Abstract: An engine having a Rankine cycle steam expander includes an engine cylinder, a cylinder head and a piston in which clearance is zero together with a negligible amount of compression, such that pressure in the clearance volume is as low as to approximate ambient pressure or condenser pressure existing at the end of a return stroke when the clearance is zero. These provisions for clearance and compression working together simultaneously provide a thermal efficiency which substantially exceeds all prior known Rankine operating cycles and is referred to as “zero clearance with zero compression”. The steam admission valve is raised slightly by the piston to establish a zero clearance whereupon a steam assist then moves the steam admission valve determinately and quickly to a fully open position.

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

Abstract: A reduced icing valve for an gas-driven motor and a reciprocating double diaphragm pump is provided having a shiftable valve for alternatively supplying a motive gas through first and second supply ports to opposed first and second power pistons in opposed motive gas chambers, respectively, and for effecting alternating exhaust of the chambers. The shiftable valve is provided with an insert that deflects, away from the shiftable valve, air entering from each of the bypass valves until the bypass valves are fully actuated by the exhaust gas from the motive gas chambers. The shiftable valve is further provided with bypass valves independent of and intermediate the shiftable valve and each of the first and second motive gas chambers for bypassing the shiftable valve by exhaust gas from the motive gas chambers. The bypass valves are further actuated in an opposing direction by a supply source of motive gas to the chambers.

Abstract: An air driven double diaphragm pump has two opposed pumping cavities with diaphragms extending thereacross. A shaft extends between the diaphragms and through an actuator housing. The housing includes a control valve assembly having a control valve to direct pressurized air to one or the other of the dual pumping cavities and two relief valves which cooperate with the pump shaft position to release air from one end or the other of the control valve for the shifting thereof. Shuttle valve elements are positioned between the control valve and the pumping chambers. The shuttle valve elements are slidably positioned within the valve cavities to move between extreme positions under the pressures within the input and the pumping cavity. In one extreme position, the pumping cavity is in communication with an exhaust having a tapered passage. In the other, the exhaust is cut off and pressurized air is able to pass through a one-way valve in a passageway through the shuttle valve element to charge the pumping chamber.

Abstract: An air driven double diaphragm pump has two opposed pumping cavities with diaphragms extending thereacross. A shaft extends between the diaphragms and through an actuator housing. The housing includes a control valve assembly having a control valve to direct pressurized air to one or the other of the dual pumping cavities and two relief valves which cooperate with the pump shaft position to release air from one end or the other of the control valve for the shifting thereof. Shuttle valve elements are positioned between the control valve and the pumping chambers. The shuttle valve elements are slidably positioned within the valve cavities to move between extreme positions under the pressures within the input and the pumping cavity. In one extreme position, the pumping cavity is in communication with an exhaust having a tapered passage. In the other, the exhaust is cut off and pressurized air is able to pass through a one-way valve in a passageway through the shuttle valve element to charge the pumping chamber.

Abstract: Pneumatic beater, the beating piston (18) of which is conducted in a movable fashion inside a housing (2) and can be pre-stressed on one side of the piston (18) by means of a pressurizing space (40) against the restoring force of a pressure spring (26) which is provided in a spring space (28) on the other side of the piston (18) inside the housing (2), and in which the connecting channel (42) for the compressed air from the pressurizing space (40) into the spring space (28), which channel can be freed by means of an automatic, quick-acting ventilation valve (48), is conducted directly through the piston (18). Inside the spring space, the channel (42) is extended by means of a pipe (34) which contains the valve arrangement (48). In a first form of implementation, the pipe (34) is solidly affixed to the housing and extends into a bore (30) in the piston, which is conducted over the pipe (34) in a sliding fashion.

Abstract: A pile driver arrangement including a reciprocal impact member connected to a piston rod which is also connected to a reciprocal piston located in a hydraulic cylinder having a lower rod end and an upper blind end. A hydraulic fluid tank and a pump for supplying hydraulic fluid from the tank to the lower rod end of the hydraulic cylinder to lift the piston and the impact member. A first hydraulic fluid conduit connecting the upper blind end of the hydraulic cylinder and the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder and a check valve to prevent the flow of hydraulic fluid from the lower end to the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder. A second hydraulic fluid conduit connecting the pump and the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder and a control valve in the second conduit for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump to the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A pile driver arrangement including a reciprocal impact member connected to a piston rod which is also connected to a reciprocal piston located in a hydraulic cylinder having a lower rod end and an upper blind end. A hydraulic fluid tank and a pump for supplying hydraulic fluid from the tank to the lower rod end of the hydraulic cylinder to lift the piston and the impact member. A first hydraulic fluid conduit connecting the upper blind end of the hydraulic cylinder and the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder and a check valve to prevent the flow of hydraulic fluid from the lower end to the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder. A second hydraulic fluid conduit connecting the pump and the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder and a control valve in the second conduit for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump to the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated striking mechanism includes a contact pressure control member held at least temporarily in contact with an insertion end of a drilling tool by a mechanism which applies a restoring force in the striking direction. A control conduit is connected by way of the contact pressure control member either to a pressure conduit or to a pressure return conduit. The control conduit actuates a switching element so that a control unit which alternatingly switches the movement of the striking piston performs a reversal movement into an operating stroke position at an earlier or later point in time during the return stroke of the striking piston and thus actuates the operating stroke of the striking piston in the striking direction.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated hammer drill includes a housing in which a striking piston is displaceably disposed for alternating movement. The striking piston is driven in striking and return directions by a first operating pressure. A rotatable, tool receiving device is connected to the housing for receiving an insertion end of a drilling tool and permitting displacement of the insertion end in the longitudinal direction when charged by the striking piston. A rotation drive mechanism, driven by a second operating pressure, is mounted for rotatably driving the tool receiving device during longitudinal displacement of the insertion end. A control unit is disposed along a pressure conduit supplying the first operating pressure for alternatingly switching the direction of movement of the striking piston by controlling application of the driving medium to control faces of the striking piston.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, an expansible chamber device includes a piston movable within a cylinder, a head on the cylinder having intake and exhaust ports, a normally-open intake valve for closing the intake port automatically when the flow rate or velocity of a working medium entering the cylinder reaches a predetermined value, variable restraining means for inhibiting closing of the intake valve in response to flow, an exhaust valve for preventing escape of working medium from the cylinder until cylinder pressure is reduced to a set level, spring means for opening the exhaust valve at that level, and means operable near the top-dead-center position of the piston for automatically opening the intake valve and for closing the exhaust valve to enable the cycle to repeat. A unique system for controlling the variable restraining means, as well as methods for regulating the flow or working medium through said valves, also is disclosed.

Abstract: A reciprocating device comprising a housing having a chamber and a reciprocable member reciprocable in the chamber. First and second pressure valves are connectible to a source of fluid under pressure to drive the reciprocable member and first and second passages lead from the first and second pressure valves to the chamber on opposite sides of the reciprocable member, respectively. First and second exhaust valves are coupled, respectively, to the first and second passages at locations intermediate the associated pressure valve and the chamber and communicating with the first and second vents, respectively. Actuators are drivable by the piston for switching the valves between first and second positions, and the fluid under pressure retains the valves in whichever of the positions they are placed.

Abstract: A work cylinder having an internally-disposed, automatically-operated drain valve disposed in one or both ends of a housing having a cylinder bore formed therein. A reciprocally-movable piston divides the bore into first and second pressure chambers. A drain chamber formed in one or both ends has a movable plunger member disposed therein. A first passageway allows fluid from the pressure chamber to act on one surface of the plunger. A pilot valve is partially formed on a bottom portion of the plunger and opens when fluid pressure is exhausted from the adjacent pressure chamber. A bias spring acts on the plunger to prevent closing of the drain valve upon initial pressurization of the adjacent chamber. This initial pressurization assists in purging additional moisture from the chamber until a threshold level is exceeded to close the drain valve.

Abstract: An automatic, fluid actuated, external control system for a pile hammer or the like is provided that can vary the operating stroke length of a pile hammer and that can be used to operate the pile hammer in either a continuous or single stroke mode. A series of axially spaced orifices in the hammer housing exhaust pressurized fluid from the housing in a sequence controlled by the position of the hammer piston within the housing. The orifices are coupled by conduit to a series of pressure sensitive valves external of the pile hammer. The pressure sensitive valves control the delivery and exhaust of pressurized motive fluid to and from the pile hammer in response to the position of the hammer piston within the hammer housing.

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 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.