Multifuel storage, metering and ignition system

• US 9,051,909 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Green Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: McAlister Technologies, LLC
• Inventors: McAlister, Roy Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Solis, Erick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bacon, Anthony L
• Application Number:
  US13/664,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20130276746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 123/467, 123/472, 123/297, 123/304, 123/295, 239/533.13, 239/533.14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/125 Direct injection in the combustion chamber for spark ignition engines, i.e. not in pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0206 Non-hydrocarbon fuels, e.g. hydrogen, ammonia or carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0215 Mixtures of gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Biogas; Mine gas; Landfill gas
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0221 Fuel storage reservoirs, e.g. cryogenic tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0245 High pressure fuel supply systems; Rails; Pumps; Arrangement of valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/026 Lift valves, i.e. stem operated valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0275 for in-cylinder direct injection, e.g. injector combined with spark plug
• 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 21/0296 Manufacturing or assembly; Materials, e.g. coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 51/0671 the armature having an elongated valve body attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 57/06 the devices being sparking plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04089 of gaseous reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04186 of liquid-charged or electrolyte-charged reactants
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A system for safe storage and efficient utilization of a variety of fuel selections that range in composition and phase from cryogenic mixtures of solids and liquids to elevated temperature gases is provided for unique applications with various types of heat engines and fuel cells including hybridized combinations.

Claims

1. An injector comprising:

a body having an end portion configured to be positioned proximate to a combustion chamber;

a valve assembly carried in the body, the valve assembly comprising—

a first valve movable from a closed position to an open position to allow fuel to flow through at least a portion of the body; and

a second valve elastically expandable from a closed configuration to an open configuration to dispense fuel from the end portion of the body; and

an actuation assembly carried by the body and including a cable connected to the first valve to move the first valve between the closed and open positions.

2. The injector of claim 1 wherein the second valve expands from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to fuel entering an opening of the second valve.

3. The injector of claim 2 wherein the first valve is positioned adjacent to the opening of the second valve when the first valve is in the closed position.

4. The injector of claim 1 wherein:

the first valve is mechanically movable from the closed position to the open position via the actuation assembly; and

the second valve is hydraulically expandable from the closed configuration to the open configuration via an increase in fuel pressure.

5. The injector of claim 1 wherein the first valve moves in a direction away from the second valve when the first valve moves from the closed position to the open position.

6. The injector of claim 1 wherein the second valve comprises at least one of the following materials:

PTFE, ETFE, PFA, PEEK, and FEP.

7. The injector of claim 1 wherein the second valve comprises a spring tube.

8. The injector of claim 1 wherein the second valve has a generally flat cross-sectional shape in the closed configuration and a generally round cross-sectional shape in the open configuration.

9. The injector of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly further comprises a valve seat configured to contact at least a portion of the first valve when the first valve is in the closed position, wherein at least a portion of the valve seat is magnetic to at least partially retain the first valve in the closed position.

10. An injector comprising:

an injector body having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the second end portion is configured to be positioned near or at an interface with a combustion chamber;

a first valve carried by the body and movable from a closed position to an open position along a path generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body;

a second valve carried by the body and deformable from a closed configuration to an open position in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and

an actuation assembly carried by the body and operably coupled to the first valve to move the first valve from the closed position to the open position;

wherein the actuation assembly comprises;

a driver movably positioned in the body; and

a cable operably coupled to the driver and the first valve, wherein the cable moves the first valve between the open and closed positions in response to movement of the driver.

11. The injector of claim 10 wherein the second valve is positioned downstream from and adjacent to the first valve.

12. The injector of claim 10 wherein the second valve expands from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to fuel flowing past the first valve.

13. The injector of claim 10 wherein the second valve comprises a spring tube having an opening that contacts the first valve when the first valve is in the closed position.

14. The injector of claim 10 wherein the second valve is at least partially composed of an elastomeric material.

15. An injector comprising:

an injector body having an end portion configured to be positioned near or at an interface with a combustion chamber;

a flow valve carried by the body and movable from a closed position to an open position;

an elastomeric pressure valve carried by the body and expandable from a closed configuration to an open position to dispense fuel from the end portion; and

cable means for actuating the flow valve from the closed position to the open position.

16. The injector of claim 15 wherein the elastomeric pressure valve at least partially deforms radially outwardly when the elastomeric pressure valve expands from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

17. The injector of claim 15 flow valve is independently movable from the elastomeric pressure valve.

18. The injector of claim 15 wherein the pressure valve is positioned downstream from the flow valve in the body, and wherein the flow valve expands from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to fuel flow past the flow valve.

19. The injector of claim 15 wherein the pressure valve comprises a spring tube, and wherein at least a portion of the spring tube has a generally flat shape in the closed configuration and a generally cylindrical shape in the open configuration.