Hybrid internal combustion/steam engine
First Claim
1. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft, comprising in combination therewith:
- (a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston;
(b) a plurality of exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston;
(c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder;
(d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator;
(e) means for allowing exhaust combustion gases into said steam generator from said exhaust port of said cylinder and means to prevent steam generated in said steam generator from reentering said cylinder; and
(f) a pressurized steam powered take off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhaust combustion gases into a usable power source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid engine is disclosed which utilizes the heat from the exhausted combustion gases of an internal combustion engine to generate steam externally of the cylinders of the engine. The steam is used to power turbines which may be effectively connected to augment the power supplied by the internal combustion engine or to act as a power transfer medium. The device includes a modified exhaust manifold which incorporates one way valves and water injection ports to enable steam pressurization within the manifold. Steam spent in the turbines is condensed and returned to the system with exhaust gases being vented to atmosphere subsequent to the utilization of their previously wasted heat energy for power production.
57 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft, comprising in combination therewith:
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(a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston; (b) a plurality of exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder; (d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator; (e) means for allowing exhaust combustion gases into said steam generator from said exhaust port of said cylinder and means to prevent steam generated in said steam generator from reentering said cylinder; and (f) a pressurized steam powered take off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhaust combustion gases into a usable power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12)
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7. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft, comprising in combination therewith:
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(a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston; (b) a plurality f exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder; (d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said generator; (e) a first pressure activated one-way valve mounted within the cylinder exhaust port operable to open when combustion gases are exhausted from said cylinder and operable to close when steam is subsequently generated in said steam generator; (f) a second pressure activated one-way valve mounted in each water injection port operable to open due to pressure from the predetermined volume of water in the line and operable to close upon subsequent generation of steam in said steam generator; and (g) a pressurized steam power take-off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhausted combustion gases into a usable power source. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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13. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft comprising in combination therewith:
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(a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston; (b) a plurality of exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder; (d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator; (e) a pressurized steam power take-off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhausted combustion gases into a usable power source; and (f) means for selectively diverting the flow of exhaust combustion gases from said power take-off means to a condenser means in accordance with the temperature of water therein. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A hybrid internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft comprising:
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(a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders to provide a power stroke for the pistons; (b) an individual exhaust port associated with each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for the discharge of combustion gases during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator in communication with the exhaust port of each cylinder having water injection port thereon adjacent said exhaust port of each said cylinder; (d) means for injecting a predetermined volume of water adjacent the exhaust port of each cylinder concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and of the compression stroke of each piston such that the volume of water contacting the exhausted combination gases is substantially vaporized to steam forming a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator; (e) means for allowing exhausted combustion gases into said steam generator from exhaust port of said cylinder and means for preventing steam generated in said steam generator from reentering said cylinder; (f) a pressurized exhaust/steam power take-off means in communication with said steam generator to rotate at least one steam turbine. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A hybrid internal combustion/steam engine having a plurality of cylinders with pistons therein connected to a crankshaft, comprising in combination therewith:
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(a) means for introducing a combustible fuel/air mixture into each cylinder of said plurality of cylinders for combustion to provide a power stroke for the piston; (b) a plurality of exhaust ports each connected to and in communication with a cylinder of said plurality of cylinders, such that exhaust combustion gases are discharged through selected ones of said plurality of exhaust ports during an exhaust stroke of said piston; (c) a steam generator connected to and in communication with each exhaust port having a water injection port therein proximal the exhaust port of each cylinder; (d) means for selectively injecting a predetermined volume of water proximal the exhaust port of selected cylinders concurrently with the end of the exhaust stroke and the end of the compression stroke of pistons associated with said selected cylinders such that the volume of water contacts the exhausted combustion gases and is substantially vaporized into a pressurized volume of steam within said steam generator; (e) a pressurized steam power take-off means connected to and in communication with said steam generator for converting said exhausted combustion gases into a usable power source; (f) a first pressure activated one-way valve mounted within the cylinder exhaust port operable to open when combustion gases are exhausted from said cylinder and operable to close as steam is generated in the steam generator; (g) a second pressure activated one-way valve mounted in each water injection port in said steam generator operable to open due to pressure of water from said water pump and operable to close upon subsequent formation of steam in said steam generator; and (h) a water injector pump receiving water from a remote source and having an equal number of orifices as injection ports in said steam generator such that each said orifice is connected to a water injection port in said steam generator. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification