Patent US2350454A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3704080A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid engine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-07-22
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Granted: 1972-11-28
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Expires: 1990-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a fluid flowing at a constant velocity relative to the angular velocity of the shaft, consisting of a plurality of energy-transfer modules connected hydraulically in series, each module effecting in turn an energy transfer between the fluid and a piston during an active period, the terminal portions of the active periods of adjacently ordered modules being arranged to overlap at a constant velocity.
Inventors
- 👤 Grosvenor M Cross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:00
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B11/00; F04B11/005; F04B11/0058; F04B11/0066; F04B11/0075; F04B3/00; F04B9/00; F04B9/02; F04B9/04; F04B9/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
468 words
A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a fluid in motion, comprising in combination a chambered casing, a fluid passage comprised of a high-energy chamber, a first valve chamber, a middle chamber, a second valve chamber, and a low-energy chamber, the chambers arranged in hydraulic series in the order given, high-energy and low-energy ports opening respectively into the high-energy and the lowenergy chambers, a fluid flow between the ports, a first and a second valve in the first and second valve chamber respectively, a rotatable shaft, movable piston means in piston chambers whose positions therein are adapted to determine the volumes of the high-energy, the middle and the low-energy chambers, and connecting means between the shaft and the piston means adapted to correlate specific angular positions of the shaft with specific positions of the piston means and thus with specific volumes of the high-energy, the middle and the low-energy chambers; the piston and connecting means being so constructed and arranged that a continuous rotation of the shaft at a given angular velocity is correlated (a) with a repeating cycle of alternating periods of decreasing and increasing volumes of the high-energy chamber, each period of decreasing volume including acceleration and deceleration periods, and a period, hereinafter called the active period, during which the rate of decrease of volume relative to the rate of angular rotation of the shaft is equal to the design flow ratio, (b) with a repeating cycle of alternating periods of increasing and decreasing volumes of the middle chamber, the portion of the period of decreasing volume of the middle chamber occurs generally between successive active periods of the high-energy chamber and occurs at a rate equal to the design flow ratio plus the simultaneous rates of volume increase of the high-energy chamber relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft, and (c) with a repeating cycle of generally alternating periods of decreasing and incReasing volume of the low-energy chamber, each period of increasing volume including acceleration and deceleration periods and a period, hereinafter called the low active period, during which the rate of increase of volume relative to the rate of rotation of the shaft is equal to the design flow ratio, the low active period occurring generally in alternation with the active period of the volume change cycle of the high-energy chamber; the portion of the volume changes of each period of increasing volume of the middle chamber which occurs between successive low active periods of the volume changes of the low-energy chamber occuring at successive rates relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft which are equal to the design flow ratio plus the simultaneous rates of volume decrease of the low-energy chamber relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
468 words
A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a fluid in motion, comprising in combination a chambered casing, a fluid passage comprised of a high-energy chamber, a first valve chamber, a middle chamber, a second valve chamber, and a low-energy chamber, the chambers arranged in hydraulic series in the order given, high-energy and low-energy ports opening respectively into the high-energy and the lowenergy chambers, a fluid flow between the ports, a first and a second valve in the first and second valve chamber respectively, a rotatable shaft, movable piston means in piston chambers whose positions therein are adapted to determine the volumes of the high-energy, the middle and the low-energy chambers, and connecting means between the shaft and the piston means adapted to correlate specific angular positions of the shaft with specific positions of the piston means and thus with specific volumes of the high-energy, the middle and the low-energy chambers; the piston and connecting means being so constructed and arranged that a continuous rotation of the shaft at a given angular velocity is correlated (a) with a repeating cycle of alternating periods of decreasing and increasing volumes of the high-energy chamber, each period of decreasing volume including acceleration and deceleration periods, and a period, hereinafter called the active period, during which the rate of decrease of volume relative to the rate of angular rotation of the shaft is equal to the design flow ratio, (b) with a repeating cycle of alternating periods of increasing and decreasing volumes of the middle chamber, the portion of the period of decreasing volume of the middle chamber occurs generally between successive active periods of the high-energy chamber and occurs at a rate equal to the design flow ratio plus the simultaneous rates of volume increase of the high-energy chamber relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft, and (c) with a repeating cycle of generally alternating periods of decreasing and incReasing volume of the low-energy chamber, each period of increasing volume including acceleration and deceleration periods and a period, hereinafter called the low active period, during which the rate of increase of volume relative to the rate of rotation of the shaft is equal to the design flow ratio, the low active period occurring generally in alternation with the active period of the volume change cycle of the high-energy chamber; the portion of the volume changes of each period of increasing volume of the middle chamber which occurs between successive low active periods of the volume changes of the low-energy chamber occuring at successive rates relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft which are equal to the design flow ratio plus the simultaneous rates of volume decrease of the low-energy chamber relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
339 words
A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a fluid in motion, comprising in combination a chambered casing, a fluid passage comprised of a high-energy chamber, a first valve chamber, a middle chamber, a second valve chamber and a low-energy chamber, the chambers arranged in hydraulic series in the order given, high-energy and low-energy ports opening respectively into the high-energy and the low-energy chambers, a fluid flow between the ports, a first and a second valve in the first and second valve chamber respectively, a rotatable shaft, movable piston means in piston chambers whose positions therein are adapted to determine the volumes of the high-energy and the middle chambers, and connecting means between the shaft and the piston means adapted to correlate specific angular positions of the shaft with specific positions of the piston means and thus with specific volumes of the high-energy and the middle chambers; the piston and connecting means being so constructed and arranged that a continuous rotation of the shaft at a given angular velocity is correlated with a repeating cycle of alternating periods of decreasing and increasing volumes of the high-energy chamber, each period of decreasing volume including acceleration and deceleration periods and a period, hereinafter called the active period, during which the rate of decrease of volume relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft is equal to the design flow ratio, and with a simultaneous repeating cycle of alternating periods of increasing and decreasing volumes of the middle chamber separated by periods during which the volume is constant, hereinafter called overlap periods, which occur simultaneously with delimiting portions of the active periods of the cycles of the high-energy chamber, the volume changes of each period of decreasing volume of the middle chamber occurring at successive rates relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft which are equal to the design flow ratio plus the simultaneous rates of volume increase of the high-energy chamber relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
339 words
A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a fluid in motion, comprising in combination a chambered casing, a fluid passage comprised of a high-energy chamber, a first valve chamber, a middle chamber, a second valve chamber and a low-energy chamber, the chambers arranged in hydraulic series in the order given, high-energy and low-energy ports opening respectively into the high-energy and the low-energy chambers, a fluid flow between the ports, a first and a second valve in the first and second valve chamber respectively, a rotatable shaft, movable piston means in piston chambers whose positions therein are adapted to determine the volumes of the high-energy and the middle chambers, and connecting means between the shaft and the piston means adapted to correlate specific angular positions of the shaft with specific positions of the piston means and thus with specific volumes of the high-energy and the middle chambers; the piston and connecting means being so constructed and arranged that a continuous rotation of the shaft at a given angular velocity is correlated with a repeating cycle of alternating periods of decreasing and increasing volumes of the high-energy chamber, each period of decreasing volume including acceleration and deceleration periods and a period, hereinafter called the active period, during which the rate of decrease of volume relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft is equal to the design flow ratio, and with a simultaneous repeating cycle of alternating periods of increasing and decreasing volumes of the middle chamber separated by periods during which the volume is constant, hereinafter called overlap periods, which occur simultaneously with delimiting portions of the active periods of the cycles of the high-energy chamber, the volume changes of each period of decreasing volume of the middle chamber occurring at successive rates relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft which are equal to the design flow ratio plus the simultaneous rates of volume increase of the high-energy chamber relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
261 words
A fluid engine as described in claim 2, together with additional chambered piston means whose positions are adapted to determine the volumes of the low-energy chamber, and additional connecting means between the shaft and the additional piston means adapted to correlate specific angular positions of the shaft with specific positions of the additional piston means and thus with specific volumes of the low-energy chamber; the additional piston and connecting means being so constructed and arranged that a continuous rotation of the shaft in the direction and at the velocity correlated with the cycles of volume changes described in claim 12 is also correlated with a repeating cycle of generally alternating periods of decreasing and increasing volume of the low-energy chamber, each period of increasing volume including acceleration and deceleration periods and a period, hereinafter called the low-active period during which the rate of increase of volume relative to the rate of rotation of the shaft is equal to the Design flow ratio; the low active period occurring generally in alternation with the active period of the volume change cycle of the high-energy chamber, and delimiting portions of the low active period coinciding with overlap periods of the volume change cycle of the middle chamber; the volume changes of each period of increasing volume of the middle chamber taking place at successive rates relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft which are equal to the design flow ratio plus the simultaneous rates of volume decrease of the low-energy chamber relative to the rate of angular motion of the shaft.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
289 words
A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a moving fluid, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft, a chambered casing, a high-energy port and a low-energy port, fluid flow between the ports, a piston doublet and a piston in their respective chambers, hydraulic passages between the high-energy port and one of the pistons (hereinafter called the primary piston) of the doublet, between the other piston of the doublet and the piston, and between the piston and the low-energy port; a fluid passage communicating the two pistons of the piston doublet, a valve in that passage, a valve in the hydraulic passage between the piston and the low-energy port, cams mounted on the shaft, contoured surfaces on the cams, cam followers in contact with the contoured surfaces, connections between the followers and the piston and the piston doublet; the followers, the connections and the contoured surfaces of the cams being so constructed and arranged that the volumetric displacement of the piston and that of the primary piston of the piston doublet occur in generally similar cycles, each cycle including one period in which the displacement is in a positive sense and one period in which it is in a negative sense; the two cycles occurring in a generally alternating arrangement whereby the volumetric displacements of the piston and of the primary piston of the doublet occur in generally different senses, except that terminal portions of the period in which the displacement is in a positive sense in one cycle overlap terminal portions of the same period of the other cycle in overlap periods during which the rate of volumetric displacement of the piston and of the primary piston of the doublet remains constant and equal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
289 words
A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a moving fluid, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft, a chambered casing, a high-energy port and a low-energy port, fluid flow between the ports, a piston doublet and a piston in their respective chambers, hydraulic passages between the high-energy port and one of the pistons (hereinafter called the primary piston) of the doublet, between the other piston of the doublet and the piston, and between the piston and the low-energy port; a fluid passage communicating the two pistons of the piston doublet, a valve in that passage, a valve in the hydraulic passage between the piston and the low-energy port, cams mounted on the shaft, contoured surfaces on the cams, cam followers in contact with the contoured surfaces, connections between the followers and the piston and the piston doublet; the followers, the connections and the contoured surfaces of the cams being so constructed and arranged that the volumetric displacement of the piston and that of the primary piston of the piston doublet occur in generally similar cycles, each cycle including one period in which the displacement is in a positive sense and one period in which it is in a negative sense; the two cycles occurring in a generally alternating arrangement whereby the volumetric displacements of the piston and of the primary piston of the doublet occur in generally different senses, except that terminal portions of the period in which the displacement is in a positive sense in one cycle overlap terminal portions of the same period of the other cycle in overlap periods during which the rate of volumetric displacement of the piston and of the primary piston of the doublet remains constant and equal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
204 words
A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a moving fluid, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft, a chambered casing, a high-energy port and a low-energy port, fluid flow between the ports, a plurality of piston doublets connected in hydraulic series between the ports, fluid bypass passages interconnecting the pistons of each doublet, a valve in each bypass passage, cams on the shaft, contoured surfaces on the cams, cam followers in contact with the contoured surfaces and connections between the cam followers and the doublets; the contoured surfaces of the cams, the followers and connections being so constructed and arranged that a continuous rotation of the shaft at a fixed angular velocity is correlated with generally reciprocating motions of the doublets, the volumetric displacements of the doublets occurring in generally similar cycles, each cycle including periods of positive and of negative displacements relative to the hydraulic direction from the low to the high-energy ports; the cycles occurring in a sequential arrangement, terminal portions of the periods in which the displacements occur in a positive sense in adjacent cycles overlapping each other in overlap periods during which the rates of volumetric displacement of the respective doublets remain constant and equal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
204 words
A fluid engine for the transfer of energy between a rotating shaft and a moving fluid, comprising in combination a rotatable shaft, a chambered casing, a high-energy port and a low-energy port, fluid flow between the ports, a plurality of piston doublets connected in hydraulic series between the ports, fluid bypass passages interconnecting the pistons of each doublet, a valve in each bypass passage, cams on the shaft, contoured surfaces on the cams, cam followers in contact with the contoured surfaces and connections between the cam followers and the doublets; the contoured surfaces of the cams, the followers and connections being so constructed and arranged that a continuous rotation of the shaft at a fixed angular velocity is correlated with generally reciprocating motions of the doublets, the volumetric displacements of the doublets occurring in generally similar cycles, each cycle including periods of positive and of negative displacements relative to the hydraulic direction from the low to the high-energy ports; the cycles occurring in a sequential arrangement, terminal portions of the periods in which the displacements occur in a positive sense in adjacent cycles overlapping each other in overlap periods during which the rates of volumetric displacement of the respective doublets remain constant and equal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The fluid engine described in claim 5, one of the valves being a check valve allowing fluid flow through its respective bypass passage in the direction from the low-energy port to the high-energy port, but preventing it in the opposite direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A fluid engine as described in claim 5, together with connecting means beTween the shaft and a valve in its respective bypass passage between the pistons of a doublet so constructed and arranged that the valve is maintained generally closed during that portion of the period of the positive displacement of the doublet which lies between the overlap periods and generally open during the balance of the cycle, the changes between open and closed conditions of the valve occurring generally in the overlap periods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
A fluid engine as described in claim 5, the contoured surfaces of the cams, the followers and connections being so constructed and arranged that the rate of volumetric displacement during the period of the cycle in which the displacements occur in a positive sense is equal to the design flow ratio in all portions of the period which lie between and include the terminal overlap periods.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |