Abstract:
A method of transducing energy from hydrogen, the method comprising: providing a chamber; maintaining a pressure of 75 psi to 30 in. vacuum within the chamber; injecting fuel into the chamber, where the fuel is hydrogen or a mix of hydrogen and oxygen; and igniting the fuel within the chamber.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application is a continuation in part application based on and claiming priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/488,998 filed Jun. 5, 2012 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/463,360 filed May 3, 2012, which was based on provisional U.S. patent application No. 61/518,514 filed May 6, 2011. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a system and method of energy transduction, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a system and method of transducing energy from hydrogen. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Internal combustion engines, such as those used in automobiles, typically run on gasoline or other fossil fuel. Such an engine consumes 75% of the energy it produces to perform its task, leaving only 25% of the energy for usable power. 
     It is desirable to provide an energy transducer that does not depend on fossil fuel. 
     It is further desirable for such an energy transducer to run on hydrogen. 
     It is further desirable for such an energy transducer to allow for greater utilization of the energy it creates. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a method of transducing energy from hydrogen, the method comprising: providing a chamber; maintaining a pressure of 75 psi to 30 in. vacuum within the chamber; injecting fuel into the chamber, where the fuel is hydrogen or a mix of hydrogen and oxygen; and igniting the fuel within the chamber. 
     The chamber may be part of an energy transducer comprising: a cylinder with a first end and a second end; a piston within the cylinder, where the piston is connected to a connecting rod extending out of the second end of the cylinder and the connecting rod is connected to a crankshaft and where the chamber is within the cylinder and defined by the first end of the cylinder and the piston; a direct injector in fluid communication with the chamber and in fluid communication with a fuel tank such that the direct injector is capable of injecting the fuel from the fuel tank into the chamber; and an igniter located such that the igniter is capable of igniting the fuel within the chamber. Ignition of the fuel within the chamber may cause an explosion that forces the piston toward the crankshaft, causing the crankshaft to rotate 180°, followed by an implosion that forces the piston away from the crankshaft, causing the crankshaft to complete one full rotation. 
     The energy transducer may further comprise a hydrogen control valve connected to the direct injector to control the amount of fuel injected into the chamber. The energy transducer may further comprise an extractor in fluid communication with the chamber, where the extractor is connected to a vacuum tank via a vacuum control valve and where a vacuum is maintained within the vacuum tank by a vacuum pump, such that the pressure may be maintained within the chamber via the extractor. The extractor, vacuum control valve, vacuum pump, igniter, and direct injector may be controlled by a transducer control unit. The transducer control unit may be controlled by a throttle. 
     The chamber may be part of an energy transducer comprising: a body; a crankshaft; a rotor mounted to the crankshaft and housed within the body such that the rotor may rotate within the body along an axis defined by the crankshaft, where one or more of the chambers is located circumferentially around the rotor; an injector connected to the body such that the injector injects fuel into the one or more chambers; and an igniter connected to the body such that the igniter ignites the fuel in the one or more chambers, which causes the rotor to rotate. The one or more chambers may be each angled inward toward a direction of travel of the rotor. The energy transducer may further comprise a hydrogen control valve connected to the injector to control the amount of fuel injected into the one or more chambers. The igniter and the hydrogen control valve may be controlled by an electronic controller, which may be controlled by a throttle. The igniter may be located adjacent the injector, but further along a path of rotation of the rotor. The energy transducer may further comprise an exhaust port located within the body such that the exhaust port is capable of venting exhaust from the one or more chambers. The exhaust port may be located adjacent the injector, but prior to the injector along a path of rotation of the rotor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a piston pump example of the energy transducer described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a cut-away view of the piston pump energy transducer at the beginning of a cycle; 
         FIG. 3  is a cut-away view of the piston pump energy transducer partway through a cycle; 
         FIG. 4  is a cut-away view of the piston pump energy transducer approaching the end of a cycle; 
         FIG. 5  is a side cut-away view of four cylinder piston pump example of the energy transducer described herein; 
         FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of a rotary example of the energy transducer described herein; 
         FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic view of the rotary energy transducer at the beginning of a cycle; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic view of the rotary energy transducer partway through a cycle; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side diagrammatic view of the rotary energy transducer. 
     
    
    
     Other advantages and features will be apparent from the following description and from the claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The devices and methods discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use this invention and are not to be interpreted as limiting in scope. 
     While the devices and methods have been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that many modifications may be made in the details of the construction and the arrangement of the devices and components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the devices and methods are not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification. 
     In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a system and method for converting hydrogen to energy. The user may provide a chamber in which the energy transduction will occur. The pressure/vacuum within the chamber may be maintained at 75 psi to 30 in. vacuum. Hydrogen may be introduced within the chamber, and may then be ignited to produce energy. 
     Maintaining the pressure within the chamber at 75 psi to 30 in. vacuum may allow the hydrogen to fully combust. The hydrogen may totally consume itself, leaving no residue. 
     An energy transducer utilizing this method utilizes hydrogen rather than fossil fuels, capturing the energy within the hydrogen. As used herein, hydrogen may refer to a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. The chamber may be part of a pump, such as a piston pump, rotary pump, thrust pump, or gear pump. Such an energy transducer may utilize a single pump or multiple pumps in any configuration. For example,  FIGS. 1 through 4  show a single piston pump,  FIG. 5  shows a four cylinder energy transducer, and  FIGS. 6 through 9  show a single rotary pump, each of which is capable of carrying out the method set forth herein. 
       FIG. 1  shows a piston pump, comprising a piston  1 , a connecting rod  2 , and a crankshaft  3 . An energy transducer may comprise a cylinder  15  housing the piston  1  and at least part of the connecting rod  2 . A chamber  16  may be formed within one end of the cylinder  15 , defined by the piston  1 . A direct injector  6  may be connected to the cylinder  15  such that the direct injector  6  may inject hydrogen into the chamber  16 . A hydrogen control valve  7  may be connected to the direct injector  6  to control the amount of hydrogen injected into the chamber  16 . A hydrogen storage tank  13  may be in fluid communication with the direct injector  6  via the hydrogen control valve  7 . 
     An igniter  4 , such as a spark plug, may likewise be connected to the cylinder  15  such that the igniter  4  may ignite the hydrogen within the chamber  16 . A transducer control unit  11  may be connected to the cylinder  15  such that the transducer control unit  11  may monitor the pressure/vacuum in the chamber  16  and may adjust the chamber  16  to the proper pressure/vacuum, if required, via an extractor  8  in fluid communication with the chamber  16  and a vacuum tank  14  attached to the extractor  8  via a vacuum control valve  9  and maintained by a vacuum pump  10 . The transducer control unit  11  may be in communication with the vacuum pump  10 , vacuum control valve  9 , and extractor  8 . The transducer control unit  11  may also control an ignition coil  5  connected to the igniter  4 , the hydrogen control valve  7 , and the direct injector  6 , thus controlling the overall function of the transducer. The transducer control unit  11  may be connected to a throttle  12 , such that an operator of a vehicle utilizing the transducer may control the transducer via the throttle  12 . 
     In use, the piston  1  may begin in a first position fully extended into the cylinder  15 , such that the chamber  16  is as small as possible. The transducer control unit  11  may adjust the pressure within the chamber  16  to an optimal level, if required. The direct injector  6  may inject hydrogen into the chamber  16 . The igniter  4  may ignite the hydrogen in the chamber  16 , causing the hydrogen to explode. The hydrogen control valve  7  may control the amount of hydrogen required. The energy from the explosion may force the piston  1  along the cylinder  15 , increasing the size of the chamber  16 . The movement of the piston  1  may cause the connecting rod  2  to likewise move, causing the crankshaft  3  to rotate 180° until the piston  1  is in a second position fully withdrawn into the cylinder  15 , such that the chamber  16  is as large as possible, given the stationary nature of the crankshaft  3 . The explosion of the hydrogen may then turn into an implosion, creating a vacuum within the chamber  16 , which may pull the piston  1  back into the first position, causing the crankshaft  3  to complete one full rotation. This movement may be seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 . 
       FIGS. 6 through 9  show a single rotary pump, comprising a body  21 , a rotor  22 , and a crankshaft  31 . 
     The energy transducer may comprise a body  21  housing the rotor  22  such that the rotor  22  may freely rotate within the body  21  along an axis defined by the crankshaft  31 . One or more chambers  23  may be located circumferentially around the rotor  22 . The chambers  23  may be angled inward toward the direction of travel of the rotor  22 , as seen in  FIGS. 6 through 8 . A direct injector  25  may be connected to the body  21  such that the direct injector  25  may inject hydrogen into the chambers  23  one at a time as the rotor  22  rotates. A hydrogen control valve  27  may be connected to the direct injector  25  to control the amount of hydrogen injected into the chambers  23 . A hydrogen storage tank  30  may be in fluid communication with the direct injector  25  via the hydrogen control valve  27 . 
     An igniter  24 , such as a spark plug, may likewise be connected to the body  21  such that the igniter  24  may ignite the hydrogen within the chamber  23 . The igniter  24  may be located near the injector  25 , but further along the path of rotation of the rotor  22 . The igniter  24  may be out of phase with the injector  25 , such that when a chamber  23  is aligned with the igniter  24 , there is not a chamber  23  aligned with the injector  25 ; likewise, when a chamber  23  is aligned with the injector  25 , there is not a chamber  23  aligned with the igniter  24 . An exhaust port  26  may also be located within the body  21  such that it may vent exhaust from the chambers  23  after ignition. The exhaust port  26  may be located near the injector  25 , but before the injector  25  along the path of rotation of the rotor  22 . The exhaust port  26  may also be out of phase with the injector  25 , such that when a chamber  23  is aligned with the exhaust port  26 , there is not a chamber  23  aligned with the injector  25 , and when a chamber  23  is aligned with the injector  25 , there is not a chamber  23  aligned with the exhaust port  26 . An electronic controller  28  may be connected to the igniter  24  and the hydrogen control valve  27 , thus controlling the overall function of the transducer. The electronic controller  28  may be connected to a throttle  29 , such that an operator of a vehicle utilizing the transducer may control the transducer via the throttle  29 . 
     In use, the rotor  22  begins with a chamber  23  aligned with the injector  25 . The injector  25  injects hydrogen into one of the chambers  23 . The rotor  22  rotates such that the chamber  23  bearing hydrogen is aligned with the igniter  24 . The igniter  24  fires, causing the hydrogen in the chamber  23  to explode. This explosion forces the rotor  22  to rotate, which in turn causes the crankshaft  31  to rotate. This movement may be seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . When the chamber  23  in which the explosion occurred reaches the exhaust port  26 , exhaust may be removed from the chamber  23 . The process may be repeated cyclically for each of the chambers  23 . 
     The energy/RPMs of the energy transducer may be controlled by the timing and/or size of the explosion of the hydrogen. The size of the chambers  23  is not important; the size of the rotor  22  controls the amount of power it makes. 
     Whereas, the devices and methods have been described in relation to the drawings and claims, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.