Abstract:
A wave energy converter comprising a buoyant body and an acceleration tube with a working cylinder and working piston movable therein, a mooring system, and at least one energy collecting device (107) including a differential cylinder (116) having an internal pump piston (117) which is connected to the working piston via a piston rod (118). The differential cylinder (116) comprises a substantially cylindrical pumping chamber (119) on one side of the pump piston (117) and an annular gap-shaped pumping chamber (120) on the other side of the pump piston (117). During a working stroke causing a decrease in volume of the annular gap-shaped pumping chamber (120), the pump piston (117) expels hydraulic fluid (129) from the annular gap-shaped pumping chamber (120) in a direction toward the pressure accumulator (123) and draws hydraulic fluid (129) from the fluid tank (128) into the substantially cylindrical pumping chamber (119). During a working stroke causing a decrease in volume of the substantially cylindrical pumping chamber (119), the pump piston causes hydraulic fluid to bypass the pump piston (117) through a fluid connection from the substantially cylindrical pumping chamber (119) into the annular gap-shaped pumping chamber (120) and further in a direction toward the pressure accumulator (123).
Abstract:
A tire inflation apparatuses is provided for maintaining a predetermined inflation pressure of a pair of tires mounted on a dual wheel unit of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a first and a second pump unit that are connected to a housing that includes a mounting structure for engaging a complementary mounting structure of the dual wheel unit. The first and second pump include first and second pump rods configured to translate in response to rotation of the dual wheel unit. A gearset and an eccentric drive mechanism are arranged to reciprocate the first and second pump rods.
Abstract:
A fluid flow device that includes a backing structure, a compression element, and at least one actuator element adjacent the compression element such that the at least one actuator element is configured to compress the compression element towards the backing structure when the at least one actuator element is in a first state and the at least one actuator element is configured to allow a fluid to flow from an inlet to an outlet of a fluid passage based on deflection of the at least one actuator element.
Abstract:
Device for transferring energy between a driving fluid and a driven fluid without contacting or mixing with each other, comprising: an elongate central body (44) with a profiled cavity (37, 38) on either side having a respective fluid passage (45,46); a pair of composite outer bodies having a respective fluid IN/OUT passage (35, 36) for fluid communication via a flow diverter valve assembly (15); a pair of assembly of moveable chambers fixed on either side of said central body, disposed inside a composite body; guiding and connecting means (25, 26) passing through inner annular end plate (47, 48) of composite outer body for reciprocating said moveable chambers; wherein said flow diverter valve assembly alternatively diverts the direction movement of said moveable chambers by diverting the flow direction of said fluids by actuation or pulses received on reaching respective end position on either side of said central body; and flow directing valves for alternatively directing the flow direction of the other fluid to/from respective moveable chambers via said fluid passages.
Abstract:
Heat pump comprising at least two devices for displacing drops of liquid by electrowetting, one of them comprising a control unit such that it forms a compressor (18) of the pneumatic fluid contained between the drops of liquid, the other comprising a control unit such that it forms an expander (22) of the pneumatic fluid contained between the drops of liquid, the high-pressure end of the compressor (18) being connected to the high-pressure end of the expander (22) via a heat exchanger (20) of a hot source (SC), and the low-pressure end of the expander (22) being connected to the low-pressure end of the compressor (18) by a heat exchanger (16) with a cold source (SF), the assembly formed by the compressor (18), the expander (22) and the heat exchangers (16, 20) forming a single channel.
Abstract:
Various methods and device are provided for use in a walking beam compressor used in an oil well pump. In one embodiment, a walking beam compressor assembly is provided having a compressor configured to receive and compress gas. The compressor can be positioned around a piston rod movably disposed therethrough and can include a cylindrical housing having an interior surface that is coated with a self-lubricating composite material. The self-lubricating composite material can be impervious to gas such that it protects the interior surface of the cylindrical housing from corrosion by the gas. In one embodiment, the self-lubricating composite material can be a nickel ceramic composite. The cylindrical housing can be formed of any suitable material known in the art able to withstand pressure and heat within the housing, for example, a metallic material.
Abstract:
An air compressor formed of a plurality of collapsible members engaged between opposing rotating side members. The collapsible members alternate between a collapsed state and enlarged state during rotation around the side members which are engaged to polygonal segments of a generally circular rotating frame. Air compressed in each of said collapsible members during rotation toward the collapsed state is communicated to a reservoir in sealed communication with each of the plurality of between members. The reservoir acts to hold compressed air for use for powering air powered devices.
Abstract:
A multi cylinder compressor/expansion engine having a drive shaft that rotates a wobble plate or wedge mounted on the drive shaft. There is a plurality of cylinders in a fixed cylinder barrel with pistons disposed in each of the cylinders. Some of the cylinders are compressor cylinders and some of the cylinders are expansion cylinders. The compressor cylinders discharge a fluid at a first high pressure from the compressor/expansion engine. The expansion cylinders receive fluid at a second high pressure which provides recovered energy which is applied to assist the driver engine or motor thereby reducing the external net energy required for the engine to rotate the drive shaft to do work. Manifold plates and a reed valve assembly operable with the compressor and expansion pistons and ported cylinder sleeves control the flow of fluid into and out of the compressor and expansion cylinders.
Abstract:
The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps (340), compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, such as a piston in a hydraulic actuation device. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers (341) with an electroactive polymer (341) that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer (341) may be used to perform thermodynamic work on the fluid. The devices may be designed to efficiently operate at a plurality of operating conditions, such as operating conditions that produce an acoustic signal above or below the human hearing range. The devices may be used in thermal control systems, such as refrigeration system, cooling systems and heating systems.
Abstract:
An ultrasonic pump (1) in which a medium is pumped by the interaction between longitudinal acoustic waves and the medium in a flow-chamber (12). The pump comprises a transducer (6) and an associated chamber for providing a controllable, focused, acoustic traveling wave therein. The chamber includes a tapered passage corresponding to the focused beam pattern of the focused acoustic traveling wave through which the liquid medium flows and/or cavitation is induced and/or controlled.