IP Library Granted Patent US 12,129,786
Granted Patent B2
US 12,129,786 · App. 17/541,686 · Granted Oct 29, 2024

Explosion safe electrolysis unit

Inventors: Evan Charles Johnson (Lake Stevens, WA); William A. Woods (Redmond, WA)
F02B43/10B01D46/84C25B1/04C25B1/044C25B9/05C25B9/07C25B9/17C25B11/00C25B15/02C25B15/08F01N3/0205F01N3/023F01N3/025F01N3/0253F01N3/0293F01N3/035F01P3/20F02B43/00F02B43/12F02B51/00F02B75/02F02D19/0644F02D19/0671F02D19/08F02D19/081F02D41/0025F02D41/0027F02D41/345F02M21/0206F02M21/0221F02M21/0239F02M21/0248F02M21/0278F02M25/12B01D2279/30F01N2240/14F01N2240/34F01N2250/02F02B2043/106F02B2075/027F02D41/009F02D41/1446F02D41/1498F02D2200/021F02D2200/0404F02D2200/0406F02D2200/0602F02D2200/0606F02D2200/0625F02D2200/1002F02D2200/101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,129,786
App. No.
17/541,686
Granted
Oct 29, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dual-chamber electrolysis vessel safely stores HHO gas for use by an internal combustion engine.

Claims (46)

1. A dual-chamber vessel, comprising:

a cylindrical member that that includes:

a first endplate that is located at a first end of the cylindrical member;

a middle plate that is located inside the cylindrical member and that divides an interior of the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber; and

a second endplate that is located at a second end of the cylindrical member, and that is configured to release pressure in response to a pressure in the second chamber being greater than a relief pressure;

wherein a controller is configured to control an electricity supply to an electrolysis cell to maintain a volume of HHO gas in the second chamber within a storage pressure range; and

wherein the electrolysis cell is located in the first chamber and is configured to generate HHO gas.

2. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the second endplate is configured to open the vessel at least 2%, relative to a surface area of the vessel within 1 ms of contents of the vessel reaching the relief pressure.

3. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the second endplate is configured to retain HHO gas within the storage pressure range.

4. The vessel of claim 3 , wherein the second chamber is in continuous fluid communication with the first chamber, the second chamber configured to store at least a portion of the HHO gas.

5. The vessel of claim 4 , which is configured for passive transport of HHO gas from the first chamber to the second chamber.

6. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the second chamber is configured to contain less than a 1 hour supply of HHO gas.

7. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the second endplate comprises a pressure release member, the pressure release member sized to release at least a portion of the contents of the vessel when the vessel pressure reaches the relief pressure.

8. The vessel of claim 7 , wherein the pressure release member is non-reclosing.

9. The vessel of claim 8 , wherein the pressure release member is configured to open the second chamber.

10. The vessel of claim 8 , wherein the relief pressure is less than the lowest failure point of the vessel components.

11. The vessel of claim 1 , comprising at least one elongated retaining member.

12. The vessel of claim 11 , wherein the at least one elongated retaining member comprises an all-thread rod.

13. The vessel of claim 11 , wherein the at least one elongated retaining member is configured to open the vessel based on yielding.

14. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical member comprises:

a first hollow outer casing, and

a second hollow outer casing,

wherein the middle plate is located between the first hollow outer casing and the second hollow outer casing.

15. The vessel of claim 14 , wherein the second endplate is a pressure release member.

16. The vessel of claim 15 , wherein the vessel is configured to open the second endplate to form a vent area within 0.1 ms of contents of the vessel reaching the relief pressure.

17. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the second endplate is configured to open the vessel upon detonation of HHO gas in the first chamber and/or the second chamber.

18. The vessel of claim 1 , which is adapted for installation onboard a vehicle.

19. The vessel of claim 1 , wherein the second endplate is configured to form a vent area at a top of the second chamber.

20. The vessel of claim 1 , which is in communication with at least one injector, the at least one injector configured to deliver at least a portion of HHO gas to an internal combustion particulate filter (DPF) regenerator system.

21. The vessel of claim 1 , which is in communication with a plurality of injectors, the plurality of injectors configured to introduce at least a portion of the HHO gas to at least one combustion chamber inlet of the internal combustion engine.

22. The vessel of claim 21 , wherein the plurality of injectors comprises:

a first injector configured to deliver a first portion of the HHO gas to within 3 inches of a first combustion chamber inlet of a first combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine;

a second injector configured to deliver a second portion of the HHO gas to a second combustion chamber inlet of a second combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine; and

at least a third injector configured to deliver at least a third portion of the HHO gas to at least a third combustion chamber inlet of at least a third combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

23. The vessel of claim 22 , wherein the first injector is configured to deliver the first portion of the HHO gas during a portion of an intake stroke of a first combustion cylinder, the first combustion cylinder comprising the first combustion chamber.

24. The vessel of claim 23 , wherein the during a portion of an intake stroke is when the intake stroke is at an angle in the range of 0-40° from top-dead-center.

25. The vessel of claim 1 , which is in communication with a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger configured to receive at least a portion of HHO gas.

26. The vessel of claim 25 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive an engine exhaust stream and/or an engine coolant stream.

27. A dual-chamber vessel, comprising:

a cylindrical member that that includes:

a first endplate that is located at a first end of the cylindrical member;

a middle plate that is located inside the cylindrical member and that divides an interior of the vessel into a first chamber and a second chamber; and

a second endplate that is located at a second end of the cylindrical member, and that is configured to release pressure in response to a pressure in the second chamber being greater than a relief pressure;

wherein a controller is configured to control an electricity supply to an electrolysis cell to maintain a temperature in the first chamber of less than 65° C.; and

wherein the electrolysis cell is located in the first chamber and is configured to generate HHO gas.

28. The vessel of claim 27 , wherein the relief pressure is less than a lowest failure point of the vessel components.

Continuity (7)
Continuation 17323756 · May 18, 2021
Continuation 17092889 · Nov 9, 2020
Continuation 16818329 · Mar 13, 2020
Continuation 16101178 · Aug 10, 2018
Continuation 16056062 · Aug 6, 2018
Provisional Application 62623302 · Jan 29, 2018
Related Publication 20220341361A1 · Oct 27, 2022