Fuel treatment device using a magnetic field

• US 7,004,153 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2003
• Issued: 02/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AXI International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wout Lisseveld
• Inventors: Lisseveld, Wout
• Primary Examiner(s): MCMAHON, MARGUERITE J
• Application Number:
  US10/462,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20040250799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 123536-638, 210/222, 210/695, 431/356
• US Class Current: 123/538
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/045 by permanent magnets

Abstract

Magnetic fuel treatment devices are disclosed, the devices comprising, in part, a housing, cover, inner compartment, and magnet, the combination of which forming an inner fuel channel through which fuel may flow for treatment therein. Certain aspects of the invention include designs that concentrate fuel flow within magnetic flux densities ranging from about 600 to about 1,200 Gauss.

Claims

1. A fuel treatment device comprising:

a. a housing, said housing further comprising an inner compartment, a fuel entry port, and a fuel exit port, said entry and exit ports oriented in registration with one another through opposite walls of said housing and in communication with said inner compartment, said entry and exit ports each having a port area defined by the formula π

r²;

b. said inner compartment comprising a substantially circular side wall, a lower floor integral with said side wall, and a raised platform integral with said floor, said platform having a centrally positioned, substantially circular portion and an arm integral with and extending from said circular portion of said platform, said arm integral with a portion of said side wall and positioned between said entry and exit ports;

c. said inner compartment further comprising a central post integral with and extending from said platform, said platform having a diameter and said post having a diameter smaller than said platform diameter, and wherein said central platform, in combination with said circular side wall and lower floor, form a substantially C-shaped groove in said housing;

d. a circular magnet housed within said inner compartment, said magnet comprising a central opening sufficiently sized to accommodate said central post, upper and lower surfaces, and an outer side surface defining the circumference of said magnet, such that when said magnet is placed within said housing, said post is contained within said central opening of said magnet and said lower surface of said magnet is positioned upon said platform to completely cover said platform, thereby obstructing fuel flow directly between said entry and exit ports when fuel is introduced therein;

e. a cover secured to said housing, said cover having an inner surface comprising a substantially C-shaped groove corresponding to said C-shaped groove of said inner compartment, such that said C-shaped grooves of said cover and inner compartment, in combination with said surfaces of said magnet, form a fuel channel through which fuel flows from said entry port and out of said exit port, said fuel channel having an area defined by a vertical cross-section taken through said device; and

f. a fuel channel area;

port area ratio ranging from about 0.65;

1 to about 2.5;

1.

2. The fuel treatment device of claim 1, wherein a maximum distance between said outer side surface of said magnet and said side wall of said inner compartment is from about 17% to about 31% of said thickness of said magnet, and a maximum distance between said lower surface of said magnet and said lower floor of said inner compartment, is from about 17% to about 31% of said thickness of said magnet, and wherein a maximum distance between said upper surface of said magnet and said inner groove of said cover is about 17% to about 31% of said thickness of said magnet.

3. The fuel treatment device of claim 2, wherein said magnet is positioned within said inner compartment such that said lower platform covers about 68% of said lower surface of said magnet and said cover platform covers about 68% of said upper surface of said magnet, thereby concentrating fuel flow within said device to areas of greatest flux density.

4. The fuel treatment device of claim 3, wherein from about 50% to about 70% of said magnet surfaces, in combination, are exposed to said fuel flowing through said device.

5. The fuel treatment device of claim 4, wherein about 58% of said magnet surfaces, in combination, are exposed to said fuel flowing through said device.

6. A fuel treatment device comprising:

a. a housing, said housing further comprising an inner compartment, a fuel entry port, and a fuel exit port;

b. said inner compartment comprising a substantially circular side wall, a lower floor integral with said side wall, and a raised platform integral with said floor;

c. said inner compartment further comprising a central post integral with and extending from said platform, said platform having a diameter and said post having a diameter smaller than said platform diameter, and wherein said central platform, in combination with said circular side wall and lower floor, form a substantially C-shaped groove in said housing;

d. a circular magnet housed within said inner compartment, said magnet comprising a central opening sufficiently sized to accommodate said central post, upper and lower surfaces, an outer side surface defining the circumference of said magnet, and a thickness measured vertically from said lower surface to said upper surface along said outer side walls of said magnet, such that when said magnet is placed within said housing, said post is contained within said central opening of said magnet and said lower surface of said magnet is positioned upon said platform; and

e. a cover secured to said housing, said cover having an inner surface comprising a substantially C-shaped groove corresponding to said C-shaped groove of said inner compartment, such that said C-shaped grooves of said cover and inner compartment, in combination with said outer side surface of said magnet, form a fuel channel through which fuel flows from said entry port and out of said exit port, said fuel channel having an area defined by a vertical cross-section taken through said housing; and

wherein a maximum distance between said outer side surface and said lower surface of said magnet and said side wall and lower floor of said inner compartment is from about 17% to about 31% of said thickness of said magnet and wherein a maximum distance between said upper surface of said magnet and said inner groove of said cover is about 17% to about 31% of said thickness of said magnet.

7. The fuel treatment device of claim 6, wherein said fuel flow within said device is concentrated within an area of greatest magnetic flux density, said flux density ranging from about 600 to about 1,200 Gauss.

8. The fuel treatment device of claim 6, wherein said magnet is positioned within said inner compartment such that said lower platform covers about 68% of said lower surface of said magnet and said cover platform covers about 68% of said upper surface of said magnet, thereby concentrating fuel flow within said device to areas of greatest flux density.

9. The fuel treatment device of claim 8, wherein from about 50% to about 70% of said magnet surfaces, in combination, are exposed to said fuel flowing through said device.

10. The fuel treatment device of claim 9, wherein about 58% of said magnet surfaces, in combination, are exposed to said fuel flowing through said device.

11. The fuel treatment device of claim 8, wherein said fuel flow within said device is concentrated within an area of greatest magnetic flux density, said flux density ranging from about 600 to about 1,200 Gauss.

12. The fuel treatment device of claim 11, wherein from about 50% to about 70% of said magnet surfaces, in combination, are exposed to said fuel flowing through said device.

13. The fuel treatment device of claim 12, wherein about 58% of said magnet surfaces, in combination, are exposed to said fuel flowing through said device.

14. A fuel treatment device comprising:

a. a housing, said housing further comprising an inner compartment, a fuel entry port, and a fuel exit port;

b. said inner compartment comprising a substantially circular side wall, a lower floor integral with said side wall, and a raised platform integral with said floor;

c. said inner compartment further comprising a central post integral with and extending from said platform, said platform having a diameter and said post having a diameter smaller than said platform diameter, and wherein said central platform, in combination with said circular side wall and lower floor, form a substantially C-shaped groove in said housing;

d. a circular magnet housed within said inner compartment, said magnet comprising a central opening sufficiently sized to accommodate said central post, upper and lower surfaces, and an outer side surface defining the circumference of said magnet, such that when said magnet is placed within said housing, said post is contained within said central opening of said magnet and said lower surface of said magnet is positioned upon said platform to completely cover said platform; and

e. a cover secured to said housing, said cover having an inner surface comprising a substantially C-shaped groove defined in part by a centrally positioned, raised platform, said cover groove corresponding to said C-shaped groove of said inner compartment, such that said C-shaped grooves of said cover and inner compartment, in combination with said outer side surface of said magnet, form a fuel channel through which fuel flows from said entry port and out of said exit port, said fuel channel having an area defined by a vertical cross-section taken through said housing; and

wherein said magnet is positioned within said inner compartment such that said lower platform covers about 68% of said lower surface of said magnet and said cover platform covers about 68% of said upper surface of said magnet, thereby concentrating fuel flow within said device to areas of greatest flux density.

15. The fuel treatment device of claim 14, wherein from about 50% to about 70% of said magnet surfaces, in combination, are exposed to said fuel flowing through said device.

16. The fuel treatment device of claim 15, wherein about 58% of said magnet surfaces, in combination, are exposed to said fuel flowing through said device.

17. The fuel treatment device of claim 14, wherein said fuel flow within said device is concentrated within an area of greatest magnetic flux density, said flux density ranging from about 600 to about 1,200 Gauss.

18. A fuel treatment device comprising:

a. a housing, said housing further comprising an inner compartment, a fuel entry port, and a fuel exit port;

b. said inner compartment comprising a substantially circular side wall, a lower floor integral with said side wall, and a raised platform integral with said floor;

c. said inner compartment further comprising a central post integral with and extending from said platform, said platform having a diameter and said post having a diameter smaller than said platform diameter, and wherein said central platform, in combination with said circular side wall and lower floor, form a substantially C-shaped groove in said housing;

d. a circular magnet housed within said inner compartment, said magnet comprising a central opening sufficiently sized to accommodate said central post, upper and lower surfaces, and an outer side surface defining the circumference of said magnet, such that when said magnet is placed within said housing, said post is contained within said central opening of said magnet and said lower surface of said magnet is positioned upon said platform, thereby creating an exposed lower magnet surface having a width measured from said platforms to said outer side surface of said magnet;

e. a cover secured to said housing, said cover having an inner surface comprising a substantially C-shaped groove corresponding to said C-shaped groove of said inner compartment, such that said C-shaped grooves of said cover and inner compartment, in combination with said outer side surface of said magnet, form a fuel channel through which fuel flows from said entry port and out of said exit port, said fuel channel having a width measured from said platform to said outer surface of said inner compartment; and

f. a fuel channel width;

exposed magnet surface width of less than about 2.5;

1.

19. The fuel treatment device of claim 18, wherein said fuel flow within said device is concentrated within an area of greatest magnetic flux density, said flux density ranging from about 600 to about 1,200 Gauss.

20. The fuel treatment device of claim 18, wherein said fuel channel width:

exposed magnet surface width is about 1.4;

1 or less.

21. The fuel treatment device of claim 20, wherein said fuel flow within said device is concentrated within an area of greatest magnetic flux density, said flux density ranging from about 600 to about 1,200 Gauss.