Document:

EXHIBIT 10.3

                              UNITED STATES PATENT

<PAGE>
GARDERE WYNNE SEWELL & RIGGS, L.L.P.                DALLAS
Attorneys and Counselors                            3000 Thanksgiving Tower
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                                                    011 (525) 546-8030

                                 August 5, 1999

                                                    Via CM/RRR P 973 933 076

Mr. Michael Bloom
Triad Compressors, Inc.
1110 Clifford Drive
Kasota, Michigan 56050

   Re:   U.S. Patent No.:           5,902,224
         Issued:                    May 11, 1999
         Title:                     MASS-MASS CELL GAS CENTRIFUGE
         Our File No.:              117351-1001

Dear Mike:

   I am very pleased to enclose the Original Grant of U.S. Patent No. 5,902,224,
which issued on May 11, 1999. The patent will expire on May 11, 2017. During the
term of this grant,  you have the right to exclude others from making,  using or
selling the invention covered by the claims of the patent.  This Original Patent
Grant should be maintained in safekeeping,  as it cannot be replaced. It will be
proofread for printing  errors.  Additional  copies of the patent may be ordered
from the U.S. Patent Office at a cost of $3.00 each.

   As you are aware,  annuities are required to be paid to maintain the grant of
the patent in full force and effect for the full term.  Specifically,  annuities
are due May 11, 2003,  May 11, 2007,  and May 11, 2011. We have  docketed  these
dates,  and as a  courtesy,  we intend to notify  you well in advance of the due
dates, so that you can determine whether or not you wish to pay these annuities.
We would recommend that you also docket these dates in your business records, so
that your patent does not inadvertently lapse for failure to pay the maintenance
fees when due.

<PAGE>
August 5, 1999
Page 2

   Now that this patent has been granted, it becomes important for the owner, or
those authorized by the owner, to mark the invention covered by the patent, such
as products  manufactured  in accordance  therewith or machines which embody the
invention, as provided by the patent statutes.

   The prescribed marking is as follows:

         U.S. Patent No. 5,902,224

   The notice may be printed,  embossed  or  otherwise  applied  directly to the
machine, product, a nameplate thereon, or to containers for the goods.

   Marking bears on damages to which the owner may be entitled upon  enforcement
of the patent, as set out in the statutes:

         "Patentees,  and persons making or selling any patented  article for or
         under  them may give  notice to the  public  that the same is  patented
         either by fixing thereon the word "patent" or the abbreviations "pat.",
         together with the number of the patent,  or when, from the character of
         the article,  this cannot be done,  by fixing to it, or to the packager
         wherein one or more of them is  contained,  a label  containing  a like
         notice.  In the  event  of  failure  so to mark  no  damages  shall  be
         recovered  by the  patentee in any action for  infringement,  except on
         proof that the infringer was notified of the infringement and continued
         to infringe  thereafter,  in which event damages may be recovered  only
         for infringement  occurring after such notice.  Filing of an action for
         infringement shall constitute such notice." 35 U.S.C. ss.287.

   If you should have any questions  regarding this U.S.  Patent,  please do not
hesitate to give me a call.

                                                     Sincerely,

                                                     /S/JOHN W. MONTGOMERY
                                                     ---------------------
                                                     John W. Montgomery

JWM/mms
Enclosure

434558.1

<PAGE>
August 5, 1999
Page 3

cc:      Mr. James LaPorte
         Triad Compressor, Inc.
         120 S. Denton Tap, Suite 450 C-113
         Coppell, Texas 75019

         Mr. Scott Brosier
         Triad Compressor, Inc.
         620 South Taylor
         Amarillo, Texas 79101

434558.1
<PAGE>

                              UNITED STATES PATENT
                                    5,902,224

<PAGE>
                         UNITED STATES PATENT: 5,902,224
                               BLOOM MAY 11, 1999

                          MASS-MASS CELL GAS CENTRIFUGE

Abstract

A gas  separation  centrifuge is provided with a housing  having a top, a bottom
and a  plurality  of  joined  side  walls  parallel  to an axis  and  forming  a
predetermined regular polygon cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axis. A
rotor is mounted for coaxial rotation within the housing,  including a plurality
of inverted  truncated pyramid plates forming the predetermined  regular polygon
shape at an outer periphery, and forming the predetermined regular polygon shape
at an interior  edge.  The plurality of inverted  truncated  pyramid  plates are
stacked  coaxially  and  are  axially  spaced  apart  to  form  planar  channels
therebetween and define an interior annular volume with openings  therefrom into
the planar  channels.  There are also openings  through the outer  periphery.  A
first plurality of stationary  concentric  input tubes extends into the interior
annular  volume.  Each input tube is  connectable to a source of inlet fluid and
communicates  with the interior annular volume at different  distances along the
axis  terminating  close to the bottom of the  housing.  A second  plurality  of
stationary  concentric  output  tubes also  extends  into the  interior  annular
volume.  Each output tube is connectable to a collection device and communicates
with the interior annular volume at different  distances along the axis close to
the top of the  housing.  One of the  plurality of input tubes is connected to a
source of liquid  solvent for  injecting a quantity  sufficient  for coating the
interior  side walls to a  thickness  less than the minimum  clearance  distance
between the exterior  periphery of the rotor  plates.  A motor is connected  for
rotating the rotor at a speed sufficient to cause a maximum pressure above about
1,000 psi in the housing at the side walls.  Another of the  plurality  of input
tubes is connected to a source of a gaseous mixture.  At least one of the outlet
tubes  has  an  opening  at a  position  in  the  interior  annular  volume  for
withdrawing one gas of said mixture in a high state of purity.

