Aeration system for fuel additives

An aeration system for fuel additives is used to aerate fuel additives prior to mixing with the fuel of a vehicle. In doing so, the overall effectiveness of the fuel additive may be improved. The system includes a bottle, a weighted block, an aerator, and an insertion tubing. The bottle is used to store a fuel additive and is mounted onto the weighted block. The weighted block is used to orient the bottle downwards so the fuel additive is able to pour out of the bottle. The aerator is used to aerate the fuel additive. The aerator is connected to the insertion tubing, which is used to transport the fuel additive to the tank of a vehicle. The system also includes a hanger which is used to position the bottle above the tank of a vehicle to ensure that the fuel additive flows into the tank of the vehicle.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/156,991 filed on May 5, 2015

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus used to aerate a quantity of liquid fuel additive. More specifically, the present invention allows the quantity of liquid fuel additive to flow through a series of air-injecting devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fuel additives can be useful for cleaning fuel systems, and boosting octane ratings. As a result, engine performance and efficiency can be increased. However, the method of mixing fuel additives with gasoline, diesel, and other fuels can limit the effectiveness of the fuel additive. Presently, the most common method of introducing fuel additives into a system is to directly pour the fuel additive into the gas tank of the vehicle from the container in which the fuel additive is stored. While this is a fairly simple and effective means introducing fuel additives to the fuel system of a vehicle, this method limits how effectively the fuel additive is able to mix with the fuel and perform for the vehicle. This is because many common containers are not effective at aerating the fuel additive before the fuel additive is mixed with the fuel.

Accordingly, there is a present need for a system which may be used to properly aerate the fuel additive before the fuel additive is mixed with the fuel for a vehicle. The present invention is an aeration system for fuel additives which is used to optimize how fuel additives are introduced and mixed with fuel within the tank of a vehicle. As fuel additives are poured into the tank of a vehicle, using the present invention, air is permitted to flow opposite to the direction of the fuel additive, aerating the fuel additive as it is transported to the tank of the vehicle. In doing so, the fuel additive is able mix more readily with the fuel within the tank, improving the overall effectiveness of the fuel additive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 through 9 illustrate the present invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is an aeration system for fuel additives and is used to aerate a quantity of liquid fuel additive, which allows the quantity of liquid fuel additive to mix better with the fuel that is already within a gas tank of a vehicle. An aerated quantity of fuel additive also promotes better fuel economy for the vehicle and helps to clean the fuel within the gas tank. The present invention comprises a bottle 1, a hanger 2, a weighted block 3, an aerator 4, and an insertion tubing 5. The bottle 1 is used to initially retain the quantity of liquid fuel additive before the quantity of liquid fuel additive travels through the present invention. The weighted block 3 is fixed around the neck of the bottle 1 so that the opening 11 of the bottle 1 remains oriented towards the ground as the weighted block 3 is hung from the hanger 2. In some embodiments of the present invention, the weighted block 3 is hung with the hanger 2 from a vertical standing post. The aerator 4 is the primary air-injecting device that aerates the quantity of liquid fuel additive as the quantity of liquid fuel additive travels through the present invention. The insertion tubing 5 is used to guide the aerated quantity of fuel additive from the aerator 4 into the fuel filler neck of the vehicle.

The general configuration of the aforementioned components allows the present invention to take advantage of cyclonic effects, which occur as the quantity of liquid fuel additive travels down through the present invention and as air from the gas tank simultaneously travels up through the present invention. The bottle 1 needs to mounted onto the weighted block 3 in order to hang the bottle 1 in an upside-down orientation. The hanger 2 is pivotably connected to the weighted block 3 so that the weighted block 3 has the freedom to orient the opening 11 of the bottle 1 towards the ground. The hanger 2 is also laterally connected to the weighted block 3 so that the hanger 2 does not interfere with the movement of the weighted block 3 and/or the bottle 1. Moreover, the weighted block 3 comprises an internal conduit 31, a block inlet 32, and a block outlet 33, which are respectively used to let fluids into, through, and out of the weighted block 3. The opening 11 of the bottle 1 is in fluid communication with the block inlet 32 so that the quantity of liquid fuel additive can be dispensed from the bottle 1 and into the rest of the present invention. The internal conduit 31 traverses through the weighted block 3 from the block inlet 32 to the block outlet 33, which allows the quantity of liquid fuel additive to travel through the weighted block 3. The block outlet 33 is in fluid communication with the aerator 4, and the aerator 4 is in fluid communication with the insertion tubing 5 so that the quantity of liquid fuel additive is guided through the aerator 4 before the aerated quantity of fuel additive is dispensed out the insertion tubing 5.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the aerator 4 uses a series of air-injecting devices in order to more efficiently and effectively aerate the quantity of liquid fuel additive. Thus, the aerator 4 comprises a structural housing 41, a filter 42, and a first mesh 43. The structural housing 41 provides an enclosed space for the quantity of liquid fuel additive to pass through the filter 42 and the first mesh 43. Consequently, the filter 42 and the first mesh 43 needs to be mounted within the structural housing 41. Moreover, the structural housing 41 comprises a housing inlet 411 and a housing outlet 412, which are respectively used to let fluids into and out of the structural housing 41. Thus, the block outlet 33 needs to be in fluid communication with the housing inlet 411 so that the quantity of liquid fuel additive can enter the structural housing 41 from the weighted block 3. The housing outlet 412 also needs to be in fluid communication with the insertion tubing 5 so that the aerated quantity of fuel additive can exit the structural housing 41 into the insertion tubing 5. In addition, the filter 42 and the first mesh 43 are devices in the series of air-injecting devices. The filter 42 is positioned adjacent to the housing inlet 411, which allows the filter 42 to be the first air-injecting device within the structural housing 41 to aerate the quantity of liquid fuel additive. The first mesh 43 is positioned across the housing outlet 412, which allows the first mesh 43 to be the second air-injecting device within the structural housing 41 to aerate the quantity of liquid fuel additive. This configuration allows the housing inlet 411 to be in fluid communication with the housing outlet 412 through the filter 42 and the first mesh 43 so that the quantity of liquid fuel additive is able to travel through the series of air-injecting devices as the quantity of liquid fuel additive travels through the structural housing 41.

The structural housing 41 may also need to be openable in order to access and selectively replace the filter 42. Thus, the structural housing 41 may further comprise a first housing portion 413, a second housing portion 414, and a disengageable interface 415. The first housing portion 413 and the second housing portion 414 are two mirroring and separate halves of the structural housing 41. The housing inlet 411 is integrated into the first housing portion 413, and the housing outlet 412 is integrated into the second housing portion 414, which allows the filter 42 to be accessible on the first housing portion 413 as the first housing portion 413 and the second housing portion 414 are separated from each other. When the aerator 4 is functional, the first housing portion 413 and the second housing portion 414 are hermetically connected adjacent to each other by the disengageable interface 415 so that the quantity of liquid fuel additive does not leak out of the aerator 4 as the quantity of liquid fuel additive travels through the structural housing 41. The disengageable interface 415 is preferably a male threading and a female threading, one of which is integrated into the first housing portion 413 and the other of which is integrated into the second housing portion 414.

The present invention can also include additional features to further aerate the quantity of liquid fuel additive. One additional feature is an intermediate tubing 6, which allows the block outlet 33 and the aerator 4 to be in fluid communication with each other but also allows the block outlet 33 and the aerator 4 to be offset from each other by an extended physical distance. The intermediate tubing 6 lengthens the path that the quantity of liquid fuel additive must travel through the present invention, which increases how much the quantity of liquid fuel additive is aerated along the present invention. Another additional feature is the second mesh 7, which aerates the quantity of liquid fuel additive once before leaving the weighted block 3. Thus, the second mesh 7 needs to positioned across the block outlet 33 and needs to be perimetrically mounted to the block outlet 33.

In order to execute the method of use for the present invention, the bottle 1 needs to retain a quantity of liquid fuel additive, and the vehicle that is receiving the quantity of liquid fuel additive needs to have a fuel filler neck. The following steps are the method of use for the present invention:

    • The weighted block 3 is held by the hanger 2 at a higher elevation off of the ground than the fuel filler neck
    • The insertion tubing 5 is inserted into the fuel filler neck
    • The quantity of liquid fuel additive is dispensed from the bottle 1 into the block inlet 32
    • The quantity of liquid fuel additive is guided from the block inlet 32, through the block outlet 33, and into the aerator 4
    • The quantity of liquid fuel additive is aerated by the filter 42 and the first mesh 43 as the quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through the aerator 4
    • The quantity of liquid fuel additive is guided from the aerator 4, through the insertion tubing 5, and into the fuel filler neck
    • The quantity of liquid fuel additive is aerated as the quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through the insertion tubing 5

In addition, the quantity of liquid fuel additive can be further aerated by the second mesh 7 and the intermediate tubing 6 as the quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through the aerator 4. The second mesh 7 and the intermediate tubing 6 aerate the quantity of liquid fuel additive before the quantity of fuel additive reaches the aerator 4 in the method of use for the present invention.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An aeration system for fuel additives comprises:

a bottle;
a hanger;
a weighted block;
an aerator;
an insertion tubing;
said weighted block comprises an internal conduit, a block inlet, and a block outlet;
said bottle being mounted onto said weighted block;
said hanger being laterally and pivotably connected to said weighted block;
an opening of said bottle being in fluid communication with said block inlet;
said internal conduit traversing through said weighted block from said block inlet to said block outlet;
said block outlet being in fluid communication with said aerator;
said aerator being in fluid communication with said insertion tubing;

2. The aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

said aerator comprises a structural housing, a filter, and a first mesh;
said structural housing comprises a housing inlet and a housing outlet;
said filter being positioned adjacent to said housing inlet;
said first mesh being positioned across said housing outlet;
said filter and said first mesh being mounted within said structural housing;
said block outlet being in fluid communication with said housing inlet;
said housing inlet being in fluid communication with said housing outlet through said filter and said first mesh;
said housing outlet being in fluid communication with said insertion tubing;

3. The aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 2 comprises:

said structural housing further comprises a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a disengageable interface;
said housing inlet being integrated into said first housing portion;
said housing outlet being integrated into said second housing portion;
said first housing portion and said second housing portion being hermetically connected adjacent to each other by said disengageable interface;

4. The aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

an intermediate tubing;
said block outlet being in fluid communication with said aerator through said intermediate tubing;

5. The aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a second mesh;
said second mesh being positioned across said block outlet;
said second mesh being perimetrically mounted to said block outlet;

6. A method of implementing the aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 1, the method comprises the steps of:

providing a quantity of liquid fuel additive, wherein said quantity of liquid fuel additive is initially retained within said bottle;
providing a fuel filler neck for a vehicle;
holding said weighted block by said hanger at a higher elevation off of the ground than said fuel filler neck;
inserting said insertion tubing into said fuel filler neck;
dispensing said quantity of liquid fuel additive from said bottle into said block inlet;
guiding said quantity of liquid fuel additive from said block inlet, through said block outlet, and into said aerator;
aerating said quantity of liquid fuel additive as said quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through said aerator;
guiding said quantity of liquid fuel additive from said aerator, through said insertion tubing, and into said fuel filler neck;
aerating said quantity of liquid fuel additive as said quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through said insertion tubing;

7. The method of implementing the aeration system for fuel additives, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

providing a filter and a first mesh for said aerator;
aerating said quantity of liquid fuel additive as said quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through said filter;
aerating said quantity of liquid fuel additive as said quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through said first mesh;

8. The method of implementing the aeration system for fuel additives, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

providing an intermediate tubing, wherein said block outlet is in fluid communication with said aerator through said intermediate tubing;
further aerating said quantity of liquid fuel additive as said quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through said intermediate tubing;

9. The method of implementing the aeration system for fuel additives, the method as claimed in claim 6 comprises the steps of:

providing a second mesh, wherein said second mesh is positioned across said block outlet;
further aerating said quantity of liquid fuel additive as said quantity of liquid fuel additive flows through said second mesh;

10. An aeration system for fuel additives comprises:

a bottle;
a hanger;
a weighted block;
an aerator;
an insertion tubing;
an intermediate tubing;
said weighted block comprises an internal conduit, a block inlet, and a block outlet;
said bottle being mounted onto said weighted block;
said hanger being laterally and pivotably connected to said weighted block;
an opening of said bottle being in fluid communication with said block inlet;
said internal conduit traversing through said weighted block from said block inlet to said block outlet;
said block outlet being in fluid communication with said aerator through said intermediate tubing;
said aerator being in fluid communication with said insertion tubing;

11. The aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 10 comprises:

said aerator comprises a structural housing, a filter, and a first mesh;
said structural housing comprises a housing inlet and a housing outlet;
said filter being positioned adjacent to said housing inlet;
said first mesh being positioned across said housing outlet;
said filter and said first mesh being mounted within said structural housing;
said block outlet being in fluid communication with said housing inlet;
said housing inlet being in fluid communication with said housing outlet through said filter and said first mesh;
said housing outlet being in fluid communication with said insertion tubing;

12. The aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

said structural housing further comprises a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a disengageable interface;
said housing inlet being integrated into said first housing portion;
said housing outlet being integrated into said second housing portion;
said first housing portion and said second housing portion being hermetically connected adjacent to each other by said disengageable interface;

13. The aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 10 comprises:

said block outlet being in fluid communication with said aerator through said intermediate tubing;

14. The aeration system for fuel additives as claimed in claim 10 comprises:

a second mesh;
said second mesh being positioned across said block outlet;
said second mesh being perimetrically mounted to said block outlet;
Patent History
Publication number: 20160326445
Type: Application
Filed: May 5, 2016
Publication Date: Nov 10, 2016
Inventor: David Robert Prange (Wheaton, IL)
Application Number: 15/147,906
Classifications
International Classification: C10L 1/12 (20060101); C10L 10/06 (20060101);