US3765799A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal-gravity fluid pumping method and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-05-01
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-05-01
Abstract
Abstract A large volume pumping method and apparatus comprising an economical thermal-gravity pumping system which is non-polluting, and employs relatively free and limitless, generally available, sources of energy input. The invention is particularly useful in pumping water into a tank reservoir for the ultimate purpose of generating hydroelectric power by conventional turbine-operated generator.
Inventors
- 👤 A Ledner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:23
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04F; F04F1/00; F04F1/02; F04F1/04; F04B; F04B43/00; F04B43/02; F04B43/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A reciprocating fluid pumping system comprising: A. a first compartment having a bottom; B. a gravity responsive liquid located in the first compartment; C. a thermodynamic liquid located in the first compartment in liquid contact with the gravity responsive liquid; D. means in the first compartment for heating the thermodynamic liquid to create a vapor thereof in the first compartment; E. first means connected to the first compartment for channeling the gravity responsive liquid away from the first compartment in response to the rise in pressure caused by the vapor and for channeling the gravity responsive liquid toward the first compartment upon a drop in the pressure caused by the vapor; F. means connected to the first channeling means for pumping a fluid in response to the pulsating flow of the gravity responsive liquid; G. means for condensing the vapor of the thermodynamic liquid comprising a second compartment located in superposition to the first compartment and having a bottom; a condensing coil located in the second compartment; and, a conduit extending from the bottom of the second compartment into the first compartment and terminatIng near the bottom of the first compartment; and, H. a conduit extending from the first compartment into the condensing means and terminating above the bottom of the second compartment, whereby the vapor may flow from the first compartment to the condensing means and the first compartment and the condensing means will be at common pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A reciprocating fluid pumping system comprising: A. a first compartment having a bottom; B. a gravity responsive liquid located in the first compartment; C. a thermodynamic liquid located in the first compartment in liquid contact with the gravity responsive liquid; D. means in the first compartment for heating the thermodynamic liquid to create a vapor thereof in the first compartment; E. first means connected to the first compartment for channeling the gravity responsive liquid away from the first compartment in response to the rise in pressure caused by the vapor and for channeling the gravity responsive liquid toward the first compartment upon a drop in the pressure caused by the vapor; F. means connected to the first channeling means for pumping a fluid in response to the pulsating flow of the gravity responsive liquid; G. means for condensing the vapor of the thermodynamic liquid comprising a second compartment located in superposition to the first compartment and having a bottom; a condensing coil located in the second compartment; and, a conduit extending from the bottom of the second compartment into the first compartment and terminatIng near the bottom of the first compartment; and, H. a conduit extending from the first compartment into the condensing means and terminating above the bottom of the second compartment, whereby the vapor may flow from the first compartment to the condensing means and the first compartment and the condensing means will be at common pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the thermodynamic liquid comprises a liquid from the group consisting of fluoro-chloro hydrocarbons and wherein the gravity responsive liquid comprises mercury.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pumping means comprises: F.1. A first chamber having a first opening connected to the first channeling means, a second opening for alternate intake and exhaust of the fluid to be pumped and a first flexible diaphragm sealingly isolating the first opening from the second opening; F.2. A second chamber having a third opening to ambient, a fourth opening for alternate intake and exhaust of the fluid to be pumped and a second flexible diaphragm sealingly isolating the third opening from the fourth opening; and, F.3. Rod means connecting the first and second diaphragms for causing them to move to tandem as the first diaphragm moves in response to the motion of the gravity responsive liquid, whereby the fluid to be pumped is expelled from the first chamber via the second opening as the gravity responsive liquid enters the first opening and is drawn into the second chamber via the fourth opening as the second diaphragm moves in tandem with the first diaphragm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: means actuated by the rod means for selectively controlling the heating and condensing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: I. means for activating the heating means when the gravity responsive liquid completes its flow toward the first compartment; J. means for deactivating the heating means when a substantial portion of the gravity responsive liquid has been channeled away from the first compartment; K. means for activating the condensing means when the gravity responsive liquid completes its forward flow; and, L. means for deactivating the condensing means when a substantial portion of the gravity responsive liquid has been channeled toward the first compartment.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
