Gas-steam generating apparatus

Claim 2

Gas-steam generating apparatus, comprising in combination: a cylinder; a pair of opposed pistons movable inwardly and outwardly in said cylinder, the space therebetween defining a combustion chamber for said apparatus; an hydraulic fluid behind each said piston; an hydraulic sub-system for regulating the pressure in said hydraulic fluid, said sub-system including an hydraulic fluid accumulator, a source of high pressure fluid and a supply line connecting said source to said accumulator, a first valving means in the said supply line operable for pressurizing said accumulator, a second valving means between the accumulator and said pistons operable to apply the accumulator pressure at said pistons, and a third valving means operable to vent spent fluid from behind said pistons; intake valving means for introducing compressed air into said combustion chamber to drive said pistons outwardly and thereby expel spent hydraulic fluid to initiate a cycle of operation of said generator; fuel injection means for injecting fuel for ignition into said combustion chamber upon said air being compressed and heated by the inward movement of said pistons due to said accumulator pressure; water injection means for injecting water into the ignited charge in said combustion chamber to spontaneously vaporize into steam in said chamber; exhaust valving means at said combustion chamber operable to vent gases and steam from said chamber toward a point of utilization; and sequencing means for sequencing opening and closing of said first, second, third, exhaust, and intake valving means, and for operating said fuel and water injection means, said sequencing means being operable to sequentially: (1) open said intake and third valving means prior to a cycle of operation to exhaust said fluid and provide an air charge in said combustion chamber; (2) close said second and third valving means while opening said first valving means to thereby store and pressurize fluid in said accumulator; (3) close said first and third valving means while opening said second valving means to vent said pressurized fluid against said pistons to compress and heat said air therebetween; (4) activate said fuel injection means to inject combustible fuel into said hot compressed air to ignite said fuel and drive said pistons outwardly; (5) activate said water injection means to inject water into the ignited fuel charge to vaporize said water into steam thereby increasing the pressure driving said pistons outwardly, said outward movement driving said fluid into said accumulator and pressurizing said fluid; (6) open said exhaust valve means upon said pistons reaching their full stroke, thereby permitting said accumulated hydraulic pressure to drive said pistons inwardly exhausting said gases and steam.

Claim 3

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said accumulator comprises a piston and cylinder, said hydraulic fluid accumulating at one side of said piston, the opposite side of said piston enclosing a compressible gas.

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the said opposed pistons are freely floating.

Claim 5

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein at least said first, second and third valving means are solenoid operated, and wherein said sequencing means comprises a rotating cam shaft and switches operable by said cams to in turn operate said valving means.

Claim 6

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said third valving means is connected a heat exchanger and storage tank for cooling and recycling said hydraulic fluid.

Claim 7

Apparatus in accordance with claim 2, including a plurality of said accumulators.

Claim 8

Gas-steam generating apparatus, comprising in combination; a cylinder; a pair of opposed pistons movable inwardly and outwardly in said cylinder, the space therebetween defining a combustion chamber for said apparatus; an hydraulic fluid behind each said piston; an hydraulic sub-system for regulating the pressure in said hydraulic fluid, said sub-system including an hydraulic fluid accumulator, a source of high pressure fluid and a supply line connecting said source to said accumulator, a first valving means in the said supply line operable for pressurizing said accumulator, a second valving means between the accumulator and said pistons operable to apply the accumulator pressure at said pistons, and a third valving means operable to vent spent fluid from behind said pistons; intake valving means for introducing compressed air into said combustion chamber to drive said pistons outwardly and thereby expel spent hydraulic fluid to initiate a cycle of operation of said generator; means for introducing fuel into said combustion chamber for ignition; water injecTion means for injecting water into an ignited fuel-air charge in said combustion chamber to spontaneously vaporize into steam in said chamber; exhaust valving means at said combustion chamber operable to vent gases and steam from said chamber toward a point of utilization; and sequencing means for sequencing opening and closing of said first, second, third, exhaust, and intake valving means, and for operating water injection means, said sequencing means being operable to sequentially: (1) open said intake and third valving means prior to a cycle of operation to exhaust said fluid and provide an air charge in said combustion chamber; (2) close said second and third valving means while opening said first valving means to thereby store and pressurize fluid in said accumulator; (3) close said first and third valving means while opening said second valving means to direct said pressurized fluid against said pistons to compress and heat said air therebetween; (4) activate said water injection means to inject water into the ignited charge to vaporize said water into steam thereby increasing the pressure driving said pistons outwardly, said outward movement driving said fluid into said accumulator and pressurizing said fluid; (5) open said exhaust valve means upon said pistons reaching their full stroke, thereby permitting said accumulated hydraulic pressure to drive said pistons inwardly exhausting said gases and steam through said exhaust valving means and toward said point of utilization.

Claim 9

Gas-steam generating apparatus, comprising in combination; a cylinder; a pair of opposed pistons movable inwardly and outwardly in said cylinder, the space therebetween defining a combustion chamber for said apparatus; an hydraulic fluid behind each said piston; an hydraulic sub-system for regulating the pressure in said hydraulic fluid, said sub-system including an hydraulic fluid accumulator, a source of high pressure fluid and a supply line connecting said source to said accumulator, a first valving means in the said supply line operable for pressurizing said accumulator, a second valving means between the accumulator and said pistons operable to apply the accumulator pressure at said pistons, and a third valving means operable to vent spent fluid from behind said pistons; intake valving means for introducing compressed air into said combustion chamber to drive said pistons outwardly and thereby expel spent hydraulic fluid to initiate a cycle of operation of said generator; means for introducing fuel into said combustion chamber for ignition; water injecTion means for injecting water into an ignited fuel-air charge in said combustion chamber to spontaneously vaporize into steam in said chamber; exhaust valving means at said combustion chamber operable to vent gases and steam from said chamber toward a point of utilization; and sequencing means for sequencing opening and closing of said first, second, third, exhaust, and intake valving means, and for operating water injection means, said sequencing means being operable to sequentially: (1) open said intake and third valving means prior to a cycle of operation to exhaust said fluid and provide an air charge in said combustion chamber; (2) close said second and third valving means while opening said first valving means to thereby store and pressurize fluid in said accumulator; (3) close said first and third valving means while opening said second valving means to direct said pressurized fluid against said pistons to compress and heat said air therebetween; (4) activate said water injection means to inject water into the ignited charge to vaporize said water into steam thereby increasing the pressure driving said pistons outwardly, said outward movement driving said fluid into said accumulator and pressurizing said fluid; (5) open said exhaust valve means upon said pistons reaching their full stroke, thereby permitting said accumulated hydraulic pressure to drive said pistons inwardly exhausting said gases and steam through said exhaust valving means and toward said point of utilization.

Claim 10

Gas-steam generating apparatus, comprising in combination; a cylinder; at least one piston movable in said cylinder, the piston cooperating with the cylinder to define a combustion chamber in front of the piston; an hydraulic fluid behind said piston; an hydraulic sub-system for regulating the pressure in said hydraulic fluid, said sub-system including an hydraulic fluid accumulator, a source of high pressure fluid and a supply line connecting said source to said accumulator, a first valving means in the said supply line operable for pressurizing said accumulator, a second valving means between the accumulator and said piston operable to apply the accumulator pressure at said piston, and a third valving means operable to vent spent fluid from behind said piston; intake valving means for introducing compressed air into said combustion chamber to drive said piston rearwardly and thereby expel spent hydraulic fluid to initiate a cycle of operation of said generator; fuel injection means for injecting fuel for ignition into said combustion chamber upon said air being compressed and heated by the inward movement of said piston due to accumulator pressure; water injection means for injecting water into the ignited charge in said combustion chamber to spontaneously vaporize into steam in said chamber; exhaust valving means at said combustion chamber operable to vent gases and steam from said chamber toward a point of utilization; and sequencing means for sequencing opening and closing of said first, second, third, exhaust, and intake valving means, and for operating said fuel and water injection means; said sequencing means being operable to sequentially: (1) open said intake and third valving means prior to a cycle of operation to exhaust said fluid and provide an air charge in said combustion chamber; (2) close said second and third valving means while opening said first valving means to thereby store and pressurize fluid in said accumulator; (3) close said first and third valving means while opening said second valving means to direct said pressurized fluid against said piston to compress and heat said air in front of the piston; (4) activate said fuel injection means to inject combustible fuel into said hot compressed air to ignite said fuel and drive said piston rearwardly; (5) activate said water injection means to inject water into the ignited fuel charge to vaporIze said water into steam thereby driving said piston rearwardly, the rearward movement driving said fluid into said accumulator and pressurizing said fluid; (6) open said exhaust valve means upon said piston reaching its full stroke, thereby permitting said accumulated hydraulic pressure to drive said piston inwardly exhausting said gases and steam through said exhaust valving means and toward said point of utilization.

Claim 11

Gas-steam generating apparatus, comprising in combination; a cylinder; at least one piston movable in said cylinder, the piston cooperating with the cylinder to define a combustion chamber in front of the piston; an hydraulic fluid behind said piston; an hydraulic sub-system for regulating the pressure in said hydraulic fluid, said sub-system including an hydraulic fluid accumulator, a source of high pressure fluid and a supply line connecting said source to said accumulator, a first valving means in the said supply line operable for pressurizing said accumulator, a second valving means between the accumulator and said piston operable to apply the accumulator pressure at said piston, and a third valving means operable to vent spent fluid from behind said piston; intake valving means for introducing compressed air into said combustion chamber to drive said piston rearwardly and thereby expel spent hydraulic fluid to initiate a cycle of operation of said generator; fuel injection means for injecting fuel for ignition into said combustion chamber upon said air being compressed and heated by the inward movement of said piston due to accumulator pressure; water injection means for injecting water into the ignited charge in said combustion chamber to spontaneously vaporize into steam in said chamber; exhaust valving means at said combustion chamber operable to vent gases and steam from said chamber toward a point of utilization; and sequencing means for sequencing opening and closing of said first, second, third, exhaust, and intake valving means, and for operating said fuel and water injection means; said sequencing means being operable to sequentially: (1) open said intake and third valving means prior to a cycle of operation to exhaust said fluid and provide an air charge in said combustion chamber; (2) close said second and third valving means while opening said first valving means to thereby store and pressurize fluid in said accumulator; (3) close said first and third valving means while opening said second valving means to direct said pressurized fluid against said piston to compress and heat said air in front of the piston; (4) activate said fuel injection means to inject combustible fuel into said hot compressed air to ignite said fuel and drive said piston rearwardly; (5) activate said water injection means to inject water into the ignited fuel charge to vaporIze said water into steam thereby driving said piston rearwardly, the rearward movement driving said fluid into said accumulator and pressurizing said fluid; (6) open said exhaust valve means upon said piston reaching its full stroke, thereby permitting said accumulated hydraulic pressure to drive said piston inwardly exhausting said gases and steam through said exhaust valving means and toward said point of utilization.