Emulsion fuel engine

Claim 2

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder with an injection nozzle for injecting an emulsion fuel, which has been formed by mixing a first fuel with a second fuel, into the cylinder, comprising: exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by the exhaust gas recirculation means.

Claim 3

The engine of claim 1, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation means comprises an EGR valve interposed in an exhaust gas recirculation passage extending between an exhaust passage and the intake passage for adjusting the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated through the exhaust gas recirculation passage; and the EGR valve is controlled by the exhaust gas recirculation control means so that the opening of the EGR valve is decreased when the engine load is high but the opening of the EGR valve is increased when the engine load is low.

Claim 4

The engine of claim 2, wherein an engine load range has been divided into plural engine load sub-ranges and EGR valve opening information has been set independently for each engine load sub-range.

Claim 5

The engine of claim 1, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation means comprises an EGR valve interposed in an exhaust gas recirculation passage extending between an exhaust passage and the intake passage for adjusting the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated through the exhaust gas recirculation passage; and said exhaust gas recirculation control means controls the opening of the EGR valve at a constant value irrespective of the engine load.

Claim 6

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means.

Claim 7

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means.

Claim 8

The engine of claim 5, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation means comprises an EGR valve interposed in an exhaust gas recirculation passage extending between an exhaust passage and the intake passage for adjusting the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated through the exhaust gas recirculation passage; and the EGR valve is controlled by the exhaust gas recirculation control means so that the opening of the EGR valve is decreased when the engine load is high but the opening of the EGR valve is increased when the engine load is low.

Claim 9

The engine of claim 6, wherein an engine load range has been divided into plural engine load sub-ranges and EGR valve opening information has been set independently for each engine load sub-range.

Claim 10

The engine of claim 5, wherein said exhaust gas recirculation means comprises an EGR valve interposed in an exhaust gas recirculation passage extending between an exhaust passage and the intake passage for adjusting the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated through the exhaust gas recirculation passage; and said exhaust gas recirculation control means controls the opening of the EGR valve at a constant value irrespective of the engine load.

Claim 11

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; wherein said mixing means changes the mixing ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel in accordance with the engine load.

Claim 12

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; wherein said mixing means changes the mixing ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel in accordance with the engine load.

Claim 13

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; wherein said mixing means comprises a three-way valve connected to both the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank so that the mixing ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel can be changed.

Claim 14

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; wherein said mixing means comprises a three-way valve connected to both the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank so that the mixing ratio of the first fuel to the second fuel can be changed.

Claim 15

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; wherein said exhaust gas recirculation means comprises an EGR valve interposed in an exhaust gas recirculation passage extending between an exhaust passage and the intake passage for adjusting the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated through the exhaust gas recirculation passage; whereby, when the engine load is high, the opening of the EGR valve is decreased and the proportion of the second fuel is increased; and when the engine load is low, the opening of the EGR valve is increased and the proportion of the second fuel is decreased.

Claim 16

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; wherein said exhaust gas recirculation means comprises an EGR valve interposed in an exhaust gas recirculation passage extending between an exhaust passage and the intake passage for adjusting the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated through the exhaust gas recirculation passage; whereby, when the engine load is high, the opening of the EGR valve is decreased and the proportion of the second fuel is increased; and when the engine load is low, the opening of the EGR valve is increased and the proportion of the second fuel is decreased.

Claim 17

The engine of claim 11, wherein an engine load range has been divided into first plural engine load sub-ranges for EGR valve opening information and also into second plural engine load sub-ranges for first fuel/second fuel mixing ratio information; and EGR valve opening information and mixing ratio information have been set independently for each engine load sub-range.

Claim 18

The engine of claim 12, wherein the first plural engine load sub-ranges for the EGR valve opening information and the second plural engine load sub-ranges for the first fuel/second fuel mixing ratio information are consistent with each other.

Claim 19

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; and a constant pressure valve having the mechanism of a bidirectional check valve disposed at a discharge port of the injection pump, said discharge port being on a side of the injection pipe.

Claim 20

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; and a constant pressure valve having the mechanism of a bidirectional check valve disposed at a discharge port of the injection pump, said discharge port being on a side of the injection pipe.

Claim 21

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; and an emulsion fuel tank for storing the emulsion fuel from said mixing means disposed between said mixing means and said emulsion fuel feeding means.

Claim 22

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; and an emulsion fuel tank for storing the emulsion fuel from said mixing means disposed between said mixing means and said emulsion fuel feeding means.

Claim 23

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; wherein sad emulsion fuel feeding means is provided with a check valve so that the emulsion fuel is allowed to penetrate into the injection pipe when the pressure of the emulsion fuel has become higher than the pressure of the fuel within the injection pipe.

Claim 24

An emulsion fuel engine having at least one cylinder, comprising: a first fuel tank for storing a first fuel therein; a second fuel tank for storing a second fuel therein; an injection nozzle attached to the cylinder; an injection pump for drawing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and delivering under pressure the first fuel at a predetermined timing toward the injection nozzle; means for mixing the first fuel from the first fuel tank and the second fuel from the second fuel tank, whereby an emulsion fuel is formed; means for feeding the emulsion fuel, which has been delivered from said mixing means to an injection pipe at a location between the injection pump and the injection nozzle; exhaust gas recirculation means for returning a portion of exhaust gas to an intake passage to recirculate the exhaust gas; and exhaust gas recirculation control means for controlling the amount of the exhaust gas to be recirculated by said exhaust gas recirculation means; wherein sad emulsion fuel feeding means is provided with a check valve so that the emulsion fuel is allowed to penetrate into the injection pipe when the pressure of the emulsion fuel has become higher than the pressure of the fuel within the injection pipe.