Engine having external combustion chamber

• US 6,490,854 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2002
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey S. Melcher
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey S. Melcher
• Inventors: Mehail, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): KOCZO JR, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/119,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20020112464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 244 Days
• Field of Search: 60/396, 60/396.2, 60/396.3, 237/12.3 A
• US Class Current: 60/39.6
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 3/02 with reciprocating-piston engines

Abstract

Provided is an engine having positive displacement chambers containing pistons and an external combustion chamber which utilizes the energy stored in compressed fuel and compressed air in combination with the energy released during combustion of the fuel to drive the pistons. Energy expended compressing the fuel and air are recovered.

Claims

1. An engine comprising:

at least one positive displacement chamber;

a reciprocating piston disposed in said at least one positive displacement chamber;

an external combustion chamber in communication with the positive displacement chamber for containing a mixture of compressed gas;

an ignitor in the combustion chamber constructed and arranged to ignite a fuel in the combustion chamber;

at least one valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of the compressed gas from the combustion chamber into the positive displacement chamber;

at least one exhaust valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of expanded gas from the positive displacement chamber;

a high-pressure fuel vessel in communication with the combustion chamber;

at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized fuel from the high-pressure fuel vessel to the combustion chamber;

at least one external valve constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure fuel vessel with compressed fuel from an external fuel source;

an air compressor in communication with the high-pressure fuel vessel driven by pressurized fuel from the high-pressure fuel vessel, the air compressor having an opening to the atmosphere to which air flows into the air compressor and an exit through which pressurized air flows, the air compressor being in communication with the combustion chamber; and

at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the air compressor to the combustion chamber.

2. An engine according to claim 1 wherein the high-pressure gaseous fuel vessel is constructed and sized to contain compressed gaseous fuel at pressures greater than 1000 pounds per square inch and the external valve is constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure fuel vessel with compressed gaseous fuel from an external fuel source at a pressure greater than 1000 pounds per square inch.

3. An engine according to claim 1 wherein the high-pressure gaseous fuel vessel is constructed and sized to contain compressed natural gas at pressures greater than 1000 pounds per square inch.

4. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising an exhaust gas redirecting valve constructed and arranged to direct pressurized gas from the positive displacement chamber during regenerative breaking to the combustion chamber or a separate storage chamber;

and an ambient air check valve in communication with the positive displacement chamber which is constructed and arranged to allow ambient air to enter the positive displacement chamber during regenerative braking.

5. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising at least two positive displacement chambers.

6. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising an intake manifold.

7. An engine according to claim 6, further comprising a throttle valve for controlling the amount of compressed gas from the combustion chamber to the intake manifold.

8. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising a heat exchanger constructed and arranged to remove heat from exhaust gas exiting the positive displacement chamber.

9. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising an electric generator constructed and arranged to be powered by exhaust gas exiting the positive displacement chamber.

10. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising an electric generator constructed and arranged to be powered by compressed gas from the combustion chamber.

11. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising at least one check valve and at least one pressure regulator for controlling the flow of compressed fuel from the high-pressure fuel vessel to the combustion chamber.

12. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising at least one check valve and at least one pressure regulator for controlling the flow of compressed air from the high-pressure air vessel to the combustion chamber.

13. An engine according to claim 1 wherein said high-pressure fuel vessel is capable of containing pressures of at least about 2000 pounds per square inch.

14. An engine according to claim 1 wherein said high-pressure fuel vessels is capable of containing pressures of at least about 3000 pounds per square inch.

15. An engine according to claim 1 wherein said high-pressure fuel vessel is capable of containing pressures of at least about 3500 pounds per square inch.

16. An engine according to claim 1 further comprising a safety valve connected to the combustion chamber for allowing excess pressure to be vented from the combustion chamber.

17. A vehicle powered by an engine, the engine comprising:

at least one positive displacement chamber;

a reciprocating piston disposed in said at least one positive displacement chamber;

an external combustion chamber in communication with the positive displacement chamber for containing a mixture of compressed gas;

an ignitor in the combustion chamber constructed and arranged to ignite a fuel in the combustion chamber;

at least one valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of the compressed gas from the combustion chamber into the positive displacement chamber;

at least one exhaust valve constructed and arranged to control the flow of expanded gas from the positive displacement chamber;

a high-pressure fuel vessel in communication with the combustion chamber;

at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized fuel from the high-pressure fuel vessel to the combustion chamber;

at least one external valve constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure fuel vessel with compressed fuel from an external fuel source;

an air compressor in communication with the high-pressure fuel vessel driven by pressurized fuel from the high-pressure fuel vessel, the air compressor having an opening to the atmosphere to which air flows into the air compressor and an exit through which pressurized air flows, the air compressor being in communication with the combustion chamber; and

at least one valve for controlling the flow of pressurized air from the air compressor to the combustion chamber.

18. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising an exhaust gas redirecting valve constructed and arranged to direct pressurized gas from the positive displacement chamber during regenerative breaking to the combustion chamber or a separate storage chamber;

and an ambient air check valve in communication with the positive displacement chamber which is constructed and arranged to allow ambient air to enter the positive displacement chamber during regenerative braking.

19. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising at least two positive displacement chambers.

20. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising an intake manifold.

21. A vehicle according to claim 20, further comprising a throttle valve for controlling the amount of compressed gas from the combustion chamber to the intake manifold.

22. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising a heat exchanger constructed and arranged to remove heat from exhaust gas exiting the positive displacement chamber.

23. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising an electric generator constructed and arranged to be powered by exhaust gas exiting the positive displacement chamber.

24. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising an electric generator constructed and arranged to be powered by compressed gas from the combustion chamber.

25. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising at least one check valve and at least one pressure regulator for controlling the flow of compressed fuel from the high-pressure fuel vessel to the combustion chamber.

26. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising at least one check valve and at least one pressure regulator for controlling the flow of compressed air from the high-pressure air vessel to the combustion chamber.

27. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said high-pressure fuel vessel is capable of containing pressures of at least about 1000 pounds per square inch.

28. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said high-pressure fuel vessel is capable of containing pressures of at least about 2000 pounds per square inch.

29. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said high-pressure fuel vessel is capable of containing pressures of at least about 3000 pounds per square inch.

30. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said high-pressure fuel vessel is capable of containing pressures of at least about 3500 pounds per square inch.

31. A vehicle according to claim 17 further comprising a safety valve connected to the combustion chamber for allowing excess pressure to be vented from the combustion chamber.

32. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said vehicle is an automobile.

33. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said vehicle is a bus.

34. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said vehicle is a truck.

35. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said vehicle is a locomotive.

36. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said vehicle is a tractor.

37. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein said vehicle is a marine vehicle.

38. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein the high-pressure gaseous fuel vessel is constructed and sized to contain compressed gaseous fuel at pressures greater than 1000 pounds per square inch and the external valve is constructed and arranged to fill the high-pressure fuel vessel with compressed gaseous fuel from an external fuel source at a pressure of greater than 1000 pounds per square inch.

39. A vehicle according to claim 17 wherein the high-pressure gaseous fuel vessel is constructed and sized to contain compressed natural gas at pressures greater than 1000 pounds per square inch.

40. A method of making rotational energy in an engine comprising:

filling a high-pressure fuel vessel with a compressed fuel to a pressure of at least 1000 pounds per square inch from a source external to the engine;

supplying compressed fuel to a combustion chamber from the high-pressure fuel vessel;

driving an air compressor by pressurized fuel from the high-pressure fuel vessel to form compressed air;

supplying the compressed air to the combustion chamber;

burning said fuel and air in said combustion chamber to form a compressed combustion gas;

opening an intake valve and supplying said compressed combustion gas to a positive displacement chamber containing a reciprocating piston such that said compressed combustion gas expands forcing said piston in a direction that increases the volume of the positive displacement cylinder to form an expanded gas; and

closing said intake valve and opening an exhaust valve and allowing the expanded gas to exit said displacement chamber while said piston is moving in a direction which decreases the volume of the positive displacement chamber to provide a exhaust gas.

41. A method according to claim 40 further comprising the steps of producing compressed air or combustion gas during braking a vehicle driven by the engine.

42. A method according to claim 40 further comprising generating electricity from the expanded combustion gas.

43. A method according to claim 40 further comprising utilizing heat from the expanded combustion gas to heat a vehicle driven by the engine.

44. A method according to claim 40 further comprising filling the high-pressure fuel vessel to at least about 2000 pounds per square inch.

45. A method according to claim 40 further comprising filling the high-pressure fuel vessel to at least about 3000 pounds per square inch.

46. A method according to claim 40 further comprising filling the high-pressure fuel vessel to at least about 3500 pounds per square inch.

47. A method according to claim 40 wherein said gaseous fuel comprises hydrogen.

48. A method according to claim 40 wherein said gaseous fuel comprises propane.

49. A method according to claim 40 wherein said gaseous fuel comprises butane.

50. A method according to claim 40 wherein said gaseous fuel comprises methane.

51. A method according to claim 40 wherein said combustion chamber is operated at a pressure of from about 100 to about 400 psi.

52. A method according to claim 40 wherein said combustion chamber is operated at a pressure of from about 150 to about 300 psi.

53. A method according to claim 40 wherein said combustion chamber is operated at a pressure of from about 200 to about 250 psi.

54. A method according to claim 40 further comprising using compressed combustion gas to power a pneumatic tool.

55. A method according to claim 40 further comprising using compressed combustion gas as a power source other than powering the engine.

56. A method according to claim 40 further comprising powering a plurality of reciprocating pistons.

57. A method according to claim 40 further comprising using a throttle valve to control the flow of compressed combustion gas to the reciprocating piston.

58. A method according to claim 40 further comprising using a four-stroke engine which has been modified to two-stroke.

59. A method according to claim 40 wherein said engine powers a vehicle.

60. A method according to claim 59, wherein said vehicle is an automobile.

61. A method according to claim 59, wherein said vehicle is a bus.

62. A method according to claim 59, wherein said vehicle is a truck.

63. A method according to claim 59, wherein said vehicle is a locomotive.

64. A method according to claim 59, wherein said vehicle is a tractor.

65. A method according to claim 59, wherein said vehicle is a marine vehicle.

66. A method according to claim 59, wherein said engine powers a stationary power plant.