US5326252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Catalytic combustion
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-09-04
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Granted: 1994-07-05
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Expires: 2011-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A self contained catalytic heating device within which a fuel/oxidizer mixture and combustion products are held out of physical contact with a heated medium, allowing the temperature of the catalytic material to be maintained at a level that is independent of the temperature at the surface in contact with the heated medium; materials and geometric dimensions can be chosen to achieve required temperatures for catalytically coated surfaces and heating surfaces, for example in a tubular construction.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas Tonon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:35
CPC Classifications
F; F23; F23C; F23C13/00; F24; F24H; F24H1/00; F24H1/0027; F24H1/0045; F24H1/22; F24H1/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of constructing a catalytic heater, comprising the steps of: (a) fabricating a first fluid carrying member having a plurality of wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; (b) fabricating a second member precluded from carrying the same fluid as said first member and having inner and outer wall surfaces, with said inner wall surface spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member and said outer wall surface receiving a medium to be heated; and (c) providing for the application of a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of constructing a catalytic heater, comprising the steps of: (a) fabricating a first fluid carrying member having a plurality of wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; (b) fabricating a second member precluded from carrying the same fluid as said first member and having inner and outer wall surfaces, with said inner wall surface spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member and said outer wall surface receiving a medium to be heated; and (c) providing for the application of a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first member is a tube having a geometric cross section and is surrounded by at least one outer tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
A catalytic heater, comprising a first tubular member having at least two wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; a second member spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member; means for applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst; means for contacting said second member with at least one medium to be heated; wherein said first member is a catalytic inner tube with opposed wall surfaces, of which an inside wall surface is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated, and said second member is a plurality of outer tubes facing, spaced from and surrounding said inner tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
A catalytic heater, comprising a first tubular member having at least two wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; a second member spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member; means for applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst; means for contacting said second member with at least one medium to be heated; wherein said first member is a catalytic inner tube with opposed wall surfaces, of which an inside wall surface is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated, and said second member is a plurality of outer tubes facing, spaced from and surrounding said inner tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said members are heat absorptive to provide substantially constant heat output per unit length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A catalytic heater, comprising a first tubular member having at least two wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; a second tubular member spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member; means for applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst; and means for contacting said second member with at least one medium to be heated; wherein the interval between the first and second members is at least partially occupied by conductive packing material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
A catalytic heater, comprising a first tubular member having at least two wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; a second tubular member spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member; means for applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst; and means for contacting said second member with at least one medium to be heated; wherein the interval between the first and second members is at least partially occupied by conductive packing material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said members are heat absorptive to provide substantially constant heat output per unit length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
A catalytic heater, comprising a first tubular member having at least two wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; a second tubular member spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member; means for applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst; and means for contacting said second member with at least one medium to be heated; wherein the interval between the first and second members is maintained by a plurality of fins therebetween.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
96 words
A catalytic heater, comprising a first tubular member having at least two wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; a second tubular member spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member; means for applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst; and means for contacting said second member with at least one medium to be heated; wherein the interval between the first and second members is maintained by a plurality of fins therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said members are heat absorptive to provide substantially constant heat output per unit length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A catalytic heater, comprising a first tubular member constituting a catalytic inner tube with opposed wall surfaces including an inside wall surface coated with a catalyst and an uncoated outside wall surface; a second tubular member uniformly surrounding said inner tube and uniformly spaced from said uncoated wall surface of said first tubular member; means for applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first tubular member and producing combustion on said catalyst; and mean for contacting said second member with at least one medium to be heated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A catalytic heater, comprising a first tubular member constituting a catalytic inner tube with opposed wall surfaces including an inside wall surface coated with a catalyst and an uncoated outside wall surface; a second tubular member uniformly surrounding said inner tube and uniformly spaced from said uncoated wall surface of said first tubular member; means for applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first tubular member and producing combustion on said catalyst; and mean for contacting said second member with at least one medium to be heated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 further including means for regulating heat flow between the catalyst surface of said first tubular member and said second member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the regulating means comprises material inserted between the first and second members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the regulating means comprises material extending between said first and second members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the regulating means comprises inserted between the first and second members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said inner tube is selected from the class consisting of tubes with a circular cross section, a non-circular cross section and a rectangular cross section.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of catalytic heating, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first member having a plurality of wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; (b) providing a second member having an outer surface and an inner surface surrounding and spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member; (c) applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst; and (d) contacting said outer surface of said second member with at least one medium to be heated.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of catalytic heating, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first member having a plurality of wall surfaces, one of which is coated with a catalyst and another of which is uncoated; (b) providing a second member having an outer surface and an inner surface surrounding and spaced from an uncoated wall surface of said first member; (c) applying a gaseous fuel/oxidizer mixture to said coated wall surface of said first member and producing combustion on said catalyst; and (d) contacting said outer surface of said second member with at least one medium to be heated.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 including the steps of providing said first member with opposed wall surfaces, coating one with a catalyst, leaving another uncoated, and uniformly spacing said second member from said first member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 15 including the steps of providing said first member as a catalytic inner tube having an inside wall coated with a catalyst; and said second member as at least one outer tube uniformly surrounding said inner tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of regulating heat flow from the catalyst surface to the medium through the outermost tube, including providing substantially constant heat output per unit length.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said catalyst has a light-off temperature including the step of maintaining the light-off temperature of said catalyst within said first member independently of the temperature of said second member.
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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) | 1997-07-04 | 1998-01-03 | 1998-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-07-04 | 2002-01-03 | 2002-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-07-04 | 2006-01-03 | 2006-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |