초록 ▼

A heat pump system (10) including a heat generator (15), a heat engine (26) supplied with heat engine working fluid (18) by the heat generator (15) having a heat engine cylinder chamber (34), a heat engine piston (32), and a heat engine piston rod (35), a preheating chamber (31) employing the heat e

A heat pump system (10) including a heat generator (15), a heat engine (26) supplied with heat engine working fluid (18) by the heat generator (15) having a heat engine cylinder chamber (34), a heat engine piston (32), and a heat engine piston rod (35), a preheating chamber (31) employing the heat engine working fluid (18) to heat the heat engine cylinder chamber (34), a compressor (40) driven by the heat engine (26) employing compressor working fluid having a compressor cylinder chamber (46), a compressor piston (44), and a compressor piston rod (47), a spacer (50) separating and joining the heat engine piston rod (35) and the compressor piston rod (47), a sealing assembly (38) associated with the spacer (50) separating the heat engine working fluid (18 ) and the compressor working fluid, and a valve assembly (60) communicating with the heat engine cylinder chamber (34) and controlling the ingress and egress of heat engine working fluid (18 ) to the heat engine (26).

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A heat pump system comprising: a heat generator; a heat engine supplied with heat engine working fluid by said heat generator having a heat engine cylinder chamber, a heat engine piston, and a heat engine piston rod; a preheating chamber employing said heat engine working flu

What is claimed is: 1. A heat pump system comprising: a heat generator; a heat engine supplied with heat engine working fluid by said heat generator having a heat engine cylinder chamber, a heat engine piston, and a heat engine piston rod; a preheating chamber employing said heat engine working fluid to heat said heat engine cylinder chamber; a condensate pump supplying said heat generator with said heat engine working fluid; a compressor driven by said heat engine employing compressor working fluid having a compressor cylinder chamber, a compressor piston, and a compressor piston rod; a spacer separating and joining said heat engine piston rod and said compressor piston rod; a sealing assembly associated with said spacer separating said heat engine working fluid and said compressor working fluid; and a valve assembly communicating with said heat engine cylinder chamber and controlling the ingress and egress of heat engine working fluid to said heat engine. 2. A heat pump system according to claim 1 further comprising, a turbo booster for improving the efficiency of the heat engine. 3. A heat pump system according to claim 2, wherein said turbo booster is powered by heat engine exhaust and operates to reduce back pressure on said heat engine piston. 4. A heat pump system according to claim 1, wherein said preheating chamber is an annular chamber surrounding said heat engine cylinder chamber. 5. A heat pump system according to claim 1, wherein said sealing assembly includes a pair of rolling diaphragms with a pressurized fluid interposed therebetween. 6. A heat pump system according to claim 5, wherein said pressurized fluid is water. 7. A heat pump system according to claim 1, wherein said heat engine cylinder chamber and said compressor cylinder chamber are constructed of a ceramic material. 8. A heat pump system according to claim 1, wherein said condensate pump transfers said heat engine working fluid from a condenser to said heat generator. 9. A heat pump system according to claim 8, wherein said condensate pump has a housing with a cylindrical cavity for receiving a pump piston attached via a driven shaft to said heat engine piston, and input and output lines communicating with a pumping chamber formed in a lower portion of said cylindrical cavity. 10. A heat pump system according to claim 9, wherein said condensate pump is driven by said heat engine inducing said pump piston to reciprocate within said cylindrical cavity and transfer said heat engine working fluid between said condenser and said heat generator via said pumping chamber. 11. A heat pump system according to claim 8, wherein said condensate pump has a cooling chamber, and a cooling fluid is draw into and of out said cooling chamber as said pump piston reciprocates within said cylindrical cavity. 12. A heat pump system according to claim 11, wherein said cooling chamber is formed by an upper portion of said cylindrical cavity, said driven shaft, an upper surface of said pump piston, and a ceramic seal provided in said upper portion of said cylindrical cavity and sized to sealingly interface with said driven shaft. 13. A heat pump system according to claim 1 further comprising, a heat exchanger for receiving heat from said heat pump system. 14. A heat pump system according to claim 13, wherein said heat exchanger receives said compressor working fluid. 15. A heat pump system according to claim 13, wherein said heat exchanger is a triple-tube heat exchanger receiving said compressor working fluid, said heat engine working fluid, and a fluid to be heated. 16. A heat pump system according to claim 15, wherein said fluid to be heated is selectively water from at least one of a water heater and a swimming pool. 17. A heat pump system comprising, a heat generator for heating a working fluid, a heat engine having a housing, a cylinder wall within said housing, a preheating chamber between said housing and said cylinder wall, and a line interconnecting said heat generator and said preheating chamber, whereby working fluid supplied to said preheating chamber by said heat generator heats said cylinder wall prior to the commencement of operation of said heat engine. 18. A heat pump system according to claim 17, wherein said preheating chamber is an annular space between said housing and said cylinder wall. 19. A heat pump system according to claim 17, wherein said cylinder wall houses a piston and is made of a heat conducting ceramic material, whereby heat in said cylinder wall is transmitted to said piston. 20. A heat pump system according to claim 17, wherein said housing is higher than said heat generator, whereby any condensate formed by said working fluid in said preheating chamber is returned to said heating chamber by said line.