US3916626A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermally powered generating system employing a heat vapor bubble engine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-05-31
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Granted: 1975-11-04
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Expires: 1994-05-31
Abstract
Abstract A thermal power generating system including a heat engine consisting of a generally egg-shaped vapor vacuum-sealed container and a heat-transfer fluid circuit, the fluid circuit including a heat source such as a solar heater or an arrangement for utilizing the temperature differential between the surface region and the bottom region of a deep body of water. The engine employs as a working fluid a liquid with a low boiling point in the container, the heat-transfer circuit passing through a heat exchanger containing cells connected by conduits to the bottom end of the container, so that heat is conducted to the working fluid, causing bubbles to be generated in the cells. The bubbles flow upwardly through the conduits and enter chambers of a rotor assembly. The top of the engine consists of a condenser exposed to ambient temperature. The chambers are provided with flap valves operated by radial rods whose inner ends engage a fixed cam provided on a stationary rotor bearing shaft. The flap valves are controlled by the cam so as to be open at their respective top and bottom positions and closed during upward movement of the rotor chambers, allowing the upwardly moving bubbles to drive the rotor and then escape into the condenser where they are liquified and return to the lower portion of the container. The rotor assembly is magnetically coupled to an external load device.
Inventors
- 👤 George O Schur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:09
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01B; F01B13/00; F01B13/04; F01B13/06; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/025; F03G7/0252; F03G7/027; F03G7/06; F03G7/063; F03G7/0633; F24; F24S; F24S10/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/40; Y02E10/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A heat engine comprising a hermetically sealed container, a quantity of liquid having a relatively low boiling point in said container, a rotor assembly mounted in said container and having a plurality of radially extending chambers, pivoted flap valve means at the outer ends of said chambers, means biasing said flap valve means to closed positions, means opening said flap valve means respectively at the lowermost and uppermost positions of their associated chambers, heat exchange means beneath the container, bubble-generating cell means in said heat exchange means, conduit means communicatively connecting said cell means to the lower end of said container, means to expose said heat exchange means to a heated medium, whereby to generate vapor bubbles of Said liquid in said cell means which pass upwardly through said conduit means and into said chambers and drive said rotor assembly, vapor-condensing means at the top of said container, external driven shaft means, and means coupling said rotor assembly to said external driven shaft means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A heat engine comprising a hermetically sealed container, a quantity of liquid having a relatively low boiling point in said container, a rotor assembly mounted in said container and having a plurality of radially extending chambers, pivoted flap valve means at the outer ends of said chambers, means biasing said flap valve means to closed positions, means opening said flap valve means respectively at the lowermost and uppermost positions of their associated chambers, heat exchange means beneath the container, bubble-generating cell means in said heat exchange means, conduit means communicatively connecting said cell means to the lower end of said container, means to expose said heat exchange means to a heated medium, whereby to generate vapor bubbles of Said liquid in said cell means which pass upwardly through said conduit means and into said chambers and drive said rotor assembly, vapor-condensing means at the top of said container, external driven shaft means, and means coupling said rotor assembly to said external driven shaft means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The heat engine of claim 1, and wherein the means opening said flap valve means comprises cam means operating responsive to rotation of said rotor assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The heat engine of claim 2, and wherein said container has a fixed internal portion, and said cam means comprises a cam rigidly secured on said fixed internal portion and follower means connected to said flap valve means and engaging said cam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heat engine of claim 3, and wherein said fixed internal portion comprises a fixed transverse bearing shaft in said container, said rotor assembly being rotatably mounted on said bearing shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heat engine of claim 4, and wherein said cam is centrally secured on said fixed transverse bearing shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The heat engine of claim 5, and wherein said follower means comprises radially extending follower rods slidably mounted in the chambers engaging said cam at their inner ends and operatively connected to the flap valve means at their outer ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The heat engine of claim 6, and wherein said flap valve means for each chamber comprises a plurality of side-by-side flaps pivoted to the outer end portion of the chamber and linkage means operatively connecting the flaps to the associated follower rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The heat engine of claim 7, and wherein the means biasing the flap valve means to closed position comprises a coil spring surrounding the associated follower rod and acting between the chamber and the follower rod to urge the associated flap toward closed positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
The heat engine of claim 1, and wherein the means opening said flap valve means comprises cam means operating responsive to rotation of said rotor assembly, said cam means being formed to hold the flap means open during downward movement of their associated chambers and to lock the bubbles in the associated chambers during their upward movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The heat engine of claim 1 and wherein said container has a fixed transverse internal bearing shaft, said rotor assembly being rotatably mounted on said bearing shaft, and wherein said means opening said flap valve means comprises a cam rigidly mounted on said bearing shaft and follower means connected to said flap valve means and engaging said cam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heat engine of claim 10, and wherein said external driven shaft means is aligned with said fixed bearing shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The heat engine of claim 11, and wherein said means coupling the rotor assembly to said driven shaft means comprises cooperating respective internal external permanent magnets on said rotor assembly and the driven shaft means located to exert mutual magnetic attraction on each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heat engine of claim 1, and wherein said container is of generally egg-shaped configuration.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The heat engine of claim 13, and wherein said vapor-condensing means includes means for circulating external cooling fluid in thermal-conductive contact with the liquid vapor in the condensing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The heat engine of claim 1, and wherein said heat exchange means comprises an enclosure surrounding said cell means, and wherein said heated medium comprises a source of heat-absorbing liquid and means to expose the heat-absorbing liquid to solar rays, and pump means to circulate the heat-absorbing liquid through said enclosure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The heat engine of claim 1, and float means for supporting said container on the surface of a body of water with said heat-exchange means immersed in the water immediately below the float means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The heat engine of claim 16, and wherein said vapor-condensing means comprises condenser conduit means in the top portion of the container, and conduit means including a pump to circulate water from a substantial depth below the surface of said body of watEr through said condenser conduit means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The heat engine of claim 1, wherein said heat exchange means comprises a chamber having a window for transmitting solar rays therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
62 words
The heat exchange engine of claim 18 wherein said bubble-generating cell is a two stage device including upper and lower chambers connected by a plurality of tubes for conducting the generated bubbles, said tubes and said upper and lower chambers being secured to a pair of heat conducting plates which overlie the bubble-generating tubes and receive the solar rays through said windows.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The heat exchange engine of claim 1, and wherein said rotor assembly includes at each side a dome shaped hollow filler member disposed within the container and said liquid coaxially with the remaining parts of said rotor assembly, whereby to lend buoyancy to the rotor assembly and decrease wear of associated bearings.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heat exchange engine means of claim 1, and wherein said vapor-condensing means includes a first condenser disposed externally of said container and a second condenser disposed internally of said container.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
The heat exchange engine of claim 21, wherein said first condenser includes a first set of upstanding tubes connecting the space at the top of said container with a chamber disposed above the container, and a second set of tubes connecting said chamber with a lower portion of the container, and blower means in said chamber for circulating liquid vapor through said first set of tubes, chamber and second set of tubes to condense the vapor and return liquid to the container.
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) | 1978-11-03 | 1979-05-05 | 1979-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-03 | 1983-05-05 | 1983-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-03 | 1987-05-05 | 1987-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |