Steam Driven Engine

Abstract

An engine includes a piston and a stator housing. The stator housing includes a channel in which the piston is disposed, an input port that is adapted to receive a working fluid into the channel, and an output port that is adapted to exhaust the working fluid from the channel. The channel is arranged such that the piston is able to move continuously in a single direction within the channel.

1 . An engine, comprising:
 a piston; and   a stator housing;   wherein the stator housing includes
 a channel in which the piston is disposed; 
 an input port that is adapted to receive a working fluid into the channel; and 
 an output port that is adapted to exhaust the working fluid from the channel; 
   wherein the channel is arranged such that the piston is able to move continuously in a single direction within the channel.   
   
   
       2 . The engine of  claim 1 , wherein the channel forms a closed loop within the stator housing. 
   
   
       3 . The engine of  claim 2 , wherein the closed loop defines a circle. 
   
   
       4 . The engine of  claim 3 , further comprising a shaft, wherein the piston is in communication with the shaft such that the shaft rotates about a longitudinal axis of the shaft consistent with movement of the piston through the channel. 
   
   
       5 . The engine of  claim 4 , further comprising a counter-element in communication with the shaft so as to move in a path corresponding to a path of movement of the piston through the channel. 
   
   
       6 . The engine of  claim 4 , wherein the piston is a first piston, the engine further comprising a second piston disposed within the channel and in communication with the shaft such that the shaft rotates about a longitudinal axis of the shaft consistent with movement of the second piston through the channel. 
   
   
       7 . The engine of  claim 6 , wherein
 the input port is a first input port; and   the output port is a second output port;   the stator housing further including a second input port and a second output port.   
   
   
       8 . The engine of  claim 7 , wherein
 the shaft is disposed at the center of the circle defined by the closed loop of the channel,   the first piston and the second piston are disposed within the channel at a relative fixed angle with respect to the position of the shaft,   the first input port and the second input port are disposed within the channel at the relative fixed angle with respect to the position of the shaft, and   the first output port and the second output port are disposed within the channel at the relative fixed angle with respect to the position of the shaft.   
   
   
       9 . The engine of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed angle is substantially 180 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . A machine, comprising the engine of  claim 4  and a workpiece coupled to the shaft. 
   
   
       11 . The engine of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid source in communication with the input port and the output port, wherein the fluid source includes
 a reservoir for holding at least some of the fluid, and   a heater adapted to raise the temperature of the fluid to a vaporous state.   
   
   
       12 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid source is adapted to provide heated, vaporous fluid to the channel via the input port to cause the piston to move through the channel ahead of the fluid. 
   
   
       13 . The engine of  claim 12 , wherein the output port is arranged to allow the fluid to exhaust to the reservoir after the piston has moved through the channel past the output port. 
   
   
       14 . The engine of  claim 13 , further comprising a valve coupled to the output port. 
   
   
       15 . The engine of  claim 14 , wherein the valve is biased so as to substantially close an opening of the output port. 
   
   
       16 . The engine of  claim 15 , wherein the valve is adapted to open the opening of the output port when urged by a front portion of the piston when the piston moves through the channel. 
   
   
       17 . The engine of  claim 16 , wherein the valve includes an actuation surface that is adapted to open the opening of the output port when urged by a front portion of the piston when the piston moves through the channel. 
   
   
       18 . The engine of  claim 15 , further comprising an eccentric element, coupled to the shaft so as to rotate with rotational movement of the shaft and having an irregular shape in the plane of rotation;
 wherein the valve includes an actuator that extends into the path of rotation of a working portion of the eccentric element;   wherein the eccentric element is adapted to impart a reciprocal motion to the actuator as the eccentric element rotates while the working portion of the eccentric element is in contact with the actuator so as to urge open the opening of the output port in accordance with the relative position of the piston within the channel.   
   
   
       19 . The engine of  claim 18 , wherein the eccentric element is a cam. 
   
   
       20 . The engine of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first geared element, coupled to the shaft so as to rotate with rotational movement of the shaft and having a first pattern of gear teeth; and   a second geared element, coupled to the valve and having a second pattern of gear teeth;   wherein the first and second geared elements are adapted to selectively couple the first and second patterns of gear teeth in correspondence with the rotational movement of the shaft so as to open and close the opening of the output port in accordance with the relative position of the piston within the channel.