RMS energy conversion

• US 6,163,077 A
• Filed: 01/12/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Macrosonix Corp.
• Original Assignee: Macrosonix Corp.
• Inventors: Lucas, Timothy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/229,142
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1 R, 290/1 A, 322/1, 322/2 R, 60/517, 60/39.76, 62/6, 431/1
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F23C 15/00 Apparatus in which combustion takes place in pulses influenced by acoustic resonance in a gas mass for generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R7/00; starting devices F23D11/42
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

An energy conversion device comprises an acoustic resonator, a pulse combustion device for creating a standing wave within said resonator, and an electric alternator. The alternate is coupled to the resonator to convert acoustically driven mechanical vibrations into electrical power.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

a) a compression-ignition pulse combustion resonator providing acoustic pressure amplitudes within said resonator for compression ignition of combustion reactants, and

b) means for introducing said combustion reactants into said resonator.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said combustion resonator is resiliently supported to vibrate in response to its internal dynamic pressure, whereby the combustion of said reactants is converted into mechanical vibration of the resonator.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, further comprising a second resonator and wherein said combustion resonator is coupled to said second resonator so as to provide mechanical power to said second resonator.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said second resonator comprises the resonator of a standing wave compressor.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

an electric alternator,

b) said electric alternator being coupled to said resonator so as to convert acoustically-driven mechanical vibrations into electrical power.

6. Apparatus comprising:

a) a combustion resonator,

b) pulse combustion means for creating a standing wave within said combustion resonator so as to produce acoustically-driven mechanical vibrations of said combustion resonator,

(c) a second resonator, and

(d) said combustion resonator being coupled to said second resonator so as to provide mechanical power to said second resonator.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said second resonator comprises the resonator of a standing wave compressor.