US3995531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steam engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-12-19
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Granted: 1976-12-07
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Expires: 1995-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A steam engine is provided including a piston having an upper end portion movable upwardly and downwardly within an internal cylindrical surface of a cylinder, toward and away from a top wall to define a first variable volume space while moving away from and toward annular means in sealing engagement with a lower reduced diameter portion of the piston to define a second variable volume space. A connecting rod has an upper end pivotally connected to the piston and a lower end pivotally connected to a crankshaft. A valve assembly is provided for flow of high pressure steam to the second space and for flow from the first space to an outlet during upward movement of the piston and for flow of steam from the second space to the first space during downward movement of the piston. Preferably, the piston has a lower end portion sealingly engaged with a second internal cylindrical surface of the cylinder to define a third space which is connected through breather passages to the exhaust outlet. Important features relate to the construction of the cylinder and piston to facilitate assembly and to the construction of the valve assembly to obtain highly efficient and reliable operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Zibrun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:52
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01B; F01B1/00; F01B1/02; F01L; F01L15/00; F01L15/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
337 words
In a steam engine, cylinder means defining internal cylindrical surface means having a vertical axis, piston means reciprocably movable in said cylinder means, a crankshaft rotatable about a horizontal axis aligned with said vertical axis and below said piston means, a connecting rod having an upper end extending within and pivotally connected to said piston means and having a lower end pivotally connected to said crankshaft, said piston means including an upper end portion having external cylindrical surface means in sealing engagement with said internal cylindrical surface means and including a reduced diameter portion having an external cylindrical surface in concentric relation to said cylindrical surface means, annular means projecting inwardly from said cylinder means into sealing engagement with said external cylindrical surface of said reduced diameter portion, top wall means closing the upper end of said cylinder means, there being a first variable volume space between said annular means and said upper end portion of said piston means and a second variable volume space between said top wall means and said upper end portion of said piston means, a high pressure steam inlet, an exhaust steam outlet, and valve means operable in synchronized relation to rotation of said crankshaft between a first condition during upward movement of said piston means and a second condition during downward movement of said piston means, said valve means being operable in said first condition to introduce high pressure steam from said inlet to said first space and to permit flow from said second space to said outlet and being operable in said second condition to permit flow from said first space to said second space, said cylinder means including second internal cylindrical surface means along said vertical axis and below said annular means, said piston means including a lower end portion having external cylindrical surface means in sealing engagement with said second internal cylindrical surface means of said cylinder means, there being a third variable volume space between said second end portion of said piston means and said annular means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
337 words
In a steam engine, cylinder means defining internal cylindrical surface means having a vertical axis, piston means reciprocably movable in said cylinder means, a crankshaft rotatable about a horizontal axis aligned with said vertical axis and below said piston means, a connecting rod having an upper end extending within and pivotally connected to said piston means and having a lower end pivotally connected to said crankshaft, said piston means including an upper end portion having external cylindrical surface means in sealing engagement with said internal cylindrical surface means and including a reduced diameter portion having an external cylindrical surface in concentric relation to said cylindrical surface means, annular means projecting inwardly from said cylinder means into sealing engagement with said external cylindrical surface of said reduced diameter portion, top wall means closing the upper end of said cylinder means, there being a first variable volume space between said annular means and said upper end portion of said piston means and a second variable volume space between said top wall means and said upper end portion of said piston means, a high pressure steam inlet, an exhaust steam outlet, and valve means operable in synchronized relation to rotation of said crankshaft between a first condition during upward movement of said piston means and a second condition during downward movement of said piston means, said valve means being operable in said first condition to introduce high pressure steam from said inlet to said first space and to permit flow from said second space to said outlet and being operable in said second condition to permit flow from said first space to said second space, said cylinder means including second internal cylindrical surface means along said vertical axis and below said annular means, said piston means including a lower end portion having external cylindrical surface means in sealing engagement with said second internal cylindrical surface means of said cylinder means, there being a third variable volume space between said second end portion of said piston means and said annular means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
In an engine as defined in claim 1, said valve means comprising a valve body, a valve member, means defining a valve chamber within said valve body for reciprocable movement of said valve member therewithin along a vertical axis in spaced parallel relation to said cylinder axis, and passage means providing communication between said first and second spaces and said inlet and outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
173 words
In an engine as defined in claim 2, said passage means including first passage means between said first space and said valve chamber in a first horizontal plane, second passage means between said second space and said valve chamber in a second horizontal plane, third passage means between said inlet and said valve chamber in a third horizontal plane, fourth passage means between said outlet and said valve chamber in a fourth horizontal plane, and fifth passage means between points in said valve chamber in fifth and sixth horizontal planes, said third and fourth planes being offset in one direction from said first and second planes, said fifth and sixth planes being offset in an opposite direction from said first and second planes, and a plurality of valve portions on said valve member operable in said first condition to allow flow between said first and second planes and said third and fourth planes and in said second condition to allow flow between said first and second planes and said fifth and sixth planes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
In an engine as defined in claim 3, said valve body having a vertical bore therein with annular grooves in said bore in said horizontal planes in communication with said passages, and said valve chamber means comprising a sleeve in said bore having a plurality of sets of angularly spaced ports in said planes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
In an engine as defined in claim 2, said passage means including first passage means extending to said first space and second passage means extending to said second space, said first and second passage means having curved configurations and including terminal end portions in said annular means and said top wall means directed upwardly and downwardly toward the lower and upper surfaces of said upper end portion of said piston means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
In an engine as defined in claim 2, said valve member comprising a central vertically extending hollow portion and a plurality of annular valve portions in vertically spaced relation on said hollow portion, said hollow portion providing communication between opposite ends of said valve chamber and said outlet being in communication with one end of said valve chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
In an engine as defined in claim 6, a second exhaust steam outlet communicating with the opposite end of said valve chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
In an engine as defined in claim 1, breather means establishing communication between said third space and said outlet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
In an engine as defined in claim 1, said piston means comprising a sleeve defining said reduced diameter portion and arranged to be inserted within said annular means, a first member having a generally cylindrical portion within said sleeve, annular means engaging the lower end of said sleeve and projecting outwardly from the lower end of said cylindrical portion of said first member to define said lower end portion of said piston, a second member engaged with the upper end of said sleeve over the upper end of said generally cylindrical portion of said first member and defining said upper end portion of said piston means, and securing means for securing said second member to said first member after insertion of said sleeve within said annular means of said cylinder means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
In an engine as defined in claim 9, said securing means comprising a cross pin, an eye-bolt including an eye portion receiving said cross pin, a shank portion extending upwardly through said second member and a nut threaded on the upper end of said shank portion, said cylindrical portion of said first member having aligned diametrically opposed openings receiving opposite ends of said cross pin within said sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
In an engine as defined in claim 9, a wrist pin, said cylindrical portion of said first member having aligned diametrically opposite openings receiving opposite ends of said wrist pin within said sleeve, and means journalling the upper end of said connecting rod on said wrist pin.
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) | 1979-12-07 | 1980-06-07 | 1980-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-12-07 | 1984-06-07 | 1984-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-12-07 | 1988-06-07 | 1988-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |