Fuel filter including slow release additive
AssigneesDober Chemical Corporation, Fleetguard, Inc.
InventorsHarold Martin, David M. Stehouwer, Joseph C. Drozd, Yu-Sen Chen
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Abstract
This invention relates to a fuel filter for use with internal combustion engines. The fuel filter includes a fuel additive that can be released into fuel. The rate of release for the fuel can be controlled. In one form the fuel additive can be mixed with a matrix material and released at a substantially constant rate to maintain a uniform level of fuel additive in the fuel. Use of the present invention provides a fuel filter having an extended life span that is longer than fuel filters typically used with combustion engines.
Claims44
A method of releasing a fuel additive into a fuel, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel filter containing a fuel additive combined with a matrix material in a fuel additive composition, said fuel additive being distributed in said matrix material and being effective when released into a fuel to provide at least one benefit to said fuel, said fuel filter positioned between a source of fuel and an internal combustion engine;
- contacting a portion of said fuel additive composition with a portion of said fuel to provide a fuel composition comprising said fuel additive dissolved in said portion of said fuel, 50% or less of said matrix material is dissolved in said fuel during said contacting;
- and
- allowing said fuel composition to admix with said fuel.
A method of releasing a fuel additive into fuel, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel additive composition comprising:
- a matrix material and an additive component, the additive component being located in the matrix material and effective, when released into a fuel, to provide at least one benefit to the fuel, end the matrix material being (1) substantially insoluble in the fuel and (2) effective to reduce the rate of release of the additive component into the fuel relative to an identical composition without the matrix material;
- and
- contacting the fuel additive composition and fuel at conditions effective to release additive component from the fuel additive composition into the fuel, the matrix material remaining substantially insoluble in the fuel during the contacting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.