US3889465A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for controlling the power of a hot-gas piston engine
Assignee: Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH
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Filing: 1974-06-24
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1994-06-24
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for controlling the power of a hot gas piston engine is disclosed, the latter having at least one cylinder which is divided into a hot space and a cold space by a movable piston. A working fluid container is connected on one hand to the hot space by a conduit, and on the other hand to the cold space in such a way that flow between the cold space and the container may be prevented selectively in either or both directions, whereby the mass of working fluid in the cylinder may be increased or decreased, thus increasing or decreasing the power output of the engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Falk Gartner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:31
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/045; F02G1/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for controlling the power of a hot-gas piston engine having a hot chamber and a separate cold chamber per cylinder; a piston displaceable in said cylinder for selectively and alternately increasing and reducing in size said chambers; a flow path for selectively connecting said hot chamber with said cold chamber of the same engine cylinder, and with another cylinder operating in a phase-displaced manner; said flow path including in succession a heater, a regenerator and a cooling device; a container operatively connected with said chambers; a floW-restricting conduit for connecting said hot chamber with said container; and two non-return valves for selectively connecting the interior of said container with said cold chamber; whereby the engine power is increased by connecting said interior with said cold chamber by way of one of said valves, which allows flow from said hot chamber by way of said container into said cold chamber, whereas the power is reduced when said interior is connected with said cold chamber by way of the other one of said valves, which allows flow from said cold chamber by way of said container into said hot chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for controlling the power of a hot-gas piston engine having a hot chamber and a separate cold chamber per cylinder; a piston displaceable in said cylinder for selectively and alternately increasing and reducing in size said chambers; a flow path for selectively connecting said hot chamber with said cold chamber of the same engine cylinder, and with another cylinder operating in a phase-displaced manner; said flow path including in succession a heater, a regenerator and a cooling device; a container operatively connected with said chambers; a floW-restricting conduit for connecting said hot chamber with said container; and two non-return valves for selectively connecting the interior of said container with said cold chamber; whereby the engine power is increased by connecting said interior with said cold chamber by way of one of said valves, which allows flow from said hot chamber by way of said container into said cold chamber, whereas the power is reduced when said interior is connected with said cold chamber by way of the other one of said valves, which allows flow from said cold chamber by way of said container into said hot chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The control apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said flow-restricting means is in the form of a capillary conduit which is closed when the load is constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The control apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for changing the cross-section of said flow-restricting means, in depenendence on one of the size and the speed of at least one of large and rapid load changes, to provide a relatively large cross-section, but a relatively small cross-section when there is a constant load.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The control apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said container is in the form of a cylinder in which a readily movable piston is situated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising movable partition means arranged in said container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The control apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said partition means is in the form of a bellows.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The control apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said partition means is in the form of a helical intermediate wall.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for controlling the power of a hot-gas piston engine having a hot chamber and a separate cold chamber per cylinder; a displacement piston movable in said cylinder for selectively and alternately increasing and reducing in size said chambers; a flow path for connecting said hot chamber with said cold chamber; said flow path including in succession a heater, a regenerator and a cooling device; a buffer chamber; a working piston separating said buffer chamber from said cold chamber, and being movable in a phase-displaced manner relative to said displacement piston; means for maintaining a mean pressure in said buffer chamber which is at most equal to that in said cold chamber; a container operatively connected with said chambers; a flow-restricting conduit for connecting said hot chamber with said container; and two non-return valves for selectively connecting the interior of said container with said buffer chamber; whereby the engine power is increased by connecting said interior with said buffer chamber by way of one of said valves, which allows flow from said hot chamber by way of said container into said buffer chamber, whereas the power is reduced when said interior is connected with said cold chamber by way of the other one of said valves, which allows flow from said cold chamber by way of said container into said hot chamber.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for controlling the power of a hot-gas piston engine having a hot chamber and a separate cold chamber per cylinder; a displacement piston movable in said cylinder for selectively and alternately increasing and reducing in size said chambers; a flow path for connecting said hot chamber with said cold chamber; said flow path including in succession a heater, a regenerator and a cooling device; a buffer chamber; a working piston separating said buffer chamber from said cold chamber, and being movable in a phase-displaced manner relative to said displacement piston; means for maintaining a mean pressure in said buffer chamber which is at most equal to that in said cold chamber; a container operatively connected with said chambers; a flow-restricting conduit for connecting said hot chamber with said container; and two non-return valves for selectively connecting the interior of said container with said buffer chamber; whereby the engine power is increased by connecting said interior with said buffer chamber by way of one of said valves, which allows flow from said hot chamber by way of said container into said buffer chamber, whereas the power is reduced when said interior is connected with said cold chamber by way of the other one of said valves, which allows flow from said cold chamber by way of said container into said hot chamber.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for controlling the power of a hot-gas piston engine having a hot chamber and a separate cold chamber per cylinder; a piston displaceable in said cylinder for selectively and alternately increasing and reducing in size said chambers; a flow path for connecting said hot chamber with said cold chamber; said flow path including in succession a heater, a regenerator and a cooling device; a buffer chamber; a working piston separating said buffer chamber from said cold chamber, and being movable in a phase-displaced manner relative to said displacement piston; means for maintaining a mean pressure in said buffer chamber which is at least equal to that in said cold chamber; a container operatively connected with said chambers; a flow-restricting conduit for connecting said hot chamber with said container; and two non-return valves for selectively connecting the interior of said container with said cold chamber; whereby the engine power is increased by connecting said interior with said cold chamber by way of one of said Valves, which allows flow from said hot chamber by way of said container into said cold chamber, whereas the power is reduced with said interior is connected with said buffer chamber by way of the other one of said valves, which allows flow from said buffer chamber by way of said container into said hot chamber.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
222 words
An apparatus for controlling the power of a hot-gas piston engine having a hot chamber and a separate cold chamber per cylinder; a piston displaceable in said cylinder for selectively and alternately increasing and reducing in size said chambers; a flow path for connecting said hot chamber with said cold chamber; said flow path including in succession a heater, a regenerator and a cooling device; a buffer chamber; a working piston separating said buffer chamber from said cold chamber, and being movable in a phase-displaced manner relative to said displacement piston; means for maintaining a mean pressure in said buffer chamber which is at least equal to that in said cold chamber; a container operatively connected with said chambers; a flow-restricting conduit for connecting said hot chamber with said container; and two non-return valves for selectively connecting the interior of said container with said cold chamber; whereby the engine power is increased by connecting said interior with said cold chamber by way of one of said Valves, which allows flow from said hot chamber by way of said container into said cold chamber, whereas the power is reduced with said interior is connected with said buffer chamber by way of the other one of said valves, which allows flow from said buffer chamber by way of said container into said hot chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |