US3740966A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotary heat pump
Assignee: Conserve Resources Inc
•
Filing: 1971-12-17
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1991-12-17
Abstract
Abstract A heat-operated rotary heat pump is provided for use in air conditioning, particularly for cooling the passenger compartment of an automobile or other vehicle. It includes a generator, absorber, condenser, and evaporator, all mounted for rotation as a group. The device is capable of being made portable.
Inventors
- 👤 M Pravda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:31
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B15/00; F25B15/004; D; D05; D05B; D05B35/00; D05B35/10; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A30/00; Y02A30/27; Y02B; Y02B30/00; Y02B30/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
380 words
A heat-operated rotary heat pump for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of enclosed, interconnected chambers mounted for rotation as a group, the chambers as a group being airtight and liquidtight and including a generator in which a refrigerant is present and to which heat is applied to convert the refrigerant into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction; a condenser to which said vapors are passed for condensation therein, means for passing the vapors from the generator to the condenser; an evaporator for receiving condensed vapors from the condenser and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporization and to cool the evaporator walls, means for passing said condensed vapors from the condenser to the evaporator; an absorber in which said concentrated liquid fraction from the generator is brought in contact with vapors from the evaporator, thereby to absorb said vapors and to form a dilute liquid fraction, means for passing said vapors from the evaporator to the absorber, means for passing said dilute liquid fraction from the absorber to the generator to be concentrated therein; and a liquid cooler for receiving concentrated liquid fraction from the generator and cooling the same, means for passing said concentrated liquid fraction from the generator to the liquid cooler, means for pumping cooled concentrated liquid fraction from the liquid cooler to said absorber; the liquid cooler, generator, and absorber, in such order, being disposed next adjacent one another; said pumping means comprising a hollow pipe extending from the liquid cooler through the generator and into the absorber and having a pitot tube connected to that portion of said pipe in the liquid cooler for picking up cooled concentrated liquid fraction and transferring the same to said pipe, means on that portion of the pipe in the generator for maintaining the pipe in an operative pumping position, means on that portion of the pipe in the absorber for forming a spray of said cooled concentrated liquid fraction introduced thereto from the liquid cooler; means for supporting said chambers for rotation, and means for rotating the chambers as a group; fan means on the condenser, absorber, and liquid cooler for dissipating heat therefrom, and fan means on the evaporator for moving air against said cooled evaporator walls, thereby to cool said air.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
380 words
A heat-operated rotary heat pump for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of enclosed, interconnected chambers mounted for rotation as a group, the chambers as a group being airtight and liquidtight and including a generator in which a refrigerant is present and to which heat is applied to convert the refrigerant into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction; a condenser to which said vapors are passed for condensation therein, means for passing the vapors from the generator to the condenser; an evaporator for receiving condensed vapors from the condenser and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporization and to cool the evaporator walls, means for passing said condensed vapors from the condenser to the evaporator; an absorber in which said concentrated liquid fraction from the generator is brought in contact with vapors from the evaporator, thereby to absorb said vapors and to form a dilute liquid fraction, means for passing said vapors from the evaporator to the absorber, means for passing said dilute liquid fraction from the absorber to the generator to be concentrated therein; and a liquid cooler for receiving concentrated liquid fraction from the generator and cooling the same, means for passing said concentrated liquid fraction from the generator to the liquid cooler, means for pumping cooled concentrated liquid fraction from the liquid cooler to said absorber; the liquid cooler, generator, and absorber, in such order, being disposed next adjacent one another; said pumping means comprising a hollow pipe extending from the liquid cooler through the generator and into the absorber and having a pitot tube connected to that portion of said pipe in the liquid cooler for picking up cooled concentrated liquid fraction and transferring the same to said pipe, means on that portion of the pipe in the generator for maintaining the pipe in an operative pumping position, means on that portion of the pipe in the absorber for forming a spray of said cooled concentrated liquid fraction introduced thereto from the liquid cooler; means for supporting said chambers for rotation, and means for rotating the chambers as a group; fan means on the condenser, absorber, and liquid cooler for dissipating heat therefrom, and fan means on the evaporator for moving air against said cooled evaporator walls, thereby to cool said air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
278 words
A rotary heat pump device for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of units including a generator, an absorber disposed in end-to-end relation with the generator, a common wall therebetween, a condenser, and an evaporator, said units as a group being mounted for rotation, said generator having a refrigerant to which heat is applied to convert the same into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction, pumping means in the generator for pumping said liquid fraction to the absorber, said pumping means extending axially in the generator and being supported on and extending through said common wall, and means on said common wall for supporting said pumping means so that said device is rotatable relatively to the pumping means, means for passing said vapors to the condenser for condensation therein, thereby to release heat of condensation, fins on said condenser for dissipating said heat of condensation, and means for passing condensed vapors to the evaporator, said evaporator receiving said condensed vapors and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporizatIon and to cool the evaporator walls and external surfaces thereof, fan blades on the evaporator for moving air in heat exchange relationship with said cooled surfaces, thereby to provide a stream of cooled air, means for passing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber, means in the absorber for spraying said concentrated liquid fraction therein to facilitate absorption of vapors coming from the evaporator, thereby to form a dilute liquid fraction and to release heat of absorption, fan blades on the absorber to dissipate said heat of absorption, and means comprising an opening in said common wall for passing said dilute liquid fraction to the generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
278 words
A rotary heat pump device for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of units including a generator, an absorber disposed in end-to-end relation with the generator, a common wall therebetween, a condenser, and an evaporator, said units as a group being mounted for rotation, said generator having a refrigerant to which heat is applied to convert the same into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction, pumping means in the generator for pumping said liquid fraction to the absorber, said pumping means extending axially in the generator and being supported on and extending through said common wall, and means on said common wall for supporting said pumping means so that said device is rotatable relatively to the pumping means, means for passing said vapors to the condenser for condensation therein, thereby to release heat of condensation, fins on said condenser for dissipating said heat of condensation, and means for passing condensed vapors to the evaporator, said evaporator receiving said condensed vapors and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporizatIon and to cool the evaporator walls and external surfaces thereof, fan blades on the evaporator for moving air in heat exchange relationship with said cooled surfaces, thereby to provide a stream of cooled air, means for passing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber, means in the absorber for spraying said concentrated liquid fraction therein to facilitate absorption of vapors coming from the evaporator, thereby to form a dilute liquid fraction and to release heat of absorption, fan blades on the absorber to dissipate said heat of absorption, and means comprising an opening in said common wall for passing said dilute liquid fraction to the generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
Device of claim 2 wherein said means for passing vapors to the condenser comprise a plurality of circumferentially spaced tubes which extend through the absorber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
Device of claim 2 wherein said means for passing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber comprise an axial passageway which extends through the condenser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Device of claim 2 wherein said pumping means are supported on both end walls of the generator, including said common wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
Device of claim 2 wherein said pumping means comprise a straight hollow pipe extending between the generator and the absorber and having an outlet in the absorber, a pitot tube connected to the pipe for picking up said concentrated liquid fraction and transferring the same to said pipe and to said outlet, and means connected to the pipe for maintaining the same in an operative pumping position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Device of claim 2 wherein a liquid cooler is present to receive concentrated liquid fraction from the generator in order to cool the same before it is passed to the absorber, thereby to improve the efficiency of the absorber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Device of claim 2 wherein said refrigerant is a deliquescent material dissolved in a solvent therefor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
Device of claim 2 wherein said refrigerant is an aqueous solution containing at least 50 percent by weight of lithium bromide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Device of claim 2 wherein said refrigerant is a solution of lithium bromide in an alcohol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
Device of claim 2 wherein the absorber has means for thermally insulating the same from the generator, thereby to avoid the transfer of heat from the generator to the absorber and to improve the efficiency of the latter, and wherein the condenser has means for thermally insulating the same from the generator and from the evaporator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
Device of claim 2 wherein said condenser and evaporator each has a diameter which increases as one moves away from the absorber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
275 words
A rotary heat pump device for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of enclosed units disposed in end-to-end relation comprising a generator, an absorber, a common wall therebetween, a condenser, a common wall between the absorber and condenser, an evaporator, a common wall between the condenser and evaporator, said units as a group being hermetically sealed and mounted for rotation, said generator having a refrigerant to which heat is applied to convert the refrigerant into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction, pumping means in the generator for pumping said liquid fraction to the absorber, said pumping means extending axially in the generator and being supported on said common wall between generator and absorber, and means on said last-mentioned common wall for supporting said pumping means so that said device is rotatable relatively thereto, means for passing said vapors to the condenser for condensation therein, thereby to release heat of condensation, fins on said condenser for dissipating said heat of condensation, and means for passing condensed vapors to the evaporator, said evaporator receiving said condensed vapors and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporization and to cool the evaporator walls and external surfaces thereof, fan blades on the evaporator for moving air in heat exchange relationship with said cooled surfaces, thereby to provide a stream of cooled air, means for pAssing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber, means in the absorber for spraying said concentrated liquid fraction therein to facilitate absorption of vapors coming from the evaporator, thereby to form a dilute liquid fraction and to release heat of absorption, and means for passing said dilute liquid fraction to the generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
275 words
A rotary heat pump device for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of enclosed units disposed in end-to-end relation comprising a generator, an absorber, a common wall therebetween, a condenser, a common wall between the absorber and condenser, an evaporator, a common wall between the condenser and evaporator, said units as a group being hermetically sealed and mounted for rotation, said generator having a refrigerant to which heat is applied to convert the refrigerant into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction, pumping means in the generator for pumping said liquid fraction to the absorber, said pumping means extending axially in the generator and being supported on said common wall between generator and absorber, and means on said last-mentioned common wall for supporting said pumping means so that said device is rotatable relatively thereto, means for passing said vapors to the condenser for condensation therein, thereby to release heat of condensation, fins on said condenser for dissipating said heat of condensation, and means for passing condensed vapors to the evaporator, said evaporator receiving said condensed vapors and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporization and to cool the evaporator walls and external surfaces thereof, fan blades on the evaporator for moving air in heat exchange relationship with said cooled surfaces, thereby to provide a stream of cooled air, means for pAssing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber, means in the absorber for spraying said concentrated liquid fraction therein to facilitate absorption of vapors coming from the evaporator, thereby to form a dilute liquid fraction and to release heat of absorption, and means for passing said dilute liquid fraction to the generator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
Device of claim 13 wherein all of said units are enclosed by an outer cylindrical wall which extends from end to end of the device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
Device of claim 13 wherein said spraying means in the absorber are rotatable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
378 words
A heat-operated miniaturized rotary heat pump for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of units including a generator, an absorber, a common wall therebetween, a condenser, and an evaporator, said units as a group being mounted for rotation, said generator having a refrigerant to which heat is applied to convert the same into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction, pumping means extending axially in the generator for pumping said liquid fraction to the absorber, said pumping means being supported on and extending through said common wall, and means on the common wall for supporting the pumping means so that said device is rotatable relatively to the pumping means, means for passing vapors to the condenser for condensation therein, thereby to release heat of condensation, fins on said condenser for dissipating said heat of condensation, and means for passing condensed vapors to the evaporator, said evaporator receiving said condensed vapors and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporization and to cool the evaporator walls and external surfaces thereof, fan blades on the evaporator for moving air in heat exchange relationship with said cooled surfaces, thereby to provide a stream of cooled air, means for passing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber, means in the absorber for spraying said concentrated liquid fraction therein to facilitate absorption of vapors coming from the evaporator, thereby to form a dilute liquid fraction and to release heat of absorption, fan blades on the absorber to dissipate said heat of absorption, and means for passing said dilute liquid fraction to the generator, a housing for said generator, absorber, and condenser, an electric motor supported on one side of the housing and outwardly of the same and having a shaft which extends to and engages said generator for rotating said units, said evaporator extending beyond said opposite side of the housing into a space to be cooled, and fan means on the evaporator for moving air against said cooled evaporator walls and into said space, an electric winding around the outside of the generator for heating the same, a pair of slip rings on said shaft to which the winding is connected, and a pair of electric conductors slidably engaging the slip rings and being connectable to an electric current supply.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
378 words
A heat-operated miniaturized rotary heat pump for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of units including a generator, an absorber, a common wall therebetween, a condenser, and an evaporator, said units as a group being mounted for rotation, said generator having a refrigerant to which heat is applied to convert the same into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction, pumping means extending axially in the generator for pumping said liquid fraction to the absorber, said pumping means being supported on and extending through said common wall, and means on the common wall for supporting the pumping means so that said device is rotatable relatively to the pumping means, means for passing vapors to the condenser for condensation therein, thereby to release heat of condensation, fins on said condenser for dissipating said heat of condensation, and means for passing condensed vapors to the evaporator, said evaporator receiving said condensed vapors and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporization and to cool the evaporator walls and external surfaces thereof, fan blades on the evaporator for moving air in heat exchange relationship with said cooled surfaces, thereby to provide a stream of cooled air, means for passing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber, means in the absorber for spraying said concentrated liquid fraction therein to facilitate absorption of vapors coming from the evaporator, thereby to form a dilute liquid fraction and to release heat of absorption, fan blades on the absorber to dissipate said heat of absorption, and means for passing said dilute liquid fraction to the generator, a housing for said generator, absorber, and condenser, an electric motor supported on one side of the housing and outwardly of the same and having a shaft which extends to and engages said generator for rotating said units, said evaporator extending beyond said opposite side of the housing into a space to be cooled, and fan means on the evaporator for moving air against said cooled evaporator walls and into said space, an electric winding around the outside of the generator for heating the same, a pair of slip rings on said shaft to which the winding is connected, and a pair of electric conductors slidably engaging the slip rings and being connectable to an electric current supply.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
Heat pump of claim 16 having an over all length of approximately 1 foot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
300 words
A rotary heat pump device for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of units including a generator, an absorber, a common wall therebetween, a condenser, and an evaporator, said units as a group being mounted for rotation, said generator and absorber each having a diameter that increases as one moves away from the evaporator, said generator having a refrigerant to which heat is applied to convert the same into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction, pumping means in the generator for pumping said liquid fraction to the absorber, said pumping means extending axially in the generator and through said common wall, and means on both end walls of the generator for supporting said pumping means so that said device is rotatable relatively to the pumping means, means for passing said vapors to the condenser for condensation therein comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced tubes which extend through the absorber, thereby to release heat of condensation, said condenser compRising a group of circumferentially spaced finned tubes, and means for passing condensed vapors to the evaporator, said evaporator receiving said condensed vapors and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporization and to cool the evaporator walls and external surfaces thereof, fan blades on the evaporator for moving air in heat exchange relationship with said cooled surfaces, thereby to provide a stream of cooled air, means for passing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber comprising an axial passageway which extends through the condenser, means in the absorber for dispersing said concentrated liquid fraction therein to facilitate absorption of vapors coming from the evaporator, thereby to form a dilute liquid fraction and to release heat of absorption, fan blades on the absorber to dissipate said heat of absorption, and means for passing said dilute liquid fraction to the generator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
300 words
A rotary heat pump device for use as an air conditioner comprising a plurality of units including a generator, an absorber, a common wall therebetween, a condenser, and an evaporator, said units as a group being mounted for rotation, said generator and absorber each having a diameter that increases as one moves away from the evaporator, said generator having a refrigerant to which heat is applied to convert the same into vapors and a concentrated liquid fraction, pumping means in the generator for pumping said liquid fraction to the absorber, said pumping means extending axially in the generator and through said common wall, and means on both end walls of the generator for supporting said pumping means so that said device is rotatable relatively to the pumping means, means for passing said vapors to the condenser for condensation therein comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced tubes which extend through the absorber, thereby to release heat of condensation, said condenser compRising a group of circumferentially spaced finned tubes, and means for passing condensed vapors to the evaporator, said evaporator receiving said condensed vapors and vaporizing the same, thereby to absorb heat of vaporization and to cool the evaporator walls and external surfaces thereof, fan blades on the evaporator for moving air in heat exchange relationship with said cooled surfaces, thereby to provide a stream of cooled air, means for passing vapors from the evaporator to the absorber comprising an axial passageway which extends through the condenser, means in the absorber for dispersing said concentrated liquid fraction therein to facilitate absorption of vapors coming from the evaporator, thereby to form a dilute liquid fraction and to release heat of absorption, fan blades on the absorber to dissipate said heat of absorption, and means for passing said dilute liquid fraction to the generator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
Device of claim 18 wherein said finned tubes of the condenser are extensions of the circumferentially spaced tubes which pass through the absorber.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
Device of claim 18 wherein said finned tubes of the condenser are slanted radially outwardly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
Device of claim 20 wherein said finned tubes of the condenser change direction and slant radially inwardly, each tube thus having an angle formed therein which functions as a trap to hold condensed vapors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |