Pardon if this is old news on Vortex, but I was surprised to find
this
2003 USPTO patent application --
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2003/0112916.html
"Cold nuclear fusion under non-equilibrium conditions
United States Patent Application 20030112916 Kind Code: A1
Inventors:
Keeney, Franklin W. (US)
Jones, Steven E. (US)
Johnson, Alben C. (US)
ABSTRACT:
A method of producing cold nuclear fusion and a method of
preparing a
fusion-promoting material for producing cold nuclear fusion are
disclosed.
The method of producing fusion includes selecting a fusion-promoting
material, hydriding the fusion-promoting material with a source of
isotopic hydrogen, and establishing a non-equilibrium condition
in the
fusion-promoting material. The method of producing fusion may
include
cleaning the fusion-promoting material. The method of producing
fusion may
also include heat-treating the fusion-promoting material. The
method of
preparing a fusion-promoting material for producing fusion includes
selecting a fusion-promoting material and hydriding the fusion-
promoting
material with a source of isotopic hydrogen. The method of
preparing a
fusion-promoting material for producing fusion may include cleaning
the
fusion-promoting material. The method of preparing a fusion-
promoting
material for producing fusion may also include heat-treating the
fusion-promoting material."
-- which includes Steven E. Jones as an inventor. Further down
is --
"BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to fusion energy. More
particularly,
the present invention relates to a method for producing cold nuclear
fusion and a method for preparing a fusion-promoting material for
producing cold nuclear fusion.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Mankind employs many energy sources. Oil, coal, natural gas,
water
(hydroelectric), and nuclear fission number among the most
prominent of
these sources. However, most of these sources exists in a limited
supply,
produces a relatively small quantity of energy per unit of the given
source, or raises environmental concerns. Thus, because earth's
population
and energy needs continue to climb dramatically, researchers
continue to
seek more plentiful, efficient, and environmentally-friendly energy
sources.
[0005] These needs have led researchers to consider nuclear fusion,
the
process that powers the sun. First, the raw materials for nuclear
fusion
abound on our planet. For example, deuterium is plentiful in
seawater.
Second, fusion of atomic particles and/or light nuclei produces more
energy for a given amount of material than virtually any other known
energy source. Finally, nuclear fusion holds strong promise as an
environmentally-safe process. For these reasons, and based on major
technological advances in the latter half of the twentieth century,
many
knowledgeable individuals now anticipate that nuclear fusion may
provide a
long-term answer to mankind's energy needs."
--- The patent application seems to cover quite a wide range of
implementations.
Unless this is a different Steven Jones, did he become a believer
14-years
after the 1989 CF-brouhaha?
Any insights?
Lou Pagnucco
