Abstract: An engine based on a reciprocating piston engine that extracts work from pressurized working fluid. The engine includes a harmonic oscillator inlet valve capable of oscillating at a resonant frequency for controlling the flow of working fluid into of the engine. In particular, the inlet valve includes an inlet valve head and a spring arranged together as a harmonic oscillator so that the inlet valve head is moveable from an unbiased equilibrium position to a biased closed position occluding an inlet. Upon releasing the inlet valve the inlet valve head undergoes a single oscillation past the equilibrium positio to a maximum open position and returns to a biased return position close to the closed position to choke the flow and produce a pressure drop across the inlet valve causing the inlet valve to close.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for converting energy from a stream of compressed gas into mechanical work as systems incorporating such methods and apparatus.

Abstract: In various embodiments, compressed-gas energy storage and recovery systems feature one or more valves, which may be disposed within end caps of cylinder assemblies in which gas is expanded and/or compressed, for admitting fluid to and/or exhausting fluid from the cylinder assembly.

Abstract: A piston type pneumatic engine, including a cylinder block, a piston, a cylinder, a crankshaft, a connecting rod, a camshaft, and a device for controlling the opening or closing of a gas valve. A cylinder cover arranged on the cylinder block is provided with an inwardly-opened type compressed-gas intake valve and an exhaust valve. An intake cam and an exhaust cam are arranged on the camshaft. The opening or closing of the intake and the exhaust valves is controlled by a rocker arm which is driven by the camshaft. The camshaft is driven by the rotated crankshaft via a timing chain or belt.

Abstract: A high efficiency not polluting engine comprises at least a cylinder and at least a piston movable therein, the cylinder including, alternately, a pre-chamber in the cylinder head and/or a chamber for a direct injection mode of operation, the pre-chamber forming a plenum chamber having a size proportional to the swept volume of the engine and to the power to be obtained, the pre-chamber of the chamber being continuously supplied from the outside by pressurized air at a variable pressure controlled by at least two adjustment controls.

Abstract: This invention relates to a cyclic hydraulic actuator, and more particularly to an actuator for a rock drill and includes: a housing; at least two chambers in the housing; a fluid passage between a first of the chambers and the outside of the housing for feeding a liquid at supply pressure to the chamber during operation of the actuator; a fluid passage between a second of the chambers and the outside of the housing for exhausting liquid from the second chamber during operation of the actuator; a piston reciprocable on an axis in at least the first and second chambers with the piston including an exposed piston area in each of the two chambers for causing, with the liquid at supply pressure, reciprocation of the piston; an inlet valve for opening and closing the second chamber to liquid at supply pressure in the first chamber; an exhaust valve for opening and closing the exhaust passage; the inlet and exhaust valves, chambers and exposed piston areas being so arranged that during cyclic operation of the actua

Abstract: A pressure-driven engine is provided therein with an intake valve and an exhaust valve the opening and closing operations of which are controlled by a combination of the urging force of the respective springs and the attractive force of the respective magnets. The engine automatically repeats reciprocating motion merely by supplying a pressure source such as steam or various kinds of compression gas. The reciprocating motion or the rotational motion converted from the reciprocating motion is utilized as a power.

Abstract: A reciprocable device comprising a reciprocable member mounted for reciprocating movement within a chamber and a valve system for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure to the reciprocable member to bring about reciprocation of such member. A motor is enabled by the reciprocable member to operate the valve system whereby at least some of the force for driving the valve system is obtained from the motor and not from the reciprocable member.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a reciprocating oscillation of a power output shaft comprises a plurality of peripherally spaced cylinders disposed in generally tangential relationship to the periphery of a cylindrical fluid pressure chamber and connected at their inner ends to such fluid pressure chamber. The gas pressure in such chamber is regulated to maintain a selected value above ambient. Cooperating pistons in each of the cylinders are interconnected by connecting rods to a spoke-like rocker element which is freely oscillatable about the output shaft to which the housing defining the cylindrical fluid pressure chamber is secured for co-rotation. A flywheel mass is connected to the spokes of the rocker element. Inlet and exhaust valves are provided in a cylinder head mounted in the outer end of each cylinder and are operable by contact with the outer face of the respective piston.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing rotation of a power output shaft comprises a plurality of peripherally spaced cylinders disposed in generally tangential relationship to the periphery of a housing defining a cylindrical fluid pressure chamber and connected at their inner ends to such fluid pressure chamber. The housing is mounted on, and co-rotatable with the output shaft. The gas pressure in such chamber is regulated to maintain a selected value above ambient. Cooperating pistons in each of the cylinders are interconnected by connecting rods to a unidirectional clutch mounted in the fluid pressure chamber on a fixed shaft, thus forcing the cylinders to rotate when pressured gas is introduced in the outer ends of the cylinders. Inlet and exhaust valves are provided in a cylinder head mounted in the outer end of each cylinder and are operable by contact with the outer face of the respective piston.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder device, such as a Rankine cycle engine, is provided with one or more variable displacement cylinders and variable stroke pistons for accommodating loads of variable torque. Cylinder displacement is varied by a movable cylinder head internally of the cylinder and auxiliary to a fixed cylinder head, and piston stroke is varied by a variably fulcrumed lever linking piston connecting rods with a crankshaft. For the engine particularly, load torques are continually sensed and cylinder displacement adjusted accordingly. In turn, the position of the movable cylinder head is continually sensed, and the lever fulcrum adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: An improvement in a reciprocating engine used in an energy recovery system wherein the inlet valves to the cylinders of the engine are operated by independently time adjustable actuating means.The system for recovering energy from a pressured reactor comprising a reactor, a reciprocating engine connected to the reactor to receive reaction effluent from said reactor thereby driving the pistons of the reciprocating engine by expansion of the effluent and recovery apparatus downstream of the engine for recovering products from the effluent.The expanding reactor effluent is used to drive the pistons which are especially valved in conjunction with the effluent inlet port in the cylinder to facilitate handling the effluents to adjust the flow into an expansion chamber to obtain maximum recovery, the pistons in turn operate a crankshaft through a crosshead which may power compressors or operate a generator to produce electricity.

Abstract: A system for recovering energy from a pressured reactor comprising a reactor, a reciprocating engine connected to the reactor to receive reaction effluent from said reactor thereby driving the pistons of the reciprocating engine by expansion of the effluent and recovery apparatus downstream of the engine for recovering products from the effluent.The expanding reactor effluent is used to drive the pistons which are especially valved in conjunction with the effluent inlet port in the cylinder to facilitate handling the effluents, the pistons in turn operate a crankshaft through a crosshead which may power compressors or operate a generator to produce electricity. It is reasonable to expect recovery in a directly usable form, such as electricity, of over 25% of the energy theoretically available in the pressured reactor effluent in some cases.

Abstract: A heat engine which the steady burning of liquid or gaseous fuel in a combustion chamber, external to the engine cylinders, is converted to mechanical work by means of expansion of the combustion gases in the engine cylinders. A pair of series inlet poppet valves is provided per engine cylinder so phased to provide a short interval period of gas admission to each cylinder for making the expansion ratio substantially equal to the compression ratio for maximum efficiency. The poppet valves, whose angular interval when they are both open are varied by an amount inversely proportional to the combustor pressure. The gas pressure forces acting on the poppet valves are counterbalanced to permit their actuation by conventional cams and valve gear without excessive cam loads and wear.

Abstract: A vapor engine including a cylinder in which a piston reciprocates and having an inlet valve in the cylinder head which is driven from its seat by the piston as it approaches the cylinder head. The time at which the valve is driven from its seat does not change relative to the top dead center position of the piston. The travel of the valve body is ballistic and the valve remains open for a time determined by a combination of the piston velocity at the initial contact, the distance the valve travels before hitting a stop from which it rebounds elastically toward its seat, the pressure drop across the valve and the mass of the valve. The exhaust valve of the engine may be either internal and actuated by mechanical forces or external, in which case it is actuated by pressure forces. In one embodiment of the invention the stop from which the valve rebounds may be adjustably positioned manually or automatically to control the period of time during which the intake valve is open.

Abstract: A compressed air engine having specially designed cylinder heads and piston configurations in order to reduce friction and maximize the application of air from a pressurized air source. The disclosure includes a lubrication system whereby the mechanical parts receive oil via a lubrication arrangement including a conveyor chain continually bathed in oil.

Abstract: A flow control valve assembly for controlling the flow of a working fluid which has a housing that defines a valve chamber therein, an inlet port to the valve chamber and an outlet port from the valve chamber, a valve body which is movably carried in the chamber between a closed position that blocks the outlet port from communication with the inlet port and an open position so that the inlet port is in communication with the outlet port to allow the working fluid to be forced through the valve chamber, and a valve control means responsive to the velocity of the working fluid flowing through the valve chamber or responsive to the pressure differential across the valve body to operate the valve assembly by moving the valve body between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A compressed air-operated motor driven from a rechargeable compressed air supply tank. The motor has sets of symmetrically opposing cylinders having spring-biased air admission valves and containing drive pistons connected to a crankshaft. The supply tank is connected to the admission valves through respective pilot valves of a pair controlled by relay poppet valves alternately opened by a rotating cam driven by the crankshaft. The pilot valves control the delivery of compressed air alternately to two cylinder groups comprising alternately oppositely located cylinders, so that their pistons act to drive the crankshaft in a common direction by alternate power pulsations.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for controlling the flow of fluid from an inlet passage to the cylinder of a reciprocating piston engine wherein the valve is opened by a cam against the resistance of a valve closing spring and compressed gas above a plunger connected to the end of the valve stem and slidingly positioned within an enclosed chamber and which valve closing spring and compressed gas provide the forces for effecting rapid closing of the valve.