Engine for conversion of thermal energy to kinetic energy

Abstract

An engine for converting thermal energy to kinetic energy is provided. The engine includes a first zone and a second zone and a movable loop, which extends between the first zone and the second zone. Containers are attached to the loop such that the loop and the containers are movable conjointly between the first zone and the second zone. Each of the containers is adapted to receive a varying amount of a working fluid therein and is adapted to be in a plurality of states, including a first state, in which it contains a first amount of the working fluid, and a second state, in which it contains a second amount of the working fluid, the first amount being smaller than the second amount. Each of the containers is caused to be in its first state as it moves through the first zone and in its second state as it moves through the second zone so as to impart motion to the loop.

I claim: 
     
         1 . Energy conversion apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an upper end, which is located at a first elevation, and an lower end, which is located at a second elevation lower than said first elevation, said housing having a first zone located adjacent said upper end and a second zone located adjacent said lower end;   a movable loop extending between said lower and upper ends and passing through said first and second zones; and   a plurality of cylinders attached to said loop, each of said cylinders being movable through said first zone and said second zone conjointly with said loop, each of said cylinders being sized and shaped so as to receive a varying amount of working fluid and to assume expanded and contracted configurations when a corresponding one of said cylinders passes through said first zone and said second zones, respectively, each of said cylinders receiving said working fluid therein so as to have a first weight when it assumes its said expanded position and discharging said working fluid therefrom so as to have a second weight when it assumes its said contracted position, said first weight of each of said cylinders being greater than said second weight, said cylinders being arranged on said loop such that at least one of said cylinders is positioned on one side of said loop in its said expanded configuration after passing through said first zone and such that at least another one of said cylinders is positioned on an opposite side of said loop in its said contracted configuration after passing through said second zone, said at least one of said cylinders on said one side of said loop having a weight that is greater than the weight of said at least another one of said cylinders on said opposite side of said loop such that gravity causes said at least one of said cylinders to move downwardly toward said lower end of said housing and said at least another one of said cylinders to move upwardly toward said upper end of said housing so as to impart motion to said loop.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said working fluid includes liquid, and wherein said liquid includes an anti-freeze material to inhibit said liquid from freezing. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a hose connected to all of said cylinders such that said cylinders are in fluid communication with each other through said hose, said working fluid flowing from one of said cylinders to another of said cylinders as said cylinders move through said first and second zones, and wherein said hose and said cylinders form a closed fluid system containing said working fluid, each of said cylinders receiving said working fluid from at least another of said cylinders through said hose when said each of said cylinders moves through said first zone, each of said cylinders discharging said working fluid through said hose to at least another of said cylinders when said each of said cylinders moves through said second zone. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said hose includes a plurality of valves, each of said valves being connected to a corresponding one of said cylinders such that as said corresponding one of said cylinders enters said first zone, said each of said valves is opened to allow flow of said working fluid into said corresponding one of said cylinders, such that as said corresponding one of said cylinders leaves said first zone, said each of said valves is closed to inhibit discharging of said working fluid from said corresponding one of said cylinders, such that as said corresponding one of said cylinders enters said second zone, said each of said valves is opened to allow discharging of said working fluid from said corresponding one of said cylinders, and such that as said corresponding one of said cylinders leaves said second zone, said each of said valves is closed to inhibit flow of said working fluid into said corresponding one of said cylinders. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said cylinders includes an actuating member attached thereto for causing a corresponding one of said cylinders to assume said expanded configuration when said corresponding one of said cylinders passes through said first zone and to assume said contracted configuration when said corresponding one of said cylinders passes through said second zone. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said actuating member of each of said cylinders includes a shape memory spring coupled to a corresponding one of said cylinders, said shape memory spring of each of said cylinders being configured to assume a contracted shape when a corresponding one of said cylinders passes through one of said first and second zones and an expanded shape when a corresponding one of said cylinders passes through the other of said first and second zones. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said shape memory spring of each of said cylinders is configured to assume its said contracted shape when a corresponding one of said cylinders passes through said first zone and to assume its said expanded shape when a corresponding one of said cylinders passes through said second zone, and wherein said shape memory spring of each of said cylinders assumes its said contracted shape so as to create a suction force in a corresponding one of said cylinders for drawing said working fluid thereinto and assumes its said expanded shape so as to permit discharge of said working fluid from a corresponding one of said cylinders. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said shape memory spring of each of said cylinders is configured to assume its said expanded shape when a corresponding one of said cylinders passes through said first zone and to assume its said contracted shape when a corresponding one of said cylinders passes through said second zone, and wherein said shape memory spring of each of said cylinders assumes its said contracted shape so as to discharge said working fluid therefrom and assumes its said expanded shape so as to permit flow of said working fluid thereinto. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of said cylinders includes a piston movable between an extended position, in which it is extended from a corresponding one of said cylinders, and a second position, in which it is retracted into a corresponding one of said cylinders, each of said cylinders assuming its said expanded configuration when said piston is in said extended position and assuming its said contracted configuration when said piston is in said retracted position, said shape memory spring of each of said cylinders being coupled to said piston of a corresponding one of said cylinders so as to move said piston between said extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of said cylinders includes a bellow-type container, a movable bracket, which is connected to one end of said bellow-type container, and a plate, which is connected to an opposite end of said bellow-type container, said shape memory spring being attached to said movable bracket and said plate for causing a corresponding one of said cylinders to assume one of said expanded and contracted configurations. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a body of air defining said first and second zones, said air in said first zone having a first temperature and said air in said second zone having a second temperature different from said first temperature so as to cause each of said cylinders to assume one of its expanded and contracted configurations as said each of said cylinders passes through said first and second zones, respectively, and wherein said first temperature of said first zone is greater than said second temperature of said second zone due, at least in part, to convection of said air inside said housing. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said upper end of said housing is constructed such that said air in said first zone is heated by solar energy so as to provide thermal energy to said first zone, and wherein said upper end of said housing includes a glass panel so as to transmit solar energy to said first zone and to provide thermal insulation to said air in said first zone. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a cold thermal energy source connected to said housing adjacent said second zone for keeping a low temperature condition in said second zone, wherein said cold thermal source includes one of a cold water input and a geothermal energy input. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said housing includes at least one partition located between said first and second zones so as to inhibit mixing of said air in said first zone with said air in said second zone. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said housing includes an air curtain located between said first and second zones so as to cooperate with said at least one partition for inhibiting mixing of said air in said first zone with said air in said second zone. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said second temperature of said second zone is greater than said first temperature of said first zone, said housing including cooling means for providing a low temperature condition in said first zone and heating means for providing a high temperature condition in said second zone, and wherein said cooling means includes a plurality of grills provided in said upper end of said housing for allowing outside cool air to pass through said first zone; and wherein said heating means includes one of a geothermal energy input, a solar energy input, a hot fluid input and a renewable energy input. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat pump connected to said housing for storing excess thermal energy in at least one storage tank, wherein said at least one storage tank includes a first tank for storing high thermal energy and a second tank for storing low thermal energy, said high thermal energy stored in said first tank and said low thermal energy stored in said second storage being selectively supplied to said first and second zones, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said loop includes first and second movable loops, each of said cylinders being affixed to said first loop at one end thereof and to said second loop at an opposite end thereof, and wherein said apparatus further comprises a pair of upper sprockets, one of which is coupled to said first loop and the other of which is coupled to said second loop; and a pair of lower sprockets, one of which is coupled to said first loop and the other of which is coupled to said second loop, said pair of upper sprockets and said pair of lower sprockets permitting rotational movement of said first and second loops. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said lower end of said housing is positioned underground to provide insulation to said lower end. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said cylinders is caused to assume said expanded and contracted orientations by magnetic fields applied to said first and second zones, respectively.