US4075845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Freeze/thaw power system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-03-25
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Granted: 1978-02-28
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Expires: 1996-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus using a FREEZE/THAW POWER CYCLE. The apparatus includes a piston driven by the expansion power of a fluid such as water in a cyclinder on freezing and the thawing thereof with alternate, rapid freezing and thawing of the fluid by low and high temperature means with heat transfer rates facilitated by the use of heat pipes or tubes or other conductor means to produce a continuous single or multi cyclinder quick, polution free and noiseless freeze/thaw power cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Milton Frank Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:17
CPC Classifications
F; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/06; F03G7/061; F03G7/06112; F03G7/06113; F03G7/064; F03G7/0641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of driving a device using a piston slidably carried in a chamber with the chamber filled with a freezable liquid which experiences a change of volume upon freezing from a liquid state to a solid state comprising the steps of: (a) associating the piston with the fluid so that the piston is moved in response to a change in volume of the fluid; (b) freezing the fluid to a substantially solid state to change its volume and move the piston in a first direction by operatively associating a heat pipe with the fluid to withdraw heat from the fluid and freeze the fluid; and, (c) subsequently thawing the frozen fluid from its solid state to its liquid state to change the volume of the fluid and move the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction by operatively associating a second heat pipe with the frozen fluid to add heat thereto and thaw the fluid to its liquid state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of driving a device using a piston slidably carried in a chamber with the chamber filled with a freezable liquid which experiences a change of volume upon freezing from a liquid state to a solid state comprising the steps of: (a) associating the piston with the fluid so that the piston is moved in response to a change in volume of the fluid; (b) freezing the fluid to a substantially solid state to change its volume and move the piston in a first direction by operatively associating a heat pipe with the fluid to withdraw heat from the fluid and freeze the fluid; and, (c) subsequently thawing the frozen fluid from its solid state to its liquid state to change the volume of the fluid and move the piston in a second direction opposite the first direction by operatively associating a second heat pipe with the frozen fluid to add heat thereto and thaw the fluid to its liquid state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
217 words
Freeze/thaw apparatus for driving a device comprising a housing defining a chamber therein; a piston slidably carried in said chamber; a freezable fluid carried in said chamber which experiences a change in volume upon freezing from a liquid state to a solid state, said freezable fluid in operative association with said piston to cause said piston to linearly move said fluid experiences a change in volume; a heat absorbing source having a temperature below the freezing temperature of said freezable fluid; a heat generating source having a temperature greater than the thawing temperature of said freezable fluid; a cooling heat pipe; a heating heat pipe; and, control means for selectively and alternatively placing said cooling heat pipe in operative association with said freezable fluid in said chamber and said heat absorbing source for selectively freezing the fluid in said chamber to cause said fluid to change its volume and move said piston in a first linear direction, and for selectively and alternatively placing said heating heat pipe in operative association with said freezable fluid in said chamber and said heat generating source for selectively thawing said freezable fluid from its solid state to its liquid state to change the volume of said fluid and move said piston in a second linear direction opposite said first linear direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
217 words
Freeze/thaw apparatus for driving a device comprising a housing defining a chamber therein; a piston slidably carried in said chamber; a freezable fluid carried in said chamber which experiences a change in volume upon freezing from a liquid state to a solid state, said freezable fluid in operative association with said piston to cause said piston to linearly move said fluid experiences a change in volume; a heat absorbing source having a temperature below the freezing temperature of said freezable fluid; a heat generating source having a temperature greater than the thawing temperature of said freezable fluid; a cooling heat pipe; a heating heat pipe; and, control means for selectively and alternatively placing said cooling heat pipe in operative association with said freezable fluid in said chamber and said heat absorbing source for selectively freezing the fluid in said chamber to cause said fluid to change its volume and move said piston in a first linear direction, and for selectively and alternatively placing said heating heat pipe in operative association with said freezable fluid in said chamber and said heat generating source for selectively thawing said freezable fluid from its solid state to its liquid state to change the volume of said fluid and move said piston in a second linear direction opposite said first linear direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The freeze/thaw apparatus of claim 3 further including driven means operatively connected to said piston and driven by said piston, said driven means including an output shaft and connection means connecting said piston with said output shaft to convert said linear output motion of said piston into rotary motion of said output shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The freeze/thaw apparatus of claim 4 wherein said connection means causes said output shaft to rotate in a first rotational direction in response to the movement of said piston linearly.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The freeze/thaw apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control means is operatively connected to and driven by said piston.
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) | 1981-02-27 | 1981-08-29 | 1982-02-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-27 | 1985-08-29 | 1986-02-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-27 | 1989-08-29 | 1990-02-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |