Patents by Inventor Gerald J. Herman

Gerald J. Herman has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20170016411
    Abstract: The Thermal Compression Engine is an external combustion engine using a regenerator to achieve cycle efficiency. The Thermal Compression Engine uses thermal compression (heat addition resulting in pressure rise) rather than mechanical. By alternating flow into a constant volume, of hot and then cold fluid creates pressure rise and fall in the working fluid. This fluctuating pressure generates a reservoir of high, and a reservoir of low pressure fluid. The TCE cycle uses the high and low pressure storage to generate a fluid flow, with expansion through a turbine or other expansion device, to generate power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 19, 2017
    Inventor: Gerald J. HERMAN
  • Patent number: 5154065
    Abstract: A subatmospheric pressure swing filter is integrated with a vapor cycle refrigeration system so as to provide both air filtration and air conditioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Williams International Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald J. Herman
  • Patent number: 4858429
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a cable drum drivably connected to the compressor and turbine of the engine. A cable is wound about said drum and is tensioned by relative movement between the engine and a support vehicle to effect rotation of the engine compressor and turbine independently of air flow through said engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Williams International Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald J. Herman
  • Patent number: 4110974
    Abstract: An engine speed governor which utilizes the fuel mass itself as a control element, combined with fuel pressure regulation and orifice pressure drop. The fuel is fed through an orifice and then inwardly through radial slots in a shaft rotating at a speed proportional to engine speed, the rotating columns of fuel in these slots being subjected to centrifugal force and opposing external supply pressure. Equilibrium is achieved when the inlet pressure equals the sum of orifice and slot pressure drops. In the illustrated embodiment, fuel pressure is supplied by pressurizing a fuel tank with compressor discharge air, and thus pressurizing fuel in a manner compensating for slightly lower governed speed when fuel demands are higher. The illustrated embodiment also includes multiple speed selection achieved by selectively opening a plurality of bleed orifices leading from the compressor line to the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: Williams Research Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald J. Herman