Converting thermal energy to mechanical motion

Details Converting thermal energy to mechanical motion Converting thermal energy to mechanical motion

2000-04-03

2001-06-05

Nguyen, Hoang (Department: 3748)

Power plants

Utilizing natural heat

C060S675000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06240729

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the conversion of thermal energy to mechanical motion. More specifically, this invention relates to a method and apparatus which utilizes a temperature differential to effectuate rotational movement.
2. Description of Related Art
It has been known to create devices which utilize a temperature differential to create mechanical motion. Some of these devices have been referred to as “heat engines” or “thermal engines,” and an exemplary thermal engine
100
is illustrated in FIG.
1
. Thermal engine
100
includes four tanks
102
-
105
mounted on a rotating frame
106
, which rotates about an axis
108
. As frame
106
rotates, each of the tanks
102
-
105
is sequentially immersed in fluid heat source
116
.
In
FIG. 1
, tank
102
is fully immersed in fluid heat source
116
, which heats a liquid contained within tank
102
beyond its boiling point. The liquid then vaporizes, increasing the pressure within tank
102
, and causing the steam to travel up conduit
110
to tank
104
, provided on an opposite side of frame
106
. Because tank
104
is not immersed in fluid heat source
1
16
, its temperature is less than that of tank
102
, which causes the vapor passed from tank
102
to tank
104
to condense. The condensed liquid in tank
104
adds weight to tank
104
, whose offset center of gravity
114
creates an imbalance which causes counter-clockwise rotation of frame
106
. This rotation immerses tank
105
in fluid heat source
116
, thereby heating the volatile liquid contained within tank
105
and causing it to vaporize. This vapor travels through conduit
112
to tank
103
, where it cools and condenses back into liquid form. In some cases, a cooling source, such as a cool water spray
118
, is used to cool tank
114
to assist in the condensation of the vapor. So long as a sufficient temperature differential is maintained between fluid heat source
116
and the apex of rotation, thermal engine
100
is designed to continue rotating.
SUMMARY
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for converting thermal energy to mechanical motion is provided, comprising a support, an axle rotatably mounted onto said support, a first frame mounted on said axle for rotation about an axis of rotation perpendicular to a gravitational direction, and a heat source located below said axis of rotation. The apparatus further includes a first flow circuit, comprising at least three chambers mounted on said first frame at angularly equidistant locations, a first plurality of conduits, each conduit connecting one of said at least three chambers in said first flow circuit with a downstream one of said three chambers in said first flow circuit to provide one-way fluid communication between all of said at least three chambers in said first flow circuit, and a motive fluid provided in said at least three chambers in said first flow circuit, said motive fluid having a boiling point lower than a temperature of said heat source such that when one of said at least three chambers in said first flow circuit is in a lowered position, said heat source vaporizes said motive fluid contained in said lowered chamber.


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