US3657877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tidal regenerator heat engine
Assignee: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc
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Filing: 1971-02-01
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1991-02-01
Abstract
Abstract A heat engine of modified Stirling cycle configuration utilizing condensable vapor as a working fluid in a variable liquid level regenerator. Condensation and evaporation of the working fluid take place in the variable liquid level regenerator continuously and in a controlled manner. In addition to the variable liquid level regenerator, which may be defined more aptly as a tidal regenerator, the basic components of the engine are a condenser, a vaporizer, a superheater, a power piston, a displacer piston and a control for the displacer piston.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred N Huffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:56
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F01; F01K; F01K25/00; F02G1/0435; F02G1/045; F02G1/053; F02G1/057; F02G5/00; F02G5/02; F04; F04B; F04B9/00; F04B9/08; F04B9/10; F04B9/103; F04B9/107; F02G2243/00; F02G2243/30; F02G2243/38; F02G2270/00; F02G2270/70; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A heat engine comprising a closed system, a condensable vapor serving as a working fluid in said closed system, a tidal regenerator, forming a part of said closed system, means for establishing a temperature gradient across said regenerator, means for alternately establishing the level of said working fluid in its liquid phase at points of high temperature and at points of low temperature in said tidal regenerator, pressure in said closed system being relatively high when said level is at said points of high temperature and relatively low when said level is at said points of low temperature, and means responsive to changes of said pressure communicating with said system for converting said changes to mechanical energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A heat engine comprising a closed system, a condensable vapor serving as a working fluid in said closed system, a tidal regenerator, forming a part of said closed system, means for establishing a temperature gradient across said regenerator, means for alternately establishing the level of said working fluid in its liquid phase at points of high temperature and at points of low temperature in said tidal regenerator, pressure in said closed system being relatively high when said level is at said points of high temperature and relatively low when said level is at said points of low temperature, and means responsive to changes of said pressure communicating with said system for converting said changes to mechanical energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
105 words
A heat engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said closed system includes a vaporizer to which heat is applied and a condenser from which heat is extracted disposed at opposite ends of said tidal regenerator, whereby said temperature gradient is established, said system further comprising a control system for actuating said means for alternately establishing the level of said working fluid in its liquid phase, whereby said level is alternately substantially in said vaporizer and substantially in said condenser, pressure in said closed system being relatively high when said level is in said vaporizer and relatively low when said level is in said condenser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A heat engine as defined in claim 1 wherein pressure within said engine varies with said level of said working fluid in its liquid phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
A heat engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for alternately establishing the level of said working fluid in its liquid phase at points of high temperature and at points of low temperature comprises a displacement cylinder for said working fluid, a displacement piston reciprocable in said displacement cylinder, and means for actuating said displacement piston to move said working fluid through said engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A heat engine as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for actuating said displacement piston comprises means for generating electrical pulses and an electromechanical converter responsive to said pulse generating means connected to and driving said piston.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
A heat engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means responsive to changes of said pressure communicating with said system for converting said changes to mechanical energy comprises a power cylinder and a power piston reciprocable therein, said power piston being driven in one direction by said relatively high pressure in said system and returning in the other direction against said relatively low pressure in said system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A heat engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said working fluid consists of a mixture of different fluids.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
219 words
A heat engine as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for alternately establishing the level of said working fluid in its liquid phase at points of high temperature and at points of low temperature includes an interface cylinder and an interface piston reciprocable in said interface cylinder, a displacement cylinder and a displacement piston reciprocable in said displacement cylinder, and said means responsive to changes of said pressure for converting said changes to mechanical energy comprises a power cylinder and a power piston reciprocable in said power cylinder, means for hydraulically coupling said power piston to said interface piston to cause said power piston and said interface piston to move together, means for actuating said displacement piston in one direction to move said level of said working fluid to a point of high temperature and high pressure, said pressure forcing said interface piston and said power piston to move in one direction from their original positions in their respective cylinders generating output power from said power piston, means for actuating said displacement piston in the opposite directions to move said level of working fluid to a point of low temperature and low pressure, whereby said interface piston and said power piston move in the other direction against low pressure in their respective cylinder to resume their original positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3487635A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |