Patents by Inventor Gerald D. Rutledge

Gerald D. Rutledge 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).

  • Patent number: 4649034
    Abstract: Flue gas resulting from combustion of sulfur-containing fuel is treated for reduction of its sulfur dioxide content by creating in it a suspension of finely divided sorbent such as lime, and then contacting it at elevated temperature in a vertical contacting zone with a descending shower of sulfur dioxide oxidation catalyst. The resulting sulfur trioxide is captured as a powdered sulfate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald D. Rutledge
  • Patent number: 4441461
    Abstract: A method of fuel treatment and distribution for an automobile internal combustion engine comprising the steps as follows:(a) vaporizing liquid alcohol to form alcohol vapor;(b) providing a substantial amount of engine exhaust heat to an endothermic reactor having an endothermic dissociation catalyst therein,(c) contacting said vapor and said endothermic dissociation catalyst for form a hydrogen-rich gaseous-vapor mixture,(d) mixing said hydrogen-rich gaseous-vapor mixture with air to form a partial combustion mixture,(e) operating an adiabatic reactor without a substantial amount of exhaust heat within an operational temperature range, said adiabatic reactor having a catalyst bed comprising a partial combustion catalyst and a dissociation catalyst,(f) contacting said partial combustion mixture and said partial combustion catalyst and said dissociation catalyst whereby a fuel mixture is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Heeyoung Yoon, Gerald D. Rutledge
  • Patent number: 4425876
    Abstract: A method of fuel treatment and distribution for an internal combustion engine including the steps as follows:(a) operating an adiabatic reactor without a substantial amount of exhaust heat within an operational temperature range, the catalyst bed reactor including a partial combustion catalyst and a dissociation catalyst;(b) providing a substantial amount of engine exhaust heat to an endothermic reactor having an endothermic dissociation catalyst therein,(c) vaporizing liquid alcohol to form alcohol vapor;(d) mixing the alcohol vapor with air to form a partial combustion mixture;(e) contacting the partial combustion mixture and the partial combustion catalyst whereby a dissociation mixture is formed and heat is evolved;(f) contacting the dissociation mixture and the dissociation catalyst to form a hydrogen rich fuel;(g) contacting the hydrogen-rich fuel and the endothermic dissociation catalyst to form a fuel product whereby at least a portion of any residual undissociated alcohol in the hydrogen-rich fuel is
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1984
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald D. Rutledge, Heeyoung Yoon