Patent · US Expired

Thermodynamic machine

US4327550A · kind A · utility

24Cited by
3References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 18, 1979
Grant dateMay 4, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 18, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02G2258/10
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A hot-gas engine the power output of which is regulatable comprises a cylinder defining variable-volume primary and secondary chambers separated by a piston moving in the cylinder, the movement of which piston is transmitted to an external system extracting the mechanical work produced by the engine. The engine has a heater communicating with the primary chamber, a regenerator communicating with the heater and a cooler containing a supply of working gas at the maximum gas pressure occurring during the work cycle. The engine is provided with valves controlled to pass the working gas to, from and between the primary and secondary chambers in sequential steps. The regulation of the output is accompolished in that during a work-cycle period of increasing primary chamber volume the pressure in the primary chamber is maintained at a high and constant level during a variable fraction of this period, which fraction extends over the work-cycle interval in which a reduction of the power output is obtained for increasing injection time at high and constant pressure. Simultaneously with a reduction of the power output, there is a reduction of the ratio of the maximum and minimum pressures over…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.