Abstract:
A thermal torque engine comprising a hot box heated by a thermal agent and a wheel having a plurality of peripherally mounted canisters with diametrically opposed canisters connected by a conduit. One of the pair of canisters having a quantity of refrigerant that is pressurized when within the hot box. The pressurized refrigerant moves to the cooler canister with the process continuing for subsequent paired canisters as long as there is a predetermined thermal difference between the interior and exterior of the hot box.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to engines and, more specifically, to a thermal torque engine comprising a heated enclosure, hereinafter referred to as a hot box, and a wheel that is partially enclosed within the hot box having a plurality of arrayed canisters with diametrically opposed canister in conduit communication. Substantially half of the canisters contain a refrigerant material so that when a canister passes into the hot box, the refrigerant is heated wherethen the pressurized refrigerant moves to its conjoined canister outside of the hot box causing the wheel to turn by virtue of the thermal fluid transfer, gravity and imbalanced transfer of weight wherethen the cooler refrigerant enters the heated box thereby again heating the refrigerant that moves to the cooler canister with this process continuing as long as there is a predetermined thermal difference between the inside and outside of the thermal box. The present invention further provides that naturally occurring thermal energy is used as the thermal agent to increase the temperature within the hot box. Additionally the present invention provides for alternate fuel sources, such as, wood, gas, propane, etc. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other engines which provide for harvesting naturally occurring renewable energy. While these engines may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     It is thus desirable to provide an engine having a plurality of diametrically conjoined canisters, one having a predetermined amount of refrigerant therein, fastened to a wheel with a portion of the wheel enclosed by a hot box so that the temperature difference between the interior and exterior of the box pressurizes the refrigerant causing the refrigerant to move from the canister within the box through conduit to the canister outside the box resulting in a weight differential/imbalance creating torque causing the wheel to incrementally turn in repetitive fashion as each of the canisters is driven between the heat laden hot box and the cooler exterior ambient temperature. 
     It is further desirable to preferably use naturally occurring thermal energy to heat a thermal agent that is channeled through the hot box creating a temperature difference needed to pressurize the canister refrigerant. The temperature difference within the hot box can also be generated through alternate fuel sources, such as wood, gas and propane. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to generate electricity through a thermal torque engine. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine comprising an enclosure that is heated by a thermal agent and a wheel having a plurality of peripherally mounted canisters with diametrically opposed canisters connected by conduit with one of the pair having a quantity of refrigerant that is pressurized when within the hot box, with the pressurized refrigerant moving to the cooler canister with the process continuing for subsequent paired canisters as long as there is a predetermined thermal difference between the interior and exterior of the hot box. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein diametrically opposed canisters connected by conduit is a set of fluidly connected canisters on each end of a common conduit. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine further comprising an alternator/generator driven through a mechanical linkage between said wheel and said alternator/generator. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine that uses thermal energy to heat a thermal agent that is channeled through the thermally insulated hot box to create a heated environment for pressurizing a canister&#39;s refrigerant. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein the thermal energy is selected from naturally occurring thermal energy. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein said thermal channeling agent is selected from water, glycol or oil. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein said hot box provides slotted apertures allowing movement of the spoked wheel therethrough. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein said hot box provides tensioned gated slots fastened to said slotted apertures allowing the wheel to push through a gated slot with the tensioned gate closing, by virtue of the tensioning member, once the wheel passes through the gated slot thereby minimizing thermal energy loss through the slotted aperture. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein said hot box provides brush-like members or cloth fastened to said slotted apertures allowing the wheel slats to pass through the brush bristles thereby minimizing thermal energy loss through the slotted aperture. 
     Additionally, a collar gasket ring is positioned at the center of the wheel so that the collar gasket ring rides close to the hot box preventing heat loss. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein said hot box optionally provides a radiator channeling a thermal agent imbued with thermal energy as a heat source for heating said hot box. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein said canister optionally provides surface enhancement, such as fins or ribbing, to dissipate and absorb the canisters thermal energy. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine wherein said wheel optionally provides weights fastened to the periphery to increase torque as the wheel turns. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine that uses naturally occurring thermal energy to heat a thermal agent that is channeled through the hot box to heat the hot box. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal torque engine that uses alternate fuels, such as wood, gas and propane to heat a thermal agent channeling through the hot box. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a thermal torque engine having a heated hot box, and a wheel that is partially encompassed by the hot box with a plurality of arrayed diametrically opposed canister(s) in conduit communication whereby a refrigerant material movable between the canisters is pressurized within the hot box with the pressurized refrigerant moving to its conjoined canister(s) outside of the hot box causing the wheel to turn by virtue of the thermal fluid transfer and the weight imbalance caused by the fluid transfer. The cooler refrigerant re-enters the heated box thereby again heating the refrigerant that moves to the cooler canister with this process continuing as long as there is a predetermined thermal difference between the inside and outside of the thermal box. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of an enablement of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative sectional view of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrated view of the thermal torque engine. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrated view of electricity generation using the thermal torque engine. 
         FIG. 7  is an illustrated view of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrated view of an additional element of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an assembled view of the alternate canister enablement of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the alternate canister enablement of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the alternate canister enablement of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an illustrated view of an alternate multi-chambered canister of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross sectional view taken along  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12  of an alternate multi-chambered canister of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the thermal torque engine of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
       10  thermal torque engine     12  alternator/generator     14  wheel of engine  10       16  canister of engine  10       18  hot box of engine  10       20  refrigerant of engine  10       22  conduit of engine  10       24  hot water panel     26  insulated storage tank     28  heat pump     30  radiator in hot box  18       32  collar ring gasket     34  flap door on hot box  18       35  axle     36  fin on canister  16       37  belt drive     38  capacitor/battery     40  grid inverter     42  pulley     44  weight on wheel  14       46  housing of  16       48  cover of  46       50  chambers of  46       51  ribbing     52  conduit aperture of  46       54  sliding fin channel of  46       56  sliding fin/structural supports of  46     

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the torque engine of the present invention. The present invention is a torque engine  10  using thermal energy and gravity to create torque, which can be used as motive force to drive an electricity generating device, such as, an alternator or generator  12 . The torque engine  10  comprises a wheel  14  having a plurality of opposingly mated canisters  16  and a hot box  18  that partially encloses a portion of the wheel  14  with the enclosed portion of the hot box  18  creating a temperature difference between the wheel bound canisters  16  within the enclosed portion of the hot box  18  and those outside the hot box  18  causing a working fluid (refrigerant or similar fluids)  20  within the hot box  18  to pressurize then move through a conduit  22  to its opposing canister  16 , whereby as the canister  16  becomes heavier due to the entering cooling liquid refrigerant  20 . The wheel  14  incrementally moves creating torque in repetitive fashion as each of the canisters  16  is driven between the heat laden hot box  18  and the cooler exterior ambient temperature. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of an enablement of the torque engine of the present invention. Shown is an enablement of the torque engine  10  using naturally occurring thermal energy to heat the substantially enclosed space of the hot box  18 , thereby creating a temperature difference between the canisters  16  within the hot box  18  and those outside of the hot box  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of torque engine of the present invention. Illustrated is another enablement of the torque engine  10  using naturally occurring thermal energy to heat the substantially enclosed space of the hot box  18 , thereby creating a temperature difference between the canisters  16  within the hot box  18  and those outside of the hot box  18 . Shown is the torque engine  10  using a hot water panel  24  and insulated hot water storage tank  26  to heat the water that is then circulated to and from the hot box  18 . Also shown is the torque engine  10  using thermal heat from air or ground and a heat pump  28 , thereby creating a temperature difference between the interior and exterior of the hot box  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  is an illustrative sectional view of the torque wheel of the present invention. The working fluid  20  within a pair of connected canisters  16  moves from the canister  16  within the hot box  18  to its opposing canister  16  outside of the hot box  18  by virtue of the temperature/pressure differential between the canisters  16  resulting in a weight differential between the canisters  16  causing the wheel  14  to turn. The thermal engine  10  of the present invention alternately provides for other heat sources, such as wood, gas, propane, etc. delivered via a hydronic heating system of radiators  30  inside the hot box  18 . Furthermore, the hot box exterior canisters  16  can be cooled by ambient air or water. The spoke opening in the hot box  18  is sealed via rubber or cloth collar gasket ring  32  and rides against the top of the hot box  18 . The canisters  16  enter and exit through double flap doors  34  located in the bottom entrance and the top exit of the hot box  18 . The wheel  14  has an axle  35  that rotates within the hot box  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5  is an illustrated view of the thermal engine. The “minion cans” or canisters  16  have heat sinks, thermal surface enhancements, or fins  34  attached to facilitate heating and cooling. The speed and movement of the wheel  14  is determined by the temperature difference between the ambient air and hot box  18 . Gravity and inertia are also factors in the speed and movement of the wheel  14  along with the flow rate of the working fluid  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  is an illustrated view of electricity generation using the torque engine. The wheel  14  generates torque, the torque is a motive force driving the alternator/generator  12  by a mechanical linkage, via a belt drive  37  between torque wheel  14  and alternator/generator  12  generating electricity that can be stored, via a capacitor or battery  38  or alternately via a thermal hot water storage tank  26 , until needed or synchronized through an inverter  40  back into the power or grid used directly on site. The proper rpm will be obtained by the use of one or more pulleys  42  to obtain the desired gear ratio and rpm. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  is an illustrated view of the thermal wheel of the present invention. The sister set of canisters  16  are mounted to the wheel  14 . The canister  16  within the hot box  18  is heated, causing the heated refrigerant  20  to increase in pressure forcing the liquid refrigerant  20  into the cooler canister  16  outside the hot box  18  (thermal energy transfer) causing the wheel  14  to turn by virtue of the thermal fluid transfer and shifting of weight, whereby the cooler refrigerant  20  enters the hot box  18  thereby again heating the refrigerant  20  that moves to the cooler canisters  16 , with this process continuing as long as there is a predetermined thermal difference between the inside and outside of the hot box  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  is an illustrated view of an additional element of the thermal wheel of the present invention. Illustrated is a pair of canisters  16  in fluid communication with a second pair of canisters  16  with each pair mounted to the wheel  14 . The pair of canisters  16  within the hot box  18  are heated causing the heated refrigerant  20  to increase in pressure forcing the liquid refrigerant  20  into the cooler pair of sister canisters  16  outside the hot box  18  (thermal energy transfer) causing the wheel  14  to turn by virtue of the thermal fluid transfer and shifting of the liquid weight, whereby the cooler refrigerant  20  enters the hot box  18 , thereby again heating the refrigerant  20  that moves to the cooler canisters  16  with this process continuing as long as there is a predetermined thermal difference between the inside and outside of the hot box  18 . Further envisioned is mixing and/or bonding the refrigerant  20  with a heavier than refrigerant component that moves or washes with the working fluid. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9  through  FIG. 11 , shown is an alternate enablement of the canister of the present invention.  FIG. 9  depicts an assembled view of the alternate canister enablement where the canister  16  has chambers  50  within housing  46  and covers  48  with housing aperture  52  serving as ingress and egress port for the conduit movement of refrigerant  20 .  FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the alternate enablement of the engine canister without the end covers showing housing  46  having a plurality of chambers  50  formed by sliding fins  56  matingly engaging sliding fin channels  54 .  FIG. 11  is an exploded view of the alternate enablement of the engine canister  16  with the covers  48  removed showing the housing  46  having chambers  50 . Also shown are sliding fin channels  54  forming a seat for sliding fin structural supports  56  that can also serves as a heat transfer mechanism. The sliding fin channels  54  and structural supports  56  have matingly engageable flanges. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12  through  FIG. 13 , shown is an alternate multi-chambered canister of the thermal torque engine of the present invention. The housing  46  comprises a plurality of conjoined chambers  50  between top and bottom covers  48 , as shown in  FIG. 12 , with ingress and egress ports  52  for the movement of refrigerant  20 . The plurality of spaced apart chambers  50  have ribbed heat enhanced thermal transfer covers  48 , shown in  FIG. 13 , to enhance the thermal transfer between the thermal agent  20  and the canister  16 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.