Multicyclinder self-starting uniflow engine

Apparatus for providing a rotary mechanical power output when supplied with an expandable working fluid at a predetermined initial condition, comprising:

• a multicylinder, self-starting single crankshaft, reciprocating piston engine with at least three cylinders evenly distributed around a common crankshaft;
• speed-responsive first means that forcibly adjusts its position in correspondence with an output speed of the engine;
• and
• second means for controlling the start and stop of an inflow of said expandable working fluid at said initial condition, into individual engine cylinders in a prescribed sequence, as a function of the position of each individual piston with respect to its top dead center (TDC) during a working stroke, in correspondence with said position of said first means, comprising a pressure-responsive and inertially-actuated relief valve means located in each piston for enabling evacuation of residual working fluid from the corresponding cylinder while the piston is moving from its BDC to a first piston position.

Apparatus for providing a rotary mechanical power output when supplied with an expandable working fluid at a predetermined initial condition, comprising:

• a multicylinder self-starting single crankshaft, reciprocating piston engine with at least three cylinders evenly distributed around a common crankshaft
• a pressure-responsive first means exposed to a pressure of working fluid vapor available to power the engine for generating a corresponding force to move a linked connector at each cylinder to corresponding predetermined first, second and third positions of said first means;
• and
• second means comprising individual mode change valve means at each cylinder, cooperating with the corresponding connector thereat, for selectively placing working fluid in the individual cylinders in a predescribed sequence in communication with an inlet valve means movable to control stop and start of said working fluid inflow to each cylinder as a function of a position of the piston therein during each working stroke in correspondence with said connector positions, said second means also comprising an inertially-actuated relief valve means located in each piston for enabling evacuation of residual working fluid from the corresponding cylinder while the piston is moving from its bottom dead center (BDC) to a first piston position.

Apparatus for providing a rotary mechanical power output when supplied with an expandable working fluid at a predetermined initial condition comprising:

• a multicylinder self-starting single crankshaft, reciprocating piston engine with at least three cylinders evenly distributed around a common crankshaft
• a temperature-responsive first means exposed to a pressure of working fluid vapor available to power the engine for generating a corresponding force to move a linked connector at each cylinder to corresponding predetermined first, second and third positions of said first means;
• and
• second means comprising individual mode change valve means at each cylinder, cooperating with the corresponding connector thereat, for selectively placing working fluid in the individual cylinders in a predescribed sequence in communication with an inlet valve means movable to control stop and start of said working fluid inflow to each cylinder as a function of a position of the piston therein during each working stroke in correspondence with said connector positions, said second means also comprising an inertially-actuated relief valve means located in each piston for enabling evacuation of residual working fluid from the corresponding cylinder while the piston is moving from its bottom dead center (BDC) to a first piston position.