Air circulation duct for air supply circuit of internal combustion engine, has main body traversed by set of tapered rigid metallic wires and set of elongated rigid metallic parts between which potential difference is established

AIR CIRCULATION DUCT EQUIPPED WITH AN IONIZATION DEVICE

AND ACCELERATION

The technical field of the invention relates to air circulation ducts for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising an air supercharging device, comprising means for ionizing the air and means of acceleration of ionized air. More specifically, the air supercharger operates on the basis of an electric field, created from a high potential difference, applied to the terminals of a plurality of pairs of electrodes of opposite polarity, located in the duct. . Thus, from a certain geometry of the anodes, when the air arrives in the duct at the level of said anodes, it undergoes, firstly, an ionization by capture of electrons, then, secondly, an acceleration. towards the cathodes due to the electric field created between said electrodes. The air, which is positively charged before reaching the cathodes, tears off an electron from them, and thus becomes neutral again, avoiding a slowing phase beyond said cathodes. This ionization phenomenon followed by an acceleration phase, produced by means of an electric field produced under certain conditions, is better known under the name “BiefeldBrown effect”. The air circulation ducts according to the invention can, for example, form part of the air intake circuit of the internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Air circulation ducts for motor vehicle engines exist and have already been the subject of patents. One can, for example, cite the patent application LR 0650519, which relates to a process for supercharging an internal combustion engine with air, said process including a phase of ionization of the air followed by a phase of acceleration of ionized air. The specificity of this process is that the air ionization phase is carried out from the interaction of air with microwaves, the acceleration phase of the air thus ionized, being ensured by an electric field created at the terminals of electrodes of opposite polarity, and placed in the air duct. For this process, the ionization and acceleration phases of the air therefore require the use of two distinct means, one for emitting microwaves, and the other for accelerating the ionized air.

The air circulation ducts according to the invention have a device having one and the same means for ensuring both the functions of ionization and of acceleration of the air, thus inducing a gain in significant place, as well as a real simplification of implementation. In addition, said devices not depending on any external parameter linked, for example, to the operating conditions of the engine, can be triggered at any time and can therefore be used with great flexibility.

The present invention relates to an air circulation duct for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising a supercharging device comprising means for ionizing the air and accelerating means for ionized air. The main characteristic of the duct according to the invention is that the ionization and acceleration means consist of at least one pair of electrodes, composed of an anode of tapered shape and of a cathode, between which a difference of potential. Indeed, the desired effect results from the electric field resulting from the potential difference applied to the terminals of said electrodes, as well as from the specific shape of the anode, which must have a tapered shape to facilitate the phenomenon of electron tearing. air molecules. The tapered shape may relate to the whole of the anode, or else only a part of it. It is also necessary that the anode does not deform, and retains its character of rigidity to produce the desired effect.

Advantageously, the device comprises a plurality of pairs of electrodes each constituted by an anode of tapered shape and by a cathode. Indeed, it is preferable to distribute the electric field well in the duct, so as to homogenize, within said duct, the phenomena of ionization and acceleration, in order to simultaneously treat a larger quantity of air.

Preferably, each anode is in the form of a rigid metal wire. This configuration in the form of a continuous wire is preferred for reasons of ease of manufacture. The rigidity of the wire is essential to promote good interaction with the incident air.

[0007] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, each anode has a pointed projection. This configuration is an alternative to the rigid wire, which is also perfectly suited to solve the problem posed.

Preferably, the pairs of electrodes are identical to each other, and the distance separating two electrodes of the same pair is constant for all the pairs. This uniformity of the pairs of electrodes makes it possible to amplify the desired effect, while maintaining good control of the phenomena involved.

[0009] Advantageously, the potential difference is adjustable as a function of the distance separating the two electrodes of the same pair.

Preferably, the ratio between the potential difference and the distance separating the two electrodes of the same pair is greater than 10,000 V / cm. In this way, the fact of being able to adjust the potential difference to the distance separating the two electrodes of the same pair, increases the possibilities of spacing said electrodes in the duct, and makes it possible to increase the range of configurations to be processed. , in terms of acceleration and acceleration distance.

Advantageously, the pairs of electrodes are placed in the conduit, so that the anodes and the cathodes are arranged in two transverse planes and parallel to each other, the anodes being placed upstream of the cathodes, and each anode is oriented in parallel to the corresponding cathode. In other words, the anodes are distributed along a plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the air in the duct. The cathodes are also distributed along a transverse plane parallel to the plane of the anodes. The air first arrives on the anodes to be ionized, then is then accelerated towards the cathodes. Since the anodes are of elongated shape and that they are oriented parallel to the cathodes which correspond to them, said cathodes are also of elongated shape and therefore has a longitudinal axis.

Preferably, the duct has a circular section. An angle-less section is, in fact, favored, in order to homogenize the accelerated air flow, in particular avoiding the creation of zones little influenced by the electric field.

Advantageously, the duct is made of composite material. It can also be made of metal. In the latter case, if the electrodes were brought into contact with the conduit, it would be necessary to isolate them from the latter.

Preferably, the anodes are parallel to each other. According to other preferred embodiments of the invention, the anodes can be arranged in a triangle, a hexagon, or a square.

Advantageously, the anodes are formed by copper wires.

Preferably, the cathodes are of elongated shape and have a symmetrical section in the form of a drop of water. This profile, which corresponds to that which is generated by the action of air on a drop of water in free fall, is justified in order to limit, in an optimum manner, the pressure drops. According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the cathodes have a circular section.

Advantageously, the anodes and the cathodes pass through, at least partially, the side wall of said duct. In this way, the conduit serves as a support for said electrodes.

Preferably, the conduit comprises a converging portion located downstream of the cathodes and extended by a portion of reduced section. In this way, said converging portion contributes to maintaining the acceleration of the air produced at the cathodes, or even to increasing it.

The invention also relates to an air supply circuit of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, comprising a duct according to the invention.

The devices according to the invention have the advantage of not involving any mechanical part, thus avoiding having to resort to pressure lubrication. They also have the advantage of operating without causing significant vibrations or shocks, significantly reducing noise pollution. Finally, they do not create any artificial heat source, which is always harmful to the engine or to its immediate environment.

A detailed description is given below of a preferred embodiment of an air circulation duct according to the invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an air circulation duct according to the invention

FIG. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of the conduit of FIG. 1, along a plane parallel to the electrodes.

- Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conduit of Figure 1, along a plane perpendicular to the electrodes.

Referring to Figure 1, an air circulation duct 1 according to the invention comprises a main body 2 and a secondary body 3, said body 2, 3 being separated by a converging zone 4. Both body 2, 3 are in the form of hollow cylinders, the main body 2 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the secondary body 3. The converging zone 4 has a circular and profiled section, gradually decreasing to join the main body 2 to the secondary body 3. The internal part of the duct 1 does not have any breaks or ridges to increase the fluidity of the air flow. The air propagates in the 1 year duct going from the main body2 to the secondary body 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the main body 2 has in its upstream part, and regularly spaced in a semicircle, a first series of five circular holes 5a, located in a plane transverse to the axis of revolution of the duct 1. Said main body 2 has on the complementary semi-circle, a second series of five circular orifices 5b, located in the same transverse plane as the first series of orifices 5a. The spacing between the orifices 5b of the second series is the same as that separating the orifices 5a of the first series. The main body 2 is crossed by a series of five rigid metal wires 6, each passing through an orifice 5a of the first series and through an orifice 5b of the second series. Said wires 6, which are preferably made of copper, are found parallel to each other. They define a network of five anodes 6, arranged transversely with respect to the axis of revolution of the duct 1. In this way, said anodes 6 are supported by the main body 2 of the duct 1, and can emerge from either side. of said body 2. The main body 2 has in its downstream part, and regularly spaced in a semi-circle, a first series of five orifices 7a located in a plane transverse to the axis of revolution of the duct 1. Said main body 2 has on the complementary semicircle, a second series of five orifices 7b, located in the same transverse plane as the first series of orifices 7a. The spacing between the orifices 7b of the second series is the same as that separating the orifices 7a of the first series. The orifices 7a, 7b of the two series located in the downstream part of the main body 2, each have a section in the shape of a drop of water, having a rounded end 8 and a pointed end 9, joined to each other by two substantially rectilinear segments. Said sections have an axis of symmetry connecting the middle of the two ends 8, 9, and which is parallel to the axis of revolution of the duct 1. The sections are each made in the main body 2, so that the rounded end 8 is found upstream of the pointed end 9. The main body 2 is crossed, at its downstream part, by a series of five parts. rigid metal 10, of elongated shape, each passing through an orifice 7a of the first series and through an orifice 7b of the second series. Said parts 10 also have a section in the shape of a drop of water, similar to that of the orifices 7a, 7b which they pass through, but of slightly smaller dimensions, so that said parts 10 can slide in said orifices 7a, 7b. Each orifice 5a of the first series located in the upstream part of the main body 2 is aligned with an orifice 7a of the first series located in the downstream part of said body 2 along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of duct 1. The parts 10 are found parallel to each other and parallel to the anodes 6 located upstream in the duct

1. They are each extended lengthwise by a secondary cylindrical part 11 of smaller section, through which the parts 10 will be connected to a voltage generator. The parts define a network of five cathodes 10, arranged transversely to the axis of revolution of duct 1. In this way, said cathodes 10 are supported by the main body 2 of the conduit 1, and can emerge on either side of said body 2, in particular by making the secondary cylindrical part 11 stand out. Each anode 6 and the cathode 10 which to it. corresponds, are found in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of duct 1.

The conduit 1 according to the invention operates in accordance with the following steps.

While the air circulates continuously in the conduit 1, the ionization and acceleration device is triggered by the energization of the electrodes 6,10. The potential difference is thus brought to at least 10,000 V, creating an electric field parallel to the longitudinal axis of the duct 1. The air located in the immediate vicinity of the anodes 6 is ionized by stripping the electrons. The air, then finding itself positively charged, is accelerated towards the cathodes 10, tearing them away from the passage of electrons. The resulting air regains its neutrality and continues to be accelerated beyond the cathodes 10, in particular at the level of the secondary body 3 of reduced section.