Combination internal combustion and steam engine

A combination internal combustion and steam engine, comprising:

• (a) a housing having therein at least one hollow cylinder containing a piston reciprocative therein,
• (b) means for introducing combustible fuel into the cylinder to provide a combustible fuel power stroke for the piston,
• (c) an exhaust passageway for exhausting hot gases of combustion from the cylinder after the combustible fuel power stroke,
• (d) a steam generating chamber in the housing communicating at one location with the cylinder and at another location with the exhaust passageway, whereby hot gases of combustion in the cylinder are caused to pass through and heat the surfaces of the steam generating chamber on their way to the exhaust passageway,
• (e) a source of water communicating with the steam generating chamber for supplying water to said chamber for conversion into steam by transfer of heat to the water from the hot surfaces of the chamber,
• (f) an exhaust valve between the steam generating chamber and exhaust passageway operable to open communication between the steam generating chamber and the exhaust passageway for exhausting hot gases of combustion from the cylinder and to close said communication during generation of steam in the chamber,
• (g) a steam inlet valve between the steam generating chamber and cylinder operable when the exhaust valve is open to open communication between the steam generating chamber and the cylinder for exhausting hot gases of combustion from the cylinder through the chamber to the exhaust passageway, and operable when the exhaust valve is closed to open communication between the steam generating chamber and cylinder for introducing steam from the chamber to the cylinder to provide a steam power stroke for the piston, and
• (h) a valve-controlled steam exhaust passageway communicating with the cylinder independently of the steam generating chamber for exhausting the cylinder of steam after the steam power stroke.