Eaton Corporation

Richard Chute

Lyle O Hoppie

David H Scharnweber

Kenneth P Waichunas

David Curtis Turner

Allan Roy Gale

Herman P Schutten

Jay M Larson

Roger P Worthen

Theodore N Tunnecliffe

Ralph P Horan

An arrangement and method is disclosed for enabling hypergolic combustion of a fuel mixture in the combustion chamber of a combustion device such as an internal combustion engine by irradiation of the fuel and/or of the fuel-air mixture with a beam of ultraviolet radiation to produce disassociation of a relatively high proportion of the fuel molecules to enable hypergolic combustion. Various arrangements are disclosed for accomplishing UV irradiation of the fuel in the context of an internal combustion piston engine, and a mercury vapor lamp or a laser are alternatively employed as a UV beam generator.

UV irradiation apparatus and method for fuel pretreatment enabling

A method and apparatus are disclosed for pretreating fuel prior to its injection into a combustion chamber to a critical level of activation to enable negligible ignition delay and substantially instantaneous completion of the combustion process. Each quantity of fuel is treated in a plurality of phases to achieve the critical level of fuel activation by the combined effect of each, with fuel heating combined with one or more further activation treatment phases, including catalysis, UV irradiation, or passing each quantity of the fuel through an electrical discharge to thereby enable hypergolic combustion by a combination of the effects thereof.

Method and apparatus for multiphasic pretreatment of fuel to achieve

An apparatus and method are disclosed for pretreatment of fuel prior to injection into the combustion chamber of a combustion device such as an internal combustion engine comprising heating of the fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to activate the fuel molecules to a critical degree enabling 'hypergolic' combustion, i.e., combustion without significant ignition or combustion delay. The fuel is circulated through a vessel passing through the combustion chamber which is insulated to reduce heat loss such as to regeneratively preheat the fuel to a temperature on the order of 1000.degree. F. Regenerative heating of the fuel is alternatively combined with a catalytic treatment of the heated fuel to partially activate the fuel molecules to reduce the heating necessary to achieve hypergolic combustion.

Regenerative fuel heating apparatus and method for hypergolic combustion

A method and apparatus are disclosed for rapidly heating vaporized fuel to elevated temperatures prior to its injection into a combustion chamber to achieve negligible ignition delay and substantially instantaneous completion of the combustion process. Heating of the fuel is initiated by preheating each quantity of fuel with heat extracted from the engine exhaust, and the preheated fuel is vaporized and subsequently rapidly heated to a high temperature by being adiabatically compressed immediately prior to injection into the combustion chamber. The fuel activation effect of compressive heating is alternatively augmented by contact of the fuel with a catalytic material, to achieve hypergolic combustion by a combination of catalysis and heating.

Apparatus and method for compressive heating of fuel to achieve

A fast acting mechanical valve (2) affords macroeffects with high speed, low mass, micromovement. A first microporous planar sheet-like electrically conductive film (4) has an electrically insulative face surface (6), and an array of microapertures (7-11) through the film and face surface. A second microporous planar sheet-like electrically conductive film (12) abuts the insulative face surface and has an array of microapertures (13-16) therethrough nonaligned with the first array. An electric circuit (26, 28 and 30) supplies electric current flow through the parallel films to effect relative transverse movement therebetween due to interacting electromagnetic fields, for actuating the valve between closed and open positions.

Fast acting valve

An energy storage device (10) is disclosed consisting of a stretched elongated elastomeric member (16), disposed within a tubular housing (14), which elastomeric member (16) is adapted to be torsionally stressed to store energy. The elastomeric member (16) is configured in the relaxed state with a uniform diameter body section, transition end sections, and is attached to rigid end piece assemblies (22, 24) of a lesser diameter. The profile and deflection characteristic of the transition sections (76, 78) are such that upon stretching of the member, a substantially uniform diameter assembly results to minimize the required volume of the surrounding housing (14). During manufacture, woven wire mesh sleeves (26, 28) are forced against a forming surface and bonded to the associated transition section (76, 78) to provide the correct profile and helix angle. Each sleeve (26, 28) contracts with the contraction of the associated transition section to maintain the bond therebetween.

Elastomeric member for energy storage device

A drivetrain (48) for an electric passenger vehicle (10) includes a battery (40) for energizing a single-phase A.C. traction motor (18) which drives a ground engaging wheel (12) through a multi-speed transaxle (20). The motor is characterized by an external ferrite permanent magnet rotor (26) drivingly engaging an input shaft (32) of the transaxle. The motor is controlled by an inverter circuit (44) and a control circuit (46) which generates switch command signals to reciprocally actuate power transistors (56 and 62) within the inverter circuit as a function of operator demand, rotor position and rotor speed. The control circuit includes a motor positioning circuit (442) which toggles the motor current when the rotor speed falls below a predetermined level to dither the rotor about a park position for a predetermined period. A pre-start rotor positioner (224) is provided to mechanically lock the rotor in its park position to ensure the availability of a high electrical starting torque. Finally, a minimum starting speed circuit (599) provides for motor startup from other than the normal rotor park position.

Pre-start rotor positioner for an electric vehicle

Thermal barriers (10, 26) fixed to mushroomed heads (12, 28) of poppet valves intended for diesel engines are disclosed. Thermal barrier (10) includes an insulating material (18) bonded to a face portion (12a) of mushroom head (12), a sheet metal shield (20) covering the insulating material, and a flange (22) clamped over the outer periphery of the shield and welded to the valve head. Thermal barrier (26) includes an insulating material encapsulated in a sheet metal sheath defining an evacuated chamber (32) which covers a face portion (28a) of the mushroom head (28), a sheet metal shield (30), and a flange portion (28b) integrally formed with the mushroom head and spun over the shield during final assembly to clamp the shield over the encapsulated insulating material. The flanges in both embodiments make line contact with the shield to minimize heat flow from the shields to the flanges and hence to the valve head.

Thermal barrier for poppet valve

A liquid containing a solvent to be evaporated is fed to a concentration chamber which is fluidly connected to an evaporation chamber maintained at a reduced pressure. A vapor compression means withdraws solvent vapor from the evaporation chamber, compresses the vapor and forces the compressed vapor to a liquification chamber. Regulator means responsive to the density of the liquid remaining within the concentration chamber will regulate the rate of solvent evaporation to provide a concentrate suitable for recycling. A method of operating the still of this invention utilizes the technique of increasing the compressor capacity until the compressor begins to surge and then reducing the capacity a fixed amount to provide the desired efficiency.

Vapor compression liquid treating system

A small gas turbine engine having a small, high speed shaft assembly including a central shaft member, a radial outflow compressor rotor secured to one end of the central shaft member with its inlet end disposed outboard of the shaft assembly, and a radial inflow turbine rotor secured to the other end of the central shaft member with its discharge end disposed outboard of the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly is supported at its ends, outboard of the rotors, by a pair of bearings which are axially secured but allow limited radial movement of the shaft assembly. An annular combustor is disposed between the turbine and compressor rotors in encircling relation to the central shaft member. Fuel is supplied to the combustor chamber from the exhaust end of the turbine through an axial passage in the shaft assembly opening at one end outboard of the exhaust end bearing and communicating at its other end with radial ports in the central shaft member arranged to sling fuel into the combustor chamber. The shaft assembly housing comprises two cast sections which are coupled together to enclose the combustor with the end portion of each housing section shaped to define a shroud for the radial blades of the turbine and compressor rotors, respectively. A cast nozzle plate and a diffuser plate are secured to the respective housing sections. The nozzle and diffuser plates each include an annular outer portion defining the vanes for the turbine and compressor rotors, respectively, and a central hollow hub portion embracing the central shaft member of the shaft assembly; the inboard ends of the two hub portions are axially spaced to expose the radial ports in the central shaft member and allow slinging delivery of fuel into the combustor. An annular air inlet to the compressor rotor spaces the shaft assembly housing from a transmission housing, and the compressor end of the shaft assembly is coupled, outboard of the compressor end bearing, to speed reduction gearing journalled within the transmission housing.

Growing community of inventors

Birmingham, MI, United States of America

Richard Chute