CN101027467A - Fuel additive concentrate dosing system - Google Patents

Abstract

A safe, reliable system for automatically dosing diesel truck fuel tanks with a fuel additive is provided. The additive, such as a concentrated solution containing fuel borne catalyst (FBC), is fed by gravity and dosing is controlled with a signal from a switch located on the ignition switch and/or the fuel tank cap and filler spout. When the ignition switch is in the on position and/or the cap is removed, a solenoid opens a valve and permits a timed or otherwise measured amount of additive to flow into the tank while the cap is off. Replacing the cap and/or turning off the ignition switch preferably stops the flow of additive, the flow rate being set to supply a predetermined amount of additive during an average refueling interval.

Description

Fuel additive concentrate dosing system

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of safe and reliable system of the automatic metering fuels additive of truck fuel tank that is, described additive particularly comprises the concentrate of fuel addition type catalyzer (FBC), and described dosage utilizes gravity to realize as injection means based on the signal of switch.In one case, signal is from the switch that is positioned on fuel tank cap and the feed duct, and in another case, signal is from ignition switch.

The present invention relates to for the vehicle fueling time, can introduce the apparatus and method of fuel additive safely and reliably to fuel tank, described vehicle is the vehicle of medium-sized diesel engine drives particularly.Fuel additive particularly comprises the concentrate type FBC of platinum group metal, cerium, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium and analog or combination, can therefore allow the more efficient operation motor so that in-engine combustion fuel more cleans.Additive can also combine as major measure or with after-treatment device and reduce pollutant.

Background technique

The many prior art system that propose for the dosage additive relate to complicated electric and/or machinery monitoring, to realize the hope concentration of active catalytic metal in fuel.It is unpractical for upgrading application that the system that needs the change fuel tank or change circuit layout is provided, because there is huge difference in commercial used truck, even all trucies of the owner of single fleet also are like this.

Other prior art system need the operator to monitor and/or get involved.Yet the operator of fleet need guarantee that the FBC multifunctional additive for lubricating oils adds in the fuel of designated vehicle rightly, does not need any task of special operator's enforcement except that its normal refueling operation simultaneously.Operator's monitoring or intervention may have problems, especially under the situation that identical vehicle is used by different operators.

Current and the regulations challenge manufacturers of proposing realize that simultaneously good fuel economy and minimizing discharge both.Though fuel additive may be necessary for the purpose that realizes regulations, related domain does not provide simple device as yet, can measure the additive that adds in the fuel in reliable mode under the condition that does not have the operator to get involved or note.

For additive supplier with wish to use for the owner of fleet of additive, on rule, consistent basis to the fuel tank of vehicle automatically, to introduce fuel additive be a kind of challenge on appropriate ratio ground.Need now a kind of safe, economic and effective solution, to solve and the relevant problem of dispense additive in fuel regularly.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of safe and reliable additive dosing system, be used for introducing fuel additive, thereby improve the operation of internal-combustion engine and/or reduce pollutant emission from the trend fuel tank.

Another object of the present invention is before needs are filled once more, keeps the fuel additive supply on the vehicle, makes it have the ability that the operation vehicle continues the driving time of prolongation, for example at least about 750 miles or daylong driving.

Another object of the present invention is the demand of eliminating for vehicle operator, thereby described operator monitors or actuate the dosage of any device realization fuel tank on the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention provides override control, and it is behind the vehicle fueling, and the operator fails to close rightly under the situation of fuel tank, stops the introducing of additive.

Another object of the present invention is with set rate metering fuels case, and this speed is corresponding to the predetermined average fueling speed from petrolift.

Another object of the present invention is after fuel cap is removed from fuel tank, activates this system automatically and makes this system invalid after fuel cap is put back on the case.

Another object of the present invention is this system that activates automatically when engine running, and stops this system when tail-off.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize the vehicle power electric current to encourage the little solenoid valve of process calibration.

Another object of the present invention is to utilize timer to delay time to limit the maximum time amount that electromagnetic valve coil is opened, thereby amount cancellation afterwards is to the excitation of solenoid valve at the fixed time.

These and other purposes realize by the present invention, wherein the invention provides two embodiments of fuel additive dosing system, and they are simplicity of design and all present additive with gravity all.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, a kind of system is provided, it has following process and device, thereby automatically utilizes gravity and remove signal based on fuel cap, to fuel feed fuel additive.One preferred aspect, the present invention includes a kind of safe and reliable system, based on the signal that is positioned on the fuel tank feed duct and the switch of actuating by removing of feed cap sends, utilize gravity as injection means, be the automatic metering fuels additive of fuel tank, particularly comprise the concentrate of fuel addition type catalyzer (FBC).

