Engine intake off gas heater
AssigneeHuron, Inc.
InventorJohn S. Leen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an off gas emission engine intake system is provided which uses engine cooling fluid to deliver warm emission gasses to the engine. The heater provides an outer body which has a channel therethrough. The channel is defined by an annular inner surface. An emission intake tube is disposed through the channel defining a toroidal chamber between the inner surface and air intake tube. The outer body further defines a pair of opposed orifices which accept coolant into the toroidal chamber. The system further has a lower extension tube which journally accepts the emission intake tube. A cylindrical chamber, coupled to the toroidal chamber, to further increase the contact area between the intake fluid.
Claims19
A heater for an engine emission intake system disposed within an engine valve cover which uses engine oil to warm emission gasses being introduced into the air intake of an engine comprising:
- a tubular member defining a passage from inside the engine valve cover to outside of the valve cover, said tubular member having an exterior surface exposed to the engine oil to transfer heat from the engine oil to the emission gasses;
- and
- a baffle disposed between the engine oil and the passage configured to prevent engine oil from entering the passage;
- wherein the emission intake heater functions to provide a mechanism for utilizing engine oil circulating within an engine valve cover as a heat exchange fluid for transferring heat from the engine to the engine off gasses prior to the off gasses leaving the engine.
An engine valve cover comprising:
- a member defining a first oil containing interior cavity and a second generally oil free cavity;
- engine emission intake heater, wherein the engine emission intake heater fluidly couples the second cavity to an engine air intake manifold and wherein the emission intake heater is configured to provide a mechanism for utilizing oil circulating within an engine valve cover as a heat exchange fluid for transferring heat from the engine to the engine off gasses prior to the off gasses leaving the engine.
A heater for an engine emission intake system disposed within an engine valve cover for removing engine emission off gasses comprising:
- a member defining a passage from inside the engine valve cover to outside of the valve cover, said member having an exterior surface exposed to engine oil to transfer heat from the oil to the emission off gasses, the member being formed by a first leg and a second leg, the first and second legs being joined by a transition portion;
- wherein the emission intake heater is configured to utilize engine oil circulating within the engine valve cover as a heat exchange fluid for transferring heat from the engine to the engine off gasses prior to the off gasses leaving the engine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.