The present patent incorporates major improvements and simplifications of
1976 U.S. Pat. No. 3,967,449 necessary to make the concept functional and
useful on a large scale. The earlier patent listed many approaches to the
several design problems believed to be necessary at the time of the
earlier application, while this one reflects the extensive research and
laboratory investigation to identify, validate and demonstrate the
functionality of the various parts. In particular, the methods for
producing the necessary nuclei for steam bubble production, the method of
insuring bubble growth, the method of condensing the steam bubbles
produced and methods for minimizing the release of air in large bubbles,
and for dealing with those that are released are covered in detail. The
first patent, with 50 claims listed many approaches to many problems, some
of which were either misunderstood from an unsatisfactory literature or
unnecessarily complicated. To an extent those have been eliminated,
resulting in what appears to be the simplest embodiment of the concept.