Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Abraham L Zadoks

John M Bailey

D Craig Young

An improved gasifier adapted for gasifying a predetermined charge of non-gaseous fuel into fuel gas. Each charge of non-gaseous fuel, which may have optional conditioning materials added to it, is intermittently fed to a gasifier chamber where each charge is partially burned with high-pressure air supplied thereto. High-pressure and temperature fuel gas is produced which is cleansed prior to passing out of the gasifier chamber. After gasification of the charge of fuel is is ended, the gasifier chamber is vented. The residue of the burned charge in the gasifier chamber is removed, along with the contaminated or reacted conditioning materials, and replaced by a fresh charge. The subject invention provides a feasible way of continuously fueling an internal combustion engine with gasified fuel and is compact enough to be practical for even mobile applications.

Intermittently-fed high-pressure gasifier process

An improved gasifier and engine system which includes an air compressor, a fixed-bed gasifier, a gas cleansing device and a diesel-cycle internal combustion engine. Ambient air is compressed by the compressor to a predetermined first pressure and is directed to a chamber of the gasifier which contains a batch loaded charge of coal and/or other expendable conditioning materials such as water, limestone and sand. The gasifier partially burns the charge and produces high pressure and temperature fuel gas which is cleaned up prior to exiting the gasifier chamber. The cleaned hot fuel gas is directed to the engine where an injection device injects the fuel gas into a combustion chamber of the engine during a later portion of a compression phase of the diesel cycle. The injected fuel gas is ignited in the engine combustion chamber by a glow plug or other ignition-assist device. The remains of the burned charge in the gasifier chamber are removed, along with the contaminated or reacted conditioning materials, and replaced by a fresh charge. The subject invention provides a feasible way of continuously fueling an internal combustion engine with gasified fossil fuel and is compact enough to be practical for even mobile applications.

High pressure gasifier and diesel cycle internal combustion engine system

An internally insulated bellows assembly for providing a flexible transition between internally and externally insulated components of a high temperature fluid pressure system comprises an annular bellows having first and second end portions, a cylindrical shield disposed in spaced, concentric relation within the bellows and coextensive therealong to provide an annular cavity therebetween. The shield has first and second end portions with the first end portions being connected to the first end portion of the bellows and with the second end portion being disposed in spaced radial relationship inwardly from the second end portion of the bellows to provide a predetermined radial gap therebetween. Loose fill insulation material is disposed within the cavity to a point adjacent the second end portion of the shield in filling relation within the internal convolutions of the bellows. An annular ring of constrained insulation sized for close fitting receipt within the cavity is provided for closing the gap between the end portions of the shield and the bellows.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Abraham L Zadoks