      Inventors: Bloom; Michael R. (Kasota, MN)
      Assignee: Fuge Systems, Inc. (Plano, TX)
      Appl. No.: 819583
      Filed: March 14, 1997

      U.S. Class:494/25; 494/27; 494/68; 494/900; 55/257.4; 55/407; 95/218
      Intern'l Class: B04B 5/0/8; 5./12; 11/00
      Field of Search: 494/22,23,25,26,27,28,29,30,37,43,60,67,68,69,85,900
      95/218 261/89 55/257.4,407

<PAGE>
References Cited [Referenced By]

U.S. Patent Documents
      802150Oct.,  1905 Nordstrom.
      2092484Jul., 1937 Tomlinson.
      2104683Jul., 1938 Van Rosen et al.
      2588106Mar., 1952 Frangquist.
      2755017Jul., 1956 Kyselka et al.
      3234716Feb., 1966 Sevin et al.
      3643404Feb., 1972 Ronning.
      4046527Sep., 1977 Kistemaker.
      4092130May., 1978 Wikdahl.
      4118207Oct., 1978 Wilhelm.
      4198218Apr., 1980 Erickson.
      4265643May., 1981 Dawson.
      4265648May., 1981 Wedege.
      4361490Nov., 1982 Saget.
      4531371Jul., 1985 Voronin et al.
      4886523Dec., 1989 Maldague.
      5225174Jul., 1993 Friesen et al.
      5305610Apr., 1994 Bennet.
      5895582Jan., 1990 Bielefeldt.

  Other References

      Chemical Engineers's Handbook --Fifth Ed., pp.17-47, 17-48.
      Int. J. , Heat Mass Transfer --vol. 37 No. 12, pp. 1773-1781, 1994 "A
      numerical study of the effect of Corolis force on the fluidflow and heat
      transfer due to wire heating on centrifuge".
      J. Fluid Mech. (1989), vol. 203, pp. 541-555 "Flow in a partially filled,
      rotating, tapered cylinder".
      Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics (ZAMP), vol. 41, pp. 270-283,
      "Visualization of boundary layers in a sectioned centrifuge".
      J. Fluid Mech. (1989), vol. 201, pp. 203-221, "Three-dimensional numerical
      simulation of flows past scoops in a gas centrifuge".
      Journal of Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineers, vol. 9, No.1, pp.
      53-62 (1988), "Supersonic Vortex Centrifuge--A New Device".

Primary Examiner: Cooley; Charles E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Montgomery; John W. Garder & Wynne, L.L.P.

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U.S. Patent                May 11, 1999              Sheet 1 of 3
5,902,224

Figure 1

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U.S. Patent                May 11, 1999              Sheet 2 of 3
5,902,224

Figure 2

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Figure 5

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Figure 6

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U.S. Patent                May 11, 1999              Sheet 3 of 3
5,902,224

Figure 3

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Figure 4

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<PAGE>
Claims

1. A gas separation centrifuge comprising:

         a) a housing  having a top, a bottom  and a  plurality  of joined  side
walls  parallel  to  an  axis  and  forming  a  predetermined   regular  polygon
cross-sectional shape perpendicular to said axis;

         b) a rotor mounted for coaxial rotation within said housing,  including
a plurality of inverted  truncated  pyramid  plates  forming said  predetermined
regular  polygon  shape at an outer  periphery  and forming  said  predetermined
regular polygon shape at an interior edge, said plurality of inverted  truncated
pyramid  plates  stacked  coaxially  and  axially  spaced  apart to form  planar
channels  therebetween  and an interior  annular  volume with interior  openings
therefrom  into said planar  channels and exterior  openings  through said outer
periphery;

         c) a first  plurality of stationary  concentric  input tubes  extending
into said interior  annular volume,  each input tube  connectable to a source of
inlet fluid and  communicating  with said interior  annular  volume at different
distances along said axis toward said bottom of said housing;

         d) a second plurality of stationary  concentric  output tubes extending
into said interior annular volume,  each output tube connectable to a collection
device  and  communicating  with  said  interior  annular  volume  at  different
distances along said axis toward said top of said housing;

         e) one of said plurality of input tubes connected to a source of liquid
solvent for  injecting a quantity  sufficient  for coating the  interior of said
side walls to a thickness less than the minimum clearance  distance between said
interior  of said side  walls and said  outer  periphery  of said  plurality  of
truncated pyramid plates of said rotor;

         f) a motor  connected  for rotating the rotor at a speed  sufficient to
cause a maximum pressure above about 1,000 psi in the housing at the side walls;

         g) another of said plurality of input tubes  connected to a source of a
gaseous mixture; and

         h) at least one of said  output  tubes  having an outlet  opening  at a
position in said interior annular volume for withdrawing one gas of said mixture
in a high state of purity.

<PAGE>
2. A gas separation  centrifuge as in claim 1 wherein said predetermined regular
polygon  cross-sectional  shape of said  housing is a regular  octagon  and said
plurality of inverted  truncated  pyramid  plates stacked to form said rotor are
octagonally-shaped inverted truncated plates.

3. A gas  separation  centrifuge as in claim 1 wherein one of said  plurality of
input tubes  connected to a source of liquid solvent is connected to a source of
water.

4. A gas  separation  centrifuge  as in claim 3 further  comprising a tangential
injection  opening for injecting a quantity of carbon  dioxide into said housing
at one of said joined side walls thereof for dissolving in said water.

5. A gas  separation  centrifuge  as in claim 1 wherein  said rotor  mounted for
coaxial rotation within said housing further comprises said axially spaced apart
plates spaced at a distance of about 5 mm.

6. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 1 further comprising:

         a) said interior openings formed from said interior annular volume into
said planar  channels,  said interior  openings  being  disposed at an angle for
scooping in the direction of rotation of said rotor;

         b) vertical plates attached at the periphery of said inverted truncated
pyramid plates conjoined to form said octagonally-shaped  cross section for said
rotor and  including a forward  opening ahead of each corner in the direction of
rotation  angled for scooping  fluid into said channels  between said  truncated
pyramid  plates,  and one of said  exterior  openings  angled  rearward from the
direction of rotation to avoid scooping in the direction of rotation for drawing
fluid from between said channels of said pyramid plates into an exterior annular
volume  between said periphery of said plates and said joined side walls of said
housing; and

         c) said  joined  peripheries  of said  plates of said  rotor  sized and
constructed for creating a minimum  clearance  distance between said peripheries
and said parallel side walls of said housing of about 10 mm.

7. A gas separation centrifuge as in claim 1 wherein:

         a) said first plurality of stationary  concentric  input tubes includes
angled  input  opening  channels at one end thereof  inserted  into the interior
annular  volume,  said angled input opening  channels  angled  rearward to avoid
scooping and thereby to facilitate  drawing inlet fluid into said annular volume
upon rotation of said rotor; and

         b) said second  plurality of  stationary  concentric  output tubes have
outlet opening  channels formed at a forward angle into said second plurality of
stationary  concentric output tubes for providing scooping of collected gas from
said interior volume upon rotation of said rotor.

<PAGE>
8. A gas  separation  centrifuge  as in claim 1 wherein  said rotor  mounted for
coaxial  rotation within said housing  further  includes a plurality of midplate
openings formed in said plurality of inverted  truncated  pyramid  plates,  said
openings  vertically  aligned and positioned  intermediate  between the interior
annular volume and the outer periphery  extending from the bottom-most  plate of
said rotor to a cap plate immediately  adjacent the top of the housing,  the cap
plate having a solid  surface  without  intermediate  midplate  openings  formed
therein.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mass-mass cell centrifuge,  and in particular
to a gas separation  centrifuge  having a narrow gap centrifugal cell rotor in a
device capable of separating individual fractions from a mixed gas inlet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kinetic  theories have predicted that a partial  separation of constituents of a
gaseous mixture will occur when the mixture is subjected to a pressure gradient.
Industrial  processes  for  separating  individual  fractions of mixtures on the
basis of a pressure  gradient are not widespread.  In order to obtain sufficient
separation  between  components of a gaseous mixture,  relatively steep pressure
gradients are required.  In the past, large pressure gradients could be achieved
in a gaseous  mixture using a standard gas centrifuge.  Other devices  utilizing
pressure  diffusion  sometimes  include a separation  nozzle,  particularly  for
enrichment of isotopes of uranium.

The typical or standard gas centrifuge  includes a tall vertical rotary cylinder
fed with the gas mixture to be separated. The cylinder is rotated about its axis
at a high angular velocity.  The rotation of the cylinder causes the gas mixture
to increase its angular  rotational  velocity so that the lighter  components of
the mixture move toward the axis and the heavier  components of the mixture move
toward the wall. Under standard conditions,  significant  high-purity separation
is  difficult to achieve  unless the  rotational  velocity is extremely  high. A
plurality of  sequentially  ganged or cascaded gas centrifuges are often used to
obtain significantly pure components.

Countercurrent  gas centrifuges  rotate a tall vertical cylinder and also induce
an axial  convective  circulation  in order to  increase  the  basic  separation
effect.  The  countercurrent  flow has been provided  using external  pumps,  by
providing an axial  temperature  gradient or by insertion of a stationary member
in the rotating cylinder.

A device  known as a  separation  nozzle  uses a concept of a pressure  gradient
induced in a curved  expanding  supersonic  jet to achieve  separation  of a gas
mixture. The power consumption of separation nozzles is significant relative to

<PAGE>
the separation  achieved.  In various prior gas separation  centrifuge  devices,
including  countercurrent gas centrifuges and expanding jet or separation nozzle
centrifuges,  many stages cascaded together have often been required in order to
obtain the desired separation.

Another device sometimes  previously suggested for gas-gas separation includes a
vortex tube or a vortex chamber separator in which a fluidic  separation process
results from  centrifugal  forces used for separating or  precipitating a denser
disperse  phase  from  a  lighter  continuous  flowable  phase.  Vortex  chamber
separators  have  the  disadvantage  of  relatively  bad  separating  efficiency
relative to the energy requirement, primarily because of high flow resistance in
the vortex  chamber and also the use of  multi-chamber  systems with  relatively
high volume.

Another centrifuge for separating  impurities from gas mixtures,  especially for
separating  sulphur  compounds  (SO.sub.2)  from flue  gases,  from oil, or from
coal-fired furnaces which contain sulphur compounds  (SO.sub.2) was disclosed by
Wedege in U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,648. A rotor was suggested comprising two separate
concentric  sets of  frustoconical  plates  with the  inlet  gas  mixture  being
arranged in the annular space between the two concentric  sets.  Outlets for the
heavy gases were to be at the periphery of the rotatable  concentric  plate. The
SO.sub.2 was to be removed from the periphery  and thus  cleaned.  The remaining
gas mixture was to be removed at the central axis. Frustoconical impeller plates
in a centrifuge  have also been  suggested for  separating  dust  particles from
suspension in gas as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,234,716.

The  separation  of dust  particles  or other  solids  from  flue  gases and the
separation of heavy gaseous  components such as SO.sub.2 having a density at one
atmosphere,  which is more than two times as dense as the air or the flue gas in
which the  impurities  are carried,  have not provided  adequate  solutions  for
gas-gas  separation  where the relative  densities of the  components of the gas
mixture are only slightly different.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These  and other  disadvantages  of flue gas  cleaning  devices,  dust  particle
separators  and also of previous gas centrifuge  technology  have been addressed
and the results for obtaining gas separation have been substantially improved in
the gas centrifuge separation device of the present invention.

