US4580414A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Refrigeration system
Assignee: AMERICAN COOLING TECHNOLOGY Inc C/O JOHN F C LUCAS 714 MAY STREET YORK PENNSYLVANIA 17404 A PA CORP
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Filing: 1985-08-15
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Granted: 1986-04-08
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Expires: 2005-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A high-pressure refrigerant driven refrigeration apparatus has a heat exchanger charged with a refrigerant for transferring heat from a heat source to the refrigerant, and a refrigerant motor connected to the heat exchanger and powered by the heated high pressure refrigerant. A compressor is connected to the refrigerant motor and driven thereby. The system includes a condenser connected to the refrigerant motor and to the compressor for liquefying the refrigerant from the refrigerant motor and from the compressor and an evaporator connected to the compressor for receiving the expanded refrigerant from the compressor. The refrigerant motor may be a reciprocating or a rotary motor.
Inventors
- 👤 Friedrick R. Engelhard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:59
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B27/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A refrigeration system comprising in combination: a heat exchanger charged with a refrigerant for transferring heat from a heat source to the refrigerant; refrigerant motor means connected to said heat exchanger and powered by the heated refrigerant; a compressor connected to said refrigerant motor means and driven thereby; condenser means connected to said refrigerant motor means and to said compressor for liquefying the refrigerant from the refrigerant motor means and from the compressor; evaporator means connected to the compressor for receiving the expanded refrigerant from the compressor to thereby cool an evaporator coil; the refrigerant motor means and compressor forming an integrated unit having: a cylinder housing forming a cylinder therein; a pair of free sliding pistons connected to each other by a shaft in the cylinder; a sliding valve element slidably mounted on the shaft between the pistons and slidable between a pair of stop members, said valve element being ported for coupling high-pressure refrigerant from said heat exchanger into said cylinder to drive one said piston in one direction when said valve element is in one position and to drive the second piston in the opposite direction when said valve element is in a second position; and means to move the valve element between said one and said second positions responsive to said pistons moving at a predetermined distance in each direction, whereby a refrigerant system is driven by refrigerant motor and compressor combination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A refrigeration system comprising in combination: a heat exchanger charged with a refrigerant for transferring heat from a heat source to the refrigerant; refrigerant motor means connected to said heat exchanger and powered by the heated refrigerant; a compressor connected to said refrigerant motor means and driven thereby; condenser means connected to said refrigerant motor means and to said compressor for liquefying the refrigerant from the refrigerant motor means and from the compressor; evaporator means connected to the compressor for receiving the expanded refrigerant from the compressor to thereby cool an evaporator coil; the refrigerant motor means and compressor forming an integrated unit having: a cylinder housing forming a cylinder therein; a pair of free sliding pistons connected to each other by a shaft in the cylinder; a sliding valve element slidably mounted on the shaft between the pistons and slidable between a pair of stop members, said valve element being ported for coupling high-pressure refrigerant from said heat exchanger into said cylinder to drive one said piston in one direction when said valve element is in one position and to drive the second piston in the opposite direction when said valve element is in a second position; and means to move the valve element between said one and said second positions responsive to said pistons moving at a predetermined distance in each direction, whereby a refrigerant system is driven by refrigerant motor and compressor combination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 1 in which each of said pair of annular stop members has an O-ring mounted thereon for sealing the slide valve member thereagainst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 2 in which the condenser means is a single air cooled condenser for condensing the refrigerant from the motor means and from the compressor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 3 in which a condenser means is connected to a single receiver for supplying refrigerant to both the evaporator means and the heat exchanger.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 4 including a high pressure refrigerant pump connected between the receiver and the heat exchanger for transferring the heat from a heat source to the refrigerant to place the heat exchanger refrigerant under high pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 5 in which a check valve is positioned in the line between the high pressure refrigerant pump and heat exchanger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 6 in which said refrigerant motor means and compressor includes a starting valve connected to a starter line connected to the cylinder housing for initially actuating the sliding valve element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 7 in which the refrigerant motor means and compressor means to move the valve element between positions include a valve pushing element mounted on the shaft connecting the pair of free-sliding pistons and is spring cushioned adjacent each free-sliding piston for protruding through a stop member to thereby push against the sliding valve element when the free-sliding piston is moving in one direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 8 in which each said free-sliding piston is attached to the shaft in the cylinder with a nut threaded onto the end of the shaft.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 9 in which each free-sliding piston has a countersunk portion therein with a threaded shaft end extending through the piston thereinto and the nut being threaded thereon in the countersunk portion and each said piston has a threaded cap covering the countersunk portion in the piston.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 10 in which the sliding valve element is cylindrical in shape and has annular reduced portions on either end thereof for opening the high pressure refrigerant line between the valve element and the back side of one sliding piston when the valve element is in one position and to open the high pressure refrigerant line between the other piston and the other end of the valve element when the valve element is in a second position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
213 words
A refrigeration system comprising in combination: a heat exchanger charged with a refrigerant for transferring heat from a heat source to the refrigerant; refrigerant motor means connected to said heat exchanger and powered by the heated refrigerant; a compressor connected to said refrigerant motor means and driven thereby; condenser means connected to said refrigerant motor means and to said compressor for liquefying the refrigerant from the refrigerant motor means and from the compressor; evaporator means connected to the compressor for receiving the expanded refrigerant from the compressor to thereby cool an evaporator coil; the refrigerant motor means and compressor forming an integrated unit having: a rotary compressor and rotary refrigerant means housing having a plurality of chambers formed therein and a single shaft extending therethrough; a rotary compressor rotor attached to the rotary shaft in one housing chamber for rotation on the shaft and having at least one sliding vane therein for drawing in refrigerant from a compressor suction line and discharging the compressed refrigerant; and a refrigerant motor rotor attached to the rotary shaft in a second chamber and having at least one vane therein which vane is driven by a high pressure refrigerant supply line to rotate the refrigerant motor rotor until the refrigerant escapes through the refrigerant motor exhaust line.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
213 words
A refrigeration system comprising in combination: a heat exchanger charged with a refrigerant for transferring heat from a heat source to the refrigerant; refrigerant motor means connected to said heat exchanger and powered by the heated refrigerant; a compressor connected to said refrigerant motor means and driven thereby; condenser means connected to said refrigerant motor means and to said compressor for liquefying the refrigerant from the refrigerant motor means and from the compressor; evaporator means connected to the compressor for receiving the expanded refrigerant from the compressor to thereby cool an evaporator coil; the refrigerant motor means and compressor forming an integrated unit having: a rotary compressor and rotary refrigerant means housing having a plurality of chambers formed therein and a single shaft extending therethrough; a rotary compressor rotor attached to the rotary shaft in one housing chamber for rotation on the shaft and having at least one sliding vane therein for drawing in refrigerant from a compressor suction line and discharging the compressed refrigerant; and a refrigerant motor rotor attached to the rotary shaft in a second chamber and having at least one vane therein which vane is driven by a high pressure refrigerant supply line to rotate the refrigerant motor rotor until the refrigerant escapes through the refrigerant motor exhaust line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 12 in which said refrigerant motor has a pair of refrigerant motor chambers each having a refrigerant motor rotor mounted to said shaft in said housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 12 in which the refrigerant motor has a pair of sliding vanes mounted in the refrigerant motor rotor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 14 in which each refrigerant motor rotor has a pair of sliding vanes therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 15 in which each rotor is mounted to the rotary shaft off center for creating an expanding and compressing chambers as said rotor elements rotate with said sliding vanes therein.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 16 in which the refrigerant motor has a spring loaded bar seal mounted in the housing for pressing against the motor rotor for sealing between the high pressure refrigerant supply line and the refrigerant motor exhaust line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
A refrigeration system in accordance with claim 17 in which a vent connects the refrigerant motor high pressure refrigerant supply line to the back of the motor bar seal for driving the bar seal against the rotor by the refrigerant pressure.
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) | 1989-04-07 | 1989-10-07 | 1990-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-07 | 1993-10-07 | 1994-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-07 | 1997-10-07 | 1998-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |