US4574590A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High temperature engine and seal
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-09-10
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Granted: 1986-03-11
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Expires: 2004-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for better sealing a piston to its cylinder, to effectively eliminate efficiency loss due to leakage of the high-temperature, high pressure driving gas around the edges of the piston. An elastomeric seal is located so as to seal the piston and cylinder combination at a minimum sufficient distance from the combustion chamber to prevent heat damage to the seal material by conduction of heat through the piston or cylinder material.
Inventors
- 👤 Dedger Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 07:32
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/053; F02G1/0535; F02G2253/00; F02G2253/02; F02G2254/00; F02G2254/30; F02G2258/00; F02G2258/10; F02G2270/00; F02G2270/90; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/93; Y10S277/935; Y10S277/944; Y10S277/945; Y10S277/946
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for sealing a cylinder of the type having a closed end and an open end and an interior surface therebetween to a movable piston of the type having a face end and a rod end, said piston being movable over a specific length of said cylinder, comprising: an extension skirt located substantially on the perimeter of the rod end of said piston and extending away from the face end of said piston said skirt extension having an exterior surface in close proximity to the interior surface of said cylinder, an elastomeric pressure seal retained in the interior surface of said cylinder, contacting the exterior surface of said extension skirt at a point spaced apart from the face end of said piston at least a distance adequate to prevent heat at the surface of the piston face end from being excessively transferred by conduction to said pressure seal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for sealing a cylinder of the type having a closed end and an open end and an interior surface therebetween to a movable piston of the type having a face end and a rod end, said piston being movable over a specific length of said cylinder, comprising: an extension skirt located substantially on the perimeter of the rod end of said piston and extending away from the face end of said piston said skirt extension having an exterior surface in close proximity to the interior surface of said cylinder, an elastomeric pressure seal retained in the interior surface of said cylinder, contacting the exterior surface of said extension skirt at a point spaced apart from the face end of said piston at least a distance adequate to prevent heat at the surface of the piston face end from being excessively transferred by conduction to said pressure seal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said seal is made of a fluoro-carbon material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cylinder further comprises a heat sink at its closed end for removal of heat residing between said cylinder closed end and said piston face end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said heat sink further comprises a ceramic coating on the interior of the closed end of said cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said heat sink further comprised an air cooled heat exchanger on the exterior of the closed end of said cylinder.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for sealing a cylinder of the type having a closed end and an open end, to a moveable piston of the type having a face end and a rod end and a skirt said piston being moveable over a specific distance within said cylinder, comprising the steps of: retaining an elastomeric pressure seal in the interior wall surface of said cylinder, said seal being in pressure retaining contact with said piston at a point on said piston skirt spaced apart from the face end of the piston at least a distance adequate to prevent heat at the surface of the piston face end from being excessively transferred by conduction to said seal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for sealing a cylinder of the type having a closed end and an open end, to a moveable piston of the type having a face end and a rod end and a skirt said piston being moveable over a specific distance within said cylinder, comprising the steps of: retaining an elastomeric pressure seal in the interior wall surface of said cylinder, said seal being in pressure retaining contact with said piston at a point on said piston skirt spaced apart from the face end of the piston at least a distance adequate to prevent heat at the surface of the piston face end from being excessively transferred by conduction to said seal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of providing said seal of a fluoro-carbon material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of providing said seal of a material selected from the set consisting of a fluoro-carbon material, a chlorofluoro-carbon material, a fluoro-carbon polymer, a chlorofluoro-carbon polymer, or a material substantially comprising those materials.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of providing a heat sink at the closed end of said cylinder for the removal of heat residing between said cylinder closed end and said piston face end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of providing an air cooled heat exchanger on the exterior of the closed end of said cylinder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 6 further comprising the step of providing a heat resistant coating to the interior of the closed end of said cylinder.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of producing mechanical energy through cyclic changes of a gaseous working fluid, comprising in order the steps of: increasing the temperature and pressure of said working fluid by compression; further increasing the pressure of said working fluid by increasing its temperature at a constant volume condition; extracting energy in a near-isobaric expansion in a cylinder driving a piston; exhausting said working fluid from said cylinder, to the initial pressure of said working fluid.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of producing mechanical energy through cyclic changes of a gaseous working fluid, comprising in order the steps of: increasing the temperature and pressure of said working fluid by compression; further increasing the pressure of said working fluid by increasing its temperature at a constant volume condition; extracting energy in a near-isobaric expansion in a cylinder driving a piston; exhausting said working fluid from said cylinder, to the initial pressure of said working fluid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said temperature increase is performed by a counterflow heat exchanger.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein a portion of said further temperature increase is provided by heat transfer from a secondary heating source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein a portion of said further temperature increase is provided by heat transfer from a secondary heating source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said working fluid is derived from an exterior source to the cycle and is exhausted to said same exterior source in an open cycle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein the temperature of said working fluid as it enters said cylinder in said energy extracting step is in excess of 2,000° F.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
160 words
The method according to 12 further comprising the steps of providing an apparatus for sealing a cylinder of the type having a closed end and an open end and an interior surface therebetween to a moveable piston of the type having a face end and a rod end, said piston being moveable over a specific length of said cylinder, comprising: an extension skirt located substantially on the perimeter of the rod end of said piston and extending away from the face end of said piston, said skirt extension having an exterior surface in close proximity to the interior surface of said cylinder an elastomeric pressure seal retained in the interior surface of said cylinder, contacting the exterior surface of said extension skirt at a point spaced apart from the face end of said piston at least a distance adequate to prevent heat at the surface of the piston face end from being excessively transferred by conduction to said pressure seal.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
160 words
The method according to 12 further comprising the steps of providing an apparatus for sealing a cylinder of the type having a closed end and an open end and an interior surface therebetween to a moveable piston of the type having a face end and a rod end, said piston being moveable over a specific length of said cylinder, comprising: an extension skirt located substantially on the perimeter of the rod end of said piston and extending away from the face end of said piston, said skirt extension having an exterior surface in close proximity to the interior surface of said cylinder an elastomeric pressure seal retained in the interior surface of said cylinder, contacting the exterior surface of said extension skirt at a point spaced apart from the face end of said piston at least a distance adequate to prevent heat at the surface of the piston face end from being excessively transferred by conduction to said pressure seal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-03-10 | 1989-09-09 | 1990-03-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-10 | 1993-09-09 | 1994-03-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-10 | 1997-09-09 | 1998-03-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |