External Combustion Engine

Abstract

A steam engine is provided in which exhaust products of combustion from the boiler are introduced into the power cylinder after the expansion stroke. The exhaust products are then compressed providing a heating step for boiler feedwater circulating about the power cylinder. At the end of compression stroke, steam is injected into the power cylinder to drive the piston.

Parent Case Text

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 800,200 filed Feb. 18, 1969, now abandoned.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that the products of combustion from the commonly used internal combustion engine increasingly menace the health of city dwellers. The variable state of compression, heat, chilling surfaces, variation in fuel compounds, etc., each contribute to the incomplete combustion and various chemical compounding of injurious emissions through the exhaust of these engines; but with all these faults it has supplanted the once popular external combustion steam engine largely because of its superior economy of operation. The conventional external combustion steam engines overcome many of the foregoing faults but with poor efficiency. Lately two large companies have expended vast amounts of time and means striving to improve steam engine efficiency but with limited sucess. The chief losses are through the exhaust steam and exhaust furnace gas, with radiation from boiler shell, plumbing, engine cylinder and valve chamber condensation and the continuous addition of cold makeup water to the boiler feedwater contributing further losses.

It may be well to explain "makeup water" is that water that must be added to boiler feedwater to replace unavoidable losses when the load is excessive, through steam leaks, water leaks etc.

OBJECTS OF THIS INVENTION

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an engine utilizing and prohibiting some of the heat lost from furnace exhaust, steam exhaust plumbing and engine condensation cooling and reheating required.

It is another object of this invention to capture the hot combustion compounded condensate for supplying boiler makeup water.

It is another object to provide an engine having a non-toxic exhaust.

It is another object of this invention to provide an engine capable of using a great variety of fuel solid or fluid.

It is another object of this invention to lower mean exhaust temperature of engine thereby improving economy of operation and facilitating condensation of combustion compounded condensate.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a simple valve gear of combined magnetic structure and piston valve providing a widely variable to no steam admission time also permitting variable timing thus providing forward or reverse motion of crankshaft.

It is another object of this invention to provide a steam admission system having the advantage of the conventional Stevenson or the like valve gear; yet one which snaps valves open and closed at all speeds thereby eliminating fault known as "wire drawing" which in conventional systems lowers the acting pressure in cylinder when most needed.

It is yet another object to provide a means of using combustion gas only when engines vehicle is using the engine as a brake in descending a grade, thereby "building" steam reserve by transferring heat of compression to boiler water.

It is another object to provide an engine using few cylinders for any size installation, whereas internal combustion cylinders are limited to certain sizes unless complicating cooling and ignition.

It is a further object to position this engine in such a maner that the combustion gas injection ports will be located in that furnace area where the reflected furnace heat would be focalized and most intense.

SUMMARY

Briefly described the invention comprises an external combustion engine having boiler circulation cooled parts sealably installed within a closeable boiler and furnace and its power takeoff, electrovalve controls, condensing system and boiler accessories are sealably installed outside said furnace remote from severe heat. Oiling is accomplished by injecting oil into the steam just before steam entry into valve cylinders in the customary maner while oiling the outside mechanism is accomplished in the customary maner also. The embodiment herein revealed is sussceptible of a wide range of modifications and or variations without sacrificing any of its underlying principles or salient features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a combination assembly and cutaway view illustrating the internal arrangement of the engine in relation to its flash boiler; the external arrangement of the controls and a symbolic illustration of condensation and injection systems.

FIG. 2 is a stagger cut cross-section of engine parts showing front left cylinder and piston and the right rear cylinder and piston of a V-4 cylinder configuration engine showing steam admission 44 and 40 system and products of combustion injection ports 24.

FIG. 3 is a cross section showing the relation of the piston valve 40 and its opened relation with cylinder 1 also its timed relation to external solenoid valve 67 and symbolized contacts 28.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the manualy operated controls of the timer 17 in relation to the varying width control cam 21 formed on crank-shaft 22.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of electrical contacts 28 to be equally spaced around dielectric timer 17.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of dielectric timer body having a pair of contact points 28 equally positioned; one set for each piston valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 represents a "V" configuration four-cylinder two-stroke cycle external combustion engine having its cylinders, steam valves, cylinder heads and all gliding surfaces enclosed in the furnace of a flash system steam boiler 7. The cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4 with the cylinder heads and the piston valve cylinders having cooling passages 9 in communication with boiler circulation tubes bearing the same number 9 for the circulation of boiler water therein. A flange 46 is formed around waist of said engine and is sealably secured to a gasketed flange 53 on furnace closure 6a. Boiler closure is in turn secured by a gasketed flange to boiler shell 7 as at 63. A controllable relief valve 72 is caused to maintain a closeable furnace while engine is in operation by a spring 74 bearing against lever 73 bearing against gasketed valve 72 bearing against flanged opening in closure 6a. A latch may be caused to hold lever 73 holding valve 72 in open position while "firing up," and released to closed position when engine is in operation. A blower 13 forces a proper mixture of fuel and air into furnace 7 and upon ignition bathes boiler circulation tubes 9 and enclosed water cooled engine parts providing steam and a pressurized combustion process after valve 72 is closed. Hand wheel 71 with extension shaft sealably extending to throtle valve 70 causes steam admittance to appropriate cylinder through communicating tube 42 and piston valve 40 as piston 10 descends valve 40 closes and as steam expands piston uncovers exhaust ports 46 causing expanding steam to exhaust into manifold 45 while said combustion pressure blows products of combustion through ports 24 into cylinder directed by piston baffle 5 toward cylinder head 3 as piston 10 makes its return stroke it closes exhaust ports 46 and from the boiler injection ports 24 capturing charge of said products of combustion which is compressed elevating its temperature which heat is transferred through cylinder walls and cylinder head to superheat cooling water in passages 9. The valve discussed in the fore-going are controlled by the electrical system described as follows: FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the cylinder valve system; internally relative to the cylinder head and externally relative to the furnace, showing the hand control of the electro mechanical gear operation. A dielectric sleeve 17 is formed having a cylindrical cavity in its one end and a rectangular boss having two round pivots opposite and protruding outwardly from each other providing pivots for yoke 30 of control bar to engage. A bushinged bearing is formed concentric with sleeve 17 in said rectangular boss providing a rotatable and sliding engagement with stub shaft 22A on crankshaft 22. Apertures 47 equally spaced, one for each valve, pierce wall of said cylindrical cavity around its circumference; a set of contacts 28 FIG. 5 are provided one set for each cylinder valve 40 comprising a spring steel "T" bar having a dielectric rubbing block 55 secured to its surface at one end and an electrical contact point 3 on its opposite surface; said "T" bar is secured at its other end to said sleeve 17 in such a maner that said rubbing block freely passes through said aperture 47 capable of being caused to spring out-wardly, when actuated by cam 21 on crankshaft 22, causing electrical contact between contact points 23 on said T bar and its companion contact bracket secured astride said aperture 47 on sleeve 17. Lever 19 has a ball and socket rotatable engagement with sleeve 17 control bar providing inward or outward movement of sleeve 17 causing electrical contact engagement varying from none through brief to prolonged valve opening by action of varying width cam 21 on rubbing blocks 55; while actuating lever 18 to and fro provide early or late timing causing counter clockwise or clockwise motion of crankshaft. The closure of electrical contacts 28, as explained cause an electrical circuit 32 from symbolized battery to open solenoid valve 67 collapsing steam pressure in balanced steam valve at 39; steam pressure in compartment 39' at opposite end of valve 40 causes said valve to snap to open position as in FIG. 3 opening passage 44 admitting steam pressure from pipe 42 to act upon piston 10 as described in the foregoing, As piston 10 reaches "top center" crankshaft cam 21 again actuates contacts 28 causing another cycle of operation each cylinders piston performing sequentially in similar order.

In operation, the feedwater to the boiler is circulated about the cylinders to provide a dual function of both cooling and feedwater preheating. Steam and combustion products are exhausted from the cylinder at the end of the power stroke, preferably during a period when the engine is being used to brake a vehicle, are injected into the cylinder. As the piston returns to top dead center the combustion products are compressed thereby liberating heat to the boiler feedwater circulating about the cylinder. At top dead center, steam from the boiler is admitted to the cylinder thereby during the piston into its power stroke along with the pressurized combustion gas. At the end of the stroke the exhaust mixture of steam and said products of combustion are led to a condenser 58 where the condensate from the said products of combustion provide sufficient "makeup water" to be forced into the boiler with the feedwater pump 27.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A power plant comprising:

a boiler for producing steam,

a furnace shell disposed within said boiler,

a burner mounted within said shell for providing a source of pressurized combustion products,

an engine including cylinders, cylinder heads and steam valves,

a piston in each of said cylinders and piston rods operatively connected to each of said pistons,

means for injecting products of combustion from the boiler sequentially into the cylinders at the completion of the power stroke whereby said combustion products are compressed as the pistons return to their top dead center position,

means for injecting steam from said boiler sequentially into each cylinder as the piston return to their said top dead center position whereby said engine is driven by steam pressure and the resilience of the compressed combustion products concurrently,

means for leading the exhaust mixture of steam and combustion products from the engine to a recirculation system

said recirculation system including a means to separate combustion compounded condensate from the exhaust gases

said recirculation means further including a means to supply boiler feedwater with separated combustion compounded condensate,

means for leading said boiler feedwater around the cylinders, cylinder heads and steam valves,

whereby said water is superheated by the heat from the gases being compressed during the compression stroke of the piston

said feedwater providing a cooling means for substantially lowering the exhaust mixture temperature.