Patent Grant
11788463
This invention relates to cleaning the induction systems, the combustion chambers and exhaust systems of internal combustion engines. And, more particularly, to chemicals and mixtures of chemicals for removing the different types of carbon deposits encountered in internal combustion engines used in “road vehicles”. “Road vehicle” or “road vehicles” refers to vehicles that have been driven in cities and on highways under a variety of conditions, including different speeds, acceleration patterns, different fuels, different motor oils, and different weather conditions, thus producing different types of carbon within them. Carbon deposits were taken from the induction systems of these road vehicles for the purpose of bench testing such carbon and product development. More specifically, chemicals (i.e., solvents) and chemical mixes (i.e., solutions) have been accurately tested on such harvested carbon deposits for their ability to remove the various types of carbon deposits that accumulate within road vehicle internal combustion engines. It was determined that certain chemicals and chemical mixtures work to remove certain types of carbon deposits. It has also been determined which of these chemicals and chemical mixtures will work well across different carbon types encountered in road vehicle engines. A preferred embodiment uses a mixture of chemicals that can remove different carbon types from induction systems, combustion chambers and exhaust systems. This invention also relates to apparatus for delivering chemicals and chemical mixes (e.g., those developed as discussed below, prior art products marketed for carbon removal) to the induction system of a vehicle to maximize the effectiveness of delivery and carbon removal.
It has long been known that carbon deposits accumulate within internal combustion engines. Such carbon deposits have been unwanted since their discovery over one hundred years ago, and how to remove them from engines continues to be a problem today. Obviously, an engine can be disassembled and manually cleaned, but this method is time consuming and expensive. The alternative is to chemically treat various parts of engines (e.g., induction system, combustion chambers, and exhaust system) with various solutions in order to attempt to remove the carbon deposits.
For many years various chemicals have been used to try to accomplish the removal of carbon deposits. U.S. Pat. No. 2,904,458 to Dykstra et al. discloses a mixture that uses: (1) benzenes, alkyl benzes and “the like” for removal of “oily residue”; (2) various monoalkyl glycol ethers to remove the “gum-like” material; (3) monoamines to remove the lead containing portion of the deposit; and (4) low-volatility chlorinated benzenes as an “evaporation deterrent”. See, for instance, col. 2, //. 14-25. As to point (3), Dykstra et al. recognized that lead had an effect on the character of the cylinder deposits. (As is evident from col. 3, / 65-col. 4, / 12, this mixture was developed for removal of deposits in combustion chambers, not induction systems.) While an accurate observation when the application was filed in 1954, modern fuels do not contain lead. Additionally, chlorinated solvents are now not generally in use for environmental and safety reasons.
In addition to dealing with leaded fuels which have long been discontinued, Dykstra et al. was working with carbureted engines which were phased out in vehicles in the 1990's within the United States. Today, fuel is delivered to engines by gasoline port injection (“GPI”), where gasoline is injected in to the induction port and ignited with a spark plug and, more recently, gasoline direct injection (“GDI”) where gasoline is injected directly in to the combustion chamber and ignited with a spark plug. Diesel engines utilize diesel direct injection (“DDI”) where diesel fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber and ignited by the heat from the compression within the cylinder. In GPI engines, the fuel is injected into the intake manifold and enters the cylinders through the associated intake ports. In contrast, in GDI and DDI engines highly pressurized fuel is directly injected into the cylinders (thereby by passing the intake ports).
Aside from the through the spark plug hole delivery method disclosed in Dykstra, et al., there are two basic mechanisms for delivering, or at least attempting to deliver, various chemical mixtures (solutions) to various engine components (e.g., combustion chambers) for the purpose of removing/attempting to remove carbon deposits, namely: (1) apparatus for injecting such solutions into engine induction systems; and (2) fuel additives. This second category is, in turn, divided into: (a) chemicals that are mixed into gasoline and diesel fuel by the fuel manufacturer; and (b) fuel additives that are added to vehicle fuel tanks separately from the fuel. Chevron gasoline with Techron® is an example of a gasoline/carbon removing chemicals combination. Techron® Complete Fuel System Cleaner is an example of a fuel tank additive. And with regard to the first category, U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,392 to Blatter et al. discloses apparatus for injecting chemical solvents into induction systems.
In addition to commercial products, such as listed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,217,624 B1 to Morris et al. discloses that certain hydrocarbyl-substituted polyoxyalkylene amines control engine deposits, especially combustion chamber deposits, when employed in high concentrations in fuel. More specifically they are intended to keep carbon deposits from forming in combustion chambers and not to remove heavy carbon deposits that have already accumulated. Additionally, as such amines are mixed into the fuel stock, they would not reach the induction system other than the direct intake valve area on GPI engines, or only the combustion chamber area on direct injected engines. Thus on GDI engines, regardless of its possible effectiveness on the combustion chambers, it can have no effect on any portion of the induction system of an engine. Further, independent of how injected into the cylinders, when standard consumer grades of gasoline are used the gasoline base is also a problem. When such gasoline is used as a base for the amine it will flash into a vapor at the engine running temperatures. This will not provide for a liquid base for the carbon to move into (the importance of which is discussed below under, for instance, “Problems and Objectives”) which is helpful to remove carbon deposits from the induction system and/or combustion chambers. Additionally, if the gasoline flashes before getting to the carbon deposit, the cleaning agents are much less likely to contact the carbon deposit.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,458,172 to Macduff et al. discloses a fuel additive of detergents combined with fluidizers, and to hydrocarbon fuels containing these fuel additives. The fuel additives of Macduff et al. combine a Mannich detergent, formed from reaction of an alkylphenol with an aldehyde and an amine, with a fluidizer that can be a polyetheramine or a polyether or a mixture thereof and, optionally, with a succinimide detergent. Fuels containing these additives are claimed to be effective in reducing intake valve deposits in gasoline fueled engines, especially when the weight ratio of detergent(s) to fluidizer(s) is about 1:1 on an active basis. As these fuel additives are mixed into the fuel stock they would not reach the induction system other than the direct intake valve area on GPI engines, and only the combustion chamber area on GDI engines. Also, the consumer grade gasoline base is a problem as it will flash into a vapor at the engine running temperatures. This will not allow for a liquid base which is helpful to remove carbon deposits from the induction system and/or combustion chambers. Additionally, if the gasoline flashes before getting to the carbon deposits, the cleaning agents are much less likely to contact such deposits.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,249,377 B2 to Shriner discloses a cleaning composition including a synergistic combination of a pyrolidinone with a C1 to C12 alkyl, alkenyl, cyclo paraffinic, or aromatic constituent in the 1 position and a C1 to C8 alcohol. A preferred pyrrolidinone is 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. The preferred other component is an alcohol, preferably methanol. These components will form a cleaning composition containing a specific ratio of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) compliant and VOC exempt solvents with a viscosity between 0.4 to 2.0 cSt@40° C. More specifically, the viscosity will be between 0.5 and 1.0 cSt@40° C. Applicants testing (discussed below) has shown that some of these VOC compliant petroleum distillates do not remove high percentages of the carbon types generated in road vehicle engines, sometimes referred to as “road vehicle carbon”. Additionally methanol has a flash point that is significantly below engine running temperatures.
In addition to additives which can be added to a fuel tank for the stated purpose of removing carbon deposits, additives have also been developed to boost engine horsepower, improve fuel economy and reduce tailpipe emissions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,373 to Vataru et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,857,073 to Vataru et al., both assigned to Wynn Oil Company, are examples. The disclosure in the '373 Patent is for gasoline engines; the disclosure of the '037 Patent, for diesel engines. Except for the statement in the '373 Patent (“inasmuch as older vehicles may have developed fuel system and combustion chamber deposits that could compromise the accuracy of emissions data during the test, a new vehicle was chosen as the test car” (col. 4, // 44-47)), neither patent references “deposits” or “carbon deposits”. The '373 Patent discloses the use of di-tertiary butyl peroxide for adding “supplemental oxygen to the combustion process” and amines for “intake valve cleanliness”. See col. 3, /. 30. The '373 Patent does not teach that the di-tertiary butyl peroxide is used for the removal of carbon deposits within the internal combustion engine, but instead used as an oxidant for the combustion process. Additionally, Vataru's choosing a test engine that does not have carbon deposits contained within the engine acknowledges this teaching's inability to clean existing carbon deposits. Furthermore, making assessments about cleaning efficacy based on improved mileage alone can be misleading because measured fuel mileage is primarily a measure of combustion efficiency rather than solely the cleanliness of the engine.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,195,654 B2 to Jackson et al. discloses a gasoline additive concentrate including a solvent and an alkoxylated fatty amine, and a partial ester having at least one free hydroxyl group and formed by reacting at least one fatty carboxylic acid and at least one polyhydric alcohol. This mixture is intended to “increase fuel economy, reduce fuel consumption, and reduce combustion emissions in gasoline internal combustion engines.” See Summary of the Invention, col. 1, // 61-63. From the discussion in the Description of the Related Art the amines are for improving fuel economy and “lubricity” (the ability of the fuel to act as a lubricant, which is particularly important in the case of diesel engines). (Applicant's testing of amines with regard to their ability to remove road vehicle carbon deposits is discussed below.) Additionally, as with Morris et al. and Macduff et al, the chemicals are mixed into standard consumer grades of gasoline which would not reach the induction system other than the direct intake valve area on GPI engines and only the combustion chamber area on direct injected engines and which will flash into a vapor at the engine running temperatures. Again, this will not allow for a liquid base which is helpful to remove carbon deposits from the induction system.
The relevance of prior art chemical mixtures intended for the removal of today's road vehicle carbon, even assuming that they had some effectiveness at the time they were developed (e.g., 1954 in the case of the mixture disclosed in Dykstra et al.), is questionable for a number of reasons. First, is that the characteristics of carbon deposits have changed over the years. This in part is due to the changes in fuel additives used, such as tetraethyllead which has not been used in automotive based fuels for many years due to health hazards as well as its adverse effect on emissions devices such as catalytic converters. However, when tetraethyllead was used this would have affected the carbon deposits which, in turn, would have affected the actual performance of the carbon cleaning compositions of matter. Dykstra et al. reference a material claimed to penetrate and remove the lead compounds in the deposits. Secondly, engine designs have also changed, as can been seen by the change from basic carburetion to electronic fuel injection. Additionally, motor oils and anti-friction additives contained in these oils have changed (e.g. in the GDI engines the high pressure fuel pump puts a heavy load on the drive mechanism which, in turn, requires a different oil formulation for these type engines). These changes have, in turn, changed the carbon deposits that accumulate within road vehicle internal combustion engines. Finally, some of the chemical constituents of prior art formulations are now deemed unsafe for the public.
In addition to the drawbacks associated with the above referenced prior art and the changes over time in fuel composition, engine design, etc. as discussed above, the failure of currently available products to remove road vehicle carbon deposits from internal combustion engines is also due to both the way the testing is accomplished and to the way that formulations to attempt to remove carbon are developed. The use of the Rapid Carbon Accumulation (“RCA”) method for producing engine carbon for testing the effectiveness of various chemicals and chemical mixtures exemplifies this problem. In this method a special fuel base is used that when burned in engines with no prior carbon deposits produces high carbon deposit levels within the engine's combustion chambers, induction system, and exhaust system. The purpose is to generate the same carbon thickness and carbon volume in 5,000 miles, based on the use of dynamometer testing (not on road operation) that a road vehicle engine will generate in 100,000 miles of actual driving. However, the structure of the carbon deposit generated in the RCA method is not the same as that generated in road vehicle engines. First there is the difference in fuel (the special RCA fuel base v. the different commercially available fuels). And, commercially available fuels vary with manufacturer, region of country where they are dispensed, and time of the year (in some states up to 10% of the gasoline is ethanol in winter months). The second difference is that in road use the carbon deposits are only partially created by the fuel, whereas the RCA carbon is mainly comprised of the fuel. In road vehicles a large amount of the induction system carbon deposit is created from the engine oil that is taken in through the Positive Crankcase Ventilation (“PCV”) system. Additionally, the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (“EGR”) system (whether external of internal) allows burnt exhaust gases to reenter the induction system further contributing to the carbon deposit composition within the induction system. The PCV and the EGR contributed carbon deposits will take many thousands of road miles to accumulate within the induction system. These types of carbon deposits are not typically generated via RCA. Yet another difference between RCA carbon deposits and road vehicle carbon deposits is that RCA carbon deposits do not have the same thermal soak cycles or soak times as a high mileage road vehicle would have.
Nonetheless, as the RCA running times and soak times are meant to duplicate those generated in road vehicles, such times are set as a standard so the RCA carbon deposits can be closely duplicated for testing purposes. However, such times may not be achieved in real world vehicles. For instance, the time that the engine remains at a given temperature, and thus the pyrolysis conditions, can vary widely (e.g. an engine turned off in Alaska in the winter will likely cool down significantly faster than an engine turned off in Arizona in summer). Thus, RCA carbon deposits and road vehicle generated carbon deposits are not typically the same. As far as Applicants are aware, the foregoing differences are either not known in the industry, or ignored.
Soak time refers to the time that the engine is hot and is turned off before it is restarted. Soak cycles refer to the number of times that the engine is turned off at a given temperature. Specifically, a soak cycle refers to when an engine that is at running temperature is turned off. When this happens, the fluids in the engine stop circulating and remain in place at high temperature and the combination of the hydrocarbons and the temperature that are present within the engine allows pyrolysis to be accelerated. Pyrolysis is a type of thermal decomposition that occurs in organic materials exposed to high temperatures. Pyrolysis of organic substances such as fuel and oils produces gas and liquid products that leave a solid residue rich in carbon. Heavy pyrolysis leaves mostly carbon as a residue and is referred to as carbonization.
Furthermore, Applicants have observed that from one road vehicle engine to another road vehicle engine of the same make, the carbon types can be quite different as well. This is due to the many different variables such as the type of hydrocarbons the fuel that is used is made of, the detergents added to the fuel base, the type of hydrocarbons the motor oil is made of, the antifriction additives added to the motor oil, the type and amount of metal particles that are contained in the carbon (which originate from a combination of fuel, oil, additives and engine wear), the operating temperature of the engine, the pressure and or temperature the carbon deposit is produced under, the varying loads on the engine, the engine drive times, the engine soak cycles and the engine soak times. As far as Applicants are aware these differences have not been recognized by others involved in the development of chemistry based products intended to remove engine carbon. An additional variable that affects carbon type is the engine design (e.g., gasoline port injection, gasoline direct injection, diesel direct injection, naturally aspirated, turbocharged, and supercharged). Each of these variables will affect the type of carbon deposit that will be produced and the carbon deposit volume accumulated within the internal combustion engine. And, again as far as Applicants are aware, these differences have not been recognized by others involved in the development of chemistry base products intended to remove road vehicle engine carbon. Finally, Applicants have, through their testing and development of the carbon removing chemical mixtures of the present invention, determined that even for a single engine, the chemical/physical properties of the carbon deposits vary from location to location in such engine (e.g., intake manifold v. combustion chambers).
Once a test engine has been run with the RCA fuel and has enough carbon build up, a mixture of known chemicals (i.e., a solution) is then formulated to remove or try to remove these RCA carbon deposits. The problem here is that this RCA carbon is not the same as the carbons generated over time under road driving conditions. Thus, even if the developed solution can remove at least some of the RCA carbon deposit, it may not work to effectively remove real world carbon deposits. Additionally, the standard method of direct measurement to determine how much carbon has been removed is by disassembly and weighing various engine components so, even if road vehicles are used, accurately determining the chemical to carbon deposit removal rate is difficult. So judging which chemicals/mixtures can remove which carbon types within the engine is very difficult to impossible to accomplish. Furthermore, making assessments about cleaning efficacy based on improved mileage alone can be misleading because measured fuel mileage is primarily a measure of combustion efficiency rather than solely the cleanliness of the engine.
Yet another problem, as noted above in the discussion of the Morris et al. and Macduff et al., is that such fuels only allow for a minimal liquid to come into contact with the carbon to be removed. For a chemical mixture to be able to remove even a portion of the carbon deposit, such mixture should to be in a liquid form. The liquid form is necessary to permit the selected chemicals to solubilize the deposit via solvent-solute interaction (a solute is a substance in which is dissolved into another substance, a solvent; in other words the carbon is dissolved into the solvent base) for carbon removal. If the selected chemicals flash into a vapor at engine running temperatures like the fuel base, there is minimal liquid available for the carbon deposit to be solubilized into and so little carbon is removed. Applicants have determined that vapor is not effective in removing heavy carbon deposits. This is in part because, although the chemical additives in gasoline may contact and alter (e.g., soften) some carbon deposit, they are not in the form of a liquid, which liquid makes it easier to wash softened carbon deposits away. Additionally, based on the use of the various chemicals in the commercially available products marketed for removing carbon deposits, it appears to Applicants that developers of the prior art are unaware of this important factor, which has grown in significance as engines have changed, due to emission regulations, from carburation to fuel injection, and now gasoline direct injection.
As the problems discussed above with regard to the prior art development process are evident, the products that have been developed to remove carbon deposits do not work well to remove various types of carbon deposits from road vehicle engines. This will be evident from the test results provided below.
The above described development produces products that all have problems removing carbon deposits from the internal combustion engine's induction system and combustion chamber in real world situations. Thus, to identify chemicals and develop chemical mixes that will be effective in removing carbon that was produced in actual driving conditions, the development needs to be done on the same high mileage types of carbon that are contained within road vehicle engines and not with RCA generated carbon. It has been found through testing that the carbon type from one road vehicle engine design is quite different from yet another road vehicle engine design. These differences in carbon types from different internal combustion engine designs provide a serious challenge in the development of chemical mixes that can remove multiple carbon types. If different carbon deposits from different road vehicle engines are not tested, one would not likely be aware that these carbon types can be so varied.
For the various carbon types that occur in real world applications (e.g., road vehicle engines, generators) there needs to be a better performing product. The Applicants have found from testing of individual chemicals (e.g., xylene, ethylbenzene, naphtha), commercial products (e.g. the commercial products listed in
Accordingly, it is important to develop a protocol whereby different types of carbon deposits from different engines (e.g., different manufacturers, different designs, different driving conditions), in which deposits are built up over time in actual street and highway driving conditions, can be tested with various chemicals and chemical mixtures to determine the effectiveness of such chemicals/mixtures in removing such carbon deposits from engines, and does not rely on an inaccurate direct method such as engine disassembly and weighing or an indirect method such as fuel economy.
It is a further object of the invention to identify chemicals and develop chemical/chemical mixtures that are effective in removing various carbon types from engines (GPI, GDI and DDI) that were operated under actual road/driving conditions.
In addition to understanding the characteristics of the various types of carbon deposits encountered in engines, identifying effective chemicals, and developing chemical mixtures (solutions) which will effectively remove at least substantial amounts of such carbon deposits, it is a further object to have an effective mechanism for delivering such chemicals and chemical mixtures to the induction system, combustion chambers and exhaust system of a vehicle.
Additionally, it is an object of the invention to have such chemicals/chemical mixes run within the internal combustion engine during cleaning without heavy smoke, stalling the engine, or creating running problems for the engine.
The present invention relates to, inter alia, the selection of chemicals, the development of chemical mixtures, and the use of such selected chemicals and developed mixtures in order to remove the various carbon deposits encountered within road vehicle internal combustion engines, regardless of engine type, carbon type, vehicle driving history, mileage, vehicle fuel(s) used, and engine oil(s) used. The present invention also relates to improved apparatus for effectively delivering chemicals/chemical mixtures to vehicle induction systems.
Carbon deposits from internal combustion engines of different designs and different locations within such engines (e.g., induction system, combustion chambers), and therefore different carbon types, were collected, identified (e.g., engine model, location within such engine), and tested in order to determine which chemicals and chemical mixtures are most effective for the removal of the different types of carbon deposits encountered. Based on our empirical laboratory testing it was very surprising to see how different the collected carbon deposits were in both thickness and composition, depending on in the different engine designs as well as different locations therein. This diversity was also analytically observed via Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) that verified differences in relative amounts and types of carbon atom bonding environment and hydrocarbon structures between the various deposits. Carbon deposits that have such analytically determined variations we refer to as “different carbon types”. By these methods it was also determined that carbon deposits generated from different engine configurations (e.g., gasoline port injection, gasoline direct injection, and diesel direct injection) could vary and therefore be different carbon types. Additionally, we also found that deposits generated from a single engine configuration, but driven and/or maintained under different conditions, could also have different carbon types.
The carbon types analyzed also varied based on their metals content. Parsinejad et al. (Direct Injection Spark Ignition Engine Deposit Analysis: Combustion Chamber and Intake Valve Deposits, JSAE 20119096, SAE 2011-01-2110) and Dearn et al (An Investigation into the Characteristics of DISI Injector Deposits Using Advanced Analytical Methods, SAE 2014-01-2722, Oct. 13, 2014) have shown via chemical analysis that engine carbon deposits may contain a significant number of chemical elements in addition to carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. These include aluminum, boron, calcium, chlorine, chromium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorous, potassium, silicon, sodium, sulfur and zinc. We have also determined the presence of many of these chemical elements in our carbon samples from road vehicles via X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), which also shows diversity in the elemental content and elemental quantity between different carbon samples. We believe that the presence of these elements added to the diversity of carbon types in two primary ways: (1) physical differences based on how the other elements are incorporated into the carbon deposit, such as their total amount and volumetric dispersion within the carbon deposit; and (2) chemical differences in the carbon deposit itself that are caused by chemical interaction between the hydrocarbon being deposited and the metallic and or non-hydrocarbon based species, for instance via interaction with an oxygenated portion of the hydrocarbon in the deposit with a metal, or by directly transforming the structural nature of the hydrocarbon via catalytic reaction with a metal species.
We categorize carbon cleaning chemicals of the present invention into three general categories that we define as follows. (1) “Non-Specific Solvents” that remove portions of the deposits primarily via solvent-solute interactions such as those described by the solubility parameter, e.g. dispersion (van der Waals), polarity (related to dipole moment) and hydrogen bonding. Examples of Non-Specific Solvents of the present invention include organic solvents such as benzene, toluene and xylenes as well as oxygenated compounds such as alcohols, ethers and ketones. (2) “Specific Solvents” where solvent-solute interaction occurs primarily as a result of electron pair donor/electron pair acceptor interactions in which electron transfer occurs between an electron donating species and an electron accepting species. The chemical complex formed by this interaction is often ionic (non-covalent) in nature. Specific Solvents can be molecules that contain a nitrogen, sulfur and/or an oxygen atom with an unshared electron lone pair such as pyridine, n-methyl pyrrolidone and dimethyl sulfoxide. (3) “Reactive Solvents” that cause deposit degradation by covalent bond disruption. Here the chemical structure of both the solvent and the deposit may be altered as a result of, for instance, bond cleavage. Compounds that can generate free radical species and alkaline hydrolysis compounds/mixtures are examples of Reactive Solvents. (Note: some chemical compounds may act in more than one of these categories depending on the specific system temperature, specific chemistry of the cleaning solvent mixture, and the specific chemical nature of the carbon deposit to be removed.)
The carbon cleaning solutions of the present invention are only effective if they can be applied to the carbon deposits that accumulate within internal combustion engines, namely the induction system (including intake valves and the surrounding port area), cylinders and the exhaust system. (This is also true of prior art products marketed for engine carbon removal.) As with the prior art products themselves, prior art methods of application through the induction system have, at best, limited effectiveness. This includes the use of a hydraulic nozzle (also referred to as an oil burner nozzle) to spray the prior art products at closed throttle plates. As discuss in the '016 Application, with this prior method the spray from the nozzle will impinge on the throttle body and throttle plate and tend to puddle in the induction system. From our testing of such prior art delivery methods, including observations of air flow through various induction systems, we determined that the chemical/chemical mix was not being delivered to many of the carbon sites within the engine. It was then clear that if such solvents/solutions could not be delivered to the carbon sites the carbon deposit could not be removed. While this may seem obvious, as far as Applicants are aware this was not known in the prior art.
As a result of our testing we determined that, if the chemicals/chemical mixtures of the present invention were delivered in an aerosol format and not directed at the throttle plate, the liquid droplets of the aerosol will stay suspended within the air flow moving into and through the engine, and the droplets would actually delivered to the carbon sites throughout the induction system and into the combustion chambers. To this end we developed several different nozzles for delivering an aerosol and methods to apply the droplets of solution to the various engine components where the carbon can be soaked by the droplets so the carbon deposit can be removed. These apparatus and methods are disclosed in both the '016 Application and the further developments discussed below in detail.
A preferred method of removing carbon build up from an internal combustion engines includes: running the engine; monitoring the position of the throttle plate; opening or snapping the throttle plate (snapping the throttle plate is an opening rate that is quick enough to allow an in rush of air to occur into the engine induction system); discharging chemistry in the form of an aerosol into the induction system through the nozzle only when the throttle plate is opened; and closing the throttle plate and simultaneously discontinuing the application of chemistry to the induction system. The nozzle may be placed in front of the induction system before the throttle plate, in which case the step of delivering is delivering the chemistry to the induction system before the throttle plate. Where the induction system includes a port behind the throttle plate, the nozzle may be placed in the induction system after (behind) the throttle plate, in which case the step of delivering is discharging the aerosol into the induction system after the throttle plate.
While positioning the nozzle after the throttle plate and timing the delivery of the aerosol with the inrush of air when the throttle plate is opening is preferred, it is not necessary so long as contact between the throttle plate and the aerosol is minimized so as not to adversely affect keeping the liquid droplets in the air stream moving through the induction system. This is not an issue where the aerosol is delivered after the throttle plate. Positioning the nozzle in front of the throttle plate has commercial advantages in the form of both reduced equipment and service personal costs. With this placement of the nozzle, the aerosol spray from the nozzle needs to be directed at the gap between the throttle plate and the throttle body when the throttle is in the closed position. (As those skilled in the design and maintenance of fuel delivery system understand, when the throttle plate is “closed” there is still some opening between the body and plate to provide air to the cylinders when the engine is idling.) This directing is optimized by the flattened nozzle tip of the present invention.
Finally, the present invention relates to the use of some of the chemical/chemical mixes of the present invention as an additive for mixing in a fuel base, such as standard consumer grades of gasoline/diesel fuel.
An in-depth understanding of carbon types and chemicals and chemical mixtures tested for their effectiveness in breaking down carbon accumulations is imperative in order to successfully remove these carbon deposits from road vehicle internal combustion engines. In order to accomplish this a testing procedure was developed including: (1) chemical and chemical mixture bench testing of road vehicle carbon (this is carbon that has been carefully removed by hand from the induction system and combustion chambers of road vehicle engines for the purpose of identifying and testing various carbon types and the effects of various chemicals and chemical mixtures on such various carbon types); and (2) testing the same types of carbon in running road vehicle engines with the same chemicals and chemical mixtures applied to the induction systems of such engines. In step (1) the carbon being tested is weighed both before and after the chemical (or chemical mixture) is applied, so that the amount of carbon removed by such chemical (or chemical mixture) can be quantified. This test procedure verified that the chemicals and chemical mixtures tested and the removal of different carbon types corresponded well to one another regardless of which test method (bench or running engine) was used. Stated another way, the bench tests worked to the same extent that occurred with the running engine tests. The test bench methodology produced a repeatable accuracy of +/−4%. With this level of accuracy a true understanding of the effectiveness of each chemical and chemical mixture tested, and each carbon structure type such chemicals and mixtures were tested on was achieved.
One example of the chemical diversity of a carbon type was observed when testing the chemical bromopropane (a colorless liquid with a melting point of −128.1° F. and a boiling point between 138 and 142° F.). Bromopropane is used to remove asphalt/bitumen (the terms bitumen and asphalt are understood to be interchangeable) deposits from road construction on vehicle surfaces. Although bromopropane is not environmentally favorable and boils below typical engine operating temperatures, we experimented with bromopropane in order to further our understanding. When the bromopropane was used on a sample of Audi turbocharged direct injected carbon collected from the intake port it removed 83% of such carbon. However, when the bromopropane was used on a sample of Honda port injected carbon collected from the intake port it only removed 26% of the carbon.
It was also observed that when this same type of Honda carbon was exposed to the Specific Solvents and Reactive Solvents experimented with, the carbon samples had a large amount of swelling. In other words, the deposit increased in volume due to uptake of the chemicals and chemical mixtures applied. It was also observed during testing that once a carbon sample swelled it was very difficult to remove any additional carbon. It is believed that chemically induced swelling caused the carbon pores to close. Thus, when any additional chemicals or chemical mixtures were applied to the swelled carbon sample they could only contact a much smaller area of the carbon deposit (the exposed external surface rather than both the exposed external surface and the internal surface area located in the pores) and were not effective in removing additional carbon from the sample. This chemically induced swelling was observed with many of the direct injected gasoline and port injected gasoline carbon samples that were tested. However, the Honda carbon tested was more susceptible to this chemical induced swelling. In fact, this Honda carbon was swelled by almost all of the Specific and Reactive Solvents that were applied to it. It thus became apparent that the chemicals and chemical mixtures that were applied to these Honda carbon samples would start to remove carbon from the sample and would then swell it, thereby stopping any additional carbon removal. The carbon removal would plateau with less than approximately 25% of the carbon sample being removed.
Since it was determined that high concentrations of Specific and Reactive Solvents diminished carbon removal of some carbon types, it was reasoned that the use of low percentages of such Specific and/or Reactive Solvents in a Non-Specific Solvent or Non-Specific Solvent mix (e.g., the 50/50 and 40/60 mixes discussed below), which mix would cause little or no chemically induced swelling, could be used as a base solution (or base) to mitigate such Specific/Reactive Solvent induced carbon swelling. Stated another way, if a base of a Non-Specific Solvent or a Non-Specific Solvent mix were to remove carbon at a rate higher than the rate of swelling induced by the Specific and/or Reactive Solvents the problem caused by swelling might be mitigated. A study of various Non-Specific Solvents, Specific Solvents, and Reactive Solvents began. Thousands of different chemicals and mixtures of chemicals were tested. Non-Specific Solvents were tested on Gasoline Port Injection (GPI) carbons, Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) carbons, and Diesel Direct Injection (DDI) carbons.
Our testing demonstrated that the ratio of the Non-Specific Solvents when mixed together was more important than we initially expected. If the ratio of one Non-Specific Solvent to a second Non-Specific Solvent were mixed at a 50/50 ratio, the ability of the Non-Specific Solvents to remove carbon improved considerably. When xylenes (XYL) and light hydrotreated naphtha (LHN) are mixed at a 50/50 ratio the solvents' carbon removal ability is increased. This 50/50 mixture is a preferred embodiment for one of the base solutions of the present invention. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this 50/50 ratio pairs of Non-Specific Solvents are mixed at different ratios and then tested on samples of the same Audi turbocharged direct injection carbon collected from the intake. When the preferred XYL and LHN were mixed at a 50/50 ratio 86% of the carbon was removed. However, when this mixture was changed to 25% XYL and 75% LHN only 53% of such carbon was removed. When this mixture was changed to 75% XYL and 25% LHN only 68% carbon is removed.
The Audi GDI carbon used in the 50/50 mixture tests discussed in the previous paragraph is a very easy carbon type to remove when compared to many of the other GDI carbons that were tested. With different carbon types these percentages of carbon removal will vary between the carbon type used and which Non-Specific Solvents are mixed together. It would appear that a carbon removal increase of just 10% is just a slight increase. However, we have determined through testing that a 10% increase is very hard to obtain.
Because the chemical mixtures discussed above in reference to
As far as Applicants are aware, the use of a base of Non-Specific Solvents mixed in high ratios (e.g., 50/50, 40/60, 20/80) for induction cleaning is not disclosed in any known prior patent or publication nor is known in the industry. This is illustrated by analyzing the MSDS information in
Thus, an effective ratio of Non-Specific Solvents, optimized to minimize carbon swelling, was found to be between 20/80 and 80/20 when the Non-Specific Solvent base consists of two solvents. Or a ratio of 33.33/33.33/33.33 (referred to as 30/30/30) if the base consists of three Non-Specific Solvents. An example of the latter would be 33.3% XYL/33.3% LHN/33.3% SS as discussed in greater detail below.
The above described Non-Specific Solvent mixes work well on certain carbon types and represent an improvement over the prior art. However, from our testing we determined that none of these Non-Specific Solvents mixes worked well enough across all the carbon types tested to enable sufficient carbon removal in the typical cleaning time and chemical volumes allotted for this procedure by current industry practice, which is typically 16 oz of chemical delivered over 20 minutes of time. In view of this constraint it was determined that a mix of Non-Specific Solvents to which base one or more Non-Specific Solvents, Specific-Solvents and/or Reactive Solvents would be needed to enhance the base to remove substantial amounts of carbon across all carbon types. It was also determined for the best carbon removal results that the Specific Solvents/Reactive Solvents used would constitute no more than 30 volume percent of the final mix.
In general, a total content of the Non-Specific Solvent base of at least 70 volume percent was found to be preferred in order to mitigate chemically induced swelling from the Specific and/or Reactive Solvents while still providing substantial carbon removal. Small percentages of additional Non-Specific Solvents might be added in the remaining 30 percent to increase the carbon removal rate of the chemical mix, as indicated below with regard to the ATS 505CR mix, ATS 505DCR mix, and ATS 505TCR mix families.
It was found through testing that the best chemicals that we believe act primarily as Non-Specific Solvents are; xylenes (XYL), light hydrotreated naphtha (LHN), Stoddard solvent (SS), toluene (TOL), dipentene (DIP), tetrahydronaphthalene (THN), decahydronaphthalene (DHN), cyclohexane (CH), octane (OCT), pentyl acetate (PA), bibutylamine (TBA), propylbenzene (PB), bromobenzene (BB), decane (DEC), diethyl malonate (DEM), 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (TMP), trimethylbenzene (TMB), tertiary-amyl methyl ether (TAME), and glycol ethers such as propylene glycol phenyl ether (PGPhE), propylene glycol propyl ether (PGPrE) and ethylene glycol butyl ether (EGBE). Each of these Non-Specific Solvents worked well across a board range of engine induction carbon and was determined to be suitable for the Non-Specific Solvent base. It was also determined that the Specific Solvents and Reactive Solvents (again noting that some chemicals may act in more than one of these two categories) that work best with the selected Non-Specific Solvents base for removing all carbon structure types are; 2-ethylhexyl nitrate (2-EHN), nitropropane (NP), tert-butyl peracetate (TBP), di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP), di-tert-amyl peroxide (DTAP), tert-butyl peroxybenzoate (TBPB), isopropyl nitrate (IPN), and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP).
It has also been determined that other mixtures of Non-Specific Solvents that do not necessarily include either XYL or LHN can also remove significantly greater amounts of carbon than any one of the individual solvents used alone. Examples of some other Non-Specific Solvents are dipentene (DIP), tetrahydronaphthalene (THN), Stoddard solvent (SS), and toluene (TOL). When the Specific Solvents and/or Reactive Solvents listed in the previous paragraph are mixed with Non-Specific Solvents other than XYL or LHN enhanced carbon removing formulas are also produced. Various mixes can be produced to better remove one carbon type than another carbon type. The problem is to produce a mix to work across all road vehicle carbon types. As previously discussed we have identified many different carbon structure types. With each of these carbon structures the chemical interaction with the carbon changes.
When using Audi turbocharged GDI carbon with Non-Specific Solvent mixtures such as 50% XYL and 50% SS, 59% of the carbon was removed. When this mixture is changed to 50% LHN and 50% SS, 70% of the carbon was removed. When this mixture was changed to 50% TOL and 50% LHN, 77% of the carbon was removed. When this mixture was changed to 50% TOL and 50% SS, 67% of the carbon was removed. Finally, when this mixture was changed to 50% TOL and 50% XYL, 51% of the carbon was removed.
Furthermore, and again in reference to the Audi turbocharged GDI carbon, at least 3 different Non-Specific Solvents can be combined to produce a mixture that has the ability to remove carbon as well. For example when the base mixture is changed to 33% XYL and 33% LHN and 33% SS, 46% of such Audi carbon is removed. When the base mixture is changed to 33% XYL and 33% LHN and 33% DIP, 38% carbon is removed. When the mixture is changed to 33% XYL and 33% SS and 33% TOL, 48% carbon is removed. When the mixture is changed to 33% XYL and 33% LHN and 33% TOL, 51% carbon is removed. When this mixture is changed to 33% LHN and 33% SS and 33% TOL, 28% carbon is removed. And when the base is changed to 33% XYL and 33% TOL and 33% trimethylbenzene (TMB), 72% carbon is removed. With the caveat, as discussed in greater detail below, that care must be taken to avoid selecting a chemical that inhibits the effectiveness of another chemical. Furthermore a mixture of 3 different Non-Specific Solvents is not an upper limit. One such example is demonstrated below using a blend for high temperature gasoline (HTG).
As discussed in greater detail below, through testing it has been determined that, generally speaking, the fewer chemicals contained within the chemical mixture the better the product works across all carbon types. We believe this to be because each of the individual chemicals tested may react with the carbon being tested at slightly different rates, yet there is a finite amount of carbon surface for them to act on (i.e. the efficacy of a particular chemical in a mixture of two or more chemicals is based on their competing carbon-removal reaction rates). In general therefore, the chemical that acts preferentially in a chemical mixture may be the chemical that has both the strongest chemical interaction with the carbon and the fastest reaction rate and will, in effect, reduce access and/or reactivity of the other chemicals to the carbon surface, and thus their efficacy in a particular mixture. Furthermore, solvent-solute interaction, specifically when two different solvents are chemically attracted to each other, may reduce the chemical attraction between those solvents and the carbon. Thus, when the number of carbon removing chemicals is less, the individual chemicals may have a greater efficacy toward carbon removal. It has also been determined that when small volumes of Specific/Reactive Solvents are used the Non-Specific Solvents in the base mix carbon removal may be enhanced. Thus, the final chemical mixture needs to be chosen based on the testing data, in order for the best formulation to be produced.
In addition to the foregoing, it is believed that the various chemicals tested (e.g., XYL, THN, TBP, and DTBP) have different mechanisms for removing carbon from road vehicle internal combustion engines. It is also believed the chemical base (i.e., the Non-Specific Solvent mix) is effective for its solubility parameter type interactions. The Non-Specific Solvents also provide the physical means for removal of the deposits because of their ability to carry the dissolved and loosened portions of the deposits away. (Proprietary technology and methodology for carrying away dissolved and loosened carbon deposits is disclosed below and in the co-pending '016 Application.) The Specific Solvents and/or Reactive Solvents are used for their ability to react with the non-saturated hydrocarbon portions of the deposit, which in turn enhances the deposits tendency to be solubilized and/or removed by the Non-Specific Solvents. It is also believed that the oxygenated Specific and/or Reactive Solvents facilitate removal of the metal, alkali metal, and semimetal element portion of the deposit which, in turn, helps release the carbon deposit into the Non-Specific Solvent and thereby remove it from the engine. We believe that the ability of the Specific and or Reactive Solvents such as 2-EHN, TBP, DTBP, DTAP, TBHP, TBPB, NP, and IPN is in part due to their propensity to undergo scission into charged reactive species (e.g. free radicals) at engine operating temperatures. Free radical species generated from such scission are known for their ability to participate in the chemical interactions described above. It is further believed that in order to enhance these types of chemical interactions that the scission occurs in proximity to the carbon deposit and in a liquid phase. Thus, the boiling point of the Non-Specific Solvent base must be higher than the engine running temperature, and the auto-decomposition temperature of the Specific and/or Reactive Solvent needs to be close to the engine running temperature.
The engine running temperature will vary within the engine depending where the temperature is measured, (e.g. normal engine running coolant temperature can run from 180 F to 230 F, throttle body temperatures can run between 150 F and 230 F, intake system temperatures can run 180 F to 275 F, intake valve temperatures can run between 390 F to 1100 F, exhaust valve temperatures can run between 750 F and 1475 F, and combustion chamber temperatures can run 200 F to 1475 F). In the case of the chemical interactions described above, a free radical species interacting with a metal, alkali metal or semimetal element would most likely be acting as a Specific Solvent, but the same radical interacting with a non-saturated hydrocarbon species would most likely be acting as a Reactive Solvent.
The solvents described above were all tested in different formulations that remove substantial amounts of carbon from the different carbon types encountered in road vehicle engines. Those skilled in the art should appreciate the importance that the chemicals selected interact well with one another. Many different carbon removal formulations were mixed and tested. The best Non-Specific Solvents for use as the liquid base were found to be; XYL, LHN, DIP, THN, DHN, TOL, TMP, and SS. With such bases the best Specific/Reactive Solvents found to enhance the bases were; 2-EHN, TBP, DTBP, DTAP, TBPB, IPN, TBHP, and NP. With such bases the best Non-Specific Solvents found to enhance the bases were; OCT, EM, CH, PA, TBA, PB, BB, XYL, LHN, DIP, THN, DHN, TOL, TMP, TAME, and SS.
A significant part of our research was directed at the removal of intake carbon. This is the carbon that is within the induction system that can accumulate in such places as the throttle plate, throttle body, intake plenum, intake manifold, intake runner valves or charge valves, fuel injector tips, intake runners, intake opening, intake ports, and intake valves. However, the developed mixes were also found to remove carbon in the combustion chambers, and carbon from the direct injection injector tips, which we believe is due to both the higher temperatures and the combustion enhancing properties of the Specific and/or Reactive Solvents. Additionally the 2-EHN, TBP, DTBP, DTAP, TBPB, IPN, TBHP and NP provided the engines tested with enhanced engine running capability during induction cleaning. These combustion enhancing properties also allow for up to nine times the industry standard chemical volume (i.e., 1 to 1.5 Gallons Per Hour (GPH)) to be applied into the engine during cleaning without developing engine running problems. In turn, this increase in the chemical volume delivery allows for more carbon to be removed from the engine. The combustion enhancing properties of these chemicals is well known.
We believe that the ability of chemicals such as 2-EHN, TBP, DTBP, DTAP, TBPB, IPN, TBHP and NP to chemically interact with those parts of the carbon deposit that is not readily affected by the Non-Specific Solvent base results from the following. First, the parts of the deposit that were not susceptible to solvent-solute interaction with the Non-Specific Solvent become susceptible to this interaction because of the chemical interactions discussed in above. Second, the other parts of the deposit that are still not susceptible to solvent-solute interaction with the Non-Specific Solvent are carried away by the mechanical force of the moving liquid base (discussed below), thus being removed from the engine and burned in the combustion process.
It is important that all of the carbon that is removed in the cleaning process is burned during the combustion event. Some of the chemicals that can help with this combustion process, such as but not limited to, are; 2-EHN, TBP, DTBP, DTAP, TBPB, IPN, TBHP and NP. Burning all the carbon is important as it prevents such carbon that is removed from the induction system and combustion chambers from impacting the exhaust components, such as but not limited to, turbochargers and catalytic converters. Carbon deposits that are removed from the induction and combustion chambers, but not burned, may end up being deposited on the turbine wheel of the turbocharger. This, in turn, imbalances the turbine wheel which will cause mechanical damage to the turbocharger.
When using different combinations of Non-Specific Solvent bases with Specific Solvents/Reactive Solvents it was observed that some of the mixes worked better on some carbon types than others. It was also observed that when one chemical was added to a mix it could block or retard one of the other chemicals in the mix from working well on a particular carbon type. An example of this is when 5 percent 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is added to a mix of Non-Specific Solvents (e.g., 50% XYL/50% LHN) that have a carbon removal rate in the 50 percent range, the carbon removal rate would drop to the 20 percent range. Yet another example is when 5 percent of polyetheramines (PEA) is added to a mix of Non-Specific Solvents (e.g., 50% XYL/50% LHN) that have a carbon removal rate in the 50 percent range, the PEA would limit the carbon removal rate to the 20 percent range. It is evident that when these chemicals are used in Non-Specific Solvents such as, but not limited to, NMP and PEA, they diminish the carbon removal ability of such Non-Specific Solvent bases as seen in
In the case where the solvent mixes tested removed substantial amounts of carbon compared to the commercially available products, they did not necessarily initially work across all the carbon types we collected from road vehicle engines. Using the aforementioned reasoning based on the roles of the various solvent types, and then considering physical constraints such as boiling temperatures and auto-decomposition temperatures, as well as health effects, a selection of potential chemicals was chosen to further research. Through extensive testing of these chemicals preferred chemical mixes were formulated to use on gasoline based engines from the following chemicals in the specified ranges, namely: 20-80% xylenes; 20-80% light hydrotreated naphtha; 0.2-20% octane; 0.2-20% 2-ethylhexyl nitrate; 0.2-20% tert-butyl peracetate; and 0.2-20% di-tert-butyl peroxide. This is referred to as the “ATS 505CR” family of mixes. A preferred ATS 505CR mix is: 40% xylenes; 40% light hydrotreated naphtha; 5% octane; 5% 2-ethylhexyl nitrate; 5% tert-butyl peracetate; and 5% di-tert-butyl peroxide. Through extensive testing this mix was demonstrated to remove sufficient carbon given current industry cleaning practices on volume of chemical applied and application time, typically a minimum of 16 fluid ounces applied in 30 minutes or less, to remove a substantial amount of all the carbon types tested from the internal combustion engine.
Alternately, the foregoing preferred ATS 505CR mix family can be utilized as two mix families, namely: (1) ATS 505CR family A; and (2) ATS 505CR family B. The 505CR family A contains: 20-80% xylenes, 20-80% light hydrotreated naphtha, 0.2-20% octane, and 0.2-20% 2-ethylhexyl nitrate. The 505CR family B contains: 20-80% xylenes, 20-80% light hydrotreated naphtha, 0.2-20% tert-butyl peracetate, and 0.2-20% di-tert-butyl peroxide. With reference to the testing disclosed in connection with
Through testing the best mixes for use on carbon in diesel based engines are shown in
The ATS 505CR, and ATS 505DCR, mix/mix families result in an HMIS heath rating of (2). Furthermore, as of June, 2017, none of the utilized chemicals are currently listed on the California Proposition 65 regulation.
The ATS 505CR mix family and the ATS 505CR families A and B worked better than any commercially available induction cleaner that was tested. By way of comparison, in reference to
In contrast with the percentages set forth for the commercial products listed in
As is apparent by the testing data listed in
With further reference to
It is clear from the test results that Applicants' preferred mixes work better than the mixes used by the major cleaning chemical manufacturers (as set forth in
With the commercial products set forth in
In contrast to the commercial products tested, it was observed through testing that if suitable oxygenated Specific and/or Reactive Solvents were used with Applicants' Non-Specific Solvents (e.g., XYL, LHN, DIP, THN, DHN, TOL, TMP AND SS) the carbon removal rate of such a mix would not plateau. To the contrary, the higher the volume of mixture that was applied the more carbon would be removed from the carbon deposit. It is believed this occurs when the removal rate from a Non-Specific Solvent (or mix thereof) is greater than the induced swelling rate of the carbon. In the ATS 505CR family of mixes the carbon removal rate does not plateau, but instead will continue to remove carbon from the carbon deposit with additional volumes of the mix being applied. This continued carbon removal occurs whether there is or there is not swelling of the carbon.
When the Non-Specific Solvents in the preferred formula of ATS 505CR are mixed together with the preferred Specific Solvents and/or Reactive Solvents the resultant mixture's ability to remove carbon deposits is enhanced as discussed above. With reference to
With reference to
It has been demonstrated through extensive testing that the ATS mixes that contain high ratios of Non-Specific Solvents (e.g., 50/50) with the right mix of Specific Solvent and/or Reactive Solvents are more effective at removing all types of internal combustion engine carbon than the Specific Solvents or Reactive Solvents used by the major induction cleaning chemical manufacturers.
In the prior art, including the commercially available induction chemical cleaning products, fuel tank additives, there is no known teaching of the Non-Specific Solvent base mix of the present invention, or the Specific Solvents and Reactive Solvents added to this base to form the preferred ATS 505CR mix, the ATS 505CR Mix A, the ATS 505CR Mix B, or the ranges of chemicals which contain these specific mixes (e.g., ATS 505CR family A). The specific chemicals listed herein and their beneficial effectiveness in removing carbon from road vehicle engines was determined from our experimentation. Other similar chemicals that also can undergo scission, decomposition into reactive fragments, or that have monopropellant properties may be substituted, so long as the base mix/Specific and/or Reactive Solvent mix has a melting temperature at or below expected ambient storage and use conditions, has a boiling and or decomposition temperature at or near the expected engine operating temperature, and is soluble/miscible at the desired percentages in the chosen Non-Specific Solvent base.
Regardless of how delivered to the induction system of an engine, the preferred ATS 505CR mix has been found to be very effective in removing the range of carbon types that have been tested from the engines they were accumulated in, even though they may temporarily induce light knocking in a running engine during a cleaning process. It has also been determined that the addition of anti-knock additives to the mix such as, but not limited to, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (TMP), diethyl malonate (DEM) and tertiary-amyl methyl ether (TAME) will mitigate knocking. Based on our testing, we have determined that these chemicals (TMP, DEM, and TAME) also provide a good carbon removal rate. It is believed that this occurs because they are also very effective Non-Specific Solvents. As there are multiple chemicals known for their ability to limit knock produced from the fuels rapid burning rate that leads to engine knock, it is important to select such a chemical based on its ability to remove carbon as well as reduce engine knock.
Yet another way to mitigate knock during induction cleaning is to use a chemical base which produces a slower burn rate. THN is one such chemical as it has a slow burn rate which resists knocking within the engine. We have determined from our testing that THN also has a high carbon removal rate across many different road vehicle carbon types. When Specific Solvents and Reactive Solvents such as 2-EHN, TBP, DTBP, DTAP, TBPB, IPN, TBHP and NP are used with the THN base, they increase the effectiveness of the resulting chemical mixture to remove additional carbon. This can be seen in the testing results in
In addition to Specific Solvents/Reactive Solvents as discussed above, THN also works well will many of the Non-Specific Solvents. This can be seen in
Additionally, as set forth in the commonly owned '016 and '684 Applications, not all prior art methods of delivering solutions intended for cleaning the induction system of an engine are effective in getting such a solution to where it is needed. Thus, in addition to having a chemical mix which will remove substantial amounts of such carbon deposits, it is highly desirable to have an effective mechanism for delivering such a chemical mix to the induction system, combustion chambers and exhaust system of a vehicle. The apparatus and methodology of the '016 Application provides such an effective mechanism and, together with the preferred chemical/chemical mixes (discussed above) of the present invention, they provide a “one-two” punch for removing engine carbon. The apparatus and methodology of the '016 Application/'606 A1 Pub. is applicable to the use of a single chemical mix or multiple chemical mixes.
As discussed in the '606 A1 Pub., getting the chemicals to the carbon sites can be very challenging. This is due to several problems that occur as discussed in detail in this application. For instance, the problem of the chemical/chemical mix hitting the closed throttle plate and impinging on it and then puddling in the induction system is discussed. Additionally it is shown that opening the throttle with a Wide Open Throttle (WOT) snap will help break up the puddling in the induction system and change the RPM during the induction cleaning process. This will allow the air column flowing into the engine to have greater energy which helps with the cleaning process. See, for instance, ¶¶[0071]-[0073] of the '606 A1 Pub. Further improvements to this apparatus and methodology are discussed below.
It has been determined through extensive testing on multiple running engines, that in some engines there is a tendency for the carbon cleaning solution that is sprayed from a nozzle in the form of an aerosol to condense into a bulk liquid and puddle in the induction system. As disclosed in the '016 Application/606 A1 Pub., the throttle will need to be opened multiple times during the cleaning period in order to limit this aerosol from puddling in the induction system. This method has not been recognized in the industry. Rather it is common practice to place a throttle stick (an expandable stick that is placed between the accelerator pedal and steering wheel) on the accelerator pedal in order to hold the throttle at a steady state during the cleaning process. The industry recommendation is a steady state Revolutions Per Minute (RPM), usually between 1200 and 1800. Through the Applicants' testing it has been determined that this practice of holding the throttle at a steady state will increase the degree to which the chemical mixture aerosol will puddle within the induction system and can further limit equal distribution within the engine.
It is also clear that if the chemical/chemical mixture aerosol directly hits the throttle plate it will impinge on the throttle plate creating large droplets that will not stay suspended within the air flowing through the induction system. Additionally, the use of an air bleed nozzle that by-passes the throttle plate, such as illustrated in FIG. 10 of the '606 A1 Pub, produces droplet sizes that are large and have a tendency to fall out of the air flowing into the engine. In either of these prior art delivery methods, this allows the chemical/chemical mix to puddle within the induction system. Additionally, these puddles will not have equal distribution within the induction system as the air flowing through the induction system can move these puddles along the induction system floor, whereby the chemical/chemical mix cleans the floor, but leaves the carbon on the port sides and top. This channel that is cut through the carbon on the induction floor during cleaning, can result in additional air turbulence that can decrease the power and fuel mileage from the engine after the cleaning as occurred. When carbon deposits are not equal in size/shape/distribution within the induction system the incoming air flow into the engine hits these non-uniform deposits and becomes turbulent/more turbulent. This turbulent or erratic air creates uneven cylinder volume filling, which directly affects the power output from the engine. The very reason for cleaning the induction system is to increase the power and fuel economy of the engine by removing the carbon deposits from the engine and, thus, limiting this turbulent air flow. However, with prior art cleaning methods, it is possible to actually make this turbulence worse by making the carbon deposits more non-uniform or cutting a channel through the carbon on the induction system floor. This decrease in power and economy from the engine, after the completion of the chemical carbon removal treatment of the engine, is a direct result of not keeping the chemical/chemical mixture suspended in the air flowing into the engine with equal distribution. During testing using prior art applicators, multiple vehicles that had chemical/chemical mixtures applied with such apparatus had performance problems from the carbon cleaning procedure. Four different vehicles lost between 1 to 3 miles per gallon in fuel economy. When we addressed this problem it was determined that the chemical/chemical mixture was falling out of the air flowing into the engine which, in turn, created non-uniformed carbon deposits. These non-uniformed deposits then increased the turbulence within the air flow which created cyclic variations in cylinder volume charge rates.
It has also been determined through our testing that one way to mitigate puddling in the induction system, and to accomplish more even distribution of the liquid chemical/chemical mix droplets that constitute the aerosol throughout the engine, is to have the throttle plate opened and closed during the cleaning process. This is true for both prior art products as well as prior art apparatus/methods of delivery (e.g., air bleed nozzle or oil burner nozzle). This is due to the high pressure differential that is created between atmosphere pressure and the induction system pressure when the throttle plate is closed on a running engine. When the throttle is opened the inrush of air into the induction system, due to this high pressure differential, is quite high. This inrush of air increases the volume and velocity of the air moving into the engine. Furthermore we have determined that, if the delivery system applies chemical/chemical mixtures during this throttle opening, the liquid droplets will have a much better chance to stay suspended in the air flowing into the engine. During a throttle opening this high volume/high velocity air will help to suspend the droplets in the moving air column. Additionally, this air inrush creates turbulence as it passes the throttle plate which helps mix the liquid droplets into the air which, in turn, helps keep them suspended within the air. This turbulent air helps pick up any of the chemical/chemical mixture that has puddled within the induction system and moves it back into the air stream. All of this helps to keep the chemical mixture in an aerosolized form that can be suspended within the air so that the cleaning mixture can be delivered to the carbon sites (e.g., the carbon contained on the intake port and intake valve).
In order for this turbulence to occur the chemical application will be timed with the opening of the throttle plate. As those skilled in the art should appreciate this can be accomplished in many different ways such as, but not limited to: using a pressure transducer to sense the pressure change as the throttle plate is opened; using an optical sensor to monitor the throttle plate movement; using a microphone to monitor the sound change of the throttle plate opening; using a potentiometer to monitor the throttle plate opening; using a tailpipe pressure sensor so as to determine the engine RPM increase, using a pressure sensor in the crankcase so as to determine the engine RPM increase; ignition discharge so as to determine the engine RPM increase; using an alert system such as lights to indicate to a service person when to open the throttle; and using a mechanical means where the throttle plate movement opens a valve which would allow the chemical mixture to be injected into the engine only when the throttle was opened.
Regardless of the method used the outcome is what is important. When the chemical/chemical mixture is delivered in conjunction with this throttle plate opening movement, the chemical mixture is carried by the air column moving into the engine at a much greater rate, thus mitigating puddling in the induction system, and creating far better distribution of the liquid droplets to all of the cylinders within the engine.
As shown in
Additionally, as shown in
Thus, this method of timed delivery can be implemented with the nozzle in front of the throttle plate or with the nozzle behind the throttle plate. This is because mixture impingement on the throttle plate is minimized regardless of whether the aerosol is injected in front of or behind the throttle plate. If the nozzle 150 is used in front of throttle plate 156 and only delivers chemical/chemical mixtures aerosol when the throttle plate 156 is opening, the inrushing air moves the cone shaped aerosol around the throttle plate. See
We have also determined that a much larger injector flow rate than commonly used in the industry is achievable and desirable. While commonly used prior art injector flow rates are between 1 to 1.5 Gallons Per Hour (GPH), with our apparatus and methodology the preferred injector flow rate is 6 to 9 GPH with a 45 degree hollow cone from oil burner nozzle 150 (or equivalent). This chemical/chemical mixture spray pattern is hollow in the center and will help mitigate such pattern from directly hitting the throttle plate. Additionally it has been determined that when an increased volume of chemical/chemical mixture is used (e.g., 6 to 9 GPH) far more carbon can be removed. Further, with this increased chemical volume the delivery is pulsed on and off. This controls the chemical delivery rate so the engine can run during cleaning without stalling. When the chemical/chemical mix aerosol is injected in front of the throttle plate, the throttle plate is opened and closed between 1200 RPM and 3000 RPM. When the microprocessor (not shown) acknowledges that the throttle plate has been opened the injector (e.g., 150) is commanded on for 1.5 seconds. This allows the injector to deliver the aerosol at the high rate of volume discussed above when the throttle plate is open. This, in turn, allows the droplet mixture to be delivered when the air column (both speed and turbulence) moving into the engine is optimal. Thus, the increased amount of the droplet mixture delivered from a high volume injector can stay suspended in the moving air column until it reaches the intake ports and intake valves, thereby increasing the carbon removal rate of these components.
In order to not inject to much chemical/chemical mixture to the engine the preferred method is to turn the injector (e.g., 150) on every throttle opening for eight throttle sequential openings. Then the injector is turned off for a pause period of, preferably, 30 seconds. This is to allow the exhaust components, such as but not limited to, the catalytic converter and turbocharger time to cool down. This also allows the delivered liquid droplets time to soak the carbon deposit, thus allowing enough time for such droplets to start to interact with the carbon deposit. During this injector off time an alert lamp (such as disclosed in '606 A1, noting ¶[0065]) can be used to indicate to the service personal to allow the engine to idle. When the preferred wait time of 30 seconds is up, an alert lamp indicates to the service personal to rev the engine between the preferred engine RPM's of 1200 RPM and 3000 RPM. The droplets are once again delivered for eight throttle openings, followed by another pause period where the injector is turned off for the preferred 30 second pause period. This cycle is repeated until the recommended chemistry volume of carbon cleaning solution is totally used.
The foregoing method can be used with a single chemical-chemical mixture, or with multiple mixtures such as, but not limited to, 505CR chemical A and 505CR chemical B. In the case of using multiple chemicals/chemical mixtures, the two chemistries will be alternated between chemical A for eight throttle openings, then the preferred 30 second pause period, and then chemical B for eight throttle openings, and another pause period for 30 seconds. This cycle will be repeated until both chemistry volumes are totally used.
Another nozzle design for induction cleaning is shown in
Yet another nozzle design is shown in
These small liquid droplets are based, in part, on the chemical/chemical mixture flash point. With the chemical/chemical mixtures flash point accurately identified, it has been determined that these droplets can be smaller than, approximately, 125 microns. This small size allows the droplets to stay suspended in the moving air column into the engine. The air assist nozzle produces a discharge of a gas/chemical mixture in the form of fine liquid chemical droplets propelled by the gas volume flowing out the nozzle opening. Once the small droplets are delivered into the engine, they are driven by the moving air and will impinge all-round the interior of the induction system. These small droplets will also combine with other droplets, become larger and thus will be able to wet and remove carbon deposits throughout the induction system.
Nozzle cover 182 is threaded on to nozzle body 184 so it can be quickly changed for different hose sizes and induction system configurations. These different connection hoses can be attached to different sizes of vacuum ports or induction openings on the induction system. This allows the small liquid droplets 184 (shown in
Additionally the pressure on the liquid chemical/chemical mix can be changed as well. This will allow the chemical delivery volume to be increased or decreased. For example, this is very useful as it permits increasing delivery volume when cleaning an 8 cylinder engine, and decreasing the delivery volume when cleaning a 4 cylinder engine. With this style of nozzle, whether used in front of the throttle plate or used behind the throttle plate, it has been determined that if an increased chemical/chemical mixture is used (the preferred 6 to 9 GPH) far more carbon can be removed. This allows the carbon to be soaked with liquid chemical where the carbon can be solubilized and move into the carbon cleaning fluid. If the chemical was allowed to just flow at this high volume rate the engine would run poorly and or stall. So with high chemical volume rates it is necessary for the chemical/chemical mixture delivery to be pulsed on and off. This on and off volume flow rate is accomplished with electric solenoid(s) that are control with an electric circuit or microprocessor as illustrated in the '016 Application. These solenoid(s) control the chemical delivery so the engine can run during cleaning. The preferred method is to turn the chemical delivery on for 2 seconds and off for 3 seconds, and then back on for 2 seconds and then off for 3 seconds. This cycle is repeated for 8 pulses and then a 30 second soaking pause period is given. The soak period allows the chemical/chemical mixture additional time to interact with the carbon deposits, which in turn helps with the remove of the carbon deposit. This pause period also helps with controlling the exhaust components temperatures. After the preferred soaking pause time the cycle is started again. If multiple chemical/chemical mixes are used, after the pause period the next chemical/chemical mix is used. These chemical/chemical mixes will be cycled repeatedly until the recommended chemistry volume of carbon cleaning solution is totally used.
Further testing included placing cameras on the inside of induction systems (e.g., the induction system of a Ford V8 with a scroll style induction system) and filming what the chemical/chemical mix droplets do as they enter the induction system, and then what occurs to them as the droplets move through the induction system. It was observed that when these liquid particles are forced into the induction system under high velocity and high flow volume, with a nozzle such as the air assist nozzle of
Nozzle 174 can be used in front of the throttle plate as shown in
Additionally, when nozzle 174 is used behind the throttle plate and the chemical mixture is one that is combustible, the mixture acts as a fuel, which when mixed with the pressurized air creates a combustible mixture that burns within the cylinders. This insures the carbon that was removed during the cleaning process will be burned within the combustion chamber. Additionally, the mixture being combustible allows the engine to rev (increases crankshaft rotational speed) without opening the throttle. This increase of engine RPM helps the engine to pump more air, thus increasing the volume of air moving through the engine. This, in turn, helps to limit the chemical from puddling in the induction system even when a throttle stick is used. When used with a throttle stick a service person will not have to open and close the throttle plate during an engine carbon cleaning procedure. (With prior art techniques and prior art chemical/chemical mixes, where no service personnel is available to open and close the throttle, the use of a throttle stick would not have these benefits.)
The 174 type nozzle also works well where there is no throttle plate. Throttle plate-less engines, which may be a diesel or gasoline based engines, are dramatically helped by the high velocity high volume discharge from nozzle 174. Thus, all types of internal combustion engines can have the liquid cleaning chemicals/chemical mixes applied evenly and effectively to the associated induction systems. These throttle plate-less engines, such as a diesel, will also need to have the engine rev as the chemical/chemical mixture is being applied. This additional RPM will help keep the chemicals suspended within the air column flowing into the engine. Additionally, the device that adds a throttle plate attachment to the throttle plate-less engine, as disclosed in the '606 A1 Pub., FIGS. 21-23, can be used with these air assist nozzles.
It will be important to understand the nozzle design can also be one such, as shown in
The discharge rates from nozzles 174 and 185 are much higher than obtainable from a basic hydraulic nozzle (e.g., oil burn nozzle 150) in that the compressed air supplies the nozzle (174, 185) with a linear velocity where the volumetric flow rate from the compressed air accelerates the liquid chemical droplets. The droplets are then suspended within the high volumetric flow rate of the compressed air in the format of very fine liquid droplets. The discharge rate of these compressed air based discharge nozzles (174 and 185) is high when compared to the traditional oil burner nozzle, or a hydraulic nozzle, that has been used in the automotive carbon cleaning industry for decades. When using the hydraulic based nozzle the liquid volume can be increased which, in turn, can create a higher discharge rate. However the velocity from such a nozzle is only slightly increased. Further, with the traditional hydraulic nozzle the cleaning chemicals tend to fall out of the air flow moving through the engine. Additionally these traditional hydraulic nozzles do not work well when placed behind the throttle plate. Video inspection of the induction system in multiple engines dearly shows that the compressed air based or air assist nozzles of the present invention keeps more of the chemical/chemical mixture suspended as droplets in the air flow moving through the engine. Additionally, when the preferred pressurized gas air having 21% oxygen content is mixed with a cleaning formulation that can burn, this combination will provide the engine with a combustible mixture that will insure that the carbon that was removed during the cleaning process will be burned within the combustion chamber. Further, such combustible air/mixture can increase the RPM of the engine. Increasing the RPM helps keep the chemicals suspended in the air flow due to an increase of the engines volumetric pumping ability, which moves more air flow through the engine. Thus, the use of compressed air based nozzles, or air assist nozzles, for induction cleaning within the internal combustion engine has been determined to have multiple advantages. Whether the air assist nozzle is that of the type having the chemicals pressurized to the nozzle as with nozzle 174, or that of the type having a low pressure suck the chemical into the nozzle as with nozzle 185 the results are superior over prior art.
When using nozzle 174 or nozzle 191 and there is not an induction port or opening located behind the throttle plate that could be used for induction cleaning, nozzle direction tip 192 can be used as shown in
Nozzle tip 192, as shown in greater detail in
Due to the inherent limitations of fuel based delivery, it is preferred to clean the induction system, combustion chambers and the exhaust system of an engine with a method and apparatus that delivers the chemical mixture into a centralized location of the induction system of the engine, preferably as disclosed above and in the '016 Application. However, some of the chemicals of the present invention when mixed with a fuel base, such as standard consumer grades of gasoline. E-85 or diesel fuel, are effective in removing carbon, as shown in
It is important to understand that all carbon removing chemicals and chemical mixtures used for induction cleaning, for spark ignition engines must work well with the gasoline that is being sprayed onto the intake port of a GPI engine, or combustion chamber of the engine of a GDI engine, so that the engine can run. When cleaning the induction system or combustion chambers of the engine, with apparatus disclosed in the '016 Application, the gasoline will be at least partially mixed with the cleaning chemicals. Thus, whichever chemical/chemical mix are chosen to remove carbon deposits from the engine should work well with gasoline. Based on our testing we have determined that many of the chemicals we have identified for carbon removal work well with gasoline (e.g., OCT, EM, CH, PA, TBA, PB, BB, XYL, LHN, DIP, THN, DHN, TMP, DEC, and TAME.). Additionally some of these chemicals (e.g., 2-EHN, NP, ISN, TBP, DTBP, DTAP, and DTPB) have an added advantage that would provide better combustion characteristics as well
When carbon removing chemicals are directly added to the fuel base (e.g., standard consumer grades of gasoline, diesel fuel) of the vehicle there could be two different methods used. One is where the fuel manufacture or fuel distributor pre-mixes the selected chemicals into the fuel base. The other method would be one where the individual adds the fuel additives directly to the vehicles fuel tank separately from the fuel. In either case the chemical/gas mixture would be delivered through the injectors and would clean carbon from anywhere the chemical mixture contacted.
Another problem with regard to fuel stocks such as standard consumer grades of gasoline, is that they are formulated to release thermal energy in the internal combustion engine and not to clean the heavier carbon deposits from such an engine. Such gasoline blends are designed to flash from a liquid to a vapor at the running temperature of the engine. In port injected engines the fuel injectors spray pattern is aimed at the intake valve which is the hottest part of the induction system. This means that the fuel tank additives are using a base that is turning into a vapor as soon as it hits the hot intake valve. In direct injected engines the injectors spray pattern is delivered directly into the hot combustion chamber which vaporizes the fuel. This means that the fuel tank additives are using a base that is turning into a vapor as soon as it hits the hot combustion chamber. As previously discussed, through our testing we have determined that a chemical mix in the form of a vapor is not ideal to remove heavy carbon deposits.
Gasoline can be effective in removing carbon deposits has seen in
It has been determined through testing that a chemical mixture that represents gasoline but mixed with higher boiling point chemicals, referred to as High Temperature Gasoline (HTG) and not to be confused with standard consumer grades of gasoline, will work well to remove carbon from the induction system of the engine. This HTG mix can be applied by the apparatus described above and as disclosed in the '016 Application. The formula of some of Applicants' HTG based mixes, as well as the effectiveness of such mixes on previously described induction carbon (e.g., BMW GDI) is set forth in
It will be important to understand that the carbon that was harvested from the engines for testing was taken from many different engines over several years. In each testing run the carbon for that particular test sequence is always from the same engines induction system. However, for example, the BWM carbon used for the test in
It is also apparent that the mixtures of the present invention may include chemical stabilizers whose primary purpose is to add to the shelf life by reducing the rate of decomposition of the free radical generating chemicals that may be in the mixture. Examples of such stabilizers may be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,584 (also published as WO2004096762) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,992,225.
Whereas the illustrations, charts, and accompanying description have shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the forms and uses of the inventions without affecting the scope thereof.
This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the priority of, application Ser. No. 62/348,593, filed Jun. 10, 2016; Application Ser. No. 62/458,414, filed Feb. 13, 2017; and application Ser. No. 62/471,817, filed Mar. 15, 2017. This application incorporates by reference the entirety of the following applications: Ser. No. 14/843,016 (herein the “'016 Application”) filed Sep. 2, 2015 for “Dual Chemical Induction Cleaning Method and Apparatus for Chemical Delivery”; Ser. No. 14/584,684 (the “'684 Application”) filed Dec. 29, 2014 also for “Dual Chemical Induction Cleaning Method and Apparatus for Chemical Delivery”; and Ser. No. 62/061,326 (the “'326 Application”) filed Oct. 8, 2014. The '016 Application is a continuation-in-part of application the '684 Application which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of the '326 Application. The priority dates of these applications are also claimed. All these applications are commonly owned. As the '016 Application includes all of the disclosure of the '684 Application, reference to just the '016 Application is intended as a reference for both. The '016 Application was published on Apr. 14, 2016 under Pub. No.: US 2016/0102606 A1 (the “'606 A1 Pub.”).
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180238229 A1 | Aug 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62471817 | Mar 2017 | US | |
| 62458414 | Feb 2017 | US | |
| 62348593 | Jun 2016 | US | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14843016 | Sep 2015 | US |
| Child | 15617966 | US | |
| Parent | 14584684 | Dec 2014 | US |
| Child | 14843016 | US |
