Method of making nitric oxide

Claim 1

IN THE PROCESS FOR MAKING NITRIC OXIDE FROM GAS CONTAINING N2 AND O2, THE STEPS OF PASSING THE SAID GAS THROUGH A MAIN BED OF REFRACTORY PARTICLES OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY GRADED SIZE PREVIOUSLY HEATED TO NITRIC OXIDE FORMING TEMPERATURE AND RAPIDLY CHILLING SAID FORMED NITRIC OXIDE BY CONTINUING THE FLOW THROUGH A CONTINUATION OF SAID MAIN BED AT LOWER TEMPERATURE, REMOVING THE NITRIC OXIDE CONTAINING GAS, THEN REVERSING THE FLOW, PASSING AIR IN THE EXCESS OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF COMBUSTION THROUGH SAID CONTINUATION OF SAID MAIN BED TO COOL THE PARTICLES THEREIN, REMOVING AIR OVER THE REQUIREMENTS FOR COMBUSTION BEFORE IT ENTERS THE MAIN BED OF REFRACTORY PARTICLES, BURNING FUEL WITH THE BALANCE OF SAID AIR IN SAID MAIN BED OF REFRACTORY PARTICLES IN A RATIO OF FUEL TO AIR IN WHICH AIR IS PRESENT ONLY IN SUFFICIENT AMOUNT TO INSURE COMPLETE COMBUSTION BUT INSUFFICIENT TO SUPPLY A CONCENTRATION OF FREE O2 TO MAKE AN APRECIABLE CONCENTRATION OF NITRIC OXIDE, AND PASSING THE GAS OF COMBUSTION ON THROUGH THE PARTICLES IN THE FURNACE AND OUT OF THE MAIN BED AT REDUCED TEMPERATURE AND SUBSTANTIALLY BARREN OF NITRIC OXIDE.