Abstract: Apparatus and a process are described, wherein furnace flue gas, containing moisture, is expanded through a pressure drop sufficient to cause saturation of the gas. The resulting condensation of water increases the mass of particles, making them easier to separate from the gas. Acid components of the flue gas may be similarly rendered more easily separable. These wetted particles are then separated and removed from the flue gas. The cleaned flue gas is then compressed backup to chimney pressure for discharge. A flue gas cleaner of this invention thus renders particle forming fuels, such as low cost coal, more readily useable, while meeting appropriate particle emissions requirements.

Abstract: Apparatus and a process are described, wherein furnace flue gas, containing moisture, is expanded through a pressure drop sufficient to cause saturation of the gas. The resulting condensation of water increases the mass of particles, making them easier to separate from the gas. Acid components of the flue gas may be similarly rendered more easily separable. These wetted particles are then separated and removed from the flue gas. The cleaned flue gas is then compressed back up to chimney pressure for discharge.

Abstract: A multifuel internal combustion Stirling engine is described, wherein a compressor piston and a displacer piston reciprocate, within a common cylinder, to enclose a variable air volume, and a variable burned gas volume. Motion of these two pistons, creates a power producing cycle, of compression, combustion, expansion, and scavenge, wherein the burned gases do not contact those cylinder portions over which the compressor piston moves. In this way low engine wear can be obtained when using fuels such as coal, which produces abrasive particulates in the burned gases. A multifuel internal combustion engine of this invention can be readily adapted to operate on a wide variety of fuels, such as, natural gas, diesel fuel, residual petroleum fuel, and coal. Widespread use of these engines would introduce economic competition between these now separately competing fuels. This is a clear route to national energy independence, since coal reserves greatly exceed petroleum reserves, nationally and internationally.

Abstract: A steam fuel slurrifier is described wherein a jet of liquid fuel is intersected by a jet of wet steam to atomize the liquid fuel into many small droplets, each coated with a film of liquid water. Water is then added to this mixture to create a slurry of liquid fuel droplets suspended in a continuous liquid water phase. By thusly preatomizing the liquid fuel, high viscosity and residual type fuels can be efficiently burned in medium and small bore diesel engines.

Abstract: An igniter for internal combustion engines is described, wherein a fluid composition of liquid igniter fuel containing several air bubbles enrichened with fuel vapor, is created. This fluid composition is injected into the engine combustion chamber where the several bubbles are ignited. The consequent burning and expansion of the bubbles scatters burning fuel throughout the combustion chamber, thus creating many separate and distributed ignition points. Otherwise slow burning engine fuel air mixture can, in this way, be burned rapidly, completely, and efficiently.

Abstract: Within a displaceable enclosed volume, appreciably smaller than the engine displacement volume, a fuel-rich air fuel mixture is prepared. Following the next engine intake process, this displacer mixture is pulsed into the engine cylinder to create a stratified air fuel mixture therein. Subsequent combustion of this stratified engine air fuel mixture can be knock free, thus permitting the use of very high intake supercharge for small displacement, low speed, and thus high mechanical efficiency engines. By placement of insulating, air only portions, of the stratified engine air fuel mixture, against the engine cylinder head and piston crown, cooling jacket heat loss can be reduced, and fuel efficiency increased. In these ways, large improvements in vehicle miles per gallon can be achieved.

Abstract: Within a displaceable enclosed volume, appreciably smaller than the engine displacement volume, a fuel-rich air fuel mixture is prepared. During the next engine intake process, this displacer mixture is pulsed into the engine intake air mass, to create a stratified air fuel mixture inside the engine cylinder. Subsequent combustion of this stratified engine air fuel mixture can be knock free, thus permitting the use of very high intake supercharge for small displacement, low speed, and thus high mechanical efficiency engines. By placement of insulating, air only portions, of the stratified engine air fuel mixture, against the engine cylinder head and piston crown, cooling jacket heat loss can be reduced, and fuel efficiency increased. In these ways, large improvements in vehicle miles per gallon can be achieved.

Abstract: Improved combination apparatus is described for creating a fuel rich mixture in a displacer volume, separate from the combustion chamber of a piston internal combustion engine. This mixture is subsequently delivered into the engine combustion chamber, to create a stratified mixture, which is then ignited and burned only in the engine combustion chamber. By use of such stratified mixtures, several benefits over the prior art can be achieved, including: reduced engine friction losses, and consequently improved efficiency; reduced soot formation and engine exhaust emissions; more complete utilization of available air and increased engine power per unit of displacement.

Abstract: A jet igniter, for piston internal combustion engines, is described wherein the fuel and air for the igniter jet are forced into the engine combustion chamber, past an electric spark, by displacer pistons, driven in turn by pressure in the engine combustion chamber. The jet duration can be readily matched to the duration of the burning time interval for the principal gaseous engine fuel.

Abstract: This invention provides means for stopping the flow of gasoline through a gasoline engine during the initiation of starting. In this way the engine contribution of smog forming materials is reduced and the engine is more easily started. This improved starting of the engine is achieved by increasing the portion of the work of compression available to usefully evaporate gasoline. To accomplish these results a stop valve is interposed between the fuel metering system and the fuel delivery jet of the engine carburetor, the valve being so automatically actuated so as to open only after a delay time interval of engine cranking during cold starting. The valve may also be closed automatically whenever the engine ignition is turned off thus assuring a prompt stopping of the engine.

Abstract: The gasoline engine torque regulator described herein provides means of reducing the quantities of harmful oxides of nitrogen emitted via the exhaust of a four stroke cycle gasoline engine and also of increasing the efficiency of the engine at part load, with an engine torque characteristic either approximately constant with engine speed or alternatively controllably decreasing with increasing engine speed. These beneficial objects are achieved by adjustably delaying the closing of the engine intake valve as a means of controlling the engine torque, the opening of the intake valve remaining fixed. This manner of intake valve opening and closing can be achieved by adding to the conventional intake valve operating mechanism a dashpot device with a check valve and a positive displacement flow regulator.

Abstract: The gasoline engine torque regulator described herein provides means of reducing the quantities of harmful oxides of nitrogen emitted via the exhaust of a four stroke cycle gasoline engine and also of increasing the efficiency of the engine at part load, with an engine torque characteristic either approximately constant with engine speed or alternatively controllably decreasing with increasing engine speed. These beneficial objects are achieved by adjustably delaying the closing of the engine intake valve as a means of controlling the engine torque, the opening of the intake valve remaining fixed. This manner of intake valve opening and closing can be achieved by adding to the conventional intake valve operating mechanism a dashpot device with a check valve and a positive displacement flow regulator.

Abstract: This invention provides a valve drive mechanism which positively opens and closes the valves of a gasoline engine at all speeds and provides a flow of cooling oil to the valves. Additionally this mechanism permits control of engine torque by delay of the closing of the engine intake valve and thus reduces the emmissions of oxides of nitrogen. This valve drive mechanism consists of oil pumps driving the valve open and closed via selector valves connecting to a hydraulic valve actuator.

Abstract: The gasoline engine torque regulator described herein provides means of reducing the quantities of harmful oxides of nitrogen emitted via the exhaust of a four stroke cycle gasoline engine and also of increasing the efficiency of the engine at part load. These beneficial objects are achieved by adjustably delaying the closing of the engine intake valve as a means of controlling the engine torque, the opening of the intake valve remaining fixed. This manner of intake valve opening and closing can be achieved by adding to the conventional intake valve operating mechanism a dashpot device with a restricted flow passage and a check valve which allows free opening of the valve by the cam mechanism but retards closing of the valve by the valve return spring. With intake valve closing delayed, a portion of the air-fuel mixture, drawn into the engine cylinder during the intake stroke, is pushed back into the intake manifold during the compression stroke.