Thermal pump-compressor for converting solar energ

Booth, F. W.

Clark, H. K.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

REPLY TO 
ATTN OF: GP 
TO: 
FROM: 
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20546 
October 16, 1970 
~ ~ ~ / ~ c i e n t i f i c  & Technical Information Division 
Attention: Miss Winnie M. Morgan 
~ ~ / ~ f f i c e  of Assistant General 
Counsel for Patent Matters 
SUBJECT: Announcement of NASA-Owned 
U.S. Patents in STAR 
In accordance with the procedures contained in the Code GP 
to Code US1 memorandum on this subject, dated June 8, 1970, 
the attached NASA-owned U.S. patent is being forwarded for 
abstracting and announcement in NASA STAR. 
The following information is provided: 
U.S. Patent No. 
Corporate Source 
: 3,309,012 
Langley Research Center h 
Supplementary 
Corporate Source . 
NASA Patent Case NO.: XLA-00377 - 
Gayle Parker 
Enclosure: 
Copy of Patent 
2 
U (NASA CR OR TMX OR AD NUMBER) i 
a 
-
- (THRU) 
uo 
(CODE) 
(CATEGORY) 
NASA-HQ 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710008135 2020-03-17T02:37:35+00:00Z
March 14, 1967 F, W. BOOTH ETAL 3,309,012 
THERMAL PUMP-COMPRESSOR FOR SPACE USE 
FIG. I 
iiVV! I\ i i i  5 
FRANK6 IN W bCIO I i4 
HUBERT K CLAi7K 
l, ;d(?%&. / / 
2@A&M.7 I(' / r  / f Y 
A-rI ( ) r t ; , * j ( ~  ,, 
United States Patent 0% ce Eutmted !\rim, 3 309,012 14, 1967 
--- --P------------"----" --.-  . 
+ 2 
3,,39,@42 R-icri.ing iio$.v f~ F::Z. 1 illcre is shc~,13 a so;ar 
TBERM~;P, ~ ~ ~ ~ T - c ~ ; ~ , ~ ~ ~ ; ~ ( ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  HQZ ~ y j , c  13 which reflects t h e  scr? rays that strike it and concen- 
~ f . ~ ~ k l i ~ ~  FY, B O ~ ; i 1 9  J f i ~ a l j ~ i c ~ ~  cn t W:,:le~t zcc Clnr:~, I$'e\y- trates ihese ra1.s in a foca! pinne. A the r i a l  bu!b k l  
ntrrt N.-3373, Ya., apsiza:os; $0 the Udied Sqti.5 ~"r'hxzr.. coi:t,?ining a volatiie liq:!id scch as dichloradiflror3- 
isa a: repcesri:tec! b ; ~  6kn A6mini~frittrir of the NsfBoiaa3 5 methane is litc,?ted in this focal plane. A shield I:! par- 
Aeronautics R E X ~  Space .&i!izinisl:ation tia!ly covers thern~al  bu!b I1 to shield the bulb from di- 
Fii& &?re 2? 196-3: 3er- NU. Z7f1,218 rect s u : ~  rays. A stein 13 is attac!!ed to thernial bulb 11 I 0  Cla;arn:.-. (CI. 220-162) a!:d e::!ends into a tlib? 14. The inside diameter of tube 
Ti:e invention descfibec; herein Ll:lp be niai7ufilcrurcd 34 is large enough to allow stem 13 to move up and down 
and by cr for G ~ , , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ; ~ ~ ~  jjlliied 10 freely in it. 011: end of tube 14 is attached to an en- 
of America fur goverarne!~tai pzrixxes ivitfiout the pay- c!osure 15. Also attached to enclosure 15 is one end 
merit of aily royalties thereon ,or therefor. of e po.:itioning bellows 16. The other end of position- 
Ttie ini;ention to a thtr!ilEil Iii,mp and Illore ill2 beIlows 16 extends up into tube 1 4  and is attached 
specificaliy io a thern~al  pump-ccmpre::sor for converti~-g to stem 13 so that when the bellows expands and cdlapses 
heat energy from the scn into cl?cther f o rm  of energy. 15 steal 13  wiil move up and down in tube 14. A spring 17, 
In the past tl,ere liave bceil ma:iy methods to c,il_ viith 023 of its ends aitaclled to encloscre 15 and with 
eller i4)l iL,e siril into anotiIer fCtrm Of its ether end attached to posilioniilg bellows 66, exerts a 
eilci.gy. ~ j l e  tllese meik,ods ccz;sist hcatillg a \;c.la- 'ends to col la~se  the bellows. 
tiie liquid by sun r a j s  to create a gas FreYstTre, u:ir::: A ca~i i lary  tube 18 connects thern~al  bu!b 11 to a cham- 
iiiis creaied gas prescre  i o  drive a turbine, arld then ccil- 20 l?er 29. Located inside chamber 19 is a pumping bellows 
verti;ilg the Sas back ici a !i.i:iid to be used i:g?ii~. The 20 ~vliich is attaciied to a side 21 of chamber 119. A 
1x1-thod uscc! to converi ihe g:;s back lo a !;quid has b-erl check valve 22 is placed ia side 21 to aliow air.to fiow into 
ru!nping bello\vs 25 ir;hi!e it is expanding. While bel- ia run the gas ;I:ror!gn a pipe which is iecalcd in a !arge - 
coi-tsiner of \+rater ro cool t;;e gzs. This method r:<- !?WS 20 is cullap?l!lg valve 22 \riiIi be closed and no air 
quires Ie~y:: and hesvry ecjl;ii::ert ;il-l:;i:.: it ~n:ui ta i i l s  25 mi![ pass through the valve. A chec!: va!ve 23 is placed in 
for space use. TIic ::l.esciit invei-~tion uiiiires a nl-rhcd side 2.1 to a!!ow air to fiow ont of pumping be]lo.,vs 20 
slr,?iiar t o  !he oi.,e catiined ai-o-rc; Ilowever, the d/\jic;: while it is coliapsin~, While pumping bz!lsu:s ;@ is ex- 
thr!t ir?corpnrates this i31venliori is slilali cori7i;2ci pa'>dil%, vahe  23 mill be cJosed and no air will flow 
wjicii illckes it ideal .for i!se en board ?p::;e r : ; ~ e r a r i ~ ~  ih?~?:g!i it. Ch;:r!~i;er 19 is connected to ti:e i;&d-, of 
vehic'cs w1:ere tveigtlt ~ i ~ d  s;;ace a2co1:-~it;sdnlions ;ti-e 30 rioiitioning ke!iows 14 through an up positioning spring 
. ' ! i n .  Tile device was ~i,2~12;;-,a to o~er:+te r.ne:in?tir, loaded check valve 29. 
ci'rnp~~iing rileciiariisnls on bo::r.! a spat; \ehrcIe. I<o<:+- Opernfion 
ev.er, the device lniyht be used lo c ~ c r a t e  any pnc::ntatic 
mechar~isiil on or off a ;;;acs vehicle. 3 j  At t5e Eegilming or" o~eral ion,  thermel Stlib 11 is in 
The invelltioil consists of 1-L;een for  ilezting, by rags the focal plane oi' solar re,-Hector 10, p u n l ~ i ~ ~ g  bellows 21) 
from tile ~ g f i ,  ~n e1lci~c-d rioi;t,i:-, Ilqiiid to c;cate a i-xteiided as s h ~ i ? ,  and po.;itio~li::g bello\vs 16 is col- 
gas pressure. Th i s  ci.2~l-d gas I;ress.;rri: is ,-pi;:j::d a h?sec!. The c c h r  energy w;,i:h is conce~itraied on 
p,.:acing bzljom;s i? coi:er, e arr:i cl-:::c a cor;?l.ec~~cl.il t'i:riaa! b~:lh 21 by solar reflectc.r 10 boi!s the volatile 
,- ~ 
sti.G,l;e of the p::inping belis:?;s, 1 :I- creetecl p;s i:ps- 40 lir:uid inside the bajb increasing rhe ,ens pressure therein. 
sllre is aisc applied a. m2z:ls l c r  ill~v;:;.: iF!e c:rcicsc~l -!'his incre:?:e in gas ,rressu?? is transmitted through 
voii. ,' e l i ~ ~ ~ i ~  cf the 3 y ~  ~f ;he ~ ~ 1 ; i  a&:. th? !.gfip.. capilin!.~ tube It: into chamber 19 outside purnpil~g bei- 
in. - 1 pic;\;.s 17. .  has b,:en c~i :ay;~J .  Wh.2~ til-, e:icjcsed -yo:a- !"\"s 20. AS th-: p r c ~ s ~ l r e  in chan~ber  19 increases, 
l;cll;j is mo:ie!~ cl,i c:le ray:: of t;ie s:!n it ~ v i i l  C o ~ !  131.1:-2pi;lg beiioivs 28 cairaps.2~ callsing a conlpression 
and th.; creaio-j 23s pressure will &.-3i--se. This ~ ~ i i l  '15 ~tr3ite of p~lfilpiiig action. This con:pressia~ stroke 
cause the p:!mping be!io\vs to ex?ar.d rzs?l:tii~:i ll a s:~c- ~~~~~5 air rressure tit flow thron&ii outiei valve 23. ~h~ 
tion >!rake of the pi:i;:ping bslic\t;s. The c!ecrea.,rd gas '~"il?:: on spring loaded c h ~ k  valve 24 is strong enough 
oressure mil1 aiso cau:e tiie ri?cans for  riiea~i::g the en- k~e13 the valve from opening until after puillpifig bel- 
closed vo!ati]r, i;qnii: of lhc Tali; of i5e rrln l~ i!lo:,e 1"l12?23 has ~bllap.;ed. 
t',e e:ic!ojed volatile liqnid back ilito the ra:s of :!ie srjA 50 AGei. p ~ l m ~ i n g  bellows 24 has cc~ilapsed, the Fa'; pres- 
to stsi't aiiotlier cycle. ~ ~ 1 1 ' 6  in c:?amber 15 wili continue lo increase until valve 
An object of this invea:i:;n is to j,royids a <!;vice f,-r 24 "Pezs. ivhen vake  24 opens, tile gas pressure in 
collverting el;ergy from the sun iniu snolher f91.17? rlii.:'fbel. 19 r'."iijj nl0Tre thl.0ll~h va!ve 24 into the position- 
eriergy. 1112 h::!lsvga 16 to e::panci thin. This exparjsion of hel- 
. . Ailother ci,jfci of :hi? inver;lion ir to s r - , b f d ~  21 c!evice 55 15 i:ifil!eS 13 U p  in tche kb ~ i ~ l ~ i ~ z h  ?naves theml- 
to i?? I ~ T . . ~ < I  011 a sp:ice v ~ h i c ; e  fcr  ccn-veitiilg etliT:!y "I i':l!b 18 a,f t ! ~  ~ C J C R ~  pl::rle of solar reflector 10. 
.- . 
I"roi.l .:!r, i:!:; :inot!!er for-in of erzcr'y. ).tier liter-rt& 1:cib d l  ntov-s nut of the focal of 
, s o i : ~  refit.r:nl- 40, it r.rilE bjgir, to cpol since it wi!l re- '&& ;?]?{;-'i-r c-&;t:ct af ;:-is ; { , 5 , 1 c i 7 ~ ~ ~ ! ! - ,  t.9 T - ~ , - > . ; < !  
. - 
~ , ..c> , , --.e , &.-- , . j i  t ;  - , , - CC;.IF n ~ ,  i?2?1 i'~.::iii ro'ar r:l"leclor 10 nor :\,ill it receive any 
, . 
v,j!::-*l #-:!:: be t t+c!  f o  ~ p ~ : j - ~ ; : c  I?:!-::-;?I;:::~ ~ > e < ! : p . : , ~ ~ ~ ; ~ . ,  3, 60 ';?::I c ' : r ? ~ ? i ~ ~  f!am t h e  s;i l l  becagse shi-,!tl 12. \vili!e 
. .  . I)<->?(] ;) :>-.::c: <).::>:C!t:, +n,,. z;.,?,l.ni . , *  !bulb < I  cc.o!i, itie P:+$ pr.e~\ures in t:?erma] b!ilb 
.. 
,\: >!;GI f t z r ~ f j ~ j .  0, :.:I $.A, ;)!it! c:.:i:1,5<i- 123 wiii d~c:r.en.:c. As i":e ,oaf; pi-ei;s,lre 
a <' - ;  \,."-:.". .'' . . 
% s -  % .-.- ,, Z.1L.t ! I : . : ! / ' : >  i)': ~]?:;~"lji>f'r ; g  G ~ ~ 8 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ )  6s" ;-,Llb[-jpy;,z ~ ~ ? ~ ~ v , 7 s  zi) s5;!]j c%<. 
a piginl:inc kx~ic35:~s. p:;.lil caiising :h;. s~.~ciion s!rcike oi' piirnsii-:g aciia1i. ~ l ; c  
-I I ef ;Inc,t::i;r oi,jzc: i:,ii ii?.,ei7iinI, is. ti- !Jr:,\.icfe a (is s;?r;:g oi: syi-i-I? ic,adzd check valve 25 is stropg enot~gh 
methnd 3 . r  cop:~erfir;: E+-! exicrpq; frz:?> ti12 ti:i] ii;iri ::rr- i? kec3p v : $ ] ~ c  fi.orn o ~ r n i n ~  ilntil af!er pixi;?pins I:ei- 
ot'lel- fcrnl o l  ellei-gy. lows 23 ha? eir,an:!eii thereby keeping thermal bulb 1: 
ot:irr rlbjecis : ; ,Y r i  ;I fkl i ler  u-7..;e~r~nl:~jl; ,-,f il:is jn~:crl- u:lt cf ti!,: f[;c;il p!al~e of reflector 163. Aftcr pum>i!;g 
. ticlii be r.2ferring t o  t i e  i'oiicmi:,*. 'cDpi.17-a- i:i.liows 20 has e?:pni;::rd, the 93s pressure in chamber 
tic>* :ifid the a c c o i i ~ ~ ~ ~ n - ~ i : ~ ~  - -, cfr,iv.inz i-: y,;~i::!l TI:-;. 1 10 l3 will cailtinj.ie to decrease ~~i-i i i l  valve 25 op-ns. Then 
shrmvs a c!.oss-seciio.r:ai ~ ~ i e v j  of a ci-vlce iilat i:i~c:por::tes the gas pr::mire in F;el!ows 16 will move out i l r rou~b 
this invention. vaive ZS aiid spring 17 wiil collapse bellows 46 whicb 
3,309,012 
3 4 
- * - ,  , (1 -a< i-rc:;sLlre: a L L I ' ~ ~  tYiil1 moves tIIermal hu;b 11 file fay::! ~)i:i~ie ~r 10 he e~lt=aii~c! :-I>{ c,:rJ ~ i . - - ' -  
- .  . 
reilecior I, ~ ~ ; i ~ ~ ~  17 is jietiird becaus- i t  dj;:f:::j: s-.:.i iiiii  pn . " ' n : ? ;np  i.-,!ii..,r i;ejlo\vs c :tcn:ci;@ r::!o one e:id cif said 
,- . Lo crcc;ie 2 vac;!am ~ ~ ~ ~ l o \ i ; ;  l d  lo ccl?a;l;c :i;-,il, 3 i ; ~  t:hb.>; i'."< 21 : t<~f i i  '<*:;I> O!IC  id z ~ ~ : I c ~ ~ c c !  ii> SZ:C! t!i21-:11?.i 
device is ~o:v ready to reyeat i:ie cj'cie. tti:iij firli: r!i;h ctilr:i. e-;., i - . , . t c ~ ~ c ~ i i ~ ~  -.--- - ij-! c . . the . ~ t k z r  c ~ d  
it t?.: np?ar.cz~ to  those .kiiii;il iil ~ 1 1 ~  :l i.l tjv;t 5 of said ru!.e ri?<i ;:ll~t::l:tr? to caid l r : i~?l i in iny I?:llii\ii!: 
the nosie] pril?cipIes of tile invention dii:c](:.s:d i?-,rrin i i ~  w;:e?l'by xuvi:en t:ie cn;ited gas prt:ssil!-e ir?cre;ises 2nd 
co,nnecii~n with the specific ev.emplificaticl; thereof n r i i l  positic.l.:;ng beilo'ws extends into said tube and ~ u s h e s  
suggest vario;lq modificatiolls and ayp!icaiiori of i5e said ihernial baIb out of ci?id feed plane. 
same. For example, instead of inoving the thermal bulb 9. P solar ~ : l i ~ l ?  as clailned in ciaiin I wherein said 
out of t3e focal plane of the solar reflccior, the solar 10 ciirklro! nieans ~nclvdes a spring. 
