Method and apparatus for extracting heat and mechanical energy from a pressured gas

Air cooling apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation;

• a circular plate secured to said hollow shaft for co-rotation;
• power means for rotating said hollow shaft;
• a plurality of cylinder elements secured in an equi-spaced array around said axis;
• each said cylinder element defining an elongated fluid pressure chamber of uniform circular cross-section;
• a free piston movable longitudinally in each fluid pressure chamber;
• said cylinders being fixed on said rotatable body with the path of movement of each piston extending in a plane perpendicular to said axis from a position proximate to said axis to a position remote from said axis, whereby centrifugal force will move said free piston to said remote position;
• inlet valve means communicating between a source of pressured gas and the remote end of each said fluid pressure chamber, means for opening said inlet valve means only when said free pistons respectively approach said remote positions to receive a charge of pressured gas in the respective fluid pressure chambers;
• exhaust valve means communicating with said fluid pressure chambers and openable only when said free piston elements respectively approach said proximate positions, whereby each charge of pressured gas imparts rotational energy to said body and is discharged in a cooled expanded condition;
• a room air heat exchanger having fluid passages therethrough;
• a rotary compressor co-rotatable with said hollow shaft;
• and conduit means for circulating exhaust gases from said exhaust valve means through said fluid passages of said heat exchanger, through the bore of said hollow shaft to the inlet of said compressor, and from the outlet of said compressor to said inlet valve means.

Air cooling apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation about its axis;

• power means for rotating said hollow shaft, a pair of plates mounted on said hollow shaft and secured with two faces in sealed abutting relation;
• each said abutting face having a recess formed therein to define one diametrical half of a plurality of elongated fluid pressure chambers having a uniform cross-section and a longitudinal axis extending from a position proximate to said axis to a position remote from said axis;
• a free piston movable longitudinally in each said fluid pressure chamber;
• inlet valve means communicating between a source of pressured gas and the remote end of each said fluid pressure chamber;
• means for opening said inlet valve means only when said free pistons respectively approach said remote positions to receive a charge of pressured gas in the respective fluid pressure chambers;
• exhaust valve means communicating with said fluid pressure chambers and openable only when said free piston elements respectively approach said proximate positions, whereby each charge of pressured gas imparts rotational energy to said body and is discharged in a cooled expanded condition;
• a room air heat exchanger having fluid passages therethrough;
• a rotary compressor co-rotatable with said rotatable body;
• and conduit means for circulating exhaust gases from said exhaust valve means through said fluid passages of said heat exchanger, through the bore of said hollow shaft to the inlet of said compressor, and from the outlet of said compressor to said inlet valve means.

Air cooling apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation;

• a circular plate secured to said hollow shaft for co-rotation;
• power means for rotating said hollow shaft;
• a plurality of cylinder elements fixedly secured in an equi-spaced array around said axis;
• each said cylinder element defining an elongated fluid pressure chamber;
• a free piston movable longitudinally in each fluid pressure chamber;
• said cylinders being fixed on said rotatable body with the path of movement of each piston extending in a plane perpendicular to said axis from a position proximate to said axis to a position remote from said axis, whereby centrifugal force will move said free piston to said remote position;
• inlet valve means communicating between a source of pressured gas and the remote end of each said fluid pressure chamber;
• means for opening said inlet valve means only when said free pistons respectively approach said remote positions to receive a charge of pressured gas in the respective fluid pressure chambers;
• exhaust valve means communicating with said fluid pressure chambers and openable only when said free piston elements respectively approach said proximate positions, whereby each charge of pressured gas imparts rotational energy to said body and is discharged in a cooled expanded condition;
• a rotary compressor driven by said hollow shaft;
• and conduit means for circulating exhaust air from said exhaust valve means to a room, from the room to the bore of said hollow shaft, into the inlet of said compressor and from the outlet of said compressor to said inlet valve means.