US3672341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air pollution-free internal combustion engine and method for operating same
Assignee: Combustion Power Co Inc
•
Filing: 1970-07-30
•
Granted: 1972-06-27
•
Expires: 1990-07-30
Abstract
Abstract An air pollution-free internal combustion engine and method for operating such engine are provided in which the engine has at least one cylinder, an exhaust port and exhaust valve, fuel, oxygen gas and water spray injectors, a piston in the cylinder, means for cyclically opening and closing the exhaust valve, a fuel storage and supply system for feeding hydrogen gas or a liquid hydrocarbon to the fuel injector, an oxygen storage and supply system for feeding substantially pure oxygen to the oxygen gas injector, means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen, and a water recovery system for recovering water from the exhaust discharged from the cylinder and for recycling the recovered water to the water spray injector. In a typical engine cycle, the exhaust valve is closed prior to completion of the exhaust stroke to entrain some exhaust gas in the cylinder as a working fluid. Oxygen is then injected into the cylinder after the exhaust valve closes and before the piston reaches top dead center on the exhaust stroke, and while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder. Fuel is next progressively injected under pressure into the oxygen contained in the cylinder so that that fuel burns progressively as it is injected to preclude knocking problems. After combustion is substantially completed, the exhaust valve opens just before the piston reaches bottom dead center on the power stroke whereupon water is injected into the cylinder to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas. A portion of the exhaust gas is then discharged from the cylinder through the exhaust port on the exhaust stroke.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard D Smith
- 👤 Dale A Furlong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:02
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02B; F02B47/00; F02B47/02; F02M25/022; F02M25/0221; F02M25/0224; F02M25/025; F02M25/03; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12; Y10; Y10S; Y10S123/00; Y10S123/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 99
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
An air pollution-free internal combustion engine comprising: 1. a least one cylinder; 2. a piston reciprocating in said cylinder; 3. an exhaust port in said cylinder; 4. an exhaust valve in said port; 5. a fuel injector in said cylinder; 6. an oxygen injector in said cylinder for injecting substantially pure oxygen gas as the sole combustion oxidant; 7. a water spray injector in said cylinder; 8. means for supplying a metered amount of fuel to said fuel injector; 9. means for supplying substantially pure oxygen to said oxygen inlet injector in a metered amount at least sufficient for complete combustion of said metered amount of fuel; 10. means for supplying water to said water spray injector in a metered amount sufficient to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas by vaporization of the water; 11. means for cyclically opening the exhaust valve in said exhaust port and then closing the exhaust valve in said exhaust port prior to the completion of the exhaust stroke to entrain a limited amount of exhaust gas in the cylinder as a working fluid; 12. means for injecting said metered amounts of oxygen into said cylinder after closing of the exhaust valve prior to the piston reaching top dead center and while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder; 13. means for injecting said metered amounts of fuel into said cylinder under high pressure, after injection of the oxygen, such that the fuel burns progressively as it is injected; 14. means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen to produce combustion; and 15. means of injecting said metered amounts of water into said cylinder only during the exhaust stroke to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas, without causing substantial cooling of the hot gas during combustion and expansion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
307 words
An air pollution-free internal combustion engine comprising: 1. a least one cylinder; 2. a piston reciprocating in said cylinder; 3. an exhaust port in said cylinder; 4. an exhaust valve in said port; 5. a fuel injector in said cylinder; 6. an oxygen injector in said cylinder for injecting substantially pure oxygen gas as the sole combustion oxidant; 7. a water spray injector in said cylinder; 8. means for supplying a metered amount of fuel to said fuel injector; 9. means for supplying substantially pure oxygen to said oxygen inlet injector in a metered amount at least sufficient for complete combustion of said metered amount of fuel; 10. means for supplying water to said water spray injector in a metered amount sufficient to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas by vaporization of the water; 11. means for cyclically opening the exhaust valve in said exhaust port and then closing the exhaust valve in said exhaust port prior to the completion of the exhaust stroke to entrain a limited amount of exhaust gas in the cylinder as a working fluid; 12. means for injecting said metered amounts of oxygen into said cylinder after closing of the exhaust valve prior to the piston reaching top dead center and while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder; 13. means for injecting said metered amounts of fuel into said cylinder under high pressure, after injection of the oxygen, such that the fuel burns progressively as it is injected; 14. means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen to produce combustion; and 15. means of injecting said metered amounts of water into said cylinder only during the exhaust stroke to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas, without causing substantial cooling of the hot gas during combustion and expansion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
6 words
a piston reciprocating in said cylinder;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
6 words
a piston reciprocating in said cylinder;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
6 words
a piston reciprocating in said cylinder;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
6 words
a piston reciprocating in said cylinder;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The engine of claim 1 wherein said fuel is a liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
6 words
an exhaust port in said cylinder;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
6 words
an exhaust port in said cylinder;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
6 words
an exhaust port in said cylinder;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
6 words
an exhaust port in said cylinder;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The engine of claim 2 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of gasoline and diesel fuel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
6 words
an exhaust valve in said port;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
6 words
an exhaust valve in said port;
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
6 words
an exhaust valve in said port;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
6 words
