VACUUM ENGINE

MOTEUR A DEPRESSION

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A system for generating power in a variable volume engine using a
liquid solvent and a soluble gas. Power is generated by decreasing the
pressure within one or more variable volume chambers through the solution
of ammonia in water when each chamber is at or near a maximum volume. The
resulting differential between the atmospheric pressure and the reduced
pressure within the chamber is used to generate mechanical power. The
ammonia and water is mixed in a tank at a remote location from the piston
and cylinder. The cylinder is operatively connected with the tank such that
the vacuum developed in the tank may be employed within the cylinder for the
production of power.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An engine comprising an intake passageway; an exhaust passageway;
means located between said intake passageway and said exhaust passageway for
deriving power from a gas pressure differential between said intake passage-
way and said exhaust passageway; means for providing a gas to said intake
passageway; a solution tank, said solution tank being sealed and in communi-
cation with said exhaust passageway, said solution tank containing a solvent
for the gas and an initial vacuum above said solvent, said exhaust passageway
extending into said solvent for dispersing gas passing through said exhaust
passageway with said solvent for the gas.
2. The engine of claim 1 wherein said means for deriving power from a
gas pressure differential includes at least one variable volume chamber having
a controlled intake in communication with said intake passageway.
3. The engine of claim 2 wherein said variable volume chamber includes
means for controlling communication with said intake passageway allowing
communication during the expansion of said variable volume chamber and pre-
venting communication during contraction of said variable volume chamber; and
means for controlling communication with said exhaust passageway allowing
communication during contraction of said variable volume chamber and prevent-
ing communication during expansion of said variable volume chamber.
4. The engine of claim 2 further including conversion means for remov-
ing the gas from the solvent for the gas and passageway means communicating
said removed gas to said intake passageway, the separated solvent to the
solution tank and mixed gas and solvent from the solution tank to said
conversion means.
5. The engine of claim 1 wherein the gas is ammonia and the solvent for
the gas is water.
6. A method of generating mechanical power in a variable volume engine,
including the steps of supplying a variable volume chamber through a passage-

way with a gas; closing the passageway to cut off the supply of gas to the
variable volume chamber; establishing an initial vacuum in a remote solu-
tion tank; placing the variable volume chamber in communication with the
remote solution tank; dispersing the gas in a solvent for the gas in said
remote solution tank; deriving power from the resulting decrease in pressure
experienced within the chamber; and repeating the above steps.

Description

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This application is divided out of copending Canadian Patent
AppLication No. 223,794, filed April 3, 1975.
The present invention is directed to a variable volume engine
emp.Loyir.g the vacuum created through the solution of a gas in a liquid to
~cr:ive power.
Water-ammonia engines have been developed which employ the pres-
sure derived from heating amnlonia water solutions. When the solution is
heated, ammonia gas is driven off. This pressurized ammonia is employed to
drive a variable volume engine. The ammonia is then redissolved in water
and the process is repeated.
The present invention employs a system whereby power is derived
from the vacuum created through the solution of a gas, such as ammonia, in
a liquid solvent for the gas, such as water.
According to the present invention, there is provided an engine
comprising an intake passageway; an exhaust passageway; means located between
said intake passageway and said exhaust passageway for deriving power from a
gas pressure differential between said intake passageway and said exhaust
passageway; means for providing a gas to said intake passageway; a solution
tank, said solution tank being sealed and in communication with said exhaust
passageway, said solution tank containing a solvent for the gas and an
initial vacuum above said solvent, said exhaust passageway extending into
said solvent for dispersing gas passing through said exhaust passageway with
said solvent for the gas.
- Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a
method of generating mechanical power in a variable volume engine, including
the steps of supplying a variable volume chamber through a passageway with
a gas; closing the passageway to cut off the supply of gas to the variable
volume chamber; establishing an initial vacuum in said remote solution
tank; placing the variable volume chamber in communication with a remote
solution tank; dispersing the gas in a solvent for the gas in said remote
solution tank; deriving power from the resulting decrease in pressure
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experienced within the chamber; and repeating the above steps.
The accompanying drawing illustrates, by way of example, an embodi-
ment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, a solution
tank 38a is provided at a remote location from a cylinder 14a. The solution
tank 38a is charged with water 40a. A pipe leads from an exhaust manifold
26a into the solution tank 38a to a position within the water 40a. This
pipe 42a thereby provides communication between the cylinder 14a, in which
is located a piston 12a, and the solution tank 38a. Ammonia gas is supplied
to the cylinder 14a through an intake manifold 20a from a means for providing
gas 36a. The ammonia gas may be supplied at whatever pressure is available
through the intake manifold 20a. As the incoming gas is supplied to the
cylinder 14a when the piston 12a is moving downwardly, any pressure in the
ammonia gas 20a will, be converted to power in the engine. Once the piston
hàs reached bottom dead center, an exhaust valve 30a is opened and the ammon-
ia gas is allowed to flow through the pipe 42a to the solution tank 38a.
As the ammonia gas enters the solution tank 38a, it comes into
association with the water 40a located therein. The ammonia then goes into
solution creating a vacuum. The solution tank 38a is sealed in order that
the vacuum may be maintained. Because of the vacuum, the ammonia within the
cylinder 14a also experiences a decrease in pressure. The piston 12a is
exposed to atmospheric pressure from beneath and consequently experiences a
differential pressure between the two sides thereof. Because of the differ-
ential pressure, the piston 12a is forced upwardly in a power stroke.
A fresh water supply pipe 44a is provided to the solution tar~ 38a
in order that the supply of unsaturated water may be replenished. Further~
an exhaust pipe 4~a draws ammonia water from the solution tank 38a. This
ammonia water may be processed to separate the water and the ammonia for
recycling. It is advantageous to provide an initial vacuum within the solu-
tion tank. This prevents any air which would otherwise remain from reducing
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the efficiency of the system. This vacuum will then remain for repeated uses
of t;he engine. Naturally, it is important to keep the entire system sealed.
- The invention may also be employed in a double acting piston config-
uration, In such configuration, exhaust manifolds at either end of the cylin-
der would be connected to the solution tank 38a by pipe 42a. When the piston
reaches the end of its stroke toward one cylinder head, an intake valve at
the other end of the cylinder would be closed and an outlet valve at that
other end opened. Because of the vacuum in tank 38a, the gas would leave a
first chamber adjacent the other cylinder head through an outlet port at that
head and pipe 42a creating a vacuum in said chamber. At this time, an intake
valve at the first cylinder head is opened and ammonia gas enters a second
chamber on the other side of piston, driving it toward the second cylinder
~ head. At the moment the piston reaches the end of its stroke towards the
; second cylinder head, the outlet valve at that head closes and the intake
valve at that head opens; the intake valve at the first cylinder head closes
and an outlet valve at that head opens, connecting the cylinder chamber
adjacent that head~ which is now at maximum volume, to the solution tank 38a
and the vacuum therein, resulting in a low pressure area within the cylinder.
Gas entering through the open intake valYe at the second cylinder head now
drives the piston back towards the first cylinder head.
Because of the vast differences in cyGles of the present invention
over gasoline engines and the like, different procedures are necessary for
both starting and stopping the engine. In the embodiment illustrated, the
- engine may be stopped by a va~ve 48a in pipeline 42a to cut off communication
between the cylinders and vacuum in tank 38a. Opening this valve will cause
the engine to start again; however, a starter motor can be employed as well.
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