Patent US3657879A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3657879A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas-steam engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-01-26
•
Granted: 1972-04-25
•
Expires: 1990-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A gas-steam engine utilizing wet compression, in which the water requirement is provided by recovering water from the engine exhaust gases by means of a condenser which is an integral part of the system. Water from the exhaust gas is condensed and injected back into the engine at an appropriate location, eliminating the need for an external source of water.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter J Ewbank
- 👤 Darrel G Harden
- 👤 Walter C Bauer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:54
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K21/00; F01K21/04; F01K21/047; F02; F02C; F02C3/00; F02C3/34; F05; F05D; F05D2260/00; F05D2260/20; F05D2260/212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A steady-state combustion system suitable for powering an automotive vehicle comprising: combustion means for combusting a hydrogen-containing fuel; turbine engine means adapted to power an automotive vehicle and powered at least in part by gaseous combustion products from said combustion means; a compressor driven by said turbine engine means and connected thereto for providing compressed air to the combustion means; said combustion products after expansion in said turbine means being first passed through the hot pass of a single pass contraflow regenerator, with said compressed air from said compressor in contraflowing heat exchange relation therein, said combustion products secondly passed through a condenser adapted to condense a substantial amount of the water from exhaust gases exiting from the said regenerator and means for controllably injecting at least part of the condensed water back into the air inlet of said compressor for providing compressed air such that the water is returned to the air being compressed in said compressor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A steady-state combustion system suitable for powering an automotive vehicle comprising: combustion means for combusting a hydrogen-containing fuel; turbine engine means adapted to power an automotive vehicle and powered at least in part by gaseous combustion products from said combustion means; a compressor driven by said turbine engine means and connected thereto for providing compressed air to the combustion means; said combustion products after expansion in said turbine means being first passed through the hot pass of a single pass contraflow regenerator, with said compressed air from said compressor in contraflowing heat exchange relation therein, said combustion products secondly passed through a condenser adapted to condense a substantial amount of the water from exhaust gases exiting from the said regenerator and means for controllably injecting at least part of the condensed water back into the air inlet of said compressor for providing compressed air such that the water is returned to the air being compressed in said compressor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 in which the amount of water injected is between about 5 and 300 percent based on the amount of fuel burned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 in which the amount of water injected is sufficient to maintain the combustion temperature in the combustion means below 1,500* F.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |