Vacuum Generated By Internal Combustion Engine Intake Manifold Powers Motor Patents (Class 60/397)
  • Patent number: 5854516
    Abstract: An improved electric power generation apparatus using a wave force and a method thereof which are capable of protecting the system from waves having a predetermined height higher than the previously set height based on the climate condition at the construction site of the system, which includes the steps of lifting/lowering a plurality of buoys in response to waves applied thereto, each of said buoys being connected to each of a plurality of support members disposed at a lattice-type frame submerged within sea, converting the lifting/lowering movement of each buoy into a rotation force, a driving compressed liquid generation unit provided at each buoy in cooperation with the rotation force, transferring the compressed liquid generated in the operation of the compressed liquid generation unit to a main transferring tube, driving a turbine using the compressed liquid transferred thereto through the main transferring tube, and generating power by driving a power generator drivingly communicating with the turbine
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Inventor: Hyun Jin Shim
  • Patent number: 5782090
    Abstract: One or more hose clips may advantageously be used to rout and releasably secure a hose assembly such as those included in a vacuum manifold assembly, to a fixed structure of a motor vehicle. The hose clip has a main body which is circumferentially open-sided, partially defining a hose-receiving space which has an inside, free stat cross-sectional dimension and attachment means extending from the main body for attachment into an opening in the firewall of the motor vehicle. The attachment means may preferably be a christmas tree stem. The main body of the hose clip has an opening sized to receive hoses of varying diameters. On one side of the main body of the opening is a flange and on the other side of the main body is a tab. Extending from the flange is a hook with serrations which engage corresponding serrations on the tab to close the opening and retain the hose. The clip may preferably have a pair of hooks, each angled with the flange so as to lockingly secure hoses of different diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Excel Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. B. Locke
  • Patent number: 5559379
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Nartron Corporation
    Inventor: Mark G. Voss
  • Patent number: 5544484
    Abstract: A turboalternator and air flow control assembly for mounting on a combustion air intake of an internal combustion engine comprises a body having an inlet and an outlet defining an air flow path, a nozzle carrier in the body defining a plurality of turbine nozzles spaced arcuately about and generally parallel with a central axis, the nozzles having inlet and outlet ends and forming a portion of the air flow path, a rotor mounted in the body on bearings for rotation on the central axis, the rotor driving an electric generator and including a turbine wheel having blades axially adjacent and radially aligned with said nozzles, a bypass passage in the body and connecting the inlet and outlet separately from the nozzles, and a bypass valve in the bypass passage and operable to control air flow through said bypass passage. Various embodiments including concentric or parallel bypass passage arrangements and having axial or radial gap alternators with permanent magnet rotors are featured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Nartron Corporation
    Inventors: Mark G. Voss, Gregory E. Peterson, William O. Harvey, Randall L. Perrin
  • Patent number: 5394848
    Abstract: A turbine, which is an essential portion of an air motor, is disposed midway along an air-intake passage communicating to combustion chambers of an engine. A generator is operably connected to an output shaft of the turbine. The generator has a function to control the rotational motion of the turbine in proportion to the magnitude of the generated electric energy, in addition to the original function of generating the electric energy. The generator is electrically connected to an air-intake control device. In other words, the air-intake control device includes a transistor, and potentiometer which includes a resistor and a sliding element. A positive electrode of generator is connected to an emitter of the transistor. Further, a base of the transistor is connected to an output terminal of the potentiometer, and a collector thereof to a battery. When the operation magnitude of an acceleration pedal is small, the current flowing through the base decreases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhito Tsutsumi, Ken Tanoue, Makoto Suzuki, Takeshi Gouno
  • Patent number: 4989496
    Abstract: A vacuum supply system for a brake power assist unit of a motor vehicle with at least one additional vacuum consuming device is achieved by the installation of a valve, which can be switched as a function of existing vacuum level in a pipe leading from the vacuum generating device to the at least one additional consuming device. Switching of the valve causes a throttling of this pipe to be more extensive when the existing vacuum level is above a certain absolute pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventor: Franz Bender
  • Patent number: 4953447
    Abstract: A vacuum supply system for a brake power assist unit of a motor vehicle and at least one additional vacuum consuming device, is achieved by a parallel arrangement of two pipes leading from a vacuum generating device one to the brake power assist unit and one to the additional consuming device. Both pipes are equipped with flow control devices one of which is blockable by means of a check valve with an increased restoring or closing force for securing a vacuum supply priority for the brake power assist unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG
    Inventor: Franz Bender
  • Patent number: 4802457
    Abstract: In a convention throttle-controlled internal combustion engine (1, 2) equipped with a supercharger which has the form of a compressor (10) provided with screw rotors (14, 15) arranged in a compression chamber, the supercharger is inactive at part engine loads. Since the engine normally operates at part loads for about 95% of its running time, efficiency is correspondingly poor. This drawback is overcome with the arrangement according to the invention in which the screw compressor (10) is provided on the inlet side (20) thereof with a capacity regulating device (22) which is operated by a gas pedal, or accelerator, and which when the engine is only partially loaded, is adjusted to a corresponding position in which the compressor (10) operates as an expander (3) of variable throttle effect on the engine inlet side (3) and transmits power to the engine, thereby replacing the conventional gas throttle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Svenska Rotor Maskiner AB
    Inventor: Johnny Oscarsson
  • Patent number: 4783962
    Abstract: Vapor guard systems which prevent vapors from reaching a servomotor from a power source for the servomotor. One embodiment uses a control valve which directs such vapors to a vapor trap filter under conditions where vapor flow may be toward the servomotor, and operates to permit purging of the vapor trap filter when there is flow only away from the servomotor. Another embodiment uses an in-line vapor trap filter and a vapor trap canister, normally used to trap fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank, to trap fuel vapors from the power source. Both the in-line vapor trap filter and the canister are purged of adsorber vapors where the power source is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: General Motors Coporation
    Inventor: John R. Grein
  • Patent number: 4738112
    Abstract: In the vacuum boosting system for the brake of a vehicle wherein the boosting vacuum is supplied from the intake manifold of the engine and also, as an assistance thereto, from a vacuum pump which is to be occasionally operated when the intake vacuum of the engine is insufficient to boost the brake, the operation of the vacuum pump is controlled in two alternative modes. In the first mode, when the vehicle is running at a relatively high speed with the transmission being shifted to a relatively high speed stage, the vacuum pump is switched on when the brake boosting vacuum has dropped below a first relatively high threshold value to be operated for a first relatively short period so as to recover the vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Nomura, Koichi Suda
  • Patent number: 4730999
    Abstract: The vacuum tank is connected to an engine intake manifold, and a vacuum pump generates compulsarily a negative pressure so as to maintain the negative pressure at a predetermined setting pressure value. The vacuum pump has a diaphragm pump for discharging air in the vacuum tank a motor for driving the diaphragm pump. The vacuum tank pump is disposed in the vacuum tank. A vacuum switch assembly and the diaphragm pump are disposed on the vacuum tank. The motor is installed entirely in the vacuum tank. The volume of a negative pressure supply apparatus can be reduced, and the installing location of the negative pressure supply apparatus can be disposed at liberty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1988
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Tsukuda, Akira Tomita
  • Patent number: 4554786
    Abstract: A vacuum source device of vacuum booster is disclosed. The device includes an air ejector having an air inlet communicated with the atmosphere, an air outlet connected to a vacuum pick-up port opening to the portion of the intake system of an internal combustion engine downstream of a throttle valve, and a pressure reduction chamber connected to a vacuum chamber of the vacuum booster. A by-pass passage connecting between the vacuum pick-up port and the vacuum chamber of the vacuum booster by detouring the diffuser of the air ejector imposes a smaller flow resistance than the diffuser. A first check valve is disposed in the by-pass passage, while a second check valve is disposed between the by-pass passage and the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignees: Nissin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroo Takeuchi, Kazuo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 4531624
    Abstract: A vacuum system used with an automotive vehicle such that an appropriate negative pressure is maintained within the vacuum system in order to assure the function of the vacuum brake booster even when the vacuum clutch booster is defective with respect to airtightness. A vacuum system according to the present invention comprises a novel second check valve having an orifice formed in the poppet valve or in the valve body, being connected between the intake manifold and the vacuum clutch booster. The second check valve operates as an ordinary check valve in a normal condition but as an orifice in an abnormal condition to prevent the vacuum pressure in the system from being decreased quickly, without use of any conventional vacuum tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1985
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yasufumi Ideta
  • Patent number: 4508089
    Abstract: In a method of regulating the delivery of the combustion fluid (i.e. air or mixture of air and fuel) to an internal combustion engine (1), the combustion fluid is conducted through a gas engine or positive displacement device capable of operating as a fluid motor or a fluid compressor (2) which is drivingly coupled with the internal combustion engine, and the flow rate through the device (2) is varied in the sense of the desired load change by means of a control device (3, 23) on the device. The positive displacement device (2) may be operated as a fluid motor and/or as a supercharger. As a fluid motor the work done by the expansion of the combustion gas is used to assist the engine (1), whereas the engine (1) drives the gas engine (2) when operating as a supercharger. In a preferred embodiment the device (2) is of the rotary vane type (FIG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hans Baumgartner, Rainer Sudbeck
  • Patent number: 4485904
    Abstract: A vacuum system used with an automotive vehicle such that an appropriate negative pressure is maintained within the vacuum system in order to assure the function of the vacuum brake booster even when the vacuum clutch booster is defective in airtightness. A vacuum system according to the present invention comprises a novel second check valve having an orifice therewithin, being connected between the intake manifold and the vacuum clutch booster. The second check valve operates as an ordinary check valve in a normal condition but as an orifice in an abnormal condition to prevent the vacuum pressure in the system from being decreased quickly, without use of any conventional vacuum tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Jun Udono, Yasufumi Ideta
  • Patent number: 4463554
    Abstract: In an internal combustion engine a rotary gas motor, driven by the intake gas of the engine, drives pump providing secondary air to the engine exhaust at low engine load, and at high load a clutch connects the pump and the motor to the engine shaft, the output of the pump and the motor being delivered to the engine intake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Pierburg GmbH & Co., KG.
    Inventors: Rainer Sudbeck, Hans Baumgartner
  • Patent number: 4439983
    Abstract: A four-cycle internal combustion engine is provided with apparatus comprising a turbine in the inlet air flow path and an extracting compressor in the exhaust gas path. Where the internal combustion engine is an automobile engine and is operating under normal cruising conditions, the manifold inlet pressure is substantially less than atmospheric pressure and incoming air drives the inlet turbine to in turn drive the compressor. The arrangement is such that the inlet air is isentropically expanded while the exhaust gas back pressure is decreased. As a consequence, the energy of compression is reduced and the overall operating temperature of the internal combustion cycle is lowered with the result that more power is delivered for a given quantity of fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Inventor: David C. Gertz
  • Patent number: 4428195
    Abstract: A rotary vacuum pump is proposed, having a rotor with vanes which rotates eccentrically within a housing bore. Each vane is coupled with a body which is ineffective at relatively low pump rpm; however, at higher rpm, the body engages the vane in such a manner that it removes the vane from its track within the housing bore.In this manner, an rpm-dependent shutoff device is created for the pump. In cooperation with the furnishing of underpressure as an auxiliary pressure in motor vehicles, the pump is used to supplement the underpressure which prevails when the internal combustion engine is at low, idling rpm; this prevailing underpressure is at a very low pressure level, and so when it is thus supplemented there is sufficient auxiliary vacuum force available over the entire rpm range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ernst Linder, Helmut Rembold, Walter Teegen
  • Patent number: 4412416
    Abstract: An altitude compensating control system for a vacuum pump supplying a vehicle accessory vacuum supply system comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a dual diaphragm pressure switch spring biased in a closing direction to actuate the pump and having an ambient pressure exposed diaphragm acting in a switch-opening direction opposed by a controlled vacuum pressure exposed diaphragm of larger area acting in a switch closing direction to provide a controlled vacuum pressure range that declines from a desired operational vacuum pressure range at sea level to a lower satisfactory vacuum level for efficient operation at higher altitudes. Other features and advantages are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1983
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Van House
  • Patent number: 4380418
    Abstract: An aspirator using positive pressure from a suitable source generates a vacuum pressure when the primary source of vacuum pressure, typically the engine intake manifold, prodcuces insufficient vacuum pressure to operate a device such as a road speed control servomotor. The aspirator assembly is connected to the source of positive pressure and the engine intake manifold as well as to atmosphere and to the device to be operated by vacuum power. When there is sufficient intake manifold vacuum pressure for the desired purpose, there is no flow through the aspirator and the engine intake manifold supplies all of the vacuum needs of the servomotor. When aspirator vacuum pressure is required due to insufficient manifold vacuum pressure, the aspirator is opened to generate aspirated vacuum pressure and the connection between the servomotor and manifold vacuum is closed. The aspirated air is delivered to the engine intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1983
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Crawford, Wayne A. Levijoki
  • Patent number: 4358928
    Abstract: An altitude compensating control device for a vacuum pump supplying a vehicle accessory vacuum supply system comprising, in a preferred embodiment, a dual diaphragm pressure switch spring biased in a closing direction to actuate the pump and having an ambient pressure exposed diaphragm acting in a switch-opening direction opposed by a controlled vacuum pressure exposed diaphragm of larger area acting in a switch closing direction to provide a controlled vacuum pressure range that declines from a desired operational vacuum pressure range at sea level to a lower satisfactory vacuum level for efficient operation at higher altitudes. Other features and advantages are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Allan J. Kotwicki
  • Patent number: 4332302
    Abstract: A vacuum supply system for automotive vehicles having vacuum powered accessories and driven by an engine with an air intake system in which vacuum is developed that may be inadequate to operate the accessories under some conditions. A vacuum pump, which may be engine driven, is connected between the engine and the accessories to supplement the operating vacuum. Flow limiting orifices in a junction connecting with secondary accessories provide for continued operation of a primary accessory such as a vacuum brake booster in spite of the disconnection of a vacuum hose or other massive air leak in one of the secondary accessory lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kosmanski
  • Patent number: 4328669
    Abstract: A vehicle vacuum power system which insures sufficient vacuum power to operate a vacuum brake booster and a vacuum operated road speed control system. Because of the low vacuum, high flow rate needs of a cruise control system, the cruise control is connected directly to the engine manifold through a check valve. A small orifice from the vacuum pump in parallel with engine manifold vacuum provides sufficient vacuum for the cruise control when the manifold vacuum is not sufficient. The vacuum pump is in series with manifold vacuum and is operated in response to a pressure switch which allows the pump to run only when brake booster vacuum is low. Manifold vacuum is sufficient most of the time, but the orifice to the cruise control tends to cause a fast loss of brake booster vacuum, causing the vacuum pump to run when it is not actually needed. The vacuum regulator shuts off the flow through the orifice when it is not needed, considerably reducing the pump operational time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dewey F. Mort
  • Patent number: 4224791
    Abstract: An arrangement for generating and making available a vacuum for an auxiliary power system of a vehicle, such as a brake booster, comprises a throttle disposed in the intake system of an internal combustion engine between the carburetor and the engine, a vacuum conduit having one end connected to the auxiliary power system and the other end connected to the intake system between the throttle and the engine, a first sensor coupled to the conduit produces a first response when the vacuum has achieved at least a predetermined value, at least one second sensor responding to at least one other operating state of either the engine or the vehicle to produce a second response dependent on the operating state, and a control arrangement coupled to the first and second sensors and the throttle to control the throttle in response to the first and second responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: ITT Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Fritz Ostwald
  • Patent number: 4193264
    Abstract: A vacuum motor operatively connected to a slave cylinder operates same via pressure differential variations across a reciprocatable vacuum motor piston to pump working fluid from a reservoir to an accumulator through two one way valves. The pressure differential variation can be derived from gear changing of the vehicle, induced through a three way electromagnetic valve controlled by a circuit characterized by either an unstable multivibrator, a dual stable multivibrator, a thyristor or a self maintaining relay, or induced through a purely mechanically operated valve characterized by lost motion and snap action position maintain devices. A pressure relief valve may be provided which dumps excessive pressurized fluid in the accumulator and returns same to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Takahashi, Yoshikazu Hayakawa, Keizaburo Usui
  • Patent number: 4178756
    Abstract: A vacuum union having a tubular body adapted for transmitting a vacuum signal from an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle to a vacuum-operated brake booster of a vehicle brake device, and a branch pipe adapted for transmitting a vacuum signal from the tubular body to other vacuum-operated engine controlling devices. An orifice for restricting the level of the vacuum signal, to be transmitted to the brake booster, is located downstream of a branch pipe with respect to the intake pipe. Therefore, a drop in the vacuum level is effectively decreased for maintaining the proper operation of the brake device, even if the controlling devices are damaged, thereby causing the branch pipe to be opened to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Adachi, Juichi Shibatani, Sadayoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 4175388
    Abstract: The drawings illustrate a cooling system for use with a torque converter assembly and a radiator containing a coolant. The cooling system includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooling fan blades formed on the outer surface of the torque converter housing for rotation therewith, and opening means cooperating therewith. A shroud having speed responsive diverter means associated therewith is operatively connected at one end thereof to the opening means and mounted at the other end thereof adjacent a face of the radiator for cooling the coolant therein by communicating air toward or away from the radiator depending upon whether the fan blades are used as a blower or a suction device in particular vehicular applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Herman C. Milbreath, Alverson B. Williams
  • Patent number: 4171618
    Abstract: A motor is provided of the piston or diaphragm type in which vacuum is constantly applied to one side of a piston or the like and air under pressure is constantly applied to the opposite side to drive the piston through a stroke. The vacuum and pressurized air may be obtained from sources outside the motor. A valve mechanism driven by the motor reverses the application of vacuum and air pressure when the piston reaches each end of its stroke so that power is continuously applied to both sides of the piston during both forward and reverse movement thereof. Different pistons are arranged out of phase with one another to provide a smooth flow of mechanical power. In one version, the motor drives an air pump having a vacuum inlet and an air pressure outlet, and by connecting such inlet and outlet to the valve mechanism, the motor will drive a load as well as itself. In another version, the motor has an internal combustion apparatus incorporated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1979
    Inventor: Karl M. Aegerter
  • Patent number: 4109464
    Abstract: An activated charcoal filter is placed in the vacuum conduit between a brake booster and the point where the conduit is connected to an engine to tap intake vacuum for booster power. When for any reason fuel vapor from the engine tends to flow toward the brake booster the charcoal of the filter adsorbs the fuel vapor. When flow of air returns to the normal flow direction, from the booster to the engine, the fuel vapors are desorbed and returned to the engine. Thus the filter has a self-purging action. This effectively prevents condensed fuel vapor from adversely affecting elements of the booster such as the diaphragm when under some particular circumstances and in certain installations fuel vapor would otherwise be introduced into the booster and condensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1978
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Warren A. Wickland
  • Patent number: 4043123
    Abstract: A negative pressure generating system for an internal combustion engine powered vehicle, comprising a brake booster incorporated in the vehicle and adapted for an increase in braking power, an air cleaner for cleaning air to be supplied to the internal combustion engine, an air pump which receives air from said air cleaner and delivers the air to said internal combustion engine, and a valve disposed among said brake booster, said air cleaner and said air pump and operative in response to the booster pressure in said brake booster on receiving said pressure as an input signal, thereby interrupting air communication between said air pump and said air cleaner, with the result that the negative pressure arising on the suction side of said air pump is used as a negative pressure source for operating said brake booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromu Konishi, Mitsuyuki Horie, Tadahide Toda
  • Patent number: 4024709
    Abstract: This invention discloses a brake system for use in automotive vehicles having Otto engines which includes a vacuum operated brake booster and a vacuum pump for generating the necessary vacuum for effective operation of the brake booster. A vacuum pump is positioned between and connected to the vacuum brake booster and the inlet manifold or carburetor induction pipe of an Otto engine. Means are provided for automatically switching the vacuum pump on if there is an insufficient amount of vacuum in the brake booster and also at the same time there is a predetermined amount of vacuum in the intake manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: ITT Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans Erdmann
  • Patent number: 3970859
    Abstract: The following specification discloses a means of converting a head of water from a lake into electric power by directing a flow of water onto a turbine disposed in a crib built below the floor of the lake and having intermittent exploding gas means to create a vacuum for drawing the fallen water from below the turbine back into the lake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1976
    Inventor: George Riem
  • Patent number: 3958419
    Abstract: A driving device for accessory units in motor cars, e.g. an air conditioning appliance, which comprises an expansion engine which is located in the induction pipe of the internal combustion engine. The expansion engine is powered by flow of air in the induction pipe and the expansion engine serves as a throttling device for the induction pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1973
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1976
    Inventor: Nikolaus Laing
  • Patent number: 3938327
    Abstract: A gas generator comprises a combustion chamber, a gas storage chamber, a venturi tube joining the chambers, mechanism for supplying fuel to the combustion chamber via the venturi tube, a fuel igniter for igniting at least a portion of the fuel in the combustion chamber, and an outlet port in the combustion chamber for venting part of the expanding gases of combustion to provide a power output. The expanding gases of combustion expel a part of the unburned fuel to the storage chamber via the venturi tube for temporary storage and return to the combustion chamber via the venturi tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1976
    Inventors: Leo L. Bailey, David R. Kimmel