US 4,336,686 AGranted

Constant volume, continuous external combustion rotary engine with piston compressor and expander

AssigneeCombustion Research & Technology, Inc.

InventorKenneth W. Porter

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Abstract

Constant volume, continuous external combustion rotary engine which incorporates at least one radial piston compressor, at least one continuous-combustion chamber, at least one radial piston expander together with a means to supply fuel to the combustion chamber. A novel arrangement of compressor and expander manifolding controls admission and discharge to and from the compressor and expander sections. Power output is realized when opposed expander pistons equipped with roller bearings react directly on the internal cam lobe surfaces of a stationary housing causing the cylinder block to rotate and drive the compressor piston inwardly or outwardly as their roller followers engage their cam tracks. As a fresh charge of compressed air is delivered to the hydrocarbon fueled combustion chamber, an equal amount of combustion product under almost equal pressure is withdrawn by the expander. When combustion charging is completed, both compressor and expander are momentarily disconnected from the combustion chamber. The isolated combustion process continues, at constant volume, causing a pressure rise until the expander admission valves open again. Mechanical work is produced as the expander pistons are moved outwardly, initially under the almost constant pressure of the combustion chamber and then at a decreasing pressure as the expander pistons continue to expand the combustion product after the expander admission valves have closed. An exhaust discharge stroke commences as the expander piston after completing the expansion stroke, returns inwardly to the inner dead center position. Simultaneously a new charge of ambient air is induced by the compressor as the compressor piston moves outwardly to the outer dead center position, and the cycle repeats as the fresh charge is compressed for discharge to the combustor.

Claims40

Dependent claims

Constant volume, continuous external combustion rotary engine, comprising:

(a) an external housing including stationary continuous internal generally symmetrical drive cam track which is generally shaped to define lobes to effect alternate movement of a piston to at least two of an outer dead center and to two of an inner dead center position at predetermined degrees,
(b) a rotatable cylinder block within said housing containing (1) at least one bank of radially disposed cylinders numbering at least two defining a compressor section and at least one bank of radially disposed cylinders numbering at least two to define an expander section, (2) said cylinder block further including pistons within said cylinders for reciprocating radial movement and said pistons having connector sections with cam follower means thereon for engaging said drive cam track means, (3) said cylinder block also including a generally cylindrical inner wall enclosing said cylinders to define a cylinder cavity within each cylinder, said inner wall also including opening means of predetermined size, shape and location for each cylinder for the selective intake and release of air and gases, said rotatable cylinder block having a power output means connected thereto,
(c) a stationary manifolding and combustion assembly within said cylinder block inner wall, including (1) a compressor portion having air inlet passage and opening means for directing air to at least one first cylinder in said compressor bank at given degrees of rotation of the block and also having compressed air passages and openings for directing compressed air away from said first cylinders at given degrees of rotation of the block, said assembly also including (2) a fuel combustion chamber within said manifolding and combustion assembly for receiving said compressed air and further including fuel igniter and fuel injection means for continuous combustion of the air and fuel mixture within said combustion chamber, (3) an expander portion including hot gas passage and opening means for directing hot gases to said second cylinders in said expander bank during predetermined degrees of rotation of said block and also having exhaust opening and passages for exiting expanded and spent gases away from said second cylinder and out of said engine.

Constant volume, continuous external combustion rotary engine, comprising:

(a) an external housing including at least two stationary continuous internal, axially spaced apart drive cam track sections, one of which is a compressor cam track and the other of which is an expander cam track, said cam track sections including lobe means shaped to effect alternate movement of a piston from an outer dead center to an inner dead center position at least every 180.degree. of rotation of a rotatable cylinder block supported in said housing,
(b) a rotatable cylinder block within said housing containing at least (1) a first bank of at least two radially disposed cylinders defining a compressor section and a second bank of at least two radially disposed cylinders axially spaced from said first bank defining an expander section, (2) said cylinder block further including pistons within said cylinders for reciprocating radial movement and said pistons having connector sections with cam follower means thereon for engaging the drive cam track sections of their respective compressor and expander cam tracks, (3) said cylinder block also including a generally cylindrical inner wall enclosing said cylinders to define a cylinder cavity within each cylinder, said inner wall also including inlet and exit opening means of predetermined size and shape for each cylinder,
(c) a stationary manifolding and combustion assembly within said cylinder block inner wall, including (1) a compressor portion having air inlet passage and opening means for directing air to given cylinders of said compressor portion at given degrees of rotation of the block and also having (2) compressed air passages and openings for directing compressed air away from said cylinders at given degrees of rotation of the block, said assembly also including (3) a fuel combustion chamber within said manifolding and combustion assembly for receiving said compressed air and further including fuel igniter and fuel injection means for continuous combustion of the air and fuel mixture within said combustion chamber, (4) an expander portion including hot gas passage and opening means for directing hot gases to given cylinders of said expander portion during predetermined degrees of rotation of said block and also having (5) exhaust openings and passages for exiting expanded and spent gases away from said expander section cylinders and out of said engine.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/898,915Filed 21 Apr 1978
Granted: 29 Jun 1982
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

F02G 1/0435
The engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly…:…
F01B 13/061
In star arrangement: the connection of the pistons with the actuated or actuating element being at the outer ends of the cylinders
F01B 15/002
Reciprocating-piston machines or engines with movable cylinders other than provided for in group F01B13/00: having cylinders in star or fan…
F02G 1/04
Hot gas positive-displacement engine plants: of closed-cycle type