The Blade: How It Works
The explanation of how the Blade reduces emissions and fuel consumption is based on empirical test data. This data confirms the Blade’s effects on the fuel delivery and exhaust systems of gasoline/alcohol powered vehicles.
The profile of a vehicle’s exhaust is not that of a continuous stream. Rather, a vehicle’s exhaust profile is a series of pulses. Changes in the exhaust’s pulse profile and changes in exhaust velocity through the tailpipe have a direct effect on both the catalytic converter and the fuel delivery system.
The Blade, which is installed on the end of the tailpipe, compresses the exhaust pulse profile, thereby reducing the space between the pulses. The patent pending design of the Blade allows this exhaust pulse reduction to adjust over acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle so that the ECU reads within normal tolerances.
Test data concludes that there are three ways in which the Blade reduces emissions, and/or improves fuel economy. The Blade:
1. Improves the Efficiency of the Catalytic Converter
The time between the moment when an engine is turned on and the moment when its catalytic converter reaches operating temperature (‘light off”) is called “Cold Start”. The Blade is proven to reduce “cold start” durations by 90-seconds or more (see Figure 1):
The catalytic converter can only oxidize emissions once it reaches operating temperature (an internal temperature of approximately 400o C). Late-model automobiles employ different strategies to accelerate the converter’s heating process. A common strategy is to add additional fuel in order to create a richer (hotter) air/fuel ratio during cold start.
The Blade mitigates heat transference (loss) via the tailpipe, which allows the catalytic converter to heat more quickly. This reduces the amount of un-treated emissions that escape from the tailpipe before light off, and it reduces the duration when the ECU runs richer air/fuel mixtures in its attempt to heat the converter to its operation temperature. This results in lower emissions and better fuel economy.
Figure 1
Test Vehicle: Vehicle Make: Toyota, Vehicle Model: Camry LE, Vehicle Year: 1997, Engine: 2.2L, Miles: 66,000
2. Increases the Volumetric Efficiency (VE) of the engine:
Volumetric efficiency is the actual amount of air an engine ingests compared to the theoretical maximum. Increasing VE has the effect of increasing the efficiency of combustion. More efficient combustion results in: the reduction CO, HC, NOx, CH4 and other pollutive emissions, and more efficient fuel usage.
It is important to note that the “gas pedal” actually controls the amount of air the engine ingests through the throttle body, not the amount of fuel! The amount of air entering through the throttle body is measured by a Throttle Position (TP) Sensor, which are expressed in “degrees-from-zero”, volts (V), and/or percentages. For ease of understanding, degrees-from-zero were utilized. The higher the degrees, the more depressed the gas pedal is and the more air enters the engine.
Testing of the fuel delivery system was conducted by an ASE LI Certified Emissions Technician utilizing a diagnostic scanner to monitor and record multiple Engine Control Unit (ECU) data streams. To ensure the consistency during testing, the vehicle was measured both with and without the Blade, on a dynamometer utilizing an IM240 Driving Trace. A capacitor discharge was conducted between tests to ensure that the ECU was cleared of any residual memory. The test captured the following datastreams:
Front and Rear O2 Sensors (mV)
Engine Speed (RPM)*
Vehicle Speed (MPH)
Throttle Position (degrees)
Mass Airflow Sensor (g/s)*
Ambient air Temperature(oF)*
Barometric pressure (inHG)*
*Denote variables used to calculate actual VE
Volumetric Efficiency calculated increases as much as 32% with the Blade.
An additional key indicator that there is a net improvement in VE with the Blade is the fact that the throttle position (TP) angle is 10% higher than it is without the Blade at the same engine speed. The TP increase signifies a decrease in “pumping loss”, which means that there is less effort required for the piston to pull air into the combustion chamber. The reduced pumping loss is attributed to the Blade’s effect of reducing space between the exhaust pulses. Normally, a degree of “backsliding”, exhaust being pulled back into the combustion chamber during “induction” occurs. The Blade affects reduced space between exhaust pulses which positively affects exhaust scavenging. Exhaust Scavenging is the drawing out of spent exhaust from the combustion chamber. This increases positive exhaust scavenging. Positive exhaust scavenging allows for more charge (air/fuel mixture) to enter the combustion chamber. More charge by definition increases volumetric efficiency and reduces pumping loss. There is a direct correlation between reduced pumping loss and increased engine efficiency.
3. The Blade is also a filter:
In addition to the effects that the Blade has on the normal operations of the Oxygen sensor, the CPU, and the catalytic converter, the Blade also filters [physically captures] gasoline and hydrocarbon particulates, as well as other solid inorganic emissions. This is highly beneficial because solid particulate emissions are extremely harmful to human health.
