Mobile engine performance demonstration unit

• US 7,574,997 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brenda H. Borchelt, Roger N. Chauza
• Original Assignee: Brenda H. Borchelt, Roger N. Chauza
• Inventors: Chauza, Roger N., Borchelt, Brenda H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCMAHON, MARGUERITE J
• Application Number:
  US10/686,915
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 123536-539, 123/549, 123/557, 123/541, 73116-117
• US Class Current: 123/538
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/00 Controlling engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 27/045 by permanent magnets

Abstract

An engine mounted for mobile movement. The engine has associated therewith aftermarket apparatus which can be switched in and out of operation with respect to the engine. Various sensors sense respective engine operating parameters which are displayed on visual displays. Observers can thus visually see the difference in operation of the engine with the aftermarket switched into operation, and switched out of operation.

Claims

1. An engine performance demonstration unit, comprising:

a mobile carrier;

an engine mounted to said mobile carrier;

a magnet for use with said engine to modify the properties of fuel to be combusted by said engine and thereby affect the operation of said engine; and

a switch mechanism for switching said magnet into operation and out of operation so that the fuel coupled to the engine has modified properties when said magnet is switched into operation, and the fuel coupled to the engine does not have modified properties when said magnet is switched out of operation, said engine remains running irrespective of whether the magnet is switched into operation or out of operation.

2. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, further including a visual display for visually showing the difference in engine operation when the magnet is operational and nonoperational.

3. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 2, wherein said visual display comprises two visual displays, one visual display showing an engine performance parameter when the magnet is not operational, and a second visual display showing the engine performance parameter when the magnet is operational.

4. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 2, wherein said visual display displays a flow rate of fuel to said engine.

5. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 2, wherein said visual display displays a parameter related to a pollutant emitted by said engine.

6. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, not including a heater associated with a fuel line for heating the fuel.

7. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, wherein said switch mechanism comprises a valve for switching fuel.

8. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, wherein said switch mechanism comprises an articulated mechanism for holding a plurality of magnet assemblies, said articulated mechanism is hinged for operation for moving said magnet assemblies into and out of magnetic influence with a fuel line.

9. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 8, wherein said articulated mechanism includes a plurality of segments, each segment for attachment thereto of a respective magnet assembly, and each segment hinged to an adjacent segment by a hinge.

10. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, wherein said articulated mechanism comprises a carrier for holding said magnet is in a position spaced apart from a fuel line and thus does not influence the fuel in said fuel line, and wherein said carrier is movable to a position wherein said magnet is adjacent said fuel line.

11. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 10, wherein said magnet comprises a three-part magnet, each said magnet held in a respective metal frame.

12. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, further including a branched fuel line comprising a valve for switching fuel to either of two branches, one branch having said magnet is coupled therein, and the other branch coupling fuel from said valve to said engine.

13. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, further including a catalytic converter switched into and out of operation with respect to exhaust gasses of the engine.

15. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, wherein said mobile carrier comprises a wheeled trailer to which said engine is mounted for mobile movement, said wheeled trailer adapted for being pulled by a vehicle over a highway.

16. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, further including a programmed processor for controlling said switch mechanism for switching said one or more magnets into and out of operation.

17. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 1, further including a programmed processor for monitoring engine performance parameters before said magnet has been switched into operation and after said magnet has been switched into operation, and providing a visual display of said parameters.

18. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 17, wherein said programmed processor stores the engine performance parameters and provides a visual display of the stored parameters.

19. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 18, wherein said programmed processor is programmed to display an engine performance parameter on a first display resulting from the magnet switched out of operation, and simultaneously display on a second display the engine performance parameter resulting from the magnet switched into operation.

20. The engine performance demonstration unit of claim 18, wherein said programmed processor is programmed to store an engine performance parameter when the magnet is switched into operation, and programmed to store the engine performance parameter when the magnet is switched out of operation, and programmed to calculate and display a difference between said engine performance parameter stored when the magnet is switched into operation and the engine performance parameter stored when the magnet is switched out of operation.

14. The engine performance demonstration unit of clain 1, further including a load that is switchable into and out of operation with respect to said engine, said load providing a resistance to torque produced by said engine.

21. A method of demonstrating the affect of aftermarket apparatus on the performance of an engine, comprising the steps of:

providing a mobile carrier adapted for transport on a highway;

providing the mobile carrier for carrying said engine;

providing aftermarket apparatus mounted to the engine to modify the properties of fuel to be combusted by said engine, where said aftermarket apparatus is not apparatus that heats the fuel when in a liquid form; and

providing a switch mechanism for switching the aftermarket apparatus into and out of operation so that the fuel coupled to the engine has modified properties when said aftermarket apparatus is switched into operation, and the fuel coupled to the engine does not have modified properties when said aftermarket apparatus is switched out of operation, said engine remains running irrespective of whether the aftermarket apparatus is switched into operation or out of operation, and

providing an indication of the affect thereof on the engine performance.

22. A method of demonstrating the affect of magnets on the performance of an engine, comprising the steps of:

providing a mobile carrier;

providing the mobile carrier for carrying said engine;

providing one or more magnets to influence molecules of fuel fed to said engine;

providing a switch mechanism for switching the one or more magnets into and out of operation while the engine is operating to thereby provide an indication of the affect thereof of the one or more magnets on the engine performance; and

providing a visual indication during engine operation of the affect of the one or more magnets on the engine performance.