Thermal hydraulic propulsion system
AssigneeA & A International, LLC
InventorsHoria Abaitancei, Cornel Mihai, Stefan Ioana
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic propulsion system converts heat or thermal energy into hydraulic energy, and such hydraulic energy into mechanical work. The hydraulic propulsion system includes a thermal unit, a hydraulic cylinder with pistons and springs mounted therein, one or more hydraulic motors, one or more hydraulic accumulators, and one or more electrical energy generators, as well as a plurality of flow control valves to control the flow of hydraulic fluid between the various components. The hydraulic propulsion system may be enhanced by a sonic transmission unit including a sonic wave generator.
Claims24
A thermal hydraulic propulsion system, comprising:
- a thermal unit including a heat exchanger thermally coupled to a heat source and to a first conduit carrying a dilating hydraulic fluid, wherein the heat exchanger exchanges heat between the heat source and the dilating hydraulic fluid, the first conduit having a first inlet and a first outlet;
- and
- an integrated hydraulic power and control unit including a hydraulic motor hydraulically coupled to a mechanical device and to a second conduit carrying a working hydraulic fluid that is different than the dilating hydraulic fluid, wherein the hydraulic motor transfers hydraulic energy from the working hydraulic fluid to mechanical power of the mechanical device, the second conduit having a second inlet and a second outlet.
A method of operating a thermal hydraulic pressure wave-based propulsion system, comprising:
- using a thermal unit to heat a dilating hydraulic fluid within a first conduit coupled to a sonic wave generator, the sonic wave generator including a first flow control valve in a closed position to increase pressure of the dilating hydraulic fluid in the first conduit;
- actuating a sonic transmission unit including the sonic wave generator, the actuating of the sonic transmission unit including actuating the first flow control valve to move from the closed position to an open position to generate a pressure wave in a working hydraulic fluid within a second conduit;
- and
- using the pressure wave in the working hydraulic fluid to provide energy to an integrated hydraulic power and control unit including a hydraulic motor.
A thermo-hydraulic gravitational energy conversion system, comprising:
- a hydraulic tank hydraulically coupled to a hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump hydraulically coupled to a check valve, the check valve hydraulically coupled to a first hydraulic valve, the first hydraulic valve hydraulically coupled to a first hydraulic cylinder and to a second hydraulic valve, the first hydraulic cylinder housing a first piston and a first spring, the second hydraulic valve hydraulically coupled to a third hydraulic valve and a fourth hydraulic valve, the third hydraulic valve hydraulically coupled to a second hydraulic cylinder and to a fifth hydraulic valve, the second hydraulic cylinder housing a second piston that supports a weight, the fifth hydraulic valve hydraulically coupled to a heat exchanger, the fourth hydraulic valve hydraulically coupled to a hydraulic motor and to a third hydraulic cylinder, the third hydraulic cylinder housing a third piston and a second spring, the third piston mechanically coupled to a rod, the rod mechanically coupled by a rotational joint to a lever, the lever mechanically coupled to a freewheel, the freewheel mechanically coupled to a shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.