GB2290110A

GB2290110A - Electromagnetic fuel treatment

Info

Publication number: GB2290110A
Application number: GB9411750A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Easter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-06-11
Filing date: 1994-06-11
Publication date: 1995-12-13
Also published as: GB9411750D0

Abstract

A variable frequency electromagnetic field is generated in a copper wire around a fuel pipe. The output of a square wave oscillator may be modulated by a triangle wave oscillator to produce the variable frequency. The apparatus may be integrated with a fuel pump, carburettor or injector of a petrol or diesel engine or associated with oil central heating.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING FUEL EFFICIENCY The present invention concerns apparatus and a method for increasing fuel efficiency, and particularly but not exclusively the fuel efficiency of a motor vehicle.

Considerable developments have been made over the years in improving the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines, whether petrol or diesel, used for example in motor vehicles. One problem encountered with such engines is providing an efficient combination between fuel and combustion air.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency, the apparatus comprising means for generating an electromagnetic field in a fluid fuel prior to combustion thereof.

The apparatus preferably comprises means for generating a variable frequency electromagnetic field.

The apparatus is preferably mountable on fuel supply means and may be mountable around a fuel supply line or lines.

The apparatus may be mountable on any of a fuel pump, carburettor or fuel injector. Alternatively the apparatus may be integrally formed with a fuel pump, carburettor or fuel injector.

The apparatus may comprise a coil and means for generating an electromagnetic field therein. Preferably the coil can be wound around the fuel supply means, and the coil may be made of copper wire.

The electromagnetic field generating means may comprise a microelectronic circuit which preferably provides a complex current wave form in the coil. The electromagnetic field generating means may comprise a square wave oscillator providing an alternating magnetic field, and said means may also comprise a slow oscillator with a triangle output wave form to modulate the frequency of the square wave oscillator.

The electromagnetic field generating means is preferably powered by an article to which the fuel is being supplied.

The apparatus may be mountable on a motor vehicle with the vehicle providing power for the electromagentic field generating means.

The invention also provides a method of increasing fuel efficiency, the method comprising generating an electronic magnetic field in a fluid fuel prior to combustion.

The fuel is preferably hydrocarbon based.

A variable electromagnetic field is preferably generated in the fuel.

The electromagnetic field is preferably generated in fuel located in a fuel supply means, and desirably a fuel supply pipe.

Alternatively, the electromagnetic field may be generated in fuel in any of a fuel pump, carburettor, or fuel injector or injectors.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of increasing fuel efficiency in an internal combustion engine according to any of the preceding five paragraphs.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawings which shows a circuit diagram for part of apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency according to the present invention.

In the described embodiment a coil (not shown) of 14 SWG copper wire with 10-12 complete turns is formed around a fuel supply pipe in a motor vehicle, which can be either petrol or diesel powered. A variable frequency electromagnetic field is generated in the coil and hence in fuel passing through the part of the pipe surrounded by the coil. The field is produced by a square wave oscillator providing an alternating magnetic field. A slow oscillator with a triangle output wave form modulates the frequency of the square wave oscillator so that the apparatus sweeps a range of frequencies.

The generation of this variable frequency electromagnetic field will be described in more detail with reference to the circuit diagram shown in the accompanying drawing in which IC1 and IC2 are 555 Timer IC's.

IC1, R1 and C1 produce a triangle wave form across C1. R2 determines how strongly the square wave oscillator is modulated by the triangle wave. The square wave oscillator is built around IC2. R3, R4 and C3 set the nominal frequency of the output though this is modified by the triangle signal applied to pin 5. R5 and R6 are used to set the coil at half the supply so that true bi-directional output currents are produced in the coil, they also set the magnitude of the coil current.

The electromagnetic field produced in the fuel induces a change in the ionic behaviour of atoms within the fuel. These changes induce a more complete fuel/air combustion than would otherwise occur, thereby releasing more energy and altering the proportions of the various combustion by-products in the vehicle exhaust.

