Piezo electric apparatus for generating electricity

• US 4,442,372 A
• Filed: 11/22/1982
• Issued: 04/10/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Walton Energy Systems Company
• Original Assignee: Walton Energy Systems Company
• Inventors: Roberts, Walter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US06/443,229
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 310/311, 310/321, 310/328, 310/338, 310/339, 310/800, 290/1 R, 290/2, 322/2
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/185 using fluid streams
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

A variable pressure piezo electric generator comprised of a furnace chamber, a refrigerant chamber surrounding the furnace chamber in heat exchange relation thereto and a condensing chamber in communication with the refrigerant chamber. The refrigerant chamber contains a liquid refrigerant that is vaporized by the furnace heat and flows into and through the condensing chamber where it condenses. Piezo electric elements are mounted in the condensing chamber in the path of the pressurized refrigerant. An apertured plate is mounted in the condensing chamber between adjacent pairs of the piezo electric elements. The apertures in the respective plates vary in size which causes refrigerant pressure variations. As a result, the refrigerant exerts mechanical forces on the piezo electric elements causing them to produce electricity.

Claims

1. In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber at least partially surrounding the furnace chamber, a liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, a condensing chammber, conduit means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of piezo electric elements in the condensing chamber in the path of the pressurized refrigerant passing therethrough, and means in the condensing chamber for producing variations in the refrigerant pressure whereby the refrigerant exerts a mechanical force on the piezo electric elements which in turn produce electricity, said last-named means comprising an apertured plate member located between each adjacent pair of piezo electric elements.

2. A frequency generator as defined in claim 1 wherein the plate member apertures are respectively dimensioned so as to produce the refrigerant pressure variations.

3. In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber arranged in heat exchange relation to the furnace chamber, a refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, a condensing chamber, means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of piezo electric elements mounted in the condensing chamber in spaced relation to one another, the piezo electric elements being located in the chamber so as to be in the path of the pressurized refrigerant passing therethrough, and a plurality of apertured plate members mounted in the condensing chamber in alternate relation to the piezo electric elements, the apertured plate members being operable to produce variations in the refrigerant pressure whereby the refrigerant exerts mechanical forces on the piezo electric elements causing them to produce electricity.

4. A frequency generator as defined in claim 3 wherein each plate member has a single aperture therethrough, the apertures in successive plates varying in size so as to produce the refrigerant pressure variations.

5. In a frequency generator, a furnace chamber in which heat is produced, a refrigerant chamber at least partially surrounding the furnace chamber in a heat exchange relation thereto, a refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber that is vaporized by the heat produced in the furnace chamber, an elongated condensing chamber, means connecting the refrigerant chamber with the condensing chamber whereby vaporized refrigerant under pressure flows from the refrigerant chamber to the condensing chamber and after passing through the latter returns to the refrigerant chamber, a plurality of plate members mounted in the condensing chamber so as to divide it into a plurality of successive compartments, a piezo electric element resiliently mounted in each compartment, each plate member having an aperture therein to permit the pressurized refrigerant to flow through the successive compartments, the plate member apertures being respectively dimensioned so as to create variations in the refrigerant pressure which act on the piezo electric elements causing the latter to produce electricity, and a transducer element operably connected to each piezo electric element for collecting the electricity.

6. A frequency generator as defined in claim 5 wherein the refrigerant is Freon.