External combustion engine

• US 7,178,324 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2005
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Masami Sakita
• Original Assignee: Masami Sakita
• Inventors: Sakita, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US11/233,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 514 Days
• Field of Search: 60/392, 605/17, 605/25
• US Class Current: 60/772
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 29/12 Steam engines toy steam engines A63H29/16

Abstract

An external combustion engine comprises a compressor assembly, a heater assembly, an expander assembly, a cooler assembly, and auxiliary systems. The preferred embodiment of this invention uses fossil fuel as the main source of energy, and water substance for the working liquid. The compressor assembly takes in the working fluid Heating chambers in the heater assembly that is sandwiched between the compressor assembly and the expander assembly heats up the working fluid. The expander assembly generates the rotational force. In the preferred embodiment, the working fluid taken into the compressor assembly is generally water vapor. Alternative embodiments include an engine that uses sunlight as the energy source, and an engine with a pump assembly that takes in water instead of water vapor.

Claims

1. An external combustion engine comprising a compressor assembly a heater assembly, an expander assembly, a cooler assembly, and auxiliary systems wherein

said compressor assembly having a plurality of compressor cylinders,

said cooler assembly having a condenser and a working fluid storage tank.

said heater assembly having a plurality of heater sub-assemblies,

said heater sub-assemblies serially aligned,

boundary of neighboring heater sub-assemblies being separated by a divider port assembly equipped with one-directional valves,

said heater sub-assembly having plurality of heating chambers,

said expander assembly having a plurality of expander cylinders,

said compressor assembly having a driveshaft,

said expander assembly having a driveshaft, and inlet port control means,

said driveshaft of said expander assembly is extension of said driveshaft of said compressor assembly,

said compressor assembly, said heater assembly, and said expander assembly are housed in same engine housing,

said heater assembly is sandwiched by said compressor assembly and said expander assembly,

said external combustion engine using working fluid, and

said working fluid travels from said working fluid storage tank to said compressor cylinder, then to said heating chambers of said serially arranged heater sub-assemblies, then to said exnander chamber, then to said condenser, and then hack to said working fluid storage tank.

2. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said compressor cylinder of said compressor assembly taking in generally water vapor for working fluid.

3. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein

said compressor cylinder of said compressor assembly being substantially smaller than said expander cylinder of said expander assembly, and

said compressor assembly taking in generally water.

4. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein

said compressor cylinder having an intake phase and a compressor phase,

said expander cylinder having an exhaust phase and an expansion phase.

said intake phase of said compressor cylinder and said exhaust phase of said serially aligned expander cylinder start generally at the same time.

5. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein

said compressor cylinder having an intake phase and a compressor phase,

said expander cylinder having an exhaust phase and an expansion phase,

said compression phase of said compressor cylinder and said exhaust phase of said serially aligned expander cylinder start generally at the same time.

6. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said heater assembly includes a reflector mirror.

7. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein

said heater assembly includes a plurality of fossil fuel burners.

8. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein

said heater assembly includes a refiector mirror and a plurality of fossil fuel burners.

9. An external combustion engine comprising a water injector assembly, a heater assembly, an expander assembly, a cooler assembly, and auxiliary systems wherein

said water injector assembly having a plurality of water injectors,

said cooler assembly having a condenser and a working fluid storage tank,

said heater assembly having a plurality of heater sub-assemblies,

said heater sub-assemblies serially aligned,

boundary of neighboring heater sub-assemblies being separated by a divider port assembly equipped with one-directional valves,

said heater sub-assembly having plurality of heating chambers.

said expander assembly having a plurality of expander cylinders, and

said working fluid travels from said working fluid storage tank to said injector, Then to said heating chambers of said serially arranged heater sub-assemblies, then to said expander chamber, then to said condenser, and then back to said working fluid storage tank.

10. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 9, wherein

said heater assembly includes a reflector mirror.

11. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 9, wherein

said heater assembly includes a plurality of fossil fuel burners.

12. The external combustion engine as defined in claim 9, wherein

said heater assembly includes a reflector mirror and a plurality of fossil fuel burners.