Improving fuel combustion efficiency

Abstract: Apparatus, for improving fuel combustion efficiency, comprises a fuel additive made from a formulation of metals as a plurality of identical solid cones (24), each of the cones being located within the magnetic field of a pair of permanent ferrite magnets (30) and the apparatus being locatable in a fuel line near the point of fuel combustion.

Description: The present invention relates generally to improving fuel combustion efficiency and is more particularly concerned with apparatus which is capable of providing such an improvement. It has been found that the efficiency of fuel combustion can be improved to a small extent, typically 3%, by the use of a fuel additive made from a formulation of metals including tin and lead. For example, it is known from GB-A-1079698 for a pelletized additive, suitable for use with fuel oils for facilitating scavenging of internal combustion engines and improving lubrication of the combustion chambers of such engines, to comprise pellets of an alloy of lead, tin, mercury and antimony. The preferred alloy is disclosed as comprising from 22 to 36 parts of lead, from 30 to 42 parts of tin, from 8 to 24 parts of mercury, and from 10 to 15 parts of antimony, said parts being by weight and including incidental impurities usually found in said metals. It has also been found that the efficiency of fuel combustion can be improved to a small extent, typically 1%, by the use of a magnet installed outside a fuel line near to the point of combustion. Neither the use of a fuel additive, nor the use of a magnet, by itself gives a particularly marked effect - indeed, automobile manufacturers do not supply their automobiles with fuel additives or magnets for improving fuel combustion efficiency, even though automobile manufacturers would be expected to be keen for their automobiles to use less fuel and thus have lower running costs. It is known from JP-A-63 61766, acknowledged in the pre-characterising portion of the present independent claim, for fuel to be directed through a magnetised case housing a round bar which is made of a magnetic material and is covered with a copper sheet. Apparatus according to the present invention, however, for improving the efficiency of fuel combustion, comprises a magnet and a solid fuel additive located in close combination within a container through which in use fuel is to flow such that at least the fuel additive is in contact with the fuel, characterised in that the fuel additive consists of 60 to 80 %wt tin, 15 to 30 %wt antimony, 2 to 7 %wt lead and 3 to 12 %wt mercury, apart from impurities. It is surprising, and unexpected, that the use of such a fuel additive in close combination with a magnet has given greatly improved fuel combustion efficiency, typically 10%, as a result of an unexplained but apparently synergistic reaction. The fuel may be, for example, any grade of oil, petrol or diesel. The introduction of the fuel additive may occur, for example, in a fuel storage tank or in a fuel line or both. The fuel storage tank may be formed of steel, in which case the chemical reaction may include the tank. Alternatively, the fuel storage tank may be formed of a plastics material, in which case the additive may be enveloped or otherwise housed in a steel container so that the chemical reaction may indude the container. The fuel line may lead to, for example, an internal combustion engine, a boiler or a furnace. Preferably, the container is formed as a cylinder whose ends are closed apart from an inlet and an outlet for attachment to a fuel line. The fuel additive may be located nearer to the inlet than the outlet, and the magnet may be located nearer to the outlet than the inlet. The fuel additive and the magnet may be further provided in combination with a steel member. In one embodiment, the fuel additive is provided by a line of a plurality of single identical solid members, the magnet is provided by a permanent ferrite magnetic member, and the container is provided by a steel cylinder. In another embodiment, the fuel additive is provided by a plurality of layers each including a plurality of identical solid members, the magnet is provided by a plurality of permanent ferrite magnetic members held apart from one another by non-magnetic spacer members, the layers being separated at least from one another by at least one steel member, and the container is provided by a plastics cylinder. In the latter embodiment, one of the steel members may be located between the solid members of the fuel additive and the magnetic members of the magnet. The fuel additive may be formed by, for example, casting, extruding, cutting or shaping to have the shape of, for example, a mesh, rod, plate, ball or tube. The fuel additive may be formed separately from other components. Alternatively, the fuel additive may be formed integrally with a component such as a fuel filter. It is presently preferred that the fuel additive is cast into the shape of a cone. It is also presently preferred that the fuel additive consists of, apart from impurities, 70 to 75 %wt tin; 15 to 25 %wt antimony; 2 to 4 %wt lead; and 3 to 7 %wt mercury. Although the precise technical details are not known, it is possible that a chemical reaction takes place between the fuel additive and the fuel and that the products of the chemical reaction are traced into the fuel in minute molecular form, and that the magnetic field alters the electrostatic charge on the products of the chemical reaction with the effect of improving fuel combustion efficiency. Apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus; and Figures 3 and 4 are, respectively, cross-sectional views through the apparatus taken along the lines III - III and IV - IV of Figure 2. In the accompanying drawings, a cylindrical two-part container 10 of plastics material is provided with a fuel inlet 12 at one end in a lid part 14 and a fuel outlet 16 at the other end in a body part 18, the lid part 14 being sealingly secured to the body part 18 by for example ultrasonic welding. In passing through the container 10, the fuel sequentially passes through a plastics spacer 20 adjacent a mild steel mesh disc 22, three sets of three cones 24 adjacent a further three mild steel mesh discs 26, another plastics spacer 28, and a pair of permanent ferrite magnets 30 held in parallel relationship by a pair of magnet spacers 32 of plastics material. The cones 24 are identical, each of the cones 24 having a base diameter of approximately 20 mm and having a formulation of, apart from impurities, 70 to 75 %wt tin, 15 to 25 %wt antimony, 2 to 4 %wt lead and 3 to 7 %wt mercury. The cones 24 together constitute a fuel additive. Although nine cones 24 have been indicated, the particular number required naturally depends upon the particular application. It will be noted that the fuel additive constituted by the cones 24 is located in close combination with the magnets 30. It will also be noted that each of the plastics spacers 20 and 28 is formed as a circular disc with apertures 34 and ribs 36, each of the mesh discs 22 and 26 is formed as a generally circular plate with perforations 38, and that each of the plastics spacers 32 is formed as a rectangular block 40 with rib 42. In an internal combustion engine, it is found that there is a smoother more efficient and reliable engine which lasts longer, the engine oil lasting longer and the carbon monoxide, nitric oxide and particulates in the exhaust emissions being reduced.

Claims: Apparatus, for improving the efficiency of fuel combustion, comprising a magnet (30) and a solid fuel additive (24) located in close combination within a container (10) through which in use fuel is to flow such that at least the fuel additive is in contact with the fuel, characterised in that the fuel additive (24) consists of 60 to 80 %wt tin, 15 to 30 %wt antimony, 2 to 7 %wt lead and 3 to 12 %wt mercury, apart from impurities. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the container is formed as a cylinder whose ends are closed apart from an inlet (12) and an outlet (16) for attachment to a fuel line, the fuel additive being located nearer to the inlet (12) than the outlet (16), and the magnet being located nearer to the outlet (16) than the inlet (12). Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the fuel additive and the magnet are further provided in combination with a steel member. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterised in that the fuel additive is provided by a plurality of layers each including a plurality of identical solid members (24), the magnet is provided by a plurality of permanent ferrite magnetic members (30) held apart from one another by non-magnetic spacer members (32), the layers being separated at least from one another by at least one steel member (26), and the container is provided by a plastics cylinder (10). Apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the fuel additive consists of 70 to 75 %wt tin, 15 to 25 %wt antimony, 2 to 4 %wt lead and 3 to 7 %wt mercury, apart from impurities. Apparatus according to any preceding claim characterised by being located in a fuel line leading to an internal combustion engine.

Inventors: BROOKS DOUGLAS MALCOLM, BROOKS, DOUGLAS MALCOLM
Applicants: WRIBRO LTD, WRIBRO LIMITED
Application year: 1990
Main classification: F02M27
IPC codes: F02M27, F23K5, F02M25, F02B3