In a second embodiment, the invention provides a kind of safe system, it has following process and device, by gravity and based on the signal of the indicator that has started from ignition key or other indication motor to the automatic feed fuel additive of fuel.Aspect preferred, the present invention includes a kind of safe and reliable system, utilize gravity as injection means, be the automatic metering fuels additive of fuel tank, the concentrate that particularly comprises fuel addition type catalyzer (FBC), based on the signal of ignition key switch and controller, periodically supply the additive of predetermined dose, to keep the effective additive concentration in the fuel.

Preferred aspect illustrates below.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the schematic representation of truck with gravity fed additive concentrate dosing system of switch activator;

Fig. 2 is the side cross-sectional view of the fuel tank cap on the fuel tank feed duct, and this lid comprises magnet, and its reed witch on being positioned at feed duct is worked, and is used for sending signal to controller;

Fig. 3 is the schematic top view that is connected to the reed witch assembly of fuel tank feed duct.

Embodiment

The invention provides a kind of safe and reliable system, it utilizes gravity as the driving force of injecting in fuel, from the fuel tank metering fuels additive of trend diesel trucks, particularly contains the concentrate of fuel addition type catalyzer (FBC).The timing and the rate response of injection are controlled in the control signal from switch, and described switch is positioned on ignition switch and/or fuel tank cap and the feed duct.But this system's valid function also is fed to other vehicles with the FBC additive, but this specification illustrates at diesel trucks, as advantageous applications of the present invention.

When the present invention operated with a kind of optimal way as shown in Figure 1, the FBC multifunctional additive for lubricating oils was fed to the fuel tank 12 of truck 10 automatically, with fuel economy and/or the low emission that increases, for the diesel engine (not shown) provides power.FBC remains in the supply container 14 concentrates as the appropriate chemical form, and has appropriate solvent and other additives, such as U.S. Patent No. 6,003,303 and literary composition in the described additive of reference quoted from.Supply container 14 is positioned at the predetermined altitude on the distributing valve 16 (typically, eletromagnetic-operating) that controller actuates, and connects thereon by supply circuit 18, and described supply circuit allows the FBC concentrate to flow to valve 16 from container 14.

When valve 16 is actuated and when opening, the FBC concentrate flows through valve 16 under action of gravity and supply circuit 18 and 20 arrives fuel tanks 12.When valve 16 was actuated and be in the closed position, the FBC concentrate no longer flow in the case.Preferably, valve 16 is that spring or other forms are biased into normally closed position.Therefore, must open valve, and allow additive to arrive case 12 through circuit 18 and 20 by positive signal.Valve 16 preferably has the aperture (not shown), and it is through calibrating so that the flow velocity of hope to be provided.

Valve 16 is solenoid valve and actuate by the control signal that the controller 22 in response to sensor sends preferably, and described sensor indication ignition switch is shown in an open position or lid 24 is removed from case 12.Fig. 2 illustrates lid 24 and comprises a row permanent magnet 26, and they are on the feed duct 28 at lid and will keep reed witch 30 to be shown in an open position when in place, do not provide signal to controller 22.But when lid 24 was removed, reed witch arrived preferred normally closed position, via control wiring 34 or analog closure allow signal to send to the circuit of controller 22.

Fig. 2 shows lid 24 and fuel tank feed duct 24 thread engagement.Lid 24 is provided with the lining 25 that dangles downwards, and the latter comprises a plurality of around the evenly distributed magnet 26 of lining 25.Magnet is Nd-Fe-B type and be the nickel plating disk-form of 0.5 inch of diameter, 0.2 inch of thickness easily preferably.Lining 25 is Nonferromugnetic material preferably, such as aluminium, and can be attached on the lid 24 by suitable means such as epobond epoxyn.

Reed witch 30 is maintained in the accessory (for example, aluminium) 40 of nonferromagnetic as shown in Figure 3, and described accessory is such as being fixed tightly on the fuel-feed delivery pipe 28 by belt 42 and screw fastening device 44 or other suitable means.Generally, reed witch comprises two identical smooth ferromagnetism reeds in the sealed glass housing, and described glass housing is effectively with reed and environmental sealing.Near magnetic field arrived this switch, reed became the flux carrier in the magnetic circuit.The overlapped ends of reed becomes opposite magnetic pole, and they attract each other.In order to give the adaptive this switch of device of the present invention, preferably adopt C type reed witch, wherein under the situation of the stronger magnet that does not have opposite magnetic pole, small magnet can be biased into operating position with normally opened contact.The present invention is provided with magnet 26 in feed cap, when lid is in place on feed duct 28, provide the magnetic field of powerful opposite polarity to overcome bias voltage than small magnet.When lid is removed, enough closed this switch of less bias magnet, so circuit is complete, the signal that lid is thrown off is sent to controller.

Controller 22 can comprise the timer circuit that simply has predetermined limit, and perhaps it can comprise PLD, and the latter provides tangible flexibility and can significantly not increase cost.When controller 22 receives signal, be that ignition switch is shown in an open position and/or lid is removed, controller will send control signal to electromagnetic coil or other actuators of valve 16 through circuit 36 or analog, and this signal causes valve open and allows the FBC multifunctional additive for lubricating oils flow in the case 12 from container.Alternatively, controller can be connected on the motor switch 27, makes the simple on/off signal of vehicle response or other signals.

Controller 22 comprises timing device or circuit, and if desired, they can be set for maximum value and the minimum value that limiter valve 16 is opened the time.Under a kind of particular case, the controller that has timer only allows concentrate to flow into case 12 when ignition switch is on positi and/or lid disengagement, and only continues maximum 10 fens clock times.In this case, have been found that, enough FBC multifunctional additive for lubricating oils can flow in 66 gallons the case automatically under action of gravity, utilize as U.S. Patent No. 6,003,303 described preferred platinum and cerium compositions of additives make that fuel is about 1500: 1 to the weight rate of concentrate, thereby the platinum concentration of about 0.15ppm and the cerium concentration of about 8ppm are provided.

These dosage have significantly improved the fuel economy of van very effectively, and allow to use their diesel particulate seizure device (DPT) and other after-treatment devices to operate the long period constantly, to reduce the particulate emissions of these trucies.The size of container 14 is wished enough big, keeps enough additives and can operate and move a whole day at least thereby stop for fueling repeatedly.In order to satisfy daylong at least driving or to satisfy medium-sized van and travel at least about 750 miles, about 2 liters capacity allows vehicle operator to avoid worrying distributor and avoids allowing the attendant refill container 14 every day.Other design standard also can works fine.Advantage of the present invention is that this device can be with predetermined speed metering fuels case, and for example with 65ml/ minute speed, this was corresponding to the fueling speed of the petrolift of 20-40 gallon per minute.

Cover in the dosing system taking off, when lid 24 is removed, solenoid opens valve 26 and allow additive capacity timing or that otherwise measure to flow into case 12, ignition switch is on positi and/or lid is thrown off simultaneously.The recovery lid has preferably stopped the inflow of additive, and flow velocity is arranged in the additive of average fueling interim supply prearranging quatity.

In the dosing system during engine running, controller 22 can comprise the simple timer circuit that has predetermined limit, and perhaps it comprises PLD, provides tangible flexibility can significantly not increase cost simultaneously like this.When controller 22 is received the signal that motor turning round, controller will periodically transmit control signal to electromagnetic coil or other actuators of valve 16 via circuit 36 or analog, and this signal causes valve open and makes the FBC multifunctional additive for lubricating oils flow to case 12 from container.

Above-mentioned explanation is in order to instruct one of ordinary skill in the art how to realize the present invention, and its be not intended to limit those after reading this explanation for conspicuous obvious change of skilled worker and distortion.Yet it is intended to show that these are significantly changed and distortion is included in the scope that the present invention is defined by the following claims.These claims have covered for satisfying indicated assembly and step in whole layouts that purpose of the present invention carries out and the order, unless indicate reverse situation in the context especially.

Claims (10)

1. safe and reliable system, based on the signal that is positioned on the fuel tank feed duct and the switch of actuating by removing of feed cap sends, utilize gravity as injection means, be the automatic metering fuels additive of fuel tank, particularly comprise the concentrate of fuel addition type catalyzer (FBC).

2. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, switch is a reed witch.

3. the system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, after lid removes, for example after 10 minutes, is stopping dosage through the preset time section.

4. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the signal operation solenoid valve is opened to allow additive to flow.

5. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when lid was positioned on the feed duct, the magnet in the lid kept reed witch to open, and when lid is removed, the permission reed witch is closed.

6. safe and reliable system, utilize gravity as injection means, be the automatic metering fuels additive of fuel tank, particularly comprise the concentrate of fuel addition type catalyzer (FBC), based on the signal of ignition key switch and controller, periodically supply the additive of prearranging quatity to fuel tank.

7. system as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the speed of additive supply is based on average fuel consumption.

8. system as claimed in claim 6 wherein, when key is in off position, stops dosage.

9. system as claimed in claim 6, wherein, the signal operation solenoid valve is opened to allow additive to flow.

10. system as claimed in claim 6 wherein, is provided with the fuel additive container to keep allowing to drive one day capacity concentrate.

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