Abstract: In a heating and recirculating system for a tank of chemical fluid, the recirculation pump is preceded by a heating element housed in the distal half of a tubular housing mounted coaxially within the pipe feeding the pump. The fluid is uniformly heated as it circulates through the annular channel defined between the pipe and the heating element housing.

Abstract: A compressor which sweeps a localized region of electromagnetic or ultrasonic energy through a gas at the speed of sound, in order to create and maintain a high pressure acoustic pulse in the gas. The compressions and rarefactions associated with this pulse comprise a pressure cycle, by which a low pressure gas is drawn into a pulse chamber, compressed therein, and then discharged as a high pressure gas. By choosing a sweep velocity equal to the speed of sound in the gas, three independent physical effects are synergistically coupled together. This effect-coupling induces a natural pressure amplification, whereby the pulse's pressure exceeds the sum of the pressures which would result from the individual effects. Operation of the compressor requires no moving parts, other than valves, to come in contact with the gas being compressed and conveyed. Therefore, no oil comes in contact with the gas.

Abstract: A thermal engine is disclosed which is operable as a heat pump, refrigerator, or air conditioner. Vaporized working fluid from a first evaporator, which extracts heat from elements desired to be cooled, is fed to a first region of an osmotic pump which also has a second region containing a solution of the working fluid and a preselected solute, the second region being separated from the first region by a membrane permeable to the vaporized working fluid but not to the solute. A second evaporator, which may be driven by waste heat, is operatively coupled to the second region of the osmotic pump by means of a counterflow heat exchanger having a first path for conveying relatively dilute solution from the second region of the osmotic pump to the second evaporator and a second path for conveying relatively concentrated solution from the second evaporator to the second region of the osmotic pump.

Abstract: A bubble jet recording apparatus comprises an inlet for accepting a liquid to be delivered to an outlet orifice through a liquid flow path. Liquid is supplied to the inlet for flow through the liquid flow path to a heating element, which heats liquid in the liquid flow path in response to recording signals. Heating is sufficient to cause a change of state of the liquid (that is, to generate a bubble) and produce a force acting on the liquid which overcomes the surface tension of liquid at the orifice and thereby projects a droplet of liquid from the orifice. The temperature of the heating element is raised at each actuation to a temperature above the maximum temperature at which the liquid is heated so as to promote substantially instantaneous transfer of heat to the liquid proximate to the heating element and to retard the transfer of heat from the heating element to liquid at other locations in the liquid floor path.

Abstract: A water container has an inlet water line and an outlet water line, each with a one-way check valve therein. An electric heater element heats the water, controlled by a thermo switch that senses the temperature of the water. The switch is set to turn on at a low temperature of the water and turn off at a high temperature thereof. Upon heating and expanding of the water, it is forced out through the outlet water line to the cut plants, and upon cooling and contraction of the water, replenishment water is drawn in through the inlet water line.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for passive heat transfer between a heat source and a condenser (6) by means of a vaporizable liquid and a cycle with two phases controlled by a float valve (2, 4, 11). This device comprises a boiler (1) heated by said source and a liquid tank (9), the boiler furnishing, during a first cycle phase, vapor to the condenser which then supplies the tank with liquid, and receiving, during the second cycle phase, liquid from said tank. According to the invention, a vapor separator (3) is interposed between the boiler and the condenser, and the float valve (2, 4, 11) is disposed inside this separator and makes communicate, during the first cycle phase, the vapor space of the separator with the vapor space of the boiler (1), and, during the second cycle phase, the vapor space of the separator (3) with the vapor space of the tank (9), while cutting off these communications during the respective inverse cycle phase.

Abstract: A liquid jet recording process comprises the step of providing a continuous passageway defining a path through which liquid can flow. The passageway has an inlet thereto and an outlet orifice therefrom and further defines a thermal chamber portion located directly in the path intermediate the inlet and the outlet orifice and spaced upstream from the outlet orifice. Liquid is supplied to the passageway to fill it and an input signal is generated each time it is desired to produce a liquid droplet. The liquid in the thermal chamber portion is heated in response to each input signal and heating is sufficient instantaneously to cause a change of state of the liquid in the thermal portion chamber sufficient to produce a force acting on liquid filling the passageway between the thermal chamber portion and the orifice that overcomes the surface tension of liquid at the orifice and thereby projects a droplet of liquid from the orifice.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling fluid delivery into a heat exchanger wherein the temperature and the pressure of the delivered fluid is lower than the temperature and the pressure of the fluid within the heat exchanger and wherein the delivery of the fluid is accomplished without the use of pumps or compressors or other such devices. The delivering apparatus uses the pressure force developed within the heat exchanger after fluid change of phase has occurred therein for delivering the fluid vapor resulting therefrom to an elevation superior to the delivering apparatus by means of a predetermined elevated position of the pressure driven device using the vaporized fluid for its operation and the disposition of the conduit delivering the exhaust therefrom. The exhausted fluid is returned to the liquid condition by means of the heat and pressure expended in operating the pressure driven device and, by additional cooling, if needed.

Abstract: The apparatus for conveying and compressing a gaseous medium utilizes thermoacoustic oscillations. The oscillations are generated in a tubular cavity by means of a heat source or heat sink with the medium to be conveyed being taken in through a check valve on one side while being exhausted after compression through a second check valve on an opposite side. During operation, the heat is supplied to the medium within the tubular cavity to generate thermoacoustic oscillations.In one embodiment, a plurality of tubes can be disposed in series relative to a common line. Also, the apparatus can be used in combination with a helium liquifying plant.

Abstract: An arrangement for elevating liquid by the use of solar and/or wind energy having a pipe immersed in a liquid, a pipe directed upwardly from the surface of liquid and interconnection for entrapment of liquid, with a pressure differential and an air passage formed alternately and repetitively during presence of solar and/or wind energy, is additionally provided with an air purging element formed as a hydraulic valve with upper and lower interconnected pipes of which the upper pipe has an outlet located above the liquid level.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a barge or sled adapted to float or slide on the surface of a heavy viscous mass, a pump support frame, a metal net or latticed cage suspended under the pump support frame, the net or cage penetrating the mass to a slight depth to define a surface section of the mass, and a bed of heating resistors disposed slightly above the base of the cage to enter the section to heat and fluidize it sufficiently to be pumped.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for causing the circulation or movement of a solution comprising a conduit for the solution, a solution of conical shaped particles and an asymmetric microporous membrane disposed in the conduit so that the solution can only pass the membrane through its pores. The pores of the membrane are tapered with substantially all of the large openings on one side of the membrane and substantially all of the small openings on the other side. The conical shaped solute particles can diffuse in both directions through the tapered holes of the membrane but have dimensions which preclude them turning around, fore to aft, inside the holes of the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat pump for the circulation of a heat carrier fluid in a closed circuit in order to transfer calories from a hot source towards a cold source. This pump comprises two closed tanks which communicate, one with the hot source, and the other with the cold source, a pipe which connects the upper parts of the two tanks and which is equipped with an automatic valve controlled by two level sensors sensing the high and low level of the liquid in one of the two tanks and a circuit which connects the lower part of the first tank to the second tank through the cold source.

Abstract: A heat pipe or thermosiphon device is provided which may be configured for operation in various temperature regimes from cryogenic to elevated temperatures and in gravity or other orientation sensitive environments, as well as zero-gravity or other orientation insensitive environments. The invention comprises a heat pipe, containing a magnetically susceptible liquid as the working fluid, surrounded by an electro-magnet or permanent magnet which produces a magnetic field gradient which interacts with the magnetically susceptible liquid to produce an artificial body force field analogous to, but which may be substantially greater than, the gravitational force field, for separation of the liquid from gaseous phases of the magnetically susceptible working fluid within the heat pipe.

Abstract: Input and output tubes in an osmotically pumped heat pipe (10) are utilized to improve solvent-solute mixing and sweeping across a solvent-permeable membrane (46, 146, 246), to enable its operation in 0-g, 1-g and negative-g applications. Lean mixture solution flows through a path (16) of low pressure to an evaporator (14) where the solvent evaporates. Rich mixture solution from the evaporator then returns to the solvent-permeable membrane through a path (18) of higher pressure than the low pressure path to enable sweeping of the membrane and consequent increased mixing with the incoming condensed solvent.

Abstract: A new heat engine is provided in the form of a pressure oscillation generation device having a chamber with two spaced apart walls, means on the outside of one wall continuously heating said one wall, means on the other of said walls continuously cooling said other wall, a thermal shield movable between said walls, means alternating said thermal shield back and forth between said walls whereby a heat expansible fluid contained in said chamber is alternately heated and cooled thereby causing said fluid to undergo alternate expansions and contractions.

Abstract: A thermo-pneumatic pump especially for indicating the state of fill in a liquid container. The pump includes a pump chamber and housing, a valve, a heating conductor positioned in the pump chamber and an electric switch controlled by the heating conductor. The heating conductor is attached at one end to the actuating element of the electric switch.

Abstract: An osmotically pumped environmental control system (10) comprises a closed circuit heat pipe (12) including an osmotic pump (13) with solvent and solution reservoirs (18, 14) separated from one another by a solvent permeable membrane (20). Heat is inserted into the closed path at an evaporator (22) from high temperature sources and heat is wihdrawn from the system by first and second stage cooling modules (38, 40) to withdraw heat therefrom. A further heat input (30) from low temperature sources slightly warms the condensate for return to a solvent reservoir (18).

Abstract: Pump chambers usable in beverage makers, for example, have a liquid-contacting heated surface provided with abrupt discontinuities--e.g. sharp edges or corners--to promote flaking-off of mineral deposits. These edges may be fins of rectangular or triangular cross-section.

Abstract: A bubble (32) of non-condensable gas between a solvent permeable membrane (18) and solvent within a solvent reservoir (16) limits the amount of surface area of the membrane wettable by the solvent and thereby limits the amount of solvent capable of passing through the membrane into the solution reservoir (12).

Abstract: A rotatable base plate carries generator-sorbers grouped into sections with aid of manifolds with pipes. To the opposite sides of the rotatable base plate there are provided a heat source and a source of a coolant, disposed in diameteric opposition relative to the rotatable base plate. There is provided a gas-distributing mechanism which alternatingly connect the pipes of the sections of the generator-sorbers to the delivery line and to the intake line, as they are brought by the rotation of the base plate, respectively, into the heating and cooling zones.

Abstract: A solid matrix of microporous adsorbent is utilized to provide a barrier between two bodies of a gaseous mixture of which at least one constituent is a sorbable vapor. Appropriate application of heat at the opposing interfaces of the adsorbent barrier produces a partial pressure differential across the barrier. The adsorbent material is energized from a convenient heat source; for example, solar energy. The vapor pump of the invention may be used for environmental refrigeration and may be of the open or closed type. Other uses for the vapor pump are for producing a supply of pure water from low vapor content air or for drying air by removing the vapor content.

Abstract: A thermocompressor is disclosed as including a free piston which coasts upwardly and downwardly in a bypass region of a cylinder between cold and hot rebound chambers at cold and hot ends of the cylinder located at the top and bottom of the cylinder. A compressible fluid alternately flows downwardly and upwardly between the cold and hot cylinder ends via the cylinder bypass in response to the alternate upward and downward coasting of the piston. This alternate fluid flow, in conjunction with a thermal lag heating chamber, regenerator, and cooling chamber, causes an alternate heating and cooling of the fluid which produces a cyclical fluid pressure variation utilizable for driving a load. Although the regenerator, and generally the cooling chamber, are located in the bypass, the thermal lag heating chamber is located beyond the bypass and communicates separately with the lower or hot end of the cylinder for thermal lag driving of the piston during a hot rebound portion of the cycle.

Abstract: A working fluid such as a liquifiable gas is rotated in a rotor having a thermodynamic compressor, a condenser chamber and an evaporation chamber. The high pressure zone in the condenser chamber is separated from the low pressure zone of the evaporator by a column of liquid. In several embodiments, a forepump is actuated by the thermodynamic compressor in order to vary the thermodynamic operating points of the device.

Abstract: A device using only steam to simultaneously heat and pump a liquid or a slurry to a high pressure is disclosed, which device does not employ any rotating or reciprocating mechanisms commonly employed in the conventional pumping machinery. The combined use of steam for the simultaneous heating and pumping enables the outstanding device to utilize 100 percent of the steam supplied to the device in either pumping or heating. The simple structure and operational principle of said device results in particularly low capital cost and trouble-free operation.

Abstract: A closed cylinder contains a thermally driven free piston oscillating between hot and cold ends of the cylinder which ends are respectively connected to a thermal lag heating chamber and a turbine/cooling chamber. A thermal regenerator is provided within a cylinder bypass which bypasses a portion of the cylinder between hot and cold rebound chambers which include, respectively, the hot and cold ends of the cylinder. The hot rebound chamber also includes the thermal lag heating chamber. The heating chamber has sufficient thermal lag properties for substantially heating gas therein as the piston is rebounding away from the hot end of the cylinder, thereby sustaining piston oscillation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for venting moisture from the interior of an enclosed space to atmosphere while restricting the flow of ambient moisture back into the enclosed space. A chamber is provided in fluid communication with the substantially enclosed space. Means are provided for absorbing solar energy for heating the interior of the chamber when the chamber is exposed to sunlight. A first pressure sensitive valve is effective to vent moisture, liquid or other fluids from the chamber to atmosphere and to block flow between the chamber and the substantially enclosed space during the periods when the chamber is exposed to sunlight. A second pressure sensitive valve blocks flow of ambient air into the chamber and vents moisture or other gaseous material from the substantially enclosed space to the chamber during periods when the chamber is not exposed to sunlight.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to tanks, operated in pairs disposed above the surface of the earth. Each is adapted with sunshading deflectors selectively operated so as to permit the air contained within one such tank to be heated and thus elevated in pressure, by the rays of the sun. A receiving tank, disposed below the surface of the earth, collects the pressurized air and enables the cooling thereof. Condensation occurs while the pressure level within the receiving tank is elevated. A plurality of such units comprising above ground pairs of tanks and below ground cooled receiving tanks are arranged in a series circuit so as to increase the available air pressure at the last receiving tank. A centralized condensate tank collects all the water condensed within each receiving tank and utilizes the elevated air pressure therewithin to discharge the water as required. The air pressure at the last receiving tank may be utilized to drive a motor which in turn can operate an electric generator.

Abstract: A closed cylinder contains a thermally driven free piston oscillating between hot and cold ends of the cylinder which ends are respectively connected to a thermal lag heating chamber and a turbine/cooling chamber. A thermal regenerator is provided within a cylinder bypass which bypasses a portion of the cylinder between hot and cold rebound chambers which include, respectively, the hot and cold ends of the cylinder. The hot rebound chamber also includes the thermal lag heating chamber. The heating chamber has sufficient thermal lag properties for substantially heating gas therein as the piston is rebounding away from the hot end of the cylinder, thereby sustaining piston oscillation.

Abstract: The thermodynamic compressor has a pair of conduits, each of which is wound into a group of loops arranged to form a toroid around a rotational drive axis. Each of the loops has an outwardly-extending section, and an inwardly-extending section which is spaced from the outwardly-extending section longitudinally along the rotational axis of the shaft. Each group of loops has the same number of loops in it, and corresponding loops in each of the groups are arranged directly opposite one another and working fluid is introduced in parallel into the groups of loops so that the amount of fluid in each pair of corresponding opposed loops remains the same at all times despite compression of the working fluid in the loops. The loops are arranged with the outwardly-extending sections in one plane, and the inwardly-extending sections in another plane so that heat easily can be added from the outside to the inwardly-extending sections and can be extracted easily from the outwardly-extending sections.

Abstract: A solar-powered pump particularly suited for intermittently delivering a stream of water. The pump is characterized by a housing adapted to be seated in a source of water having a water discharge port disposed above the water line of the source, a sump including a valved inlet port through which water is introduced to the sump, disposed beneath the water line, a displacer supported for vertical reciprocation in said housing, an air passageway extended between the vertically spaced faces of the displacer, a tipple disposed adjacent to the water discharge port adapted to be filled in response to a discharge of water from the housing, and a line so interconnecting the tipple and the displacer that the displacer is moved upwardly in response to a filling of the tipple and moved downwardly once water is discharged from the tipple.

Abstract: A reservoir has an electrical heating element therein connectable to a power line and the reservoir is connected in series with a coolant carrying hose which in turn is connected to the coolant system of an automobile engine or the like. The reservoir is provided with an inlet connection and an outlet connection both situated adjacent the upper side of the reservoir. The inlet connection has a one-way valve allowing coolant in only, and includes a ball which has a specific gravity less than the specific gravity of the coolant so that the ball floats in the coolant and closes off the inlet connection when the coolant level is adjacent the upper side of the reservoir. The outlet connection has a one-way valve allowing coolant out only and includes a ball which has a specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of the coolant so that the ball normally engages the valve seat and is only displaced if and when the pressure of the coolant and/or the air in the air space above the coolant level increases.

Abstract: A de facto wall-less heat exchanger system wherein a non-volatile heated liquid from a nuclear, geothermal or other source of heat is introduced into a chamber containing a highly volatile fluid which is chemically non-reactive with the non-volatile liquid. The volatile fluid is converted to a pressurized vapor which may be used to drive a turbine for the production of useful energy, to pump the non-volatile liquid or to pump a different fluid.