USRE28547E — Gas-operated internal combustion engine

Claim 1

Independent Claim 149 words

A GAS-OPERATED INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE ADAPTED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE AND HAVING A CARBURETOR, COMPRISING: A. A GAS GENERATOR MOUNTED ON SAID VVEHICLE, SAID GENERATOR INCLUDING A TANK HAVING A SALT-WATER ELECTROLYTE AND A MAGNESIUM ELECTRODE SUSPENDED IN SAID ELECTROLYTE TO CAUSE HYDROGEN TO EVOLVE IN THE TANK, B. ADJUSTABLE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID GENERATOR TO VARY THE RATE AT WHICH HYDROGEN IS EVOLVED IN SAID TANK. C. MEANS TO FEED HYDROGEN FROM SAID TANK INTO SAID CARBURETOR TO INTERMIX WITH AIR TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE, D. MEANS TO SUPPLY SAID MIXTURE TO THE CYLINDERS OF SAID ENGINE, E. MEANS TO SENSE THE AMOUNT OF HYDROGEN CONSUMED BY THE ENGINE TO PROUCE A CONTROL SIGNAL AS A FUNCTION THEREOF, AND F. MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID CONTROL SIGNAL TO OPERATE SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS WHEREBY THE AMOUNT OF HYDROGEN EVOLVED IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED BY THE ENGINE.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 149 words

A GAS-OPERATED INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE ADAPTED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE AND HAVING A CARBURETOR, COMPRISING: A. A GAS GENERATOR MOUNTED ON SAID VVEHICLE, SAID GENERATOR INCLUDING A TANK HAVING A SALT-WATER ELECTROLYTE AND A MAGNESIUM ELECTRODE SUSPENDED IN SAID ELECTROLYTE TO CAUSE HYDROGEN TO EVOLVE IN THE TANK, B. ADJUSTABLE MEANS COUPLED TO SAID GENERATOR TO VARY THE RATE AT WHICH HYDROGEN IS EVOLVED IN SAID TANK. C. MEANS TO FEED HYDROGEN FROM SAID TANK INTO SAID CARBURETOR TO INTERMIX WITH AIR TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE, D. MEANS TO SUPPLY SAID MIXTURE TO THE CYLINDERS OF SAID ENGINE, E. MEANS TO SENSE THE AMOUNT OF HYDROGEN CONSUMED BY THE ENGINE TO PROUCE A CONTROL SIGNAL AS A FUNCTION THEREOF, AND F. MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID CONTROL SIGNAL TO OPERATE SAID ADJUSTABLE MEANS WHEREBY THE AMOUNT OF HYDROGEN EVOLVED IS NOT SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED BY THE ENGINE.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

An engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tank also has a carbon electrode immersed in the water, and said means to vary the rate at which hydrogen is evolved comprises a variable resistance connected between the magnesium and carbon electrodes.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

An engine as set forth in claim 1, further including a reserve gas tank coupled to the outlet of the gas generator to accumulate a supply of hydrogen for starting purposes.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

An engine as set forth in claim 1, further including a valve interposed between the generator and carburetor, and means operatively coupling the valve to the accelerator pedal of the vehicle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

An engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said salt solution is highly saturated.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 15 words

An engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said salt solution is sea water.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 106 words

A gas generator for producing hydrogen usable as a fuel for an engine whose demand is variable and for similar purposes, said generator comprising: A. a tank having a salt water electrolyte therein; B. a pair of electrodes disposed in said electrolyte, one of said electrodes being formed primarily of magnesium; and C. an electrical circuit forming a conductive path between said electrodes to produce a current flow in said path causing hydrogen to be evolved in said tank, said circuit including a variable resistor external to the tank which is adjustable to set the rate at which hydrogen is evolved to satisfy the demand therefor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 106 words

A gas generator for producing hydrogen usable as a fuel for an engine whose demand is variable and for similar purposes, said generator comprising: A. a tank having a salt water electrolyte therein; B. a pair of electrodes disposed in said electrolyte, one of said electrodes being formed primarily of magnesium; and C. an electrical circuit forming a conductive path between said electrodes to produce a current flow in said path causing hydrogen to be evolved in said tank, said circuit including a variable resistor external to the tank which is adjustable to set the rate at which hydrogen is evolved to satisfy the demand therefor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

A gas generator as set forth in claim 7, wherein said salt water is constituted by sea water.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

A gas generator as set forth in claim 7, wherein the other electrode is formed primarily of carbon.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

A gas generator as set forth in claim 7, further including means to depolarize said other electrode.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

A gas generator as set forth in claim 10, wherein said depolarizer means is constituted by a vibrator operatively coupled to said other electrode.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 21 words

A gas generator as set forth in claim 11, wherein said vibrator is electrically-energized by power derived from said electrical circuit.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

A gas generator as set forth in claim 7, further including means automatically to adjust the value of said resistor as a function of said engine fuel demand.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 39 words

A gas generator as set forth in claim 7, wherein said one of said electrodes is an alloy of magnesium and a metal selected from the class consisting of zinc and iron to produce a composition minimizing polarization effects.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-09-08	1979-03-10	1979-09-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-09-08	1983-03-10	1983-09-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-09-08	1987-03-10	1987-09-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gas-operated internal combustion engine

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