By Heating Of Pumped Fluid Patents (Class 417/207)
  • Patent number: 11209194
    Abstract: A solar energy powered Stirling duplex cooler is presented which includes a Stirling engine and a Stirling cooler. The Stirling engine drives the Stirling cooler to produce cold temperatures for refrigeration or air conditioning. The Stirling duplex cooler includes a solar concentrator to focus high temperature solar radiation upon the Stirling engine expansion space. The Stirling duplex cooler further includes a thermal storage tank to receive and store heat rejected from the cooler expansion space. This stored heat is used to operate the cooler at night. A flywheel connected operatively to engine and cooler expansion space pistons and a crankshaft connected operatively to engine and cooler compression space pistons actuate the pistons to move a working fluid between the expansion and compression spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventor: Majed Moalla Alhazmy
  • Patent number: 11156389
    Abstract: A solar energy powered Stirling duplex cooler is presented which includes a Stirling engine and a Stirling cooler. The Stirling engine drives the Stirling cooler to produce cold temperatures for refrigeration or air conditioning. The Stirling duplex cooler includes a solar concentrator to focus high temperature solar radiation upon the Stirling engine expansion space. The Stirling duplex cooler further includes a thermal storage tank to receive and store heat rejected from the cooler expansion space. This stored heat is used to operate the cooler at night. A flywheel connected operatively to engine and cooler expansion space pistons and a crankshaft connected operatively to engine and cooler compression space pistons actuate the pistons to move a working fluid between the expansion and compression spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventor: Majed Moalla Alhazmy
  • Patent number: 10859321
    Abstract: A heat pipe includes an inlet through which a working fluid is injected. The inlet includes a non-sealed portion and a sealed portion connected to the non-sealed portion. The non-sealed portion and the sealed portion each include two outermost metal layers and a plurality of intermediate metal layers stacked between the outermost metal layers. The heat pipe further includes a porous body arranged in the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Machida
  • Patent number: 10598052
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermodynamic energy converter (1) with at least one first and one second volume element (10a, 10b) for enclosing a working medium (102) inside a variable inner volume, including a wall that divides the inner volume into heat exchanger compartments (110, 120) and a working compartment (200), wherein a partition (230) is formed inside the working compartment (200) which divides the working compartment (200) into a working chamber (210) supplied with the working medium (201) and a force transmission chamber (212) supplied with a displacement fluid (202), the heat exchanger compartments (110, 120) and the working chamber (210) are interconnected such that the working medium (102) inside the volume element (10a, 10b) has the same pressure, and each heat exchanger compartment (110, 120) is connected to the working chamber (210) via an inlet and an outlet that is formed separately from the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Thermoelectric Industrial Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Ebert, Alexander Loos
  • Patent number: 10502201
    Abstract: A method for operating a linear compressor includes providing a dynamic model for a motor of the linear compressor, estimating values for each unknown constant of a plurality of unknown constants of the dynamic model for the motor and repeatedly updating the estimate for each unknown constant of the plurality of unknown constants of the dynamic model for the motor in order to reduce an error between a measured value for the electrical dynamic model and an estimated valve for the electrical dynamic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Srujan Kusumba, Gregory William Hahn, Michael Lee McIntyre, Joseph W. Latham
  • Patent number: 10451000
    Abstract: A near adiabatic engine has four stages in a cycle: (1) a means of adiabatically expanding the working fluid during the downstroke from a high pressure/temperature level to a low level; (2) a means of cooling the working fluid at Bottom Dead Center (BDC); (3) a means of adiabatically compressing that fluid from a low pressure/temperature level at BDC to the higher level at Top Dead Center (TDC); and finally, (4) a means of passing that working fluid back to the high pressure/temperature source in a balanced pressure environment so as to minimize the resistance of that flow. This disclosure teaches the means of achieving (2) and (3) as follows: (2) a means is disclosed of BDC cooling of the expanded working fluid in the working chamber, and (3) a means is disclosed of adiabatically compressing the working fluid into the pump chamber before cycling the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Inventor: Barry W. Johnston
  • Patent number: 10208741
    Abstract: A method for operating a linear compressor is provided. The method includes estimating an acceleration of the motor of the linear compressor using at least a robust integral of the sign of the error feedback. A position of the motor of the linear compressor when the motor of the linear compressor is at the bottom dead center point is also determined based at least in part on a measured current to the motor of the linear compressor and an estimated acceleration of the motor. The position of the motor of the linear compressor when the motor of the linear compressor is at a top dead center point is calculated based at least in part on the position of the motor of the linear compressor when the motor of the linear compressor is at the bottom dead center point and a stroke length of the motor of the linear compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Srujan Kusumba, Gregory William Hahn, Michael Lee McIntyre, Joseph W. Latham
  • Patent number: 10156203
    Abstract: A novel engine for producing power from a temperature differential with additional benefits of low cost, high efficiency, quiet operation minimal wear of components, and the ability to produce power or cooling from low grade heat sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: 1158988 BC Ltd.
    Inventor: James B. Klassen
  • Patent number: 10016562
    Abstract: The present invention relates to method of manufacturing a fluid guiding assembly for a drug delivery device and to a respective fluid guiding assembly. Said method comprising the steps of: providing a first member having at least one recess in a first surface portion, at least partially filling the recess with a joining component at least partially protruding from the first surface portion of the first member, arranging a second member having a second surface portion adjacent to the first member such that first and second surface portions thereof face towards each other to form an interface area between the first and the second members, wherein the joining component comprises a material different to the material of the first and/or second member wherein at least one channel structure extending along the interface area is formed by at least one deepening of the first member and/or of the second member, selectively providing thermal energy to the joining component to bond together first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Marc Holtwick, Martin Haupt
  • Patent number: 9951963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid heat pump apparatus comprising: a housing having a first channel and a second channel formed therein; a dehumidifying rotor disposed in the housing; a heating unit disposed in the first channel and heating air passing therethrough; a cooling unit disposed in the second channel and selectively cooling air passing therethrough; a coolant circulating unit including a compressor, a first heat exchanger disposed in the second channel, a second heat exchanger, and a four-way valve; and a water circulating pipe through which water circulates and which is connected to the second heat exchanger for heat exchanging between the circulating water and coolant in the second heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: KYUNGDONG NAVIEN CO., LTD
    Inventor: Dong Keun Lee
  • Patent number: 9889239
    Abstract: A fluid collection system includes a disposable collection container configured to receive a disposable collection container. The fluid collection container may include a flexible liner configured to collapse during evacuation of the fluid from the liner. The system may include a receiving housing sized to receive the disposable collection container, the receiving housing including a cavity and a piston assembly positioned within the cavity, the piston including a piston check valve. The system includes a suction source connectable to the disposable collection container and a filter positioned between the suction source and the cavity. A first connecting line extends between a suction source opening, configured to communicate the suction source to the disposable collection container, and the filter. A first check valve connects to the first connecting line between the suction source opening and the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ALLEGIANCE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas L. Michaels, Russell A. Johnson, Eric D. Hill, Hetal Patel, Brian T. Leadingham
  • Patent number: 9797605
    Abstract: A heat pump system adjusts a degree of subcooling of an indoor-side heat exchanger in a heating priority mode, and adjusts any one of a degree of subcooling of a hot-water supply-side heat exchanger (water-side heat exchanger) and a discharge temperature of a compressor in a hot-water supply priority mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Tamaki, Ryo Oya
  • Patent number: 9695807
    Abstract: The micropump includes continuous cylindrical separating pipes having at least two alternating stages of pipes of small radius and large radius connected in succession. Each pipe of a large radius has one end as a hot zone, and the opposite end as a cold zone. The pipes alternate straight pipes with a large radius and U-shaped curved pipes with a small radius. The relationship of the large radius (R) to the small radius (r) is in a range of R/r=2 to 10000, while the relationship of the temperature (T2) of a hot zone to the temperature (T1) of a cold zone is T2/T1=1.1 to 3.0. The length and radius measurements of a straight pipe and a U-shaped pipe ensure a given change in temperature of the gas from the temperature of the hot zone to the temperature of the cold zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignees: Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology State University (Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, MIPT), Federal State Budgetary Institution, Federal Agency for Legal Protection of Military, Special and Dual Use Intellectual Activity Results (FSBI-FALPIAR)
    Inventors: Yury Yrevich Kloss, Feliks Gregorevich Cheremisin, Denis Vladimirovich Martynov
  • Patent number: 9566581
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide micro-fluidic systems and devices for use in performing various diagnostic and analytical tests. According to one embodiment, the micro-fluidic device includes a sample chamber for receiving a sample, and a reaction chamber for performing a chemical reaction. A bubble jet pump is structured on the device to control delivery of a fluid from the sample chamber to the reaction chamber. The pump is fluidically coupled to one or more chambers of the device using a fluidic channel such as a capillary. A valve may be coupled to one or more chambers to control flow into and out of those chambers. Also, a sensor may be positioned in one or more of the chambers, such as the reactant chamber, for sensing a property of the fluid within the chamber as well as the presence of a chemical within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: InCube Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Mir A. Imran
  • Patent number: 9446969
    Abstract: A system and method of water purification and transport driven by solar energy. The system includes an absorbent tank containing an adsorbent. The adsorbent absorbs water vapor from raw water at night. A heat exchanger cools the adsorbent. During the day, solar energy is focused at a cylindrical or oval shaped vessel of the adsorbent tank. As the temperature of the adsorbent increases, its capacity decreases, causing it to release purified water. The purified water is transferred to a storage tank. A transmission pipe containing adsorbent granules or capillaries transports the purified water into a product tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Charles Redman, Robert Sabin
  • Patent number: 9243624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally driven pumps. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of a thermoelectric material to create a thermally driven, bi-directional pump, such as a micro pump, with no moving parts using the thermal transpiration effect (a Knudsen pump). One embodiment of the thermally driven pump of the present invention utilizes a thermoelectric material to assist with the thermal transpiration process resulting in a substantially symmetrical, bidirectional pump. A thermoelectric module is used to induce a temperature gradient across a nanoporous article having at least one nanochannel thus creating fluid flow via thermal transpiration across the nanochannel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: University of Louisville Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Shamus McNamara, Kunal Pharas
  • Patent number: 8933372
    Abstract: An engine pre-heater system comprising a housing having a passage extending therethrough for passage of coolant through the pre-heater. The housing provides at least one opening defined therein separate from the passage, and an electric heating element is inserted therein, the heating element projecting into the passage whereby the heating element is in direct contact with the coolant to heat it. The heating element is supplied with electrical power from a power source for enabling it to heat the coolant, and a lower end of the heating element is L-shaped, the lower end thus being substantially perpendicular in relationship to the remainder of the heating element, giving the heating element a greater surface area with which to contact, and thus heat the coolant. The engine pre-heater system is also operably able to heat the coolant, engine oil and transmission oil, therefore heating the coolant and warming the engine in a faster and more efficient manner for quick start-ups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Dynacurrent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ray King
  • Patent number: 8891949
    Abstract: A micro-fluidic pump comprises one or more channels having an array of resistive heaters, an inlet, outlet and a substrate as a heat sink and a means of cooling the device. The pump is operated with a fire-to-fire delay and/or a cycle-to-cycle delay to control the pumping rate and minimize heating of liquid inside the pump during its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Eunki Hong, Steven Bergstedt, Yimin Guan
  • Publication number: 20140298762
    Abstract: A class of devices using nanotubes and nano-shapes which can partially organize molecules in random motion to move either some selectively or all of them, to create pressure differences and hence motive forces, or cause air flow into pressurized area. Because Air is a cloud of particles separated by vacuum, the device in air can be used to create motive force pushing any form of vehicle, lifting force for any form of air vehicle, air compression, power source for any form of machine, conveyor or generator, using the solar energy stored in the air in the form of heat, 24 hours a day, worldwide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: William A Kelley
  • Patent number: 8794930
    Abstract: A solid-state device that is capable of imparting a directional momentum via thermoelectric microelements. High surface area is used to enhance the efficiency of heat transfer. The device can be operated in adiabatic mode in order to minimize thermal emissions. The thermoelectric microelements include at least a hot layer and a cold layer arranged in a stack and means for heating and/or cooling the hot and cold layers so that the cold layer has a lower temperature than the hot layer; and at least one through hole in the stack wherein an entire length of the through hole is up to 10 times of a mean free path of a gas in which the device is immersed and/or is not greater than 1500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Game Changers, LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Sanchez, Piotr A. Garbuz, Andrew D. Zonenberg
  • Publication number: 20140161633
    Abstract: A distributed thruster based gas compressor, the compressor including an enclosed housing having an inlet aperture exposed to a source of ambient gas; at least one pressure producing device formed over the inlet aperture and adapted to produce a pressure, the pressure producing device being formed of distributed thrusters, such as NMSET; a control unit coupled to the first pressure producing device; and wherein the control unit controls the pressure producing device to produce the pressure to cause the ambient gas to be compressed in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Game Changers LLC
    Inventors: Andrew D. Zonenberg, Jason D. Sanchez, Piotr A. Garbuz
  • Patent number: 8744722
    Abstract: A snowmobile having an electronic oil pump fluidly connected to an oil tank thereof is disclosed. The electronic oil pump is fluidly connected to an engine of the snowmobile for delivering lubricant to the engine. An electronic control unit is electrically connected to the electronic oil pump for controlling actuation of the electronic oil pump. A method of operating an electronic oil pump is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Bernier, Bruno Schuehmacher
  • Patent number: 8727739
    Abstract: A liquid pump that includes a cylinder (2), an inlet valve (4) for feeding liquid into the cylinder, and a discharge valve (5) for discharging the liquid out of the cylinder. The liquid pump also includes a piston (3) sliding in said cylinder so as to draw said liquid into said cylinder and to expel the same outside the cylinder. Additionally, the liquid pump includes an electric circuit (7) for heating the cylinder, with at least one resistor (70, 71) for electrically heating the liquid in the cylinder. The resistor (70, 71) may be made in the form of an electrically conducting thin track deposited on or in the wall (20) of the cylinder (2). The heating may be initiated before the introduction of the liquid into the cylinder, and interrupted before the full discharge of the liquid out of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Gotec SA
    Inventor: Vincent Grenon
  • Publication number: 20140096686
    Abstract: Liquid pump (1) comprising: a cylinder (24), an inlet valve (47a) for feeding the liquid into said cylinder (24), a discharge valve (47b) for discharging the liquid out of said cylinder (24), a piston (52) actuated by a transmission tube (51) and sliding in said cylinder (24) so as to draw said liquid into said cylinder (24) and then to expel it from said cylinder (24). The cylinder (24) comprises at least one heating cartridge (41) in order to heat the liquid in said cylinder (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Gotec SA
    Inventors: Vincent Grenon, Denis Albrecht
  • Publication number: 20140050593
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provided herein include heat engine systems, methods for generating electricity, and methods for starting a turbo pump. In some configurations, the heat engine system contains a start pump and a turbo pump disposed in series along a working fluid circuit and configured to circulate a working fluid within the working fluid circuit. The start pump may have a pump portion coupled to a motor-driven portion and the turbo pump may have a pump portion coupled to a drive turbine. In one configuration, the pump portion of the start pump is fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit downstream of and in series with the pump portion of the turbo pump. In another configuration, the pump portion of the start pump is fluidly coupled to the working fluid circuit upstream of and in series with the pump portion of the turbo pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: ECHOGEN POWER SYSTEMS, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael Louis Vermeersch
  • Publication number: 20140037468
    Abstract: The micropump includes continuous cylindrical separating pipes having at least two alternating stages of pipes of small radius and large radius connected in succession. One end of the pipes constitutes a hot zone, and the opposite end constitutes a cold zone. The pipes alternate straight pipes with a large radius and U-shaped curved pipes with a small radius. The-relationship of the large radius of a straight pipe to the small radius (r) of a U-shaped pipe is in a range of R/r=2-10000, while the relationship of the temperature (T2) of a hot zone to the temperature (T1) of a cold zone is T2/T1=1.1-3.0. The length and radius measurements of a straight pipe and a U-shaped pipe are selected to ensure a given change in temperature of the gas from the temperature of the hot zone to the temperature of the cold zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicants: Moscow Institute of Physics and Tech. State Univ. (Moscow Institute of Physics and Tech., MIPT), Fed. State Budgetary Institution, Fed. Agency for Legal Protection of Military, Special and Dual Use
    Inventors: Yury Yrevich Kloss, Feliks Gregorevich Cheremisin, Denis Vladimirovich Martynov
  • Publication number: 20140007569
    Abstract: A compressor or expander has a variable-volume chamber with a heat exchanger located inside the chamber. The heat exchanger can have a helical structure and may be connected between walls of the chamber that move relative to one another during compression or expansion. The heat exchanger comprises a passage containing a heat exchange fluid. The heat exchange fluid may add heat to or remove heat from a gas being expanded or compressed. Embodiments may provide isothermal or near isothermal compression or expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Donald Gayton
  • Publication number: 20140003967
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating a fluid such as engine oil includes an auxiliary pump, a conduit connected to the auxiliary pump and provides fluid communication from the auxiliary pump and an aperture in the conduit. In use the auxiliary pump contains the fluid. A first portion of the fluid is pumped into the conduit by the auxiliary pump and a second portion of the fluid remains in the auxiliary pump. The aperture restricts the flow of the first portion of the fluid in the conduit. The second portion of the fluid is heated due to friction between the second portion of the fluid and the pump. There is also described a method of heating a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Ian Graham Pegg, Roland Paul Stark
  • Patent number: 8469676
    Abstract: A compressor for compressing a gas. The compressor receives the gas at a base pressure from a source and provides the gas at a higher pressure to a target. The compressor includes a series of pressure vessels and a one-way valve between the vessels, where a first pressure vessel is coupled to the source and a last pressure vessel is coupled to the target. For one period of time, every other pressure vessel in the series is heated starting with the pressure vessel coupled to the source. As the pressure in the heated pressure vessels increases as a result of the heat, the gas is sent to a next pressure vessel in the series of pressure vessels. After some period of time, the other alternating sequence of pressure vessels is heated to move the gas along the series of pressure vessels from the source to the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Ian J. Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20130011322
    Abstract: We have described herein a method and associated apparatus that can halt global warming with significant economic benefits. They include (1), re-scrub half the carbon dioxide emitted from calcining baking soda into soda ash to produce twice as much soda ash and twice as much ammonium chloride as comparing with the standard Solvay ammonia soda ash process; Use the ammonium chloride as sugarcane fertilizer producing fuel ethanol, and bagasse, a photosynthesized bio-fuel from carbon dioxide already presented in the earth atmosphere for power generation, and (2), expand the sugarcane plantation areas into desert oasis using desert heat to produce distilled water for irrigation, pumped by solar heated hydraulic press pumps to supplement insufficient rain forest resources on earth's continents to accelerate reaching “carbon neutral” on capture annually twenty five billion tons of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from earth atmosphere economically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: Hsiao-Yuan Li
  • Patent number: 8337170
    Abstract: A system for raising water from an underground source of water to an aboveground tank includes a plurality of capillary tubes for raising water from the underground source to a first water level, a pipe for raising water from the first water level to an above ground tank, the aboveground tank is painted black to absorb the sun's rays and is tilted with an elevated proximal end so that water in the tank runs down to its distal end. A tap is provided in the distal end for drawing water out of the tank. The tank also includes two one way valves, one in an upper portion of the distal end for allowing heated air to escape and one in a lower portion of the distal end to allow water to be drawn up into the tank as heated air cools. A solar powered rechargeable battery can be used to power a positive displacement pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventor: Mohammad A. Abdullah
  • Publication number: 20120317995
    Abstract: A pump for conveying a cryogenic fluid from a tank into a container which is under a higher pressure. The pump includes a cylinder having a piston which defines a low-temperature chamber and a high-temperature chamber in the cylinder such that during a first stroke movement of the piston, the volume of the low-temperature chamber decreases and the volume of the high-temperature chamber increases correspondingly, and during a second stroke movement of the piston which runs in the opposite direction of the first stroke movement, the volume of the high-temperature chamber decreases and the volume of the low-temperature chamber increases correspondingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Klaus BRUNNHOFER, Walter PESCHKA
  • Publication number: 20120244017
    Abstract: A heat driven liquid close-loop automatic circulating system is provided. This system circulates the liquid in a close-loop by the collected heat in the loop. The system may operate without external power for the pump. The heat driven liquid close-loop automatic circulating system may employ a modified self-powered pump for heated liquid. The pump includes an airtight container for containing the heated liquid, a inlet and a outlet of the heated liquid, further more the modified self-powered pump has a breathing channel with a liquid vapour condensing and reflux structure. The heat driven liquid close-loop automatic circulating system may be a solar heated liquid close-loop automatic circulating system with a solar heat collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: W&E International (Canada) Corp.
    Inventor: Huazi Lin
  • Publication number: 20120237364
    Abstract: A solid-state device that is capable of imparting a directional momentum via thermoelectric microelements. High surface area is used to enhance the efficiency of heat transfer. The device can be operated in adiabatic mode in order to minimize thermal emissions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: GAME CHANGERS, LLC
    Inventors: Jason D. Sanchez, Piotr A. Garbuz, Andrew D. Zonenberg
  • Publication number: 20120207625
    Abstract: The present invention relates to thermally driven pumps. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of a thermoelectric material to create a thermally driven, bi-directional pump, such as a micro pump, with no moving parts using the thermal transpiration effect (a Knudsen pump). One embodiment of the thermally driven pump of the present invention utilizes a thermoelectric material to assist with the thermal transpiration process resulting in a substantially symmetrical, bidirectional pump. A thermoelectric module is used to induce a temperature gradient across a nanoporous article having at least one nanochannel thus creating fluid flow via thermal transpiration across the nanochannel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Shamus McNamara, Kunal Pharas, Chakravarthy Yamarthy, Alex Schultz
  • Patent number: 8136553
    Abstract: A microfluidic circuit comprising microchannels (24, 26) containing different fluids (F1, F2), with a laser beam being focused at (32) on an interface (30) between the fluids so as to form a pump, a valve, or a mixer, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ecole Polytechnique
    Inventors: Charles Baroud, Jean-Pierre Delville, Régis Wunenburger, Patrick Huerre
  • Patent number: 8035064
    Abstract: The product is basically a heating blanket that is adapted in size to fit around a canister of refrigerant used to recharge heat pumps, air conditioners and refrigerators in a commercial or home setting. The blanket has a heating element within it which heats the canister when placed around the canister. From one corner of the blanket is an electrical cord which runs to a small control unit and then to a plug that fits a common 110 voltage household outlet. The control unit consists of a fitting that is designed to be attached to the valve on the top of the refrigerant canister. This fitting is attached to a pressure sensitive valve that sense the pressure of the refrigerant that passes through the valve. This pressure sensitive valve turns off the flow of electric to the blanket when the gas hits a certain pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Craig Fish
  • Patent number: 7980828
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEM) pump is disclosed which includes a porous silicon region sandwiched between an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber. The porous silicon region is formed in a silicon substrate and contains a number of pores extending between the inlet and outlet chambers, with each pore having a cross-section dimension about equal to or smaller than a mean free path of a gas being pumped. A thermal gradient is provided along the length of each pore by a heat source which can be an electrical resistance heater or an integrated circuit (IC). A channel can be formed through the silicon substrate so that inlet and outlet ports can be formed on the same side of the substrate, or so that multiple MEM pumps can be connected in series to form a multi-stage MEM pump. The MEM pump has applications for use in gas-phase MEM chemical analysis systems, and can also be used for passive cooling of ICs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Lantz, Harold L. Stalford
  • Patent number: 7942644
    Abstract: A capillary pump is provided for producing pressurized and unpressurized vapor emissions from liquid feed. In its simplest form, the capillary pump incorporates a liquid feed intake, a porous vaporization component, and a heat transfer component. Additional components, such as an insulator component, a feed pre-heat component, a liquid feed reservoir and/or delivery system, an integrated or associated heater component, a vapor collection chamber, a heat distribution component, an orifice component and/or vapor release component, may also be associated with or integrated in the improved capillary pumps. Capillary pump arrays are provided, and numerous applications for capillary pumps are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Vapore, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Young, Mark Richardson, Robert A. Lerner, Barry H. Rabin
  • Patent number: 7942643
    Abstract: The present fluid pumping method for micro-fluidic devices uses gas bubbles to move fluid by light beams. The light beams are emitted to the fluid near the gas bubble through an optically transparent cover and correspondingly heat the fluid in the micro channels. The liquid temperature variation changes the surface tension of the gas bubble near the heated fluid side, therefore, a pressure gradient between the end portions of the gas bubble generates accordingly. By moving the light beams, the moved pressure difference will be achieved, which will drive the gas bubbles and pump the fluid. Such a fluid pumping can simplify the structure of a micro-fluidic device and eliminate heat loss because of using a controllable light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hye-jung Cho, Natalia Ivanova
  • Patent number: 7931019
    Abstract: A self-powered pump for heated liquid is provided. The pump includes an airtight container for containing the heated liquid. A heated liquid inlet pipe extends upwardly into the container such that its end is within the container. A heated liquid outlet is lower than the end of the inlet pipe. A breathing pipe extends upwardly into the container such that its end is within the container and is higher than both of the outlet and the end of the inlet pipe but lower than an interior side of the container top. An opposite end of the breathing pipe is outside the container, lower than the container base, and is received by an open container such that the opposite end can become submerged in heated liquid accumulated within the open container during pump operation. A fluid or liquid heating system incorporating the self-powered pump may operate without external power for the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Inventor: Huazi Lin
  • Patent number: 7918370
    Abstract: A portable fluid delivering system is provided. The system comprises a container, a heat source, a flow rate regulating device and a delivery tube. The container has a containing space for a fluid to be delivered, in a liquid state at room temperature. The heat source provides an elevated vapor pressure in the containing space over the fluid to be delivered, whereby the fluid to be delivered is driven at a desirable rate along the delivery tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Green Hydrotec Inc.
    Inventors: Guan Ting Yeh, Hang Fu Wang, Chia Yeh Hung, Min Hon Rei
  • Patent number: 7909583
    Abstract: A pump device and a pump unit of the pump device. The pump device includes a low-temperature flat plate group (low-temperature portion) having a plurality of flat plates as low-temperature objects arranged parallel with each other at specified intervals in a direction crossing a flow passage for a gas; a high-temperature flat plate group (high-temperature portion) having a plurality of flat plates as high-temperature objects arranged parallel with each other at specified intervals in a direction crossing the flow passage; and, a temperature-operating device operating the temperature of at least one of these flat plate groups so that a temperature difference occurs between these flat plate groups. The flat plates are displaced from each other in the flow direction of the flow passage, and a heat insulating layer is interposed between the low-temperature flat plates and the high-temperature flat plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Osaka Vacuum, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sugimoto, Yoshio Sone, Tetsuro Ohbayashi
  • Patent number: 7896621
    Abstract: Provided is a micro pump having a simple structure. The micro pump includes a pump chamber including inflow and outflow passages through which a drive fluid flows, a first valve configured to open or close the inflow passage, a second valve configured to open or close the outflow passage, and a pump chamber heating and cooling unit configured to heat or cool the pump chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-sik Park, Young-il Kim, Jung-ho Kang, Moon-chul Lee
  • Patent number: 7882832
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a fluid displacement system are disclosed. The system may include a reservoir containing a fluid in a liquid state and a first chamber hydraulically connected to the reservoir to receive the fluid from the reservoir. The first chamber may be configured to receive solar energy and configured to convert the received solar energy to vaporize the fluid. The system may also include a second chamber hydraulically connected to the first chamber to receive the vaporized fluid from the first chamber. The second chamber may be configured to condense the vaporized fluid, causing depressurization in the second chamber. The system may also include a hydraulic connection between the second chamber and a source of fluid to be displaced. The system may be configured such that the depressurization of the second chamber may cause fluid in the source of fluid to be displaced through the hydraulic connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Inventor: Claudio Filippone
  • Publication number: 20100239436
    Abstract: A thermal pump for moving a sample fluid to and through an analyzer. The pump may have a lack of moving mechanical parts when pumping except for check valves. The thermal pump may have in lieu of each mechanical check valve a thermal or fluid mechanism that effectively operates as a valve without mechanical parts. The present thermal pump may be fabricated with MEMS technology. The pump may be integrated into a concentrator and/or separator of a fluid analyzer chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Ulrich Bonne, Robert Higashi, Tom Rezachek
  • Patent number: 7798164
    Abstract: A method of microfluidic control via localized heating includes providing a microchannel structure with a base region that is partially filled with a volume of liquid being separated from a gas by a liquid-gas interface region. The base region includes one or more physical structures. The method further includes supplying energy input to a portion of the one or more physical structures within the volume of liquid in a vicinity of the liquid-gas interface region to cause localized heating of the portion of the one or more physical structures. The method also includes transferring heat from the portion of the one or more physical structures to surrounding liquid in the vicinity of the liquid-gas interface region and generating an interphase mass transport at the liquid-gas interface region or across a gas bubble while the volume of liquid and the gas remain to be substantially at ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: James Adleman, David A. Boyd, David G. Goodwin, Demetri Psaltis
  • Patent number: 7740454
    Abstract: A simple structured thermal actuation pump for reducing energy loss is provided. The thermal actuation pump includes: a first chamber having at least one working fluid inlet and at least one working fluid outlet; a second chamber having at least one working fluid inlet and at least one working fluid outlet; and a thermoelectric element arranged between the first chamber and the second chamber and including one side being cooled and the other side being heated according to a direction of current for changing inside pressures of the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae-gyun Kim, Young-ki Hong
  • Publication number: 20100119360
    Abstract: The description relates to a heatable pump housing part comprising a heat distribution sheet fixed on the housing part and a tubular heating element fixed on the heat distribution sheet. According to the invention the tubular heating element is positioned in a groove or a step on the housing part that is covered by the heat distribution sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel Bredl, Ulrich Schlachter, Christian Spiegel, Armin Lang
  • Patent number: 7607898
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for pressurizing a fluid and delivering a gas comprising a pump, an accumulator and a heater such that the pump pressurizes a quantity fluid received from a fluid store and delivers that pressurized fluid to an accumulator. The accumulator then delivers a quantity of the pressurized fluid to a heater that, in turn, warms the fluid to a gas within a specified temperature and pressure range to be delivered to the end user as required. The invention further relates to a method of delivering a gas at a desired pressure and temperature wherein a quantity of fluid is received, pressurized and stored as a fluid in an accumulator storage vessel at a desired pressure. The fluid is then delivered from the accumulator to a heater where it is warmed and delivered to the end user as a gas at specified temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Westport Power Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen D. Noble, Thomas C. Brook, Daniel J. H. Brennan, Valerie Nadia LeBlanc