US3928974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal oscillator
Assignee: NEW PROCESS IND Inc
•
Filing: 1974-08-09
•
Granted: 1975-12-30
•
Expires: 1994-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A thermomechanical oscillator for generating electricity, pressurizing fluid or pumping heat is disclosed. The device includes a heat source and sink, positive displacement oscillating elements that subject a working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle in which work and heat are exchanged, and a load that extracts enthalpic energy from the working fluid by positive displacement oscillating elements. A thermodynamic cycle produced by such oscillator is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Glendon M Benson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:53
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/0435; F02G2244/00; F02G2244/50; F02G2258/00; F02G2258/10; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/14; F25B2309/1401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A thermodynamic cycle which subjects a working fluid to processing steps comprising: regeneratively cooling the working fluid approximately isobarically; compressing the working fluid to a prescribed pressure ratio, said compressing step including in combination polytropically compressing and approximately isobarically cooling the working fluid so as to approach an isothermal compressing step; regeneratively heating the working fluid approximately isobarically; expanding the working fluid to a prescribed pressure ratio, said expanding step including in combination polytropically expanding and approximately isobarically heating the working fluid so as to approach an isothermal expanding step; and said prescribed pressure ratios for said compressing and expanding steps being continuously varied to produce a net energy exchange per cycle that matches the instant cycle load, said net energy exchange determined by heat exchange rates in said compressing and expanding steps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A thermodynamic cycle which subjects a working fluid to processing steps comprising: regeneratively cooling the working fluid approximately isobarically; compressing the working fluid to a prescribed pressure ratio, said compressing step including in combination polytropically compressing and approximately isobarically cooling the working fluid so as to approach an isothermal compressing step; regeneratively heating the working fluid approximately isobarically; expanding the working fluid to a prescribed pressure ratio, said expanding step including in combination polytropically expanding and approximately isobarically heating the working fluid so as to approach an isothermal expanding step; and said prescribed pressure ratios for said compressing and expanding steps being continuously varied to produce a net energy exchange per cycle that matches the instant cycle load, said net energy exchange determined by heat exchange rates in said compressing and expanding steps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A cycle as recited in claim 1 wherein said regeneratively cooling, compressing, regeneratively heating and expanding steps are distinct and separable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cycle as recited in claim 1 wherein said cycle load is work output produced by said cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cycle as recited in claim 1 wherein said cycle load is heat pump effect produced by said cycle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cycle as recited in claim 1 wherein said cycle load is work output and heat pump effect produced by said cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A cycle as recited in claim 1 obtained by interposing at least one positive displacement element in the working fluid, and oscillating the positive displacement element with the compressing and expanding working fluid to generate work output wherein the displacement of said element is continuously varied to match work output load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cycle as recited in claim 1 obtained by interposing at least one positive displacement element in the working fluid and applying work input to Oscillate the positive displacement element and thereby generate heat pump effect wherein the displacement of said element is continuously varied to match heat pump load.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A cycle as recited in claim 1 obtained by interposing at least two positive displacement elements in the working fluid and oscillating the positive displacement elements with the compressing and expanding working fluid to generate work output and heat pump effect wherein the displacement of said elements is continuously varied to match work output and heat pump loads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cycle as recited in claim 1 obtained by interposing at least two positive displacement elements in the working fluid and in combination oscillating the positive displacement elements with the compressing and expanding working fluid and applying work input to augment oscillation of positive displacement elements and thereby generate heat pump effect wherein the displacement of said elements is continuously varied to match heat pump load.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of subjecting a working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle to obtain work output or to pump heat, said method comprising the steps of: regeneratively cooling the working fluid; polytropically compressing the working fluid with a resonant oscillating positive displacement element interposed in the working fluid, said compressing step including in combination isobarically cooling and polytropically compressing the working fluid while imposing a temperature difference on the fluid so that said polytropically compressing is nearly isothermal; regeneratively heating the working fluid approximately isobarically; and polytropically expanding the working fluid with a resonant oscillating positive displacement element interposed in the working fluid, said expanding step including in combination isobarically heating and polytropically expanding the working fluid while imposing a temperature difference on the fluid so that said polytropically expanding is nearly isothermal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of subjecting a working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle to obtain work output or to pump heat, said method comprising the steps of: regeneratively cooling the working fluid; polytropically compressing the working fluid with a resonant oscillating positive displacement element interposed in the working fluid, said compressing step including in combination isobarically cooling and polytropically compressing the working fluid while imposing a temperature difference on the fluid so that said polytropically compressing is nearly isothermal; regeneratively heating the working fluid approximately isobarically; and polytropically expanding the working fluid with a resonant oscillating positive displacement element interposed in the working fluid, said expanding step including in combination isobarically heating and polytropically expanding the working fluid while imposing a temperature difference on the fluid so that said polytropically expanding is nearly isothermal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 10 wherein said regeneratively cooling, polytropically compressing, regeneratively heating, and polytropically expanding steps are distant and separable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 10 and additionally comprising the step of deriving work output from the oscillating positive displacement element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 10 and additionally comprising the step of applying work input to the oscillating positive displacement element.
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) | 1978-12-29 | 1979-06-30 | 1979-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-29 | 1983-06-30 | 1983-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-29 | 1987-06-30 | 1987-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |