US4224798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Split cycle engine and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1979-07-05
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Granted: 1980-09-30
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Expires: 1999-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A split cycle engine apparatus and method, the apparatus including a combustion engine, a novel compressor apparatus driven by the combustion engine, a closed-cycle refrigeration system in cooperation with the compressor apparatus, and a pneumatic motor driven by compressed air from the compressor apparatus. Refrigerant in the compressor absorbs thermal energy from compressed air and assists in compressing the air. High pressure air from the compressor is stored in a storage tank and may be used to drive the pneumatic motor or other auxiliary equipment in addition to providing high pressure combustion air for the internal combustion engine.
Inventors
- 👤 VerDon C. Brinkerhoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:16
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01B; F01B29/00; F01B29/08; F01K; F01K3/00; F02; F02G; F02G1/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A split cycle engine system comprising: a combustion engine means; an air compressor means for compressing air and driven by the combustion engine means; a closed cycle, refrigerant cooling system means for cooling the air compressed by the compressor means; and a pneumatic motor means operable by the compressed air.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
A split cycle engine system comprising: a combustion engine means; an air compressor means for compressing air and driven by the combustion engine means; a closed cycle, refrigerant cooling system means for cooling the air compressed by the compressor means; and a pneumatic motor means operable by the compressed air.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 1 wherein the combustion engine means includes conduit means for directing compressed air supplied by the air compressor means to the combustion engine means for use as combustion air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 2 wherein the combustion engine means includes heat exchange means for heating the combustion air with exhaust gasses generated by the combustion engine means and at least a portion of the combustion air is supplied by the air compressor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 1 wherein the air compressor means further comprises a compressed air storage tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 1 wherein the closed cycle, refrigerant cooling system means comprises a body of refrigerant in the compressor means and heat exchange means for absorbing heat energy from the air and cooling means for removing heat energy from the refrigerant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 5 wherein the cooling means comprises a heat exchange means in thermal contact with exhaust air from the pneumatic motor means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
84 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 1 wherein the air compressor means comprises at least one cylinder and a piston in the cylinder, the piston segregating the cylinder into a refrigerant chamber and a compression chamber, the piston compressing air in the compression chamber by movement in one direction with a refrigerant gas in the refrigerant chamber absorbing heat of compression with the piston serving as a heat exchange surface for transferring heat energy from the compressed air into the refrigerant gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 7 wherein the piston comprises a refrigerant basin adapted to accommodate a body of refrigerant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 1 wherein the air compressor means comprises a double wall cylinder having an inner wall and an outer wall with an annular space between the inner wall and the outer wall, the annular space serving as a heat exchange means for inlet air to the air compressor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
A split cycle engine system comprising: a combustion engine means; an air compressor means for compressing air, the air compressor means being driven by the combustion engine means and including at least one vertical cylinder and a piston reciprocatingly operable in the cylinder, the piston segregating the cylinder into a lower, compression chamber and an upper refrigerant chamber, the refrigerant chamber containing a body of refrigerant, the refrigerant absorbing heat energy from air compressed in the compression chamber, the heat energy absorbed by the refrigerant increasing the pressure in the refrigerant chamber and thereby assisting the combustion engine means in moving the piston downwardly to compress air in the compression chamber; a cooling means external of cylinder for removing heat energy from the refrigerant; and a pneumatic motor means operable by compressed air from the air compressor means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
138 words
A split cycle engine system comprising: a combustion engine means; an air compressor means for compressing air, the air compressor means being driven by the combustion engine means and including at least one vertical cylinder and a piston reciprocatingly operable in the cylinder, the piston segregating the cylinder into a lower, compression chamber and an upper refrigerant chamber, the refrigerant chamber containing a body of refrigerant, the refrigerant absorbing heat energy from air compressed in the compression chamber, the heat energy absorbed by the refrigerant increasing the pressure in the refrigerant chamber and thereby assisting the combustion engine means in moving the piston downwardly to compress air in the compression chamber; a cooling means external of cylinder for removing heat energy from the refrigerant; and a pneumatic motor means operable by compressed air from the air compressor means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 10 wherein the piston comprises a refrigerant basin adapted to contain a body of refrigerant in heat exchange relationship with air compressed in the air compressor means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 10 wherein the air compressor means comprises a spaced, double wall cylinder with an air inlet plenum for inlet air to the air compressor means between the spaced, double walls, the air inlet plenum providing heat exchange between inlet air and the refrigerant chamber and the compression chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The split cycle engine system defined in claim 10 wherein the air compressor means further comprises a compressed air storage tank.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy comprising: generating mechanical energy in a combustion engine and producing a first mechanical energy; operating an air compressor means with the first mechanical energy to compress air; assisting the first mechanical energy in compressing the air by removing heat energy from the air with a refrigerant, the refrigerant being volatilized by heat energy from the air and thereby increasing in pressure and assisting the first mechanical energy in compressing the air; and producing a second mechanical energy with a pneumatic motor means by directing the compressed air to the pneumatic motor means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy comprising: generating mechanical energy in a combustion engine and producing a first mechanical energy; operating an air compressor means with the first mechanical energy to compress air; assisting the first mechanical energy in compressing the air by removing heat energy from the air with a refrigerant, the refrigerant being volatilized by heat energy from the air and thereby increasing in pressure and assisting the first mechanical energy in compressing the air; and producing a second mechanical energy with a pneumatic motor means by directing the compressed air to the pneumatic motor means.
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) | 1983-09-30 | 1984-03-31 | 1984-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-30 | 1988-03-31 | 1988-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-30 | 1992-03-31 | 1992-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |