Patent Grant
9670887
The disclosure herein relates to devices for improving combustion engine performance. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to ionizing devices and their use in reducing emissions, improving fuel efficiency, improving power, reducing turbo lag, and reducing engine deposits in combustion engines that utilizes a computer to control the air/fuel mixture.
Combustion engines convert the energy generated from fuel combustion into mechanical power. When the fuel source is carbon based, such as gasoline or diesel, the combustion is often incomplete resulting in the emission of hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, and other chemical by-products. Because emissions from combustion engines contribute to air pollution that may be harmful to humans, animals, and the environment, many countries have regulations that restrict emissions. While technology has improved emissions over the decades, there is still a need for further improvement.
The following simplified summary provides a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview, and is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented below.
The disclosure herein is directed to an ionizing device. In one embodiment is an ionizing device having a housing unit, an electrode, an air intake port, an air outtake port, a third port, and a power source connector. In some embodiments the housing unit may be multiple pieces that attach together. In one embodiment, the housing unit may be two pieces, a bowl and a cap. The bowl and cap may be connected using a variety of different methods such as external and internal threading, slip joint, etc. In some embodiments, the bowl and cap may be held together using permanent or semi-permanent methods such as welding, gluing, epoxying, Locktight® threadlocker, etc. Generally, the bowl and cap each have an internal and external surface. An electrode may be attached to the internal surface of the cap. The electrode also has an internal and external surface. In some embodiments, a portion of the electrode may be covered with a metal oxide coating. In one embodiment, the external surface of the electrode is coated with a metal oxide coating. In another embodiment, the internal surface is coated with a metal oxide coating. In yet another embodiment, both the internal and external surface is coated with a metal oxide coating. The housing unit may also include at least one port. In one embodiment, the housing unit includes at least two ports. In another embodiment, the housing unit includes at least three ports. At least one of the ports may be an air intake port. At least one of the ports may be an air outtake port. A power source connector may be included. The power source connector connects the electrode to a power source. In one embodiment, the power source connector may be a wire. In another embodiment, the power source connector may pass through the third port in the cap. In another embodiment, the power source connector may be connected to the positive terminal of a power source. The power source may be a battery.
The electrode may be made from a conductive metal or metal alloy. In one embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from copper or a copper based metal alloy. In another embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from brass. In another embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from bronze. In another embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from a conductive sintered metal or metal alloy. In another embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from a sintered copper or sintered copper based metal alloy. In another embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from a sintered bronze. In another embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from a sintered brass. In one embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from a conductive mesh. In another embodiment, the above described electrode may be made from a conductive micromesh. In one embodiment, the micromesh may be less than 100 microns. In another embodiment, the micromesh maybe less than 50 microns. In another embodiment, the micromesh may be less than 40 microns. In another embodiment the micromesh may be less than 30 microns. In another embodiment, the micromesh may be less than 20 microns. In another embodiment, the micromesh may be less than 10 microns. In another embodiment, the micromesh may be less than 5 microns.
The metal oxide coating may be based on the material of the electrode. In this embodiment, the electrode is partially or fully covered with an oxidizing chemical to yield the metal oxide coating. In another embodiment, the metal oxide is based on a different metal than the electrode. In this embodiment, the metal oxide may be based on aluminum, silver, titanium, magnesium, zinc, copper, nickel, gold, tin, chromium, tungsten, molybdenum, lithium, or palladium. In one embodiment, the metal oxide may be aluminum oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be silver oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be magnesium oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be zinc oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be copper oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be nickel oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be gold oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be tin oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be chromium oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be tungsten oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be molybdenum oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be lithium oxide. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be palladium oxide. In one embodiment, the metal oxide may be applied as a powder. In another embodiment, the metal oxide may be applied as a liquid formulation. In this embodiment, additional chemicals may be added to the liquid metal oxide formulation such as solvents, acids, oxidizers, salts, or coloring agents. In another embodiment, the additional chemicals may include sodium diacetate, hydrogen peroxide, acetoagetanilide or heterocyclic compounds.
The power source connector may be a conductive material that is insulated such as a cable or wire. In one embodiment, the wire may be of sufficient gauge to conduct at least 5 amps of power. In another embodiment, the wire may be of sufficient gauge to conduct at least 7 amps of power. In another embodiment, the wire may be of sufficient gauge to conduct at least 10 amps of power. In another embodiment, the wire may be of sufficient gauge to conduct at least 12 amps of power. In another embodiment, the wire may be of sufficient gauge to conduct at least 15 amps of power. In another embodiment, the wire may be of sufficient gauge to conduct at least 17 amps of power. In another embodiment, the wire may be of sufficient gauge to conduct at least 20 amps of power. In another embodiment, the wire may include a fuse or circuit breaker to prevent overload.
The housing unit of the above described device may be made from a number of different materials such as glass, plastic, resins, metal, or a metal alloy. When the housing unit is made from a metal or metal alloy, the electrode is generally insulated from the housing unit.
The locations of the ports described above can vary. In one embodiment, the air intake port and air outtake port are located circumferentially opposite each other on the cap. In another embodiment, the air intake port and air outtake port are located on the same circumferential plane, but are less than 180° apart. In another embodiment, the air intake port and air outtake port may are located on different planes of the cap. In another embodiment, the air intake port may be located on the cap and the air outtake port may be located on the bowl. In another embodiment, the air intake port may be located on the bowl and the air outtake port may be located on the cap. The third port may be located at any place on the housing unit.
Various connectors may be attached to the air intake or air outtake ports of the above described device. The connectors may be used to install the device. In one embodiment, the connector may be made from a metal or metal alloy. In another embodiment, the connector may be made from a plastic. The connectors may be used to attach an air filter to the device. Alternatively, the connectors may be used to attach a vacuum line to the device.
A mounting bracket may be attached to the above described device. In one embodiment, the mounting bracket may be attached to the exterior surface of the cap. In another embodiment, the mounting bracket may be attached to the exterior surface of the bowl.
The above described ionizing device may be installed on a combustion engine that has an electronic control unit that can adjust various aspects of the combustion cycle such as the fuel/air mixture or ignition timing. The device may be installed by (1) attaching the device to an engine compartment; (2) attaching the air outtake port to a vacuum line that feeds into the engine via a fitted connector; (3) attaching the air intake port to an air filter via a fitted connector; (4) attaching the power source connector to the positive terminal of a battery; and (5) grounding the device. In one embodiment, a mounting bracket may be used to attach the device to the engine compartment. In another embodiment, the mounting bracket may be attached to the exterior surface of the cap. In another embodiment, the mounting bracket may be used to ground the device. Often, the device is attached to a vacuum line that has a constant flow.
Installation of the device may improve engine emissions, fuel efficiency, and engine performance. Installation of the device may also reduce engine deposits. Installation of the device on a combustion engine may improve engine emissions by reducing levels of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, or particulate matter. Installation of the device on a combustion engine may increase fuel efficiency by at least 10% or by at least 15% or by at least 20% or by at least 25% or by at least 30% or by at least 35% or by at least 40% or by at least 45% or by at least 50%. Installation of the device on a combustion engine may improve engine performance by reducing turbo lag. Installation of the device on a combustion engine may increase the power output of the engine.
In a combustion engine, an oxidizer and fuel are mixed together and ignited. The force of the resulting explosion is harnessed to drive mechanical movement. Most combustion engines utilize the oxygen in ambient air as the oxidizer since it is freely available. Ambient air is composed mainly of nitrogen (˜78%), oxygen (˜21%), Argon (˜0.9%), carbon dioxide (˜0.03%) and water vapor (˜0.004%). Using ambient air often results in incomplete combustion of the fuel as well as harmful nitrogen based by-products due to the complexity of the hydrocarbons in the fuel source and the excess nitrogen as compared to oxygen in ambient air. Newer combustion engines incorporate an engine control unit (ECU) that controls the amount of fuel to inject based on the amount of air entering the engine and the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. In general the ration of air to fuel is generally 12 to 18 parts air (by weight) to one part fuel (by weight) with a ratio of 14.7:1 being the calculated stoichiometric ratio where 100% of the fuel and oxygen are consumed. The combustion of fuel results in water vapor, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, partially burned hydrocarbons, various nitrogen oxides (NOx) and other chemical byproducts, much is which is harmful to people, animals, and the environment.
Ionization is the process of adding or removing electrons from a neutral atom or molecule. Plasma is a gas that is electrically neutral but composed of ions. Ionization of ambient air will mainly be composed of nitrogen and oxygen based ions (e.g. N3+, O2−) since nitrogen and oxygen are the main components of ambient air. Ionized air will also include a smaller amount of hydrogen ions (i.e. H+) due to the ionization of any water vapor in the air. Ionization of ambient air may result in the formation of plasma, which is a gas that is electrically neutral but composed of ions. In general, ions are more reactive than their neutral counter parts.
