Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a compression cylinder having an air inlet and outlet, a conduit extending from the compression cylinder air outlet, an expansion cylinder of larger diameter than the diameter of said compression cylinder and having an inlet and outlet, and a heat exchanger disposed in the conduit and having a first passageway for flowing compressed air from the compression cylinder outlet to the expansion cylinder inlet, the expansion cylinder outlet being in communication with a second passageway in the heat exchanger for flowing combustion exhaust gases from the expansion cylinder through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger operates to heat the compressed air before entry into the expansion cylinder and to cool the exhaust gases before entry into an exhaust conduit in communication with the heat exchanger second passageway.

Abstract: An internal combustion reciprocating engine includes a cylinder defining a main combustion chamber, a piston reciprocally movable in the cylinder, and a cylinder head providing an end wall for the main combustion chamber. A body is mounted in the cylinder head and is provided with an end wall substantially coincident with the main combustion chamber end wall, the body defining a pre-chamber and a passage interconnecting the pre-chamber and the cylinder. The body is in contact with the cylinder head only proximate the end wall of the body, the remainder of the body being insulated from the cylinder head, to store heat for heating air and vaporizing fuel introduced into the pre-chamber. A fuel inlet is in communication with the pre-chamber, and a spark source is mounted in the body and exposed to the pre-chamber.

Abstract: There is presented a gas compressor including a housing defining adjacent first and second chambers in axial alignment, a rod extending through the first chamber and into the second chamber, a tubular projection extending from a first end of the housing into the second chamber, a cylindrically-shaped end portion fixed to the rod and disposed slidably upon the projection and within the second chamber, a piston fixed to the rod and slidably disposed within the first chamber, and conduits for admitting gas to the first chamber, transferring gas from one compression stage to another, and discharging compressed gas from the housing.

Abstract: A method for converting a diesel engine to a natural gas fueled engine, the method comprising the steps of providing new cam profiles on a cam shaft portion of the diesel engine, the new cam profiles being operative to close intake valves of cylinder heads of the engine during intake strokes, operative to close exhaust valves of the cylinder heads, and operative no earlier than the exhaust valves closures to open associated intake valves, modifying portions of the cylinder heads to adapt the cylinder heads to accept spark plugs, fixing spark plugs in the cylinder heads, providing means for conveying natural gas fuel to the intake valves, providing a blower for supplying air under pressure to the intake valves, and providing an after-cooler for cooling the air supplied by the blower prior to the air reaching the intake valves.

Abstract: A closed loop fuel control system for an internal combustion engine in which the temperature of the exhaust gases passing by the oxygen sensor are regulated. The system utilizes a heated oxygen sensor in a slipstream of the exhaust gas and the temperature of the exhaust gas is controlled prior to its passing by the heated oxygen sensor for maximum efficiency of the catalytic converter.

Abstract: A flow proportioning mixer is provided for mixing gaseous fuel and air, the mixer having therein a gas chamber adapted to discharge the gaseous fuel to a mixing channel, an air chamber adapted to direct the air into the mixing channel to mix with the fuel, a plunger reciprocally mounted in the mixing channel to define an annular passage in the channel, a pressure regulator for maintaining the pressure of the gas in the gas chamber and the air in the air chamber at a selected ratio, and a motor responsive to an engine exhaust content sensor to move the plunger in the mixing channel.

Abstract: The method comprises a couple of features: (a) late closing of an air intake valve (for a cylinder) to induce a high-velocity, air injection just before closure, and (b) admitting fuel gas into the cylinder via the air intake valve. The valving arrangement comprises a valve and a seat therefore having mating surfaces which substantially effect an initial closure of the valve on the seat at only one side of the valve. As a consequence, a high-velocity jet of air streams into the associated cylinder, via the other, later-closing side of the valve, just before full valve closure. The high-velocity air injection, the same being a purposely-directed, swirl-generating, injection, according to the method or valving arrangement, induces an enhanced air-fuel admixing in the cylinder.

Abstract: A water distribution system is disclosed which employs a plurality of spray nozzles arranged to induce air flow and maximize the cooling surface area of the falling water. The plurality of spray nozzles are arranged along a plurality of vertical planes and a plurality of horizontal planes.The nozzles are located on at least two sides of a central area and are adapted to spray the water to be cooled toward the central area.