Thus,  it is an  object  of the  present  invention  to  provide  a  narrow  gap
centrifuge  having a stationary  housing,  a rotor mounted for coaxial  rotation
within the housing  including a plurality of inverted  truncated  pyramid plates
spaced apart to form channels  therebetween  by which inlet gas mixtures such as
natural gas or ambient air may be acted upon for  separation  and  collection of
enriched  oxygen,  nitrogen,  carbon  dioxide and hydrogen  sulphide as purified
species.

<PAGE>
A further  object is to provide a  construction  and a method of use of internal
rotor in a gas centrifuge,  which internal rotor comprises a plurality of spaced
apart inner and spaced apart outer  separation  walls  creating  passages  there
between and which rotate with the internal  rotor.  The exterior  housing of the
centrifuge remains stationary and a working liquid solvent is contained therein.
A pressure gradient is thereby produced by rotation of the rotor.  Outlet valves
are  adjusted to maintain a desired  back  pressure  to  facilitate  light/heavy
separation.  The light  constituents  are removed  through a hollow central tube
around  which the  internal  rotor is  rotated.  Medium or  intermediate  weight
constituents can be extracted from concentric tubes at locations below the light
constituents and closer to the axis.  Mixtures of gases having small differences
in density can be separated into constituent fractions having high purity.

Yet another  object of the invention is the inclusion of "bow shock"  opening in
the stacked plates of the rotor to facilitate  vertical transport and separation
of the gas mixture into its component  parts.  These  openings  cause  entrained
intermediate  gases to be released from the heavier components of the gases. The
openings are aligned to allow the released  intermediates  to be conducted  from
opening to opening, through each spaced apart blade of the rotor, from the inlet
into the centrifuge to the outlet where the separated gases are collected. These
bow shock openings might not be absolutely  necessary for successful  operation,
but they  facilitate  separating  one  component  from another  and,  therefore,
increase  the  purity  of  the  extracted  heavy   constituents  and  light  gas
constituents.

It is a  further  object of the  present  invention  to  provide a method of gas
separation in a centrifuge  with spaced rotary  plates,  a low pressure  central
zone,  and a high  pressure  exterior  zone having a liquid  solvent  within the
centrifuge  and  injecting a quantity of a mixture of gas at a low pressure zone
in the  centrifuge  allowing  the gas mixture to move  outward  along the spaced
rotary plates and to disassociate  into separate zones of high purity components
of the mixture within the low pressure  central zone and withdrawing  quantities
of high purity  components  from the separate  zones at  predetermined  rates to
maintain substantially continuous flow of the high purity components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing objects,  advantages,  and features,  as well as other objects and
advantages,  will become more apparent with reference to the following  detailed
description of the preferred  embodiments,  claims, and drawings,  in which like
numerals represent like elements and in which:

         FIG.  1 is a  schematic  side view in  partial  cross  section of a gas
centrifuge, according to the present invention;

         FIG. 2 is a schematic partial  perspective cutaway view through the gas
centrifuge  of FIG.  1,  section  line  2--2,  showing  one of the plates of the
plurality  of spaced apart plates of the  rotating  rotor of the  centrifuge  in
which the inverted pyramid polygon shape is depicted;

<PAGE>
         FIG.  3 is a top plan  view  with  partial  cutaway  section  depicting
additional  details of a corner of the  housing  and the rotor  blade  operating
within the polygon-shaped housing,  according to one preferred embodiment of the
present invention;

         FIG. 4 is a schematic side view showing certain predicted flow patterns
within the centrifuge, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

         FIG. 5 is a  cross-sectional  view  through an inlet  opening  into the
central annular volume taken along section line 5--5 of FIG. 1; and

         FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional  view through an outlet tube showing outlet
scoops through the outlet tube for withdrawing  enriched components separated in
the centrifuge taken along section line 6--6 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

         FIG. 1 depicts a side partial  cross-sectional view of a gas separation
centrifuge 10, according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a housing
12 having a top 14, a bottom  16 and a  plurality  of side  walls  20a-h  joined
together along corners parallel to a central axis 22 and forming a predetermined
regular  polygon  cross-sectional  shape  24  perpendicular  to the  axis  22. A
rotatable  rotor 30 is mounted in a bearing  supported  turntable 32 for coaxial
rotation within the housing 12. Housing 12 is preferably constructed of steel or
another durable  material,  and is sealed and capable of  withstanding  internal
pressures  of about 1,000 psi to about 10,000 psi. In the  embodiment  depicted,
the housing and the rotor are constructed for clockwise rotation of the rotor 30
within a  stationary  housing  12.  Rotor 30  includes a  plurality  of inverted
truncated  pyramid plates 34 having a predetermined  regular  polygon  periphery
shape  which  corresponds  to  the  shape  24 of the  housing;  but,  which  has
dimensions  smaller  than the  housing  for  rotation  inside of housing 12. The
regular polygon shape 24 of rotor 30 is defined at the outer periphery 36 with a
plurality  of end support  plates 28 joining the outer  periphery  edges 36 of a
plurality of inverted  truncated pyramid plates 34 stacked coaxially and axially
spaced  apart to form radial  channels 40  therebetween.  The  exterior  support
plates 28 of the rotor maintain the spacing between the truncated pyramid-shaped
rotor plates. Support plates 28 are joined to one another along vertical corners
33. The inverted  truncated  pyramid  plates 34 also define an interior  annular
volume 42 which  volume  also has the  regular  polygon  shape 24 with a smaller
dimension  than the outer  periphery.  There  are  interior  openings  44 formed
through interior support plates 26 for fluid  communication  between the annular
volume 42 and the radial  channels 40. Each interior  support plate 26 is joined
along the vertical corners of the  polygon-shaped  annular volume.  The interior
support  plates  are also  joined  to the  interior  edges  38 of each  inverted
truncated pyramid plate to maintain the spacing therebetween.

Preferably,  the inverted  truncated  pyramid plates 34 define  upwardly  angled
planar radial channels 40. Preferably, the space between the plates is about 1/8
inch (about 5 mm). It has been found that for a rotor 30 having an exterior

<PAGE>
dimension of  approximately  30 inches,  each planar  radial  channel 40 extends
about  12  inches  and has a rise  from the  interior  opening  44 to the  outer
periphery edges 36 of about 1 to about 2 inches and, preferably,  about 1 1/4 to
1 1/2 inch rise. At the outer periphery, through plates 28, exterior openings 46
and  48 are  formed  in  each  plate  28.  One  exterior  opening  46 is  formed
immediately preceding each exterior vertical corner and another exterior opening
48 immediately following each exterior vertical corner.

At least one stationary input tube extends  vertically into the interior annular
volume 42. In the embodiment depicted, a plurality of two concentric input tubes
50 and 52 are shown.  Each  concentric  input tube 50 and 52 is connectable to a
separate source 54 and 56, respectively, of inlet fluid 58 and 60, respectively.
The concentric  input tubes  communicate from the source fluids 58 and 60 to the
interior  annular volume 42 and each  concentric  input tube extends a different
distance  along  the axis  close to the  bottom  16 of the  housing  12.  In the
embodiment depicted,  concentric input tube 50 has its end at a distance 62 from
bottom 16 and concentric  input tube 52 has its end terminating at a distance 64
from the bottom of the housing. In the preferred embodiment the ends of tubes 50
and 52 have angled  input  openings 51 (as shown in FIG. 5) that are  positioned
about  one-fifth of the way from the bottom to the top such that tubes 50 and 52
extend  approximately  four-fifths  of the total distance from the top 14 to the
bottom 16. In an embodiment which is  approximately 21 inches tall,  distance 62
is  approximately  3-4 inches and distance 64 is  approximately  4-5 inches from
bottom 16 to the tubes 50 and 52.

At least one outlet tube extends into the interior annular volume for extracting
a separated gas fraction.  In the preferred  embodiment depicted, a plurality of
stationary  concentric  outlet tubes 66 and 68 extend into the interior  annular
volume 42 to  different  distances  76 and 78,  respectively,  along the axis 22
close  to the  top 14 of  housing  12.  Each  output  tube is  connectable  to a
collection devices 72 and 74, respectively, and are preferably positioned within
the annular volume to a  predetermined  vertical  distance from the top 14 and a
predetermined  radial distance from the axis 22. The vertical distance is set at
a predetermined distance by welding the tubes 72 and 74 to the top 14 of housing
12. The radial distance is also  predetermined by selecting the diameters of the
collection  tubes 72 and 74. The inlet  positions are selected so that the inlet
openings  correspond  to a zone of high purity gas,  as will be  explained  more
fully below.

One tube 52 of the plurality of concentric  input tubes is connected to a source
80 of a solvent,  preferably  a liquid,  for  injecting a quantity of the liquid
solvent into the sealed  housing 12  sufficient  for coating the  interior  side
walls 20a-h to a thickness less than the minimum  clearance  distance 86 between
the exterior  periphery  of the rotor blades and the interior  side walls 20a-h.
This  minimum  distance  86 occurs when the corners 33 of the rotor 30 are moved
past the middle of each side wall 20. In one preferred  embodiment,  it has been
found that a minimum clearance  distance of about 10 mm (approximately 1/4 inch)
provides for successful gas separation in an operating centrifuge,  according to
the present invention.

<PAGE>
A motor 88 is connected for rotating the rotor 30 at a speed sufficient,  with a
working  liquid  solvent  injected into the housing,  to cause a pressure at the
walls 20 above  about  1,000 psi inside the  housing  12. The  maximum  pressure
within the  housing 12 occurs at the side walls 20. The  pressure  is  dependent
upon the  weight of the  solvent,  the  volume of fluid  being  rotated  and the
rotational  speed of the motor.  Preferably,  the motor is  connected  through a
motor pulley 90, a drive belt 92 and a rotor cable pulley 94. A gear belt system
has  been  used  successfully.  Other  transmission  mechanisms  could  be used,
provided a smooth  rotational force is imparted.  Also  preferably,  motor 88 is
provided  with a  variable  speed  control  96 so that  input  power  100 can be
adjustably  supplied to the motor through lines 98. An inverter  controller such
as that manufactured by Leeson has been used successfully for speed control 96.

Another tube 50 of the  plurality of input tubes is connected to a source 102 of
a  gaseous  mixture  104  which  is to be  separated.  The  gaseous  mixture  is
preferably  drawn into the centrifuge when the rotor is at an operational  speed
at pressure approximating atmospheric pressure or from a positive pressure about
1 psi above atmospheric  pressure.  After initiating  injection of air, a column
101 of about 4 feet will act to maintain flow of air from atmospheric  pressure.
This  results  in a  significant  pressure  differential  from the inside of the
annular volume 42 where the gaseous  mixture 104 is supplied  through input tube
50 and the  exterior  periphery  of the rotor at which at the liquid  solvent is
forced against walls 20a-h.

The  centrifugal  force on the  working  liquid  solvent  causes  a  significant
pressure  differential  from the interior  annular volume 42 to the walls 20a-h.
The rotation of the rotor also results in a temperature differential between the
interior annular volume and the exterior of rotor 30. During  operation,  it has
been found that with temperatures in the range of 50.degree. F. to 60.degree. F.
at the annular volume 42, and  temperatures  in the range of  120.degree.  F. to
200.degree. F. occur at the periphery wall 20.

At least one of the concentric outlet tubes 66 or 68 will have an opening 106 or
108 at a  position  spaced  along the axis a  distance  76 or 78 and at an axial
diameter  of the outlet  tube 66 or the outlet tube 68 such that it will be in a
zone for  collection  of a separated  enriched  gas  component  from the gaseous
mixture 104. In the embodiment  depicted,  outlet tube 66 has its outlet opening
106 at a position  for  withdrawing  one  enriched gas 110 and outlet 68 has its
outlet opening 108 positioned a distance 78 from the top of the housing and at a
forward  angle as  shown in FIG.  6, for  collecting  another  enriched  gas 112
separated from mixture 104.

In the  embodiment  depicted and in one  preferred  embodiment  according to the
present  invention where enriched oxygen is to be separated from air, the liquid
solvent includes water. By way of example,  it has been found that a quantity of
approximately  8-9 gallons  injected  into a housing 12 with the rotor 30 having
dimensions of approximately  30-inch diameter,  21-inch height,  about 48 spaced
apart  plates,  and  which is in the form of a regular  octagon-shaped  inverted
pyramid is an adequate quantity of solvent liquid. The source gas mixture from

<PAGE>
which oxygen is to be separated is air, and it will  initially be input into the
centrifuge at a slight positive pressure above atmosphere. The gas 110 withdrawn
through outlet tube 66 will be enriched oxygen.  Nitrogen will also be separated
into  another  zone  for  collection   through  outlet  tube  68.  Uniquely  and
unobviously,  it has also been found that by modifying  the liquid  solvent,  in
this case by injecting  carbon  dioxide in a gaseous  stream  through the liquid
water within the sealed housing 12, additional gas separation is facilitated and
oxygen  having a purity of above 90% and as high as between  about 95% and 99.2%
O.sub.2 can be achieved with a single rotor. In the example of oxygen  (O.sub.2)
recovery  at  purities  above  about 95%,  the  rotary  speed of the rotor 30 is
adjusted to provide a pressure at the side walls of between  about 2,300 psi and
5,000 psi and the temperature  deferential is about 100.degree.  F. For example,
the   interior   annular   volume   may   be   at   a   temperature   of   about
50.degree.-70.degree.   F.  and  the  temperature  at  the  exterior  volume  at
approximately 130.degree.-190.degree. F.

In operation,  a quantity of water is injected from source 82 through a valve 80
and down  through  conduit  52 into  the  annular  volume  42.  The  rotor 30 is
adjustably  increased  in speed  using a speed  control  96 until  the  water is
centrifuged to the exterior  surface and  substantially  clears the rotor blades
forming a layer 130 up along the  interior  walls 20.  The use of the water both
facilitates the generation of a pressure differential and also acts as a solvent
for the separation process. CO.sub.2 is injected tangentially to the rotation of
the rotor 30 and  solvent  130 through a  tangentially  angled side  opening 114
using a blower  116  which  receives  CO.sub.2  at about 5 psi from a  regulated
supply  bottle 1 18. The  CO.sub.2 is blown  and/or  drawn  through the rotating
water.  Although  the  pressure  of the water is  significantly  higher than the
initial CO.sub.2 pressure,  the tangentially  angled inlet 114 and the clockwise
rotation of the rotor 30 and solvent  layer 130 allows the  CO.sub.2 to be drawn
into and dissolved in the water  forming a liquid  solvent  including  water and
carbonic acid.

         FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view of one centrally located
rotor plate 34 mounted within polygon-shaped  housing 12, essentially looking at
the device  along a section  line 2--2 of FIG.  1. The plate 34, as  depicted in
FIG. 2, is not the top-most plate of rotor 30 but is a truncated pyramid polygon
plate typical of all of the plates except the top-most plate 35 or the cap plate
35 which differs as described below. Plate 34 is formed with a plurality of flat
plates.  In the case of a regular octagon shape,  eight flat segment plates 120,
each of which has an  exterior  edge 122 and an  interior  edge 124 are  secured
together  with exterior  vertical  support  plates  28a-h.  Each is welded to an
adjacent  flat  plate 120 along a seam 126.  Further,  each  plate  120a-h has a
midplate  opening  128a-h formed  therein.  The openings  128a-h are at the same
radial  distance from the central axis and at the same position  through segment
plates 120a-h.  The  construction  of the inlet openings 44 into the channels 40
formed between the plates 34 may also be more fully understood with reference to
both  FIGS.  2 3. FIG.  3 is a  partial  cutaway  top plan  view of one  segment
120awhich  is used to form  inverted  truncated  pyramid  plate  34.  The  inlet
openings 44 are at an angle and are positioned for effective scooping of the gas

<PAGE>

into  channel 40. Also more fully  understood  with  reference  to FIGS. 2 and 3
together  are the outlet  openings 46 and 48 in which  opening 46 is at an angle
for scooping the centrifuge  fluid mixture and opening 48 is at a back angle for
drawing fluid out of channel 40 between plates 34.

As  indicated  above,  the top plate 35 of FIG. 1 is in  substantially  the same
shape and  configuration as that of plates 34, except that no mid-plate  opening
128 is formed in the top plate 35. It is  theorized  that  openings 128 create a
bow shock  within fluid  passing from opening 44 through  channel 40 and exiting
out openings 48. The bow shock phenomenon facilitates circulation and separation
of one  component of the gas from another  component of the gas.  Theoretically,
with the  midplate  opening 128 moving  clockwise  as  indicated,  the bow shock
phenomenon  will  produce a vertical  component of  circulation  through all the
aligned  openings  128a-h  of all  of  the  plates  of  the  inverted  truncated
pyramid-shaped plates 34.

Theoretically,   other  physical  and/or  chemical  mechanisms  result,  in  the
construction according to the present invention,  which facilitate separation of
a gaseous fluid into  enriched  components.  It is believed that the  separation
achieved  results from certain  phenomenon  associated  with the  formation of a
solvent layer 130 which is  schematically  depicted as a phantom line in FIG. 3.
The  precise  shape and  configuration  of layer 130 under  different  operating
conditions of the centrifuge,  according to the present invention,  continues to
be under  investigation.  In any  event,  a  mixture  of  gaseous  fluid 104 and
evaporated  or  separated  components  of  solvent  layer  130 will  result in a
conglomeration or multiphase  mixture of combined and separate  components in an
area 132 in the  periphery  annular space between rotor 30 and housing 12. It is
believed that this fluid mixture also undergoes additional separating phenomenon
through  chemical  interaction with the solvent layer 130.  Further,  the unique
polygon-shaped  rotor and housing also facilitates both separation and transport
of enriched  components through the acceleration,  frictional  movement,  nozzle
effect and bow shock resulting as corners 33 of rotor 30 rotate past the solvent
layer 130. Particularly, the solvent layer 130, the side wall 28, and the corner
33  create  a  nozzle  or  venturi  which  facilitates   kinetic  separation  of
constituent  gases  each  time a corner 33 moves  past a side wall 28.  Further,
because of the upward  incline of the rotor  plates 34, an upward  component  of
acceleration  motion is provided to the fluid to be separated  104 such that the
resultant separated gases are transported and move, generally,  in various paths
and recirculate as schematically depicted in FIG. 4. Ultimately, the lightest or
lowest mass  constituents  of the gaseous mixture  preferably  collect in a zone
toward the top of the central annular volume 42 at a distance from the axis, and
heavier  components  are  collected  in a zone in the annular  space 42 which is
further from the top and which is closer to the central axis.

Additional  aspects of the  present  invention  include  the  ability to collect
additional  heavier  components  and to form  useful  chemicals  therefrom.  For
example,  aqueous ammonia can be formed in the example depicted in which the gas
to be separated is to be air and the solvent is water  having  dissolved  carbon
dioxide, thereby forming a portion thereof into carbonic acid, a portion of the

<PAGE>
solvent at exterior wall 28 may be scooped from the surface as with a scoop 136.
Scoop 136 is  positioned in a high pressure area of the solvent and a portion of
the  solvent  is  carried  as  through  a conduit  138 and is  passed  through a
catalytic  chamber 140. The catalytic chamber is constructed of a porous mixture
of  palladium,  iron and alumina  into which the  nitrogen is supplied  from the
recovery  conduit 66 as through a conduit 142. This process uses a known process
(the Haber  Process) for forming  ammonia  dissolved in liquid.  This product is
collectable into a container 144. Thus, according to this invention, some of the
chemical  equilibrium  conditions  which are theorized to be occurring may be in
the Table I as indicated below:

                  TABLE I

    --------------------------------------
            Ambient 15 psig

            N--78
            O--20.95
            CO.sub.2 --.03
            AR--.93

    Annular H.sub.2 O.fwdarw.
              .dwnarw..dwnarw.
                          .rarw.CO.sub.2  Tangent
              .dwnarw.

    CO.sub.2 + H.sub.2 O
              .revreaction.

                          H.sub.2 CO.sub.3
                                  @ .apprxeq. 2,300 .revreaction. 5,000 psi
                                  @ .apprxeq.60 .revreaction. 190.degree. F.
    H.sub.2 CO.sub.3
              .revreaction.
                          H.sup.+  + HCO.sub.3
    HCO.sub.3 .revreaction.
                          CO.sub.3 .sup.-2  + H.sup.+
              .dwnarw..dwnarw.
              Heat
    Periphery

              .dwnarw..dwnarw.
              Expansion
    Cool Annular

              .dwnarw..dwnarw.
              O

    N + H.sub.2 O

              .fwdarw.    Solution Available

    H.sub.2 CO.sub.3  + N

              .fwdarw.    Solution Available
    Against 2N/Divided Fe/X Alumina
    .dwnarw..dwnarw.
    NH.sub.3  Dissolved Aqueous

    --------------------------------------EXHIBIT 10.4
                                   ASSIGNMENTS

<PAGE>
                                   ASSIGNMENT

WHEREAS,  I, Michael R. Bloom, of 417 West Skaro,  St. Peter,  Minnesota  56082,
have invented certain new and useful improvements in a gas centrifuge device and
method for which  United States Letters Patent and other  intellectual  property
protection may be available in the United States and in foreign  countries,  and
in which ongoing  inventive  efforts and development of additional  improvements
are being conducted by me (all hereinafter referred to as the "Invention"); and

WHEREAS,  Fuge Systems,  Inc., a corporation of the State of Texas, with offices
at 4516  Hitching  Post Lane,  Plano,  Texas 75024  (hereinafter  referred to as
"Assignee"), is desirous of acquiring my entire right, title and interest in and
to the Invention, and in and to the said application and any Letters Patent that
may issue thereon;

NOW,  THEREFORE,  effective as of November 8, 1995, for and in  consideration of
One Dollar  ($1.00) and other good and valuable  consideration,  the receipt and
sufficiency  of which are  hereby  acknowledged,  I do hereby  SELL,  ASSIGN and
TRANSFER unto said Assignee,  its successors,  assigns and legal representatives
the full and exclusive right, title and interest in and to said Invention and in
and to any applications and all patents which may be granted therefore,  and all
divisions,  reissues,  substitutions,  continuations,  continuations-in-part and
extensions thereof; and I hereby authorize and request the Commission of Patents
to issue all patents for said Invention, or patents resulting therefrom, insofar
as my interest is  concerned,  to said  Assignee of my entire  right,  title and
interest.

I also  hereby SELL and ASSIGN to said  Assignee,  its  successors,  assigns and
legal  representatives the full and exclusive rights, title and interest to said
Invention, including improvements,  throughout the world, including the right to
file  applications and obtain patents,   utility models,  industrial  models and
designs for said Invention in its own name  throughout the world,  including all
rights of priority, all rights to publish cautionary notices reserving ownership
of said  Invention  and all rights to register  said  Invention  in  appropriate
registries;  and I further  agree to  execute  any and all  powers of  attorney,
applications,  assignments,  declarations,  affidavits,  and any other papers in
connection  therewith  necessary to perfect  such rights,  title and interest in
Assignee, its successors, assigns and legal representatives.

I hereby  further  agree that I will  communicate  to said  Assignee,  or to its
successors, assigns and legal representatives,  any facts known to me respecting
any improvements;  and, at the expense of said Assignee, to testify in any legal
proceedings,  sign all lawful  papers,  execute  all  divisional,  continuation,
continuation-in-part,  reissue  and  substitute  applications,  make all  lawful
oaths,  and generally do everything  possible to vest title in said Assignee and
to aid said  Assignee,  its  successors,  assigns and legal  representatives  to
obtain and enforce proper protection for said Invention in all countries.

<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND THIS 13TH day of May, 1996.

                                                     /S/MICHAEL R. BLOOM
                                                     Michael R. Bloom

STATE OF MINNESOTA                  )
                                    )ss.
COUNTY OF LASUER                    )

ON THIS 13TH day of May,  1996,  before me, a Notary Public in and for the State
and County aforesaid,  personally  appeared Michael R. Bloom,  known by me to be
the  person  of  the  above  name  who  signed  the  foregoing  instrument,  and
acknowledged the same to be his own free act and deed.

                                                /S/LYNN ANN KLUNTZ

                                                Notary Public
                                                My Commission Expires: 1/31/2000

<PAGE>
                                   ASSIGNMENT

WHEREAS, I, Michael R. Bloom, of 1110 Clifford Drive,  Kasota,  Minnesota 56050,
have invented certain new and useful improvements in a gas separation centrifuge
for which I have made  application  for United States Letters  Patent,  the said
application  having  been filed on March 14,  1997,  by me and  assigned  Serial
Number 08/819,583 (and I hereby authorize the attorney(s) and agent(s) of record
to insert  hereon the filing date and serial  number of said  application,  when
known); and

WHEREAS,  Fuge Systems,  Inc., a corporation of the State of Texas, with offices
at 4516  Hitching  Post Lane,  Plano,  Texas 75024  (hereinafter  referred to as
"Assignee"), is desirous of acquiring my entire right, title and interest in and
to the Invention, and in and to the said application and any Letters Patent that
may issue thereon;

NOW,  THEREFORE,  for and in  consideration of One Dollar ($1.00) and other good
and  valuable  consideration,  the receipt and  sufficiency  of which are hereby
acknowledged,  I do hereby SELL,  ASSIGN and TRANSFER  unto said  Assignee,  its
successors,  assigns and legal  representatives  the full and  exclusive  right,
title and interest in and to said Invention and in and to said  application  and
all  patents  which  may be  granted  therefor,  and  all  divisions,  reissues,
substitutions, continuations,  continuations-in-part and extensions thereof; and
I hereby  authorize and request the Commissioner of Patents to issue all patents
for said Invention,  or patents resulting  therefrom,  insofar as my interest is
concerned, to said Assignee of my entire right, title and interest.

I also  hereby SELL and ASSIGN to said  Assignee,  its  successors,  assigns and
legal  representatives the full and exclusive rights, title and interest to said
Invention  disclosed in said  application  throughout  the world,  including the
right to file applications and obtain patents, utility models, industrial models
and designs for said Invention in its own name  throughout the world,  including
all  rights of  priority,  all rights to publish  cautionary  notices  reserving
ownership  of said  Invention  and all  rights to  register  said  Invention  in
appropriate  registries;  and I further  agree to execute  any and all powers of
attorney,  applications,  assignments,  declarations,  affidavits, and any other
papers in  connection  therewith  necessary to perfect  such  rights,  title and
interest in Assignee, its successors, assigns and legal representatives.

I hereby  further  agree that I will  communicate  to said  Assignee,  or to its
successors, assigns and legal representatives,  any facts known to me respecting
any improvements;  and, at the expense of said Assignee, to testify in any legal
proceedings,  sign all lawful  papers,  execute  all  divisional,  continuation,
continuation-in-part,  reissue  and  substitute  applications,  make all  lawful
oaths,  and generally do everything  possible to vest title in said Assignee and
to aid said  Assignee,  its  successors,  assigns and legal  representatives  to
obtain and enforce proper protection for said Invention in all countries.

<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I HAVE HEREUNTO SET MY HAND THIS 26TH day of March, 1997.

                                                     /S/MICHAEL R. BLOOM
                                                     Michael R. Bloom

STATE OF MINNESOTA                  )
                                    )ss.
COUNTY OF                           )

ON THIS 26TH day of March, 1997, before me, a Notary Public in and for the State
and County aforesaid,  personally  appeared Michael R. Bloom,  known by me to be
the  person  of  the  above  name  who  signed  the  foregoing  instrument,  and
acknowledged the same to be his own free act and deed.

                                                 /S/TIMOTHY J. GRASOW

                                                 Notary Public
                                                 My Commission Expires: 1/31/00

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