You realize that a patent only protects a design for a few years. This allows the "inventor" of a technology to make some money on it by getting royalties. The patent expires after a few years... 15 or 16 if I remember correctly. If that is the case then anything patented before 1982 should be public domain now. "Shelving a patent" only works in the short term. If it was truly a conspiracy then once the patents became public domain all sorts of aftermarket companies would be selling these "shelved" gas saving devices.
-Jay
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