US1982484A - Ozonizing apparatus for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1934. A. c. RUNGE OZONIZING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Nov. 6, 1929 Y INVENTOR. r /71w? C ,Ewvmg A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES .OZONIZING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Arthur 0. Range, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 6, 1929, Serial No. 405,252

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a method and means of preventing an accumulation of carbon in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine or the removal of deposited carbon therefrom.

6 The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient means for producing ozone in small quantity injected into the fuel charge of the engine simultaneously with the operation thereof.

A further object and feature of the invention is to provide ozone through the passage of air used in the fuel charge through or across a spark gap, and it is a further object and purpose of the invention to provide an ignition system of an internal combustion engine, particularly the leadin line of a distributor or commutator for such engine, with a spark gap and means whereby the reduced pressure within the intake manifold causes a flow of air across the gap and discharging the ozone produced to the engine cylinders.

It is well known that an electrical discharge in pressure of atmosphere is productive of ozone and some other gases and the purpose and object of this invention is to provide a device that automatically produces ozone by reason of operation of the engine including an electric circuit in such manner that a practically continuous electrical discharge is produced and consequently a practically continuous production of ozone in a comparatively small quantity.

In addition to this fundamental feature an object of the invention is to provide a spark gap in the engine ignition circuit thus serving the double purpose of causing an intensification at the spark plug terminal as well as a production of ozone for the intake manifold.

These and other objects and various novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and the preferred form of, construction of a. device for producing ozone for use in the fuel charge of an internal combustion engine is shown in the accompanying draw ing in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved device in 5 its preferred relationship with an internal combustion engine a portion only of which is shown and the ignition circuit therefor which is diagrammatically shown. 1 lFig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of my improved ozone producing device.

,The upper part of the internal combustion engine is shown at l ha ving a'portion of the intake manifold 2 shownfther'ewith and spark plugs 3 for the various cylinders. Also, I have shown in elevation a commutator or'distributor 4 and the spark plugs are. each connected by an electrical conductorwith the distributor as shown by the line 5 in Fig. 2. The distributor, as is usual, has a rotating contact element 6. Further details of co the commutator are not here shown as the specific ment 14 of the commutator connected with the contact element 6. In usual constructions the lead-in wire 8 has a metallic terminal 14 adapted to be introduced into this socket member 7 it being merely a tight fit in the said socket. My ozone producing device is capable of ready attachment in such a circuit and consists of a body 15 of insulating material having a transverse aperture 16 extending through preferably provided with a bell-mouth 17 on one side and having a tube 18 on the opposite side which with a conduit 1911 leads to an aperture provided in the intake manifold 2. The body 15 is also provided with a longitudinal aperture opening to'the cen-' tral aperture 16 in the lower part of which is inserted the plug 19 having the split tubular end 20 for insertion in the socket member 13 of the commutator. The opposite end is provided with a screw 21 threaded in its portion of the longitudinal aperture, the head of which is within an enlarged portion 22 and within a tubular element 23 inserted in said enlarged portion. The screw 21 provides a second plug in spaced relation with the plug 19 providing an adjustable spark gap within the air conduit 16 of the body. a The end- 14 of the lead-in wire 8 for the commutator is merely pushed into this tube or socket 23. in the same manner as it otherwise would have pushed into the member 13.

Thus, one'of the features of construction of my device is found in the provision of the body member 15 with the part 20-for insertion in the socket and the part 23 for insertion of the lead-in wire an'ci'thus without altering the construction of the commutator or the circuit wires or terminals in any manner I can introduce the ozone producing device in the circuit or remove it therefrom. This peculiar location of the device'is therefore desirable in that no fastening means is required and no revision of the engine appurtenances either in the parts, of the circuit or in the parts of the apparatus required. I .L By the. arrangement of the screw 21 andlthe is preferably formed. of molded bakelite so the lower terminal is fixed in position and the upper one adjustable whereby it may be varied for use with different engines and the proper width of gap provided for any specific installation.

It will be seen from the above description that the preferred location of this ozone producing device is in the high tension lead-in line of the commutator. In a multi-cylinder engine there is'a practically continuous electrical discharge across the terminals during operation of the engine and, as is well known, the gap provides a resistance in the ignition circuit tending to intensify the electrical discharge at the spark plug terminals.

By connection of the aperture or conduit 16 with the intake manifold or other appropriate portion of the engine air is caused to flow continuously across the spark terminals. There is therefore a practically continuous production of ozone in a small quantity passing to the engine. It is immaterial to the operation of this engine whether the tube 19 discharges directly into the intake manifoldor other appropriate portion of the charge forming apparatus even to the intake end of the carburetor (not here shown) if desired. It is further immaterial whether the circuit connected with the ozone producing device forms a part of the ignition circuit of the engine or not although such location has the above beneficial effect of increasing the intensity of the discharge at the spark terminals. So far as the producing of ozone is concerned any appropriate circuit may be utilized wherein a spark is passed across the terminals of a device, a convenient form of which is-shown more particularly in Fig. 2.

The beneficial eifects derived from the injection of ozone into the inflowing fuel charge as near as I am able to judge results from the following fact Ozone possesses the molecular formula 0 it having two united molecules and a third unstable molecule in that it is not united to the other two. Ozone is a most powerful oxidizing agent particularly I believe for the reason that the unstable molecule is instantly available to combine with charge at any appropriate point, the free molecule combines with the gasoline or other hydrocarbon of the fuel charge and the two united molecules pass into the cylinder and the carbon therein being at high temperature takes up these two particles increasing the burning of the carbon and causing a continual production of carbon dioxide passing from the engine through the exhaust ports. At least the introduction of the ozone in the fuel charge causes a limited oxidization of the fuel and due to the oxygen added to the fuel charge a greater combustion efliciency is secured which tends to prevent deposition of carbon and to consume such deposited carbon as may have been in the cylinders before the assembly of this device therewith.

From the foregoing description it is believed evident that several beneficial effects are produced. Firstly and foremostly, a continuous introduction of ozone in small quantity into the fuel charge whereby an increased amount of oxygen is provided in a form to cause an oxidization of the fuel charge commensurate with the quantity provided and resulting in a more complete combustion within the engine cylinders probably due to the combining of the two attached molecules of oxygen with the carbon at high temperature in View of the demand for oxygen by the burning carbon.

Further, by the provision of such a device in the ignition circuit at such point as to secure a practicallly continuous electrical discharge in the presence of air flowing to the engine and its inclusion in this particular point of the circuit described causes an intensification of the electrical discharge at the spark terminals. All of .these factors, the intensification of the spark discharge, the oxidization of the fuel charge and increase of oxygen content of the fuel charge, together result in a more highly efiicient operation of an engine of this type and a removal of the deposited carbon and prevention of a further deposit of carbon.

The device further is very simple and inexpensive in construction as it requires no particular time in attaching or detaching as it is designed to be introduced into the spark or the ignition circuit without change in the construction or arrangement of the portions thereof with which it is connected. I

Having thus fully described my invention, its utility and mode of operation, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is-- 1. In a device of-the character described for use in conjunction with the cover of a commutator for distributing electric current in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine having a fuel intake, the said cover having a central socket and a contact element in the socket forming part of the ignition circuit, of an ozone producing device comprising a body of insulating material having a conduit for air therethrough and discharging to the fuel intake, a plug in the said body having an end projecting into the said air conduit within the body and an end projecting from the body for insertion in the socket of the cover to engage said contact element, a second plug in longitudinal alignment with the first named plug and terminating in the said air conduit within the body in spaced relation with the end of the first plug providing a spark gap, the last named plug being longitudinally adjustable in the body toward or from the first plug, and a socket connected with the last named plug adapted to receive a lead-in wire of the ignition circuit.

2. In a device of the character described for use in conjunction with the cover of a commutator for distributing electric current in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine having a fuel intake, the said cover having a central socket and a contact element in the socket forming part of the ignition circuit, of an ozone producing device comprising a body of insulating material having a conduit for air therethrough and discharging to the fuel intake, a plug in the said body having an end projecting into the said air conduit within the body and an end projecting from the body for insertion in the socket of the cover to engage said contact element, a second plug in longitudinal alignment with the first named plug and terminating in the said air conduit within the body in spaced relation with the end of the first plug providing a spark gap, and a socket connected with the last named plug adapted to receive a lead-in wire of the ignition circuit.

ARTHUR c. RUNGE.

Images