This disclosure is directed to a device that is capable of ionizing air. The device may be installed and used with any combustion engine (e.g., gas or diesel) that has an engine control unit (ECU). The device introduces ionized air or plasma into a combustion engine. Introduction of ionized air in a combustion chamber results in (A) an increase in fuel efficiency, (B) a reduction in harmful emissions, and (C) increased power output.
When the terms “one,” “a,” or “an” are used in this disclosure, they mean “at least one” or “one or more,” unless otherwise indicated.
The housing unit may include multiple ports (14, 15, 16), which may be arranged in various configurations. A first port (14) may be provided for air intake. A second port (15) may be for air to be emitted or exhausted from the ionization device. A third port (16) may be to allow for a power supply to be provided to the device. A cord, wire or harness may be provided to carry power from a power supply to a power connector (21) that connects the power to an electrode (17). As shown in the figures, the air intake port (14) and the air outtake port (15) are located on opposite circumferential sides of the cap (13) and the wire port (16) is located approximately mid-distance between the air intake port (14) and the air outtake port (15). The ports may be located in alternative locations depending on the engine configuration. In one embodiment, the ports may be flush with the exterior surface of the housing unit. In another embodiment, the ports may extend outwardly from the exterior surface of the housing unit. In yet another embodiment, the ports may extend inwardly from the exterior surface of the housing unit. When the ports extend outwardly or inwardly, they may be tapered (e.g. conical shaped) or straight (e.g. cylindrical shaped).
A view of the housing unit of
Attached to the top of the electrode (17) is a power connector (21) that connects the electrode (17) to, for example, the wire carrying power from a power source. The power connector (21) is held in place by nut (20). The power connector (21) should be of sufficient gauge and material to conduct amperage ranging from 5 milliamps to 20 milliamps. In one embodiment, a fuse or circuit breaker may be used to prevent the current/voltage being carried by the wire and connector from exceeding the rated capacity of the electrode, wire and connector.
A pair of connectors (22 and 23) may be connected to the intake and exhaust ports (14, 15). The connectors facilitate the connection of hose, pipes or other fluid carrying structures to the ionizing device. For example, the connector (22) may connect an air filter (25) to the port (14). Also, the connector (23) may be connected to a vacuum line.
The ionizing device disclosed herein may be installed on any combustion engine with an ECU. The ionizing device disclosed herein may be sized up or down to allow installation on a variety of engines. In particular engines used in motorized vehicles such as, for example, motorcycles, passenger automobiles, delivery trucks, heavy machinery, generators out board motor boats, and recreation vehicles such as quads, jet skis, etc. The ionizing device (10) is attached to any stable vacuum line (via the connector (23) and the port (15)) that feeds into the engine. The vacuum line is preferably free of check valves as check valves will disrupt the air flow into the device, reducing its functionality. The power connector (21), e.g. wire, is attached to the vehicle's power supply such as, for example, the output of an alternator or generator of the positive end of the engine battery. As mentioned above, a fuse may be provided to protect the ionizing device and related wiring from an overloading condition. The ionizing device (10) may be mounted to the frame of the engine compartment using mounting bracket (24), preferably in direct contact with metal in order to ground the device. If mounting bracket (24) does not have direct contact with metal, then a grounding wire may be provided.
During operation, when the engine is running, power from the vehicle electrical system energizes electrode (17). The vacuum line pulls ambient air through air filter (25) and into the device though port (14) and into the interior of electrode (17). The air travels from the interior to the exterior of electrode (17). As the air passes through electrode (17) the electricity ionizes the air creating a plasma. The plasma exits the ionizing device via outtake port (15) and enters the vacuum line feeding into the engine. The plasma mixes with additional air and fuel and is injected into a combustion chamber. The ECU adjusts the fuel/air mixture to account for the presence of the plasma.
A simplified overview of the mechanic's s of a combustion engine is depicted in
It is believed that ionized air contributes to a more complete combustion of the fuel by: (A) mixing more thoroughly with the fuel, (B) breaking down the long hydrocarbons chains and clusters, (C) increasing the levels of oxygen in the fuel mix, and (D) adding hydrogen into the fuel mix. Additionally, it is believed that ionized air helps reduce emissions by: (A) inhibiting the formation of NOx by lowering the peak combustion temperatures, (B) reducing the amount of unburnt fuel, and (C) oxidizing unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. Lastly, it is believed that ionized air increases fuel efficiency and power output by: (A) taking advantage of the ECU's capability to automatically adjust the air/fuel mix to a more lean mixture based on sensor readings, (B) creating a faster burn, (C) having a cleaner burn, and (D) having a higher flame speed due to the incorporation of small amounts of hydrogen.
