power converters to generate a mechanical oscillation due to a temperature difference

摘要

1,266,073. Diaphragm pumps. EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY. July 21, 1970 [July 21, 1969], No.35351/70. Heading F1A. A diaphragm pump, e.g. for use as an artificial heart or in space stations, comprises a plurality of tubes 7 closed at one end and open at the other to a chamber 9 on one side of a diaphragm 12, a pumping chamber 13 being on the other side of the diaphragm. An evaporable liquid fills chamber 9 and partially fills tubes 7. The closed ends of tubes 7 are heated by a source 6, e.g. a block of plutonium oxide, and the lower parts of the tubes are cooled, e.g. by blood passing through chamber 8. Vaporization of liquid in the upper parts of the tubes causes the liquid to move away from the closed ends, the vapour then being condensed on contact with the cooled parts of the tubes to cause the liquid to move towards the closed ends, thereby producing oscillation of the liquid in the tubes and reciprocation of the diaphragm. Synchronization of the oscillations in the tubes is effected by pistons 11 which extend with clearance into the tubes and are connected to a common frame 10 for synchronous reciprocation.