Process for the manufacture of synthesis gas

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND HYDROGEN BY PARTIAL COMBUSTION IN A CYLINDER OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE OF A HYDROCARBON FUEL WITH AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS CONTAINING AT LEAST 90 PER CENT OXYGEN BY VOLUME, THE METHOD WHICH COMPRISES INTRODUCING SAID FUEL AND SAID OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS TO SAID ENGINE AT A PRESSURE OF AT LEAST 50 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH GAUGE IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO SUBSTANTIALLY FILL SAID CYLINDER AT SUBSTANTIALLY TO SUBPRESSURE AND IN RELATIVE PROPORTIONS SUCH THAT THE RATION OF ATOMS OF OXYGEN TO ATOMS OF CARBON IN THE RESULTING MIXTURE IN WITHIN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 1.0 TO ABOUT 1.4, COMPRESSING THE THUS FED GAS TO NO MORE THAN 1/3 OF THE VOLUME OF THE CYLINDER, IGNITING THE THUS COMPRESSES MIXTURE, AND DISCHARGING THE RESULTING PRODUCTS FROM THE ENGINE AT A PRESSURE OF AT LEAST 50 POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH GAUGE.