CARBON BUILDUP REMOVAL DEVICE WITH PROTECTION FUNCTION OF VIBRATION DETECTION

Abstract

A carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection is provided for electrically connecting to an engine from which carbon buildup is to be removed. The carbon buildup removal device includes a gas output unit and a vibration detection unit. The gas output unit outputs a gas that is supplied to the engine. The vibration detection unit includes a vibration detector that detects vibration of the automobile and a controller that is electrically connected to the vibration detector and the gas output unit. By using the vibration detector in combination with the controller, when the engine stops operating or is operating abnormally, power supplied to the gas output unit is cut off so as to prevent excessive accumulation of gas and thus back fire or excessive pressure to thereby improve stability and safety of carbon buildup removal operation of the engine.

Description

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a carbon buildup removal device, and more particularly to a carbon buildup device with protection function of vibration detection.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

For a regular automobile engine, due to various factors, such as fuel quality, poor air quality, aging of ignition system, and poor control, impurities and contaminants may get accumulated inside the engine after long term operations. This is the so-called carbon buildup. Excessive buildup of carbon may lead to unsmooth supply of fuel, deterioration of engine performance, knocking, shaking, and easy shut-off.

Referring to FIG. 1, a carbon buildup removal device disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. M353996 is shown. The carbon buildup removal device comprises a hydrogen/oxygen generation unit 11, a moisture generation unit 12, and a piping unit 13 connecting between the hydrogen/oxygen generation unit 11 and the moisture generation unit 12. The hydrogen/oxygen generation unit 11 comprises a power source 113, which supplies electrical power through a plurality of electrode plates 112 to water 110 so as to generate hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis of water. The hydrogen/oxygen so generated is introduced, together with moisture, through the piping unit 13 into an automobile engine 14 in order to effect accelerated softening of carbon buildup inside the automobile engine 14. As such, it does not need to wait a long time for softening and thus the efficiency of carbon buildup removal can be enhanced.

However, when the known carbon buildup removal device is installed on an engine 14 that is of poor maintenance and thus is easy to shut off or runs abnormally after being started up, there is an operation safety concern for the carbon buildup removal process. When the engine 14 runs abnormally or gets off, the hydrogen/oxygen generation unit 11 is still in operation and continuously supplies hydrogen and oxygen to the engine 14. The hydrogen and oxygen so supplied cannot be properly consumed and get accumulated in the engine 14 and the piping unit 13. When the engine 14 is started up again, back fire may easily occur, jeopardizing the operation and safety of the carbon buildup removal device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection that ensures stability and enhanced safety of operation.

The present invention provides a carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection that is externally mounted to an engine from which carbon buildup is to be removed. The carbon buildup removal device comprises a gas output unit and a vibration detection unit that controls the gas output unit.

The gas output unit generates a gas that is supplied to the engine for carbon buildup removal operation.

The vibration detection unit comprises a vibration detector for detecting vibration of the vehicle and a controller that is electrically connected to the vibration detector and the gas output unit. The vibration detector generates a vibration signal corresponding to the vibration of the engine and the controller receives the vibration signal and in response, controls power supply to the gas output unit.

The efficacy of the present invention is that the vibration detector is used to detect the vibration of the engine in order to determine if the engine is operating normally. The controller controls the gas output unit in such a way that the gas output unit stops supplying gas when the engine stops operating or is operating abnormally so as to avoid excessive accumulation of gas thereby preventing back fire or excessive pressure and thus enhancing the stability and safety of carbon buildup removal operations.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a carbon buildup removal device disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. M353996.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view illustrating a carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a vibration detector of a vibration detection unit according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 2, the present invention provides a carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection 2 of which a preferred embodiment is provided for externally connecting to an engine 202 of an automobile 200. The automobile 200 comprises an engine bay 201 in which the engine 202 is received and retained.

The carbon buildup removal device 2 comprises a gas output unit 3 that supplies a gas to the engine 202 and a vibration detection unit 4 that controls the gas output unit 3.

The gas output unit 3 supplies the gas that is used to carry out an operation of removing carbon buildup of the engine 202. In the instant embodiment, the gas output unit 3 comprises an electrolysis bath 31 containing an electrolyte solution 300, a hydrogen/oxygen pipe 32 connecting between the electrolysis bath 31 and the engine 202, a plurality of electrode plates 33 that is arranged in the electrolysis bath 31 in a spaced manner and is immersed in the electrolyte solution 300, a power supply device 34 that is electrically connected to the electrode plates 33 to supply electrical power to the electrode plates 33, and a power supply switch 35 that controls power supply from the power supply device 34.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the vibration detection unit 4 comprises a vibration detector 41 that detects vibration of the engine 202 and a controller 42 electrically connected to the vibration detector 41 and the power supply switch 35.

In the instant preferred embodiment, the controller 42 comprises a control chip and the vibration detector 41 is of the form of a clamp for easily clamping and attaching to the engine 202 of the automobile 200 in order to detect the vibration of the engine 202 and generates a vibration signal corresponding to the detected vibration of the engine 202. It is apparent that in a practical application, the vibration detector 41 may alternatively be mounted to the engine bay 201 of the automobile 200 or other site, provided that the same effect of detecting the vibration of the engine 202 can be achieved, and the mounting is not limited to what disclosed herein.

After the engine 202 is started, the cycles of combustion, explosion and the likes is caused through introduction of external air and vibration is generated. Under this condition, the electrode plates 33 apply the electrical power from the power supply device 34 to effect electrolysis of the electrolyte solution 300 so as to generate hydrogen and oxygen that are conducted through the hydrogen/oxygen pipe 32 into the engine 202 to assist combustion of fuel thereby making the fuel combusted more completely. The pressure with which the hydrogen/oxygen gas is introduced also functions to scrape off the carbon buildup inside the engine 202. Meanwhile, the vibration detector 41 generates a vibration signal corresponding to the vibration of the engine 202. When receiving the vibration signal, the controller 42 controls the power supply switch 35 to maintain a closed-loop position, where the power supply device 34 continuously supplies electrical power to maintain the electrolysis reaction of the electrolyte solution 300 for generation of hydrogen and oxygen.

When the engine 202 is operating abnormally or is simply shut off, the vibration detector 41 generates a different vibration signal or even no vibration signal at all. Upon receiving such a different vibration signal or receiving no vibration signal, the controller 42 opens the power supply switch 35 to cut off power supplied from the power supply device 34 to the electrode plates 33 thereby shutting down the electrolysis of the electrolyte solution 300 and stopping generating hydrogen and oxygen, and also preventing excessive accumulation of hydrogen and oxygen in the engine 202 and the hydrogen/oxygen pipe 32 that causes back fire or excessive pressure, so as to enhance the stability and safety of carbon buildup removal operation.

In summary, the present invention provides a carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection 2, which uses a vibration detector 41 to detect the vibration induced by an engine 202 in order to determine if the engine 202 is operating normally. A controller 42 is also provided to control a power supply switch 35 to cut off power supply from a power supply device 34, when the engine 202 stops operating or is operating abnormally, in order to cut off the supply of gas thereby eliminating the problems of excessive accumulation of gas and thus preventing the occurrence of back fire or excessive pressure so as to enhance the stability and safety of carbon buildup removal operation.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection, which is adapted to externally connect to an engine from which carbon buildup is to be removed, the carbon buildup removal device comprising:

a gas output unit, which outputs a gas for carrying out carbon removal from the engine; and

a vibration detection unit, which comprises a vibration detector that detects vibration of the engine and a controller that is electrically connected to the vibration detector and the gas output unit, the vibration detector generating a vibration signal corresponding to the vibration of the engine, the controller receiving the vibration signal and in response, controlling power supply to the gas output unit.

2. The carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection according to claim 1, wherein the gas output from the gas output unit is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, oxygen, and a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.

3. The carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection according to claim 1, wherein the gas output unit carries out an electrolysis reaction of a liquid to output the gas.

4. The carbon buildup removal device with protection function of vibration detection according to claim 3, wherein the gas output unit comprises an electrolysis bath containing an electrolyte solution and in communication with the engine, a plurality of electrode plates arranged in the electrolysis bath in a spaced manner and immersed in the electrolyte solution, a power supply device electrically connected to the electrode plates to supply electrical power to the electrode plates, and a power supply switch controlling power supply from the power supply device, the electrode plates applying the electrical power from the power supply device to carry out electrolysis of the electrolyte solution to output hydrogen and oxygen, the controller of the vibration detection unit receiving the vibration signal to selectively open and close the power supply switch of the gas output unit in order to control the supply of power.