Combustion-steam engine

• US 7,513,222 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James Robert Orlosky
• Original Assignee: James Robert Orlosky
• Inventors: Orlosky, James Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali; Hyder
• Application Number:
  US11/806,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20070277775A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 123/25.C, 123/25.J, 123/25.A, 123/1.A, 123/228, 123/198.A
• US Class Current: 123/25.00C
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 47/02 the substances being water or steam
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0025 Controlling engines characterised by use of non-liquid fuels, pluralities of fuels, or non-fuel substances added to the combustible mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1446 the characteristics being exhaust temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0227 Control aspects; Arrangement of sensors; Diagnostics; Actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/03 into the cylinder or the pre-combustion chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/14 adding anti-knock agents, not provided for in subgroups F02M25/022 - F02M25/10
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

Systems and methods of controlling an internal combustion engine provide for a fuel combustion cycle that takes place in a combustion chamber of the engine. Injection of water into the combustion chamber during the fuel combustion cycle is controlled based on sensor input, such as temperature, extinguishment and pollution level input.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a cylinder block having surfaces defining a plurality of combustion chambers, a fuel combustion cycle of the engine to sequentially take place within each of the plurality of combustion chambers;

a water injection system having an additive reservoir, a water reservoir, a pump system coupled to the water reservoir and the additive reservoir, and an injection nozzle coupled to the pump system and the combustion chamber; and

a controller having a water control module with a plurality of sensor inputs, the water control module to determine water injection moments and water injection durations based on data from the plurality of sensor inputs and to control injection of water from the water reservoir into each of the plurality of combustion chambers during each fuel combustion cycle based on each water injection moment and duration, the water injection system to transfer an additive from the additive reservoir to the water reservoir based on an additive control signal from the water control module.

2. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein each water injection moment is to occur after fuel combustion is substantially complete within a corresponding combustion chamber.

3. The internal combustion engine of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensor inputs are selected from a group comprising a crank shaft position input, an exhaust input, an ambient input, an engine block temperature input, a reservoir temperature input and a combustion chamber input.

4. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the injection nozzle is coupled to the combustion chamber via a spark plug.

5. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the injection nozzle is coupled to the combustion chamber via a fuel injector.

6. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the injection nozzle is directly coupled to the combustion chamber.

7. An internal combustion engine comprising:

a cylinder block having surfaces defining a combustion chamber, a fuel combustion cycle of the engine to take place within the combustion chamber;

a water injection system coupled to the combustion chamber; and

a controller to control injection of water from the water injection system into the combustion chamber during the fuel combustion cycle;

wherein the water injection system comprises;

a water reservoir;

a pump coupled to the water reservoir;

an injection nozzle coupled to the pump and the combustion chamber;

an additive reservoir; and

a valve to transfer an additive from the additive reservoir to the water reservoir based on a signal from the controller.

8. The internal combustion engine of claim 7, wherein the controller includes a water control module having a plurality of sensor inputs, the water control module to determine a water injection moment and duration based on data from the plurality of sensor inputs.

9. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, wherein the water injection moment is to occur after fuel combustion substantially is complete.

10. The internal combustion engine of claim 8, wherein the plurality of sensor inputs are selected from the group consisting of a crank shaft position input, an exhaust input, an ambient input, an engine block temperature input, a reservoir temperature input and a combustion chamber input.

11. The internal combustion engine of claim 10, wherein the exhaust input is selected from the group consisting of an exhaust temperature input and an exhaust pollutant level input.

12. The internal combustion engine of claim 10, wherein the ambient input is selected from the group consisting of an ambient temperature input, an ambient humidity input and an ambient altitude input.

13. The internal combustion engine of claim 10, wherein the combustion chamber input is selected from the group consisting of a combustion chamber temperature input, a combustion chamber extinguishment input and a combustion chamber pressure input.

14. The internal combustion engine of claim 7, wherein the injection nozzle is coupled to the combustion chamber via a spark plug.

15. The internal combustion engine of claim 7, wherein the injection nozzle is coupled to the combustion chamber via a fuel injector.

16. The internal combustion engine of claim 7, wherein the injection nozzle is directly coupled to the combustion chamber.

17. A method of controlling an internal combustion engine, comprising:

drawing a fuel and air mixture into a combustion chamber during an intake stroke of a piston associated with the combustion chamber;

compressing the fuel and air mixture within the combustion chamber during a compression stroke of the piston;

igniting the fuel and air mixture within the combustion chamber to obtain combustion power during a combustion stroke of the piston;

injecting at least one additive into a water reservoir based on an additive control signal; and

injecting water from the water reservoir into the combustion chamber to obtain steam power during the combustion stroke of the piston.

18. The method of claim 17, further including determining a water injection moment and duration based on data from a plurality of sensor inputs, wherein the injecting is conducted based on the water injection moment and duration.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the injecting is conducted immediately after fuel combustion is substantially complete within the combustion chamber.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one additive that neutralizes pollutants in the exhaust gases in the combustion chamber during the combustion stroke.

21. A water injection system for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a water reservoir;

a pump coupled to the water reservoir;

an injection nozzle coupled to the pump, wherein the injection nozzle is adapted to inject water from the reservoir into a combustion chamber, provide spark to the combustion chamber, and sense at least one condition within the combustion chamber;

an additive reservoir; and

an additive injector for injecting an additive into the water reservoir.

22. The water injection system of claim 21, wherein the at least one condition is a combustion event.

23. The water injection system of claim 21, wherein the injection nozzle is adapted to be inserted into a spark plug bore of a conventional internal combustion, spark-ignition engine.

24. The water injection system of claim 21, wherein the injection nozzle is adapted to be inserted into a fuel injector bore of a direct-injection internal combustion engine.

25. The water injection system of claim 21, wherein the water injection nozzle is controlled by a controller.

26. The water injection system of claim 21, wherein the additive injector is controlled by a controller.

27. A water injection system for an internal combustion engine comprising:

a water reservoir;

a pump coupled to the water reservoir;

an injection nozzle coupled to the pump, wherein the injection nozzle is adapted to inject water from the reservoir into a combustion chamber, inject fuel into the combustion chamber and sense at least one condition within the combustion chamber;

an additive reservoir; and

an additive injector for injecting an additive into the water reservoir.

28. The water injection system of claim 27, wherein the at least one condition is a combustion event.

29. The water injection system of claim 27, wherein the injection nozzle is adapted to be inserted into a spark plug bore of a conventional internal combustion, spark-ignition engine.

30. The water injection system of claim 27, wherein the injection nozzle is adapted to be inserted into a fuel injector bore of a direct-injection internal combustion engine.

31. An additive system for a water injection system of an internal combustion engine comprising:

an additive reservoir;

an injector coupled to the additive reservoir configured to transfer an additive from the additive reservoir to a water reservoir;

at least one sensor configured to detect at least one pollutant in emissions from the internal combustion engine; and

a controller adapted to receive a signal from the at least one sensor and control the injector in response to the signal.

32. The additive system of claim 31, wherein the additive is a chemical or compound that reduces the at least one pollutant when injected into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine.

33. The additive system of claim 31, wherein the water reservoir mixes the additive with the water to form a substantially homogeneous mixture.