US4228658A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for converting pressure into rotative motion
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-04-24
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Granted: 1980-10-21
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Expires: 1998-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A fluid engine comprising a coiled conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and supported to rotate about its axis in a partially immersed condition within a first fluid which interfaces with a second fluid having a different fluid density. Rotation of the conduit about its axis causes the fluid inlet to alternately be immersed in the first and second fluids whereby a quantity of each fluid is entrapped within each convolution of the conduit resulting in an unbalanced fluid condition producing a gravitational turning moment. Pressure differential across the coiled conduit between the inlet and the outlet maintains fluid flow through the conduit from the inlet to the outlet thereby sustaining the unbalanced condition which causes conduit rotation. The required differential may be provided by a head of water or may be created by evaporating a liquid or by thermally expanding a gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan E. Belcher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:32
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K27/00; F01K27/005; F03; F03B; F03B17/00; F03G; F03G3/00; F05; F05B; F05B2240/00; F05B2240/20; F05B2240/24; F05B2240/243; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A fluid engine comprising at least one coiled conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, means supporting said conduit for rotation in one direction about its axis and in a partially immersed condition within a first fluid having an interface with a second fluid of a different fluid density than said first fluid to alternately immerse said fluid inlet in said first and second fluids, and means for maintaining the pressure of the fluid at said fluid outlet below the pressure of the fluid at said inlet whereby to maintain an unbalanced fluid condition within said conduit resulting in a gravitational turning moment about said axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A fluid engine comprising at least one coiled conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, means supporting said conduit for rotation in one direction about its axis and in a partially immersed condition within a first fluid having an interface with a second fluid of a different fluid density than said first fluid to alternately immerse said fluid inlet in said first and second fluids, and means for maintaining the pressure of the fluid at said fluid outlet below the pressure of the fluid at said inlet whereby to maintain an unbalanced fluid condition within said conduit resulting in a gravitational turning moment about said axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit comprises a helically wound coil and said fluid inlet is disposed circumferentially of said coil and said fluid outlet is disposed generally axially of said coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said coil is supported on a cylindrical structure mounted on a hollow shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 3 wherein a terminal end of said coil communicates with the interior of said hollow shaft to form said fluid outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fluid engine as set forth in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein said coil comprises two or more banks or layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fluid engine as set forth in any one of claims 1 through 4 wherein said pressure maintaining means comprises means for continuously maintaining the pressure of the fluid at said fluid outlet below the pressure of the fluid at said fluid inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduit comprises a spirally wound conduit in the form of a scroll.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for maintaining the pressure of said fluid comprises a siphon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said engine includes another coiled conduit having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, first means providing fluid communication between the fluid inlet of said one conduit and the fluid outlet of said other conduit, and second means providing fluid communication between the fluid outlet of said one coiled conduit and the fluid inlet of said other coiled conduit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first means comprises means defining an evaporation chamber and said second means comprises means defining a condensing chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fluid engine as set forth in either claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said one coiled conduit and said other coiled conduit are coaxially aligned.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 9 wherein a single convolution of one of the conduits comprising said one and said other conduit has an annular volume equal to approximately one half of the annular volume of a single convolution of the other of said conduits.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the fluids comprising said first and second fluid is normally in a gaseous state and the other of said fluids is normally in a liquid state.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
A fluid engine comprising a housing having evaporation and condensing chambers therein, means defining at least two coiled conduits disposed in fixed position within said housing for defining at least two separate flow paths between said chambers, one of said conduits having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said evaporating chamber and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with said condensing chamber, the other of said conduits having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said condensing chamber and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with said evaporating chamber, means supporting said housing for rotation about an axis and and quantities of two different fluids contained within said housing, said two different fluids being of different specific densities and in interfaced relation to each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
A fluid engine comprising a housing having evaporation and condensing chambers therein, means defining at least two coiled conduits disposed in fixed position within said housing for defining at least two separate flow paths between said chambers, one of said conduits having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said evaporating chamber and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with said condensing chamber, the other of said conduits having a fluid inlet in fluid communication with said condensing chamber and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with said evaporating chamber, means supporting said housing for rotation about an axis and and quantities of two different fluids contained within said housing, said two different fluids being of different specific densities and in interfaced relation to each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing comprises a cylindrical container, said evaporating and said condensing chambers are located at axially opposite ends of said container, and said coiled conduits are supported within said container between said chambers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said two coiled conduits comprise helical conduits of opposite hand.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A fluid engine as set forth in either claim 15 or 16 wherein said helical conduits are coaxially supported within said cylindrical container.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fluid engine as set forth in either claim 15 or 16 wherein a single convolution of one of said helical conduits has a volume equal to approximately to one half of the volume of a single convolution of the other of the said helical conduits.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A fluid engine as set forth in claim 14 wherein one of said fluids is a gas and the other of said fluids is a liquid.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for converting pressure into rotary motion comprising the steps of rotating a coiled conduit in one direction about its axis and in a partially immersed condition within a first fluid having an interface with a second fluid and a different fluid density than said second fluid to alternately immerse a fluid inlet of said coiled conduit in said first and second fluids whereby to start said rotary motion, and maintaining the fluid pressure at an outlet of said coiled conduit below the fluid pressure within said coiled conduit whereby to maintain an unbalanced fluid condition within said conduit resulting in a turning moment about said axis.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for converting pressure into rotary motion comprising the steps of rotating a coiled conduit in one direction about its axis and in a partially immersed condition within a first fluid having an interface with a second fluid and a different fluid density than said second fluid to alternately immerse a fluid inlet of said coiled conduit in said first and second fluids whereby to start said rotary motion, and maintaining the fluid pressure at an outlet of said coiled conduit below the fluid pressure within said coiled conduit whereby to maintain an unbalanced fluid condition within said conduit resulting in a turning moment about said axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for converting pressure into rotary motion as set forth in claim 20 wherein the step of maintaining the fluid pressure at said outlet is further characterized as siphoning fluid from said outlet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method for converting pressure to rotary motion as set forth in either claim 20 or claim 21 wherein the step of maintaining the fluid pressure is further characterized as continuously maintaining the fluid pressure at an outlet of said coil conduit below the fluid pressure within said coiled conduit whereby to maintain a constant unbalanced fluid condition within said conduit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method for converting pressure to rotary motion as set forth in claim 20 wherein the step of maintaining the fluid pressure at the outlet end is further characterized as adding heat to the fluid at the inlet end of the conduit and removing heat from the fluid at the outlet end of the conduit.
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) | 1983-10-21 | 1984-04-21 | 1984-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-21 | 1988-04-21 | 1988-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-21 | 1992-04-21 | 1992-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |