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US4442372A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Piezo electric apparatus for generating electricity

Assignee: Walton Energy Systems Co
•
Filing: 1982-11-22
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Granted: 1984-04-10
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Expires: 2002-11-22
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Abstract

Abstract A variable pressure piezo electric generator comprised of a furnace chamber, a refrigerant chamber surrounding the furnace chamber in heat exchange relation thereto and a condensing chamber in communication with the refrigerant chamber. The refrigerant chamber contains a liquid refrigerant that is vaporized by the furnace heat and flows into and through the condensing chamber where it condenses. Piezo electric elements are mounted in the condensing chamber in the path of the pressurized refrigerant. An apertured plate is mounted in the condensing chamber between adjacent pairs of the piezo electric elements. The apertures in the respective plates vary in size which causes refrigerant pressure variations. As a result, the refrigerant exerts mechanical forces on the piezo electric elements causing them to produce electricity.

Inventors

  • 👤 Walter M. Roberts

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 23:23
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02N; H02N2/00; H02N2/18; H02N2/185; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S310/00; Y10S310/80

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 144 words
In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber at least partially surrounding the furnace chamber, a liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, a condensing chammber, conduit means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of piezo electric elements in the condensing chamber in the path of the pressurized refrigerant passing therethrough, and means in the condensing chamber for producing variations in the refrigerant pressure whereby the refrigerant exerts a mechanical force on the piezo electric elements which in turn produce electricity, said last-named means comprising an apertured plate member located between each adjacent pair of piezo electric elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 144 words
In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber at least partially surrounding the furnace chamber, a liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, a condensing chammber, conduit means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of piezo electric elements in the condensing chamber in the path of the pressurized refrigerant passing therethrough, and means in the condensing chamber for producing variations in the refrigerant pressure whereby the refrigerant exerts a mechanical force on the piezo electric elements which in turn produce electricity, said last-named means comprising an apertured plate member located between each adjacent pair of piezo electric elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A frequency generator as defined in claim 1 wherein the plate member apertures are respectively dimensioned so as to produce the refrigerant pressure variations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 166 words
In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber arranged in heat exchange relation to the furnace chamber, a refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, a condensing chamber, means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of piezo electric elements mounted in the condensing chamber in spaced relation to one another, the piezo electric elements being located in the chamber so as to be in the path of the pressurized refrigerant passing therethrough, and a plurality of apertured plate members mounted in the condensing chamber in alternate relation to the piezo electric elements, the apertured plate members being operable to produce variations in the refrigerant pressure whereby the refrigerant exerts mechanical forces on the piezo electric elements causing them to produce electricity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 166 words
In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber arranged in heat exchange relation to the furnace chamber, a refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, a condensing chamber, means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of piezo electric elements mounted in the condensing chamber in spaced relation to one another, the piezo electric elements being located in the chamber so as to be in the path of the pressurized refrigerant passing therethrough, and a plurality of apertured plate members mounted in the condensing chamber in alternate relation to the piezo electric elements, the apertured plate members being operable to produce variations in the refrigerant pressure whereby the refrigerant exerts mechanical forces on the piezo electric elements causing them to produce electricity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 33 words
A frequency generator as defined in claim 3 wherein each plate member has a single aperture therethrough, the apertures in successive plates varying in size so as to produce the refrigerant pressure variations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 175 words
In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber at least partially surrounding the furnace chamber in a heat exchange relation thereto, a refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, an elongated condensing chamber, means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of plate members mounted in the condensing chamber so as to divide it into a plurality of successive compartments, a piezo electric element resiliently mounted in each compartment, each plate member having an aperture therein to permit the pressurized refrigerant to flow through the successive compartments, the plate member apertures being respectively dimensioned so as to create variations in the refrigerant pressure which act on the piezo electric elements causing the latter to produce electricity, and a transducer element operably connected to each piezo electric element for collecting the electricity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 175 words
In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber at least partially surrounding the furnace chamber in a heat exchange relation thereto, a refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, an elongated condensing chamber, means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of plate members mounted in the condensing chamber so as to divide it into a plurality of successive compartments, a piezo electric element resiliently mounted in each compartment, each plate member having an aperture therein to permit the pressurized refrigerant to flow through the successive compartments, the plate member apertures being respectively dimensioned so as to create variations in the refrigerant pressure which act on the piezo electric elements causing the latter to produce electricity, and a transducer element operably connected to each piezo electric element for collecting the electricity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
A frequency generator as defined in claim 5 wherein the refrigerant is Freon.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2522389A Cited
US3122015A Cited
US3239678A Cited
US3665226A Cited
US3822388A Cited
SU613421A1 Cited
US4387318A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-04-10 1987-10-10 1988-04-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-04-10 1991-10-10 1992-04-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-04-10 1995-10-10 1996-04-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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