US4412421A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine operated by a non-polluting recyclable fuel
Assignee: Q Corp
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Filing: 1981-02-02
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Granted: 1983-11-01
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Expires: 2001-02-02
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed the utilization of a fluidized bed as a combustion chamber for the combustion in an external combustion engine of the recyclable fuels magnesium, aluminum, and their hydrides and/or alloys. The combustion products serve in whole or in part as the inert media for the bed.
Inventors
- 👤 E. Quimby Smith, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:47
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B45/00; F02B45/02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/053; F02G1/055; F02G2258/00; F02G2258/10; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A system of operating an external combustion engine which is operated by a heated working fluid of the engine, comprising providing solid partcles of fuel selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, magnesium plus aluminum, magnesium-aluminum alloy, magnesium hydride, aluminum hydride and magnesium aluminum hydride, providing a combustion chamber in association with the engine, feeding said solid particles of fuel into said combustion chamber, establishing a fluidized bed of solid particles in said combustion chamber by introducing a flow of air and burning said fuel particles in the presence of the air, and heating the working fluid of the engine by the heat of the burning fuel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A system of operating an external combustion engine which is operated by a heated working fluid of the engine, comprising providing solid partcles of fuel selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, magnesium plus aluminum, magnesium-aluminum alloy, magnesium hydride, aluminum hydride and magnesium aluminum hydride, providing a combustion chamber in association with the engine, feeding said solid particles of fuel into said combustion chamber, establishing a fluidized bed of solid particles in said combustion chamber by introducing a flow of air and burning said fuel particles in the presence of the air, and heating the working fluid of the engine by the heat of the burning fuel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 1, including operating and maintaining said fluidized bed on a controlled basis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system as defined in claim 1, including introducing said fuel particles to said combustion chamber and withdrawing products of combustion from said combustion chamber on a controlled basis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system as defined in claim 1, including introducing said fuel particles and flow of air to said combustion chamber at rates controlled by an automatic system sensitive to combustion chamber temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 1, including introducing said fuel particles and flow of air to said combustion chamber at rates controlled by an automatic system sensitive to air-to-fuel ratio.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the natural products of combustion comprise at least a part of the inert media of the fluidized bed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 1, including introducing an oxygen-containing compound into said combustion chamber to provide supplemental oxygen for combustion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system as defined in claim 1, wherein the working fluid of the engine is subjected to the heat generated in the combustion chamber through heat transfer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as defined in claim 8, wherein said heat transfer means comprise heat pipes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 1, including separating the solid oxides and/or hydroxides resulting from the burned fuel and collecting the same, and reducing said oxides and/or hydroxides and reprocessing the reduction products for reuse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as defined in claim 1, including withdrawing products of combustion from said combustion chamber, and introducing fuel particles and flow of air to said combustion chamber at rates controlled by an automatic system sensitive to the amount of products of combustion withdrawn from said combustion chamber.
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) | 1986-10-31 | 1987-05-02 | 1987-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-31 | 1991-05-02 | 1991-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-31 | 1995-05-02 | 1995-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |