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U.S. Department of Energy
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Hydraulic external heat source engine

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6911385
A hydraulic external heat source engine is described comprising: an engine housing having an interior chamber therein; a working member disposed in the interior chamber to define in part a working chamber, the working member being displaceable from a first position to a second position in the interior chamber; an external heat source for providing relatively hot, high pressure liquid working fluid; means for directing the hot, high pressure working fluid from the external heat source to the working chamber in the liquid state to displace the working member from the first position towards the second position; means for terminating the flow of hot, high pressure liquid working fluid into the working chamber at a predetermined displacement of the working member, the hot, high pressure liquid working fluid in the working chamber vaporizing after the termination of flow to develop sufficient pressure within the working chamber to further displace the working member to the second position; and means for exhausting the working fluid from the working chamber before returning the working member to the first position.
Assignee:
VHF Corp., Las Vegas, NV
Patent Number(s):
US 4747271
OSTI ID:
6911385
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English