US2335005A - Thermodynamic device - Google Patents

Description

1943- M. w. GIESKIENG ET Al. 0

THERMODYNAMIC DEVI CE Filed April 4, 1942 C m II/1{I||||\\\ m 4 .P 6 2 @W 2 3 MP A a D W 0 2 AT W 5 C 9 2 E FIG. I.

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I @23 Ilillllllllllll \lLlllllllllll-llll MARION W. GIESKIENG, PAUL F. GIESKIENG,

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INVENTORS.

r/ff) Patented Nov. 23, 1943 UNITED was THERMODYNAMIC DEVICE Marion W. Gieskieng, Denver, andPaul F. Gieskleng, Englewood, Colo.

Application April 4, 1942, Serial No. 437,620

(Cl. SO-35.6)

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in thermodynamic devices and has reference more particularly to a device for converting thermal energy into kinetic energy.

It is the object of this invention to produce a mechanism whereby heat may be employed to produce a force that can be utilized for propelling airplanes, automobiles, or boats, andfor other purposes.

Another object is to produce a device wherein heat energy can be converted into kinetic energy without the generation of noise in such a manner that a noiseless propulsion motor can be attained.

In many places, especially in connection with airplanes, a silent propulsion device would be 'of inestimable value for reasons that are apparent.

The above and other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and combination of elements that will now be described in detail-and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View showing the enclosing housing in a longitudinal diametrical section and some of the enclosed elements in top plan view;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary section, similar to that shown in Figure 1, and shows a portion of the mechanism shifted to an inoperative position;

Filgure 3 is a section taken on line 33, Figure Figure 4 is an end elevation, looking in the direction of arrow 4, in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 55, Figure Figure 6 is a section, corresponding to section 3-3, and shows another cross sectional shape:

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the temperature andpressures in their relations to the device 11- lustrated in Figure 1; and

material such as Pressboard or Celotex may be mentioned as suitable. In this specification the end of opening H, at the bottom of Figure 1 and the corresponding end in Figure 8 will be re-- ferred to as .the intake while the upper end will be referred to as the outlet. The intake and the Ill is preferably outlet openings have been designated respectively by I and O.

In Figure 1 the housing has been shown as formed from threesections designated by letters A, B and C. Section C, at the bottom, may be of any length or may be dispensed with entirely. Section B has been shown as having two' openings D and E and is mounted to slide transversely so as to bring either opening D or E into alignment with opening H in the housing. Positioned in opening E is a motor 62, which has been illustrated as an internal combustion engine of the radial type. An electric motor may be substituted for the engine if found desirable. A propeller i3 is secured to the engine shaft.

Positioned in opening ll, between the point of smallest cross section, and the outlet is a heating device comprising an elongated housing M whose inner end is closed and provided with air inlets l5 whose total cross sectional areas can be varied by means of a damper ii that is controlled by a rod. lb or similar means. The heater has a plurality of hollow radial fins l9, six being shown. The outer ends 26 of the fins are closed and a plate 2! closes the central opening. Plate 2| has a central opening 22 for the escape of the gaseous products of combustion. A burner 23 for burning either gas or liquid fuel is positioned in the inner end of the heater and supplied with fuel from the tank 25. A spark plug or pilot burner 25 is positioned adjacent the burner 23 for igniting the flame. When the propeller is operating some air or other gas containing oxygen enters the combustion chamber through openings IS. The heater is secured to the housing an by means such as those indicated by reference numeral 26. The heater should, of course, be constructed from good heat conducting material such as a metal.

The housing ill has been shown as having an opening of circular cross section which is the most desirable, but the cross section may be of any.

shape, one other shape being shown in Figure 6, where th housing has been designated by lila and the heater by Me. In Figure 6, the hollow ribs 19 have been replaced by fins We.

In Figure 8 the housing lob has been shown substantially cylindrical and its shape may be anything between that shown in Figures 1 and 8 and it may be flattened as shown in Figure 6.

