US2012037758A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for treating fuel to temporarily reduce its combustibility

54
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Nov 21, 2001Filed: Oct 24, 2011Published: Feb 16, 2012
Est. expiryNov 21, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Jeffrey A. MatosKarl F. Milde, Jr.
A62C 3/06B64D 37/32
54
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating fuel to temporarily reduce its combustibility, and thereafter restore its combustibility. As used in an aircraft, the method comprises the following steps: (a) treating aircraft engine fuel to substantially reduce its combustibility in open air; (b) carrying the treated fuel in a fuel tank of an aircraft; (c) increasing the combustibility of a portion of the treated fuel, as needed by the aircraft engine; and (d) supplying the increased restored combustibility fuel to the aircraft engine. Using this method, the preponderance of the fuel on board the aircraft is maintained at low combustibility for safety.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of supplying fuel to an engine of an aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) freezing the fuel before loading the fuel on board the aircraft;   (b) loading the fuel on board the aircraft in the frozen state;   (c) heating a portion of the frozen fuel to form liquid fuel, as needed by the aircraft engine;   (d) supplying the liquid fuel to the aircraft engine;   whereby, for reasons of safety, the fuel on board the aircraft remains in the frozen state until needed by the aircraft engine.   
     
     
         23 . The method defined in  claim 22 , wherein the fuel on board the aircraft is maintained as a solid, below its freezing point, prior to heating. 
     
     
         24 . The method defined in  claim 22 , wherein the fuel on board the aircraft is maintained at approximately its freezing point, prior to heating. 
     
     
         25 . The method defined in  claim 22 , wherein some of the fuel on board the aircraft is maintained as a chilled liquid, above its freezing point, prior to heating. 
     
     
         26 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method of supplying fuel to an engine of an aircraft, said method comprising the steps of:
 (a) loading the fuel on board the aircraft in the liquid state at or about ambient temperature;   (b) cooling the fuel on board the aircraft to a temperature between its freezing temperature and a temperature about 40 degrees C. above its freezing temperature to reduce its combustibility, wherein the fuel remains a liquid;   (c) heating a portion of the cooled fuel, as needed by the aircraft engine;   (d) supplying the heated fuel to the aircraft engine;   whereby, for reasons of safety, the preponderance of the fuel on board the aircraft remains in the cooled state until needed by the aircraft engine.   
     
     
         29 .- 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method defined in  claim 28 , wherein the step of cooling the fuel on board the aircraft includes cooling the fuel to a temperature between its freezing temperature and a temperature about 25 degrees C. above its freezing temperature to reduce its combustibility wherein the fuel remains a liquid. 
     
     
         33 . The method defined in  claim 28 , wherein the step of cooling the fuel on board the aircraft includes cooling the fuel to a temperature between its freezing temperature and a temperature about 10 degrees C. above its freezing temperature to reduce its combustibility wherein the fuel remains a liquid. 
     
     
         34 . The method defined in  claim 28 , wherein the step of cooling the fuel on board the aircraft includes cooling the fuel to about its freezing temperature to reduce its combustibility wherein the fuel remains a liquid. 
     
     
         35 . The method defined in  claim 22 , wherein said fuel is frozen by conducting heat away using a material selected from the group consisting of liquid nitrogen, liquid carbon dioxide, solid carbon dioxide and a liquid noble element from Group VIII of the Periodic Table. 
     
     
         36 .- 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The method defined in  claim 28 , wherein said fuel is cooled by conducting heat away using a material selected from the group consisting of liquid nitrogen, liquid carbon dioxide, solid carbon dioxide and a liquid noble element from Group VIII of the Periodic Table. 
     
     
         39 . The method defined in  claim 22 , wherein said portion of the fuel is heated by means selected from the group consisting of electrical heating elements, electromagnetic energy, heat exchange with engine oil, heat exchange with engine exhaust and heat exchange with ambient air. 
     
     
         40 .- 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . The method defined in  claim 28 , wherein said portion of the fuel is heated by means selected from the group consisting of electrical heating elements, electromagnetic energy, heat exchange with engine oil, heat exchange with engine exhaust and heat exchange with ambient air. 
     
     
         43 . The method defined in  claim 22 , further comprising a step of shaving off a portion of said frozen fuel prior to heating said portion, and wherein said step (c) comprises heating the shaved off portion. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The method defined in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of rapidly cooling said portion of the liquid fuel in case of an aircraft emergency. 
     
     
         46 .- 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . The method defined in  claim 28 , further comprising the step of rapidly cooling said portion of the liquid fuel in case of an aircraft emergency. 
     
     
         49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . The method defined in  claim 45 , wherein said step of rapidly cooling includes injecting a cooling liquid into said portion of fuel. 
     
     
         51 .- 53 . (canceled) 
     
     
         54 . The method defined in  claim 48 , wherein said step of rapidly cooling includes injecting a cooling liquid into said portion of fuel. 
     
     
         55 . The method defined in  claim 22 , further comprising the step of filtering the liquid fuel on board the aircraft after it has been heated to eliminate frozen particles. 
     
     
         56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . The method defined in  claim 55 , wherein the filtering step includes the step passing the fuel through a first filter element, then replacing the first filter element with a second filter element, then heating the first filter element and then replacing the second filter element with the first filter element. 
     
     
         58 .- 147 . (canceled)

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