US3765382A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal/external combustion engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-23
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1992-06-23
Abstract
Abstract In an internal combustion engine the fuel is vaporized before being admitted into the engine expansion chamber, the fuel vapor being produced by fuel vaporizing tubing heated by the hot engine exhaust gases. When starting the engine the heat for vaporizing the fuel may be provided by an electric heater and/or by a fuel fed torch operative with the fuel vaporizing tubing. In starting fuel is fed under pressure to the vaporizing tubing and operates the engine in an external combustion mode, going to the internal combustion mode as the engine reaches operating speed.
Inventors
- 👤 J Vandenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:31
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02N; F02N19/00; F02N19/02; F02N19/04; F02M; F02M31/00; F02M31/02; F02M31/16; F02B; F02B75/00; F02B75/02; F02B2075/022; F02B2075/025; F02B2075/027; F02B2275/00; F02B2275/14; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
An internal/external combustion engine comprising a chamber for the combustion of fuel, a movable compression and expansion member within the chamber and operative to compress working fluid within the chamber and to be moved by expansion of fluid within the chamber for the performance of external work on a member connected to the movable member, an exhaust passage from the chamber through which exhaust gases flow, a liquid fuel receiving and vaporizing element in fuel vapor feed communication with an inlet valve of the engine chamber and positioned in the flow path of the exhaust gases for utilization of heat therefrom for heating the fuel; means for producing vapor under pressure in said element to actuate the engine in an external combustion mode prior to the generation of hot exhaust gases by the engine operating in an internal combustion mode, said means comprising a controllable heat source in the fuel receiving and vaporizing element for production of said vapor under sufficient pressure to operate the engine in external combustion mode when admitted to the chamber, and an ignition device positioned in the exhaust passage for igniting fuel vapor discharged from the chamber to raise the temperature of the fuel vapor in the fuel receiving and vaporizing element upwardly towards the temperature required for operation in the internal combustion mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
An internal/external combustion engine comprising a chamber for the combustion of fuel, a movable compression and expansion member within the chamber and operative to compress working fluid within the chamber and to be moved by expansion of fluid within the chamber for the performance of external work on a member connected to the movable member, an exhaust passage from the chamber through which exhaust gases flow, a liquid fuel receiving and vaporizing element in fuel vapor feed communication with an inlet valve of the engine chamber and positioned in the flow path of the exhaust gases for utilization of heat therefrom for heating the fuel; means for producing vapor under pressure in said element to actuate the engine in an external combustion mode prior to the generation of hot exhaust gases by the engine operating in an internal combustion mode, said means comprising a controllable heat source in the fuel receiving and vaporizing element for production of said vapor under sufficient pressure to operate the engine in external combustion mode when admitted to the chamber, and an ignition device positioned in the exhaust passage for igniting fuel vapor discharged from the chamber to raise the temperature of the fuel vapor in the fuel receiving and vaporizing element upwardly towards the temperature required for operation in the internal combustion mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
An engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engine chamber is constituted by a cylinder, the said movable member is constituted by a piston movable within the cylinder, and the means for delivering fuel vapor to the cylinder comprises an inlet valve, the engine operating in the internal combustion mode operating as a spontaneous ignition engine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel receiving and vaporizing element is in the form of a length of tubing through which the fuel passes, the tubing being encased in a heat insulated chamber into which the exhausted vapor from the chamber is directed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An engine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for producing vapor under pressure comprises a fuel burning torch so located that its flame is directed towards the fuel receiving and vaporizing element, a pump delivering fuel from the fuel supply source to the torch and means for igniting the torch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An engine as claimed in claim 4, wherein means for igniting the torch is an electric spark gap which in addition ignites fuel vapor discharged by the engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An engine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the heat insulated chamber is formed with closable air admittance orifices in the vicinity of the torch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for producing vapor under pressure comprises an electric heater providing heat to the said liquid fuel receiving and vaporizing element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
An engine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said liquid fuel receiving and vaporizing element is in the form of a length of tubing through which the fuel passes, the tubing being encased in a heat insulated chamber and constituting also an electric impedance heating element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An engine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said electric heater is controlled by a current and/or voltage regulator for control of the heat supplied to the said element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An engine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the said ignition device comprises an electric spark gap located at the entry to a chamber containing the said electric heater and into which the exhausted vapor from the chamber is directed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
An engine as claimed in claim 1, and incluDing an inlet valve device for controlling the entry of air to the chamber and thereby controlling change of operating mode of the engine from external combustion to internal combustion and vice versa.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |