Liquid electro-mechanical prime mover
OwnerTihiro Ohkawainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A liquid prime mover is provided that includes a support member for holding a contiguous liquid entity (e.g. a water droplet) having a defined dimension “d”. An ion permeable exchange membrane is mounted on the support member. Also, a positive electrode and a negative electrode are mounted on the support member with a distance between them. Importantly, the ion permeable membrane is positioned between the respective electrodes and the liquid entity. A voltage source is connected between the electrodes to establish an ion flow passing through the exchange membrane, and through the liquid entity when “d” overlays the distance between the electrodes, to thereby move the liquid entity on the support member.
Claims20
A prime mover for a liquid medium which comprises:
- a support member for holding a portion of the liquid medium as a contiguous entity having a dimension “d”;
- a positive electrode mounted on the support member;
- a negative electrode mounted on the support member;
- at least one ion permeable exchange membrane positioned on the support member between the liquid entity and the positive electrode, and between the liquid entity and the negative electrode to immobilize a first type ion;
- and
- a voltage source connected to the positive electrode and to the negative electrode to establish a flow of a second type ion therebetween, with the ion flow passing through the liquid entity to move the liquid entity on the support member.
A liquid prime mover which comprises:
- an ion permeable exchange membrane;
- a positive electrode positioned at a first location adjacent the membrane;
- a negative electrode positioned at a second location adjacent the membrane;
- a contiguous liquid entity positioned against the membrane opposite the positive electrode and opposite the negative electrode across the membrane;
- and
- a voltage source connected to the positive electrode and to the negative electrode to establish an ion flow therebetween, with the ion flow passing through the exchange membrane for interaction with the liquid entity, to move the liquid entity on the support member.
A method for moving a contiguous liquid entity having a dimension “d” which comprises the steps of:
- providing a prime mover comprising an ion permeable exchange membrane, a positive electrode positioned at a first location adjacent the membrane, a negative electrode positioned at a second location adjacent the membrane, and a voltage source connected to the positive electrode and to the negative electrode to establish an ion flow therebetween, with the ion flow passing through the exchange membrane for interaction with the liquid entity;
- and
- operating the voltage source to selectively activate the positive and negative electrodes, to move the liquid entity on the support member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.