US4722201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic cooling engine
Assignee: Los Alamos National Security LLC
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Filing: 1986-12-16
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Granted: 1988-02-02
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Expires: 2006-12-16
Abstract
Abstract An acoustic cooling engine with improved thermal performance and reduced internal losses comprises a compressible fluid contained in a resonant pressure vessel. The fluid has a substantial thermal expansion coefficient and is capable of supporting an acoustic standing wave. A thermodynamic element has first and second ends and is located in the resonant pressure vessel in thermal communication with the fluid. The thermal response of the thermodynamic element to the acoustic standing wave pumps heat from the second end to the first end. The thermodynamic element permits substantial flow of the fluid through the thermodynamic element. An acoustic driver cyclically drives the fluid with an acoustic standing wave. The driver is at a location of maximum acoustic impedance in the resonant pressure vessel and proximate the first end of the thermodynamic element. A hot heat exchanger is adjacent to and in thermal communication with the first end of the thermodynamic element. The hot heat exchanger conducts heat from the first end to portions of the resonant pressure vessel proximate the hot heat exchanger. The hot heat exchanger permits substantial flow of the fluid through the hot heat exchanger. The resonant pressure vessel can include a housing less than one quarter wavelength in length coupled to a reservoir. The housing can include a reduced diameter portion communicating with the reservoir. The frequency of the acoustic driver can be continuously controlled so as to maintain resonance.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Hofler
- 👤 John C. Wheatley
- 👤 Gregory W. Swift
- 👤 Albert Migliori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:26
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/14; F25B9/145; F02; F02G; F02G2243/00; F02G2243/30; F02G2243/50; F02G2243/52; F25B2309/00; F25B2309/14; F25B2309/1404; F25B2309/1407; F25B2309/1416
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An acoustic cooling engine comprising: container means for containing a compressible fluid which is capable of supporting and acoustic standing wave having a selected wavelength, said container means having two ends defining a length about half said wavelength of said acoustic standing wave; driver means for cyclically driving said compressible fluid at a frequency corresponding to said selected wavelength, said driver means being positioned at one of said ends of said container means, said one end being a location of maximum acoustical impedance; a thermodynamic element located in said container means and having a first end proximate to said driver means and a second end located further away from said driver means than said first end and defining a length less than one-fourth said wavelength of said acoustic standing wave, said thermodynamic element being thermally responsive to said acoustic standing wave to cause heat to be pumped from said second end to said first end thereby thermally isolating said second end from said driver means; and conductor means for conducting heat away from said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An acoustic cooling engine comprising: container means for containing a compressible fluid which is capable of supporting and acoustic standing wave having a selected wavelength, said container means having two ends defining a length about half said wavelength of said acoustic standing wave; driver means for cyclically driving said compressible fluid at a frequency corresponding to said selected wavelength, said driver means being positioned at one of said ends of said container means, said one end being a location of maximum acoustical impedance; a thermodynamic element located in said container means and having a first end proximate to said driver means and a second end located further away from said driver means than said first end and defining a length less than one-fourth said wavelength of said acoustic standing wave, said thermodynamic element being thermally responsive to said acoustic standing wave to cause heat to be pumped from said second end to said first end thereby thermally isolating said second end from said driver means; and conductor means for conducting heat away from said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 1 wherein said container means comprises: an elongated cylindrical tube having a first closed end and a second end, said driver means being positioned at said second end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 1 wherein said thermodynamic element comprises a rod, a sheet of nonmetallic material wound in a spiral configuration around said rod, and a plurality of cylinders attached to said sheet which serve as spacers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 1 further comprising a first heat exchanger adjacent to and in thermal communication with said second end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 1 wherein said heat conductor means is a second heat exchanger adjacent to and in thermal communication with said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 1 wherein said driver means comprises: a pressure vessel; an acoustic driver located in said pressure vessel, said acoustic driver comprised of an aluminum driver cone having two separate tapers which enhance the rigidity of said acoustic driver; and controller means for controlling the frequency of said acoustic driver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
201 words
An acoustic cooling engine comprising: an elongated housing having a first end and a second end; a reservoir sealably engaged to said second end of the housing, said elongated housing having a length less than one-fourth of a wavelength of an acoustic standing wave generated at a selected frequency in a compressible fluid contained in said reservoir and said housing; driver means for cyclically driving said compressible fluid at said frequency which produces the acoustic standing wave, said driver means being positioned at said first end of the elongated housing which is a location of maximum acoustical impedance; a thermodynamic element located in said elongated housing, said thermodynamic element having a first end proximate to said driver means and a second end located further away from said driver means than said first end, said thermodynamic element having a length less than one-fourth of said wavelength of said acoustic standing wave, said thermodynamic element being thermally responsive to said produced acoustic standing wave to cause heat to be pumped from said second end to said first end thereby thermally isolating said second end from said driver means; and conductor means for conducting heat away from said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
201 words
An acoustic cooling engine comprising: an elongated housing having a first end and a second end; a reservoir sealably engaged to said second end of the housing, said elongated housing having a length less than one-fourth of a wavelength of an acoustic standing wave generated at a selected frequency in a compressible fluid contained in said reservoir and said housing; driver means for cyclically driving said compressible fluid at said frequency which produces the acoustic standing wave, said driver means being positioned at said first end of the elongated housing which is a location of maximum acoustical impedance; a thermodynamic element located in said elongated housing, said thermodynamic element having a first end proximate to said driver means and a second end located further away from said driver means than said first end, said thermodynamic element having a length less than one-fourth of said wavelength of said acoustic standing wave, said thermodynamic element being thermally responsive to said produced acoustic standing wave to cause heat to be pumped from said second end to said first end thereby thermally isolating said second end from said driver means; and conductor means for conducting heat away from said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 7 wherein said thermodynamic element comprises a rod, a sheet of nonmetallic material wound in a spiral configuration around said rod, and a plurality of nylon cylinders attached to said sheet which serve as spacers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 7 further comprising a first heat exchanger adjacent to and in thermal communication with said second end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 7 wherein said heat conductor means is a second heat exchanger adjacent to and in thermal communication with said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 7 wherein said driver means comprises: a pressure vessel; an acoustic driver located in said pressure vessel, said acoustic driver comprised of an aluminum driver cone having two separate tapers which enhance the rigidity of said acoustic driver; and controller means for controlling the frequency of said acoustic driver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 7 wherein said elongated housing is a cylindrical tube and said reservoir is a hollow sphere.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
216 words
An acoustic cooling engine comprising: a cylindrical tube having a larger diameter portion defining a first end of said tube and a smaller diameter portion defining a second end of said tube: a reservoir sealably engaged to said second end of said tube, said cylindrical tube having a length less than one-fourth of a wavelength of an acoustic standing wave generated at a selected frequency in a compressible fluid contained in said tube and said reservoir; driver means for cyclically driving said fluid at a frequency effective to produce said acoustic standing wave, said driver means being positioned at said first end of the cylindrical tube which is a location of maximum acoustical impedance; a thermodynamic element located in said cylindrical tube, said thermodynamic element having a first end proximate to said driver means and a second end located further away from said driver means than said first end, said thermodynamic element having a length less than one-fourth of said wavelength of said acoustic standing wave, said thermodynamic element being thermally responsive to said acoustic standing wave to cause heat to be pumped from said second end to said first end thereby thermally isolating said second end from said driver means; and conductor means for conducting heat away from said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
216 words
An acoustic cooling engine comprising: a cylindrical tube having a larger diameter portion defining a first end of said tube and a smaller diameter portion defining a second end of said tube: a reservoir sealably engaged to said second end of said tube, said cylindrical tube having a length less than one-fourth of a wavelength of an acoustic standing wave generated at a selected frequency in a compressible fluid contained in said tube and said reservoir; driver means for cyclically driving said fluid at a frequency effective to produce said acoustic standing wave, said driver means being positioned at said first end of the cylindrical tube which is a location of maximum acoustical impedance; a thermodynamic element located in said cylindrical tube, said thermodynamic element having a first end proximate to said driver means and a second end located further away from said driver means than said first end, said thermodynamic element having a length less than one-fourth of said wavelength of said acoustic standing wave, said thermodynamic element being thermally responsive to said acoustic standing wave to cause heat to be pumped from said second end to said first end thereby thermally isolating said second end from said driver means; and conductor means for conducting heat away from said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 13 wherein the length of said cylindrical tube is about one-fifth of said wavelength of an acoustic standing wave.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 13 wherein said thermodynamic element is located in the larger diameter portion of said cylindrical tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 13 wherein said thermodynamic element comprises a rod, a sheet of nonmetallic material wound in a spiral configuration around said rod, and a plurality of cylinders attached to said sheet which serve as spacers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 13 further comprising a first heat exchanger adjacent to and in thermal communication with said second end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 13 wherein said conductor means is a second heat exchanger adjacent to and in thermal communication with said first end of said thermodynamic element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 13 wherein said driver means comprises: a pressure vessel; an acoustic driver located in said pressure vessel, said acoustic driver comprised of aluminum driver cone having two separate tapers which enhance the rigidity of said acoustic driver; and controller means for controlling the frequency of said acoustic driver.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 13 wherein said smaller diameter portion and said larger diameter portion define a juncture therebetween having a slope of about 45°.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The acoustic cooling engine of claim 13 wherein said thermodynamic element is comprised of a plurality of elongated spaced-apart plates extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical tube.
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) | 1991-02-01 | 1991-08-03 | 1992-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-01 | 1995-08-03 | 1996-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-01 | 1999-08-03 | 2000-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |