Fuse Generator

An air conditioning unit that will be more efficient by generating its own voltage. The present invention is a way to make an air conditioning unit more efficient by placing an actuator in line with the expanding refrigerant gas in communication with a generator that will generate a direct voltage (DC) that will in turn drive the two fan motors that most air conditioning units have.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to air conditioners and more specifically, to an air conditioning unit that will be more efficient by generating its own voltage. The present invention is a way to make an air conditioning unit more efficient by placing an actuator in line with the expanding refrigerant gas in communication with a generator that will generate a direct voltage (DC) that will in turn drive the two fan motors that most air conditioning units have. The motors will run on the DC voltage generated by the generator.

The present invention is an air conditioning circuit having a fan driving a generator with the fan driven by the compressor discharge line gases. The generator has a DC output that powers the blower motor and the condenser fan motor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are other electrically generative devices designed for power supply. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 1,583,621 issued to Steinberg on May 4, 1926.

Another patent was issued to U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,575 on Dec. 29, 1981 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,575. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,379 was issued to Voss on Sep. 24, 1996 and still yet another was issued on Mar. 9, 1999 to Sasaki, et al as U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,584.

Another patent was issued to Bass on Aug. 14, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,873. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,665 was issued to Saiz on Sep. 18, 2001. Another was issued to Brasz on Mar. 28, 2006 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,357 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 5, 2006 to Kang et al as U.S. Pat. No. 7,145,258.

Another was issued to Miyazaki on May 15, 2001 as Japan Patent No. JP2001130246 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 7, 2004 to Yoon as Korea Patent No. KR20040061403.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,583,621 Inventor: Steinberg Issued: May 4, 1926

A device of the class described used in combination with combustion engines and comprising a casing and an additional larger casing connected by a sleeve, said casings having a common axis, a shaft passing axially thru said casings, a fan rigidly mounted on said shaft in the smaller casing, the fan blades of said fan being curved longitudinally, the larger casing having an opening at the side, a fan rotatably mounted on said shaft in the larger casing, a: hub, angular fan blades on said hub, a flange on said hub, a resilient tongue on the face of said flange, a collar secured to said shaft, a flange on said collar adjacent, the flange of the hub member, a plurality of teeth on the face of the first-named flange, said teeth being adapted to be engaged by the resilient tongue, said teeth when engaged by the tongue being adapted to rotate the flange thru the medium of the fan blades in the larger casing.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,575 Inventor: Robert A Frosch Issued: Dec. 29, 1981

In combination with the ground vehicle A powered by a waste heat generating electric motor 16, a cooling system 10 including a generator 17 for driving off refrigerant vapor from a strong refrigerant-absorbent solution, including a solar collector 12, an air-cooled condenser 30 connected with the generator for converting the refrigerant vapor to its liquid state, an air-cooled evaporator 38 connected with the condenser for returning the liquid refrigerant to its vapor state, and an absorber 18 is connected to the generator and to the evaporator for dissolving the refrigerant vapor in the weak refrigerant-absorbent solution, for thus providing a strong refrigerant solution, a pump 22 for establishing a pressurized flow of strong refrigerant-absorbent solution from said absorber through the electric motor, and thence to the collector.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,379 Inventor: Mark G. Voss Issued: Sep. 24, 1996

An alternator assembly for use with a port fuel injected internal combustion engine including a battery charging system is driven by a turbine assembly mounted in a variable air intake or throttle valve assembly and converts the change in kinetic energy provided by the inlet combustion air movement across the turbine assembly into rotational movement which drives an electrical generating assembly or alternator to generate current which can be used to supplement a conventional vehicle battery charging system.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,584 Inventor: Shigeharu Sasaki, et al Issued: Mar. 9, 1999

An air conditioner equipped with a solar generator is disclosed. The solar generator is capable of converting the DC power generated by a solar cell into the AC power whose voltage and frequency correspond to that of the commercial power source. The electrical power generated by the solar cell and the electrical power consumed by the air conditioner are monitored and may be displayed. The DC power generated by the solar cell is used directly by the air conditioner or used indirectly as the commercial power source by merging the converted AC power to the commercial power source. Further, the converted AC power may be selectively merged to the commercial power source depending on the various states of the air conditioner, and the air conditioning operations may be regulated depending on the electrical power generated by the solar cell.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,272,873 Inventor: John C. Bass Issued: Aug. 14, 2001

A motor vehicle with a self-powered air conditioner system. An absorption type air conditioning unit is configured to air condition at least a portion of cab space of the motor vehicle. The unit has at least one electric powered component. There is a generator located outside the cab space for vaporizing a refrigerant. There is a condenser for condensing the refrigerant to produce a condensate, and an evaporator configured to remove heat from the cab space by a process of evaporation of the condensate. There is a combustion unit configured to burn fuel from the fuel tank. The combustion unit provides heat to a hot surface. A plurality of thermoelectric modules is mounted in thermal contact with the hot surface. A heat sink is cooled by the cooling water system. The heat sink is positioned so that it is in thermal contact with said plurality of thermoelectric modules. A temperature difference is produce across the modules to permit them to generate electrical power, and an electric control circuit is configured to utilize electric power generated by the modules to power the at least one electric powered component. In a preferred embodiment, excess electric power is used to keep batteries of the motor vehicle charged up. In a preferred embodiment provision is made for hot water to be circulated from the combustion unit to the cab space to provide heat for the cab space when desired.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,665 Inventor: Manuel Munoz Saiz Issued: Sep. 18, 2001

The device involves the placement of an air pump turbine and the aircraft outflow valve in a duct through which all the air flows, with the turbine shaft attached to that of an electric generator, to a hydraulic pump, and to the N2 and accessory gearbox inside the engine, the air is also sent through a duct to strike inclined against the tips of the fan blades and against the tips of the first stage of the low speed compressor blades of the turbine engine.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,357 Inventor: Joost J. Brasz Issued: Mar. 28, 2006

In a comfort system having a combination furnace and air conditioner, the two are operated simultaneously at periods of time in which emergency power is desired, with the air conditioning system being temporarily converted to cause the flow of refrigerant to pass from the evaporator to a high pressure side of said compressor rather than to the low pressure side thereof to thereby drive the compressor in reverse such that it operates as a turbine. The turbine then drives its motor in reverse to generate power to be supplied to the various components of the systems and to other appliances during emergency mode operation.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,145,258 Inventor: Seung Tak Kang Issued: Dec. 5, 2006

An electricity generating and air conditioning system including an engine, a generator connected to an output shaft of the engine to generate electricity, an air conditioner, which uses the electricity generated from the generator and includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an expansion device, and an exhaust gas waste heat recovering device to recover heat of exhaust gas discharged from the engine and to transfer the recovered heat to a refrigerant passing through a discharge line of the compressor. The electricity generating and air conditioning system has an advantage in that an enhancement in heating performance is achieved.

Japan Patent Number Masaru Miyazaki Inventor: Masaru Miyazaki Issued: May 15, 2001

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an intended cooling ability even with a small generator by controlling a direct current voltage outputted by a converter. SOLUTION: This controller has a phase detecting means 13 detecting a phase of an alternating voltage generated by a permanent magnet generator 2A driven by an engine of an automobile, an alternating current detecting means 14 detecting an amperage and a phase of an alternating current generated by the permanent magnet generator 2A, and a direct current voltage detecting means 16 detecting a direct current voltage outputted by the converter 3. It is provided with the converter 3 converting the alternating voltage generated by the permanent magnet generator 2A into the direct current voltage of a predetermined level in accordance with signals from the phase detecting means 13, the alternating current detecting means 14, and the direct current voltage detecting means 16, and an inverter 5 converting the direct current voltage outputted by the converter 3 into an alternating voltage. A compressor motor 7 of a car air conditioner 6 is driven by an output voltage of the inverter 5.

Korea Patent Number KR20040061403 Inventor: Dae Deok Toon Issued: Jul. 7, 2007

PURPOSE: A power-saving air conditioner is provided to reduce power consumption by operating a compressor, an outdoor unit fan motor, and an indoor unit fan motor with external commercial power source and by operating an electronic circuit with the power source generated by operating a generator with the driving force of the indoor unit fan motor. CONSTITUTION: A power-saving air conditioner comprises a generator (60) installed to a shaft of an indoor unit fan motor (40), to generate induced electromotive force; a voltage-sensing part (70) measuring the voltage of the induced electromotive force generated from the generator; and an electronic switch (80) selectively supplying the commercial power source and the output of the generator to a control part (30) according to the voltage measured via the voltage-sensing part. The power-saving air conditioner further comprises an electric condenser stores the induced electromotive force output from the generator.

While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an internal power source for an air conditioner fans.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus using the expanding state of the refrigerant gases to drive a generator.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide said generator with DC output for powering at least one air conditioner fan.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant line apparatus wherein the expanding gas impinges upon said apparatus to drive an actuator coupled to a generator shaft.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner having a generator supplying DC power to the air conditioners fans in a heat recovery method.

Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing an air conditioning unit that will be more efficient by generating its own voltage. The present invention is a way to make an air conditioning unit more efficient by placing an actuator in line with the expanding refrigerant gas in communication with a generator that will generate a direct voltage (DC) that will in turn drive the two fan motors that most air conditioning units have. The present invention is an air conditioning circuit having a fan driving a generator with the fan driven by the compressor discharge line gases. The generator having a DC output that powers the blower motor and the condenser fan motor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of prior art.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic view of the wheel housing of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an additional element of the present invention.

 DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Refrigerant Exhaust Driven Generator for Air Cooling Units of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.

    • 10 Refrigerant Exhaust Driven Generator for Air Cooling Units of the present invention
    • 12 air conditioner
    • 13 generator
    • 14 compressor
    • 15 condenser
    • 16 high pressure refrigerant exhaust line
    • 17 turbine
    • 18 high pressure exhaust gas
    • 19 turbine fan
    • 20 blade of 19
    • 22 turbine shaft
    • 24 proximal end of 22
    • 26 distal end of 22
    • 27 bevel gear mechanism
    • 28 first bevel gear
    • 30 commutator shaft
    • 32 second bevel gear
    • 34 commutator
    • 36 brush
    • 38 magnet
    • 40 DC voltage
    • 42 pressure line interface
    • 44 housing of 42
    • 45 radiating blade of 42
    • 46 interior portion of 42
    • 47 drive linkage
    • 48 condenser fan motor
    • 50 outside motor
    • 52 intake port of 42
    • 54 outlet port of 42
    • 55 generator of 42
    • 56 hub
    • 58 rotational torque of 45
    • 60 outdoor coil
    • 62 indoor coil
    • 64 drier filter
    • 66 indoor metering device
    • 68 prior art
    • 70 expansion valve of 68

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a view of prior art 68. In prior art 68, a refrigerant such as Freon mixed with a small amount of lightweight oil (to lubricate the compressor 14) is compressed by the compressor 14 causing it to become a hot, high pressure gas, this hot gas runs through a series of coils and with the help of the fan 48 dissipates this heat to the outside. In this process the Freon cools and condenses into a liquid which then runs through an expansion valve 70, at which point the liquid evaporates to become cold low pressure gas. Going through another series of coils and with assistance of a second fan 48, absorbs the heat, thereby cooling the inside of a building.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of the present invention 10 in use. The present invention 10 is an air conditioning 12 circuit that utilizes discharge line gases to drive a generator to provide DC output for powering the blower motor and the condenser fan motor thereby effectively reducing the load requirement required to operate the entire unit.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of the present invention 10 in use. The present invention 10 is a way to make an air conditioning unit more efficient. The generator 13 will generate a direct voltage (DC) that will in turn drive the two condenser fan motors 48 and possibly to an outside motor 50 that most air conditioning units have. The flow of the high pressure exhaust 18 released into the exhaust line 16 rotates the turbine fans 19 due the bias applied to their respective blades 20 and drives the turbine 15 and the bevel gear mechanism 27 which in turn rotates the commutator 34 that is in contact with metallic brushes 36 and proximal to an electromagnet 38 that is energized and produces DC voltage 40 for distribution. This way the air conditioning unit will be more efficient because it generates its own voltage.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic view of the turbine 17 of the present invention 10. Shown is a detail view of the turbine 17 comprising a turbine shaft 22 having a proximal end 24 fixed to a first bevel gear 28 and a distal end 26 with a plurality of fans 19 that all rotate when high pressure gas 18 flows therethrough. The rotation of the turbine 17 has a similar effect on the second bevel gear 32 and its related shaft 30 and the commutator 34. The rotation of the commutator 34 within the brushes 36 transfers the kinetic energy harvested by the turbine 17 into DC voltage.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of the present invention 10. Shown is the present invention 10 having a reverse air pump/compressor type pressure line interface 42 whereby gas exhaust 18 flowing through the pressure lines 16 interacts with the blades 49 radiating from a central hub 56 of the fan 45 to produce a torque there about to drive a generator 55. The housing 44 includes an intake port 52 and an outlet port 54 to provide connections within the pressure line 16 and to provide passage of gas exhaust 18 through the interior 46 to drive the fan 45 Additional power gained by said method can be recycled to increase the efficiency of an air conditioning unit.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the pressure line interface 42 of the present invention 10. The housing 44 includes an intake port 52 and an outlet port 54 to provide connections within the pressure line 16. Also shown it the rotational torque 58.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the present invention 10. Depicted above are general uses of the power generating circuit of the present invention 10. In addition to air conditioners, the power generating circuit of the present invention 10 may be utilized in commercial refrigeration, refrigerated gas heating, or other products utilizing refrigerated gas.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of the present invention 10. Shown is another application of the present invention 10 including having a generator 13, an indoor coil 62, an outdoor coil 64, a drier filter 64 and an indoor metering device 66 in-line therewith. Additionally the present invention 10 can be installed into a liquid line, the high pressure liquid refrigerant will also turn the generator wheel and should be disposed vertically to prevent trapping oil.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an additional element of the present invention 10 including having two generators 13 an indoor coil 62, an outdoor coil 64 with their respective condenser fan motors 48, a drier filter 64, an indoor metering device 66 in-line therewith. Additionally shown is a further source derived from expanding gas.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerant exhaust driven generator for typically configured air coolant units that utilizes the discharge of high pressure exhaust to provide DC voltage to related components of said air coolant unit, said turbine based generator comprising:

a) a compressor to pressurize a refrigerant;
b) a discharge line from said compressor to release the heated, expanding high pressure exhaust therefrom;
c) a turbine element disposed in-line with said discharge line wherein the expulsion of said high pressure exhaust rotates said turbine to produce kinetic energy; and
d) a generator for transforming said kinetic energy to DC voltage

2. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator air coolant units recited in claim 1, wherein said turbine element comprises:

a) a turbine shaft disposed longitudinally within said exhaust line having a proximal end and a distal end and rotatively secured therein;
b) a beveled gearing mechanism comprising a first bevel gear secured to said proximal end of said turbine shaft and a second bevel gear perpendicularly engaged therewith a shaft extending therefrom; and
c) at least one fan fixed to said turbine shaft having a plurality of fan blades projecting laterally from the hub thereof.

3. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 2, wherein said generator is in mechanical communication with said turbine via said shaft originating at said second bevel gear and terminating in fixed position with a commutator.

4. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 3, wherein the rotation of said commutator energizes at least one electromagnet and produces DC voltage.

5. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 4, wherein the complete DC voltage production process occurs when the flow of high pressure exhaust passes through said exhaust line thus urging said fans, turbine shaft, bevel gears and commutator to rotate and energize said electromagnets to provide a steady DC voltage as regulated by said compressor.

6. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 5, wherein the generated DC voltage is delivered to at least one inside motor fan.

7. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 5, wherein the generated DC voltage is delivered to a plurality of inside motor fans.

8. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 4, wherein said generated DC voltage is delivered to an outside motor.

9. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 1, wherein said refrigerant is Freon gas.

10. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 1, wherein said turbine is housed in a pressure line interface.

11. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 10, wherein said pressure line interface comprises a housing having a substantially hollow interior.

12. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 11, wherein said housing further includes an intake port leading into said interior and an outlet port disposed on the opposing side thereof.

13. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 12, wherein said intake port and said outlet port are offset from one another.

14. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 13, including a fan axially disposed in said interior of said housing and having a plurality of paddle-wheel like blades radiating from a hub and positioned to rotate when a bias is presented from high pressure gas passing therethrough from said intake port to said outlet port.

15. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 14, wherein said blades radiate curvilinearly from said hub in an orientation whereby the concave side of said blade will receive maximum torque from pressurized exhaust gas entering through said intake port.

16. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 15, wherein said intake port and said outlet port are employed as socket connections for receiving their respective ends of said pressure line.

17. The refrigerant exhaust driven generator for air coolant units recited in claim 16, wherein said hub is axially affixed to a drive linkage to a generator for transforming the harvested kinetic energy into DC voltage for distribution to power condensation fan motors and reduce the load required to operate said cooling unit.

Patent History
Publication number: 20090120116
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 13, 2007
Publication Date: May 14, 2009
Inventor: Aubrey Fuselier (Longville, LA)
Application Number: 11/938,998
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: With Vapor Compression System (62/238.6)
International Classification: F25B 27/00 (20060101);