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US3722445A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Underwater molten salt heat storage boiler

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1965-10-21
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
•
Expires: 1985-10-21
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Abstract

Abstract 1. An underwater vehicle including apparatus for generating steam for propelling same, comprising; A. A CLOSED THIN WALL CONTAINER HAVING A VOID SPACE AT ITS UPPER END, B. A MELTABLE SALT MIXTURE FILLING SAID CONTAINER BELOW SAID SPACE, SAID MIXTURE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY ZERO COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION AT ITS SOLIDIFYING TEMPERATURE, THE SOLIDIFYING TEMPERATURE BEING IN EXCESS OF 212* F, c. the outside of said container being in contact with and subjected to water at ambient pressure, D. MEANS FOR PRESSURIZING SAID SPACE TO AMBIENT WATER PRESSURE WHEREBY THE SALT MIXTURE, WHEN MELTED, SUBJECTS THE INSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER TO AMBIENT WATER PRESSURE, E. A STEAM GENERATING COIL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SALT MIXTURE HAVING A WATER INLET AT ITS LOWER END AND A STEAM OUTLET AT ITS UPPER END ADAPTED TO EXTRACT HEAT FROM THE SALT MIXTURE AND CAUSE IT TO SOLIDIFY, FIRST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER, AND THEREAFTER IN SUCCEEDING LAYERS THEREABOVE, AND F. A SOURCE OF SUPERHEATED STEAM FOR MELTING SAID SALT MIXTURE DISPOSED AT THE SURFACE OF THE WATER AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID COIL TO SAME.

Inventors

  • 👤 H Karig
  • 👤 Vries G De

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 22:54
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B19/00; F42B19/12; F42B19/14; F42B19/20; B; B63; B63H; B63H21/00; B63H21/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 178 words
AN UNDERWATER VEHICLE INCLUDING APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM FOR PROPELLING SAME, COMPRISING; A. A CLOSED THIN WALL CONTAINER HAVING A VOID SPACE AT ITS UPPER END, B. A MELTABLE SALT MIXTURE FILLING SAID CONTAINER BELOW SAID SPACE, SAID MIXTURE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY ZERO COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION AT ITS SOLIDIFYING TEMPERATURE, THE SOLIDIFYING TEMPERATURE BEING IN EXCESS OF 212*F, C. THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER BEING IN CONTACT WITH AND SUBJECTED TO WATER AT AMBIENT PRESSURE, D. MEANS FOR PRESSURIZING SAID SPACE TO AMBIENT WATER PRESURE WHEREBY THE SALT MIXTURE, WHEN MELTED, SUBJECTS THE INSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER TO AMBIENT WATER PRESSURE, E. A STEAM GENERATING COIL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID MIXTURE HAVING A WATER INLET AT ITS LOWER END AND A STEAM OUTLET AT ITS UPPER END ADAPTED TO EXTRACT HEAT FROM THE SALT MIXTURE AND CAUSE IT TO SOLIDIFY, FIRST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER, AND THEREAFTER IN SUCCEEDING LAYERS THEREABOVE, AND F. A SOURCE OF SUPERHEATED STEAM FOR MELTING SAID SALT MIXTURE DISPOSED AT THE SURFACE OF THE WATER AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID COIL TO SAME.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 178 words
AN UNDERWATER VEHICLE INCLUDING APPARATUS FOR GENERATING STEAM FOR PROPELLING SAME, COMPRISING; A. A CLOSED THIN WALL CONTAINER HAVING A VOID SPACE AT ITS UPPER END, B. A MELTABLE SALT MIXTURE FILLING SAID CONTAINER BELOW SAID SPACE, SAID MIXTURE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY ZERO COEFFICIENT OF EXPANSION AT ITS SOLIDIFYING TEMPERATURE, THE SOLIDIFYING TEMPERATURE BEING IN EXCESS OF 212*F, C. THE OUTSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER BEING IN CONTACT WITH AND SUBJECTED TO WATER AT AMBIENT PRESSURE, D. MEANS FOR PRESSURIZING SAID SPACE TO AMBIENT WATER PRESURE WHEREBY THE SALT MIXTURE, WHEN MELTED, SUBJECTS THE INSIDE OF SAID CONTAINER TO AMBIENT WATER PRESSURE, E. A STEAM GENERATING COIL DISPOSED WITHIN SAID MIXTURE HAVING A WATER INLET AT ITS LOWER END AND A STEAM OUTLET AT ITS UPPER END ADAPTED TO EXTRACT HEAT FROM THE SALT MIXTURE AND CAUSE IT TO SOLIDIFY, FIRST AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER, AND THEREAFTER IN SUCCEEDING LAYERS THEREABOVE, AND F. A SOURCE OF SUPERHEATED STEAM FOR MELTING SAID SALT MIXTURE DISPOSED AT THE SURFACE OF THE WATER AND MEANS FOR CONNECTING SAID COIL TO SAME.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, including porous heat insulation surrounding said container, and means surrounding the heat insulation for preventing sea water from penetrating the insulation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 59 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for pressurizing said space comprises a conduit having one end communicating with ambient water and its other end communicating with said space, an intermediate portion being in heat exchange relation with said salt mixture and adapted to generate steam from ambient water for pressurizing said space to ambient water pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 including a flexible wall within said space, one side of said wall being in contact with the entire upper surface of the salt mixture, the other side being pressurized to ambient pressure through said conduit, whereby entry of the salt mixture into said tube is prevented.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1987182A Cited
US2791204A Cited
US3109401A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-03-26 1976-09-25 1977-03-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-03-26 1980-09-25 1981-03-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-03-26 1984-09-25 1985-03-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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