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:
May. 05, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 26, 2003
Mihai Ursan, Burnaby, CA;
Anker Gram, Vancouver, CA;
Gabriel Gavril, Coquiram, CA;
Shahin Hessami, North Vancouver, CA;
Ian Lockley, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Mihai Ursan, Burnaby, CA;
Anker Gram, Vancouver, CA;
Gabriel Gavril, Coquiram, CA;
Shahin Hessami, North Vancouver, CA;
Ian Lockley, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Westport Power Inc., Vancouver, BC, CA;
Abstract
A method is provided for compressing a gas in a single cycle and in a single cylinder to a pressure of at least 17.2 Mpa with a compression ratio of at least about five to one. The method further comprises dissipating heat from the cylinder during the compression stroke whereby the gas is discharged with a temperature significantly less than isentropic. The apparatus comprises a hollow cylinder and a reciprocable free-floating piston disposed therein. The piston divides the cylinder into: (a) a compression chamber within which a gas can be introduced, compressed, and discharged; and, (b) a drive chamber, into which a hydraulic fluid can be introduced and removed for actuating the piston. The apparatus further comprises a piston stroke length to piston diameter ratio of at least seven to one. For operating the apparatus with a compression ratio of at least five to one, an outlet pressure of at least 17.2 Mpa, and a gas discharge temperature significantly less than isentropic, the apparatus can further comprise a variable displacement hydraulic pump for controlling piston velocity, an electronic controller for maintaining an average piston velocity that is less than 0.5 feet per second, and a heat dissipator for dissipating heat from the cylinder.