US3696619A

US3696619A - Antismog device for cleaning, burning and muffling the exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes of internal combustion engines

Info

Publication number: US3696619A
Application number: US57432A
Authority: US
Inventors: Juan Rosa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-07-23
Filing date: 1970-07-23
Publication date: 1972-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-10

Abstract

An anti-smog device for cleaning and muffling exhaust gases and engine compartment vapors of internal combustion engines; comprising: a fume collecting funnel, a casing connected with the exhaust pipes of the engines; the casing being arrayed externally with a fluid level indicator, necessary inlet, outlet and conducting tubing, with an after burning ignition device suitably connected with the interior of the casing; where the internal structure mainly comprises a funnel shaped chamber, connected at the narrow end to a perforated tube with a return elbow, and faced by a multibladed impeller; further comprising a chamber filled with catalytic copper shavings, said chamber partially surrounding said perforated tube, the casing further being filled to about half of its narrowest width with a gas absorbing chemical solution.

Description

United States Patent Rosa [54] ANTISMOG DEVICE FOR CLEANING, BURNING AND MUFFLING THE EXHAUST GASES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUMES OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 51 Oct. 10, 1972 3,495,385 2/1970 Glass ..60/30 L FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,459,584 10/1966 France ..60/310 Primary Examiner-Douglas Hart [72] Inventor: Juan Rosa, 1835 Pedro Mendoza, ,m J h Munz Buenos Aires, Argentina 22 Filed: July 23, 1970 [571 ABSTRACT [21] APPL No; 57 432 An anti-smog device for cleaning and muffling exhaust gases and engine compartment vapors of internal combustion engines; comprising: a fume collecting funnel, [52] US. Cl ..60/297, 23/277 C, 60/902 a casing connected with the exhaust pipes of the en- [51] Int. Cl ..F0 1n 3/14 gines; the casing being arrayed externally with a fluid [58] Field of Search..60/30 R, 30 L, 29 A; 23/277 C, level indicator, necessary inlet, outlet and conducting 23/2 C tubing, with an after burning ignition device suitably connected with the interior of the casing; where the [56] References Cit d internal structure mainly comprises a funnel shaped chamber, connected at the narrow end to a perforated UNITED STATES PATENTS tube with a return elbow, and faced by a multibladed llerfurther com risin a chamber filled with 1,985,713 12 1934 Bartlett ..60 30 R 2 004 865 611935 Gris'on v 60:30 R catalytic copper shavings, sald chamber partially sur- 2602730 7/1952 "60/30 L rounding said perforated tube, the casing further being 2795103 6 1957 l 'f 30R filled to about half of its narrowest width with a gas a s eIIIsOI'I no o absorbing chemical Solution. 2,985,255 5/1961 Clark ..60/30 R 3,032,967 5/1962 I Dosie ..60/30 R 9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures p I 7 9Z -12:

6 E 4d i h Id l 0 b 8 E 5 I20 2 l m l PATENTEnnm 10 m2 SHEET 1 OF 3 FIG. 2

mvnu'ron JUAN ROSA ATTORNEY PATENTI-fflncr 10 m2 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVENTOR JUAN ROSA BY f z ATTORN EY ANTISMOG DEVICE FOR CLEANING, BURNING AND MUFFLING THE EXHAUST GASES AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUMES OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES FIELD OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Many designs and modes of construction of antismog and muffling devices are known to muffle and detoxify exhaust gases of internal combustion engines.

Many of these devices are only partially effective or else they are complicated in their design, expensive to manufacture, and most of them cannot be readily serviced to replace or replenish chemical fluids and catalysts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention addresses itself to the problem of overcoming these deficiencies.

The invention refers to a device for cleaning and silencing exhaust gases. This device is mounted in the exhaust system of internal combustion engines and has for its object a novel arrangement to permit, the removal of the toxic residual combustion products; as likewise by means of a complementary device, to ignite the raw gases expelled from the engine in an unburned state. Unbumed exhaust gases are common especially in Diesel-type engines due to wear or defective setting of the injection pump. Said device furthermore serves as an efficient silencer of the exhaust noises.

- The device of the invention also including a funnel to collect engine room fumes consists of a casing holding a certain quantity of liquid, preferably cuprous chloride in ammonia solution or some other gas-absorbing chemical solution. A funnel-shaped chamber is halfsubmerged in said liquid, its inlet covered by the liquid and closed by a blade impeller facing a tube conducting the engine exhaust gases into the casing against the impeller.

The narrow end of said chamber is submerged within the liquid and is provided with a perforated elbowed section which is connected by a return pipe with a return elbow which, opens toward the bladed impeller adjacent to the gas inlet tube. The exhaust gases flow through said chamber, passing through said liquid and repeating the cycle through the return pipe.

A filter of copper shavings surrounds and is located above the perforated elbow section. Said filter is enclosed by means of partitions which force the gases exhausting through said perforated elbow, to pass through the mass of shavings, flowing through the perforated elbow section,,to pass through said filter of shavings. Said gases then leave through a series of orifices provided in one of said partitions passing to a chamber formed between said partitions and a portion of the casing wall. Vapor of the liquid charge and residual gases are conducted through at least two circulating tubes, thus returning to the gas inlet tube, where they are once more submitted to the same cycle.

Said chamber is furthermore provided with an outlet turbine leading to the atmosphere to release the highpressure gases, which are unchanged, through the passages provided by the several tubing connections. They are thus released to the atmosphere due to their own expansion, without causing any noises. If these gases released to the atmosphere through the outlet tube contain a percentage of raw unburned gas mixtures, they are ignited by at least one of the incandescent sparking plugs arranged inside the tube and connected with the engine ignition. Said outlet tube is connected, an non-opposing points, by means of tubular connectors, with the circulation tubes, the inlets of which do not coincide, to aspirate said high-pressure gases and vapor from the liquid charge.

In this manner, the gases from the engine are washed and stripped of the carbonaceous residual particles, p'urified by means of their contact with the liquid charge contained in the casing, and expelled to the atmosphere due to their own expansion, without producing noises.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment is illustrated in the drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, in part section through a horizontal plane passing through the chamber and illustrating the upper partition limiting same, partially sectioned.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal plane section, showing the said chamber and the funnel-shaped chamber, partially in section.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cut through a vertical plane.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sections through AA and BB, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inside arrangement of said casing, shown in broken lines and, finally:

FIG. 8 illustrates applying the apparatus to an automobile engine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Like numerals represent like or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In one of its preferred embodiments, in accordance with the above-mentioned attached figures, the device consists of a casing, the arrangement of which is shown generally by the reference 1, consisting of a tubular surface la, closed by two bolted end covers 1b and 1c, provided with respective sealing means 2. Cover 10 is furnished .with a transparent level gage 1d and two pipes 1e and 1f, closed by means of threaded plugs and arranged in the lower and upper part, respectively, of said cover 1c.

An elbowed tube 3, the outer end of which is connected to the end of the engine exhaust tube, enters casing 1 through the tubular surface la, adjacent to cover lb.

The inside of the casing l is provided with a funnelshaped chamber 4, arranged to seat against the lower portion of the tubular surface 1a with its inlet 4a facing and separated from the cover 1b of said case I. Said inlet 4a is fronted by a bladed impeller 5 mounted on a tional data is referred to the normal location of the".

device. The surfaces of the blades of impeller 5 are provided with a plurality of circular depressions 5a, distributed throughout the surfaces of identical homologous faces of all the blades 5.

Chamber 4, at the opposite end thereof, terminates in a tapered tubular section which continues in an elbowed tube 4b having a plurality of orifices 40 following this 180 elbow portion and continuing in a straight constant section 4d located along the length of casing l and having, adjacent to cover lb, another return facing the bladed impeller 5.

The volume of easing 1 is in this manner divided into two mutually hermetically divided parts by means of said chamber 4. These parts are intercommunicated by means of orifices 40 while the inlet to said chamber 4 covers the entire inner section of casing 1.

One portion of the interior volume, limited by chamber 4, is compartmented by means of

partitions

6 and 7, thus creating a cell within said portion of the inside volume. This cell is filled with copper shavings 8. Partition 7 is in part provided with a plurality of orifices 7a communicating with the'compartment filled with shavings 8 andthus communicating said compartment with a chamber 9 limited by

partitions

6 and 7, cover 10 and the upper portion of the tubular surface la, forming the side of casing 1. This chamber 9 is provided with an outlet tube 10 for discharging the high-pressure gases and v vapors to the outside atmosphere. Two smaller-diameter tubes 11 communicate said chamber 9 with elbow tube 3 serving as inlet for the engine exhaust gases. Said tubes 11 are in turn connected by means of tubular legs 11' with outlet tube 10, said connections being staggered from one another in such a manner as to avoid their inlet meeting. The object of this arrangement is that the suction created by the exhaust gas inlet may entrain the residual gases and vapors at remote points in order to block their discharge, the remainder of such gases and vapors being burned with the aid of electrical means, such as incandescent spark plugs.

Tube 10, at a portion of its extension, is provided with one or several ignition spark plugs (10a), connected with the electrical ignition system of the engine.

Up to one-half of the inner volume of casing 1 contains a liquid solution 12 of carbon anhydrideand carbon monoxide-fixing chemicals. Examples thereof are cuprous chlorides in ammonia solution occupying the bottom part of said casing 1 the level line 12a of which coincides substantially with the axis of chamber inlet 4 and bladed impeller 5, the outlet from tube 3 being above said level and the elbow tube 4b being below same. Said level is visible through the control tube of heat-proof transparent material 1d.

The device operates as follows: the engine exhaust gases the grease and oil volatization gases produced outside the engine due to heat radiated thereby and likewise gases escaping through the engine metal pores and the gases caused by leaks in the exhaust systems or vent and filler openings, crankcase .covers, overhead valve compartment vents, etc., are channelled by a collecting bell l4 and tubeline 13 interconnecting elbowed exhaust tube 3 are thus conducted to the interior of easing l, colliding with the blades of impeller 5, the depressions 5a of which retain the solid particles in suspension (carbons and soot) entrained by the combustion gases. The gases then, causing impeller 5 to rotate, enter into chamber 4 and are caused to pass through and mix with the solution 12. The impurities are thus absorbed by the chemical in solution and the remainder under pressure exhausting through elbow 4b together with a quantity of recalcitrant gases, which then pass through the mass of copper shavings and enter chamber 9through theorifices provided in partition 7. In turn, the heat of these gases produces vapor, vapors and gases then passing together through the copper shavings catalyzing the constituents of the deleterious products in said shavings 8.

These recalcitrant gases and the vapor return through the circulation or return pipes 11 towards the elbow tube 3, thus renewing the cycle but this time relieved from pressure, their flow being caused by suction exerted by the pressure passing through said tube 3.

Engine pressure, searching for the way of least resistance, is channelled through outlet pipe lflconnected to the outside circulation tubes 11 by means of tube sections 11. Through same, the gases are again aspirated towards the engine exhaust inlet and residual gases are burnt by one or several incandescent spark plugs arranged along their length, said incandescent spark plugs being connected with the engine system ignition. Pressure, on arriving at said outlet pipe, has diminished due to the losses brought about by aforesaid devices and, consequently, the noise produced by the outside exhaust thereof is substantially reduced, the device therefore having the effects of a silencer. In turn, those gases which have not passed through orifices 4c of elbow tube 4b continue along the straight tube 4d until they exit opposite the bladed impeller 5. The latter, due to turbine effect, forces the gases to pass again through chamber 4, thus repeating the cycle.

To control the level of the liquid charge, this apparatus is provided with a visual level gauge 1d, as illustrated. However, same may be replaced by float-type electromechanical devices, not shown in the drawings, pipes 1e serving for liquid purging and pipe 1 f for liquid filling or makeup. Covers lb and 1c are bolted on to permit maintenance of the device and cleaning for renewing the copper shaving filter 8.

The invention as herein specified may be clearly understood and readily put into practice and no further explanation should be required to those versed in the art.

It is evident that sundry charges as to construction and details may be introduced without departing from the spirit of the present invention, as clearly set forth in the following claims.

Having thus particularly described and determined the nature of the present invention and the manner in which same is to be carried into practice, it is declared that what is claimed as exclusive property and invention is:

1. An antismog device for cleaning and muffling the exhaust gases exiting from an exhaust pipe means of an internal combustion engine, comprising a hermetic casing the inside volume of which is divided by a funnelshaped chamber, the inlet to which encompasses the entire casing section and faces the exit of said engine exhaust'pipe;

a rotary shaft;

a wheel having blades;

said inlet being closed by said blades of said wheel mounted for free rotation on said shaft crosswise thereto;

a perforated elbow tube;

said chamber, at the smaller end section thereof,

being extended by said perforated elbow tube continuing in a constant cross-section leg exiting opposite said blade wheel;

an upper partition arranged on the outside surface of said funnel-shaped chamber and dividing the interior of said casing into a forward compartment and a rear compartment;

a partially perforated plate;

the rear compartment having a chamber formed by said partially perforated plate secured to the casing wall and arranged around said perforated elbow to provide passage means for the gases from the elbow tube into the chamber limited by a portion of the casing wall, said passage means being formed between said compartment and the lastmentioned chamber by a plurality of orifices in said plate;

a mass of filter material;

said rear compartment being substantially filled with said mass of filter material;

a channel with an outside exit being connected to inlet, the latter beingadjacent to the bottom of said casing while the remaining portion of its surfaces form a downward slope from the perimeter of its inlet towards the smaller end th reof.

5. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1,

wherein there is included a gas collecting funnel designed to collect gases produced in the engine com partment, said being connected to the exhaust gas inlet tube, the draft of said funnel being forced by means of the action of theventilating devices of said engine and by the suction caused by the exhaust thereof.

6. An antismog device in'accordance with claim 1, wherein said mass of filter material consisting of copper shavings.

7. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein comprising two aspirating pipes are connected by their ends to the said last-mentioned chamber and to the gas inlet tube, each aspirating pipe being connected by means of a pipe connector to the gas outlet tube, the points of connection to said tube being staggered from one another, aspirating pipes being capable of effecting suction of the gases, and vapors of the residual liquid said last-mentioned chamber; at least two gas and vapor aspirating tubes;

said channel being equipped with electrical ignition organs that are adapted to be connected to the electrical system of the engine and being connected to said gas and vapor aspirating tubes connected to said channel and said gas inlet tube, said casing being charged to approximately one half of its volume with a solution of chemicals, the level line of which coincides with the blade wheel shaft, the exit of the gas inlet tube being located above said level line and the perforated elbow tube being submerged below said line; aforesaid casing including members for controlling said level line; and means for filling and purging the liquid solution.

2. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1,

- wherein said solution of chemicals is an ammonia cuprous chloride solution.

3. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said casing being of elongated shape and oblong cross-section, its lateral shape being provided by a tubular surface closed at the ends by removably bolted covers one of which is provided with a transparent tube located perpendicularly to the liquid level line the ends thereof being intercommunicated with the inside portion filled with liquid solution and with the empty portion of said volume, respectively, there being affixed to aforesaid cover two pipes closed by removable plugs providing members for replenishing and purging the said solution. 7

4. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said funnel-shaped chamber consists of an oblique angled oval surface defining a portion of its lateral surface, being perpendicular to the plane of the charge.

8. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said gas outlet tube exiting into the outside atmosphere is provided with ignition spark plugs connected to the electrical system of the engine, said spark plugs being located in the rear part of the apparatus and on said gas outlet tube and same being capable of burning the residual gases discharged into the atmosphere.

9. An anti-smog device for collecting, cleaning, afterbuming and muffling the exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes of internal combustion engines, comprising:

means to collect engine compartment fumes;

means to draw said fumes together with the exhaust gases from said engine compartment and to conduct said fumes with the exhaust gases into a muffler casing;

a gas absorbing fluid in said muffler casing;

means in said muffler casing for cleaning, afterburning and muffling said gases and fumes;

said casing comprising means to mix said gases and fumes with said gas absorbing fluid;

said gas absorbing fluid being a solution for absorbing toxic constituents of said gases and fumes;

a catalyst mass preparing said gases and fumes for afterburning;

chamber conduit means in said muffler casing for circulating said gases and fumes through said gas absorbing fluid and said catalyst mass;

means to conduct said gases and fumes through an exit pipe having means to ignite and burn gasand particles contained in said gases and fumes, and exhausting them to the atmosphere;

means to recirculate a portion of said gases and fumes with fresh incoming exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes;

means to measure level of said gas absorbing fluid and to drain and replenish same; means to service and replenish said catalyst mass.

