Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2 2~4~1
MAGNETIC FIJEI. TI~E ATMENT DEVIOE AND MEl~IOD
FiPl~ of Inv~n~;on
The present invention relates in general to the treatment
of fuel and more particularly to a magnetic fuel treatment device and
method .
R~Arl ,r~rolm~l of ~hP Tnv~.nt;nn
It is known that fuel combustion efficiency in an
internal combu3tion engine can be improved by exposing fuel to a
magnetic field. It is also known that this exposure to a magnetic
field has the effect of reducing 11yJL~.clLL~Il emissions in gasoline-
fueled vehicles, reducing nitrous oxide emissions in diesel-fueled
vehicles as well as reducing paraffin gel A~ ;on in diesel and
home fuel syAtems. It i8 believed that particles in a fluid, such a3
water or fuel, passing through a magnetic field at right angles
become polarized, causing them to be attracted to each other rather
than to other surfaces. This magnetic field expoeure or magnetic
conditioning maintains the minute minerals contained in a fluid in
sll~r~n~;nn clinging to each other instead of A~ lA~;nrJ as scale
and causing corrosion in pipes, engine parts and other surfaces
through which the fluid passes.
There are many known methods by which fuel is exposed to
a magnetic field prior to combustion in car and truck engines. In
these methods the magnetic device for rnn~ ;nn;nrJ the fuel is
generally placed in such a way so as to treat the fuel which passes
through the fuel line. For instance, in II.S. Patent 3,116,726,
(Kwartz, issued January 7, 1964), the magnetic device of that
invention is placed between the fuel pump and the carburetor to
subject the fuel to a high intensity magnetic field. Further examples
of inventions in which magnetic devices are either placed around a
fuel line or are inserted into the fuel linc include U. 5 . Patent
5,329,911 (Jeong) issued July 19, 1994, U.S. Patent 5,080,080
(Melendrez) issued ~anuary 14, 1992, U.S. Patent 5,129,382 (stamps,
Br. et al) issued July 1~, 1992, U.S. Patent 5,243,946 (Dalupan)
~1~0~
3
issued September 14, 1993, U.S. Patent 3,349,354 (Miyata) issued
october 24, 1967, U.S. Patent 4,930,483 (~Jones~ issued ~une 5, 1990,
Canadian Patent ~rrl~rAt~rn No. 2,094,066 (Dalupan) filed April 15,
1993, Canadian Patent A~rrl; rAti l~n No. 2,o50,02s (Dalupan) filed April
27, 1991, Canadian Patent Application 2,047,626 (Melendrez) filed
July 23, 1991, Canadian Patent 1,092,917 (Dalupan) i3sued January 6,
1981, Canadian Patent 1,224,747 (Ament et al.) issued ,July 28, 1987,
Canadian Patent 1,162,512 (McMahon) filed February 21, 1984, Canadian
Patent 1,161,707 (Chow) issued February 7, 1984 and Canadian Patent
0 1,131,171 (Robinson~ issued September 7, 1982.
Magnetic device3 have also been placed in fuel tank3.
Canadian Patent ~rrl;rAtirn No. 2,014,541 (Sakuma) filed April 12,
1990 describes magnetic metal placed in a fuel tank of a car or stock
tank. Canadian Patent Application 2,055,618(Brook6) filed May 23,
1990 describes a specially constructed fuel additive, composed of
metals, located within the magnetic field of a magnet, which is
placed in a fuel storage tank, fuel filter or fuel line.
The prior art describes special magnetic devices which
are difficult to install since they reriuire inAertion into the fuel
line or other component of the fuel system. ~rhus a magnetic fuel
treatment device which does not rer,uire a specially mAnllfRr~ ed
magnetiC device nor involve difficult ~n~tAllpt~rn is desirable.
ry of thf~ Inv~nt; rn
According to an aspect of one: ' ' of the
invention, a fuel treatment device is provided, comprising an inlet
through which fuel enters the device, an outlet through which fuel
exits the device, an annular fuel filtering element, and a magnet,
the annular fuel filtering element compri~ing an inner wall forming
the annulus of the annular fuel filtering element, the magnet and the
annular fuel filtering element being arranged such that fuel passes
in proximity to the magnet at one point as it flows from the inlet,
through the annular fuel filtering element into the annulus and
through the outlet.
~ 4 2~
Advantageously, the inner wall of the annular fuel
filtering element is para-magnetic (a magnet is attracted to the
inner wall) and the magnet is affixed to the inner wall by a magnetic
S f orce .
Furthermore, the fuel may be diesel fuel and the device
mounted in the fuel line of a recirculating diesel fuel engine system
Auch that a portion of the fuel passing through the device will pass
0 through more than once .
According to an aspect of another: ' ~;mPnt of the
invention there is provided a fuel treatment device comprising a
housing, an inlet through which fuel enters the hou~ing, an outlet
through which fuel exits the housing, and a magnet within the
housing, such that fuel flows from the inlet, passe~ in proximity to
the magnet and through the outlet.
Advantageously, the housing is adapted to replace a
standard fuel filter for an engine in a motor vehicle.
According to an aspect of another: ' ` m~.nt of the
invention a fuel treatment method i9 provided comprising the
following steps:
a) passing fuel through an inlet into a fuel treatment
device,
b) passing the fuel in proximity to a magnet within
the fuel treatment device,
c) pa3sing the fuel through an outlet out of the fuel
treatment device,
wherein the fuel treatment device comprises an annular fuel filtering
35 element comprising an inner wall forming the annulus of the
annular fuel filtering element ~uch that in passing from the inlet to
the outlet the fuel passes through the fuel filtering element.
5 21~04~
Rri l~f D~:rr~; nn of th~' nr~
A detailed descrlption of the pref~rred: ' ~;1 is
provided herein below with reference to the following drawings, in
5 which:
Figure 1, in a croYs-section elevational view,
lllustrates a fuel treatment device in accordance with the preferred
: ' ~ ' of the invention.
Figure 2 represent~ a cross-sectional view of figure 1 at
2--2.
Pigure 3, in an elevational cut-away view, illw~trates a
fuel treatment device in accordance with the preferred: ' ' m~nt Of
the invention.
Det ~ D~.~:cr~t;rn of ~h~ Pr~fl~rrf~l E ' 1~; q
Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated in a cro~-
sectional elevational view, a fuel treatment device in a~.,L.la~
with the preferred . ' mont of the present invention. The fuel
treatment device 10 includes a housing 20 having an inlet 30 for the
fuel to enter into the device and an outlet 40 for the fuel to exit.
~ter entering the device, the fuel passe3 into an outer l~pace so, i~
filtered through the annular fuel filtering element 90, and then
pa~ses through holes (not ~hown in Figure 1) in the metallic inner
wall 70 to the inner space 60. Within the inner space 60 the fuel
comes into physical contact with, or within the magnetic field of, a
magnet 80 .^-gn-.t;r~lly attached to the para-magnetic inner wall 70.
The fuel then exits at the outlet 40.
Figure 2, representO a cros~-~ectional view of Figure 1
at 2-2. The magnet 80 is shown ---gn~t;r:llly attached to the metallic
inncr wall 70. The magnet in this: ' '; ~ only attaches to a
~egment of the inner wall, however in other _~;m~nt~- the magnet
m~y be shaped 80 ns to be attach~!d ~long nn entire ci~ I,ial
6 2~4~97
section of the inner wall or to an entire vertical section of the
inner wall.
Referring to Pigure 3, there i9 illl~ctrAt~ in a cut-away
S view, a fuel treatment device of the preferred ~ ` ` ' of the
pre~ent invention ~ 1 inrJ the perforations 100 of the inner
wall 70, which inner wall supports the pleated paper portion o~ fuel
filtering element 90.
0 The present invention relate_ to a fuel treatment device
for use in a motor vehicle to provide improved fuel efficiency,
reduction of 11YdL~ L3J~ emissions in gasoline-fueled vehicles,
reduction of nitrous oxide emi_sions in diesel-fueled vehicles and
reduction of paraffin gel t~ in diesel-~ueled vehicles. The
fuel treatment device comprises a fuel filter having a magnet within
it. The magnet in the fuel treatment device may be inserted into an
existing fuel filter or included during -~-n~lfArtllre of a fuel filter.
For best performance of the device, the magnet should have a strength
of at lea6t 10 gauss.
The fuel filtering element functions to remove impurities
from fuel and is comprised of a material suitable for this function,
such as a paper filter. The fuel treatment device may be constructed
using any type of fuel filter and may be used to condition all types
of fuels including gasoline, gacoline-ethanol mixtures, diesel and
bio-diesel .
There are many advantage~ to the fuel treatment device
over the prior art. In one: ` 'i of the invention, the fuel
treatment device replaces a regular fuel filter and this is very
simply achieved. The fuel treatment device allows a magnet to be in
full physical contact with the fuel. Locating the bare magnet within
a fuel filter results in the e~tr:~rt;nn of metal particles to the
magnet and removal of these metal particles from the fuel. The
removal of iron particle~ from the fuel will prevent the iron from
lodging in the system where the iron can cau~e ructing.
214~A~7
A further advantage of the present invention is realized
when the fuel treatment device is placed in a recirculating system.
The fuel sy3tem of a gasoline engine or a diesel engine has the very
important function of supplying filtered fuel to the engine. In a
5 gasoline engine the ueL system is known as a non-recirculating
system, that i8, the gas which is drawn for the engine onLy passes
through one time before being consumed by the engine. This "single
pass~ system i3 also found in the fuel system of diesel engines, but
it is an older design which now has limited use. Presently the more
0 common type of uel system in diesel engines is known as a
recirculating system. The basic design i9 similar to 8 non-
recirculating system, however, an extra fuel line is added to recycle
the fuel back to the supply tank. The recirculating system
circuLates several times more fuel than is used by the engine. For
5 example, an engine which burns five gallons of fuel may pump 50
gallons through the fuel system during that time.
Using the fuel treatment device as the filter in a
recirculating system means that a portion of the fuel will pa~s
20 through the device several times. Thus the fuel is extensively
treated and this results in improved fuel efficiency and decreased
nitrous oxide emissions. This advantage is an i ~ over the
prior art devices, which do not provide for repeated treatment o
fuel .
In the ' of the present invention shown in
Figure 1, a magnet or multiple magnets may be placed in an existing
fuel filter 10. This procedure is easy and inexpensive compared to
the installation of a specially built magnetic device into a fuel
30 line or fuel filter, as described in the prior art. In addition,
when filter 10 is replaced, magnet 80 can be reused in the new
filter. Filters are replaced approximately every 20,000 km for
trucks .
Figure 1 and Figure 2 ,~ .l e a possible location of
magn~t 80 in a diesel spin-on fuel filter. To install a magnet into
an existing fuel filter it may be easier to use two smaller magnets.
The magnet or magnets are inserted through the outlet 40 and into the
2~4~7
8
inner space 60 . Placing the magnet (8) in the inner space provides
the fuel passing through the filter with 100% exposure to the
magnetic field. This ;n~ A~;nn of the magnet(s) into the fuel
filter does not require the filter to be cut open and as such is
5 fast, easy and inexpensive. The prior art which resluired the
magnetic device to be attached to the fuel line or inserted into the
fuel line could require the rl; ~ ly of hoges, construction of
pipes with fittings, adapter~, or clamps, an aluminum housing for the
magnet and other ' ;~1 adjustments.
To produce the fuel treatment device it is also a simple
process to place the magnet into a fuel filter during m~n1~fA~-t~re of
the filter. The magnet is placed in the filter by affixing it to the
inner wall before being closed within the housing 20. The magnet may
15 be m:-~n~;r:~lly affixed to the inner wall if the inner wall is para-
magnetic. Figure l and Figure 2 also demon~trate a pos~ible location
of a magnet in a diesel spin-on fuel filter for a mAn~lf~ lred fuel
treatment device. A magnet shaped to cover a circumferential section
or a vertical length section of the inner wall may be used when the
20 magnet is installed during manufacture of the device. Such magnets
can provide an even greater amount of exposure to a magnetic field
for the fuel. Alternatively, a magnet could be located in the outlet
40 to treat fuel as it exits the device. In another alternative, a
magnet could be located in the outer space 50 80 that fuel pauses in
25 proximity to the magnet even before being filtered by the filtering
element. The housing wall could be para-magnetic 80 that a magnet in
the outer space could be affixed magnetically to the housing wall.
Another advantage of the present invention i9 that the
30 magnet in the fuel treatment device, whether inserted into an
existing fuel filter or inserted during ---n~f~-t~lre of a fuel filter,
can be in a charged or uncharged condition. An uncharged magnet may
be charged when required, for example,; ''s~t~ly before
;na~ ln of .I fuel treatment device.
It should be noted that a brass-body type filter may
negate the effect of a m.~gnet in the fuel treatment device and as
such the use of brass filters should be avoided.
2~A~7
g
~ he increased fuel efficiency obtained using the present
invention is attributed to the polarization of particles in the fuel
by the magnetic field. This pnlAri~ti~)n i8 believed to replace the
5 naturally chaotic fuel particlet with evenly charged, uniformly-
aligned fuel particles producing a total burn for a complete BTU
output and better fuel efficiency. ~rhe fuel treatment device also
attracts and removes previous carbon build-up in jets, in~ectors and
engines for even higher efficiency. Generally, fuel is wasted when
0 fuel injectors and other parts are clogged and the prenent invention
alleviates and then prevents this condition.
The use of the pret~ent invention provides better
performance for motor vehicles. Road tests with a sensitivity of
15 det~ction of 0.01 pounds of fuel, have ~.m~n~trAtl~l a lS~ increase in
fuel economy using the fuel treatment device of the present
invention. However, i ~t~l y after ingtallation of the fuel
treatment device, previous carbon and paraffin build-up ig tiif~lo~-
and A- lAtl-~ in the fuel, and thus fuel efficiency may fluctuate
20 until these residues are fully flushed from the system.
Using dieseL fuel in cold weather is problematic, since
the paraffin in th~ fuel will solidify at t, t~lre8 at and below
freezing. As fuel t~ t ~ decreases, the fuel first becomes
25 cloudy as the paraffin in the fuel comes out of solution, known as
the cloud point. After the cloud point is reached, the paraffin
begins to solidify and the solids may become large enough to be
lodged in a fuel filter. This solidification of the paraffin is
known as the paraffin gel t~ or paraffin gel point which
30 generally occurs at approximately 15F below the cloud point. At the
paraffin gel point, the paraffin begins to form a restrictive coating
on the filter which results in a 1098 of engine power. Use of the
fuel treatment device of the present invention lowers the paraffin
gel point of the fuel to avoid the 1088 of engine power. The use of
35 the fuel treatment device of the present invention will result in
less need for the diesel fuel additives which address this problem.
lo 2~4~
Using the fuel treatment device of the present invention,
- tests have shown that h~dLu~AL~ul~ emissions have been reduced by 100
in gasoline fueled vehicles and nitrous oxide emissions have been
decreased by 50~ in die~el fueled vehicles. Almost no soot i9
S emitted from diesel engines when the fuel treatment device is used.
E~ 1~ 1 - pAraff;n ('.~1 ~ r:~t lre
A. Diesel fuel filters were filled with diesel oil and
placed upright on a tray inside a walk-in freezer at -20F. ~8 the
temperature of the filters and the diesel oil decreased, it waG
observed that the diesel fuel gelling occurred at a lower temperature
~approximately 5F difference) in the filters ,-,~ntA;n;n~ magnets than
in the filters without magnets.
B. These same filters at -20F were then placed in a room at
ambient t~ ' e. As the temperature of both filters increased,
the filter with the magnet lost its paraffin gel condition
approximately 5 minutes before the filter without the magnet lost its
20 paraffin gel condition. This difference would also e~luate to a delay
of approximately 5F in the filter without the magnet.
C. i3y pouring liquid paraffin on a charged magnet and on a
non-charged magnet, it is observed that the paraffin on a charged
25 magnet presents a very thin, even and very smooth Arr~rAn~-~, whereas
the paraffin on the non-charged magnet appears thick in places,
uneven and not smooth.
r 1 e 2 -- Ey~l. u. ~ . 1 ,. .., ~--; AAi r~nA
A. A 1993 Ford Ranger V6 engine vehicle was tested for
hyllLu~ LL.ull ~YC) emissiona. Under normal conditions (control) at a
high RPM value, the hydrocarbon emissions were 2 ppm (part~ per
million) but at a lower RPM were 0 ppm. When a magnet was placed
35 within the fuel filter of the Ranger, the II~ILUU-LIJUI~ emissions at
high RPM value were reduced to 0 ~Table 1).
2~4~
11
B. using a 1993 Lincoln with a magnet placed in the fuel
filter, the test emi3sions data showed that the hydrocarbon emissions
had been reduced to 0 ppm (Table 2).
S r le 3 - ~;tro~ Y;~ Rm;Qn;onQ
For a test on nitrous oxide emissions, a 1983 GMC 6.2
diesel-fueled vehicle was utilized. When a magnet was inserted lnto
the fuel filter of the GMC, the nitrous oxide emissions were reduced
0 approximately 50'~.
Other variations and modifications of the invention are
poasible. For example, in a further ~ ' 'mGn~ of the invention, the
5 fuel i ~ c device does not include the fuel filtering element,
rather a magnet providea conditioning of the fuel within a housing
which is shaped to replace a standard fuel filter. In thi:i fuel
treatment device, fuel passes through an inlet into the housing of
the device where the magnet is located and exits through an outlet of
20 the device. ~he magnet is located in housing of the device in such a
manner that the fuel will pass in proximity to the magnet.
~ he fuel;, ~,~. device without the fuel filtering
element may last for the lifetime of a vehicle which will result in
25 rnnQ~ rRhl l~ savings since it will not need to be replaced like
regular filter~. For example, a truck lasts an average lifetime of
900,000 km. Over the lifetime of the truck, a regular fuel filter
would need to be replaced approximately every 20,000 km, which would
equal 45 filter rorl~ Q. In, , r;Qnn, only one fuel
30 i, ~,.. ' device compriaing a magnet as the rnn~;~;nnor i5 reo,uired
over the lifetime of the truck. ~hia amounts to a considerable
saving of time and expense by avoiding the need to change 45 fuel
filters over th~ lifetime of a truck. Commercial trucks and
transports often have more than one fuel filter which could each be
35 replaced by the fuel ~ _ .,. ' device compriaing only a magnet as
the conditioning unit. ~he advantage of thia fuel treatment device
is that it is eaay to install since it merely replaces a regular
12
filter. In addition, it allows ~uel to be treated several timeg when
it i~ installed in a recirculating engine ~ystem.
Although preferred ~ c o~ the invention are
5 ae.c~-r~hf~fl, it will be ~d~L.,~ by those skilled in the art that
variations may be made without departing ~rom the spirit of the
invention or the scope o~ the appended claims.
