Sam L Leach DeceasedSan Rafael, CA

4772775, Sep 20, 1988

Mar 23, 1987

7/029277

Sam L. Leach - Pebble Beach CA

B23K 900

21912136

An electric arc plasma steam generator includes a pair of electrodes for generating the arc plasma, and a housing for enclosing the arc plasma. Jets of water are directed into the arc plasma to convert the water into steam and to ionize the hydrogen and oxygen components of the steam. Arrangements including coils and water jackets are provided for circulating water in proximity to the arc plasma and for super-heating the water contained in the water jacket and/or the coils, which are preferably mounted within the housing. An expansion chamber is connected to receive both the super-heated water, and also the superheated steam from the arc plasma, as the hydrogen and oxygen recombine to form steam once again. The arc plasma in one embodiment may be formed by electrical conduction through a spray of water containing an electrolyte; and in another embodiment electrodes may initially form the arc plasma in air or other gas, and as the electrodes are consumed, they may be advanced by a suitable mechanical arrangements including threads on the electrodes, keyway slots on the electrodes, and stepping motors which serves to advance the electrodes as needed.

4272345, Jun 9, 1981

Oct 29, 1979

6/089527

Sam L. Leach - Pebble Beach CA

B01J 1908
C01B 306
C01B 1501

2041571R

Waste heat which would otherwise be lost up a stack or chimney may be employed to generate hydrogen or hydrogen peroxide through the use of special equipment including a heat exchange structure associated with the stack or chimney. Through one heat exchange structure, water is formed into steam. Then, in one or more additional heat exchangers, the steam is converted into hydrogen gas and/or hydrogen peroxide. The active material in the additional heat exchanger arrangements may include both (1) a metal oxide, such as manganese oxide, which successively sequesters oxygen from water vapor, and then as the pressure is reduced in later portion of the cycle, releases the captured oxygen; and may also or alternatively include (2) host and sensitizer material for shifting the output radiation into one of the absorption bands for water vapor. Additionally, through the very high intensity infrared radiation which is applied in a concentrated manner to the steam, further dissociation of the water vapor by the phenomenon of multiphoton absorption, is obtained; and suitable resonant cavity and high pass filtering film arrangements may be employed to shift the frequency of radiation applied to dissociate the water vapor into the ultraviolet frequency range.

4723972, Feb 9, 1988

Jan 21, 1987

7/005746

Sam L. Leach - Pebble Beach CA

B01D 4516

55345

A gas separator system for separating gases of substantially different molecular weights, such as oxygen and carbon monoxide, includes a series of concentrically nested coils, with the output of each coil being connected to the input of the next coil. Gas is directed through the coils at high velocity to cause laminar flow in the tubes of the coils, with the heavier gas flowing through the tubing adjacent the outer periphery of each coil of tubing, as a result of centrifugal force, and the lighter gas being forced to flow near the inner surface of the tubing of each coil. Starting one or two turns from the input to each coil, after laminar flow is established, small openings are provided at the outer periphery, or preferably at the inner surfaces of the tubing making up the coils, whereby one of the gases selectively flows out of the coils of tubing into an enclosing housing. A gas storage container may be provided to receive the gas which flows into the enclosing housing; and a water tank, and pumps to direct water flow between the gas storage container and the water tank may be employed to provide reduced pressure in the gas storage container. Conventional vacuum or gas pumps may also be provided to reduce the pressure in the storage tank and the enclosing chamber or to direct the separated gas as desired.