Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This inventlon relates -to a solid fuel-additive
complex for adding to ~uels, which can be directly dissolved
by the user in the fuel.
Many additives for fuels have been known, ~s
intended either for Otto cycle engines or Diesel cycle
englnes.
These additives perform various func-tions such as,
for example, but not limitedly, the functions of:
- increasing the octane number for gasolines or
cetane number for diesel fuels;
- inhibiting corrosion and imparting a detergent
effects;
- inhibiting oxidation and development of rubbers
and lacquers; and
- reducing the smoke (in the Diesel cycle engines).
For the intended use thereof, such additives must
be soluble in the hydrocarbons used for internal combùstion
engines and under room or ambient conditions are normally at
liquid state. Since they have to be dosed in rather small
doses in the fuel, such additives are normally available
on the market in solvents and/or mineral or synthetic oils.
Thus, the proportion or metering thereof is facilitated.
In spite of that, a direct user may often be in
trouble: for example, a motorist or car driver~ that is a
typical user, has to introduce into the tank of his motor
vehicle a variable amount of liquid additive depending on the
existing amount of fuel, and mistakes would readily occur,
either in default or excess, by introduclng into the fuel tank
a small additive tin or can, such as those commercially
available, or operating by small measures. Refineries and
stores or depots use such additives in a more concentrated
form, being it easier in such a case to provide for correct
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meteriny. ~lowever, cos-t reasons of-ten lead to deal out or
distribu-te unadditivated fuels or fuels at a minimum level of
additivation.
Thus, the requirement evidently arises of marketing
additives for fuels direc-tly usable by a consumer or user with
ease and readiness and without any waste and need of trouble-
some measurements~
According to -the presen-t invention, such a requirement
is solved by providing dosed additives, in a solid form,
preferably in the form of tablets, each of the table-ts corre-
sponding to the required dose or proportion for a given number
of fuel liters, for example 10 liters.
Therefore, the consumer or user (for example, a
motorist or car driver) will only have to introduce into the
tank as many tablets as tens of fuel liters of refuseling.
In order to attain such an object, the present
invention proposes a complex for adding known additives directly
into the fuel tank of a vehicle powered by an internal combustion
engine, said complex comprising a carrier having additives
compounded therein, characterized in that said carrier is in the
form of a tablet which is solid under ambient conditions but
rapidly soluble in liquid hydrocarbons, said additives being
compounded into said carrier in a dosage calculated for a given
number of fuel liters.
The solid carrier preferably consists of an acyclic,
alicyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon, having respectively a
formula with at least 17 carbon atoms for acyclic hydrocarbons,
12 carbon atoms for alicyclic hydrocarbons and 10 carbon atoms
for aromatic hydrocarbons.
According to the invention, naphthalene is
advantageously used as a carrier.
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A further object of the present invention is
concerned wi-th a me-thod for adding known additives directly
into the fuel carried by a vehicle powered by an in-ternal
combus-tion engine, said method comprising the steps of combining
the additives with a carrier rapidly soluble in liquid hydro-
carbons, and forming said mix-ture into tablets which remain
solid under ambient conditions, the amount of additive contained
in each tablet being restricted -to the dosage calculated for a
given amount of fuel.
The solid complex according to the present invention
may be obtained by the two following preferred methods:
- hot method: the carrier was melted and the additives
solved therein: tablets containing the additives
in the desired doses were obtained by cooling
from the fluid mixture.
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- cold method: the carrier was ground to the desired granul-
ometry, the additives were absorbed by the
ground under continuous stirring and tablets
with the desired dosage or proportion were
pressure formed from the mass thus obtained.
The following examples will better explain the
object of the invention.
~XAMPLE 1
Preparation of a multifunctional additive Eor qasolines-
Hot method:
A 2,000 liter stainless steel vessel was charged with
838 kg technically pure naphthalene. After heating, the melted
mass was raised to a temperature of 82C, maintaining it under
stirring. The mass was then added with 159.5 kg of a polyvalent
additive commercially known by the trade mark "Lubrizol 8101",
a product of The Lubrizol Corporation (U.S.A.), under continuous
mixing as the mixing was carried out. The mass was cooled to a
temperature of 20C and then by known means 142,500 tablets
were prepared, each of which containing 5,88 g carrier and
1.12 g additive, for use in a proportion of 1 tablet for each
10 liters gasoline.
EXA~IPLE 2
Preparation of a multifunctional additive for gasolines-
Cold method:
1000 kg technically pure naphthalene were ground in
a ball mill and then screened through a sieve of 800 meshes/sq.cm.
9~6 kg ground product were obtained. The product was introduced
into a stainless steel vessel and added under stirring with
134 kg additive commercially known by the trade mark A-577 of
the Amoco International S.A. (Switzerland). After 20 minutes,
the additive was completely absorbed, and by known tablet forming
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machines 160,000 tablets were produced, each of which containing
6.16 g carrier and 0.84 y addi-tive, for use in a proportion of
1 tablet for each 15 liters gasoline.
EXAMPLE 3
Preparation of a multifunctional additive for motor vehicle Diesel
fuel - Cold method:
812 kg technically pure naphthalene were ground in a ball
mill and then screened through and a sive of 800 meshes/sq.cm. 800
kg ground product were obtained. The product was introduced into a
stainless steel vessel and added under stirring with 200 kg mixture
of additives commercially known by the trade marks MPA-D and DII2 of
the Ethyl Corporation (U.S.A.) in the following proportion: 55-35~
MPA-D and 45-65% DII2 (meaning Diesel Ignition Improver). After 25
minutes the additive was completely absorbed and by known tablet
forming maehines 80,000 tablets were produced, each of which con-
taining 10 g carrier and 2.5 g additives in the seleeted proportion,
for use in a proportion of 1 tablet for each 5 liters Diesel fuel.
Thus, solid tablets are obtained, which can be directly
used by a consumer or user.
The product has the following characteristics:
- it is readily usable by a direct consumer or user
since each piece is a dose for a determined number
of fuel liters, without requiring any measurements;
- easy stocking and absenee of danger in produet storing;
- the partieular eomposition, highger specific weight
than that of the eommereial fuels, allows the dose
-to fall down on the tank bottom with a gradual
time dissolution, and allows a larger eoneentration
of active materials at the tank bottom, where the
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fuel drawing occurs, capable of effecting a strong
chemical action in connection with the characteristics
thereof.
In connection with the product being used, the fol-
lowing effects are obtained:
lSt on an Otto cycle en~ine:
- fuel cleaning (detergent action);
- improved cleaning throughout the engine, and partic-
ularly in the P.C.V. valve (dispersing action);
- reduction in ice development in the fuel (anti-icing
action);
- anti-rust and corrosion protection of the tank and
gasoline supply line; and
- reduction in generation of contaminating products,
such as carbon oxides and uncombusted hydrocarbons.
2nd on a Diesel cycle engine:
- increase in cetane number;
- reduction in smokiness;
- detergency of the injectors;
- anti-corrosion and rust action in the tank and
throughout the Diesel fuel supply circuit;
- extension of the interval of time in the control of
the injection system;
- increase in engine efficiency; and
- easiness in starting even under cold condition.
The products in the form of tablets can be distributed
in heat-sealed preparations in order to ensure the time stability
thereof and easy handling, and contained in boxes or in any
suitable type of containers.
