting nitrous oxide into a motor vehicle engine.