In addition, vehicles including engines equipped with the ionizing device disclosed herein may exhibit improved performance such as the (A) minimization or elimination of the lag time associated the throttle response in turbo charged engines and overall (B) smoother engine performance.
The ionizing device disclosed herein may be configured to be compatible with a variety of machines that have combustion engines with ECUs. Non-limiting examples include motorcycles, vehicles (both passenger and delivery), boats (both outboard and inboard motors), generators, construction machinery, and airplanes. The device may be used with combustion engines that use a hydrocarbon based fuel source such as diesel or gasoline.
The examples disclosed herein illustrate improved engine performance in vehicles with the disclosed ionizing device installed.
In this example, an ionizing device as described herein was installed in a 2015 Toyota Tundra. The truck was fitted with a six inch lift kit and knobby off-road tires. Engine performance was evaluated based on fuel efficiency and emissions content. A comparison of the engine performance with and with the ionizing device is shown in Table 1 below.
The results in Table 1 show an appreciable improvement in fuel efficiency and emissions.
In this example, an ionizing device as described herein was installed on a 2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI. This car was manufactured with software that modified emissions when testing mode was detected (e.g. only two wheels moving). Due to the software issues, the vehicle was evaluated by measuring emissions from the tail pipe while the vehicle was idling.
The results in Table 2 show an appreciable improvement in the NOx emissions. Additionally drivers reported an elimination of the “turbo lag” when the ionizing device was installed.
In this example, an ionizing device as described herein was installed on a different 2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI. This car was manufactured with software that modified emissions when testing mode was detected (e.g. only two wheels moving). Due to the software issues, the vehicle was evaluated by measuring emissions from the tail pipe while the vehicle was on a dynamometer. The fuel efficiency was calculated based on the distance traveled on the dynamometer. This emissions testing mimicked the testing standards of the California Air Resources Board.
The results in Table 3 show an appreciable improvement in the NOx emissions. Additionally drivers reported an elimination of the “turbo lag” when the ionizing device was installed.
In this example, an ionizing device as described herein was installed on a 2013 Volkswagen Golf TDI with about 46,000 miles. This car was manufactured with software that modified emissions when testing mode was detected (e.g. only two wheels moving). Due to the software issues, the vehicle was evaluated by measuring emissions from the tail pipe.
The results in Table 4 show an appreciable improvement in the NOx emissions. Additionally drivers reported an elimination of the “turbo lag” when the ionizing device was installed.
In this example, an ionizing device as described herein was installed on a 2014 Ford Transit Connect with a 2.5 liter engine. The vehicle was evaluated using a dynamometer.
The results in Table 5 show an appreciable improvement in the amount of hydrocarbons.
In this example, an ionizing device as described herein was installed on a Ford Transit with a 3.7 liter engine. The vehicle was evaluated using a dynamometer.
The results in Table 6 show an appreciable improvement in reducing carbon monoxide.
In this example, an ionizing device as described herein was installed on a 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 with a turbo diesel engine. The vehicle was evaluated using a dynamometer.
The results in Table 7 show an appreciable improvement in fuel efficiency. Additionally drivers reported an elimination of the “turbo lag” when the ionizing device was installed.
In this example, an ionizing device as described herein was installed on a 2016 Toyota Corolla. The vehicle was evaluated under normal driving conditions, both city and highway with and without the device. The EPA sticker listed the miles per gallon (mpg) at 28 for city and 37 for highway. Without the device, the vehicle averaged 23 mpg city and 24.3 mpg highway. With the device, the vehicle averaged 35.6 mpg city and 47.2 mpg highway.
The examples set forth above are provided to give those of ordinary skill in the art a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use embodiments of the compositions, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as their invention. Modifications of the above-described modes (for carrying out the invention that are obvious to persons of skill in the art) are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. All publications, patents and patent applications cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference as if each such publication, patent or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference.
This application is a continuation of PCT application number PCT/US2016/015766, filed on Jan. 29, 2016 and entitled, “Ionizing Device for Improving Combustion Engine Performance and Methods of Use.” The entire contents of the related application are incorporated by reference herein.
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