Evaporative in-cylinder cooling
OwnerDouglas G. Thorpeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine is cooled using high pressure water injected into the piston with the water converted to high pressure steam by the heat from combustion with heat transfer taking place in passages in the piston and in and between grooves in the piston and the cylinder sleeve. The high pressure steam is conducted between the piston and cylinder walls to lubricate, so there will be no need for piston rings, with a part of it passing into the crankcase, and a part of it going into the combustion chamber where it contributes to power production. The piston body has a spring-loaded valve in a passage to balance pressures and control steam flow into the upper piston and combustion chamber.
Claims18
A process for cooling an internal combustion engine comprising:
- injecting a high pressure water to a piston in a cylinder sleeve;
- converting said high pressure water into steam using waste heat in said piston and said cylinder sleeve;
- directing said steam between said cylinder sleeve and said piston to act as a coolant and lubricant;
- controlling pressure within said piston;
- conducting high pressure steam to said piston periphery and circumferentially upward into a combustion chamber;
- controlling steam flow to said piston upper body by blocking low pressure steam and passing high pressure steam.
A process for cooling an internal combustion engine comprising:
- injecting a high pressure water to a piston in a cylinder sleeve;
- converting said high pressure water into steam using waste heat in said piston and said cylinder sleeve;
- directing said steam between said cylinder sleeve and said piston to act as a coolant and lubricant;
- controlling pressure within said piston;
- conducting high pressure steam laterally from a central crown area of said piston.
A cooled internal combustion engine cylinder comprising:
- a piston for use in an internal combustion engine cylinder;
- said piston having a crown on an upper end and a skirt on a lower end and a body between said crown and said skirt;
- a conduit in said piston body for reception of high pressure water;
- a first passage through said piston in communication with said conduit;
- a first circumferential groove around said piston in communication with said first passage through said piston for conducting and converting high pressure water into steam between said piston and an engine cylinder;
- a steam control means for flowing steam toward said piston upper end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.