Patent US4624331A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3972811A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waste converter system and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-04-30
•
Granted: 1976-08-03
•
Expires: 1995-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A human conveyance having a toilet and a fuel burning engine is provided with an arrangement for converting waste from the toilet to a combustible gas and for feeding the gas to the engine where it is burned as a fuel additive to increase the gas mileage of the conveyance.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan T. Larkins, Jr.
- 👤 Dalton L. Alander
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 06:54
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D11/00; E03D11/02; E03D11/11; B; B60; B60R; B60R15/00; B60R15/04; B63; B63B; B63B29/00; B63B29/02; B63B29/14; B63J; B63J99/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, means to convert waste to a combustible gas and to add said gas to the engine to conserve usage of the normal fuel, said means comprising a converter tank to contain the waste and having a gas outlet line in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, and means to convert the waste to combustible gas comprising means to pass heated air through said waste.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, means to convert waste to a combustible gas and to add said gas to the engine to conserve usage of the normal fuel, said means comprising a converter tank to contain the waste and having a gas outlet line in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, and means to convert the waste to combustible gas comprising means to pass heated air through said waste.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, means to convert waste to a combustible gas and to add said gas to the engine to conserve usage of the normal fuel comprising a converter tank to contain the waste and having a gas outlet line in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, an air supply line connected to an air diffuser within the tank and operable to deliver air to said diffuser under the difference in pressure between ambient atmospheric pressure and intake manifold pressure, and a heater to heat the waste as air is diffused therethrough to thereby convert the waste to combustible gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, means to convert waste to a combustible gas and to add said gas to the engine to conserve usage of the normal fuel comprising a converter tank to contain the waste and having a gas outlet line in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, an air supply line connected to an air diffuser within the tank and operable to deliver air to said diffuser under the difference in pressure between ambient atmospheric pressure and intake manifold pressure, and a heater to heat the waste as air is diffused therethrough to thereby convert the waste to combustible gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
184 words
In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a toilet, means to convert waste to a combustible gas and to add said gas to the engine to conserve usage of the normal fuel, said means comprising a holding tank connected to the toilet, a converter tank having a gas outlet line in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, a waste delivery line and a pump to pump waste from the holding tank into the converter tank, a valve in the converter tank to open and close the outlet end of said delivery line, a float mounted for guided vertical movement in the converter tank to open and close said valve, switch means responsive to the condition of said valve to activate and deactivate said pump, an air supply line connected to an air diffuser within the converter tank and operable to deliver air to said diffuser under the difference in pressure between ambient atmospheric pressure and intake manifold pressure, and a heater to heat the waste as air is diffused therethrough to thereby convert the waste to combustible gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
184 words
In combination with a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a toilet, means to convert waste to a combustible gas and to add said gas to the engine to conserve usage of the normal fuel, said means comprising a holding tank connected to the toilet, a converter tank having a gas outlet line in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, a waste delivery line and a pump to pump waste from the holding tank into the converter tank, a valve in the converter tank to open and close the outlet end of said delivery line, a float mounted for guided vertical movement in the converter tank to open and close said valve, switch means responsive to the condition of said valve to activate and deactivate said pump, an air supply line connected to an air diffuser within the converter tank and operable to deliver air to said diffuser under the difference in pressure between ambient atmospheric pressure and intake manifold pressure, and a heater to heat the waste as air is diffused therethrough to thereby convert the waste to combustible gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 3, said air supply line extending vertically within the converter tank, said float being annular and being concentric to said air supply line for guided vertical movement.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for conserving the consumption of normal fuel in the operation of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a toilet comprising converting toilet waste to combustible gas and mixing said gas with normal fuel and burning them together in said engine.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
44 words
A method for conserving the consumption of normal fuel in the operation of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a toilet comprising converting toilet waste to combustible gas and mixing said gas with normal fuel and burning them together in said engine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2638444A
Cited
US3362887A
Cited
US3597769A
Cited
US3775978A
Cited
US3856672A
Cited
US3864252A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-03 | 1980-02-02 | 1980-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-03 | 1984-02-02 | 1984-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-03 | 1988-02-02 | 1988-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |