Rotary Cam Radial Steam Engine

Abstract

A rotary cam radial engine formed of two primary components engaged at a mid section to allow for an easy repair to the vehicle. The device features a body having radially oriented apertures; and a plurality of pistons in a respective reciprocating engagement, within each respective said cylinder. The pistons are driven by low pressure fluids and/or a vacuum and the engine being formed of two main components can be taken apart without tools for maintenance and reconfiguration.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A rotary cam radial engine, comprising:
 an engine assembly comprising:
 an engine body defining a valve cavity; and 
 one or more piston assemblies attached to and extending radially from the engine body and in fluid communication with the valve cavity, each piston assembly including a cam follower; and 
   a first cam ring assembly comprising:
 a first cam ring defining a first cam surface including a plurality of compression lobes and a plurality of exhaust cavities; and 
 a first central valve assembly attached to the first cam ring, 
   wherein the first central valve assembly is removably and slidably insertable into the valve cavity of the engine assembly to permit relative rotation between the first cam ring assembly and the engine assembly with the cam follower of each piston assembly following the first cam surface during the relative rotation.   
     
     
         22 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 21 , further comprising a second cam ring assembly, the second cam ring assembly comprising:
 a second cam ring defining a second cam surface including a plurality of compression lobes and a plurality of exhaust cavities; and   a second central valve assembly attached to the second cam ring,   wherein the second central valve assembly of the second cam ring assembly is removably and slidably insertable into the valve cavity to permit relative rotation between the second cam ring assembly and the engine assembly with the cam follower of each piston assembly following the second cam surface during the relative rotation,   wherein a number of compression lobes of the second cam surface differs from a number of compression lobes of the first cam surface, and   wherein a number of exhaust cavities of the second cam surface differs from a number of exhaust cavities of the first cam surface.   
     
     
         23 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 22 , wherein the first cam ring assembly and the second cam ring assembly are interchangeably slidably and removably insertable into the valve cavity without requiring disassembly of the engine assembly. 
     
     
         24 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 21 , wherein a number of compression lobes of the first cam surface is equal to a number of exhaust cavities of the first cam surface and unequal to a number of piston assemblies of the engine assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 21 , wherein the engine assembly is fixed and the first central valve assembly rotates within the engine body when the first central valve assembly is removably and slidably inserted into the valve cavity. 
     
     
         26 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 21 , wherein the first cam ring comprises a plurality of magnets mounted to the first cam ring. 
     
     
         27 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 26 , further comprising a wire coil in electromagnetic communication with the plurality of magnets, such that, when the rotary cam radial engine is operating, the wire coil generates electrical current. 
     
     
         28 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 21 , wherein the first cam surface comprises one or more elements removably connected to the first cam ring, the one or more elements defining the plurality of compression lobes. 
     
     
         29 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 21 , wherein the cam follower comprises a roller. 
     
     
         30 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the first central valve assembly comprises one or more intake openings and one or more exhaust openings, and   the one or more intake openings and one or more exhaust openings are positioned on the first central valve assembly based upon a configuration of the first cam surface.   
     
     
         31 . The rotary cam radial engine according to  claim 30 , wherein the one or more intake openings and the one or more exhaust openings of the first central valve assembly regulate the fluid communication between the engine body and the one or more piston assemblies during the relative rotation. 
     
     
         32 . A rotary cam radial engine kit, comprising:
 an engine assembly, comprising:
 an engine body defining a valve cavity; and 
 one or more piston assemblies attached to and extending radially from the engine body and in fluid communication with the valve cavity, each piston assembly including a cam follower; and 
   a plurality of cam ring assemblies, each cam ring assembly comprising:
 a cam ring defining a cam surface including a plurality of compression lobes and a plurality of exhaust cavities; and 
 a central valve assembly attached to the cam ring, 
   wherein the central valve assembly of each cam ring assembly is removably and slidably insertable into the valve cavity to permit relative rotation between the respective cam ring assembly and the engine assembly with the cam follower of each piston assembly following the respective cam surface.   
     
     
         33 . The rotary cam radial engine kit according to  claim 32 , wherein each cam ring defines a unique cam surface. 
     
     
         34 . The rotary cam radial engine kit according to  claim 32 , wherein at least one of the cam ring assemblies includes a cam surface comprising one or more elements removably connected to the cam ring, the one or more elements defining at least a plurality of compression lobes. 
     
     
         35 . The rotary cam radial engine kit according to  claim 32 , wherein the engine assembly is fixed and the central valve assembly rotates within the engine body when the central valve assembly is removably and slidably inserted into the valve cavity. 
     
     
         36 . The rotary cam radial engine kit according to  claim 32 , wherein the one or more piston assemblies are removably attached to the engine body. 
     
     
         37 . The rotary cam radial engine kit according to  claim 32 , wherein at least one cam ring assembly further comprises a plurality of magnets attached to the cam ring. 
     
     
         38 . A cam ring assembly for use in a rotary cam radial engine having a central valve cavity, the cam ring assembly comprising:
 a cam ring defining a cam surface including a plurality of compression lobes and a plurality of exhaust cavities; and   a central valve assembly attached to the cam ring,   wherein the central valve assembly of the cam ring assembly is configured for removable and slidable insertion into the central valve cavity, thereby permitting the cam ring to rotate about an axis passing through the central valve assembly.   
     
     
         39 . The cam ring assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein the cam surface comprises one or more elements removably connected to the cam ring, the one or more elements defining the plurality of compression lobes. 
     
     
         40 . The cam ring assembly according to  claim 38 , further comprising a plurality of magnets carried by the cam ring. 
     
     
         41 . The cam ring assembly according to  claim 38 , wherein the central valve assembly comprises one or more intake openings and one or more exhaust openings, and wherein the one or more intake openings and the one or more exhaust openings are configured based upon a configuration of the cam surface.