reflector could be tiited to  move its focal p!rr?e away 3,  A solar pun?p as c!aimed in ciai;n 4 wherein said 
from the thermal bulb. Or instead of usirg ti;e created pnmpii!& bellows inc!udes an intake valve and a pressure 
gas pressure to collapse a l;el!ows, it co~i.id be nserl to oi;tiet valve. 
drive a turbine. It is accordingiy desired that in con- 9 .  A solar pump as claimed in claim 4 wherzin said 
struing the breadth of the appended c!ainls Itley shall nc;i 15 rneal?s for applying said created gas pressure to said 
& limited to  the spcific exe~llplification of the invention pumping be!!ows inciu:!es capillary tubing connected 
described herein. to the said thermal bulb and to a chamber enclosing said 
What is claimed is: pumping bellows. 
1. A solar pump comprising: a solar reflectcr which 10. A solar pump comprising: a solar reflector for 
concentrates in  a focal place the rays that strjkcs it; 20 colieciisg rays frc.111 tl~i? SU?I aiid concentrating thern in its 
a thermal bulb contailling 2 vo!atile liquid lnca(ed i:l f!?cai plane; 2 thermal bulb containing a vdati!e !iquid 
said focal plane to heat the volatile liquid thereby treat- I3cateci in said !'ocal 1:lene of irie solar refkctor to heat 
tie d,:ii:e liquid and cause the gas pressure inside t t e  ing a gas pressure; a puniping nieans for prcducir~g a cnnl- t'' \'- - *  
pression stroke when a press!lre is applied to it anti for if iel ' r~~al bulb to increase; a chamber connected to said 
producing a wile* the pressure is removed; 2.5 thzrllial balb through a capillary tube; a pumping bel- 
means for  applying said created gas pressure to said lows located in said chamber so that when the gas pres- 
pumping means to  cause a compression stroke of said sure inside said chamber increases the p~~i l lp ing bello,ws 
pumping means; contl.o] means for moving said therillal will ccliapse cauiing a compression stroke of the pump; 
bulb o ~ l t  of said focal plane \.ihen a gas pressure is ap- a stem with one of its ends attached to said thermal bulb; 
plied to'it and for mcving said thermal bulb back into 30 2 tube for i!le skill to slide into Gne of its end::; a posi- 
said focal plane when the gas pressllre is removed; means tioilin$ k l l o ~ s  locaied in the other end of the tube and 
for applyi~lg szid created gas pressl;re to said contra1 attached to the other end of ihe stc-m; means con:recting 
means after soid compression stroke to ntox!e said ther- "id ci~azlber to said poiitionin,o be!!o?.is so  th3t when 
ma1 bulb ant of said focal plane thereby decreasiilg said the gas pressure incre:!ses in said chamber thz positian- 
created gas, pressure to cause a s~iction stroke of said 35 ing bellovis will expand and move the thermal buib out 
pumping means; and means for  removing said created of the fecal plane of the soiar reiiector, cool said vela- 
gas pressure from said control means after said suction tile liqzid, decrease said increased gas przsscre, and ex- 
s t r o b  to move said thermal bulb back into said focal pand said collapsed purnp i~~g  bellcams to cause a suction 
plane. stroke of the pump; and means responsive to  said de- 
2. A solar pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said 40 crease in gas pressure for moving said thermal bulb back 
means for applying said created gas pressure to said con- into said Pccal plane after the puntping bellows has ex- 
trol means includes a check valve. panded. 
3. A s d a r  pump as claimed in claim 1 wherein said 
means for removing said crcated gas pressure from said References Cited by the EEanniner 
control means includes a check valve. 45 UWfTED STATES PATENTS 
4. A solar punlp as claimed in clailll 1 wherein said 2,152,802 4/1939 ~ i ~ ~ ~ i ~  ------------- 103-148 
pumping means is a pumping bellows, 2,688,922 9/1954 Bonaventura et al. ----- 103-1 
5. A solar pump as claimed in claim I wherein said 2,638,923 ,011954 B~~~~~~~~~~ et ---- 103-1 
thermal bulb has a meta.1 shield attached to it on its side _ _  
next to the sun. 50 ROBERT h/i. VJALXER, Piirnary E.xciinii~cr. 
6. A solar p u n ~ p  as claimed in claim 1 wherein said 
control means includes: a positioning bellows connected SAhfUEL FV. ENGLE, Exanzirler. 


Thermal pump-compressor for space use Patent

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