I II

Claims

1. An antismog device for cleaning and muffling the exhaust gases exiting from an exhaust pipe means of an internal combustion engine, comprising a hermetic casing the inside volume of which is divided by a funnel-shaped chamber, the inlet to which encompasses the entire casing section and faces the exit of said engine exhaust pipe; a rotary shaft; a wheel having blades; said inlet being closed by said blades of said wheel mounted for free rotation on said shaft crosswise thereto; a perforated elbow tube; said chamber, at the smaller end section thereof, being extended by said perforated elbow tube continuing in a constant crosssection leg exiting opposite said blade wheel; an upper partition arranged on the outside surface of said funnel-shaped chamber and dividing the interior of said casing into a forward compartment and a rear compartment; a partially perforated plate; the rear compartment having a chamber formed by said partially perforated plate secured to the casing wall and arranged around said perforated elbow to provide passage means for the gases from the elbow tube into the chamber limited by a portion of the casing wall, said passage means being formed between said compartment and the last-mentioned chamber by a plurality of orifices in said plate; a mass of filter material; said rear compartment being substantially filled with said mass of filter material; a channel with an outside exit being connected to said lastmentioned chamber; at least two gas and vapor aspirating tubes; said channel being equipped with electrical ignition organs that are adapted to be connected to the electrical system of the engine and being connected to said gas and vapor aspirating tubes connected to said channel and said gas inlet tube, said casing being charged to approximately one half of its volume with a solution of chemicals, the level line of which coinciDes with the blade wheel shaft, the exit of the gas inlet tube being located above said level line and the perforated elbow tube being submerged below said line; aforesaid casing including members for controlling said level line; and means for filling and purging the liquid solution.

2. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said solution of chemicals is an ammonia cuprous chloride solution.

3. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said casing being of elongated shape and oblong cross-section, its lateral shape being provided by a tubular surface closed at the ends by removably bolted covers one of which is provided with a transparent tube located perpendicularly to the liquid level line the ends thereof being intercommunicated with the inside portion filled with liquid solution and with the empty portion of said volume, respectively, there being affixed to aforesaid cover two pipes closed by removable plugs providing members for replenishing and purging the said solution.

4. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said funnel-shaped chamber consists of an oblique angled oval surface defining a portion of its lateral surface, being perpendicular to the plane of the inlet, the latter being adjacent to the bottom of said casing while the remaining portion of its surfaces form a downward slope from the perimeter of its inlet towards the smaller end thereof.

5. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein there is included a gas collecting funnel designed to collect gases produced in the engine compartment, said being connected to the exhaust gas inlet tube, the draft of said funnel being forced by means of the action of the ventilating devices of said engine and by the suction caused by the exhaust thereof.

6. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said mass of filter material consisting of copper shavings.

7. An antismog device in accordance with claim 1, wherein comprising two aspirating pipes are connected by their ends to the said last-mentioned chamber and to the gas inlet tube, each aspirating pipe being connected by means of a pipe connector to the gas outlet tube, the points of connection to said tube being staggered from one another, aspirating pipes being capable of effecting suction of the gases and vapors of the residual liquid charge.

9. An anti-smog device for collecting, cleaning, afterburning and muffling the exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes of internal combustion engines, comprising: means to collect engine compartment fumes; means to draw said fumes together with the exhaust gases from said engine compartment and to conduct said fumes with the exhaust gases into a muffler casing; a gas absorbing fluid in said muffler casing; means in said muffler casing for cleaning, afterburning and muffling said gases and fumes; said casing comprising means to mix said gases and fumes with said gas absorbing fluid; said gas absorbing fluid being a solution for absorbing toxic constituents of said gases and fumes; a catalyst mass preparing said gases and fumes for afterburning; chamber conduit means in said muffler casing for circulating said gases and fumes through said gas absorbing fluid and said catalyst mass; means to conduct said gases and fumes through an exit pipe having means to ignite and burn gas and particles contained in said gases and fumes, and exhausting them to the atmosphere; means to recirculate a portion of said gases and fumes with fresh incoming exhaust gases and engine compartment fumes; means to measure level of said gAs absorbing fluid and to drain and replenish same; means to service and replenish said catalyst mass.