University of California

Other

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

Polystor Corporation

John C Whitehead

Steven T Mayer

Hans G Toews

Don G Swink

Lemoyne W Dilgard

A fluid driven reciprocating apparatus having a double acting power chamber with signal rods serving as high pressure pistons, or to transmit mechanical power. The signal rods are connected to a double acting piston in the power chamber thereby eliminating the need for pilot valves, with the piston being controlled by a pair of intake-exhaust valves. The signal rod includes two spaced seals along its length with a vented space therebetween so that the driving fluid and driven fluid can't mix, and performs a switching function to eliminate separate pilot valves. The intake-exhaust valves can be integrated into a single housing with the power chamber, or these valves can be built into the cylinder head only of the power chamber, or they can be separate from the power chamber.

Fluid intensifier having a double acting power chamber with interconnected signal rods

A variable volume of solar heated water is stored in an insulated indoor tank. The hot water is indirectly pressurized by incoming cold water, which is accumulated separately to maintain a constant total volume without mixing. A small reduction in the total pressure of hot water is maintained, so that water can flow through a solar heat collector and into hot storage without pumps. In one preferred embodiment, the incoming cold water is accumulated in a tank (8) located above an insulated hot water tank (14). The tanks share a volume of compressed air, which freely passes through a pipe (12) connected between the tops of the two tanks. The transfer of compressed air permits incoming cold water to pressurize and displace hot water without mixing or heat loss. A control valve (24) is opened during sunny hours to permit flow from the upper tank (8), through a solar heat receiver (30), and into the lower tank (14). This collector flow is driven by the reduced elevation pressure of water in the lower tank (14), so no pump is needed. The valve controller (44) is simple because there is no possibility of sending heated water to a cooler collector, and flow stops by itself when the hot tank (14) becomes full. The air pipe (12) additionally serves as a bypass to deliver cold water after all hot water is used. Means are provided for freeze protection, replacement of lost air, and venting of excess air. The collector (30) may be located on the roof of a building, while the tanks (8, 14) are located lower in the building.

Pumpless solar water heater with isolated pressurized storage

A cell pressure control system is disclosed which has a two stage control mechanism. In the first stage, increased cell pressure causes a conductive deflection member to bend to a position where it opens an electrical contact and places the cell in open circuit. This prevents current from flowing through the cell and thereby possibly slowing or preventing further increases in cell pressure. The electrical contact relies only upon the pressure of two members (one of which is the deflection member) pushing against one another. If the cell's internal pressure continues to increase even after the pressure contact is broken, the second stage of the pressure control mechanism is activated. Specifically, a pressure rupturable region in the above-mentioned deflection member ruptures to relieve the cell's internal pressure. The pressure rupturable region is a circularity scored region on the conductive deflection member.

Overcharge protection battery vent

An apparatus comprising a pair of fluid driven pump assemblies in a back-to-back configuration to yield a bi-directional pump. Each of the pump assemblies includes a piston or diaphragm which divides a chamber therein to define a power section and a pumping section. An intake-exhaust valve is connected to each of the power sections of the pump chambers, and function to direct fluid, such as compressed air, into the power section and exhaust fluid therefrom. At least one of the pistons or diaphragms is connected by a rod assembly which is constructed to define a signal valve, whereby the intake-exhaust valve of one pump assembly is controlled by the position or location of the piston or diaphragm in the other pump assembly through the operation of the rod assembly signal valve. Each of the pumping sections of the pump assemblies are provided with intake and exhaust valves to enable filling of the pumping section with fluid and discharging fluid therefrom when a desired pressure has been reached.

Fluid driven recipricating apparatus

A pressure reducing regulator that controls its downstream or outlet pressure to a fixed fraction of its upstream or inlet pressure. The regulator includes a housing which may be of a titanium alloy, within which is located a seal or gasket at the outlet end which may be made of annealed copper, a rod, and piston, each of which may be made of high density graphite. The regulator is insensitive to temperature by virtue of being without a spring or gas sealed behind a diaphragm, and provides a reference for a system in which it is being used. The rod and piston of the regulator are constructed, for example, to have a 1/20 ratio such that when the downstream pressure is less than 1/20 of the upstream pressure the regulator opens and when the downstream pressure exceeds 1/20 of the upstream pressure the regulator closes.

Pressure reducing regulator

A pair of control valve assemblies for alternately actuating a pair of fluid-driven free-piston devices by using fluid pressure communication therebetween. Each control valve assembly is switched by a pressure signal depending on the state of its counterpart's piston. The communication logic is arranged to provide overlap of the forward strokes of the pistons, so that at least one of the pair will always be pressurized. Thus, uninterrupted pumping of liquid is made possible from a pair of free-piston pumps. In addition, the speed and frequency of piston stroking is entirely dependent on the mechanical power load applied. In the case of a pair of pumps, this enables liquid delivery at a substantially constant pressure over the full range of flow rates, from zero to maximum flow. Each of the valve assemblies uses an intake-exhaust valve and a signal valve with the signal valve of one pump being connected to be pressure responsive to the piston of the opposite cylinder or pump.

Valving for controlling a fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus

A control valve assembly for alternately actuating a pair of fluid-driven free-piston devices by using fluid pressure communication therebetween. Each control valve is switched by a pressure signal depending on the state of its counterpart's piston. The communication logic is arranged to provide overlap of the forward strokes of the pistons, so that at least one of the pair will always be pressurized. Thus, uninterrupted pumping of liquid is made possible from a pair of free-piston pumps. In addition, the speed and frequency of piston stroking is entirely dependent on the mechanical power load applied. In the case of a pair of pumps, this enables liquid delivery at a substantially constant pressure over the full range of flow rates, from zero to maximum flow. One embodiment of the invention utilized two pairs of fluid-driven free-piston devices whereby a bipropellant liquid propulsion system may be operated, so as to provide continuous flow of both fuel and oxidizer liquids when used in rocket applications, for example.

Fluid-driven reciprocating apparatus and valving for controlling same

The invention uses a fluid stored at a low pressure and provides the fluid at a high pressure. The invention allows the low pressure fluid to flow to a fluid bore of a differential pump and from the pump to a fluid pressure regulator. After flowing through the regulator the fluid is converted to a gas which is directed to a gas bore of the differential pump. By controlling the flow of gas entering and being exhausted from the gas bore, the invention provides pressure to the fluid. By setting the regulator, the high pressure fluid can be set at predetermined values. Because the invention only needs a low pressure fluid, the inventive apparatus has a low mass, and therefore would be useful in rocket propulsion systems.

Miniaturized pressurization system

A steering system for a vehicle has a torque actuator under automatic control which applies transient steering torque during rapid maneuvers in addition to any power-assist torque. The transient active torque acts without delay in response to steer angle changes, thereby opposing steering overshoot and stabilizing emergency lateral maneuvers at high speed. A means for estimating natural restoring torque expected during steady-state cornering receives signals indicating vehicle speed and the steer angle. A further measurement means produces a signal proportional to instantaneous natural steering torque, which is a lateral acceleration signal in the preferred embodiments. The difference between the signal proportional to instantaneous torque and a signal proportional to expected steady-state torque is large during and immediately after rapid steering motions, because vehicles have a delay between any change in steer angle and the resulting change in natural restoring steering torque. The transient active torque supplements or opposes the natural torque according to said difference, to effectively reduce said delay. The result is that the sum of natural and active steering torques acts to restore the steered wheels to the straight-ahead position, with reduced overshoot. An additional means for damping high frequency steering system oscillations is included. The main benefit of the invention is to stabilize the free control oscillation at approximately 1 Hz which is a whole vehicle mode rather than a steering system oscillation. This free control weave mode can result in steering overshoot when the driver of a vehicle without the invention performs a rapid emergency maneuver. The stabilizing apparatus thus has a different purpose from conventional power assisted steering systems which amplify steering torque applied by the driver of a vehicle. The stabilizing apparatus can operate on front wheel steering or rear wheel steering vehicles, with or without power steering.

Growing community of inventors

Davis, CA, United States of America

John C Whitehead