US3698182A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and device for hot gas engine or gas refrigeration machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-16
•
Granted: 1972-10-17
•
Expires: 1991-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A closed-cycle gas expansion engine and a closed-cycle or opencycle gas expansion refrigerator, including a thermal regenerator, devices for transferring heat into the gas or subtracting cold gas, and a piston assembly for developing approximately 180* phase difference in the varying volumes of the warmer and colder gas chambers. A general valve mechanism is employed for properly timed flow of working gas into the primary gas chamber from a plenum chamber containing cooling devices for closed-cycle operation, or for flow of working gas into the primary gas chamber from an ambient atmosphere for open-cycle operation. A valve mechanism, separate or coupled to the first mechanism, is used for proper initiation and termination of gas flow between the primary and secondary chambers in one particular phase of the reciprocating piston motion. Still another valve, which may be integrated with any of the other mentioned valve mechanisms, is used for release of suitably recompressed working gas in the secondary chamber into the plenum chamber with a closed cycle, or for properly timed exhaust of such gas back to the ambient atmosphere with an open cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Stellan Knoos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:13
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/045; F02G1/05; F02G1/044; F02G2244/00; F02G2244/50; F02G2258/00; F02G2258/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
In a gas compressing and expanding device for use as an engine or refrigerator, primary and secondary gas work chambers, piston assembly means having first and second piston portions mounted for reciprocating motIon in said primary and secondary chambers respectively, said piston portions being connected to each other so that with motion thereof, the effective volumes of said chambers are varied in substantially inverse relationship, a source of gas, means for feeding gas from said gas source to the primary chamber during a first period of time corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the forward stroke of said piston assembly means, means for providing a fluid communications path between said primary and secondary chambers to transfer gas therebetween during a second period of time including at least a portion of the time of a predetermined reverse stroke of said piston assembly means, the average pressure of the gas when transferred being lower than when fed to the primary chamber, said means for feeding gas to the primary chamber and said means for providing a fluid communications path between the primary and secondary chambers including common channel means comprising a thermal regenerator having a connection for each end thereof, one of said regenerator connections being coupled to said primary chamber, and valve means interposed between the other of the regenerator connections and the source of gas and the other of the regenerator connections and the secondary chamber for connecting said source of gas to said regenerator during said first period of time and said regenerator to said secondary chamber during said second period of time, means for causing heat exchange with said gas, and means for releasing gas from the secondary chamber during at least a portion of the forward stroke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
In a gas compressing and expanding device for use as an engine or refrigerator, primary and secondary gas work chambers, piston assembly means having first and second piston portions mounted for reciprocating motIon in said primary and secondary chambers respectively, said piston portions being connected to each other so that with motion thereof, the effective volumes of said chambers are varied in substantially inverse relationship, a source of gas, means for feeding gas from said gas source to the primary chamber during a first period of time corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the forward stroke of said piston assembly means, means for providing a fluid communications path between said primary and secondary chambers to transfer gas therebetween during a second period of time including at least a portion of the time of a predetermined reverse stroke of said piston assembly means, the average pressure of the gas when transferred being lower than when fed to the primary chamber, said means for feeding gas to the primary chamber and said means for providing a fluid communications path between the primary and secondary chambers including common channel means comprising a thermal regenerator having a connection for each end thereof, one of said regenerator connections being coupled to said primary chamber, and valve means interposed between the other of the regenerator connections and the source of gas and the other of the regenerator connections and the secondary chamber for connecting said source of gas to said regenerator during said first period of time and said regenerator to said secondary chamber during said second period of time, means for causing heat exchange with said gas, and means for releasing gas from the secondary chamber during at least a portion of the forward stroke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the first period of time corresponds to substantially 75 percent of the forward stroke.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the first period of time corresponds to 25- 100 percent of the forward stroke.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said second period of time commences when the forward stroke has been completed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for releasing gas from said secondary chamber comprises valve means for venting the gas to the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for releasing gas from said secondary chamber comprises a plenum chamber and means for feeding the gas to the plenum chamber, said source of gas comprising the gas in said plenum chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 1 which is a refrigerator wherein is included means for driving said piston assembly means to cause the expansion and compression of the gas in said chambers, said means for causing a transfer of heat to said gas comprising a refrigeration heat load.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 1 which is an engine, said means for causing heat exchange with said gas including a heater device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said source of gas comprises a gas filled plenum chamber and means for cooling the gas in said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said source of gas comprises the ambient atmosphere.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said gas is air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said piston assembly means comprises a central portion interconnecting said first and second piston portions, said piston portions moving reciprocally parallel to a predetermined axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the volume of said plenum chamber is substantially larger than that of said primary and secondary chambers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said cooling means comprises ambient air.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said piston assembly means comprises a rotatably supported central shaft portion, said first and second piston portions comprising vane members extending radially from said central shaft portion, said work chambers being formed by a cylindrical member enclosing said piston portions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said means for causing heat exchange with said gas further includes a heat exchanger.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said primary gas work chamBer is divided into a plurality of separate sections of different cross-sectional areas, said first piston portion including a separate piston member for each of said chamber sections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 7 and further including a third gas work chamber positioned between said primary and secondary work chambers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said heat transferring means includes a regenerator and condenser means attached to the regenerator for separating condensable liquid from the working gas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
267 words
In a hot-gas engine, primary and secondary gas work chambers, piston assembly means having first and second piston portions mounted for reciprocating motion in said primary and secondary chambers respectively, said piston portions being connected to each other so that with motion thereof, the effective volumes of said chambers are varied in substantially inverse relationship, a source of gas, external heat source means for applying heat energy to said gas, means for feeding the gas to the primary chamber during a first period of time corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the forward stroke of said piston assembly means, means for providing a fluid communications path between said primary and secondary chambers during a second period of time including at least a portion of the time of a predetermined reverse stroke of said piston assembly means, thermal regenerator means forming a common channel interposed between said source of gas and said primary chamber for applying heat to said gas as it flows to said primary chamber and interposed in said path between said primary and secondary chambers for withdrawing heat from the gas as it flows from the primary to the secondary chamber, valve means interposed between the regenerator and the source of gas and the regenerator and the secondary chamber for connecting said source of gas to said regenerator during said first period of time and said regenerator to said secondary chamber during said second period of time, means for releasing gas from the secondary chamber during at least a portion of the forward stroke, and output drive shaft means coupled to said piston assembly means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
267 words
In a hot-gas engine, primary and secondary gas work chambers, piston assembly means having first and second piston portions mounted for reciprocating motion in said primary and secondary chambers respectively, said piston portions being connected to each other so that with motion thereof, the effective volumes of said chambers are varied in substantially inverse relationship, a source of gas, external heat source means for applying heat energy to said gas, means for feeding the gas to the primary chamber during a first period of time corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the forward stroke of said piston assembly means, means for providing a fluid communications path between said primary and secondary chambers during a second period of time including at least a portion of the time of a predetermined reverse stroke of said piston assembly means, thermal regenerator means forming a common channel interposed between said source of gas and said primary chamber for applying heat to said gas as it flows to said primary chamber and interposed in said path between said primary and secondary chambers for withdrawing heat from the gas as it flows from the primary to the secondary chamber, valve means interposed between the regenerator and the source of gas and the regenerator and the secondary chamber for connecting said source of gas to said regenerator during said first period of time and said regenerator to said secondary chamber during said second period of time, means for releasing gas from the secondary chamber during at least a portion of the forward stroke, and output drive shaft means coupled to said piston assembly means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 20 wherein the first period of time corresponds to 25- 100 percent of the forward stroke.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 20 wherein the first period of time corresponds to substantially 75 percent of the forward stroke.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 20 wherein the second period of time commences when the forward stroke has been completed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said piston assembly means comprises a central portion interconnecting said first and second piston portions, said piston portions moving reciprocally parallel to a predetermined axis.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said means for feeding the gas to the primary chamber and said means for providing a communications path between the chambers includes valves operatively responsive to the shaft means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said piston assembly means comprises a rotatably supported central shaft portion, said first and second piston portions comprising vane members extending radially from said central shaft, said work chambers being formed by a cylindrical member enclosing said piston portions and having a separator portion dividing said cylindrical member into said primary and secondary chambers.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said means for applying heat to said gas further includes a heat exchanger.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device of claim 27 wherein said source of gas includes a plenum chamber filled with gas and cooler means for cooling the gas in said plenum chamber, said means for releasing gas from said secondary chamber comprising means for interconnecting the secondary chamber and the plenum chamber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The device of claim 20 and further including a third gas work chamber positioned between said primary and secondary chambers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 20 wherein said piston assembly means comprises a central portion interconnecting said piston portions for reciprocal motion in said chambers, said output drive shaft means being coupled to said central portion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 20 and further including a plurality of additional primary and secondary chambers and piston assembly means operating similarly to said first mentioned chambers and piston assembly means, the piston portions of said various piston assembly means all being coupled to said output drive shaft means, said piston portions being phased relative to each other to provide rotatable drive of said drive shaft means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
260 words
In a refrigerator, primary and secondary gas work chambers, piston assembly means having first and second piston portions mounted for reciprocating motion in said primary and secondary chambers respectively, said piston portions being connected to each other so that with motion thereof, the effective volumes of said chambers are varied in substantially inverse relationship, means for driving said piston portions reciprocally in said chambers, a source of gas, means for providing a refrigeration heat load, means for feeding said gas to said primary chamber during a first period of time corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the forward stroke of the piston assembly means, means for feeding said gas from said primary chamber to said refrigeration heat load means and to said secondary chamber during at least a portion of the reverse stroke of said piston assembly means, said means for feeding gas to said primary chamber and said means for feeding gas from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber including common channel means formed by a regenerator having a connection for each end thereof, one of said regenerator connections being coupled to said primary chamber, and valve means interposed between the other of the regenerator connections and the source of gas and the other of the regenerator connections and the secondary chamber for connecting said source of gas to said regenerator during the first period of time and said regenerator to said secondary chamber during the second period of time, and means for releasing gas from said secondary chamber during at least a portion of the forward stroke.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
260 words
In a refrigerator, primary and secondary gas work chambers, piston assembly means having first and second piston portions mounted for reciprocating motion in said primary and secondary chambers respectively, said piston portions being connected to each other so that with motion thereof, the effective volumes of said chambers are varied in substantially inverse relationship, means for driving said piston portions reciprocally in said chambers, a source of gas, means for providing a refrigeration heat load, means for feeding said gas to said primary chamber during a first period of time corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the forward stroke of the piston assembly means, means for feeding said gas from said primary chamber to said refrigeration heat load means and to said secondary chamber during at least a portion of the reverse stroke of said piston assembly means, said means for feeding gas to said primary chamber and said means for feeding gas from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber including common channel means formed by a regenerator having a connection for each end thereof, one of said regenerator connections being coupled to said primary chamber, and valve means interposed between the other of the regenerator connections and the source of gas and the other of the regenerator connections and the secondary chamber for connecting said source of gas to said regenerator during the first period of time and said regenerator to said secondary chamber during the second period of time, and means for releasing gas from said secondary chamber during at least a portion of the forward stroke.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
53 words
The refrigerator of claim 32 wherein said means for feeding the gas from the primary chamber comprises means for feeding gas to said refrigeration heat load means during a first portion of the reverse stroke and means for feeding the gas to the secondary chamber during a second portion of the reverse stroke.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 32 wherein said primary gas work chamber is divided into a plurality of separate sections of different effective cross-sectional areas, said first piston portion including a separate piston member for each of said chamber sections.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
264 words
In a refrigerator, primary and secondary gas work chambers, piston assembly means having first and second piston portions mounted for reciprocating motion in said primary and secondary chambers respectively, said piston portions being connected to each other so that with the motion thereof, the effective volumes of said chambers are varied in substantially inverse relationship, means for driving said piston portions reciprocally in said chambers, a source of gas, means for feeding said gas to said primary chamber during a first period of time corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the forward stroke of the piston assembly means, means for feeding a first portion of said gas from said primary chamber to external means to be cooled and a second portion of said gas to said secondary chamber during at least a portion of the reverse stroke of the piston assembly means, said means for feeding gas to said primary chamber and said means for feeding gas from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber including common channel means formed by a regenerator having a connection for each eNd thereof, one of said regenerator connections being coupled to said primary chamber, and valve means interposed between the other of the regenerator connections and the source of gas and the other of the regenerator connections and the secondary chamber for connecting said source of gas to said regenerator during the first period of time and said regenerator to said secondary chamber during the second period of time, and means for releasing gas from said secondary chamber during at least a portion of the forward stroke.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
264 words
In a refrigerator, primary and secondary gas work chambers, piston assembly means having first and second piston portions mounted for reciprocating motion in said primary and secondary chambers respectively, said piston portions being connected to each other so that with the motion thereof, the effective volumes of said chambers are varied in substantially inverse relationship, means for driving said piston portions reciprocally in said chambers, a source of gas, means for feeding said gas to said primary chamber during a first period of time corresponding to a predetermined percentage of the forward stroke of the piston assembly means, means for feeding a first portion of said gas from said primary chamber to external means to be cooled and a second portion of said gas to said secondary chamber during at least a portion of the reverse stroke of the piston assembly means, said means for feeding gas to said primary chamber and said means for feeding gas from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber including common channel means formed by a regenerator having a connection for each eNd thereof, one of said regenerator connections being coupled to said primary chamber, and valve means interposed between the other of the regenerator connections and the source of gas and the other of the regenerator connections and the secondary chamber for connecting said source of gas to said regenerator during the first period of time and said regenerator to said secondary chamber during the second period of time, and means for releasing gas from said secondary chamber during at least a portion of the forward stroke.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |