THERMODYNAMIC TRANSISTOR

Abstract

A thermodynamic transistor has a vacuum sealed body that has a top end and a bottom end. A first heater is positioned adjacent the bottom end of the vacuum sealed body. A working fluid fills a portion of the vacuum sealed body from the bottom end such that the first heater heats the working fluid. The working fluid is a liquid at a first temperature and becomes a gas at a second temperature.

Claims

1. A thermodynamic transistor comprising: a vacuum sealed body having a top end and a bottom end; a first heater positioned adjacent the bottom end of the vacuum sealed body; a working fluid filling a portion of the vacuum sealed body from the bottom end; the first heater heating the working fluid, the working fluid being a liquid at a first temperature and becoming a gas at a second temperature.

2. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 1 further comprising a second heater positioned between the top end and the bottom end of the vacuum sealed body.

3. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 2 wherein the second heater is positioned at a midpoint between the top end and the bottom end of the vacuum sealed body.

4. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 1 wherein the vacuum sealed body is a copper tube.

5. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 1 further comprising a heat absorber positioned adjacent the top end of the vacuum sealed body.

6. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 1 wherein the first heater is a pilot light.

7. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 1 wherein the first heater is an electrical resistor.

8. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 2 wherein the second heater is a pilot light.

9. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 2 wherein the second heater is an electrical resistor.

10. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 1 wherein the working fluid is water.

11. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 1 wherein the working fluid is glycol.

12. The thermodynamic transistor of claim 1 wherein the working fluid is a water and glycol mix.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] These and other features will become more apparent from the following description in which references are made to the following drawings, in which numerical references denote like parts. The drawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to in any way limit the scope of the invention to the particular embodiments shown.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a thermodynamic transistor.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a variation of the thermodynamic transistor shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A thermodynamic transistor, generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 2.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a thermodynamic transistor 10 has a vacuum sealed body 12 with a top end 14 and a bottom end 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, vacuum sealed body 12 is rectangular or cylindrical. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, vacuum sealed body 12 is angled. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that vacuum sealed body 12 may be any shape, be twisted or bent as long as the top end 14 is higher than bottom end 16. It is preferable that vacuum sealed body 12 be made of a copper tube, however it will be understood that vacuum sealed body 12 may be made of any suitable material capable of conducting heat. A first heater 18 is positioned adjacent to bottom end 16 of vacuum sealed body 12 to heat a working fluid 20. A portion of vacuum sealed body 12 is filled with working fluid 20 from the bottom end. At least a portion of working fluid 20 in bottom end 16 of vacuum sealed body 12 is in liquid form. Prior to heating, working fluid 20 is at a first temperature and is in liquid form. First temperature may vary depending upon the use of thermodynamic transistor 10. As first heater 18 heats working fluid 20, a portion of working fluid 20 becomes a gas that rises upwards within vacuum sealed body 12 towards top end 14. Working fluid 20 becomes a gas at a second temperature. First temperature and second temperature are determined based upon the type of working fluid 20 used. Working fluid may be water, glycol, water/glycol mix or any other suitable fluid. The amount of working fluid 20 in vacuum sealed body 12 has an effect on the speed at which thermodynamic transistor 10 may heat. When less working fluid 20 is provided, thermodynamic transistor 10 is likely to heat more quickly. This may be beneficial when used in a car to allow thermodynamic transistor 10 to heat quickly. When more working fluid 20 is provided, faster transmission of working fluid 20 may be possible which can translate into higher power transmission.

[0016] A second heater 22 is positioned between top end 14 and bottom end 16 of vacuum sealed body 12. In the embodiments shown, second heater 22 is positioned at a midpoint between top end 14 and bottom end 16. It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that second heater 22 may be positioned in different positions between top end 14 and bottom end 16 of vacuum sealed body 12. Second heater 22 acts to recirculate working fluid 20 above second heater 22 to help maintain the temperature at top end 14 of vacuum sealed body 12.

[0017] A heat absorber 24 is positioned adjacent top end 14 of vacuum sealed body 12. Heat absorber is any item that a user wishes to heat using thermodynamic transistor 10. The temperature of top end 14 is determined by first heater 18. To alter the temperature at top end 14, heat output from first heater 18 must be altered.

[0018] First heater 18 and second heater 22 can be pilot lights, electrical resistors or any other suitable heat source. Thermodynamic transistor 10 may be used to heat cars, houses or anything else that a user wishes. The size of thermodynamic transistor 10 may change and is limited only by available space.

[0019] Any use herein of any terms describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the subject elements, and may also include indirect interaction between the elements such as through secondary or intermediary structure unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0020] In this patent document, the word comprising is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article a does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements.

[0021] It will be apparent that changes may be made to the illustrative embodiments, while falling within the scope of the invention. As such, the scope of the following claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples and drawings described above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.