Generation of hot vapor

Claim 2

Means for generating hot vapor under pressure comprising a compressor having a piston and a cylinder, a combustion chamber to which air under pressure is delivered from the compressor, primary pump and injector means for introducing water into the compressor cylinder, means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, means for initiating ignition of the injected fuel, secondary pump and injector means for introducing an additional water supply to the combustion chamber and means responsive substantially to the temperature of the efflux from said chamber for metering the secondary water supply.

Claim 3

In combination, means for generating hot vapor under pressure comprising a compressor having a piston and a cylinder, a combustion chamber to which air under pressure is delivered from the compressor, primary pump and injector means for introducing water into the compressor cylinder, means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, means for initiating ignition of the injected fuel, secondary pump and injecTor means for introducing an additional water supply to the combustion chamber, means responsive substantially to the temperature of the efflux from said chamber for metering the secondary water supply, an expansion motor connected to be driven by part of the efflux from the combustion chamber and having driving connection with the compressor, and servo mechanism responsive substantially to the pressure in said combustion chamber and operable through a governor device to control the speed of said expansion motor and thereby the output of the compressor.

Claim 4

In combination, means for generating hot vapor under pressure comprising a compressor having a piston and a cylinder, a combustion chamber to which air under pressure is delivered from the compressor, primary pump and injector means for introducing water into the compressor cylinder, means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, means for initiating ignition of the injected fuel, secondary pump and injecTor means for introducing an additional water supply to the combustion chamber, means responsive substantially to the temperature of the efflux from said chamber for metering the secondary water supply, an expansion motor connected to be driven by part of the efflux from the combustion chamber and having driving connection with the compressor, and servo mechanism responsive substantially to the pressure in said combustion chamber and operable through a governor device to control the speed of said expansion motor and thereby the output of the compressor.

Claim 5

Means as claimed in claim 2 and wherein said pressure responsive servo mechanism is effective to maintain the operation of the compressor within a specific speed range, including an over-riding control mechanism operable to restrict the efflux from the combustion chamber to an external circuit should the demand on the system result in the system pressure falling below a lower limit.

Claim 6

Means as claimed in claim 2, including a solenoid under control of switch mechanism actuated by the pressure responsive servo mechanism and operable when starting the compressor to isolate the expansion motor from the combustion chamber until an operating pressure has been established in said chamber.

Claim 7

Means for generating hot vapor under pressure comprising a compressor, primary injector means for introducing water into the cylinder of said compressor, a combustion chamber to which air under pressure from the compressor together with entrained water as superheated steam is delivered, means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber at the inlet end, means for initiating ignition of the injected fuel, secondary injector means for introducing water into the combustion chamber downstream of said fuel injector means, a branched outlet from said combustion chamber, one branch leading to an expansion motor in driving connection with the compressor and the other branch leading via a control means to an external circuit, pumps driven by said compressor and operable to supply respectively the primary water injection means and the fuel injection means, a further pump driven by said expansion motor and operable to supply the secondary water injection means, servo means responsive substantially to pressure in said combustion chamber and operable to control the delivery of the primary water and fuel pumps and the discharge of efflux from the combustion chamber to the expansion motor, further servo means responsive substantially to the temperature at the delivery end of said combustion chamber and operable to control the delivery of the secondary water pump and to provide an additional control over the delivery of the fuel pump, and governor mechanism under control of said pressure responsive servo means and operable to control the flow of said efflux to the expansion motor in dependence on the pressure in said combustion chamber.

Claim 8

Means for generating hot vapor under pressure comprising a compressor, primary injector means for introducing water into the cylinder of said compressor, a combustion chamber to which air under pressure from the compressor together with entrained water as superheated steam is delivered, means for injecting fuel into said combustion chamber at the inlet end, means for initiating ignition of the injected fuel, secondary injector means for introducing water into the combustion chamber downstream of said fuel injector means, a branched outlet from said combustion chamber, one branch leading to an expansion motor in driving connection with the compressor and the other branch leading via a control means to an external circuit, pumps driven by said compressor and operable to supply respectively the primary water injection means and the fuel injection means, a further pump driven by said expansion motor and operable to supply the secondary water injection means, servo means responsive substantially to pressure in said combustion chamber and operable to control the delivery of the primary water and fuel pumps and the discharge of efflux from the combustion chamber to the expansion motor, further servo means responsive substantially to the temperature at the delivery end of said combustion chamber and operable to control the delivery of the secondary water pump and to provide an additional control over the delivery of the fuel pump, and governor mechanism under control of said pressure responsive servo means and operable to control the flow of said efflux to the expansion motor in dependence on the pressure in said combustion chamber.

Claim 9

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means responsive to the discharge pressure of said compressor for controlling said injection of water into the compressor space during compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, and means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber.

Claim 10

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means responsive to the discharge pressure of said compressor for controlling said injection of water into the compressor space during compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, and means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber.

Claim 11

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a sPace into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, and means automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber for controlling the rate of admission of fuel into said combustion chamber.

Claim 12

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a sPace into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, and means automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber for controlling the rate of admission of fuel into said combustion chamber.

Claim 13

In the apparatus defined in claim 7, said means for controlling the rate of admission of fuel into the combustion chamber comprising a variable pump connected to an injection nozzle in the combustion chamber, said means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber comprising a variable pump connected to an injection nozzle in the combustion chamber and means operatively connected to temperature sensing means in said combustion chamber and connected to actuate said pumps in predetermined relation.

Claim 14

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, and means driven by the compressor for injecting said water into the compressor space.

Claim 15

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, and means driven by the compressor for injecting said water into the compressor space.

Claim 16

In the apparatus defined in claim 9, means responsive to the pressure in said combustion chamber for controlling said injection of water into said compressor space.

Claim 17

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, and means driven by said compressor for injecting said fuel into the combustion chamber.

Claim 18

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, and means driven by said compressor for injecting said fuel into the combustion chamber.

Claim 19

In the apparatus defined in claim 11, means responsive to the pressure in said combustion chamber for controlling said injection of fuel into the combustion chamber.

Claim 20

In the apparatus defined in claim 12, means responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor in said combustion chamber for controlling said injection of fuel into the combustion chamber.

Claim 21

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an aiR compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, and means driven by the compressor for injecting water into the combustion chamber.

Claim 22

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an aiR compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, and means driven by the compressor for injecting water into the combustion chamber.

Claim 23

In the apparatus defined in claim 14, means responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor in the combustion chamber for controlling injection of said water into the combustion chamber.

Claim 24

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, an expansion motor connected to drive said air compressor, passage means between said combustion chamber and motor containing valve means, and means responsive to the pressure in said combustion chamber for opening said valve means when the pressure of said mixture attains a predetermined value.

Claim 25

Apparatus for the controlled generation of hot vapor comprising an air compressor having a space into which air is introduced and compressed, means for introducing water directly into said space during air compression, means defining a combustion chamber, means connecting said space to discharge the pressurized mixture from said space into said combustion chamber, means for introducing fluid fuel into said combustion chamber, ignition means for said combustion chamber, means for introducing water directly into said combustion chamber during combustion, means for controlling the temperature at which hot vapor may leave the combustion chamber comprising means for metering admission of water into the combustion chamber and means connecting said metering means to be automatically responsive to the temperature of the hot vapor within said combustion chamber, an expansion motor connected to drive said air compressor, passage means between said combustion chamber and motor containing valve means, and means responsive to the pressure in said combustion chamber for opening said valve means when the pressure of said mixture attains a predetermined value.

Claim 26

In the combination defined in claim 16, speed responsive means driven by the motor connected for variably controlling the opening of said valve means to regulate the hot vapor being supplied to the motor.

Claim 27

In the combination defined in claim 16, a further passage connecting said combustion chamber to discharge into an external hot vapor circuit, valve means in said further passage, and means responsive to the pressure of said mixture for controlling said valve means to control the pressure in said combustion chamber.

Claim 28

Means for generating hot vapor under pressure comprising a compressor having a piston and a cylinder, a combustion chamber to which air under pressure is delivered from the compressor, primary pump and injector means for introducing water into the compressor cylinder, means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, means for initiating ignition of the injected fuel, secondary pump and injector means for introducing an additional water supply to the combustion chamber, means responsive substantially to the temperature of the efflux from said chamber for metering the secondary water supply, and an over-riding control mechanism operably connected to said fuel injection means to regulate delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber to prevent an excessive rise in temperature of the efflux from the said chamber.

Claim 29

Means for generating hot vapor under pressure comprising a compressor having a piston and a cylinder, a combustion chamber to which air under pressure is delivered from the compressor, primary pump and injector means for introducing water into the compressor cylinder, means for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, means for initiating ignition of the injected fuel, secondary pump and injector means for introducing an additional water supply to the combustion chamber, means responsive substantially to the temperature of the efflux from said chamber for metering the secondary water supply, and an over-riding control mechanism operably connected to said fuel injection means to regulate delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber to prevent an excessive rise in temperature of the efflux from the said chamber.