Expanding fluid energy converter, using centrifugal movement of pistons - has cam ring which creates centripetal piston motion, with piston movement boosted by injected fuel

摘要

The converter has a series of cylinders and pistons situated inside a circular ring (B) which can rotate about its axis, with all the pistons facing towards the axis (E). The inner surface of the ring is equipped with one or more projections (C), and preferably a series of equally-spaced projections, which act as cams turning inside a housing (Q) attached to the cylinder assembly. The pistons perform a centrifugal motion under the effect of the expansion of the fluid which provokes a rotation of the ring, while the cams produce a centripetal motion in the pistons, and as each piston reaches its outermost point a control element opens an exhaust port and allows the fluid to complete its expansion. The rotation of the ring can be used to control a fuel injection system for the cylinders, producing an inflammable mixture with the fluid under pressure enhancing the centrifugal movement of the pistons. The piston and cylinder assembly can be arranged so that the exhaust gases from some cylinders are fed into others to provide a supplementary combustion. ADVANTAGE - Reduced dimensions and weight for a given power.