Internal steam engine

Abstract

An internal steam engine comprising one or more cylinders containing pistons, injectors and heating means. Air is drawn into said cavities and compressed as the piston reaches top dead center. The injector means spray the charge of heated compressed air with a non-combustible liquid which is vaporized under constant pressure followed by expansion and power stroke by the piston. The exhaust of the air mixture from the piston cavity is released through the liquid supply tank where the vapor is condensed and recycled to complete a closed operating cycle. A new charge is taken in at the end of the exhaust following either a four- or two-stroke engine process. The heating means are controlled by the cylinder temperature and activated to provide heat to the compression as required. In difference to a conventional steam engine, which generates steam from water in a boiler outside the working cylinder, the internal steam engine vaporizes water intermittently inside the working cylinder and exclusively in each compressed air charge to initiate a power stroke by the piston.

1 . An internal steam engine comprising a two- or four-stroke cycle engine with one or more cylinders, a piston reciprocating in said cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft, exhaust and intake passage means, injector and heating means connected to the top portion of said cylinder, said piston compressing an air charge into said top portion of the cylinder, said injector means to inject a non-combustible liquid spray into said compressed air charge, said liquid spray being vaporized by heat generated by said compressed air charge, said vapor expanding to force said piston downward in said cylinder to drive said crankshaft, said vapor condensed and re-cycled in a closed operating cycle.  
   
   
       2 . An internal steam engine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said heat generated by the compressed air charge is supplemented by said heating means.  
   
   
       3 . An internal steam engine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said heating means are electrically operated.  
   
   
       4 . An internal steam engine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said injector and heating means are operational inside a pre-chamber recess in said top portion of said cylinder and controlled by the temperature therein.  
   
   
       5 . An internal steam engine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said injector means injects a spray of combustible liquid into said compressed air charge to supplement the heat generated by said compressed air charge.  
   
   
       6 . An internal steam engine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said injector means may inject any other liquid to obtain vapor from heat generated from said compressed air charge.  
   
   
       7 . An internal steam engine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said internal steam engine provides power to drive a vehicle through mechanical means.  
   
   
       8 . An internal steam engine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said internal steam engine power a generator to drive a vehicle by electrical means.