The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 04, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 02, 1999
Applicant:
Inventor:
David C. Smith, Glastonbury, CT (US);
Assignee:
Other;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
F01K 3/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F01K 3/00 ;
Abstract
A confined gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen is irradiated with a carbon dioxide laser which excites a significant portion of the gas to vibrational energy levels, thereby reducing the translational energy and therefore the temperature of the gas. The gas is adiabatically compressed, and then allowed to relax so that the temperature of the compressed gas increases. The high temperature, compressed gas is then expanded through a turbine or in a cylinder which drives an external device, such as vehicle propulsion apparatus or an electric generator, thereby to perform work. The process may occur in engines having one or more closed cylinders, or in turbocompressors.