US 6,505,538 B1 · Multicylinder self-starting uniflow engine

Abstract

An improved uniflow engine has a plurality of vertically extending cylinders distributed in-line along a horizontally extending common crankshaft connected to pistons reciprocating in the cylinders. A working fluid vapor is supplied to those cylinders in which the respective pistons are in their working strokes to initiate rotation of the crankshaft in a predetermined direction regardless of where the crankshaft has stopped last. Once rotation is initiated and a predetermined mode change speed attained in a “start-up mode” engine operation, vapor inlet valves are controlled by an inlet valve control mechanism to change engine operation over to a “running mode”. In the start-up mode, incoming vapor is admitted over a substantial portion of the piston working stroke, whereas in the “running mode” vapor inflow is terminated relatively early in the working stroke so that a vapor change does work in expanding against the piston. A mode switch valve including a check valve and a control piston controls a closing rate of each of the vapor inlet valves. A wedge fixed to a head portion of each piston cooperates with a wedge fixed to each vapor inlet valve to close the vapor inlet valve at a predetermined position of the piston.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A mechanism for ensuring self-starting of a multi-cylinder, single crankshaft, reciprocating piston engine with at least three cylinders distributed along a common crankshaft, to provide a rotational output upon provision thereto of a supply of an expandable working fluid at a predetermined initial condition, comprising:

a speed responsive mechanism coupled with the crankshaft that forcibly adjusts a position thereof in correspondence with a rotational speed of the crankshaft;
and
an individual mode switch valve at each cylinder including a control piston and a check valve both linked with the speed responsive mechanism, the control piston and check valve being adapted and arranged to cooperatively control the start and stop of an inflow of the expandable working fluid at the 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 the position of the speed responsive mechanism.

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

a multi-cylinder, self-starting crankshaft, reciprocating piston engine with at least three vertically extending cylinders distributed in-line along a horizontally extending common crankshaft;
a speed responsive mechanism coupled with the crankshaft that forcibly adjusts a position thereof in correspondence with a rotational speed of the crankshaft;
and
an individual mode switch valve at each cylinder linked with the speed responsive mechanism, the individual mode switch valve being adapted and arranged to control the start and stop of an inflow of the expandable working fluid at the 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 the position of the speed responsive mechanism.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multicylinder self-starting uniflow engine

Life of this patent

Multicylinder self-starting uniflow engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21