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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Hydrogen/oxygen fuel cell

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6329018

In a combustion engine including combustion chambers; associated pistons, crankshaft and crankcase; a hydrocarbon fuel tank; fuel delivery means for mixing said fuel with air and delivering said fuel/air mixture through an intake manifold to said combustion chamber; a vacuum line for circulating crankcase gases from said crankcase to said intake manifold; and a source of electrical potential energized by the operation of said engine; the improvement to said engine comprising: an electrolysis chamber having a securely bonded bottom and a friction-fitted to cap said friction fitted top cap being, removable by internal gas pressure for the prevention of explosion concentrations of gas; an aqueous electrolyte solution partially filling said electrolysis chamber and leaving a gas accumulation zone there above in said electrolysis chamber; a pair of electrodes disposed within said electrolysis chamber and at least partially immersed in said electrolyte solution, said electrodes being electrically connected to opposite sides of said source of electrical potential, whereby hydrogen and oxygen are generated from the water in said electrolyte solution and are collected in said gas accumulation zone; and a hydrogen/oxygen delivery line connected at one end to said gas accumulation zone in said electrolysis chamber and at the other end to said vacuum line for circulating crankcase gases to said intake manifold, whereby hydrogen and oxygen generated in said electrolysis chamber are withdrawn by the vacuum effect in said vacuum line and fed into said intake manifold.

Assignee:
IMS; EDB-93-113701
Patent Number(s):
A; US 5231954
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-926039
OSTI ID:
6329018
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English