Let us now assume that the housing I e is supported for movement in the direction of its axis and that the parts described are in the relative positions shown in Figure 1. Let us further assume that engine I! is operating and rotating the propeller in a direction to produce an upward flow of gas or air. A gaseous or liquid fuel is supplied to burner 23 and ignited, thereby heating the fins I9. 1

When the propeller operates, it produces a suction in the intake opening C and reduces the pressure slightly, providing section C is of any appreciable length, if the pressure is reduced the temperature is also reduced slightly,

After the gas has passed to the upper side of the'propeller, its pressure is increased due 129 the frictional resistance ,to flow, this raises the temperature slightly. The heat from the engine and the engine exhaust also serves to raise the temperature. When the gas comes into contact with the outersurface of the heater, its temperature is further increased, whereupon its volume is also increased which tends to increase its velocity of flow.

The approximate changes 'in temperature and pressure have been indicated by dotted lines in Figure 7.

We now have a condition in which the pressure in section C is either the same or slightly.

less than atmospheric, the latter being indicated by P, the average pressure in C being P-Y, where Y equals the average numerical value per unit area that the pressure has been reduced, due to the propeller suction. The pressure from the point. of minimum cross section of opening -II to the outlet is greater than P- by an amount X which is the average of the excess. The outer surface of housing Ill is subjectedto the pres- .sure of P units per unit area and the inner surthe volume of the gas and the latter therefore leaves at the same or slightly greater velocity than that at which thehousing l0 moves relative to thecircumambient gas or air.

If the housing is cylindrical, as indicated by lOb in Figure 8, the increased pressure and volume of the gag is converted into increased velocity and the propelling force is. due to the impulse thus produced, which is a function of the velocity andvaries as the square of the ve1ocity.-

' In both forms the heat added to the gas is converted into a force. that tends to move the housing l0, Illa or lb. The motor and propeller are provided to'obtain an initial movement of gas and after housing ID has attained a desired velocity relative to the circumambient gaseous medium, the engine and propeller can be shifted to the position shown in Figure 2.

If a device like the one described is attached having a venturi-shaped opening, a motor positioned within the tube, a propeller operatively connected with the motor and positioned between the intake end and the motor, said motor and propeller forming means for flowing gas through the tube and for increasing the pressure of the gas between the propeller and the outlet, and means for heating the gas after it has passed the point of smallest cross section of the opening,

whereby the volume and the velocity of the gas will be increased,

to an airplane it will act as a, noiseless propelling 2. A device for converting thermal energy to kinetic energy, comprising in combination, a tube having a venturi-shaped opening, a portion of ,said tube between the point of smallest cross section of the opening and one end being transversely movable, the movable section having two openings either of which may be aligned with the opening in the tube, a motor driven propeller positioned in one of the openings, said propeller when positioned in the opening of the tube and operated, serving to produce a flow of gas through the tube, and means positioned between the propeller and the outlet for heating the gas whereby its volume and velocity will be increased.

3. A device for converting thermal energy to kinetic energy, comprising, in combination, an elongated tube having a venturi-shaped opening, means for producing a flow of air through the tube, and means positioned between the point of smallest diameter and the outlet for heating the gas to increase its velocity, said means comprising an elongated housing positioned within the tube and attached to the latter, the cross secional area of the housing increasing from the center outwardly at a, less rate than the venturitube, whereby the cross sectional area of the space between the inner surface of the venturitube and the outer surface of the housing will increase in the direction of the outlet, and means within the inner end of the housing for burning a combustible, the larger end of the housing having at least one opening for the escape of gases of combustion.

4. A device for converting thermal energy to kinetic energy, comprising, in combination, an elongated tube having a venturi-shaped opening, means for producing a flow of air through the tube, and mean positioned between the point of smallest diameter and theoutlet for heating the gas to increase its velocity, said means comprising an elongated housing positioned within the tube and attached to the latter, the cross sectional area of the housing increasing from the center outwardly at a less rate than the venturi-tube, whereby the cross sectional area of the space between the inner surface of the venturi-tube and the outer surface of the housingwill increase in the direction of the outlet, the wall of the housing being longitudinally fluted toincrease the heat transmitting area, the inner end of the tube having openings for the admission of air, means for feeding a combustible fluid to the air where it enters the housing whereby a combustible mixture is produced, and means for igniting

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