Patent ID: 6167704
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: F03G,G21K,H05H

Abstract:
A system for converting an environmental heat energy into a usable motive energy comprising: (i) a plurality of randomly moving particles selected from the group consisting of atoms, molecules, and clusters thereof; (ii) a first compartment containing at least part of said randomly moving particles; (iii) a second compartment containing a remaining part of said randomly moving particles; (iv) an at least one device interdisposed between said first and second compartments for generating a positive pressure gradient thereacross by the passage of more particles therethrough passing from any one of the compartments to the other compartment than vice versa; and (v) a transmission system driven by said positive pressure gradient for providing said usable motive power, the system wherein the particles are used as mediators between environment and said device in converting at first the environmental heat energy into kinetic energy of said randomly moving particles and then converting said kinetic energy into said usable motive power; wherein said device includes at least one mechanism that is adapted to perform at least one operation selected from the group consisting of: (1) changing selectively a direction of movement of the particles in one general direction than in the opposite direction, (2) blocking selectively a movement of the particles moving in one general direction than in the opposite direction, (3) passing selectively through more particles moving in one general direction than particles moving in the opposite direction; wherein said mechanism comprises a permeable plate having a plurality of unidirectional elements enabling a particle flow in a predetermined direction; and wherein said unidirectional elements are stationary gates.