328 words
A method for pumping fluids, using enclosed thermodynamic and gravity responsive liquids in expansion and contraction cycles of the thermodynamic liquid to effect reciprocating movement of the gravity responsive liquid, comprising the steps of: A. disposing a gravity responsive liquid in a first closure; B. disposing a thermodynamic liquid in the first closure in liquid contact with the gravity responsive liquid; C. heating the thermodynamic liquid to vaporize it, thereby increasing the pressure within the first closure; D. channeling the gravity responsive liquid away and upwardly from the first closure in response to the rise in pressure within the first closure to a mechanical fluid pumping means operatively responsive to reciprocating movement of the gravity responsive liquid; E. discontinuing the heating of the thermodynamic liquid while a substantial amount of the gravity responsive liquid remains in the first closure whereby the gravity responsive liquid may continue to channel away and upwardly from the first closure due to the momentum of the gravity responsive liquid and the residual pressure of said thermodynamic vapor; F. cooling the vapor of the thermodynamic liquid to form a condensate, thereby lowering the pressure within the first closure; G. channeling the gravity responsive liquid downwardly and away from the mechanical pumping means by gravity flow to the first closure; H. collecting the vapor condensate in a second, separate closure at a pressure equal to the pressure within the first closure for return to the thermodynamic liquid in the first closure during the subsequent pumpiNg cycle; I. discontinuing the cooling of the vapor of the thermodynamic liquid; J. repeating steps C through E; K. channeling at least a portion of the vapor condensate collected in Step H of the previous pumping cycle back to the thermodynamic liquid within the first closure; L. repeating Steps F through I; and M. repeating Steps J through L, thereby continuously actuating the mechanical pumping means of Step D due to the resulting reciprocating flow of the gravity responsive liquid.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
328 words
A method for pumping fluids, using enclosed thermodynamic and gravity responsive liquids in expansion and contraction cycles of the thermodynamic liquid to effect reciprocating movement of the gravity responsive liquid, comprising the steps of: A. disposing a gravity responsive liquid in a first closure; B. disposing a thermodynamic liquid in the first closure in liquid contact with the gravity responsive liquid; C. heating the thermodynamic liquid to vaporize it, thereby increasing the pressure within the first closure; D. channeling the gravity responsive liquid away and upwardly from the first closure in response to the rise in pressure within the first closure to a mechanical fluid pumping means operatively responsive to reciprocating movement of the gravity responsive liquid; E. discontinuing the heating of the thermodynamic liquid while a substantial amount of the gravity responsive liquid remains in the first closure whereby the gravity responsive liquid may continue to channel away and upwardly from the first closure due to the momentum of the gravity responsive liquid and the residual pressure of said thermodynamic vapor; F. cooling the vapor of the thermodynamic liquid to form a condensate, thereby lowering the pressure within the first closure; G. channeling the gravity responsive liquid downwardly and away from the mechanical pumping means by gravity flow to the first closure; H. collecting the vapor condensate in a second, separate closure at a pressure equal to the pressure within the first closure for return to the thermodynamic liquid in the first closure during the subsequent pumpiNg cycle; I. discontinuing the cooling of the vapor of the thermodynamic liquid; J. repeating steps C through E; K. channeling at least a portion of the vapor condensate collected in Step H of the previous pumping cycle back to the thermodynamic liquid within the first closure; L. repeating Steps F through I; and M. repeating Steps J through L, thereby continuously actuating the mechanical pumping means of Step D due to the resulting reciprocating flow of the gravity responsive liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 15 wherein the thermodynamically responsive fluid comprises a fluid from the group consisting essentially of fluoro-chloro hydrocarbons and wherein the gravity responsive fluid comprises mercury.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein step B is as follows: disposing a thermodynamic liquid in the first closure in superposed liquid contact with the gravity responsive liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein the steps I and J are as follows: I. discontinuing the cooling of the vapor of the thermodynamic liquid while a substantial amount of the gravity responsive liquid remains to be channeled back into the first closure by gravity; and J. repeating steps C to E, after the remaining gravity responsive liquid returns to the closure by gravity.
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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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |