Patents Assigned to Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5222696
    Abstract: A single nonfired heat source, such as a diesel engine, drives a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump in turn is coupled in a hydraulic circuit with a back-pressure valve which loads the hydraulic pump and hence the diesel engine. The engine also circulates a heat exchanging fluid, such as engine coolant through a second circuit. Water or engine coolant is circulated through the second circuit by means of a pump driven by the diesel engine. An exhaust gas heat exchanger coupled to the exhaust gases from the engine may also be included within the water coolant, the exhaust gases or both, and is then transferred to noncirculating deicing fluid in a storage tank. Heat developed within the hydraulic circuit which loads the engine is also transferred to the noncirculating fluid in the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Brigham, Dinh D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 5215454
    Abstract: In direct fired fluid burner heater of the type where fuel is continuously injected and burned at one end of a cylindrical combustion chamber and combustion gases discharged at an opposite open end pass through a heat exchanger for heating a circulating medium, and where high heat capacity is achieved for a given chamber size by swirling the flame in the combustion chamber, acoustical low frequency buzzing is controlled by restricting the discharge area through which exhaust gases flow downstream of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel D. Ferramola, Eugene B. Zwick, Joseph M. Prawdzik, William D. Brigham
  • Patent number: 5190249
    Abstract: The invention is a system for heating aircraft deicing fluid. The system is an aircraft deicer such as shown in FIG. 2 which includes an engine 210. The deicer systems comprises a tank 270 for holding deicing fluid. First pump means 250,252 and 254 are driven by engine 210 and pump deicing fluid from tank 270 through piping or conduit 266,264,230. Backpressure valve means 251,253,255 is positioned the outlet of the first pump means 250,252,254 respectively, to continuously, substantially and directly heat deicing fluid to a temperature sufficient to deice the aircraft.The system further comprises second pump means 212, 232 for directing deicing fluid through engine 210 to pick up heat rejected by engine 210. Once the deicing fluid has been pumped through engine 210, piping or a conduit means 216,222,228,230,266,264 connects the output of the second pump means 212,232 to the inlet of the first pump means 250,252 and 254.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Whitmire, Edwin C. Hightower
  • Patent number: 5098036
    Abstract: A single nonfired heat source, such as a diesel engine, drives a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump in turn is coupled in a hydraulic circuit with a back-pressure valve which loads the hydraulic pump and hence the diesel engine. The engine also circulates a heat exchanging fluid, such as engine coolant through a second circuit. Water or engine coolant is circulated through the second circuit by means of a pump driven by the diesel engine. An exhaust gas heat exchanger coupled to the exhaust gases from the engine may also be included within the water coolant, the exhaust gases or both, and is then transferred to noncirculating deicing fluid in a storage tank. Heat developed within the hydraulic circuit which loads the engine is also transferred to the noncirculating fluid in the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Brigham, Nguyen D. Dinh
  • Patent number: 4924679
    Abstract: A flexible cryogenic hose is comprised of an inner cryogenic tube surrounded by a concentric heat shield, a closed concentric chamber and an outer protective jacket. At normal ambient temperatures the chamber is completely filled with carbon dioxide gas. As cryogenic liquid is pumped through the inner cryogenic tube, heat is transferred from all structures within the hose, including in particular the carbon dioxide gas in the closed chamber, which runs the length of the cryogenic tube. As the carbon dioxide gas is cooled, it liquefies, thereby substantially evacuating the chamber. The chamber has sufficient structural rigidity to avoid collapse at normal atmospheric pressures. After the cryogenic hose is used, cryogenic flow ceases and the hose warms. In warming, carbon dioxide gas in the chamber gassifies and again refills the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Brigham, Eugene B. Zwick
  • Patent number: 4860545
    Abstract: A removable pump assembly for use in a cryogenic storage tank pumps liquid cryogen directly from the primary storage container with low boiloff loss. The cryogenic storage tank has an outer vessel, an inner vessel, an evacuated insulation space therebetween and a access port connecting the inner and outer vessels and providing an open cylindrical access to the interior of the cryogenic tank. A pump mounting tube assembly is disposed into the interior of the inner vessel of the cryogenic tank through the access port and includes an inner pump mounting tube and an outer pump mounting tube which are joined at their upper and lower rims to define an insulating jacket between the two tubes. The inner and outer pump mounting tubes are affixed at their upper ends to a top and bottom plate. The top and bottom plate in turn is affixed to an insulating block. Only the insulating block, which is disposed in the access port of the cryogenic tube, is in contact with any portion of the cryogenic tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene B. Zwick, William D. Brigham
  • Patent number: 4819454
    Abstract: A liquid cryogen vaporizer is devised in which the cryogenic liquid is first partially vaporized in a cryogenic heat exchanger which is provided with heat from nonfired sources. The partially vaporized liquid cryogen is then completely vaporized in a second downstream cryogenic heat exchanger also provided with heat from the nonfired sources. The nonfired sources comprise an internal combustion engine and an ambient air heat exchanger. The internal combustion engine drives a hydraulic circuit which provides a constant load on the engine. A cryogenic pump used to flow the cryogenic liquid through the cryogenic heat exchanger is in turn hydraulically driven from this circuit. Heat is also transferred from the hydraulic circuit into a heat exchanging circuit. The heat exchanging fluid is driven around the heat exchanging circuit by means of a pump driven by the engine through the ambient air heat exchanger, a hydraulic heat exchanger and the first cryogenic heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Brigham, Dinh Nguyen D.
  • Patent number: 4685292
    Abstract: A cooling system for engine exhaust gases includes a engine block mounted exhaust manifold connected to a heat exchanger by a conduit and gas distribution header, the exhaust manifold, conduit and distribution header being continuously water jacketed to shield all hot exhaust system surfaces for engine operation in flammable or explosive environments. The exhaust gas flows through parallel gas tubes in the heat exchanger having thin, corrugated walls which aid heat transfer to the surrounding water and are axially expandable to relief thermal stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Brigham, Dinh Nguyen
  • Patent number: 4609003
    Abstract: An entirely pneumatic feedback signal can be generated within a gas delivery system by diverting the portion of the gas from the main supply line to a cryostat. The gas is cooled in the cryostat and flows within a restricted passageway defined by the cryostat itself. The output of the cryostat is then coupled to the control port of a actuatable pneumatic valve. The actuatable pneumatic valve is coupled in series in the supply line and is normally biased closed. However, upon application of a predetermined magnitude of pressure to the control port of the actuatable valve, the valve is maintained in a open configuration. The output of the cryostat is provided to the control port of the valve. A fixed orifice is pneumatically communicated to the output of the cryostat and vents the cryostat's output into the environment. As long as the gas continues to flow freely through the cryostat the valve remains open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1986
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: Dink Neugen, Stephen M. Bull, Gabriel D. Ferramola
  • Patent number: 4519213
    Abstract: A high volume cryogen vaporizer includes a radiator where a working fluid draws heat from ambient air for vaporizing a cryogen in a heat exchanger. An electrical heater is provided for periodically heating the working fluid to defrost the radiator, thereby allowing sustained operation of the vaporizer. When not required for defrosting the radiator, the heater may be operated to heat a working fluid in a circuit separate from that of the radiator, and in which the heated working fluid is used for further elevating the temperature of the vaporized cryogen in a second heat exchanger, thereby making possible a gas output temperature higher than ambient air temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1985
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Brigham, Nguyen D. Dung
  • Patent number: 4374637
    Abstract: A burner having a burner body in which combustion air is injected in an air flow pattern which establishes a relatively stagnant air region positioned within the flow of combustion air. A pilot flame injector is positioned to generate a pilot flame extending into the stagnant air region. The pilot flame can, thus, be maintained during the operation of the burner because the stable air conditions within the stagnant air region minimize disruption of the pilot flame by the flow of combustion air.A method for maintaining a uniform pilot flame within a burner operating over a range of combustion air flow rates by introducing combustion air into the burner and providing the combustion air with a flow configuration that establishes a stagnant air zone within the burner that is relatively independent of the flow rate of the combustion air. The pilot flame is then positioned within the stagnant air zone.An injector for feeding finely divided fuel to a burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1983
    Assignee: Zwick Energy Research Organization, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene B. Zwick, Dung D. Nguyen, William D. Brigham, Kenneth Hoffman