US3754151A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal motor and generator
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-09-20
•
Granted: 1973-08-21
•
Expires: 1992-09-20
Abstract
Abstract A thermal motor with an elongated housing, rotatably mounted on a transverse axis, defining a channel for reciprocating longitudinal motion within the housing of a coaxially supported bar and having a pair of parallel linearly heat-expansible bands stretched under continual tension along two opposite sides. One end of each band is fixed to the housing at each of its opposite ends and the other ends of the bands are linked respectively to the extremities of the bar, thereby interconnecting the two bands through the bar. Radiant heat is directed along the plane of rotation of the housing so that while one band is exposed to the heat the other is shielded. As the exposed band heats and expands linearly, its tension tends to decrease, while the tension in the shielded band, which is simultaneously cooling and contracting, tends to increase. The bar will shift within the housing to equalize the tension, in the two bands, and the resultant unbalance in weight with respect to the transverse axis will cause the housing to rotate. The bar reverses direction every half-cycle so that the housing rotates continuously.
Inventors
- 👤 R Clark
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:28
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A radiant heat driven thermal motor comprising: a. an elongated hollow housing having at least two opposite parallel sides; b. means for supporting the housing equidistant its ends for rotation about a transverse axis; c. a bar, substantially coextensive with the housing, slidably supported therein for reciprocal longitudinal movement; d. a pair of linearly heat-expansible bands extending externally along the opposite sides of the housing such that the flat surfaces of the bands are normal to the plane of rotation; e. means for securing one end of each of the bands to the housing at its opposite ends respectively; f. means for laterally interconnecting the other ends of the bands respectively with the extremities of the bar; and g. means for subjecting the bands to continual longitudinal tensile stress within their elastic limits.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A radiant heat driven thermal motor comprising: a. an elongated hollow housing having at least two opposite parallel sides; b. means for supporting the housing equidistant its ends for rotation about a transverse axis; c. a bar, substantially coextensive with the housing, slidably supported therein for reciprocal longitudinal movement; d. a pair of linearly heat-expansible bands extending externally along the opposite sides of the housing such that the flat surfaces of the bands are normal to the plane of rotation; e. means for securing one end of each of the bands to the housing at its opposite ends respectively; f. means for laterally interconnecting the other ends of the bands respectively with the extremities of the bar; and g. means for subjecting the bands to continual longitudinal tensile stress within their elastic limits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A thermal motor according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises an elongated hollow cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for supporting of the housing equidistant its ends for rotation about a transverse axis;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
means for supporting of the housing equidistant its ends for rotation about a transverse axis;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A thermal motor according to claim 2 wherein the bar is cylindrical and concentrically supported within the cylinder on low friction bearings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
a bar, substantially coextensive with the housing, slidably supported therein for reciprocal longitudinal movement, the bar being composed of magnetized material and the extremities thereof being oppositely polarized;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
a bar, substantially coextensive with the housing, slidably supported therein for reciprocal longitudinal movement, the bar being composed of magnetized material and the extremities thereof being oppositely polarized;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
a pair of parallel linearly heat-expansible bands extending externally along the opposite sides of the housing such that the flat surfaces of the bands are normal to the plane of rotation;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
a pair of parallel linearly heat-expansible bands extending externally along the opposite sides of the housing such that the flat surfaces of the bands are normal to the plane of rotation;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A thermal motor according to claim 1 wherein the means for supporting the one end of each of the bands comprises a pair of fixed support blocks attached to opposite ends of the housing respectively on the opposite sides thereof and there adapted to support the one end of each of the bands in laterally spaced relation to the surface of the housing and means for securing the one end of each of the bands respectively to the pair of fixed support blocks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
94 words
A thermal motor according to claim 1 wherein the means for lateral interconnection between the other ends of the bands and the bar comprises a pair of linking members affixed respectively to the extremities of the bar and provided respectively with a pair of lateral arms extending in opposite directions in the plane of rotation, externally of the housing, in axially spaced relation thereto, and terminating laterally outward of the opposite sides of the housing, and means for securing the other ends of the bands respectively in adjustable longitudinal relation to the lateral arms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for securing one end of each of the bands to the housing at its opposite ends respectively;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for securing one end of each of the bands to the housing at its opposite ends respectively;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for laterally interconnecting the other ends of the bands respectively with the extremities of the bar; and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
means for laterally interconnecting the other ends of the bands respectively with the extremities of the bar; and
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A thermal motor according to claim 5 including a pair of adjustable support blocks positioned respectively intermediate thE lateral arms and the fixed support blocks, a pair of tension adjusting screws longitudinally interconnecting the lateral arms and the pair of adjustable support blocks and adapted to urge the adjustable support blocks longitudinally with respect to the housing, and means for securing the other end of each of the bands respectively to the adjustable support blocks such that the bands are parallel to the opposite sides of the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
means for subjecting the bands to continual longitudinal tensile stress within their elastic limits. c. the rotor being thereby adapted to induce a voltage in the winding proportional to the number of turns therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
means for subjecting the bands to continual longitudinal tensile stress within their elastic limits. c. the rotor being thereby adapted to induce a voltage in the winding proportional to the number of turns therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
A thermal motor according to claim 6 additionally including a pair of guide pins respectively extending longitudinally between the lateral arms and the pair of adjustable support blocks in spaced relation to the pair of tension adjusting screws, thereby preventing rotation of the bands about the tension adjusting screws.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermal motor according to claim 1 wherein each of the bands consists of a material having a coefficient of linear thermal expansion of at least 20 X 10 6 inches per inch per degree Centigrade.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermal motor according to claim 1 wherein each of the bands consists of a thin sheet of an aluminum alloy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermal motor according to claim 1 wherein each of the bands consists of a thin sheet of a copper alloy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermal motor according to claim 1 wherein each of the bands consists of a thin sheet of a magnesium alloy.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermal motor according to claim 1 wherein each of the bands consists of rubber containing a dispersion of silver particles.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical generator comprising: a. a stationary electrical winding having a plurality of turns; b. a rotor surrounded by the winding and consisting of
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electrical generator comprising: a. a stationary electrical winding having a plurality of turns; b. a rotor surrounded by the winding and consisting of
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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) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |