IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0434911
(2003-05-09)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Mills, Michael
- James, David
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
21 |
초록
▼
An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions, particularly marine electric generator engines, includes a treatment chamber having an intake opening for receiving gaseous emissions from the engine, and an exhaust opening for exiting emissions. A perforated metal tube i
An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions, particularly marine electric generator engines, includes a treatment chamber having an intake opening for receiving gaseous emissions from the engine, and an exhaust opening for exiting emissions. A perforated metal tube is disposed within the treatment chamber, and an electrode is disposed within the metal tube in spaced apart relation to the metal tube. The electrode is encircled by the metal tube so that, upon applying a voltage at a predetermined frequency to the electrode, an arc is generated across the space between the electrode and the metal tube to promote a chemical reaction reducing the concentration of pollutants. The treatment chamber is contained within a manifold, and cooled by a flow of water. A supplemental air source is connected to the treatment chamber, and a chemical substrate is disposed within the treatment chamber for promoting the chemical reaction.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions, comprising:(a) a treatment chamber having an intake opening and an exhaust opening, said intake opening for receiving a stream of gaseous emissions from the engine, said exhaust opening for exhausting the stream of gase
1. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions, comprising:(a) a treatment chamber having an intake opening and an exhaust opening, said intake opening for receiving a stream of gaseous emissions from the engine, said exhaust opening for exhausting the stream of gaseous emissions from said chamber; (b) a metal tube disposed within said treatment chamber; (c) an electrode disposed within said metal tube in spaced apart relation to said metal tube, said electrode encircled by said metal tube so that, upon applying a voltage to said electrode, an arc is generated across the space between said electrode and said metal tube, said metal tube providing potential points of contact for the arc around the periphery thereof; and (d) arc generating means for generating the arc from said electrode to said metal tube at a predetermined frequency to promote a chemical reaction reducing the concentration of pollutants in the stream within said treatment chamber. 2. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions, according to claim 1, wherein said arc generating means comprises a voltage source operatively connected to an ignitor cap mounted on said electrode, and a pulsing mechanism operatively configured with said voltage source to cause the voltage supplied to said electrode to be pulsed at the predetermined frequency.3. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 1, wherein said metal tube is perforated to allow passage of the stream of gaseous emissions therethrough, and said electrode comprises a threaded rod.4. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 1, further comprising:(a) an outer chamber having first and second openings at opposing lateral ends of said outer chamber, said outer chamber further including an inlet port for receiving a flow of water and an outlet port for exiting the flow of water, at least a portion of said treatment chamber contained within said outer chamber, said treatment chamber positioned such that said intake opening is linearly aligned with said first opening and said exhaust opening is linearly aligned with said second opening, said treatment chamber and said outer chamber defining a space therebetween wherein the flow of water cools said treatment chamber; and (b) a water supply connected to said inlet port for introducing the flow of water into said outer chamber. 5. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 1, further comprising an intake pipe connected to said treatment chamber proximate the intake opening for engaging an exhaust manifold of a marine electric generator engine and receiving the stream of gaseous emissions exiting the exhaust manifold.6. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 5, further comprising a supplemental air source connected to said intake pipe for supplying air thereto for diluting the stream of gaseous emissions within the apparatus.7. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 6, wherein said apparatus is configured to be mateable with an exhaust apparatus of an electric generator engine on a houseboat.8. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 7, wherein said supplemental air source comprises an air pump mounted in place of the generator engine's alternator, and is belt driven by a crankshaft on the generator engine.9. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions comprising:(a) a treatment chamber having an intake opening and an exhaust opening at opposing lateral ends of said treatment chamber, said intake opening for receiving a stream of gaseous emissions, said exhaust opening for exhausting the stream of gaseous emissions from said chamber; (b) a metal tube disposed within said treatment chamber; (c) an electrode disposed within said metal tube in spaced apart relation to said metal tube, said electrode encircled by said metal tube so that, upon applying a voltage to said electrode, an arc is generated across the space between said electrode and said metal tube, said metal tube providing potential points of contact for the arc around the periphery thereof; (d) arc generating means for generating the arc from said electrode to said metal tube at a predetermined frequency to promote a chemical reaction reducing the concentration of pollutants in the stream within said treatment chamber; and (e) an intake pipe having opposed first and second ends, said first end connected to said treatment chamber proximate the intake opening and said second having a flange for mateably engaging an exhaust manifold of the engine. 10. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 9, wherein said apparatus is configured to be mateable with an exhaust apparatus of an electric generator engine on a houseboat.11. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions, comprising:(a) a treatment chamber having an intake opening and an exhaust opening, said intake opening for receiving a stream of gaseous emissions, said exhaust opening for exhausting the stream of gaseous emissions from said chamber; (b) a metal tube disposed within said treatment chamber; (c) an electrode disposed within said metal tube in spaced apart relation to said metal tube, said electrode encircled by said metal tube so that, upon applying a voltage to said electrode, an arc is generated across the space between said electrode and said metal tube, said metal tube providing potential points of contact for the arc around the periphery thereof; (d) arc generating means for generating the arc from said electrode to said metal tube at a predetermined frequency to promote a chemical reaction reducing the concentration of pollutants in the stream within said treatment chamber; and (e) an intake pipe connected to said treatment chamber proximate the intake opening for telescopically positioning over a segment of an exhaust manifold of the engine and receiving the stream of gaseous emissions exiting the engine through the exhaust manifold. 12. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 11, further comprising a U-shaped bolt clamp for positioning about said intake pipe and tightening said intake pipe against the exhaust manifold.13. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus is configured to be mateable with an exhaust apparatus of a marine electric generator engine.14. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 11, further comprising a supplemental air source for connecting to the engine exhaust manifold, said supplemental air source supplying air for diluting the stream of gaseous emissions exiting the engine through the exhaust manifold.15. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 14, wherein said apparatus is configured to be mateable with an exhaust apparatus of an electric generator engine on a small or mid-sized boat, and said supplemental air source comprises an air pump powered by a voltage provided by the generator.16. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 11, further comprising an exhaust pipe connected to said treatment chamber proximate the exhaust opening for exiting the stream of gaseous emissions from said treatment chamber, said exhaust pipe defining an inlet port for receiving a flow of water for mixing with the stream of gaseous emissions exiting through said exhaust pipe.17. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 16, further comprising:(a) an outer chamber having first and second openings at opposing lateral ends of said outer chamber, said outer chamber further including an inlet port for receiving a flow of water and an outlet port for exiting the flow of water, at least a portion of said treatment chamber contained within said outer chamber, said treatment chamber positioned such that said intake opening is linearly aligned with said first opening and said exhaust opening is linearly aligned with said second opening, said treatment chamber and said outer chamber defining a space therebetween wherein the flow of water cools said treatment chamber; and (b) water supply means connected to said inlet port for introducing the flow of water into said outer chamber. 18. An apparatus for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions according to claim 17, further comprising a tube connecting the outlet port of said outer chamber to the inlet port of said exhaust pipe for delivering the flow of water into said exhaust pipe.19. A method for reducing pollutants in internal combustion engine emissions comprising the steps of:(a) providing an apparatus comprising: (i) a treatment chamber having an intake opening and an exhaust opening, said intake opening for receiving a stream of gaseous emissions, said exhaust opening for exhausting the stream of gaseous emissions from said chamber, (ii) a metal tube disposed within said treatment chamber, (iii) an electrode disposed within said metal tube in spaced apart relation to said metal tube, said electrode encircled by said metal tube so that, upon applying a voltage to said electrode, an arc is generated across the space between said electrode and said metal tube, said metal tube providing potential points of contact for the arc around the periphery thereof, and (iv) arc generating means for generating the arc from said electrode to said metal tube at a predetermined frequency to promote a chemical reaction reducing the concentration of pollutants in the stream within said treatment chamber; (b) connecting said intake opening to an exhaust manifold of the engine so that a stream of gaseous emissions passes from the exhaust manifold through said intake opening into said treatment chamber; and (c) applying the voltage pulsed at a predetermined frequency to said electrode to generate the chemical reaction with the stream of gaseous emissions as the stream passes proximate said metal tube to reduce the concentration of pollutants in the stream. 20. A method for reducing pollutants in the gaseous emissions according to claim 19, further comprising the step supplying a supplemental stream of air to said treatment chamber for diluting the stream of gaseous emissions within said treatment chamber.21. A method for reducing pollutants in the gaseous emissions according to claim 19, wherein said apparatus comprises an intake pipe connected to said treatment chamber proximate the intake opening, and the step of connecting said intake opening to an exhaust manifold of the engine comprises telescopically positioning the intake pipe over a segment of the exhaust manifold.22. A method for reducing pollutants in the gaseous emissions according to claim 20, wherein the step of connecting said intake opening to an exhaust manifold of the engine further comprises positioning a U-bolt clamp about said intake pipe and tightening said clamp to frictionally engage said intake pipe against the exhaust manifold.
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