US3890784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermohydraulic engines
Assignee: Societe Europeenne de Propulsion SEP SA
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Filing: 1974-04-23
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1994-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A thermohydraulic engine comprising a power output member coupled to at least one compartment of variable volume. The compartment is placed in fluid communication with at least one of two or more expansion chambers. A liquid such as water fills the compartment and a fluid path to the at least one expansion chamber and partially fills said one expansion chamber. Means provided in each expansion chamber for introducing a product capable of producing energy by its expansion, whereby when the liquid in said one, partially filled expansion chamber has reached a predetermined level as a result of a liquid flow from the compartment, the product is introduced into the unfilled portion of said one expansion chamber and as a result of its expansion urges liquid back into the compartment to produce relative rotation between the compartment and the power output member. The cycle is repeated in the next expansion chamber and so on. The number of compartments is always less than twice the number of expansion chambers.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Andre Georges Tubeue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:05
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B75/00; F01; F01B; F01B29/00; F03; F03C; F03C1/00; F03C1/02; F03C1/04; F03C1/0403; F03C1/0435; F03C1/053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A thermohydraulic engine of the liquid piston type comprising: a. a power output shaft member; b. at least one compartment of variable volume coupled in driving relationship to the output member; c. at least two expansion chambers connected for fluid communication with said compartment; d. said compartment to be filled and at least one of the expansion chambers to be partially filled with a liquid during use of the engine, said liquid defining a wall of said chambers; and e. means in each of said expansion chambers for introducing a product capable of producing energy by its expansion, into said selected one of said two expansion chambers in direct contact with said liquid in said chamber when the liquid therein has substantially reached a predetermined level; f. the number of said compartments of variable volume being less than twice the number of said expansion chambers, and g. conduit means for leading said liquid which has been contacted with said product from said chambers to a liquid receiver, whereby components of said product are carried to said receiver in said liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A thermohydraulic engine of the liquid piston type comprising: a. a power output shaft member; b. at least one compartment of variable volume coupled in driving relationship to the output member; c. at least two expansion chambers connected for fluid communication with said compartment; d. said compartment to be filled and at least one of the expansion chambers to be partially filled with a liquid during use of the engine, said liquid defining a wall of said chambers; and e. means in each of said expansion chambers for introducing a product capable of producing energy by its expansion, into said selected one of said two expansion chambers in direct contact with said liquid in said chamber when the liquid therein has substantially reached a predetermined level; f. the number of said compartments of variable volume being less than twice the number of said expansion chambers, and g. conduit means for leading said liquid which has been contacted with said product from said chambers to a liquid receiver, whereby components of said product are carried to said receiver in said liquid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a distribution arrangement connected to said compartment and to a plurality of said expansion chambers, said distribution arrangement being adapted to place each expansion chamber successively in fluid communication with said compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 1, having at least two of said compartments coupled to said shaft member with an angular offset therebetween, said two compartments being disposed so that they are in fluid communication with the same expansion chamber at one instant of their working.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 1, having a plurality of said expansion chambers and a plurality of said compartments and further comprising means for isolating said expansion chambers one after the other from said compartments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 1, having at least two of said compartments and wherein each expansion chamber is connected by conduits to said two compartments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 1, having a plurality of said expansion chambers and of said compartments, and further comprising means for placing each of said expansion chambers successively in communication with each of said compartments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 1, having a plurality of said expansion chambers, and further comprising a reservoir of liquid disposed in place of one of said expansion chambers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 7, further comprising energy extraction means disposed upstream of said reservoir for enabling the used liquid to give up its hydraulic energy before reaching said reservoir.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising liquid exchange means for withdrawing a certain volume of used liquid from at least one of said conduits and replacing it by an equal volume of fresh liquid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 4, further comprising liquid exchange means for withdrawing a certain volume of used liquid from said conduit means and replacing it by an equal volume of fresh liquid, said liquid exchange means being adaptable to introduce the fresh liquid into the isolated expansion chamber in atomised form.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A thermohydraulic engine as claimed in claim 1, having a plurality of said compartments defined by two multilobed cylindrical bodies movable one with respect to the other, one of said two bodies being of trochoidal shape, wherein the number of lobes of one of said two cylindrical bodies differs by one from the number Of lobes on the other cylindrical body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thermohydraulic engine according to claim 1, further comprising a chassis on which said expansion chambers are assembled, said chassis being revolvable about said shaft member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and including input conduit means for introducing into said expansion chambers, during a portion of the operative cycle, a quantity of liquid commensurate with the quantity which was evacuated during other portions of the cycle, said input conduit means including an atomizer whereby at least a portion of said quantity of liquid is introduced into said chamber in atomized form.
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) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |