Electronic Metered, Air Assisted Atomizer and Intake Cleaning Apparatus (06-Nov-2009)
This invention relates to a device for delivering a cleaning composition into a desired location within the interior cavity of a reciprocating internal combustion engine. The device has at least one orifice which is positionable to a specified interior location which is independent of the engine access ports. The apparatus developed can be used to control fluid volumes to any desired amount. The device comprises a detergent / solvent metering apparatus (pulsed injector driver and injector) which can precisely meter the cleaner and an atomizer chamber that finely atomizes the cleaning fluids. The device optionally uses compressed gas (air from an air compressor or air drawn into the engine via high / low pressure differences) to assist the atomization of fluids, thus limiting the amount of fluid puddling which can occur in the intake / plenum area compared to non-air assisted apparatuses. Precision metering may be accomplished using an injector such as an electronic injector with a controller. The injected fluid goes into the atomizer chamber (or mixer) where it is mixed with a constant flow of compressed gas. The atomizer chamber does exactly that, mixes the two (air and fluid) before it exits out a small orifice / nozzle into the air intake system of the engine. An air regulator is installed on the constant (or variable) airflow to vary the atomization, fluid distribution or help eliminate engine misfire. The compressed gas is typically air, but can also be an inert gas that can either aid in engine cleaning or engine operation (Nitrogen, CO2, etc).
Title: Electronic Metered, Air Assisted Atomizer and Intake Cleaning Apparatus
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for cleaning interior cavities of internal combustion engines by providing an apparatus for controlling and metering a cleaning composition and an assisted atomizer stream to an interior passageway of internal combustion engine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that reciprocating internal combustion engines tend to form carbonaceous deposits on the surface of engine components, such as carburetor ports, throttle bodies, fuel injectors, intake ports and intake valves, due to the oxidation and polymerization of hydrocarbon fuel, exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) gases. It is believed that some of the unburnt hydrocarbons in the fuel undergo complex cracking, polymerization and oxidation reactions, leading to reactive moieties which can interact with the fuel, re-circulated gases and lubricating oils; thus forming insolubles in the combustion chamber and combustion pathways. These deposits, even when present in relatively minor amounts, often cause noticeable operational performance issues such as driveability problems including stalling and poor acceleration, loss of engine performance, increased fuel consumption and increased production of exhaust pollutants.
Fuel based detergents and other additive packages have been developed, primarily in gasoline fuels, to prevent the formation of these unwanted deposits. As a consequence, problems in fuel delivery systems, including injector deposit problems, have been significantly reduced. However, even after employing these detergent additives, injectors and other components require occasional additional cleaning to maintain optimum performance. The present additives and delivery devices are not completely successful eliminating deposits, especially for removing preexisting heavy deposits or deposits upstream of the fuel entry. Often these preexisting and upstream deposits require complete engine tear down.
In order for these detergent additives in the fuel to remove deposits from the various parts of an engine, they needed to come into contact with the parts that require cleaning. It has become commercially popular for certain vendors of aftermarket fuel concentrate products to clean induction systems by ingesting concentrate solvent / detergent packages directly into a running engine’s air intake. This offers the prospect of intake system clean up without having to dismantle the engine. The problem has been that the typical industry application methods utilize tooling that has a fixed orifice / nozzle to continuously meter, control and atomize the amount of a detergent / solvent package delivered. This method of controlling fluid flow (volume) however is very dependen...
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