The fuel ionisation provides an overall increase in fuel economy. It also provides a reduction in exhaust emissions of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

Furthermore, an increase in power and torque is delivered for any given level of fuel consumption. A reduction is also generally noted in engine vibration and noise at all engine speeds.

The frequency of the electromagnetic field to provide optimum fuel ionisation can be critical and could depend on a number of factors such as the molecular structure of the fuel and/or the rate of fuel flow through the pipe. Accordingly, isolating the critical frequency or frequencies may be difficult and providing an oscillator to reproduce this frequency with accuracy and stability would probably be impractical.

However, using the variable frequency field of the present invention is found to provide the required frequency or frequencies as long as an appropriate range of frequencies is chosen.

There is thus described a relatively simple apparatus for producing increased fuel efficiency in an internal combustion engine. In view of the simplicity of the apparatus it should be possible to make the apparatus relatively inexpensively and also to provide trouble free operation. The circuit can be driven off the vehicle engine and will use very little power thereby reducing the likelihood of any radio interference occurring. Accordingly, at relatively small cost, in many circumstances it is possible to obtain quite considerable increases in fuel efficiency.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, different circuitry could be used to produce the electromagnetic field. Also the apparatus may be located other than on a fuel supply pipe as described.

If required, the apparatus could be provided on any of a fuel pump, carburettor or fuel injector or injectors.

It may be possible for the apparatus to be integrally formed with any of these devices. In the case of vehicles with fuel injection the apparatus could be provided on the feed pipes immediately upstream of the injectors and in such an instance a plurality of coils in series could be used. Different circuitry could be used to provide the variable frequency and an arrangement other than the coil described could also be used. The invention could be used other than on internal combustion engines for motor vehicles. For example, the apparatus could be usable in oil central heating.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. Apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency, the apparatus comprising means for generating an electromagnetic field in a fluid fuel prior to combustion thereof.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for generating a variable frequency electromagnetic field.

3. Apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, which is mountable on fuel supply means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, which is mountable around a fuel supply line or lines.

5. Apparatus according to claims 3 or 4, which is mountable on any of a fuel pump, carburettor or fuel injector.

6. Apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, which is integrally formed with a fuel pump, carburettor or fuel injector.

7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, which comprises a coil and means for generating an electromagnetic field therein.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 when dependent on at least claim 4, in which the coil can be wound around the fuel supply means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, in which the coil is made of copper wire.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9 when dependent on at least claim 2, in which the electromagnetic field generating means comprises a microelectronic circuit wave form in the coil.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the electromagnetic field generating means comprises a square wave oscillator providing an alternating magnetic field.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, in which the electromagntice field generating means comprises a slow oscillator with a triangle output wave form to modulate the frequency of the square wave oscillator.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 12, in which the electromagnetic field generating means is powered by an article to which the fuel is being supplied.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, in which the apparatus is mountable on a motor vehicle with the vehicle providing power for the electromagnetic field generating means.

15. A method of increasing fuel efficiency, the method comprising generating an electronic magnetic field in a fluid fuel prior to combustion.

16. A method according to claim 15, in which the fuel is hydrocarbon based.

17. A method according to claims 15 or 16, in which a variable electromagnetic field is generated in the fuel.

18. A method according to any of claims 15 to 17, in which the electromagnetic field is generated in fuel located in a fuel supply means.

19. A method according to claim 18, in which the electromagnetic field is generated in fuel located in a fuel supply pipe.

20. A method according to any of claims 15 to 17, in which the electromagnetic field is generated in fuel in any of a fuel pump, carburettor, or fuel injector or injectors.

21. A method of increasing fuel efficiency in an internal combustion engine according to any of the preceding five paragraphs claims 15 to 20.

22. Apparatus for increasing fuel efficiency substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

23. A method of increasing fuel efficiency substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

24. A method of increasing fuel efficiency in an internal combustion engines substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

25. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.