Total energy general optimized engine cycle

• US 6,418,885 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ana Paul, Marius A. Paul
• Original Assignee: Ana Paul, Marius A. Paul
• Inventors: Paul, Marius A., Paul, Ana
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US09/637,506
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 123/458, 123/446, 123/299, 123/305, 123/514, 123/497, 123/25.C
• US Class Current: 123/25.00C
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0644 the gaseous fuel being hydrogen, ammonia or carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0655 at least one fuel being an alcohol, e.g. ethanol F02D19/084 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/0689 for in-cylinder direct injection
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/081 Adjusting the fuel composition or mixing ratio; Transitioning from one fuel to the other
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/03 into the cylinder or the pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 43/04 Injectors peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 49/02 using the cylinder pressure, e.g. compression end pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 57/025 hydraulic, e.g. with pressure amplification
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

A high pressure internal combustion engine having a triple thermal cycle system for improved cooling and combustion utilizing an annular volume surrounding the cylinder having a connecting passage to the combustion chamber allowing air to enter the volume on compression, and a water injection system for injecting water into the volume during initiation of combustion, the water spray changing to steam to drive the air into the combustion chamber during combustion, the air, steam and combustion gases mixing and improving the engine efficiency, the system being combinable with an injection system that conserves energy by pumping high pressure fluid only during the injection process.

Claims

1. In a high pressure internal combustion engine having an engine cylinder and piston that reciprocates in the cylinder with a combustion chamber formed in substantial part by the piston and cylinder;

a triple thermal cycle system for improved cooling and combustion comprising;

an annular volume surrounding the cylinder with a thermally conductive structural member separating the annular volume and the combustion chamber;

a constricted passage connecting the annular volume with the combustion chamber;

a water injector positioned on the engine to inject water into the annular volume wherein on compression of air in the combustion chamber during a compression stroke, air enters the annular volume from the combustion chamber and on combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber and injection of water into the annular volume, air re-enters the combustion chamber through the constricted passages.

2. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 1 wherein the constricted passage is proximate the combustion chamber when the piston is at the end of its combustion stroke.

3. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 2 wherein the water injector is positioned at a location displaced from the constricted passage.

4. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 3 wherein the combustion chamber is circular and the constricted passage is oriented tangential to the circular combustion chamber.

5. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 3 wherein the annular volume comprises a cooling jacket with compressed air heated by the structural member separating the cylinder from the annular volume and injected water converted to steam in the annular volume driving compressed air with the steam into the compression chamber at the time of combustion in the combustion chamber.

6. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 5 wherein the water injector is oriented to inject a spray of water tangentially into the annular volume.

7. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 1 wherein the combustion chamber has a central portion and an outer portion wherein compressed air is squished from the outer portion through the constricted passage to the inner portion when the compression stroke of the piston is at an end.

8. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 7 including a fuel injector positioned on the engine to inject fuel into the constricted passage.

9. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 7 having a plurality of constricted passages.

10. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 9 wherein less than all constricted passages have a fuel injector positioned on the engine to inject fuel into the constricted passage.

11. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 7 wherein the engine has a pair of opposed pistons, one of said pistons having an end with a circular recess and the other of said pistons having an end with an annular crown insertable into the recess, wherein the constricted passage is at least in part through the annular crown.

12. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 1 in combination with a sequential, common rail injection system having a liquid pump, a plurality of injectors, a common rail supplying a liquid to the injectors, an electronic control module controlling the sequential supply of liquid to the injectors, a liquid supply, and an electro-hydraulic valve connected to the common rail with a return bypass circuit to the liquid supply and a check valve between the electro-hydraulic valve and the common rail to maintain a high pressure in the common rail, wherein the electro-hydraulic valve is activated to pump the liquid from the liquid supply to the common rail substantially during periods of injection wherein the liquid pump operates as a high pressure pump and, wherein the electro-hydraulic valve is de-activated substantially during period of non-injection wherein the liquid pump operates as a low pressure circulating pump.

13. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 12 wherein the liquid is fuel and the injectors inject fuel into the combustion chamber.

14. The triple thermal cycle system of claim 12 wherein the liquid is water and the injectors inject water into the annular volume surrounding the cylinder.

15. In a high pressure internal combustion engine having an engine cylinder and piston that reciprocates in the cylinder with a combustion chamber formed in substantial part by the piston and cylinder;

a sequential, common rail injection system comprising;

a liquid pump;

a plurality of injectors;

a common rail supplying a liquid to the injectors;

an electronic control module controlling the sequential supply of liquid to the injectors, a liquid supply; and

,

an electro-hydraulic valve connected to the common rail with a return bypass circuit to the liquid supply and a check valve between the electro-hydraulic valve and the common rail to maintain a high pressure in the common rail, wherein the electro-hydraulic valve is activated to pump the liquid from the liquid supply to the common rail substantially during periods of injection wherein the liquid pump operates as a high pressure pump and, wherein the electro-hydraulic valve is de-activated substantially during period of non-injection wherein the liquid pump operates as a low pressure circulating pump, wherein the injection system includes a pressure amplifier module for each injector arranged between the common rail and the injector and an electro-hydraulic supply valve between the common rail and amplifier module connected to the electronic controls module for controlling supply of liquid to the amplifier control module, wherein the amplifier control module has a large piston with a liquid chamber for displacing the large piston when liquid is supplied to the chamber on activation of the electro-hydraulic supply valve, and a small piston connected to the large piston with a fuel chamber connected to a fuel supply, wherein the amplifier control module has an electro-hydraulic fuel valve between the fuel supply and the fuel chamber connected to the electronic control module, wherein on activation fuel supplied to the fuel chamber is pressurized by the displaced large piston and small piston, and on de-activation fuel pressure is relieved with fuel circulating to the fuel chamber.

16. The sequential, common rail injection system of claim 15 wherein the engine has a plurality of cylinders and each cylinder has an injector, the injectors being operated in sequence by the electronic control module.

17. The sequential, common rail injection system of claim 15 wherein the engine has a single cylinder with a plurality of injectors tangentially arranged around the cylinder, the injectors being operated in an overlapping sequence by the electronic control module.

18. The sequential, common rail injection system of claim 15 wherein the injection system includes a self-injection system including a liquid pumping chamber and a gas pressurizing chamber with a displaceable piston separating the liquid pumping chamber from the gas pressurizing chamber, the gas pressurizing chamber having a passage communicating with the combustion chamber, wherein the liquid pumping chamber has a conduit connected to the electro-hydraulic valve and to the liquid supply with a check valve between the liquid supply and the conduit.

19. The sequential, common rail injection system of claim 15 wherein the injectors have a valve nozzle with a stem valve which cooperates with the nozzle to inject a hollow-conical spray.

20. In a high pressure internal combustion engine having engine cylinders and pistons that reciprocate in the cylinders with combustion chambers formed in substantial part by the pistons and cylinders;

a sequential, common rail injection system comprising;

a first liquid pump;

a plurality of injectors;

a common rail supplying a liquid to the injectors for sequential injection into the cylinders;

an electronic control module for electronically controlling the sequential supply of liquid to the injectors from the common rail;

a liquid supply; and

,

an electro-hydraulic valve unit with a supply passage connected to the common rail with a return bypass circuit to the liquid supply wherein the electro-hydraulic valve unit is activated by the electronic control module to pass the liquid from the liquid supply by the first liquid pump to the common rail substantially during periods of injection wherein the first liquid pump operates as a high pressure pump and pumps liquid to the common rail and, wherein the electro-hydraulic valve unit is deactivated by the electronic control module substantially during periods of non-injection, wherein the first liquid pump operates as a low pressure circulating pump, wherein the sequential, common rail injection system includes a second liquid pump with a liquid supply passage to the electro-hydraulic valve unit, and the electro-hydraulic valve unit includes a solenoid operated valve that on electronic activation hydraulically activates the electro-hydraulic valve unit by liquid from the second liquid pump during periods of injection.

21. The sequential, common rail injection system of claim 20 wherein the electro-hydraulic valve unit includes a poppet and connected piston, wherein the solenoid operated valve controls the supply of liquid from the second liquid pump to the piston for displacing the piston and passing liquid to the common rail from the first liquid pump.