Patent US4229943A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4229943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steam engine
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1977-04-20
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Granted: 1980-10-28
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Expires: 1997-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A steam engine wherein the inlet and relief valves are subjected to balanced stresses and the pressure of steam is maintained above the critical point. The engine can be braked electrically, mechanically and with steam; the braking with steam takes place subsequent to the application of electrical and mechanical brakes. The engine is equipped with arrangements for venting the steam path prior to starting, for replenishing the supply of fluid in order to compensate for leakage through the valves and/or from the engine cylinders, and with a control system which partly opens the relief valves and closes the inlet valves in response to actuation of the steam brake.
Inventors
- 👤 Franz Kriegler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:43
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01B; F01B29/00; F01B29/08; F01B29/10; F01B29/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
391 words
In a steam engine for conversion of all kinds of heat energy into mechanical energy; the combination of engine cylinder means; reciprocable piston means in said cylinder means; rotary output means driven by said piston means; inlet valve means for admission of steam into said cylinder means and relief valve means for evacuating fluid from said cylinder means, said valve means including valving means acted upon by the pressure of fluid in said cylinder in an opening sense; means for biasing said valve means to closed positions; means for constantly balancing the force with which said pressure acts upon said valve means in the opening sense so that said valve means is subjected solely to the biasing force of said biasing means in the closing sense both in the open and closed positions of said valve means variable-ratio motion transmitting means for superimposing an opening force proportionate to said pressure upon the biasing force furnished by the respective biasing means so that the action of the latter upon said valving means prevails over that of said pressure at selected values thereof, including selector means movable to a plurality of positions for varying the pressure of steam which is admitted into said cylinder means by way of said inlet valve means and means controlled by said selector means and operative for opening said valve means and for simultaneously changing the degree of filling of said cylinder means with steam in dependence on the position of said selector means; condenser means; pump means; regulating means for relating the pressure in said condenser means to the operation of said pump means so as to achieve an optimum thermal efficiency by raising the condensation point to a maximum or to achieve maximum output by lowering said point to a minimum; and means for controlling the operation of said transmitting means, including speed-responsive governor means for indicating the speed of the engine, torque-responsive regulator means for indicating the output torque of the engine, and transmission and switching means interposed between said regulator and governor means and said transmitting means, and operative for changing the performance of the engine in dependency on the instantaneous conditions by so adjusting said transmitting means as to achieve opening and/or closing of said valve means as a combined function of the indications furnished by said governor means and said regulator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
391 words
In a steam engine for conversion of all kinds of heat energy into mechanical energy; the combination of engine cylinder means; reciprocable piston means in said cylinder means; rotary output means driven by said piston means; inlet valve means for admission of steam into said cylinder means and relief valve means for evacuating fluid from said cylinder means, said valve means including valving means acted upon by the pressure of fluid in said cylinder in an opening sense; means for biasing said valve means to closed positions; means for constantly balancing the force with which said pressure acts upon said valve means in the opening sense so that said valve means is subjected solely to the biasing force of said biasing means in the closing sense both in the open and closed positions of said valve means variable-ratio motion transmitting means for superimposing an opening force proportionate to said pressure upon the biasing force furnished by the respective biasing means so that the action of the latter upon said valving means prevails over that of said pressure at selected values thereof, including selector means movable to a plurality of positions for varying the pressure of steam which is admitted into said cylinder means by way of said inlet valve means and means controlled by said selector means and operative for opening said valve means and for simultaneously changing the degree of filling of said cylinder means with steam in dependence on the position of said selector means; condenser means; pump means; regulating means for relating the pressure in said condenser means to the operation of said pump means so as to achieve an optimum thermal efficiency by raising the condensation point to a maximum or to achieve maximum output by lowering said point to a minimum; and means for controlling the operation of said transmitting means, including speed-responsive governor means for indicating the speed of the engine, torque-responsive regulator means for indicating the output torque of the engine, and transmission and switching means interposed between said regulator and governor means and said transmitting means, and operative for changing the performance of the engine in dependency on the instantaneous conditions by so adjusting said transmitting means as to achieve opening and/or closing of said valve means as a combined function of the indications furnished by said governor means and said regulator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
116 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said selector means includes adjustable cam means for controlling the movement of said valve means, starter means movable between a zero position and a plurality of working positions, means including a control shaft for effecting opening of said relief valve means and closing of said inlet valve means in said zero position, and means for releasably holding said starter means in the selected position and wherein said transmitting means further includes brake means for braking the engine, brake actuating means, and means for moving said cam means to neutral position in response to actuation of said brake means for discontinuing the driving operation of the engine during the braking thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination of claim 2, wherein said brake means includes a steam-operated brake and at least one additional brake, and further comprising means for applying said steam-operated brake including means for adjusting said relief valve means to throttle the flow of fluid therethrough and for adjusting said inlet valve means to admit fluid into said cylinder, preferably in dependency on the braking action of said additional brake.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said biasing means is a hydraulically operated biasing means including means for pressurizing the hydraulic medium, piston means for biasing said valve means in response to the action of pressurized medium and means for eliminating clearances between said valve means and said biasing means when the engine is idle or while the engine is running.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said torque-operated regulator means includes damping means, axially or radially movable resilient means and means for changing the stress upon said resilient means in dependency on the magnitude of torque.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising evaporator means having a first heating section in direct contact with condensate, a plenum chamber, and a latent heat storing section at least partially surrounding said first section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said condenser means contains a supply of porous material of high heat conductivity for the passage of steam and means for cooling the steam, said cooling means being in heat-conducting contact with said porous material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising means for replenishing the supply of fluid to compensate for losses due to leakage from said cylinder means and/or valve means, including control pump means, a collecting vessel for condensate having an overflow opening for admission of condensate to said control pump means, a reservoir for condensate, and control means interposed between said first mentioned pump means and said control pump means for connecting said reservoir with said first mentioned pump means when said control pump means receives condensate from said vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 8, wherein said control pump means comprises steam-operated twin piston pump means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising regulator means for said pump means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising means for aerating said cylinder means prior to starting of the engine.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 11, wherein said aerating means comprises damper means and means for deactivating said aerating means in response to rise of fluid temperature to a predetermined value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said piston means comprises crosshead means and roller bearing means for said crosshead means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said cylinder means includes a plurality of cylinders in X-formation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The combination of claim 1, wherein said piston means comprises a plurality of sealing rings and at least one slip ring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising means for heating the fluid prior to starting of the engine, including a source of evaporable fuel, means for evaporating said fuel, and means for conveying the gaseous fuel to a combustion station.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 1, further comprising means for heating the fluid, means for monitoring the temperature of fluid, and means for actuating said heating means when the temperature of fluid is below a predetermined range.
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) | 1983-10-28 | 1984-04-28 | 1984-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-28 | 1988-04-28 | 1988-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-28 | 1992-04-28 | 1992-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |