US3775976A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lox heat sink system for underwater thermal propulsion system
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1972-05-26
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A closed thermal power system ideally suited for submersibles includes an internal combustion engine or turbine connected to feed its exhaust gases to a water cooled condenser for condensing and purging water from the system. Next, a cryogenic source of liquid oxygen receives the gases and carbon dioxide is sublimated to the solid state and stored at low pressure. As carbon dioxide is cooled, oxygen is boiled off and fed to the engine where it is mixed with fuel and recycled portions of the exhaust gases. Because the system is operated at near atmospheric pressures, heavy duty pressure lines and fittings are unnecessary. When the system is operated as an open system in the atmosphere, more liquid oxygen is generated to extend the system''s operational range.
Inventors
- 👤 H Karig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:06
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; B; B63; B63G; B63G8/00; B63G8/08; B63G8/12; F02C; F02C3/00; F02C3/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
202 words
A closed power system comprising: a motor for producing a thermal energy conversion having a fuel inlet, a gas inlet and an exhaust outlet; a source of fuel joined to pass fuel to said fuel inlet; a source of liquid oxygen coupled to a helical coil arrangement to boil-off and to vent gaseous oxygen to said gas inlet; means connected to said exhaust outlet for condensing water from exhaust gases; means coupled to the condensing means for receiving said exhaust gases and for expelling condensed water from said system; a pressure-tight container housing said source of liquid oxygen and said helical coil arrangement to ensure the cooling of its interior thereby below the temperature of sublimation of carbon dioxide, said container is provided with a first fitting and a second fitting penetrating said container in communication with the interior; means connecting the receiving and expelling means to said first fitting for passing said exhaust gases to the cooled interior to sublimate and store carbon dioxide in said container while heating said liquid oxygen to boil-off said gaseous oxygen; and means interconnecting said second fitting to said gas inlet for recycling the noncondensed remainder of the cooled exhaust gases back to said motor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
202 words
A closed power system comprising: a motor for producing a thermal energy conversion having a fuel inlet, a gas inlet and an exhaust outlet; a source of fuel joined to pass fuel to said fuel inlet; a source of liquid oxygen coupled to a helical coil arrangement to boil-off and to vent gaseous oxygen to said gas inlet; means connected to said exhaust outlet for condensing water from exhaust gases; means coupled to the condensing means for receiving said exhaust gases and for expelling condensed water from said system; a pressure-tight container housing said source of liquid oxygen and said helical coil arrangement to ensure the cooling of its interior thereby below the temperature of sublimation of carbon dioxide, said container is provided with a first fitting and a second fitting penetrating said container in communication with the interior; means connecting the receiving and expelling means to said first fitting for passing said exhaust gases to the cooled interior to sublimate and store carbon dioxide in said container while heating said liquid oxygen to boil-off said gaseous oxygen; and means interconnecting said second fitting to said gas inlet for recycling the noncondensed remainder of the cooled exhaust gases back to said motor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A power system according to claim 1 further including: means interposed between said gas inlet and said source of liquid oxygen and said second fitting for mixing said oxygen and said noncondensed remainder of the cooled exhaust gases.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A power system according to claim 2 further including: means coupling said receiving and expelling means to the mixing means for feeding back a portion of said exhaust gases to dilute the oxygen-fuel mixture in said energy conversion means and means interposed between the feedback means and said first fitting creating a back pressure to ensure that said portion of said exhaust gases are fed back.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A power system according to claim 3 further including: means for allowing the intake of ambient air while blocking the passage of oxygen being interposed between said motor and said mixing means and means for venting said exhaust gases to the surroundings while blocking their passage to said condensing means being interposed between said motor and said condensing means, the allowing means and the venting means cooperating to give said power system an optional open-system capability.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
141 words
A power system according to claim 1 in which the source of fuel is a chamber enclosing a vessel of liquid natural gas and having its interior cooled thereby below the temperature of sublimation of carbon dioxide, said chamber being provided with a first, a second, and a third coupling, the first coupling being connected to said vessel to pass gaseous liquid natural gas to said fuel inlet and the second coupling and the third coupling communicating with the fuel chamber interior, and the intercoNnecting means includes, a first duct connecting said second fitting to the second coupling for ducting the cooled exhaust gases to the fuel chamber for the further sublimation of carbon dioxide and a second duct interconnecting the third coupling to said gas inlet for recycling the noncondensed remainder of the cooled exhaust gases back to said motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
A power system according to claim 1 in which said motor is a gas turbine having a compression stage, a combustion chamber including said fuel inlet, said gas inlet, and an oxygen inlet, a compressor-driver stage, and a power stage and said system further includes: an intake regenerator having a first passageway connecting said first fitting and said compression stage together for receiving a noncondensed remainder of said cooled exhaust gases and a second passageway connecting the source of liquid oxygen to said oxygen inlet for warming said gaseous oxygen and an exhaust regenerator having a first passageway coupled to said compression stage to receive a noncondensed remainder of said cooled exhaust gases from said compression stage and feeding them to said combustion chamber and a second passageway coupled to receive exhaust gases from said power stage for the cooling thereof and transfer to said condensing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A power system according to claim 5 further including: means for generating oxygen coupled to receive air from the atmosphere, process it, and feed liquid oxygen back to said source of liquid oxygen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A power system according to claim 7 in which the oxygen generation means includes a water condenser receiving the air for purging water therefrom, interconnecting ducting for feeding the dehydrated air through said pressure-tight chamber and said pressure-tight container for precooling the air, and a liquid oxygen producing device for producing liquid oxygen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A power system according to claim 8 in which said interconnecting ducting is cooled by the sublimated carbon dioxide causing same to revert to the gaseous state evacuating said container and said chamber to ready them for continued cooling of said exhaust gases.
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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) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |