Thermodynamic motor and pulley system

A thermodynamic motor has a pulley belt (47) extending semi-circumferentially around a frame (21) for ultimately transmitting the rotational motion of the frame (21) to a rotationally driven unit (49). In differing embodiments the thermodynamic motor comprises containers (33, 333, 334, 335) which are shaped to facilitate the rapid and substantially uniform vaporization of a volatile liquid substance (37) contained therein. Further embodiments described herein include those utilizing detachable containers; cooling means (123) to hasten condensation of the volatile liquid (37); and, a thermostatic control system for maintaining a temperature differential between the containers in each pair.

BACKGROUND 
This invention pertains to thermodynamic motors of a type having a 
plurality of pairs of containers mounted near the circumference of a 
vertically erect, rotatable frame. The containers of each pair are 
oppositely disposed around an axial shaft of the frame and are 
interconnected by a hollow tube to permit the transfer of a volatile 
liquid substance between the containers. When a container passes through a 
lower portion of the frame's path of rotation, the volatile liquid in the 
container is vaporized by an appropriate heating means. The vapor ascends 
through the connecting tube to an elevated container paired therewith. The 
volatile substance in the elevated container then condenses, providing a 
greater gravitational attraction and thus imparting rotational motion to 
the frame. Prior art motors of this type are illustrated in numerous 
United States patents, including various patents to Iske et al. Nos. 
(242,454; 243,909; and, 389,515), Avery (3,509,716), and Brown 
(3,659,416). 
Most prior art thermodynamic motors have connections to the axial shaft of 
the frame for transmitting the rotational motion produced by the motor. 
The connections may take the form of belts, gears, or the like. However, 
taking the rotational motion produced by the motor from the axial shaft 
provides no practical way of stepping-up the motor's rotational velocity. 
Prior art thermodynamic motors prove impractical for many usages, including 
the driving of an electrical generator. In this respect, it is dubious 
that prior art thermodynamic motors rotated at more than a few revolutions 
per minute. Moreover, prior art devices made no provision for controlling 
the rotational velocity of the thermodynamic motor. A controlled 
rotational velocity is particularly significant when driving an electrical 
generator or alternator which typically must be driven within a prescribed 
range of revolutions per minute. 
A thermodynamic motor should achieve a high rotational velocity without 
significant energy expenditure. Factors influencing the rotational 
velocity of the motor frame include both the speed of the vaporization and 
condensation processes and the mass of the volatile condensed liquid acted 
upon by gravity to produce the rotational force. 
In the above regard, the speed of the vaporization and condensation 
processes depend on such factors as (1) the amount of heat and time 
required for the vaporization of the volatile liquid in each container; 
(2) how quickly the volatile liquid in each container can be cooled; and, 
(3) the distance of travel through the tube interconnecting the pair of 
containers. Hence, it is desirable to have a container in which the 
volatile liquid can be quickly and uniformly vaporized and yet contain a 
sufficient mass for gravitational attraction. Prior art containers, 
generally spherical or cylindrical in shape, have proved unsatisfactory 
because of the limited surface area of the container per mass of liquid 
contained therein. 
With further reference to the above, prior art containers have also been 
mounted near the circumference of the frame by separating adjacent 
containers at a distance greater than the distance between their centers 
of gravity. Mounting in this manner necessitates a larger radius for the 
frame for a given mass of liquid in the system. The larger frame, in turn, 
requires a longer distance of travel through the tubes interconnecting the 
pairs of containers. 
Other problems arise when using the prior art containers and the tubes 
interconnecting them. For example, a container may eventually leak. Prior 
art containers appear to be fabricated from glass or the like so that 
visual inspection would indicate the occurrence and location of a leak. 
However, unlike the prior art containers, efficient containers must not 
retain heat, which usually necessitates construction of the containers 
from materials which are opaque. Nevertheless, in a complex system having 
numerous efficient yet opaque containers and requiring a delicate mass 
balance around the frame, it is virtually impossible to determine which 
container has leaked. Further, even when it has been determined that a 
container leaks, the associated structure of the prior art devices have 
impeded the detachment of the defective container for subsequent repair or 
replacement. 
Many prior art thermodynamic motor systems depict the tubes interconnecting 
the containers as being substantially straight, even in a neighborhood 
where the tube intersects the container. Unfortunately, an essentially 
straight tube permits the force of gravity to prematurely draw the 
condensed liquid in the elevated container downwardly into the opposite 
container of the pair before the container with the condensed liquid 
reaches the heating means. As a result, the condensed container is not 
full of liquid when heated and the system loses efficiency. Some prior art 
systems have attempted to rectify this problem by running a straight tube 
substantially through the interior of the container so that it extends 
above the full level of the condensed liquid in the container. The 
extension of the tube through the container, however, results in an 
efficiency loss by reducing the volume of the container available for 
liquid. 
Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a thermodynamic motor 
system suitable for transmitting and stepping-up the rotational velocity 
of the thermodynamic motor for driving other systems, including an 
electric generator. 
The invention advantageously provides numerous embodiments of containers in 
which volatile liquid substances can be quickly and uniformly vaporized or 
condensed. 
Further, the invention advantageously provides a means for determining when 
a container leaks, as well as means for easily detaching containers for 
subsequent repair or replacement. 
Furthermore, the invention provides a thermodynamic motor system 
advantageously employing means to monitor and adjust the temperature 
differential between various parts thereof, thereby controlling the 
rotational velocity of the motor. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A thermodynamic motor system has a first pulley belt extending 
semi-circumferentially around a thermodynamic motor frame for ultimately 
transmitting the rotational motion of the frame to a rotationally driven 
unit. In ultimately connecting the motor frame to the driven unit, the 
first pulley belt also extends around a first intermediate pulley. The 
intermediate pulley has a significantly smaller diameter than the motor 
frame so that the first pulley belt imparts a second rotational velocity 
greater than that of the motor frame to the first intermediate pulley. 
Integral with the first intermediate pulley is a second intermediate 
pulley having a larger diameter than the first intermediate pulley. The 
second intermediate pulley is semi-circumferentially surrounded by a 
second pulley belt which imparts the greater rotational velocity (either 
directly or through a series of further intermediate pulleys) to the 
rotationally driven unit. In this manner the rotational velocity of the 
frame is stepped-up to achieve an increased rotational velocity sufficient 
to drive the unit. 
In differing embodiments the thermodynamic motor comprises containers which 
are shaped to facilitate the rapid and uniform vaporization and 
condensation of a volatile liquid substance contained therein. In this 
regard, the containers provided in the differing embodiments provide a 
greater surface area per mass of liquid for each container than exists in 
prior art containers. 
In one embodiment, the containers are essentially elongated rectangles 
having square, vertical cross-sections. The containers extend 
substantially entirely across an axial direction of the motor frame. 
In a second embodiment, the containers are essentially rectangular in 
vertical cross-section and are oriented so that a larger rectangular 
dimension lies along a tangent to the circumference of the frame. 
In a third embodiment, the containers resemble those of the second 
embodiment described above, but are arcuate along the larger rectangle 
dimension, thereby approximating the curvature of the frame. 
According to a further related embodiment, a plurality of containers 
according to any of the foregoing embodiments are mounted in a 
spaced-apart relation across the axial direction of the frame. 
As discussed with respect to both second and third embodiments, the largest 
dimension of the container lies along the path of travel of the frame, 
thereby exposing more surface area to the heating means for a longer 
period of time. Moreover, containers of these embodiments may be 
contiguously mounted around the circumference of the frame, thus reducing 
what would otherwise be a larger frame circumference. Further, when the 
heating means comprises a body of liquid or the like, the containers of 
these embodiments require less depth of liquid and hence less energy to 
heat the liquid. 
The pairs of containers described with reference to any of the preceding 
embodiments are, according to yet another embodiment, interconnected by a 
tube which travels around the container to connect to a surface of the 
container furthest from the axis of the frame. Connection of the tube in 
this manner precludes the force of gravity from prematurely draining 
condensed liquid from an elevated container. 
In a embodiment related to that described immediately above, the 
interconnecting tube is provided with a transparent tube section in a 
neighborhood of the connection to the container. The transparent tube 
section has visibly marked thereon a scale or mark for indicating the 
level of the volatile liquid filling each container. 
In a further embodiment, containers, such as those summarized above, are 
selectively strapped on to the frame to facilitate detachment of the 
containers. This embodiment is especially useful when detaching a 
container for subsequent repair or replacement in instances of a leak, for 
example. 
Additional embodiments are broadly summarized as concerning the heating 
means for vaporization, cooling means used to hasten condensation, and 
blowing means used to direct a column of air to act as a thermal boundary. 
A thermostatic control monitoring the heating means and the cooling means 
adjusts the temperature differential therebetween, thereby controlling the 
rotational velocity of the motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 illustrates a thermodynamic motor and pulley system and, in 
particular, one end of a motor frame 21. The frame 21 is essentially 
cylindrical and is oriented so that a vertical cross-section of the frame 
21 is in the plane of the paper of FIG. 1. The frame 21 is adapted to 
rotate in a circumferential direction (as shown by arrow 23) about a 
horizontal axis 25 extending through the center of the cylindrical frame 
21. In this respect, the horizontal axis 25 is perpendicular to the plane 
of the paper and coincident with an axle 27 (see FIG. 2). Thus, as used 
hereinafter, the term "axial direction" is the direction perpendicular to 
the plane of paper of FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 7 and labelled elsewhere as "X". 
The motor frame 21 comprises an essentially cylindrical inner frame member 
29 which also has as its center the horizontal axis 25. At each end the 
inner frame member 29 is bridged by a plurality of spokes 31 each of which 
are connected to the axle 27. 
Mounted around the outer circumference of the inner frame 29 are an even 
number of containers 33. Each container 33 is fabricated from a material, 
such as aluminum for example, which does not retain heat. As explained 
hereinafter, the shape of the containers 33 differ according to the 
particular embodiment of the invention utilized. In all embodiments, 
however, each container 33 is paired with a companion container disposed 
directly opposite on the frame 21. For example, as seen in FIG. 1, 
elevated container 33a is paired with container 33a'. Each pair of 
containers is connected across the diameter of the frame 21 by at least 
one hollow interconnecting tube 35 which passes near the axis 25. 
Each pair of containers 33 and tube 35 interconnecting them forms a sealed 
vacuum system containing a sufficient amount of a volatile liquid 
substance (generally indicated as 37) to fill at least one of the 
containers and a sufficient amount of vapor of the same substance to fill 
the companion container and the tube 35. In selecting a volatile liquid 
substance it is desirable to choose a substance which has the best 
combination of a low vaporization temperature, a relatively heavy 
volumetric weight, and the least amount of energy required to produce a 
change in state (from liquid to vapor or vice versa). One example of such 
a substance is Freon 116 which has a critical temperature for vaporization 
at about -196.degree. F. 
The motor frame 21 also has at each end an outer frame member 39 which is 
also concentric with respect to the inner frame member 29 and the axle 27. 
At each end of the frame 21 the outer frame member 39 may be mounted on 
the inner frame member 29 by a series of radial braces 41 or, as 
hereinafter described, may be directly mounted on the containers 33. 
A pulley groove 43 concentric with outer frame member 39, inner frame 
member 29, and the axle 27 is mounted on the motor frame 21. As explained 
below, the pulley groove 43 is attached to motor frame 21 by a series of 
radially extending groove mounting studs 45. The groove mounting studs 45 
space the pulley groove 43 sufficiently away from the frame 21 and the 
containers 33 mounted thereon so that a paddle-wheel effect will not 
occur. A pulley belt 47 extends semi-circumferentially around the pulley 
groove 43 and is ultimately connected to a rotationally driven unit, such 
as generator or alternator 49a. The pulley belt 47 may be, for example, a 
synthetic V-belt resistant to hot water. 
As previously indicated, thermodynamic motors must have a means to effect a 
temperature differential between communicating containers 33 in a pair. 
One component for creating such an effect is a heating means, exemplified 
as a body of hot water 51 contained in a tub 53. 
The motor frame 51 is suspended above the tub 53 by a pair of vertical 
supports 55. Each support 55 engages one end of the axle 27 so as to 
permit the axle 27 and the motor frame 21 integral therewith to rotate. 
The supports 55 are adjustable in vertical height to permit a lower 
portion of the frame 21 to be immersed in the hot water 51. In this 
regard, the frame 21 is suspended on supports 55 so that the containers 33 
are sequentially submerged in the hot water 51 as the frame 21 rotates in 
the circumferential direction 23. The vertical height of the tub 53 is a 
function both of the size of the containers 33 and the temperature of the 
water 51. That is, the hotter the water 51 the less time exposure the 
containers 33 need for vaporization. Thus, the hotter the water 51 the 
smaller the arc indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1 (for outlining a 
submerged portion of the frame 21) needs to be. 
In view of the foregoing, tub 53 is preferably thermally insulated. 
Moreover, the tub 53 is provided with a lip portion 57 adapted to catch 
water which may splash or drain from the frame 21 as it emerges from the 
body of water 51. 
As indicated above, the pulley belt 47 extends in a semi-circumferential 
manner around the pulley groove 43 and ultimately connects to a 
rotationally driven unit 49. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pulley belt 47 
engages a first intermediate pulley 67. The diameter of the pulley 67 is 
significantly smaller than the diameter of the pulley groove 43. 
As seen in FIG. 10, the pulley 67 is mounted in a U-shaped support 71. Two 
pulleys 73 and 75 of greater dimension than the pulley 67 are mounted 
integral with pulley 67 so as to rotate at the velocity of the pulley 67. 
Pulley 73 is connected by a pulley belt 77 to a first rotationally driven 
unit 49a, and pulley 75 is connected by a pulley belt 79 to a second 
rotationally driven unit 49b. 
The rotationally driven units 49a and 49b are illustrated as electric 
generators having armature shafts 81 and 83, respectively, which are 
driven by the pulley belts 77 and 79. In the FIG. 10 illustration unit 49a 
is used to supply power via line 85 back to the thermodynamic system (for 
the operation of pumps, the heating of water, or the like). The unit 49b 
supplies surplus electric power via line 87 for whatever purpose a user 
may desire. 
In its differing embodiments the thermodynamic motor comprises containers 
33 which are shaped to facilitate the rapid and substantially uniform 
vaporization and condensation of the volatile liquid substance 37 
contained therein. FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate one such embodiment, a 
container 333 having an essentially rectangular vertical cross-section. 
The container 333 is oriented on the frame 21 so that a larger dimension LD 
of its vertical rectangular cross-section is essentially tangential to the 
outer circumference of the inner frame member 29. A smaller dimension SD 
is oriented essentially orthogonally to the larger dimension LD. The ratio 
of the lengths of LD to SD is between 3:1 and 1:1, 2:1 being preferred. 
In addition to showing the larger dimension LD and the smaller dimension SD 
of the container 333, FIG. 3 further shows an axial dimension XD of the 
container 333 along the axial direction X. The ratio of the lengths of the 
axial dimension XD of container 333 to its smaller dimension SD is between 
1:5 and 1:15, 1:12 being preferred. The ratio of the lengths of the axial 
dimension XD of container 333 to its larger dimension LD is between 1:15 
and 1:30, 1:24 being preferred. 
As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner frame member 29 comprises a plurality 
of horizontal ribs 89a, 89b, and 89c between adjacent radial braces 41. 
The horizontal ribs 89 run in the axial direction from one end of the 
frame 21 to the other. Two of the horizontal ribs (89a and 89c) have 
affixed thereto by fasteners (91a and 91c, respectively) a strapping means 
(93a and 93c, respectively). 
The container 333 is mounted in the frame 21 so that the larger dimension 
LD thereof is essentially tangential to the outer circumference of the 
inner frame member 29. The strapping means 93 are then placed around the 
container 333 to secure it to the horizontal ribs 89, and thus to the 
inner frame member 29. Retaining rods 95 span the axial direction X 
between the radial braces 41 at each end of the frame to which the rods 95 
are attached. The retaining rods 95 prevent circumferential slippage of 
the containers 33 as the frame 21 rotates. 
In the above regard, while three horizontal ribs 89 and two straps 93a and 
93c have been illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, it should be understood that 
the number of ribs and straps may be varied. For example, horizontal rib 
89b attached to the inner frame member 29 has affixed thereon the pulley 
groove mounting stud 45 which supports the pulley groove 43. Since the 
number of mounting studs 45 does not necessarily have to equal the number 
of containers 333 positioned around the circumference of the frame 21, the 
horizontal ribs 89b may be spaced around the inner frame member 29 in any 
suitable pattern. 
From FIGS. 4 and 6 it can be seen that containers 333 and 334 are 
positioned contiguously around the outer circumference of the inner frame 
member 29. This facilitates a smaller frame 21, which is advantageous for 
reasons discussed above. 
In addition to illustrating the shape of the container 333, FIGS. 3, 4, and 
5 also show the intersection of the container 333 with the interconnecting 
tube 35. Rather than intersect the container 333 at a first surface 333a 
which is the closest surface to the axis 25 which which abuts the inner 
frame member 29, the tube intersects the container 333 at a second surface 
333b which is oppositely disposed and parallel to the plane of surface 
333a. Thus, in travelling to the container 333 from the axis 25, the tube 
35 travels around the container 333 to a point of intersection 97 on the 
surface 333b. In so travelling, the tube 35 has a crook 99. Intersection 
of the tube 35 on surface 333b of the container 333 precludes the force of 
gravity from prematurely emptying the container 333 when the container is 
in an elevated position on the frame 21. 
Instead of having an essentially rectangular cross-section, a container 334 
of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6 has essentially crescent-shaped 
surfaces 334a and 334b which approximate the curvatures of the inner frame 
member 29 and the outer frame member 39, respectively. In this respect, in 
vertical cross-section surface 334a appears as a first arc having a radius 
approximating that of the inner frame member 29 and surface 334b appears 
as a second arc having a radius approximating the radius of the outer 
frame member 39. In applying the ratios given for the preceding embodiment 
to this embodiment, the larger dimension LD of container 334 is the 
average of the two arc lengths and the smaller dimension SD is the 
perpendicular distance separating the two arcs. 
A plurality of containers 333 or 334 (generally designated as 33) are 
mounted in side-by-side relation along the axial direction X of FIG. 5. 
Each of the containers 33 is secured to the horizontal ribs 89 by the 
strapping means 93. Depending upon the expanse of the frame 21 in the 
axial direction X, and upon the axial dimension XD of each of the 
containers 33, the number of containers 33 placed along the axial 
direction X is variable. Adjacent containers 33 are spaced apart in the 
axial direction X to allow room for the interconnecting tube 35 to pass 
between them in route to the other container in each container pair. 
From FIG. 5 it is observed that the containers 33 may be unstrapped and 
detached from the frame 21 by removing them in a radial direction (out of 
the plane of the paper of FIG. 5). Inasmuch as two of the containers 33 
are under the pulley groove 43, however, it is necessary only to remove 
one or more adjacent containers 33 in the manner just described; unstrap 
the container 33 which is located under the pulley groove 43; displace the 
unstrapped container 33 in the axial direction X from under the pulley 
groove 43; and, extract the displaced container 33 in the radial 
direction. 
Another container embodiment is illustrated as container 335 in FIGS. 7 and 
8. In vertical cross-section the containers 335 are essentially square in 
shape. A series of square containers 335 may be spaced apart on the frame 
21 across the axial direction X as described with reference to the 
preceding container embodiments 333 and 334; or, the containers 335 may be 
elongate rectangles extending substantially across the entire axial 
direction X of the frame 21. In this latter instance, each container 335 
may be provided with a plurality of tubes 35 connecting the container 335 
with its companion in the pair. In order to connect the tubes 35 to the 
container 335 on a container surface 335b furtherest from the axis 25, and 
for the tubes 35 to travel around the container 335 as described 
hereinbefore, the adjacent containers 335 must be slightly spaced apart 
around the circumference of the inner frame member 29 in order to permit 
passage of the tube 35 between adjacent containers. 
In the above regard, when using a plurality of tubes 35, either with 
reference to this embodiment or any other embodiment described herein, 
tubes 35 on adjacent containers may be staggered either across the axial 
direction X (although not shown as such in FIG. 8) or any other direction. 
Staggering of the tubes 35 enables them to pass more closely to the axis 
25 without detouring around neighboring tubes. In all embodiments, all 
tubes 35 must be substantially of the same length. 
While the containers 335 may be strapped to the inner frame member 29 in 
the manner of the previously described containers 333 and 334, FIGS. 7 and 
8 illustrate the containers 335 as being welded to the inner frame member 
29 and the outer frame member 39. Naturally, the containers 335 may be 
affixed by other fastening means. The mounting stud 45 depicted in FIGS. 7 
and 8 is directly secured (welded or the like) to the container 335. 
Containers having any of the shapes described above provide more exposed 
surface area and hence promote a faster rate of heat gain or heat loss. 
Further, with reference to the containers 333 and 334, the narrowness of 
the containers along their axial dimension XD promotes a more uniform 
heating of the volatile liquid substance 37 contained in the containers. 
Moreover, orienting the containers so that its largest dimension lies 
along the path of rotation of the frame 21 provides an increased exposure 
time and an increased exposed surface area for the container. 
The interconnecting tubes 35 are fabricated from a material which will not 
absorb or retain heat, such as aluminum, for example. As described above, 
the tube 35 adjoins the container 35 at the appropriate container surface 
such as 333b, 334b, or 335b, as shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, respectively. 
As shown in FIG. 9, the tube 35 is threadingly engaged with a fitting 101. 
A sealant impervious to the volatile substance is applied between the 
threaded portions of the tube 35 and the fitting 101 to prevent leaks. The 
fitting 101 is inserted into the container 33. While not illustrated, it 
should be understood that the tube 35 may also be welded to the container 
33. 
In a further embodiment, the tube 35 comprises a transparent portion 103 
comprised of clear plastic tubing or the like. Through the transparent 
tubing 103 it is possible to see the level (generally indicated as 105) of 
volatile liquid substance 37 contained in the container 33. The 
transparent tubing 103 bears a marking 107 indicative of the desired 
liquid level for the container 33. In this respect, the marking 107 may be 
a singular red ring, for example, or even a series of gradations on a 
scale. 
The body of hot water 51 contained in the tub 53 has already been mentioned 
as one of the means to effect a temperature differential between an 
elevated and a submerged container 33. As seen in FIG. 1, the tube 53 is 
supplied with hot water from a source of hot water 111. An appropriate 
pipe 113 connects the hot water source 111 to the tub 53. Depending on the 
particular configuration employed, a pump 115 may be connected along the 
pipe 113 to insure adequate pressure. 
In the above regard, the souce of hot water 111 may be a hot water heater 
powered by coal, gas, solar energy, or electricity. As shown in FIG. 1, 
the source of hot water 111 is heated by an electrical current supplied 
along line 85 from the rotationally driven unit 49a. 
As the hot water 51 in tub 53 cools, a portion thereof is drawn through a 
pipe 117 to a storage tank 119. Ideally, the storage tank 119 is a solar 
heated reservoir. The storage tank 119 feeds the source of hot water 111 
through a pipe 121. 
FIG. 2 illustrates an additional embodiment in which the means to effect a 
temperature differential further comprises a cooling means, such as a 
sprayer 123 located vertically above the motor frame 21. The sprayer 123 
is supplied with cool water along an appropriate pipe such as conduit 125. 
In this respect, the source of cool water is preferably a subterreanean 
reservoir 127 from which the cool water is drawn by a pump 129 through the 
conduit 125. 
As additionally shown in FIG. 11, the sprayer 123 is oriented to the side 
and above the frame 21 so that the cool water spray 131 is practically 
tangentially incident to the circumference of the frame 21 for spraying 
only those containers 33 which are near the point of highest vertical 
elevation. In this respect, since FIGS. 2 and 11 basically incorporate 
either of the containers of FIGS. 4 or 6, it is to be understood that the 
spray 131 is oriented substantially parallel to the longer dimension LD of 
the containers 333 or 334. If, on the other hand, containers 335 of FIGS. 
7 and 8 are to be cooled in this manner, the sprayer 123 would be located 
at one end of the frame 21 for spraying along the greater surface area 
(along the axial direction X) of the container 335. 
Whatever embodiment of container is utilized, a collecting means 133 is 
positioned across from the spraying means 123 for collecting the deflected 
liquid spray 135 and for returning the same by gravity via a conduit 137 
to the supply of cool water 127. 
A number of thermal sensors 141 may be stationed at various positions 
around the thermodynamic motor structure. For example, sensor 141a is 
positioned slightly above the motor frame 21; sensor 141b is stationed in 
the body of hot water 51 contained in the tube 53; sensor 141c is 
stationed in the storage tank 119; and, sensor 141d is stationed in the 
source of hot water 111. Each of the sensors 141 is connected by suitable 
respective wires 143 to a programmable thermostatic control 145, such as a 
microprocessor. The thermostatic control 145 is in turn connected via wire 
147 to the source of hot water 111 and, when utilized, via wire 148 to 
pump 115. 
Since it is desirable to keep the heat produced at the heating means (the 
hot liquid 51 in tub 53) from rising vertically to heat the elevated 
containers 33 at the top of the motor frame 21, and likewise desirable to 
prevent the cool air produced by the cooling means (sprayer 123) from 
descending vertically into the neighborhood of the heating means, blowing 
means, such as fans 139a and 139b, are positioned near the top of the top 
and bottom of the motor frame 21, respectively. That is, the fan 139a is 
positioned beneath the srpayer 123 for directing a column of air beneath 
the sprayer 123 in the axial direction X. The column of air precludes the 
air cooled by the sprayer 123 from vertically descending. In like manner, 
the fan 139b is positioned above the tub 53 for directing a second column 
of air across the top of the tub 53 in the axial direction X thereby 
precluding the heat contained in the tub 53 from vertically ascending. 
Thus, the fans 139a and 139b serve as thermal bumpers to isolate 
temperature regions. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the fans 139a and 139b may be mounted on any suitable 
support means, such as a stand 140. Further, appropriate vents Va and Vb 
are, one embodiment, positioned directly across in the axial direction X 
from the fans 139a and 139b respectively. The vents Va and Vb serve as 
exhausts and prevent undue condensation from collecting in the operating 
region of the thermodynamic motor. 
In operation, the body of hot water 51 contained in the tub 53 heats the 
containers 33 as they become immersed therein. In this respect, the 
containers 334 and 335 (two of the embodiments discussed above) have their 
larger rectangular dimensions LD oriented along the circumferential path 
of travel 23 so that the larger dimension LD is immersed for a longer 
period of time. Further, the narrow axial dimension XD of the containers 
permit a quick, uniform heating of the volatile liquid substance 37 
contained therein. 
When the volatile liquid substance 37 vaporizes in an immersed container, 
such as container 33a', the vapor travels through the interconnecting tube 
35 to the companion container 33a paired therewith. At this point, the 
companion container 33a is elevated above the axis 25. In one embodiment, 
the container 33a is then cooled by a cooling means, such as the sprayer 
123 of FIG. 2, in order to promote condensation of the liquid substance 
37. Once condensation occurs, the condensed liquid substance 37 does not 
immediately fall by gravitation back through the hollow interconnecting 
tube 35 as in prior art containers, but remains for reasons aforedescribed 
confined in the elevated container 33a so that gravity may attract the 
entire mass of the container around the circumferential path of motion 23. 
The vaporization/condensation process just described for containers 33a' 
and 33a occurs for each pair of containers positioned around the motor 
frame 21. 
As the motor frame 21 rotates due to the vaporization/condensation process 
just described, the pulley belt 47 mounted on the motor frame 21 rotates 
with the rotational velocity of the motor frame 21. Since the pulley belt 
47 is also connected to the intermediate pulley 67, and since the pulley 
67 has a significantly smaller diameter than the motor frame 21, the first 
intermediate pulley 67 and the larger diameter pulleys 73 and 75 integral 
therewith rotate at a much faster rotational velocity. Through pulley 
belts 77 and 79, respectively, the pulleys 73 and 75 in turn impart an 
even greater rotational velocity to to the relatively smaller diameter 
shafts 81 and 83 of the rotationally driven units 49a and 49b, 
respectively. 
the unit 49a may be an electrical alternator, generator or the like 
designed to apply a portion of the power generated by the thermodynamic 
motor back as input for operating the motor. The remainder of the power 
generated by the motor is available via unit 49b to operate whatever 
devices the user may desire, including electrical equipment. During the 
user's offpeak periods power produced by the wheel may be used to maintain 
the motor functions (such as heating water which may be stored for peak 
periods). 
The temperature of the hot water 51 in the tub 53 is continually monitored 
by the sensor 141b. Simultaneously sensor 141a monitors the temperature of 
the air at the top of the frame 21. Signals indicative of the respective 
measured temperatures are transmitted along wires 143b and 143a 
respectively to the programmable thermostatic control 145. 
When the thermodynamic motor drives a rotationally driven unit 49, such as 
an electrical generator or alternator, which must be driven within a 
prescribed range of revolutions per minute (RPM), the thermostatic control 
145 is appropriately programmed with input values indicative of the 
prescribed RPM range and, where applicable, the effective step-up ratio 
contributed by the intermediate pulley(s). The thermostatic control 145 
then computes the rotational velocity of the motor which is needed to 
drive the unit 49 within its prescribed RPM range. Moreover, since the 
speed of the motor is dependent upon the temperature differential between 
the heating means (such as 53) and the air surrounding the cooling means 
(such as near 123), the thermostatic control 145 further computes the 
temperature differential necessary to produce the desired motor speed. 
Upon receiving the measured temperature signals on wires 143b and 143a, the 
thermostatic control 145 checks to determine if the necessary temperature 
differential is being maintained. If the temperature differential is not 
great enough, the thermostatic control 145 checks signals being monitored 
on wires 143d and 143c to determine if the temperature of the water 
contained in water source 111 or the storage tank 119 is not enough to 
produce the necessary temperature differential. If so, the control 145 
activates the pump 115 by sending an enabling signal on line 148. If not, 
the control 145 first activates a heating element (not shown) in the 
source 111 until the temperature of the water contained therein is 
sufficiently hot and thereafter activates the pump 115. 
If the measured temperature differential is too great, the thermostatic 
control 145 activates a pump, such as pump 129 shown in FIG. 2, for 
operating the cooling means (such as sprayer 123). Either alternatively or 
additionally, the control 145 may also activate pump 115 to circulate into 
the tub 53 cooler water if cooler water is known (via signals on lines 
143d and 143c) to be currently contained in either water source 111 or 
storage tank 119. Thus, in the above manner, the thermodynamic motor is 
controlled to rotate at a velocity which ultimately drives the rotatably 
driven unit 49 within a prescribed RPM range. 
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with 
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by 
those skilled in the art that various alterations in form and detail may 
be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. For example, any number of intermediate pulleys may be 
connected between the motor frame 21 and the rotationally driven unit 49 
for stepping up the rotational velocity.