Method and apparatus for extracting heat and mechanical energy from a pressured gas

摘要

The disclosure provides a rotating cylinder defining an elongated S-shaped fluid pressure chamber having the two ends thereof remotely located with respect to the axis of rotation. The S-shaped fluid pressure chamber accommodates a free piston which reciprocates along the length of the chamber according to fluid pressure and centrifugal forces applied thereto. Solenoid operated inlet and exhaust valves are provided at each end of the S-shaped fluid pressure chamber, and sensing devices, responsive to the passage of the free piston therethrough are disposed on opposite ends of the S-shaped fluid pressure chamber and adjacent the medial portions thereof to control the operation of the inlet and exhaust valves in accordance with the desired objective to either maximize the extraction of mechanical energy from a pressured gas or maximize the expansion of the pressured gas to derive the greatest possible cooling effect therefrom.