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Mechanical thermal motorAn apparatus is described for converting thermal energy such as solar energy into mechanical motion for driving fluid pumps and similar equipment. The thermal motor comprises an inner concentric cylinder carried by a stationary core member. The core member has a cylindrical disc plate fixed adjacent to a lower portion and extending radially from it. An outer concentric cylinder rotatably carried on the disc plate defining a space between the inner and outer concentric cylinders. A spiral tubular member encircles the inner concentric cylinder and is contained within the space between the inner and outer cylinders. One portion is connected to the inner concentric cylinder and a second portion connected to the outer concentric cylinder. A heated fluid is conveyed through the tubular member and is periodically cooled causing the tubular member to expand and contract. This causes the outer concentric cylinder to reciprocally rotate on the base plate accordingly. The reciprocating motion of the outer concentric cylinder is then utilized to drive a pump member in a pump chamber.
Document ID
19770005459
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - Patent
Authors
Hein, L. A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Myers, W. N.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
October 26, 1976
Subject Category
Mechanical Engineering
Report/Patent Number
Patent Number: US-PATENT-3,987,630
Patent Number: NASA-CASE-MFS-23062-1
Patent Application Number: US-PATENT-APPL-SN-591569
Accession Number
77N12402
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Patent
US-PATENT-3,987,630|NASA-CASE-MFS-23062-1
Patent Application
US-PATENT-APPL-SN-591569
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