The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 1990
Filed:
Jan. 05, 1989
Barry Johnston, Baltimore, MD (US);
Other;
Abstract
A uniflow engine has a plurality of cylinders disposed symmetrically around a common crankshaft connected to pistons reciprocating in the cylinders. In response to the availability of a working fluid vapor at a predetermined condition, such as a high pressure or temperature, incoming vapor is supplied to those cylinders in which the respective pistons are in their working strokes to thereby initiate rotation of the crankshaft in a predetermined direction regardless of the position in which the crankshaft has stopped last. Once rotation is initiated and a predetermined mode change speed attained in a 'start-up mode' by engine operation from start, vapor inlet valves are controlled to change engine operation over to a 'running mode'. In the 'start-up mode' incoming vapor is admitted over a substantial portion of the piston working stroke, whereas in the 'running mode' vapor inflow is terminated relatively early in the working stroke so that a vapor change does work in expanding against the piston. A relief valve is provided in the head portion of each piston and is actuated by inertia forces to facilitate evacuation of exhausted working fluid vapor from the corresponding cylinder.