Patent ID: 6321547
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: F25B

Abstract:
A heat transfer engine for transferring heat between first and second heat exchanging circuits through which first and second heat exchanging mediums flow, respectively, said heat transfer engine, comprising:a stationary housing having first and second heat transfer chambers, and a thermal isolation barrier disposed therebetween, said first and second heat transfer chambers each having first and second ports and a continuous passageway therebetween; anda rotatable heat transfer structure rotatably supported within said stationary housing about an axis of rotation and having a substantially symmetrical moment of inertia about said axis of rotation, said rotatable heat transfer structure havinga first end portion disposed within said first heat transfer chamber, a second end portion disposed within said second heat transfer chamber, andan intermediate portion disposed between said first and second end portions,said rotatable heat transfer structure embodying a closed fluid circuit arranged about said axis of rotation, and havinga return portion extending along the direction of said axis of rotation and at least a subportion of said return portion having a helical geometry, andan interior volume for containing a predetermined amount of a heat carrying medium contained within said closed fluid circuit which automatically circulates within said closed fluid circuit as said rotatable heat transfer structure is rotated about said axis of rotation in order to transfer heat between said first and second portions of said rotatable heat transfer structure,said first end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said first heat exchanging circuit,said second end portion of said rotatable heat transfer structure being disposed in thermal communication with said second heat exchanging circuit, andsaid intermediate portion being physically adjacent to said thermal isolation barrier so as to present a substantially high thermal resistance to heat transfer between said first and second heat transfer chambers during operation of said heat transfer engine.