an exhaust valve in said port;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The engine of claim 1 further including oxygen and fuel storage means and means for supplying oxygen and fuel in metered amounts, from said oxygen and fuel storage meanS to said oxygen and fuel injectors, respectively.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The engine of claim 4 wherein said oxygen storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected storage tanks of high pressure oxygen gas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
6 words
a fuel injector in said cylinder;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
6 words
a fuel injector in said cylinder;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
6 words
a fuel injector in said cylinder;
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
6 words
a fuel injector in said cylinder;
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
an oxygen injector in said cylinder for injecting substantially pure oxygen gas as the sole combustion oxidant;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
an oxygen injector in said cylinder for injecting substantially pure oxygen gas as the sole combustion oxidant;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
an oxygen injector in said cylinder for injecting substantially pure oxygen gas as the sole combustion oxidant;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
an oxygen injector in said cylinder for injecting substantially pure oxygen gas as the sole combustion oxidant;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The engine of claim 5 wherein said fuel is hydrogen and wherein said fuel storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected storage tanks of high pressure hydrogen gas.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
7 words
a water spray injector in said cylinder;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
7 words
a water spray injector in said cylinder;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
7 words
a water spray injector in said cylinder;
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
7 words
a water spray injector in said cylinder;
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
The engine of claim 5 wherein said oxygen storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected insulated storage tanks containing therein liquid oxygen and further including meanS for vaporizing said liquid oxygen, said means for vaporizing disposed between said tanks and said oxygen injector.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
The engine of claim 7 wherein said fuel is hydrogen and wherein said fuel storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected storage tank of high pressure hydrogen gas.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
means for supplying a metered amount of fuel to said fuel injector;
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
means for supplying a metered amount of fuel to said fuel injector;
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
3 words
fuel storage means;
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
3 words
fuel storage means;
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
3 words
oxygen storage means;
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
3 words
oxygen storage means;
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The engine of claim 4 wherein said fuel is a liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
27 words
means for supplying substantially pure oxygen to said oxygen inlet injector in a metered amount at least sufficient for complete combustion of said metered amount of fuel;
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
27 words
means for supplying substantially pure oxygen to said oxygen inlet injector in a metered amount at least sufficient for complete combustion of said metered amount of fuel;
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
32 words
means for supplying water to said water spray injector in a metered amount sufficient to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas by vaporization of the water;
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
32 words
means for supplying water to said water spray injector in a metered amount sufficient to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas by vaporization of the water;
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The engine of claim 9 wherein said oxygen storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected storage tanks of high pressure oxygen gas.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
means for feeding fuel from said fuel storage means to said fuel injector in a metered amount;
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
means for feeding fuel from said fuel storage means to said fuel injector in a metered amount;
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
29 words
means for feeding oxygen from said oxygen storage means to said oxygen injector in a metered amount at least sufficient for complete combustion of said metered amount of fuel;
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
29 words
means for feeding oxygen from said oxygen storage means to said oxygen injector in a metered amount at least sufficient for complete combustion of said metered amount of fuel;
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
44 words
means for cyclically opening the exhaust valve in said exhaust port and then closing the exhaust valve in said exhaust port prior to the completion of the exhaust stroke to entrain a limited amount of exhaust gas in the cylinder as a working fluid;
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
44 words
means for cyclically opening the exhaust valve in said exhaust port and then closing the exhaust valve in said exhaust port prior to the completion of the exhaust stroke to entrain a limited amount of exhaust gas in the cylinder as a working fluid;
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
43 words
The engine of claim 9 wherein said oxygen storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected insulated storage tanks containing therein liquid oxygen and further including means for vaporizing said liquid oxygen, said means for vaporizing disposed between said tanks and said oxygen injector.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
34 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of oxygen into said cylinder after closing of the exhaust valve prior to the piston reaching top dead center and while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder;
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
34 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of oxygen into said cylinder after closing of the exhaust valve prior to the piston reaching top dead center and while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder;
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
7 words
An air pollution-free internal combustion engine comprising:
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
7 words
An air pollution-free internal combustion engine comprising:
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
41 words
means connected to said exhaust port for recovering water from the exhaust gas of the combustion of said fuel and oxygen in said cylinder, said exhaust gas discharged from said cylinder through said exhaust port to said means for recovering water;
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
41 words
means connected to said exhaust port for recovering water from the exhaust gas of the combustion of said fuel and oxygen in said cylinder, said exhaust gas discharged from said cylinder through said exhaust port to said means for recovering water;
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
44 words
means for supplying the water recovered from said exhaust gas by said means for recovering water to said water spray injector in a metered amount sufficient to cool the cylinder wall, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall, and exhaust gas by vaporization of the water;
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
44 words
means for supplying the water recovered from said exhaust gas by said means for recovering water to said water spray injector in a metered amount sufficient to cool the cylinder wall, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall, and exhaust gas by vaporization of the water;
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
56 words
The engine of claim 12 wherein said means for recovering water from said exhaust comprises a deSuperheater, a condenser, said condenser including coils and means for circulating a coolant through said coils, means for spraying water in said desuperheater and means for delivering water discharged from said condenser to said water spray means in said desuperheater.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
29 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of fuel into said cylinder under high pressure, after injection of the oxygen, such that the fuel burns progressively as it is injected;
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of fuel into said cylinder under high pressure, after injection of the oxygen, such that the fuel burns progressively as it is injected;
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen to produce combustion; and
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
14 words
means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen to produce combustion; and
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
38 words
means for cyclically opening the exhaust valve in said exhaust port and then closing the exhaust valve in said exhaust port prior to the piston reaching top dead center and while relatively low pressure exist in the cylinder.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
38 words
means for cyclically opening the exhaust valve in said exhaust port and then closing the exhaust valve in said exhaust port prior to the piston reaching top dead center and while relatively low pressure exist in the cylinder.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
76 words
The engine of claim 13 wherein said means for recovering water from said exhaust further includes a reservoir, means for discharging exhaust and condensate, including water sprayed into said desuperheater, from said desuperheater into said condenser, means for discharging exhaust and condensate, including sprayed water, from said condenser into said reservoir and means for feeding water from said reservoir to said water spray means in said desuperheater and to said water spray injector in said cylinder.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
35 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of oxygen into said cylinder after closing of the exhaust valve and prior to the piston reaching top dead center, and while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder;
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
35 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of oxygen into said cylinder after closing of the exhaust valve and prior to the piston reaching top dead center, and while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder;
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
41 words
means of injecting said metered amounts of water into said cylinder only during the exhaust stroke to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas, without causing substantial cooling of the hot gas during combustion and expansion.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
41 words
means of injecting said metered amounts of water into said cylinder only during the exhaust stroke to cool the cylinder walls, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas, without causing substantial cooling of the hot gas during combustion and expansion.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
22 words
The engine of claim 12 wherein said oxygen storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected storage tanks of high pressure oxygen gas.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
29 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of fuel into said cylinder under high pressure, after the injection of oxygen, such that the fuel burns progressively as it is injected;
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
29 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of fuel into said cylinder under high pressure, after the injection of oxygen, such that the fuel burns progressively as it is injected;
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
28 words
The engine of claim 15 wherein said fuel is hydrogen and wherein said fuel storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected storage tanks of high pressure hydrogen gas.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
45 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of water into said cylinder only during the exhaust stroke to cool the cylinder wall, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall, and exhaust gas without causing substantial cooling of the hot gas during combustion and expansion of the gas; and
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
45 words
means for injecting said metered amounts of water into said cylinder only during the exhaust stroke to cool the cylinder wall, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall, and exhaust gas without causing substantial cooling of the hot gas during combustion and expansion of the gas; and
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
43 words
The engine of claim 12 wherein said oxygen storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected insulated storage tanks containing therein liquid oxygen and further including means for vaporizing said liquid oxygen, said means for vaporizing disposed between said tanks and said oxygen injector.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen to produce combustion.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
13 words
means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen to produce combustion.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
28 words
The engine of claim 17 wherein said fuel is hydrogen and wherein said fuel storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected storage tanks of high pressure hydrogen gas.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
12 words
The engine of claim 12 wherein said fuel is a liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
22 words
The engine of claim 19 wherein said oxygen storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected storage tanks of high pressure oxygen gas.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
43 words
The engine of claim 19 wherein said oxygen storage means comprises a plurality of interconnected insulated storage tanks containing therein liquid oxygen and further including means for vaporizing said liquid oxygen, Said means for vaporizing disposed between said tanks and said oxygen injector.
Claim 86
Independent Claim
282 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a piston reciprocating in said cylinder, an exhaust port in said cylinder and an exhaust valve in said port, means for injecting fuel, substantially pure oxygen and water into said cylinder, means for supplying said fuel, oxygen and water in metered amounts to said injecting means, means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen to produce combustion, and means for cyclically opening and closing said exhaust valve, which comprises the cycle of: a. closing said exhaust valve prior to completion of the exhaust stroke to entrain a limited amount of exhaust gas in the cylinder as a working fluid; b. injecting a metered amount of substantially pure oxygen gas into the cylinder after the exhaust valve closes and prior to the piston reaching top dead center on its exhaust stroke, said oxygen injection occurring while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder, and said amount of oxygen injected being at least a stoichiometric quantity; c. injecting a metered amount of fuel into the cylinder under high pressure, after injection of the oxygen, so that the fuel burns progressively as it is injected; d. combusting the mixture of oxygen and fuel injected into the cylinder; e. opening said exhaust valve after said fuel and oxygen are combusted and discharging the exhaust gas from said cylinder; and f. injecting a metered amount of water spray into said cylinder only during the exhaust stroke, while said exhaust valve is open, to cool the cylinder wall, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas by vaporization of the water without causing substantial cooling of the hot gas during combustion and expansion.
Claim 87
Independent Claim
282 words
A method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder, a piston reciprocating in said cylinder, an exhaust port in said cylinder and an exhaust valve in said port, means for injecting fuel, substantially pure oxygen and water into said cylinder, means for supplying said fuel, oxygen and water in metered amounts to said injecting means, means for igniting the injected mixture of fuel and oxygen to produce combustion, and means for cyclically opening and closing said exhaust valve, which comprises the cycle of: a. closing said exhaust valve prior to completion of the exhaust stroke to entrain a limited amount of exhaust gas in the cylinder as a working fluid; b. injecting a metered amount of substantially pure oxygen gas into the cylinder after the exhaust valve closes and prior to the piston reaching top dead center on its exhaust stroke, said oxygen injection occurring while relatively low pressures exist in the cylinder, and said amount of oxygen injected being at least a stoichiometric quantity; c. injecting a metered amount of fuel into the cylinder under high pressure, after injection of the oxygen, so that the fuel burns progressively as it is injected; d. combusting the mixture of oxygen and fuel injected into the cylinder; e. opening said exhaust valve after said fuel and oxygen are combusted and discharging the exhaust gas from said cylinder; and f. injecting a metered amount of water spray into said cylinder only during the exhaust stroke, while said exhaust valve is open, to cool the cylinder wall, piston, dome, combustion chamber wall and exhaust gas by vaporization of the water without causing substantial cooling of the hot gas during combustion and expansion.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said fuel is hydrogen gas.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said fuel is a liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method oF claim 24 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of diesel fuel and gasoline.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the exhaust valve is closed when the piston has reached a position during the exhaust stroke where about a 5:1 volume ratio remains in said cylinder.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said relatively low pressure in step (b) is less than about 300 psia.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said high pressure in step (c) ranges from about 300 to 1,300 psia.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the amount of oxygen injected represents a 15 percent excess over the stoichiometric requirement.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 22 wherein a portion of said amount of oxygen is injected prior to said cylinder reaching top dead center of its exhaust stroke and wherein the remaining portion of said amount of oxygen is injected after the cylinder has reached top dead center of its exhaust stroke and has begun its power stroke.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said fuel is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, diesel fuel and gasoline; wherein said oxygen is injected, in an amount representing an excess over the stoichiometric requirement, into a cylinder wherein the pressure is less than about 300 psia; and wherein the pressure of the fuel injected into said cylinder is from about 300 to 1,300 psia.
Claim 97
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 31 wherein said exhaust valve is closed when the piston has reached a position during the exhaust stroke where about a 5:1 volume ratio remains in said cylinder.
Claim 98
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the water contained in the exhaust gas discharged from said cylinder through the open exhaust valve is recovered in liquid form from said exhaust gas and injected into said cylinder to cool said cylinder and piston.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 33 in which a portion of the water recovered from said exhaust gas is injected into said cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |