US3877220A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combustion engine with reduced emissions
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-03-09
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-03-09
Abstract
Abstract An external combustion engine wherein air compressed in a plurality of cylinders is delivered to a common combustion chamber is disclosed. The hot exhaust gases exiting the combustion chamber of the present invention are returned directly to the cylinders at a pressure which approximates the compressed air delivery pressure. In a preferred embodiment the combustion chamber is divided into two portions and control over the engine output power is achieved either by varying the time of opening of the valves which return the exhaust gases to the cylinders or by means of a variable pressure drop fuel delivery device which operates in combination with a variable delivery fuel pump.
Inventors
- 👤 Mario Girodin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 01:24
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/02; F02F; F02F7/00; F02F7/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An external combustion engine comprising: cylinder means, said cylinder means comprising a plurality of individual cylinders each having a piston and exhaust means associated therewith; a common combustion chamber, said combustion chamber being provided with fuel iNjection means and including internal means for causing a pressure drop of air delivered thereto to maintain substantially constant pressure therein while air is intermittently delivered thereto and exhaust products are intermittently withdrawn therefrom, said means for causing a pressure drop being juxtapositioned to said fuel injection means and the pressure drop resulting therefrom being sufficient to maintain uniform gas flow; means for delivering air compressed in each of said cylinders to said combustion chamber upstream of said pressure drop causing means; and means for delivering hot exhaust gases from said combustion chamber to said cylinders at a pressure which approximates the compressed air delivery pressure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An external combustion engine comprising: cylinder means, said cylinder means comprising a plurality of individual cylinders each having a piston and exhaust means associated therewith; a common combustion chamber, said combustion chamber being provided with fuel iNjection means and including internal means for causing a pressure drop of air delivered thereto to maintain substantially constant pressure therein while air is intermittently delivered thereto and exhaust products are intermittently withdrawn therefrom, said means for causing a pressure drop being juxtapositioned to said fuel injection means and the pressure drop resulting therefrom being sufficient to maintain uniform gas flow; means for delivering air compressed in each of said cylinders to said combustion chamber upstream of said pressure drop causing means; and means for delivering hot exhaust gases from said combustion chamber to said cylinders at a pressure which approximates the compressed air delivery pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said delivering means each comprises: a controlled valve having a valve member and an actuator therefor located externally of the associated cylinder; and manifold means coupling the combustion chamber to the said associated cylinder via said valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the controlled valve of said exhaust gas delivering means each comprises: a valve member having a hollow sealing head and a hollow stem extending therefrom; a coolant delivery tube disposed within and coaxial with said hollow stem; means delivering coolant to said tube; and means connected to said stem for receiving coolant from said valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said combustion chamber comprises: a first compartment connected to receive compressed air from the manifold means of said air delivering means; a second compartment wherein combustion occurs, said first and second compartments being separated by a common partition, said compartments being sized to maintain substantially constant pressure in said combustion chamber as air is intermittently delivered thereto and exhaust gases withdrawn therefrom; means providing a restricted flow path through said partition for compressed air; means positioned adjacent said restricted flow path providing means for injecting fuel into said second compartment; and means for igniting the fuel-air mixture in said second compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said fuel injecting means comprises: a fuel feed jet positioned adjacent the discharge end of said restricted flow path whereby the pressure drop imposed on the inflowing air results in fuel-air mixing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: means for varying the time of opening of said exhaust gas delivering means to thereby vary engine power output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said valve timing varying means comprises: an actuator for each exhaust gas delivery means valve; an axially translatable camshaft; cams carried on said camshaft and cooperating individually with respective valve actuators, said cams being of evolute form; and means for imparting controlled axial movement to said camshaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising: pressure responsive fuel flow regulating means, said regulating means delivering fuel to said combustion chamber at a rate inversely proportional to the combustion chamber pressure, said regulating means interrupting fuel flow above a predetermined maximum combustion chamber pressure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: fuel pump means, said pump means including a variable-pressure variable-delivery pump having a maximum cut-off pressure; and fuel control valve means connected between said pump means and said combustion chamber, said fuel control valve means producing a variable pressure drop.
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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |