Method and apparatus for treating fuel to temporarily reduce its combustibility
AssigneeKarl F. Milde, Jr.
InventorsJeffrey A. Matos, Karl F. Milde, JR.
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims40
-21. (canceled)
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 the fuel on board the aircraft remains in the frozen state until needed by the aircraft engine.
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;
- (b) freezing the fuel on board the aircraft;
- (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 the fuel on board the aircraft remains in the frozen state until needed by the aircraft engine.
(canceled)
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 the preponderance of the fuel on board the aircraft remains in the cooled state until needed by the aircraft engine.
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-147. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.