Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Sharpe

Thomas H. Sharpe 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: 9021784
    Abstract: The thermodynamic louvered jet engine is a jet engine having a central air inlet surrounded by an annular air inlet. Both inlets are adapted to receive relatively cool, low-pressure air and to convey the air to a combustion chamber to mix and combust with injected jet fuel. The annular inlet is provided with a louvered outlet for directing the air to the combustion chamber. A portion of the hot combustion gases produced in the combustion chamber is circulated from the combustion chamber to mix with the inlet air supplied via the annular air inlet. Also, the central air inlet is provided with structure that directs a portion of the air from the central air inlet to mix with the circulated combusted gases. This arrangement permits the engine to develop a high-pressure build-up of exhaust gases, producing superior thrust while the aircraft is setting and while the aircraft is in flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 8272221
    Abstract: The hydrogen gas generator for jet engines includes a device that utilizes photons and a catalyst to disassociate hydrogen gas from water. The generated hydrogen gas is directed to the combustion chamber of a jet engine and combined with air therein for burning and powering the jet engine. The device is connected to a source of electric energy and pressurized water. The electric energy is supplied to an anode and a surrounding cathode. The cathode is designed to glow white-hot and emit photons and heat when an electric current is supplied thereto. The anode is fabricated from a catalytic material and is designed to become red-hot when supplied with electric energy. Water is supplied through a conduit and is converted to superheated steam, which is thermolytically decomposed to form hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 8250854
    Abstract: The self-starting turbineless jet engine has fuel delivery, fuel combustion and airflow components, but it does not contain and therefore avoids the limitations associated with turbines or other moving parts other than those associated with the fuel delivery. The jet engine provides inlet louvers or vanes which direct air through an internal restriction to before mixing it with a fuel for combustion in a combustion chamber. While most of the combustion gases are exhausted through an outlet portion of the turbineless jet engine, a portion of the combustion gases are mixed with air received from an aft inlet duct in sixteen thermodynamic air compressors and back through a centrally located hot gas and fire pressure conduit where the gases are further redirected by a high temperature insulated nose cone back into the air flow received by the inlet louvers, thereby providing heat and air compression, even at zero airspeed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Publication number: 20120047872
    Abstract: The hydrogen gas generator for jet engines includes a device that utilizes photons and a catalyst to disassociate hydrogen gas from water. The generated hydrogen gas is directed to the combustion chamber of a jet engine and combined with air therein for burning and powering the jet engine. The device is connected to a source of electric energy and pressurized water. The electric energy is supplied to an anode and a surrounding cathode. The cathode is designed to glow white-hot and emit photons and heat when an electric current is supplied thereto. The anode is fabricated from a catalytic material and is designed to become red-hot when supplied with electric energy. Water is supplied through a conduit and to is converted to superheated steam, which is thermolytically decomposed to form hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: THOMAS H. SHARPE
  • Publication number: 20110146286
    Abstract: The self-starting turbineless jet engine has fuel delivery, fuel combustion and airflow components, but it does not contain and therefore avoids the limitations associated with turbines or other moving parts other than those associated with the fuel delivery. The jet engine provides inlet louvers or vanes which direct air through an internal restriction to before mixing it with a fuel for combustion in a combustion chamber. While most of the combustion gases are exhausted through an outlet portion of the turbineless jet engine, a portion of the combustion gases are mixed with air received from an aft inlet duct in sixteen thermodynamic air compressors and back through a centrally located hot gas and fire pressure conduit where the gases are further redirected by a high temperature insulated nose cone back into the air flow received by the inlet louvers, thereby providing heat and air compression, even at zero airspeed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS H. SHARPE
  • Publication number: 20090320494
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas generator for jet engines includes a device that utilizes photons and a catalyst to disassociate hydrogen gas from water. The generated hydrogen gas is directed to the combustion chamber of a jet engine and combined with air therein for burning and powering the jet engine. The device is connected to a source of electric energy and pressurized water. The electric energy is supplied to an anode and a surrounding cathode. The cathode is designed to glow white-hot and emit photons and heat when an electric current is supplied thereto. The anode is fabricated from a catalytic material and is designed to become red-hot when supplied with electric energy. Water is supplied through a conduit and is converted to superheated steam, which is thermolytically decomposed to form hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 7614376
    Abstract: The photon-ion-electron hydrogen generator plug is a plug for generating hydrogen gas from ambient air drawn into the piston chamber of an engine. The plug includes a cathode filament that glows “white hot” when an electric current is supplied thereto. A positively charged anode is disposed adjacent the filament. The plug has an end that opens into the cylinder chamber of the engine. A battery, a rotary switch and a step-up transformer form an electric circuit for supplying electric current to the cathode filament and anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 7587997
    Abstract: The hydrogen gas injector plug for diesel engines employs an injector plug for generating hydrogen gas from water. Pressurized hot water is pulsed into contact with a heated metallic catalyst. The pressurized hot water turns to steam and disassociates into a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gases. The catalyst removes the oxygen gases from the gaseous mixture. The hydrogen gas expands into a combustion chamber and is burned therein, creating a pressure to drive an engine piston disposed in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 7563418
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas generator for jet engines includes a device that utilizes photons and a catalyst to disassociate hydrogen gas from water. The generated hydrogen gas is directed to the combustion chamber of a jet engine and combined with air therein for burning and powering the jet engine. The device is connected to a source of electric energy and pressurized water. The electric energy is supplied to an anode and a surrounding cathode. The cathode is designed to glow white-hot and emit photons and heat when an electric current is supplied thereto. The anode is fabricated from a catalytic material and is designed to become red-hot when supplied with electric energy. Water is supplied through a conduit and is converted to superheated steam, which is thermolytically decomposed to form hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Publication number: 20090145763
    Abstract: A hydrogen gas generator for jet engines includes a device that utilizes photons and a catalyst to disassociate hydrogen gas from water. The generated hydrogen gas is directed to the combustion chamber of a jet engine and combined with air therein for burning and powering the jet engine. The device is connected to a source of electric energy and pressurized water. The electric energy is supplied to an anode and a surrounding cathode. The cathode is designed to glow white-hot and emit photons and heat when an electric current is supplied thereto. The anode is fabricated from a catalytic material and is designed to become red-hot when supplied with electric energy. Water is supplied through a conduit and is converted to superheated steam, which is thermolytically decomposed to form hydrogen and oxygen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Publication number: 20090095237
    Abstract: The photon-ion-electron hydrogen generator plug is a plug for generating hydrogen gas from ambient air drawn into the piston chamber of an engine. The plug includes a cathode filament that glows “white hot” when an electric current is supplied thereto. A positively charged anode is disposed adjacent the filament. The plug has an end that opens into the cylinder chamber of the engine. A battery, a rotary switch and a step-up transformer form an electric circuit for supplying electric current to the cathode filament and anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Publication number: 20080271706
    Abstract: The hydrogen gas injector plug for diesel engines employs an injector plug for generating hydrogen gas from water. Pressurized hot water is pulsed into contact with a heated metallic catalyst. The pressurized hot water turns to steam and disassociates into a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen gases. The catalyst removes the oxygen gases from the gaseous mixture. The hydrogen gas expands into a combustion chamber and is burned therein, creating a pressure to drive an engine piston disposed in the combustion chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Publication number: 20080156297
    Abstract: The hydrogen gas injector plug for generating hydrogen gas from ambient air drawn into the piston chamber of an engine includes an array of nozzles fabricated from a metal or a mixture of metals. When heated to a pre-determined temperature, the metallic nozzles react with atmospheric water to disassociate hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is injected from the nozzles into the piston chamber and mixed with air. An ignition device ignites the mixture of hydrogen and air so that it burns to power the piston in a conventional manner. The metallic nozzle is heated via a copper conductor connected to a source of electric current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 7383792
    Abstract: The hydrogen gas injector plug for generating hydrogen gas from ambient air drawn into the piston chamber of an engine includes an array of nozzles fabricated from a metal or a mixture of metals. When heated to a pre-determined temperature, the metallic nozzles react with atmospheric water to disassociate hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is injected from the nozzles into the piston chamber and mixed with air. An ignition device ignites the mixture of hydrogen and air so that it burns to power the piston in a conventional manner. The metallic nozzle is heated via a copper conductor connected to a source of electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 6981366
    Abstract: A turbineless jet engine includes no internal moving components, yet operates using a continuous combustion principle. The present engine is self-starting, i.e., no auxiliary source of pressurized airflow or unconventional fuels is required for its starting and operation. The present engine also requires no electrical energy after the combustion process has been initiated, with its fuel pump being operated by exhaust air from the engine. Starting injectors entrain airflow through the engine, with a portion of the inlet air being drawn through radially disposed, hollow pressure generators to the combustion section of the engine. Exhaust gas is recirculated to the front of the engine and passed through the pressure generators to entrain fresh air, to continue the cycle of operation. The present engine may be constructed in a variety of non-circular cross-sectional shapes, with or without inlet vane sweep, as desired, due to its lack of internal rotating components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Publication number: 20040216447
    Abstract: A turbineless jet engine includes no internal moving components, yet operates using a continuous combustion principle. The present engine is self-starting, i.e., no auxiliary source of pressurized airflow or unconventional fuels is required for its starting and operation. The present engine also requires no electrical energy after the combustion process has been initiated, with its fuel pump being operated by exhaust air from the engine. Starting injectors entrain airflow through the engine, with a portion of the inlet air being drawn through radially disposed, hollow pressure generators to the combustion section of the engine. Exhaust gas is recirculated to the front of the engine and passed through the pressure generators to entrain fresh air, to continue the cycle of operation. The present engine may be constructed in a variety of non-circular cross-sectional shapes, with or without inlet vane sweep, as desired, due to its lack of internal rotating components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 4267694
    Abstract: A staged induction engine with an air duct therethrough open at both ends, and defining a plurality of venturis therein axially spaced from each other where each of the venturis has a throat of a diameter smaller than the throat of the next upstream of venturis, a burner unit defining combustion chamber therein, exhaust jet pumping means operatively associated with the exhaust gases from the burner unit and including a plurality of venturi jet pumping tubes corresponding in number to the venturis with each of said venturi jet pumping tubes defining an exhaust passage therethrough in communication with the exhaust gases from the combustion chamber with a downstream exhaust outlet from which the exhaust gases are discharged where one of the exhaust outlets is positioned upstream of the throat of each of the venturis so that the exhaust gases will be discharged through the throat of the venturi associated therewith to force in the air passage through the air duct upstream of the venturi through the venturi under
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1981
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 4194707
    Abstract: A lift augmenting device to provide a vertical take-off capability in aircraft which includes a pair of rotor assemblies with independently individually pivoted rotor vanes so that the attitude of the vanes can be changed at different positions along the circumferential rotational path of the vanes as they rotate with the rotor assemblies to pump air therethrough and selectively generate lift on the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 4118929
    Abstract: An impaction augmented jet engine with a primary burner unit and a primary impaction/induction unit which separates a portion of the exhaust gases from the burner unit for recirculation thereto and also separates fresh air by impaction and induction for mixing with the separated exhaust gases to supply the burner unit. The engine also includes an induction ram burner unit downstream of the primary burner unit so that the exhaust gases from the primary burner unit augment the fresh air passing into the induction ram burner unit for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 4085585
    Abstract: An impaction/induction jet engine including generally a burner unit which discharges the exhaust gases therefrom through an air induction unit which causes fresh air to be induced into the exhaust gases. The induced fresh air is first drawn through a compressor section to cause a portion of the fresh air to be removed by impaction into the burner unit for combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1978
    Inventor: Thomas H. Sharpe