US3896632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cycle heating or cooling
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-02-11
•
Granted: 1975-07-29
•
Expires: 1994-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for pumping heat utilizes air or other gas as the working fluid wherein a positive displacement compressor and a positive displacement expander are mechanically interlocked, the swept volume per unit time of the compressor relative to the swept volume per unit time of the expander being a function of absolute temperature of the air drawn into the compressor relative to the absolute temperature of the air provided for the expander. A heat exchanger is positioned between and connecting the compressor exhaust and the expander intake to purge heat from the compressed air flowing therethrough, the compressed air being released to ambient pressure through the expander to extract work from the air concurrent with cooling of the air through expansion and apply the extracted work to the compressor through the mechanical interlinking between the expander and the compressor, and means to provide supplemental heat when utilizing the heat pump to provide heat.
Inventors
- 👤 Leslie E Huntley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:08
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/002; F25B9/004; F25B29/00; F02; F02B; F02B75/00; F02B75/02; F02B2075/022; F02B2075/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for transferring heat between a first environment and a second environment, comprising: substantially adiabatically compressing gaseous working medium from the first environment by means of a positive displacement compressor, conducting the compressed and, accordingly, heated gaseous working medium from the compressor through a pressure passage of a heat exchanger to a positive displacement expander, conducting exhaust gaseous working medium from the second environment through a second passage of the heat exchanger to the first environment, transferring heat from the heated, compressed gaseous working medium to the exhaust gaseous working medium, adiabatically expanding the compressed gaseous working medium from which heat has been transferred through the positive displacement expander and into the second environment to extract work from and cool the expanded gaseous working medium, applying the work obtained from the expansion of the compressed gaseous working medium from the expander to the compressor, and varying the ratio of the effective swept volume per unit time of the compressor relative to the effective swept volume per unit time of the expander directly as the absolute temperature of the first environment varies, whereby cool gaseous working medium is provided from the expander to the second environment, heated exhaust gaseous working medium is supplied from the heat exchanger to the first environment and energy is conserved by the application of work from the expander to the compressor and by the substantially adiabatic compression and expansion of the compressed gaseous working medium.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for transferring heat between a first environment and a second environment, comprising: substantially adiabatically compressing gaseous working medium from the first environment by means of a positive displacement compressor, conducting the compressed and, accordingly, heated gaseous working medium from the compressor through a pressure passage of a heat exchanger to a positive displacement expander, conducting exhaust gaseous working medium from the second environment through a second passage of the heat exchanger to the first environment, transferring heat from the heated, compressed gaseous working medium to the exhaust gaseous working medium, adiabatically expanding the compressed gaseous working medium from which heat has been transferred through the positive displacement expander and into the second environment to extract work from and cool the expanded gaseous working medium, applying the work obtained from the expansion of the compressed gaseous working medium from the expander to the compressor, and varying the ratio of the effective swept volume per unit time of the compressor relative to the effective swept volume per unit time of the expander directly as the absolute temperature of the first environment varies, whereby cool gaseous working medium is provided from the expander to the second environment, heated exhaust gaseous working medium is supplied from the heat exchanger to the first environment and energy is conserved by the application of work from the expander to the compressor and by the substantially adiabatic compression and expansion of the compressed gaseous working medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the effective swept volume per unit time of the compressor and the effective swept volume per unit time of the expander is maintained at a predetermined value at a predetermined operational pressure of the compressed gaseous working medium in the heat exchanger and increased when the pressure of the compressed gaseous working medium in the heat exchanger falls below the predetermined value and decreased as the pressure of the compressed gaseous working medium of the heat exchanger exceeds the predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein heat is added to the exhaust air in the heat exchanger before heat exchange between the exhaust gaseous working medium and the compressed gaseous working medium, and in which the gaseous working medium exhausted from the expander is at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature in the first environment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein heat is added to the exhaust gaseous working medium in the heat exchanger after heat exchange of such gaseous working medium with the compressed gaseous working medium and the quantity of heat supplied to the first environment by the exhaust gaseous working medium is accordingly increased.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for transferring heat between a first environment and a second environment, comprising: means separating the first environment from the second environment, a positive displacement compressor ingesting a gaseous working medium from the first environment, a heat exchanger having at least two passages defined therethrough, one of the heat exchanger passages comprising a pressure passage communicating with the exhaust port of the compressor at one end and with an intake port of a positive displacement expander at the other end thereof, the other passage of the heat exchanger being in a heat-exchange relationship with the pressure passage and communicating with the first environment at one end and the second environment at the other end, means interlinking the compressor and expander for transferring work between the drive of the expander and the drive of the compressor, means for applying energy to said compreSsor and said expander, and means for controlling said energy applying means for varying the ratio of the effective swept volume per unit of time of said compressor to the effective swept volume per unit of time of said expander.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for transferring heat between a first environment and a second environment, comprising: means separating the first environment from the second environment, a positive displacement compressor ingesting a gaseous working medium from the first environment, a heat exchanger having at least two passages defined therethrough, one of the heat exchanger passages comprising a pressure passage communicating with the exhaust port of the compressor at one end and with an intake port of a positive displacement expander at the other end thereof, the other passage of the heat exchanger being in a heat-exchange relationship with the pressure passage and communicating with the first environment at one end and the second environment at the other end, means interlinking the compressor and expander for transferring work between the drive of the expander and the drive of the compressor, means for applying energy to said compreSsor and said expander, and means for controlling said energy applying means for varying the ratio of the effective swept volume per unit of time of said compressor to the effective swept volume per unit of time of said expander.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the means interlinking the expander and compressor is a belt, the means for supplying energy to the apparatus is a drive motor bearing upon the belt by means of a pulley, and said controlling means includes a variable diameter ratio pulley whereby the relative operating speeds of the compressor and the expander can be varied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein a pressure sensor is provided in the pressure passage and includes means to vary the diameter of the variable diameter pulley in response to changes in pressure within the pressure passage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein a heat-producing means is positioned within one of the heat exchange passages between the first and second environment at a position adjacent the second environment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein a heat-producing means is positioned within one of the heat exchange passages between the first and second environment at a position adjacent the first environment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for transferring heat between a first environment and a second environment comprising: means separating the first environment from the second environment, a positive displacement compressor ingesting a gaseous working medium from the first environment and having a piston mechanism, a positive displacement expander having a piston mechanism of an effective working surface greater than that of said compressor piston, a heat exchanger having at least two passages defined therethrough, one of said passages being a pressure passage communicating with the exhaust port of said compressor and the intake port of said expander, the other said passage being in heat-exchange relationship with the said pressure passage and communicating between the first and second environments, means interlinking said compressor and expander pistons, and means for introducing pressure into said pressure passage, whereby the said compressor piston will drive the apparatus and work will be transferred between said compressor and expander via said interlinking means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
153 words
Apparatus for transferring heat between a first environment and a second environment comprising: means separating the first environment from the second environment, a positive displacement compressor ingesting a gaseous working medium from the first environment and having a piston mechanism, a positive displacement expander having a piston mechanism of an effective working surface greater than that of said compressor piston, a heat exchanger having at least two passages defined therethrough, one of said passages being a pressure passage communicating with the exhaust port of said compressor and the intake port of said expander, the other said passage being in heat-exchange relationship with the said pressure passage and communicating between the first and second environments, means interlinking said compressor and expander pistons, and means for introducing pressure into said pressure passage, whereby the said compressor piston will drive the apparatus and work will be transferred between said compressor and expander via said interlinking means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the compressor and expander each have piston devices of the same diameter, the interlinking means is a link rod commonly attached to the piston in the compressor and the piston in the expander, said introducing means includes an auxiliary-driven compressor communicating with the pressure passage of the heat exchanger, and said compressor also includes an auxiliary expander of a piston device type attached by means of an auxiliary linkage between the auxiliary expander piston and the link rod to both the expander and compressor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the intake and exhaust ports for said auxiliary expander piston both communicate with said pressure passage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US244236A
Cited
US244601A
Cited
US1402716A
Cited
US1079381A
Cited
US1004468A
Cited
US1199486A
Cited
US1906370A
Cited
US2020923A
Cited
US2143895A
Cited
US2903862A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |