US3639788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-impedance power for engine ignition and exhaust-system particulate removal
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-03-11
•
Granted: 1972-02-01
•
Expires: 1990-03-11
Abstract
Abstract This invention discloses unitary assemblies employing novel means for generation, via ferroelectrics, of timed engineignition impulses and of high-impedance impulses for removing particulate pollutants entrained in exhaust gases.
Inventors
- 👤 John J Horan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:57
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/18; H02N2/183; F; F02; F02P; F02P3/00; F02P3/12; H02N11/00; H02N11/002; H02N11/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 65
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for generating and timing the delivery of highvoltage impulses to an extraneous high-impedance load, said apparatus comprising: a stiff ferroelectric transducer having high-electrical and mechanical impedance, said transducer being polarized to generate said impulses between opposite electrical poles thereof when subjected to cyclically applied compressive forces between opposing surfaces thereof; a pair of mutually insulated output conductive paths for such delivery, said paths each being adapted for an electrical communication link between a respective one of said poles and said load; a mechanism, including a reaction member and a force member, for transmittal of said forces against said surfaces, said mechanism being aligned for coaction with an extraneous input source of mechanical energy, said force member being configured and aligned to deform elastically and to store energy therein when said force is being transmitted therethrough, the mechanical strain in said transducer being primarily a function of the compressive force delivered thereto rather than of the type of deformation occurring in said force member; and switch means interposed in one of said paths in series with said load, said switch means being aligned for conductive closure in response to elastic deformation of said force member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for generating and timing the delivery of highvoltage impulses to an extraneous high-impedance load, said apparatus comprising: a stiff ferroelectric transducer having high-electrical and mechanical impedance, said transducer being polarized to generate said impulses between opposite electrical poles thereof when subjected to cyclically applied compressive forces between opposing surfaces thereof; a pair of mutually insulated output conductive paths for such delivery, said paths each being adapted for an electrical communication link between a respective one of said poles and said load; a mechanism, including a reaction member and a force member, for transmittal of said forces against said surfaces, said mechanism being aligned for coaction with an extraneous input source of mechanical energy, said force member being configured and aligned to deform elastically and to store energy therein when said force is being transmitted therethrough, the mechanical strain in said transducer being primarily a function of the compressive force delivered thereto rather than of the type of deformation occurring in said force member; and switch means interposed in one of said paths in series with said load, said switch means being aligned for conductive closure in response to elastic deformation of said force member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, including also high-voltage polarity-discriminating and high-impedance electrical energy dissipating means for diversion of reverse-polarity electrical energy generated in said transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, including also an auxiliary member of said mechanism constituting part of said switch means, said auxiliary member being movably responsive to deformation of said force member for conductively actuating said switch means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, said switch means being an electron device having a pair of transmitting electrodes separated by a barrier means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 4, one of said electrodes having been processed to promote electron emission therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as in claim 4, including also a control-electrode means for disabling said barrier upon the application thereto of an appropriate triggering stimulus, said force member being poised for alignment upon deformation thereof to force delivery of said stimulus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as in claim 4, said electron device including a switching aid that it normally nonconductive and interposed to isolate one of said electrodes, said aid being poised for conductive actuation thereof responsive to elastic deflection of said force member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 7, said isolated electrode being a control electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 8, including also a high-value resistance interposed between said control electrode and one of said transmitting electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus as in claim 9, said one transmitting electrode being a cathode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, said force member being subject to elastic compression in the direction of force transmission therethrough.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 11, said force member being subject to flexure during transmission therethrough of said compressive forces between opposing surfaces of said transducer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as in claim 12, said force member being configured as a column and being subject to elastic lateral buckling thEreof during axial transmission of said forces therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as in claim 13, the lateral flexure of said column being greater in magnitude than the axial compressive yield thereof when said force has risen to the value that enables said transducer to generate said impulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 11, said force member having an elastic, nonlinear deformation characteristic for limiting the compressive force directionally transmissible therethrough against said transducer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as in claim 15, the ratio of force to deflection of said force member decreasing as the force being transmitted therethrough increases toward a level appropriate for generation of said impulse.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, said force member being normally isolated electrically from said transducer poles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as in claim 17, said force member being conductively linked to one of said poles during said delivery.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, said force member being continuously linked conductively to an electrode of said transducer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, at least a yielding portion of said force member being housed within a sealed enclosure, said switch means also being enclosed therein. 21, An apparatus as in claim 20, said force member being located inside said enclosure.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 21 said force member being aligned to receive external force via a wall of said enclosure said wall also being subject to yielding under said force.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, said enclosure being subject to elastic yielding of a wall thereof under an externally applied mechanical force, said yielding being aligned and coacting with the elastic yielding of said force member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, a wall of said enclosure intervening between said force member and said transducer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, said transducer also being positioned within said enclosure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, the space within said enclosure having been conditioned in contact to have a dielectric-breakdown strength much higher than that of the atmosphere.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as in claim 26, said space being occupied by a dielectric fluid having average density and molecular weight significantly higher than the corresponding properties of air.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 27, the fluid in said enclosure being at least predominantly in liquid phase.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 27, the fluid in said enclosure being at least predominantly in vapor phase.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 27, said enclosure having inlet and outlet ports for circulation therethrough of said fluid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, said enclosure having been evacuated to a low contained gas pressure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, said enclosure having been evacuated to a high vacuum.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, said enclosure including metallic shield means in way of escape therefrom of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, said enclosure constituting part of said reaction member.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 20, said reaction member forming an enclosure for said force member and transducer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, one of said paths including a control electrode and a pair of spaced transmitting electrodes, said transmitting electrodes being blocked from conducting by an intervening energy barrier, the magnitude of said energy barrier being susceptible to variation responsive to relative motion of said force member.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, one of said paths including a control electrode and a pair of transmitting electrodes, said transmitting electrodes being blocked from conducting by an intervening energy barrier, the interaction between said control electrode and at least one of said transmitting Electrodes being responsive to relative motion of said force member.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as in claim 37, the position of at least one of said electrodes being responsive to the deformation of said force member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 37, at least one of said electrodes being supported upon said force member.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as in claim 37, the electrostatic potential upon at least one of said electrodes being responsive to the deformation of said force member.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as in claim 37, part of the energy received by an electrode arriving via a magnetic medium.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 37, including also mechanical switching means responsive to motion of said force member for electrically linking an electrode to said transducer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, the mechanical response of said transducer to said forces being generally independent of the deformation contour assumed by said force member.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, including also means for inversion of electrical energy generated at opposite polarity by said transducer during cyclical release of said compressive forces and for in-phase combination of said inverted energy with said impulses.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as in claim 44, including: rectifier means aligned to divert electrical energy of said opposite polarity from delivery, capacitor means for storing diverted electrical energy, and switching means aligned to couple said stored energy into said impulses in polarity orientation therewith.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as in claim 45, said stored energy being injected via at least one electrode for triggering discharge of said impulses.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 said switch means being in electrical series with said load.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as in claim 47, including means for time-phasing adjustment of conductive closure of said switch means.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 1, said load including an electrostatic precipitator adapted for particulate removal from the exhaust system of the engine supplying said energy.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as in claim 2, said means including an electrostatic precipitator adapted for particulate removal from the exhaust system of the engine supplying said energy.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for generating and timing the delivery of high-voltage impulses to extraneous high-impedance loading means, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of ferroelectric transducers polarized to generate said impulses between opposite electrical poles thereof when subjected to cyclically applied compressive forces between opposing surfaces thereof; respective conductor means for delivery of said impulses from said poles to said loading means; mechanical support structure for reacting respective surfaces of said transducers against said forces; forcing means configured and aligned for deforming elastically and storing energy therein when force is being transmitted therethrough to respective transducers, at least a deflecting portion of said forcing means being contained within a sealed enclosure; and switching means conductively responsive to deflection of said portion and also contained within said enclosure, said switching means being respectively interposed in said conductor means in series with said transducers.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
139 words
Apparatus for generating and timing the delivery of high-voltage impulses to extraneous high-impedance loading means, said apparatus comprising: a plurality of ferroelectric transducers polarized to generate said impulses between opposite electrical poles thereof when subjected to cyclically applied compressive forces between opposing surfaces thereof; respective conductor means for delivery of said impulses from said poles to said loading means; mechanical support structure for reacting respective surfaces of said transducers against said forces; forcing means configured and aligned for deforming elastically and storing energy therein when force is being transmitted therethrough to respective transducers, at least a deflecting portion of said forcing means being contained within a sealed enclosure; and switching means conductively responsive to deflection of said portion and also contained within said enclosure, said switching means being respectively interposed in said conductor means in series with said transducers.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 51, said enclosure having been evacuated to a high vacuum.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as in claim 51, wherein the forcing means comprises individual components for each respective transducer, said components being arrayed for deflection in continuous sequence by an extraneous energy source characterized by relative movement in a predictable path.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as in claim 51, wherein the sequence of impulse delivery is enabled by the motion of an auxiliary member, said motion being responsive to sequential motion of said components.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as in claim 52, said switching means being In accordance with claim 6.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of apparatus as in claim 51 and energy dissipation means in accordance with claim 2.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as in claim 52, said enclosure including also an enabling switching means for completing an electrical connection to said apparatus, and electrical communication means thereinto for enabling remote control of said connection.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of a plurality of apparatus in accordance with claim 1, the force members thereof being in a sealed enclosure, said force members being arrayed for deflection in continuous sequence by an extraneous energy source characterized by relative movement within a predictable path.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
9 words
The combination in accordance with claims 32 and 58.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
10 words
The combination in accordance with claims 6, 32, and 58.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
10 words
The combination in accordance with claims 7, 32, and 58.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 61, including also a high-impedance electrical energy dissipating means for diversion of electrical energy not delivered as part of said impulses.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as in claim 60, including also a member responsive with nutating motion to energy supplied by said source., said last member being an electrode support.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus as in claim 58, including also a member responsive with nutating motion to energy supplied by said source, said last member including a switching aid for diverting impulses of opposite polarity from delivery to said load.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |