DE3017385C2 - Water-cooled internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a water-cooled internal combustion engine according to the preamble of the patent claim.

Such internal combustion engines, in which at least one working chamber with both a fuel-air mixture as well as being acted upon by steam are known. For example, US Pat 75 702 describes an internal combustion engine in which a steam generator is located on the cylinders is located, which is fed by the cooling water of the internal combustion engine. That in the steam generator The water that is located is heated by the hot exhaust gases and converted into steam, with the the respective cylinders are additionally acted upon by the fuel-air mixture. The closure element the steam inlet openings of the cylinder are opened by the camshaft of the internal combustion engine, it is assumed that the vapor pressure is always greater than the internal cylinder pressure. The cooling water is always in connection with the steam generating device in this known internal combustion engine.

An internal combustion engine in the preamble of the claim The type described is known from GB-PS 49,535. Here too, the heated cooling water is used out of the cooling jacket into the device for steam generation and converted into steam there. The steam is from the steam generating device via a line system of the steam inlet opening fed into the cylinder.

According to the teaching of GB-PS 3 49 535, the connection should of the steam part then take place when the corresponding working temperature and the corresponding working pressure of the steam has been reached which is a hand crank This means that the cooling water is always, i. H. in every phase of operation the internal combustion engine, is passed through the steam generating device. It's not an option present to bypass the steam generator. Furthermore, it is not indicated in which

ι ο way the used cooling water is replenished.

The invention is based on the object of an internal combustion engine of the specified type, in which the automatic connection and disconnection of the Steam part takes place with the simplest possible means.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an internal combustion engine with the characterizing features of the claim solved.

With the solvents specified according to the invention, the internal combustion engine can in a simple manner in Depending on the operating temperature of the machine can be controlled. The closure element is thereby (Steam inlet valve) only opens automatically when the steam pressure applied to the closure element exceeds the internal chamber pressure reached after ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture. In other words, in the start-up phase of the machine, in which the steam pressure is only building up, the machine runs Machine as a pure internal combustion engine, and only when If the steam pressure is greater than the internal pressure of the chamber, the steam section is switched on. For example If the internal cylinder pressure in Otto engines is in a range of 30-40 bar, so that one above this Values lying vapor pressure must be made available, which can be around 50 bar, for example.

In order to fully utilize the kinetic energy achieved by introducing steam into the working chamber, it is essential that the introduction of steam coincides with that caused by the combustion of the fuel-air mixture caused work cycle of the piston is properly coordinated. The control device for the Closure element is therefore designed in such a way that it is approximately in the top dead center of the piston when the piston is compressed The fuel-air mixture is opened and closed before the piston reaches bottom dead center will. The piston is thus both through the penetrating into the working cylinder and into the working chamber, expanding vapor as well as through the expanding ignited fuel-air mixture downwards driven, the steam supply before reaching the

so the bottom dead center of the piston is stopped. The low pressure steam is then burned along with the Ejected fuel-air mixture and enters the exhaust system of the internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine therefore consumes water in addition to fuel, and it is necessary if the machine is used for a mobile drive to refuel with water at appropriate time intervals.

In order to allow the closure element for the steam inlet opening to be opened and closed cyclically in

Bo slimmter way to the work cycle of the piston of the working cylinder or to reach the working chamber, control devices can be designed in various ways Find application. In addition to suitable electronic control devices, in particular

(i "> use of special mechanical control devices find, which are driven, for example, by a shaft driven by the piston movement. Here, the control device has a detachable

Locking device that locks the closure element or valve in the closed state until approximately the piston top dead center is reached causes. When the upper dead center of the piston is reached, the locking element is released from the locking device released so that it can open in the event of excess pressure on the steam side. Before reaching the bottom dead center of the piston is locked again of the closure element causes. Here func-

is traversed by the feed water, while the hot exhaust gases flow around the pipe coil system. Such embodiments are in any case sufficiently known to the person skilled in the art.

The invention will now be described in detail using an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawing described. It shows

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a with steam, water-cooled fuel

the closure element functions as a safety machine, so to speak, with only one working cylinder being shown for reasons of clarity and for a limited time only;
space (approximately from the top dead center of the piston to before the
lower piston dead center) from this lock

given g. When the valve is released, alFig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through a schematically shown working cylinder for a steam-charged, water-cooled four-stroke Otto engine with

lein the pressure conditions on the steam side and the 15 hanging valves, with the on and the Inside of the cylinder an opening or holding closed exhaust valve for the fuel-air mixture can be recognized Valve. If there is excess pressure on the steam side;

handle, the valve is opened and so Fig. 3 remains a schematic representation of an embodiment

la: ige in this state, until the locking device closes the approximate form of a control device for the steam valve and this in the closed state 20 inlet opening of the working cylinder; and
holds. Obviously, this locking device must be so F i g. 4 is a greatly simplified plan view

be designed so that it adjoins the head of the working cylinder of FIG. 2 and 3.
can withstand the maximum pressure. In the case of the FIG. 1 shown internal combustion engine 1

This enables automatic activation of the four-stroke Otto engine, of which From the steam part of the machine to the combustion part, there is only one working cylinder 2 for reasons of clarity gen, if the steam part is in the position shown above the. The engine can, for example, be used as a re-combustion part increase achieved performance. The henmotor, V-engine or designed as a boxer engine Activation takes place in the manner described above and can have any number of cylinders. In which Way, by comparing the pressures on both sides of the engine shown in the embodiment (Figs. 2 and 3) of the closure element, although, as mentioned, 30 is an in-line motor with only lying on top within a precisely delimited phase of the head of the camshaft and hanging valves.

The internal combustion engine usually has a fuel tank 18 from which fuel can be fed to a carburetor 17. The fuel-air mixture, which is either formed in the carburettor and which is provided in the carburettor, is introduced into the individual working cylinders via an entspretomatically or manually, a basic opening or closing intake manifold. As in Fig. 1, the fuel-air mixture formed in the carburetor 17 reaches an inlet opening formed in the working cylinder 2 only on conventional combustion operation 40 voltage5.
or switched to combustion steam operation. 1 shown internal combustion engine 1

the. For example, it is only possible if the machine is a water-cooled motor runs under certain load conditions, the sen cooling water in the cooling system at the same time To switch on the steam part, for example, about suitable as feed water for a device for the steam generator automatic controls are done 45 generation 13 is used; the steam generated there becomes can, depending on the respective load, a work cycle-like via a suitable line system 30 Effect switching operation. linder 2 supplied, namely a steam inlet opening

The internal combustion engine is particularly suitable for voltage 6 of the cylinder, which in this in addition to the mobile drives. It can be in the form of the known inlet opening 5 for the fuel-air mixture and Internal combustion engines be designed, for example as 50 of the outlet opening 4 for the burned gas mixture

movement a connection should or can take place.

It is recommended that the inventively designed

Internal combustion engine furthermore with suitable control

, g

Switching off the steam part to or from the combustion part is possible. If the machine with such Facilities is provided, it can entd in phases

Two-stroke and four-stroke Otto engine, as a rotary piston engine or as a diesel engine. The number of working cylinders or working chambers is irrelevant, although It should be taken into account that the inventive design of the motors with comparable Power output with conventionally designed engines means a reduction in cubic capacity and thus a diminished one Can achieve fuel consumption.

The device for generating steam comprises one

is provided. The feed water / cooling water system is structured as follows:

The machine is provided with a water tank 7 in which a suitable amount of water is stored. There the machine consumes water, the tank 7 must be refilled at certain time intervals. From the water tank 7, water reaches the engine block via a suitable line system 8, where it enters the there provided cold rooms is introduced. In Fig. 1 is i d dll

Steam boiler, in which the feed water is exchanged by heat exchange, surrounding the working cylinder 2 shown, with the exhaust gases of the internal combustion engine, cooling jacket 3. Which is located in the cooling jacket 3 can be converted into steam. The steam boiler is for this purpose
preferably designed as a heat exchanger and has

one of the hot exhaust gases from the combustion

Water absorbs the thermal energy given off by the working cylinder 2 during its operation and is used as boiling water via a line 9 and a

motor flowed through heating coil for the feed water 65 speaking pump assembly 10 pumped out. In the quieter on. Naturally, other embodiments 9 are also arranged, a suitable three-way valve 11 is conceivable for the heat exchanger. For example
this could have a coil system that

Via which the boiling cooling water is either sent to the device 13 for generating steam or a conventional

borrowed trained cooler 19 can be supplied. Of course, the valve 11 can also be used for a division of the cooling water flow are carried out, so that a partial amount in the steam generating device and a partial amount is fed to the cooler 19. The amount of boiling water fed to the steam generator 13 reaches this via a line 12 and is there converted into dry steam or superheated steam. Around To achieve this, the device 13 is designed as a heat exchanger and has a heating coil system 14 which is traversed by the hot exhaust gases from the engine. The steam then passes through a further line system 30, in which a suitable valve device 21 (throttle valve, shut-off valve) is provided to the steam inlet opening 8 of the working cylinder 2.

The exact mode of operation of the working cylinder 2 is shown in connection with FIGS. 2 to 4 described. At At this point it should only be noted that both by the combustion of the fuel-air mixture and by the introduction of the steam into the cylinder 2 work is done via a suitable device (crankshaft) is made available in the form of a rotational movement. The over the in the working cylinder 2 provided outlet opening 4 exiting burnt gases and the low-pressure steam exiting from the opening 4 reach the aforementioned heating coil 14 of the steam generating device via a line system 16 13 and are fed to an exhaust system 15 after passing the heating coil.

That part of the cooling water that is branched off through the three-way valve 11 for the cooling circuit is, passes through a line 20 in a conventionally designed cooler 19, in which the boiling water is cooled. The cooled water is then returned to the water tank 7, from where it is again fed to the engine block is fed. As mentioned, the water can, as required, through the cooling circuit or the steam section be guided.

FIG. 2 shows, in a schematic manner, that in FIG. 1 Working cylinder 2 shown in longitudinal section. As stated above, the working cylinder is next to the usual inlet and outlet openings 21, 22 for the fuel-air mixture with a further inlet opening provided, which via the line system 30 from the steam generating device 13 hot or Dry steam is supplied. This steam is only introduced into the working cylinder when it has the The working cycle of the piston 29 initiated by the ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture is supported. This is achieved by the fact that the steam inlet approximately in the upper. Dead center of the piston 29 takes place, so that the expanding vapor in the cylinder causes the downward movement caused by the expanding ignited gas mixture of the piston accelerates.

In Fig. 2, the working cylinder 2 is shown in the phase in which the piston 29 is compressed after ignition of the Fuel-air mixture is moved downwards by a conventional spark plug 28 and thereby work Here, both the inlet valve 23 and the outlet valve 24 are in the closed state. Both valves are suspended valves that are operated by means of tilting lifts! 25,26 are operated, which are controlled by a camshaft, of which a cam 27 is shown in a schematic manner is.

In Fig. 3 is the control device for the valve for the steam inlet opening shown. The control device ensures that the valve 41 is only opened occurs when the pressure of the supplied steam exceeds the cylinder pressure after the ignition of the compressed fuel-air mixture exceeds. In other words, only then does an opening take place of the valve 41, if additional work can be done by the steam kept ready. this is realized in terms of control so that a conventional rocker arm 42 is supported by an eccentrically Cam 44 is actuated. When the valve 41 keeps the steam inlet opening 40 closed, there is the rocker arm in the in F i g. 3 position shown in dashed lines at 43. In this position the rocker arm is through the cam disk 44 is locked so that even if there is overpressure on the steam side, the Valve can be done. However, when about the top dead center of the piston is reached, the cam plate 44 by rotation about the one shown in FIG. 3 assumed the position shown, whereby the rocker arm 42 from the position indicated at 43 can be pivoted out. The locking of the valve 41 is now solved so that the valve is opened by the existing overpressure and the steam in the working cylinder can flow in. Before reaching the bottom dead center of the piston, the rocker arm is through the further rotating cam disk 44 pivoted back into the position shown at 43 with the support of the valve spring, whereby the valve 41 is closed again.

4 shows a greatly simplified representation Top view of the cylinder head, with the steam inlet opening 40, the inlet opening 21 for the fuel-air mixture and the common outlet opening 22 for the burned fuel-air mixture and the low pressure steam are shown. It goes without saying that in relation to the working cylinder Appropriate measures are taken to prevent corrosion by the introduced into the combustion chamber Avoid steam. The experience gained with steam engines can be used for this purpose.

For this purpose 2 sheets of drawings

Claims (1)

Claim: Water-cooled internal combustion engine with at least one working chamber in which a working cycle of a piston is initiated by igniting a fuel-air mixture, a device for steam generation that can be operated by the heat energy emitted by the working chamber and its hot exhaust gases and is fed by the cooling water of the internal combustion engine a device for supplying the heated cooling water to the steam generating device, a device for supplying the steam from the generating device to the working chamber, a steam inlet opening for the chamber, a movable closure element for the steam inlet opening and a control device for the cyclic opening and closing of the closure element, so that the piston can be acted upon by steam during its working cycle through the opened closure element, characterized by
a three-way valve (11) in a line (9) carrying the heated cooling water, through which the cooling water is fed via connecting lines (12, 20) at the same time or alternatively to the steam generating device (13) and / or via a cooler (19) to a refillable water tank (7 ) can be supplied, and a control device (42, 43, 44) which closes the valve (41) for the inlet of steam into the working chamber (2) or keeps it closed and only releases it during part of the expansion stroke, so that it then can open if there is overpressure on the steam side.