US4996845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling, heating and power generating device using automobile waste heat
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-08-24
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Granted: 1991-03-05
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Expires: 2009-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A cooling/heating and power generating device utilizes waste heat from an automobile to produce an auxiliary energy source for driving various accessories such as a cooling/heating apparatus, an electric generator, a super charger and the like. Waste heat is dissipated from the engine by waste gases in an exhaust tube and by a cooling fluid circulating between the engine and a radiator. The inventive cooling/heating and power generating device comprises a heat absorber disposed between the engine and the radiator, a heater mounted on the exhaust tube, and an expansion turbine. A cooling medium is heated in the heat absorber by the cooling fluid of the engine, and in the heater by the waste gases in the exhaust tube. The heated cooling medium drives the expansion turbine thus providing a source of power auxiliary to the engine for driving an electric generator, a super charger, etc. After driving the expansion turbine, the cooling medium is condensed and pumped back to the heat absorber. The cooling medium can also be circulated into a cooling/heating apparatus for cooling or heating the passenger compartment.
Inventors
- 👤 Yong K. Kim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/02; B60H1/04; B60H1/08; F; F25; F25B; F25B27/00; B60H1/00007; F01; F01K; F01K23/00; F01K23/02; F01K23/06; F01K23/065; F02; F02B; F02B39/00; F02B39/02; F02B39/08; F02B39/085; F02G; F02G5/00; F02G5/02; F02G5/04; F02G2260/00; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
414 words
A cooling/heating and power generating system which is powered by waste heat from an automobile engine, comprising an engine which produces useful energy and waste heat, said waste heat being dissipated from said engine by waste gases in an exhaust tube and by a cooling fluid, a radiator connected to said engine and receiving said cooling fluid from said engine, a heat absorber disposed between said engine and said radiator and receiving said cooling fluid prior to its delivery to said radiator, said heat absorber including a cooling medium in thermal contact with and being heated by said cooling fluid, a heater mounted on said exhaust tube and connected to said heat absorber, said heater receiving said cooling medium from said heat absorber, said cooling medium being in thermal contact with and being heated by said waste gases in said exhaust tube, an expansion turbine connected to said heater and receiving said cooling medium from said heater, said expansion turbine being driven by said cooling medium heated in said heat absorber and said heater, a condenser connected to said expansion turbine and receiving said cooling medium therefrom, said cooling medium being condensed in said condenser, first valve means disposed between said expansion turbine and said condenser for controlling the delivery of said cooling medium to said condenser, a liquid receiving tank connected to said condenser and receiving said condensed cooling medium from said condenser, a pump connected to said liquid receiving tank and pumping said condensed cooling medium back to said heat absorber, said heat absorber, heater, expansion turbine, condenser, liquid receiving tank, and pressure pump forming a circulation loop for said cooling medium, said expansion turbine being driven by waste heat from said engine and being a source of power auxiliary to said engine, said system further comprising a cooling circuit for cooling said automobile comprising a cooling/heating apparatus connected to said liquid receiving tank and receiving said condensed cooling medium from said liquid receiving tank, a fin tube connected to said cooling/heating apparatus and evaporating said condensed cooling medium after it has passed through said cooling/heating apparatus, a compressor connected to said cooling/heating apparatus and located downstream of said fin tube, said compressor compressing said evaporated cooling medium and delivering said evaporated cooling medium to said first valve means for reintroduction into said circulation loop, and second valve means disposed between said liquid receiving tank and said cooling/heating apparatus for controlling the delivery of said condensed cooling medium into said cooling circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
414 words
A cooling/heating and power generating system which is powered by waste heat from an automobile engine, comprising an engine which produces useful energy and waste heat, said waste heat being dissipated from said engine by waste gases in an exhaust tube and by a cooling fluid, a radiator connected to said engine and receiving said cooling fluid from said engine, a heat absorber disposed between said engine and said radiator and receiving said cooling fluid prior to its delivery to said radiator, said heat absorber including a cooling medium in thermal contact with and being heated by said cooling fluid, a heater mounted on said exhaust tube and connected to said heat absorber, said heater receiving said cooling medium from said heat absorber, said cooling medium being in thermal contact with and being heated by said waste gases in said exhaust tube, an expansion turbine connected to said heater and receiving said cooling medium from said heater, said expansion turbine being driven by said cooling medium heated in said heat absorber and said heater, a condenser connected to said expansion turbine and receiving said cooling medium therefrom, said cooling medium being condensed in said condenser, first valve means disposed between said expansion turbine and said condenser for controlling the delivery of said cooling medium to said condenser, a liquid receiving tank connected to said condenser and receiving said condensed cooling medium from said condenser, a pump connected to said liquid receiving tank and pumping said condensed cooling medium back to said heat absorber, said heat absorber, heater, expansion turbine, condenser, liquid receiving tank, and pressure pump forming a circulation loop for said cooling medium, said expansion turbine being driven by waste heat from said engine and being a source of power auxiliary to said engine, said system further comprising a cooling circuit for cooling said automobile comprising a cooling/heating apparatus connected to said liquid receiving tank and receiving said condensed cooling medium from said liquid receiving tank, a fin tube connected to said cooling/heating apparatus and evaporating said condensed cooling medium after it has passed through said cooling/heating apparatus, a compressor connected to said cooling/heating apparatus and located downstream of said fin tube, said compressor compressing said evaporated cooling medium and delivering said evaporated cooling medium to said first valve means for reintroduction into said circulation loop, and second valve means disposed between said liquid receiving tank and said cooling/heating apparatus for controlling the delivery of said condensed cooling medium into said cooling circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said pump is driven by said expansion turbine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a compressor driven by said expansion turbine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a super charger driven by said expansion turbine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising an electric generator driven by said expansion turbine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said pump is driven by said expansion turbine so that said cooling medium is continuously circulated in said circulation loop.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising a heating circuit for said automobile comprising a line connecting said cooling/heating apparatus directly to said first valve means, said first valve means being a two-way valve for alternately introducing said cooling medium into said condenser or into said cooling/heating apparatus thereby bypassing said condenser and heating said automobile.
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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) | 1994-03-04 | 1994-09-03 | 1995-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-04 | 1998-09-03 | 1999-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-04 | 2002-09-03 | 2003-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |