US3878680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heat injection engine apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-11-23
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Granted: 1975-04-22
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Expires: 1993-11-23
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns heat engine apparatus of the static pressure type in which expansion of a charge of high-temperature, high-pressure fluid energizes the power stroke of a reciprocable plunger. The engine apparatus includes a flash boiler operative to produce energizing steam, an engine mechanism that utilizes the steam to convert the heat energy thereof into mechanical energy, a reservoir into which expanded steam and water vapor are returned and from which water is delivered to the boiler, and controls over which both the temperature of the boiler and quantity of water delivered thereto can be regulatively adjusted. In one form of the apparatus, the engine mechanism includes a chamber subdivided into compressor and engine compartments by a diaphragm reciprocable between alternate extreme positions respectively defining maximum volume for the compressor compartment and minimum volume for the engine compartment, and vice versa. The diaphragm is connected with a reciprocable plunger coupled by crank mechanism to a power shaft which is driven by the plunger on the power stroke thereof in response to expansion of a charge of compressed air heated by a charge of steam injected thereinto while confined within the engine compartment. As a part of the operational cycle, the engine compartment is scavenged by cool air directed thereinto, thereby enabling the engine mechanism to function in part as a condenser in addition to a heat engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Hector A Dauvergne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:55
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01K; F01K21/00; F01K21/04; F02; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B2720/00; F02B2720/12; F02B2720/124
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of energizing the power stroke of a two-cycle engine apparatus having relatively movable components defining a variable-volume spaced cyclically variable between maximum and minimum volumes comprising the steps of compressing a volume of air in said space from said maximum volume to said minimum volume during a first cycle period, injecting a high temperature fluid into said compressed air volume proximate the end of said first cycle period investing energy therein and creating a composite fluid mass, expanding said composite fluid mass within said space imparting movement to said movable components until maximum volume of said space is reached during a second cycle period, and injecting a relatively cool air volume into said space proximate the end of said second cycle period exchanging heat from said composite fluid to said cool air volume to condense and expel condensed liquids from said space leaving a volume of air in said space for compression and repeating of said cycles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of energizing the power stroke of a two-cycle engine apparatus having relatively movable components defining a variable-volume spaced cyclically variable between maximum and minimum volumes comprising the steps of compressing a volume of air in said space from said maximum volume to said minimum volume during a first cycle period, injecting a high temperature fluid into said compressed air volume proximate the end of said first cycle period investing energy therein and creating a composite fluid mass, expanding said composite fluid mass within said space imparting movement to said movable components until maximum volume of said space is reached during a second cycle period, and injecting a relatively cool air volume into said space proximate the end of said second cycle period exchanging heat from said composite fluid to said cool air volume to condense and expel condensed liquids from said space leaving a volume of air in said space for compression and repeating of said cycles.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of energizing the power stroke of a two-cycle engine apparatus having relatively movable components defining a variable-volume spaced cyclically variable between maximum and minimum volumes comprising the steps of compressing a volume of air in said space from said maximum volume to said minimum volume during a first cycle period, injecting a high temperature fluid into said compressed air volume proximate the end of said first cycle period investing energy therein and creating a composite fluid mass, expanding said composite fluid mass within said space imparting movement to said movable components until maximum volume of said space is reached during a second cycle period, and injecting a relatively cool air volume into said space proximate the end of said second cycle period exchanging heat from said composite fluid to said cool air volume to condense and expel condensed liquids from said space leaving a volume of air in said space for compression and repeating of said cycles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
159 words
A method of energizing the power stroke of a two-cycle engine apparatus having relatively movable components defining a variable-volume spaced cyclically variable between maximum and minimum volumes comprising the steps of compressing a volume of air in said space from said maximum volume to said minimum volume during a first cycle period, injecting a high temperature fluid into said compressed air volume proximate the end of said first cycle period investing energy therein and creating a composite fluid mass, expanding said composite fluid mass within said space imparting movement to said movable components until maximum volume of said space is reached during a second cycle period, and injecting a relatively cool air volume into said space proximate the end of said second cycle period exchanging heat from said composite fluid to said cool air volume to condense and expel condensed liquids from said space leaving a volume of air in said space for compression and repeating of said cycles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said high temperature fluid is superheated steam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the quantity of said high temperature fluid is one-third the quantity of said volume of air.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
268 words
A heat injection engine comprising means defining a casing having means defining a variable volume space, means for cyclically varying said space therein during a first cyclic period between maximum and minimum volume and during a second cyclical period between minimum and maximum volume, a power shaft journalled for rotation relative to said casing and connected to said means for cyclically varying a space to enable the later to drive the former, means defining an air inlet port, an energizing fluid inlet port and an exhausted port adapted to communicate with said casing and said means for cyclically varying said space. means for opening said air inlet port at the beginning of said first cycle, means for injecting cool compressed air into said variable volume space during a first portion of said first cyclic period at maximum volume of said space, means for closing said air inlet port when said cyclically varying means begins to move to minimum volume, means for injecting a quantity of high temperature fluid in said space proximate the end of said first cycle and the beginning of said second cycle when said space is at a minimum volume, means for opening said exhaust port proximate the end of said cycle and the beginning of said next first cycle concurrently with the opening of said air inlet port and the injection of said cool compressed air into said variable volume space, and means for closing said exhaust port after said cool compressed air is injected into said variable volume space and after spent fluids escape from said variable volume space through said exhaust port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
268 words
A heat injection engine comprising means defining a casing having means defining a variable volume space, means for cyclically varying said space therein during a first cyclic period between maximum and minimum volume and during a second cyclical period between minimum and maximum volume, a power shaft journalled for rotation relative to said casing and connected to said means for cyclically varying a space to enable the later to drive the former, means defining an air inlet port, an energizing fluid inlet port and an exhausted port adapted to communicate with said casing and said means for cyclically varying said space. means for opening said air inlet port at the beginning of said first cycle, means for injecting cool compressed air into said variable volume space during a first portion of said first cyclic period at maximum volume of said space, means for closing said air inlet port when said cyclically varying means begins to move to minimum volume, means for injecting a quantity of high temperature fluid in said space proximate the end of said first cycle and the beginning of said second cycle when said space is at a minimum volume, means for opening said exhaust port proximate the end of said cycle and the beginning of said next first cycle concurrently with the opening of said air inlet port and the injection of said cool compressed air into said variable volume space, and means for closing said exhaust port after said cool compressed air is injected into said variable volume space and after spent fluids escape from said variable volume space through said exhaust port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means defining a variable volume space comprises a generally conical casing portion having an apex and a peripheral base portion in which said air inlet port is disposed proximate said peripheral base portion of said cone, said exhaust port and said energizing fluid inlet port are disposed proximate the apex of said cone and said means for cyclically varying said space is connected in sealed relation to said peripheral base portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means for cyclically varying said space comprises a flexible diaphragm connected in sealed relation to said peripheral base portion of said conical casing portion, and a reaction plate connected proximate the center of said diaphragm and adapted to reciprocate toward and away from the apex of said conical casing portion, said reactor plate defining a conical section adapted to fit said conical section of said casing portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further comprising means defining a reaction chamber at minimum volume of said variable volume space with said energy fluid inlet port and said exhaust port in communication with said reaction chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-21 | 1978-10-21 | 1979-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-21 | 1982-10-21 | 1983-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-21 | 1986-10-21 | 1987-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |