Solid fuel internal combustion engine

Claim 2

A solid fuel internal combustion engine comprising: a tank for storing particulated solid fuel therein, a combustion chamber positioned proximate to said tank including grate means for dividing the combustion chamber into a combustion zone for receiving solid fuel and an ash collection zone therebelow, said solid fuel being preheated by the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber, means for controllably conducting a combusting agent directly into the solid fuel in said combustion chamber solely by a nozzle located above said grate means and in direct contact with the solid fuel in the combustion zone so that a combustion area is formed within said combustion zone radially around the nozzle, the combustion area having a size extending radially about said nozzle relative to the quantity of inflowing combusting agent, and a power turbine for controllably receiving exhaust gases from said combustion chamber, said power turbine driving a utilization device.

Claim 3

The solid fuel internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein said means for controllably conducting said combusting agent to said combustion chamber includes an air compressor, and means receiving a portion of the exhaust gases from said combustion chamber for driving said air compressor.

Claim 4

The solid fuel internal combustion engine of claim 2 wherein said means for controllably conducting a combusting agent to said combustion chamber further comprises means for controlling the rate of rotation of said air compressor.

Claim 5

The solid fuel internal combustion engine of claim 3 further comprising means associated with said compressor rate controlling means for controlling the input of the combusting agent to said air compressor.

Claim 6

The solid fuel internal combustion engine of claim 4 wherein said combusting agent is oxygen.

Claim 7

The solid fuel internal combustion engine of claim 5 wherein said solid fuel is particulated wood.

Claim 8

The solid fuel internal combustion engine of claim 5 wherein said means for controlling said power turbine includes at least one throttle for limiting the pressure of the exhaust gases entering said power turbine.

Claim 9

The solid fuel internal combustion engine of claim 7 further comprising means for igniting said solid fuel in said combustion chamber when said engine is started, said means including a volatile ignition fuel, said fuel being coupled to said compressed air, and means for igniting said fuel as said fuel is coupled to said combustion chamber.

Claim 10

The solid fuel internal combustion engine of claim 8 further comprising means for moving said particulated solid fuel toward said combustion chamber as said fuel is burnt therein.

Claim 11

A solid fuel internal combustion engine comprising an elongated tank for storing solid fuel, wall means depending from one end of said tank for defining a chamber below and in communication with said tank, a removable cover attached to the bottom of said depending wall means for closing the chamber, a perforated grate positioned within and extending across said depending wall means defining a combustion area above the grate and an ash collection area therebelow; fuel feeding means positioned within said elongated tank for maintaining pressure on the fuel within said elongated tank beginning at a point in said tank at the end opposite the combustion area and for moving the fuel toward the combustion area so that fuel approaching the combustion area is preheated by combustion gases rising therefrom; supply means for controllably supplying a combustion agent solely to the combustion area by a nozzle positioned centrally of and extending vertically above said grate to thereby control the quantity of fuel actually being ignited radially about said nozzle, said supply means including a compressor turbine for compressing the combustion agent, said compressor turbine having an inlet and outlet, a conduit connecting said nozzle to the outlet of said compressor turbine so that as solid fuel is pushed in said tank it will fill the combustion area and surround said nozzle and combustion thereof will extend radially about said nozzle with the size of the fuel actually ignited being controlled by the quantity of combustion agent being supplied through said nozzle, control means for controlling the quantity of combustion agent being compressed and discharged by said compressor turbine; turbine drive means for driving said compressor turbine, a conduit connecting said combustion zone with said turbine drive means so that a portion of the combustion exhaust gases can be conducted from the combustion zone to said turbine drive means and power turbine means for controllably receiving the remaining portion of exhaust gases from said combustion area, said power turbine driving a utilization device.

Claim 12

A solid fuel internal combustion engine comprising an elongated tank for storing solid fuel, wall means depending from one end of said tank for defining a chamber below and in communication with said tank, a removable cover attached to the bottom of said depending wall means for closing the chamber, a perforated grate positioned within and extending across said depending wall means defining a combustion area above the grate and an ash collection area therebelow; fuel feeding means positioned within said elongated tank for maintaining pressure on the fuel within said elongated tank beginning at a point in said tank at the end opposite the combustion area and for moving the fuel toward the combustion area so that fuel approaching the combustion area is preheated by combustion gases rising therefrom; supply means for controllably supplying a combustion agent solely to the combustion area by a nozzle positioned centrally of and extending vertically above said grate to thereby control the quantity of fuel actually being ignited radially about said nozzle, said supply means including a compressor turbine for compressing the combustion agent, said compressor turbine having an inlet and outlet, a conduit connecting said nozzle to the outlet of said compressor turbine so that as solid fuel is pushed in said tank it will fill the combustion area and surround said nozzle and combustion thereof will extend radially about said nozzle with the size of the fuel actually ignited being controlled by the quantity of combustion agent being supplied through said nozzle, control means for controlling the quantity of combustion agent being compressed and discharged by said compressor turbine; turbine drive means for driving said compressor turbine, a conduit connecting said combustion zone with said turbine drive means so that a portion of the combustion exhaust gases can be conducted from the combustion zone to said turbine drive means and power turbine means for controllably receiving the remaining portion of exhaust gases from said combustion area, said power turbine driving a utilization device.

Claim 13

An internal combustion engine as in claim 10 further including relief valve means for relieving pressure within said tank.

Claim 14

An internal combustion engine as in claim 10 wherein said utility device comprises an automobile.

Claim 15

An internal combustion engine as in claim 10 wherein said fuel feeding means for moving the particulate solid fuel includes a pusher plate, a screw member rotatably mounted within said tank, said pusher plate threadedly engaging said screw member and drive means for rotating said screw member.