Patent US4051680A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4051680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Modified rankine cycle engine apparatus
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1977-10-04
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A modified Rankine cycle steam engine apparatus employs a jet pump to withdraw cooled steam from an adiabatic expansion engine and return the steam to a boiler for reheating. The jet pump draws the expanded, spent steam from the expansion engine into a throttled flow of steam passing through the jet pump from two tap-off points in the boiler.
Inventors
- 👤 Carroll D. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:07
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K19/00; F01K19/02; F01K19/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
336 words
A modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus comprising a heat reservoir, a working fluid having a gaseous phase a fluid heating vessel, which heating vessel is in thermal contact with the heat reservoir, the heating vessel having an inlet and an outlet, and which heating vessel contains a portion of the gaseous phase of the working fluid, which experiences heating while within the heating vessel, a first conduit having a first end connected to the outlet and having a second end an engine in which heated working fluid undergoes an approximately adiabatic expansion, thereby converting a portion of heat energy of the working fluid into mechanical work, an engine intake conduit having a first end connected to the first conduit and having a second end connected to the engine, thereby connecting the engine to the outlet of the fluid heating vessel, through which conduits the heated working fluid passes to the engine, a jet pump with a suction port, a main flow intake port and a main flow exhaust port, an engine exhaust conduit connecting the engine to the suction port of the jet pump, through which conduit expanded, spent working fluid passes from the engine, a pump intake conduit having a first end connected to the first conduit and having a second end connected to the pump main flow intake port, thereby connecting the outlet of the heating vessel to the main flow intake port of the jet pump, through which heated working fluid passes into the jet pump and into and through a nozzle structure within the pump, and a pump exhaust conduit connecting the main flow exhaust port of the jet pump with the inlet of the heating vessel, through which fluid from the suction port and the main flow intake port passes out of the jet pump and returns to the heating vessel; whereby, an adiabatic expansion engine, supplied with a heated, pressurized working fluid is exhausted by a jet pump, and spent working fluid is returned to a heating vessel for reheating.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
336 words
A modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus comprising a heat reservoir, a working fluid having a gaseous phase a fluid heating vessel, which heating vessel is in thermal contact with the heat reservoir, the heating vessel having an inlet and an outlet, and which heating vessel contains a portion of the gaseous phase of the working fluid, which experiences heating while within the heating vessel, a first conduit having a first end connected to the outlet and having a second end an engine in which heated working fluid undergoes an approximately adiabatic expansion, thereby converting a portion of heat energy of the working fluid into mechanical work, an engine intake conduit having a first end connected to the first conduit and having a second end connected to the engine, thereby connecting the engine to the outlet of the fluid heating vessel, through which conduits the heated working fluid passes to the engine, a jet pump with a suction port, a main flow intake port and a main flow exhaust port, an engine exhaust conduit connecting the engine to the suction port of the jet pump, through which conduit expanded, spent working fluid passes from the engine, a pump intake conduit having a first end connected to the first conduit and having a second end connected to the pump main flow intake port, thereby connecting the outlet of the heating vessel to the main flow intake port of the jet pump, through which heated working fluid passes into the jet pump and into and through a nozzle structure within the pump, and a pump exhaust conduit connecting the main flow exhaust port of the jet pump with the inlet of the heating vessel, through which fluid from the suction port and the main flow intake port passes out of the jet pump and returns to the heating vessel; whereby, an adiabatic expansion engine, supplied with a heated, pressurized working fluid is exhausted by a jet pump, and spent working fluid is returned to a heating vessel for reheating.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gaseous working fluid is a fluid capable of being heated, expanded, compressed and driven at temperatures and pressures available from the heating vessel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the engine in which the working fluid undergoes an approximately adiabatic expansion is a turbine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the engine in which the working fluid undergoes an approximately adiabatic expansion is a variable chamber engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heat reservoir is a source of thermal energy at some temperature relatively elevated with respect to engine temperature.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 wherein the heating vessel is an elongated single pass heating device maintained in thermal contact with the heat reservoir.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
105 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 further comprising additional jet pumps connected in parallel with the jet pump of claim 1, so that each of the jet pumps exhaust the engine through their respective suction ports; and, so that, a main flow intake port of a first pump is connected to the first portion of the heating vessel, main flow exhaust ports of each of all but a last pump are connected to the main flow intake port of a successive pump, and a main flow exhaust port of a last pump is connected to the second portion of the heating vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
100 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first pump throttle valve in the pump intake conduit, a second pump throttle valve in the pump exhaust conduit, and a main throttle valve in the engine intake conduit of the engine; whereby, the engine apparatus is started by applying heat to the heating vessel and then opening the first and second throttle valves and the main throttle valves; and whereby, the engine apparatus is stopped by first closing the main throttle valve, then closing the first and second throttle valves, and removing heat from the heating vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 further comprising additional jet pumps connected in series with the jet pump of claim 1, so that each of the jet pumps exhaust the engine through their respective suction ports; and, so that, main flow intake ports of all pumps are connected to the first portion of the heating vessel, and main flow exhaust ports of all pumps are connected to the second portion of the heating vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
117 words
The modified Rankine cycle engine apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pump throttle valve in the pump intake conduit, a pump throttle automatic check valve in the pump exhaust conduit, for permitting flow away from the pump, a main throttle valve in the engine intake conduit of the engine; whereby, the engine apparatus is started by applying heat to the heating vessel and then opening the pump throttle valve and the main throttle valve; and, whereby the engine is stopped and started by closing and opening the main throttle valve, and whereby the entire apparatus is stopped by closing the main throttle valve, then closing the pump throttle valve and removing heat from the heating vessel.
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) | 1980-10-03 | 1981-04-04 | 1981-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-03 | 1985-04-04 | 1985-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-03 | 1989-04-04 | 1989-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |