US 4,281,969 A · Thermal pumping device

Abstract

A cell for pumping a fluid is provided, wherein the fluid is alternately heated and cooled by a transfer medium, and comprises a fluid-type chamber which communicates with a source of fluid via a one-way valve and with a sink for the fluid via another one-way valve, which valves allow flow only in the direction from the source into the sink. Heated thermal medium and chilled thermal medium are alternately admitted from respective sources to a heated transfer jacket about the chamber so that at least some of the fluid in the chamber is alternately cooled to reduce pressure to draw fluid from the fluid source via the one-way valve, and is heated to increase pressure to discharge pumped fluid to the sink via the other one-way valve. Where the pumped fluid is a gas, the cell pumps, or more specifically compresses, the gas and pumps it toward the sink. Where the pumped fluid is a liquid, the chamber arrangement is such that a gaseous fluid therein is prevented from passing through a liquid fluid therein, and is thus prevented from leaving the chamber upon increase of pressure of the gaseous fluid.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A cell for pumping a first fluid, and which cooperates with an associated heat sink, an associated heat source, and associated first and second heat transfer fluids, which comprises:

means for alternately heating and cooling the first fluid with the second fluid,
first and second one-way valves,
said means for alternately heating and cooling comprising a fluid chamber in fluid communication with the heat source via said first one-way valve and communicating with the associated heat sink via said second one-way valve, said first and second one-way valves permitting flow of said first fluid only in a direction from the associated heat source and toward the associated heat sink,
a heat transfer jacket disposed about said chamber for directing circulation of the second fluid about said chamber, and
means for alternately admitting heated and cooled second fluid to said jacket,
whereby at least some of the first fluid in said chamber is alternately cooled to reduce pressure in the chamber to draw pumped first fluid thereinto via said first one-way valve, and heated to increase pressure therein to discharge pumped first fluid via said second one-way valve.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermal pumping device

Life of this patent

Thermal pumping device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7