Claims
- 1. A method of converting a diesel engine to a natural gas engine characterized by an intake manifold, a cylinder head having one or more injector openings which receive a fuel injector, and one or more pistons in corresponding cylinders, said method comprising:
removing said fuel injectors from said openings; inserting a spark plug into each of said openings; installing a throttle body adaptor on said intake manifold; installing a throttle body on said adaptor; and modifying said pistons to decrease the compression ratio in said cylinders during operation of said engine.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said spark plug is surrounded by a sleeve, and said sleeve engages the top of the cylinder head and the bottom of the cylinder head such that water does not reach the spark plug.
- 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said sleeve has an outside hex that extends above the cylinder head of said diesel engine.
- 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said sleeve has a groove for receiving a seal, and said seal engages said sleeve and cylinder head of said diesel engine.
- 5. The method of claim 2 wherein said sleeve is machined with threads to engage corresponding threads in said cylinder head.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said throttle body adaptor comprises at least one hole for engaging said intake manifold and for engaging said throttle body.
- 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said throttle body adaptor has an air control orifice, said air control orifice adapted to engage a corresponding opening in an idle air control on said throttle body.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said throttle body adaptor comprises a body portion having a flange and a rubber hose, said rubber hose engaging said flange of said throttle body adaptor and engaging said intake manifold.
- 9. The method of claim 1 further wherein said piston is modified by removing an amount of material from the top of the piston.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying said piston results in a cylinder with a compression ratio of 9:1 to 12:1.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein modifying said piston results in a cylinder with a compression ratio of 10.5 to 1.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said piston is further modified to have a four-ring piston assembly.
- 13. The method of claim 12 wherein said piston assembly includes a top scraper ring, two middle reverse torque rings, and a three-piece oil ring.
- 14. The method of claim 13 wherein said three-piece oil ring comprises a metal central spacer which is accordion-folded and two flat rail rings.
- 15. The method of claim 1 further comprising installing a waste gate and a waste gate adaptor on said diesel engine, said waste gate adaptor enabling a turbocharger to communicate with an exhaust manifold on said engine through said adaptor.
- 16. The method of claim 15 wherein said waste gate adaptor is generally rectangular in shape and is comprised of metal.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said waste gate adaptor has an orifice for engaging said waste gate and one or more holes for engaging both the exhaust manifold on said engine and the turbocharger on said engine.
- 18. The method of claim 1 further comprising installing a timing gear and a timing mask on said diesel engine.
- 19. A throttle body adaptor, said adaptor comprising a body portion, said body portion having an orifice, said orifice adapted to engage a throttle body said orifice adapted to engage an opening on an intake manifold of a diesel engine.
- 20. The throttle body of claim 19, wherein said adaptor further comprises a flange.
- 21. The throttle body of claim 20, wherein said adaptor further comprises a hose, said hose engaging said flange and engaging said intake manifold.
- 22. The throttle body of claim 19 wherein said adaptor is generally rectangular in shape.
- 23. The throttle body of claim 19 wherein said adaptor is comprised of steel.
- 24. A method of converting a diesel engine to a natural gas engine characterized by an intake manifold, an exhaust manifold, a turbocharger, a timing gear, a cam shaft, a cylinder head having one or more injector openings which receive a fuel injector, and one or more pistons in corresponding cylinders, said method comprising:
removing said fuel injectors from said openings; inserting a spark plug into each of said openings; installing a throttle body adaptor on said intake manifold; installing a throttle body on said adaptor; modifying said pistons to decrease the compression ratio in said cylinders during operation of said engine. installing a waste gate adaptor between said exhaust manifold and said turbocharger; installing a waste gate on said waste gate adaptor; and installing a timing mask on said diesel engine between a timing gear and a cam shaft on said engine.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based on (1) U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/343,853 filed on Oct. 19, 2001 entitled “Method and System for Modifying a Diesel Engine to Run on Natural Gas: Head Modification Patent”; (2) U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/343,933 filed on Oct. 19, 2001 entitled “Method and System for Modifying a Diesel Engine to Run on Natural Gas: Piston Configuration and Ring Placement Patent”; (3) U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/343,925 filed on Oct. 19, 2001 entitled “Method and System for Modifying a Diesel Engine to Run on Natural Gas: Waste Gate Adaptor and Exhaust Patent”; (4) U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/343,931 filed on Oct. 19, 2001 entitled “Method and System for Modifying a Diesel Engine to Run on Natural Gas: Throttle Body Adaptor Patent”; and (5) U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/343,930 filed on Oct. 19, 2001 entitled “Method and System for Modifying a Diesel Engine to Run on Natural Gas: Timing Mask and Timing Pick Up Patent,” all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Provisional Applications (5)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60343853 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
|
60343933 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
|
60343925 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
|
60343931 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
|
60343930 |
Oct 2001 |
US |