US5052272A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Launching projectiles with hydrogen gas generated from aluminum fuel powder/water reactions
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1990-08-06
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Granted: 1991-10-01
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Expires: 2010-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of propelling a projectile from a device by applying a high power pulse of electrical current to a thin metal conductor wire causing the wire to explode and disperse hot spots of molten metal throughout an aluminum fuel powder/water mixture which reacts to generate hydrogen gas at high pressure in a chamber. The hydrogen gas is used to push the projectile from the device.
Inventors
- 👤 Woodrow W. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:06
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41B; F41B6/00; C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/06; C01B3/08; H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/24; H05H1/52; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of propelling a projectile from a device comprising: (1) applying a high power pulse of electrical current to a metal conductor causing the metal conductor to explode and thus disperse the metal into a mixture of water and an aluminum fuel powder selected from the group consisting of (a) aluminum powder, (b) an aluminum-lithium alloy powder comprising from more than zero to 3.0 weight percent lithium with the remainder of the alloy being essentially aluminum, and (c) an aluminum-magnesium alloy powder comprising from more than zero to 5.0 weight percent of magnesium with the remainder of the alloy being essentially aluminum, wherein the pieces of dispersed metal from the exploded conductor provide hot spots which initiate a chemical reaction between the aluminum fuel and water to generate hydrogen at high pressure in a chamber; (2) continuing to supply the high powered pulse of electrical current to drive the reaction between the aluminum fuel and water after the metal conductor has exploded and initiated the reaction; (3) allowing the hydrogen gas pressure in the chamber to build to a preselected level; and then (4) using the hydrogen gas to push a projectile from the device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of propelling a projectile from a device comprising: (1) applying a high power pulse of electrical current to a metal conductor causing the metal conductor to explode and thus disperse the metal into a mixture of water and an aluminum fuel powder selected from the group consisting of (a) aluminum powder, (b) an aluminum-lithium alloy powder comprising from more than zero to 3.0 weight percent lithium with the remainder of the alloy being essentially aluminum, and (c) an aluminum-magnesium alloy powder comprising from more than zero to 5.0 weight percent of magnesium with the remainder of the alloy being essentially aluminum, wherein the pieces of dispersed metal from the exploded conductor provide hot spots which initiate a chemical reaction between the aluminum fuel and water to generate hydrogen at high pressure in a chamber; (2) continuing to supply the high powered pulse of electrical current to drive the reaction between the aluminum fuel and water after the metal conductor has exploded and initiated the reaction; (3) allowing the hydrogen gas pressure in the chamber to build to a preselected level; and then (4) using the hydrogen gas to push a projectile from the device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aluminum fuel powder is aluminum powder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein from about 10 to about 30 percent of the total electrical energy is used up in step (1) to explode the metal conductor and the remainder of the electrical energy is used up in step (2) to drive the chemical reaction between the aluminum fuel powder and water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aluminum fuel powder is an aluminum-magnesium alloy powder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the aluminum-magnesium alloy powder comprises from 3.0 to 4.5 weight percent magnesium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aluminum fuel powder is an aluminum-lithium alloy powder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the aluminum-lithium alloy powder comprises from 2.0 to 2.8 weight percent of lithium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the aluminum-lithium alloy powder comprises from 2.5 to 2.8 weight percent of lithium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein from 50 to 1000 percent of the equivalent amount of water required to oxidize all the aluminum, lithium, and magnesium is used in the reaction mixture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 wherein from 100 to 500 percent of the equivalent amount of water required to oxidize all the aluminum, lithium, and magnesium is used in the reaction mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 10 wherein from 150 to 300 percent of the equivalent amount of water required to oxidize all the aluminum, lithium, and magnesium is used in the reaction mixture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse of electrical current applied during steps (1) and (2) is from 10 to 1000 microseconds long.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the pulse of electrical current is from 20 to 600 microseconds long.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the pulse of electrical current is from 40 to 400 microseconds long.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aluminum fuel powder is uniformly distributed throughout the water in the aluminum fuel powder/water mixture by means of an absorbent ceramic material that is electrically nonconductive and chemically inert.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the absorbent ceramic material is made of alumina.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the absorbent ceramic material is in the form of sponges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the absorbent ceramic material is in the form of bundles of fine ceramic fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the absorbent ceramic material is in the form of bundles of fine alumina fibers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the total energy of the electrical current applied is from 1.0 to 5.0 kilojoules per gram of aluminum fuel powder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the total energy of the electrical current applied is from 1.8 to 2.2 kilojoules per gram of aluminum fuel powder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 3 wherein from about 15 to about 25 percent of the total electrical energy is used up in step (1) to explode the metal conductor and the remainder of the electrical energy is used up in step (2) to drive the chemical reaction between the aluminum fuel powder and water.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 22 wherein from 18 to 22 percent of the total electrical energy is used up in step (1) to explode the metal conductor and the remainder of the electrical energy is used up in step (2) to drive the chemical reaction between the aluminum fuel powder and water.
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) | 1994-09-30 | 1995-04-01 | 1995-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-30 | 1999-04-01 | 1999-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-30 | 2003-04-01 | 2003-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |