EP2625400A1

EP2625400A1 - Self-pressure-regulating compressed air engine comprising an integrated active chamber

Info

Publication number: EP2625400A1
Application number: EP11764537.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guy Negre; Cyril Negre
Original assignee: MDI Motor Development International SA
Current assignee: MDI Motor Development International SA
Priority date: 2010-10-05
Filing date: 2011-10-03
Publication date: 2013-08-14
Also published as: BR112013008233A2; FR2965582A1; JP2013538987A; MY164600A; FR2965582B1; KR101840895B1; CO6741150A2; IL225297A0; CU20130052A7; CN103189612A; IN2013MN00611A; AP3567A; DOP2013000066A; KR20130139977A; NI201300029A; GEP20156345B; CL2013000827A1; PE20140563A1; EA201390480A1; NZ608168A

Abstract

The invention relates to a multimode engine comprising an included active chamber, having a cylinder (1) and a piston (2) that divides the cylinder into an active chamber (CA) and an expansion chamber (CD), and in which: compressed air contained in a tank (12) directly feeds the intake of the engine cylinder (1); the included active chamber (CA) is filled at a constant admission pressure at each engine revolution, said admission pressure decreasing as the pressure in the tank decreases; the volume of the included active chamber (CA) increases progressively as the pressure in the tank (12) decreases; means enable not only the admission opening and conduit (7) to be opened essentially at the top dead centre of the stroke of the piston, but also the modification of the duration and/or the angular sector of the admission, in addition to the opening passage section; and the volume of the included active chamber (CA) is dimensioned for maximum storage pressure, and is then progressively increased, resulting in a self-pressure regulating engine.

Description

«COMPRESSED AIR MOTOR

A ACTIVE ROOM INCLUDING AND AUTODETENDEUR »

The invention relates to an engine operating in particular with compressed air, or any other gas, and using a so-called "active chamber" chamber.

The inventors have filed numerous patents concerning engines and their installations, using gases and more particularly compressed air for a completely clean operation in urban and suburban sites:

They have in particular filed an international patent application WO-A1-03 / 036088 to the content of which we will be able to refer, concerning a motor-compressor unit - motoralternator with additional compressed air injection operating in mono-energy and multi-energy.

In these types of engine operating with compressed air and having a compressed air storage tank, it is necessary to relax the compressed air stored at very high pressure in the tank but whose pressure decreases as and when that the tank empties, at a stable intermediate pressure called final pressure of use, in a buffer capacity - said working capacity - before its use in the engine cylinder or cylinders.

Conventional valves with valves and springs well known have very low flow rates and their use for this application requires very heavy and inefficient devices. In addition, they are very sensitive to icing due to the humidity of the cooled air during relaxation.

To solve this problem, the inventors have also filed a patent application WO-A1-0 03/089764, the contents of which we can refer to a dynamic variable pressure regulator and a distribution for engines powered with compressed air injection. , having a high pressure compressed air tank and working capacity.

In the operation of these "load-expansion" motors, the filling of the expansion chamber always represents a relaxation without any work detrimental to the overall performance of the machine.

To solve the problem indicated above the inventors have also filed a patent application WO-A1-2005 / 049968 describing a compressed air motor preferably powered by compressed air or any other compressed gas contained in a storage tank. high pressure, previously relaxed to a nominal working pressure in a buffer capacity said working capacity. The working capacity in a bi-energies version comprises a device for heating the air supplied by additional energy (fossil or other energy) making it possible to increase the temperature and / or the pressure of the air passing through it.

In this type of engine according to WO-A1-2005 / 049968:

the expansion chamber is constituted by a variable volume equipped with means making it possible to produce a work, it is twinned and in contact by a permanent passage with the space included above the main engine piston which is equipped with a piston stop device at top dead center,

during the stopping of the engine piston at its top dead center, the air or the gas under pressure is admitted into the expansion chamber when it is at its smallest volume and, under the pressure, will increase its volume by producing a job,

the expansion chamber being maintained substantially at its maximum volume, the compressed air contained therein then relaxes in the engine cylinder, thereby pushing the engine piston in its downward stroke, thereby providing a job,

- During the recovery of the engine piston during the exhaust time, the variable volume of the expansion chamber is reduced to its smallest volume to start a complete work cycle.

The engine expansion chamber according to this invention actively participates in the work. The engine is thus called "active chamber" engine.

The document WO-A1-2005 / 049968 claims in particular a thermodynamic cycle in four phases during its operation in mono-energy compressed air mode characterized by:

- an isothermal relaxation without work;

- a transfer - slight relaxation with work said quasi-isothermal;

- polytropic relaxation with work;

an exhaust at ambient pressure.

WO-A1-2008/028881, which shows a variant of WO-A1-2005 / 049968, claims the same thermodynamic cycle but using a conventional crank-crank device. It is preferably supplied with compressed air or any other compressed gas contained in a high-pressure storage tank, previously expanded to a nominal working pressure in a so-called working capacity buffer capacity. The capacity of work in version bi-energies comprises a device reheating the air powered by additional energy (fossil or other energy) to increase the temperature and / or the pressure of the air that passes through it.

In this type of engine according to WO-A1 -2008/028881:

the expansion chamber, called the active chamber, is constituted by a variable volume equipped with means making it possible to produce a work and is connected by a passage comprising a shutter thus making it possible to isolate it or put it in contact with the volume included in the engine cylinder above the engine piston at its top dead center;

- air or pressurized gas is admitted into the active chamber when it is at its smallest volume and, under the pressure will increase its volume producing a job;

- When the active chamber is substantially at its maximum volume, and the engine piston substantially at its top dead center, the inlet is closed, said chamber is placed in communication with the engine cylinder and the compressed air y content relaxes thereby repelling the engine piston in its downward stroke by providing a job in turn;

- During the relaxation the volume of the active chamber is reduced to its minimum volume to allow a new cycle.

The engine expansion chamber according to the invention actively participates in the work. The motors according to WO-A1-2005 / 049968 and WO-A1-2008 / 028881 are known as active chamber motors.

More recently, the inventors have filed a new patent application for an "active" active-chamber compressed air motor that implements the same thermodynamic cycle as the motors according to WO-A1-2005 / 049968 and according to WO-A1- 2008/028881, as well as a conventional crank-and-crank device. According to this new French patent application No. FR1058005 filed October 4, 2010, the inventors have proposed an active chamber engine included in the engine cylinder, comprising at least one piston slidably mounted in a cylinder and driving a crankshaft by means of a traditional crank-and-crank device operating on a four-phase thermodynamic cycle comprising:

- an isothermal relaxation without work;

- a transfer - slight relaxation with work said quasi-isothermal;

- polytropic relaxation with work;

an exhaust at ambient pressure; preferably fed with compressed air, or any other compressed gas, contained in a high-pressure storage tank, through a so-called working capacity buffer which is fed with compressed air, or any other compressed gas, contained in a high-pressure storage tank, which is expanded to a mean pressure called working pressure in a working capacity preferably through a dynamic expansion device,

characterized

- In that it comprises at least one piston slidably mounted in at least one cylinder whose volume swept by the piston is divided into two distinct parts, a first part constituting the active chamber CA which is included in the cylinder and a second part constituting the CD relaxation chamber;

- In that the volume of the cylinder which is swept by the piston is closed at its upper part by a cylinder head having at least one duct and inlet port and at least one duct and exhaust port and which is arranged so that that when the piston is at its top dead point, the residual volume between the piston and the cylinder head is, by construction, reduced to the minimum clearances allowing operation without contact between the piston and the cylinder head;

in that the compressed air or the pressurized gas is admitted into the cylinder above the piston and, under the continuous thrust of the compressed air at constant working pressure, the volume of the active chamber increases while producing a work. representing the quasi-isothermal transfer phase;

in that the admission of compressed air, or pressurized gas, into the cylinder is closed when the maximum volume of the active chamber CA is reached, and the amount of compressed air, or gas under pressure, included in said active chamber then relaxes by pushing the piston on the second part of its travel which determines the expansion chamber CD producing a job thus ensuring the relaxation phase;

- In that, the piston having reached its bottom dead point, the exhaust port is then open to ensure the exhaust phase during the ascent of the piston over its entire stroke.

The maximum volume of the active chamber CA and the volume of the expansion chamber CD are dimensioned such that at the rated operating pressure of the engine the pressure at the end of expansion at low dead point is close to atmospheric pressure. The maximum volume of the active chamber is determined by the closing of the admission. Advantageously, and particularly in mono-energy operation with compressed air, the active chamber engine included in the cylinder described above comprises a plurality of successive cylinders of increasing displacement. The first cylinder, of smaller displacement, is supplied with compressed air by the working capacity. The next cylinder or cylinders, of increasing displacement, are supplied with compressed air by the exhaust of the preceding upstream cylinder. An air / air heat exchanger with the atmosphere is positioned between the two cylinders of a pair of successive cylinders, thus making it possible to increase the temperature of the exhaust air of the preceding cylinder, to bring it close to the temperature ambient / atmospheric and thus increase the volume of air escaped.

Preferably, the engine is fed, like the teachings of documents WO-A1-2005 / 049968 and WO-A1-2008 / 0828881, by compressed air or any other compressed gas contained in a storage tank. at high pressure, previously relaxed, at a nominal working pressure, in a buffer capacity - said working capacity.

The working capacity in a bi-energy version comprises a heating device, or thermal heater, of the air or gas which is fed by additional energy (fossil or other energy) making it possible to increase the temperature and / or the pressure from the air that runs through it. This engine is called active chamber "included".

However, even if it is possible in the case of a multistage engine to supply the first of the cylinders at high pressures, it remains necessary to relax the compressed air at very high pressure contained in the storage tank. high pressure up to a nominal working pressure and this expansion operation, either causes a loss of efficiency by the use of a conventional expansion valve or, with the use of the teachings of document WO-A1-0 03/089764, It does not cost energy, but this expansion does not allow any relaxation work to be performed between the high pressure contained in the reservoir and the nominal working pressure in the constant volume working capacity.

The active chamber motor included in the cylinder according to the present invention proposes to solve the latter problem and it uses the functional provisions of the active chamber motor cylinder included in the cylinder, it performs the complete expansion of the storage tank, it operates in mono and / or bi-energies with additional energy. This a new engine called "autodetendeur" is a "plurimodal" engine with active chamber included in the cylinder, and acting as a regulator.

The invention thus proposes a motor, comprising at least one cylinder and a piston which is slidably mounted in the cylinder and which drives a crankshaft by means of a conventional crank-rod device, in which the volume of the cylinder swept by the piston is divided into two distinct parts including a first part constituting the active chamber CA which is included in the cylinder and a second part constituting the expansion chamber CD, the cylinder being closed in its upper part by a cylinder head comprising at least one conduit and an orifice intake and at least one duct and an exhaust port, and which is arranged such that, when the piston is at its top dead point, the residual volume between the piston and the cylinder head is, by construction, reduced to the minimum clearances allowing non-contact operation between the piston and the cylinder head, and in which compressed air, or any other gas under pressure, supplied from a compressed air storage tank, or any other pressurized gas is admitted into the cylinder above the piston and, under the continuous thrust of compressed air, or any other pressurized gas, the volume of the active chamber increases by producing a work, the admission of compressed air, or any other gas under pressure, into the cylinder is closed when the maximum volume of the active chamber is reached, and the amount of compressed air, or any other gas under pressure, included in said active chamber then relaxes by pushing the piston on the second part of its stroke producing a job thus ensuring the relaxation phase, the piston having reached its low dead point, the orifice of exhaust is then open to ensure the exhaust phase during the ascent of the piston over its entire stroke,

characterized

in that the high pressure compressed air storage tank, or any other pressurized gas, directly supplies the inlet of the driving cylinder;

in that the filling of the active chamber CA in the cylinder takes place at a constant inlet pressure at each engine revolution, this intake pressure being degressive as the pressure in the reservoir is lowered storage during the gradual emptying of this tank;

in that the maximum volume of the active chamber CA is variable and is gradually increased as the lowering of pressure in the storage tank which determines said intake pressure;

in that the means for opening and closing the admission of the compressed air into the active chamber not only make it possible to open the orifice and the inlet duct substantially at the top dead center of the piston stroke , but also make it possible to modify the duration and / or the angular sector of the admission, as well as the passage section of the opening;

and in that the maximum volume of the active chamber CA is dimensioned for the maximum storage pressure, and is then gradually increased so that, depending on the inlet pressure, the volume ratio between the active chamber CA and the expansion chamber CD, the pressure at the end of expansion before the opening of the exhaust being close to atmospheric pressure.

Thanks to which the engine according to the invention also acts as a pressure reducer, the invention thus making it possible to propose an "autodetendeur" motor which does not require any independent expansion valve, whatever its type, for the supply of the active chamber.

The multi-modal autodetender motor with active chamber according to the invention notably implements, during its operation in single-energy compressed air mode, a three-phase thermodynamic cycle comprising:

- isobaric and isothermal transfer

- polytropic relaxation with work

an exhaust at ambient pressure.

In the operation of the engine according to the invention, the maximum volume of the active chamber included in the cylinder determines the amount of compressed air injected. The higher the inlet pressure, the smaller the volume of the active chamber must be.

And the higher the intake pressure, the greater the potential power of the engine for the same cubic capacity. For a given displacement, the increase in the maximum volume of the active chamber included in the cylinder, as a function of the drop in intake pressure, makes it possible to keep the power of the motor almost constant, within a certain operating pressure range. for example from 210 to 140 bar. Below the lower value, the motor power then drops gradually. Ideally the total displacement of the engine must be able to increase as the lowering of the intake pressure. According to a variant of the invention, the engine according to the invention comprises at least two cylinders of increasing displacement each operating according to the same principle which has just been described, and characterized:

in that, when the inlet pressure is in its upper range, corresponding, for example, to the upper third of the values of the intake pressure, only the cylinder of smaller capacity is supplied with fuel;

in that, when the intake pressure is in an intermediate range, corresponding, for example, to the median third of the values of the intake pressure, only the second cylinder of larger displacement is fed;

- And in that, when the inlet pressure is in its lower range, corresponding for example to the lower third of the values of the intake pressure, the two cylinders are fed at the same time.

On the same principle, it is possible to produce an engine according to the invention comprises at least three cylinders, of which said at least two cylinders of increasing displacement, whereby it is possible to adjust more finely the total cubic capacity used as a function of the pressure of the engine. admitting, operating successively, jointly and / or in combination said at least three cylinders of the engine.

In its application bi-energies and additional fuel mode, in an engine according to the invention, between the storage tank and the intake of the engine, is positioned a thermal device forming isobaric heater to increase, at constant pressure, the temperature of the air, or any other gas, which passes through it and to increase the amount of usable and available energy by the fact that compressed air, or any other gas, at constant pressure and before its introduction into the CA active chamber, will increase its temperature and increase its volume by allowing the increase of the autonomy of a machine equipped with the engine, in the proportion of said increase in volume.

In compressed air mode, for example when the engine according to the invention equips a vehicle in an urban site, only the pressure of the air, or any other gas, compressed in the high-pressure tank is used for operation.

In operation in mode with additional energy, fossil or other, for example when the engine according to the invention equips a vehicle on the road, the reheating of the compressed air is then controlled, thus allowing to increase the temperature of the air and as a result Usable volume for the work of charging the active chamber and relaxation.

This is an isobaric heating and doubling the temperature, doubles the useful volume of compressed air, and so on.

Thus a tank of 200 liters of compressed air at 200 bar, or 40 m ³ of air at 293K (20 ° Celsius) allows to have, at 586K (313 ° Celsius), 80 m3 of compressed air. The reheating of the compressed air initially at room temperature makes it possible, with little energy, to rapidly obtain high temperatures while controlling their value, preferably to remain below the formation temperatures of the oxides. particularly polluting and harmful nitrogen.

The use of a heater-forming thermal device has the advantage of being able to use clean continuous combustions which can be catalyzed or decontaminated by any known means, with the aim of producing minute emissions of pollutants.

The heater-forming heat device can use for energy a fossil fuel such as gasoline, diesel or LPG gas or CNG. It can also use biofuels or alcohol / ethanol, thus enabling a dual-energy external combustion operation in which a burner will cause a rise in temperature. It can also use thermochemical processes allowing such a rise in temperature.

According to one variant of the invention, the motor uses solar energy to heat the compressed air, or any other gas, and - for this purpose - the isobaric heater forming thermal device comprises a focusing solar parabola in the heating device forming a heater isobaric to allow the increase of the temperature of compressed air, or any other gas, and to increase the amount of usable and available energy by the fact that compressed air, or any other gas, at constant pressure , and before its introduction into the active chamber CA will increase its temperature and increase volume by allowing the increase of the autonomy of said machine.

The different energies used and the thermal heating devices used separately or in combination may vary, without changing the principle of the invention. In operating mode with additional energy, the thermodynamic cycle of the motor according to the invention is four-phase comprising:

an isobaric increase in temperature;

an isobaric / isothermal transfer;

- polytropic relaxation with work;

an exhaust at ambient pressure.

According to a variant of the invention that allows the dual-energy autonomous operation of the engine according to the invention, the engine acting as a pressure reducer, is coupled with and drives an air compressor allowing, during its operation with additional energy, supplying compressed air, or any other gas, the high-pressure storage tank.

Preferably, a heat exchanger, air-air or other, which is positioned between the compressor and the storage tank so that compressed air, or any other gas, at high pressure and at high temperature at the output of the compressor finds, in the storage tank, a temperature close to room temperature.

In this configuration, the engine according to the invention operates according to a six-phase thermodynamic cycle comprising:

polytropic compression of the ambient / atmospheric air;

cooling at ambient / atmospheric temperature for storage;

an isobaric increase in temperature;

- isobaric and isothermal transfer;

- polytropic relaxation with work;

an exhaust at ambient pressure.

The control of the engine in torque and speed is controlled by a preferably electronic device, the torque and engine speed are controlled by an accelerator-controlled device that controls the opening and closing of the opening / closing means of the conduit intake which supplies air, or any other gas, the CA active chamber by allowing not only to open the opening / closing means, substantially at the top dead center but also to change the duration and / or the sector angle of the inlet, as well as the passage section of the opening to determine the pressure at the end of expansion, depending on the pressure in the storage tank, the amount compressed air, or any other gas, admitted, the volume of the active chamber CA by closing the opening / closing means.

The engine according to the invention mono energy and bi-energies thus equipped operates in three modes, which can be used separately or in combination comprising:

- the mono energy operation mode, zero pollution, with air, or any other gas, previously compressed contained in the high-pressure storage tank;

- The bi-energies operating mode, with air, or any other gas, previously compressed contained in the storage tank plus the additional energy provided by a heater forming heat device;

the autonomous two-energy operating mode, with the air, or any other gas, compressed in the storage tank by a compressor driven by the motor, plus the additional energy provided by the heating device.

The heat exchangers may be air / air or air / liquid exchangers or any other device or gas producing the desired effect.

The active chamber engine according to the invention can be used on all land, maritime, railway, aeronautical vehicles. The active chamber motor according to the invention can also and advantageously find its application in the emergency generator sets, as well as in many domestic cogeneration applications producing electricity, heating and air conditioning.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will appear on reading the description, without limitation, of several embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows schematically a motor according to the invention with active chamber included in the cylinder which is illustrated in axial section, shown at its bottom dead center and with its compressed air supply device;

- Figures 2 to 4 show the different operating phases of the engine according to the invention;

- Figure 5 shows an engine according to the invention comprising two cylinders;

- Figure 6 shows a motor and its compressed air supply device comprising a device for heating the compressed air by means of a solar dish; - Figure 7 schematically shows a motor according to the invention coupled to a compressor supplying the storage tank.

FIG. 1 shows a self-expanding active chamber motor according to the invention on which can be seen a driving cylinder 1 in which a piston 2 slides which is connected by a connecting rod 3 to the crankpin 4 of a crankshaft 5.

The volume of the engine cylinder 1 according to the invention which is swept by the piston 2 is divided along an imaginary line DD '(corresponding to a plane of division orthogonal to the axis of the cylinder) into two parts: a first part constituting the chamber active CA, which is thus included in the cylinder, and a second portion constituting the expansion chamber CD.

When the piston 2 is at its top dead point, by construction, the residual volume between the upper face of the piston and the portion vis-à-vis the cylinder head 6 is zero, or almost zero, and the volume of the active chambers CA and relaxing CD is then zero.

From the top dead center of the piston, the volume of the cylinder swept by the piston and located above the upper face of the piston will increase gradually, thus creating successively the active chamber CA, then the expansion chamber CD.

The downward stroke of the piston 2 in the cylinder 1 thus comprises, consecutively, a first "upper" part corresponding to the progressive formation of the so-called active chamber CA, and a second "lower" part corresponding to the progressive formation of the so-called chamber. relaxing CD.

The engine cylinder 1 is capped with an upper cylinder head 6 comprising an intake duct 7 and an exhaust duct 8 opening into the cylinder 1 as well as associated means for closing said ducts, these means being in this case valves. intake 9 and exhaust 10 respectively.

According to the invention, the intake duct 7 is directly connected to the high-pressure reservoir 12, which thus supplies the active chamber CA directly via the intake duct 7.

The high-pressure compressed air contained in the high-pressure storage tank 12 directly supplies the active chamber CA via the intake duct 7 at constant pressure during each engine revolution, this pressure being degressive as the pressure increases. lowering the pressure in the storage tank, during its emptying, that is to say gradually as it is emptied. To enable control of the engine speed and load, a device (not shown) controlled by an electronic computer which takes into account in particular the position of an accelerator such as an accelerator pedal, the pressure of the compressed air contained in the storage tank, the rotational speed of the engine, as well as other operating parameters, and which controls the opening and closing of the intake valve 9 of the intake duct 7 which supplies the compressed air active chamber CA, by allowing not only to open the valve substantially at the top dead center, but also to modify the duration and / or the angular sector of the admission, as well as the passage section of the opening by modifying the lifting the valve to determine, depending on all or part of these different parameters:

- the amount of compressed air allowed;

the volume of the active chamber CA by closing the valve 9;

- the pressure at the end of relaxation.

Figure 2 shows the engine according to the invention being admitted, the intake valve 9 having been opened from top dead center. The pressure compressed air contained in the storage tank 12 supplies the active chamber CA, the volume of which increases gradually, and pushes the piston 2 downwards, producing a work and performing the first phase of the thermodynamic cycle: transfer isobaric and isothermal.

FIG. 3 represents the motor according to the invention while the piston 2 reaches the line DD 'at which the volume of the active chamber CA is maximum and at which the pressure in the active chamber is at the pressure contained in the storage tank . The inlet valve 9 is then closed and it interrupts the arrival of pressurized air. The compressed air contained in the active chamber CA then relaxes by pushing the piston 1 to its bottom dead point (Figure 4) and doing a relaxing engine work, and performing the second phase of the thermodynamic cycle: polytropic relaxation with work.

The piston 1 then reaches its bottom dead point (FIG. 1) corresponding to the maximum available volume of the cylinder swept by the piston, and the exhaust valve 10 is then open to evacuate, through the exhaust duct 8, the air relaxed and whose pressure is close to ambient / atmospheric pressure to the atmosphere, during its lift stroke, performing the phase of the thermodynamic cycle: exhaust at ambient pressure.

FIG. 5 shows a motor according to the invention two-stage bicylinders of increasing displacement, on which can be seen, from left to right, the first cylinder 1, which is the cylinder of smaller displacement, in which a piston slides 2 connected by a connecting rod 3 to the crankpin 4 of a crankshaft 5.

This first engine cylinder 1 is divided along a line DD 'into two parts: an active chamber CA and a partial expansion chamber CD (not visible in the drawing).

The first engine cylinder 1 is capped with a cylinder head 6 having, opening into the cylinder 1, an intake duct 7 and an exhaust duct 8 as well as means for closing said ducts, these means being here valves of The intake duct 7 is connected to the high-pressure reservoir 12 through a three-way valve 21. The exhaust duct 8 opens into the atmosphere.

The second stage consists of a second cylinder 1A, the displacement of which is larger than that of the first cylinder 1, in which a second piston 2A slides which is connected by a connecting rod 3A to the crankpin 4A of the common crankshaft 5.

The second motor cylinder 1A is divided along a line DD 'into two parts: a second active chamber CA1 and a second expansion chamber CD1.

The second motor cylinder 1A is capped with the yoke 6, here common, having, opening into the second cylinder 1A, an intake duct 7A and an exhaust duct 8A and means for closing said ducts which are here 9A intake and 10A exhaust valves. The intake duct 7A is connected to the high-pressure reservoir 12 through the three-way valve 21. The exhaust duct 8 A opens into the atmosphere.

The high-pressure compressed air contained in the high-pressure storage tank 12 feeds, through the 3-way valve 21, either the intake duct of the first cylinder 1 or the intake duct of the second cylinder 1A, again the two cylinders 1 and 1A at the same time. The pressure values indicated below in the brief description of the operation of the two-cylinder engine are given by way of non-limiting example of a realistic and possible embodiment of the invention.

During operation, while the pressure of the compressed air contained in the storage tank 12 is in the upper range of the intake pressure values, for example in the upper third, for a tank whose maximum pressure is 210 bars, for example between 140 bar and 210 bar, the three-way valve closes the intake duct 7A and directs the compressed air to the intake duct 7 of the first cylinder 1 which ensures the sole operation of the engine according to the invention.

When the inlet pressure of the compressed air contained in the storage tank 12 is in the intermediate range of the intake pressure values, for example corresponding to the median third of the values of the intake pressure, for a reservoir whose maximum pressure is 210 bar, for example between 70 bar and 140 bar, the three-way valve closes the intake duct 7 and directs the compressed air to the inlet duct 7A of the second cylinder 1A which ensures alone the operation of the self-expanding motor.

When the inlet pressure of the compressed air contained in the storage tank 12 is in the lower range of the intake pressure values, for example corresponding to the lower third of the values of the intake pressure, for a reservoir whose maximum pressure is 210 bar, for example between 5 bar and 70 bar, the three-way valve simultaneously directs the compressed air, both to the inlet duct 7 of the first cylinder 1 and to the intake duct 7A of the second cylinder 1A, the two cylinders 1 and 1A together ensuring the operation of the engine.

FIG. 6 represents a motor according to the invention with its high-pressure air supply device comprising a device for heating compressed air comprising a solar parabola (16) focusing in a chamber allowing the temperature of the chamber to be increased. compressed air passing through it. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the amount of usable and available energy by the fact that the compressed air, before its introduction into the active chamber included CA, will increase its temperature and increase its volume allowing, for the same performance, withdrawing from the storage tank 12 a smaller volume of air and increase the autonomy of a vehicle equipped with this engine according to the invention. FIG. 7 represents an engine according to the invention operating in autonomous bi-energies with, for example, an additional fossil energy, here in a thermal device comprising a burner 17 included in a chamber 17A and which is fed by a gas cylinder 18.

The crankshaft 5, in its rotation, drives a compressed air compressor 19 which supplies the storage tank 12 through an air / air heat exchanger 20.

The general operation of the engine is identical to that described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. However, this arrangement makes it possible to fill the storage tank during operation with additional energy.

The included active chamber autodetender motor is described with operation with compressed air. However, it can use any compressed gas without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown: the materials, the control means, the devices described may vary within the limit of equivalents, to produce the same results. The number of engine cylinders, their displacement (s), the maximum volume of the active chamber relative to the displaced volume of the cylinder (s) and the number of stages of relaxation, may also vary, without this depart from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

An active chamber motor, comprising at least one cylinder (1) and a piston (2) which is slidably mounted in the cylinder (1) and which drives a crankshaft (5) by means of a crank-rod device (3). 4), wherein the volume of the cylinder (1) swept by the piston (2) is divided into two distinct parts, a first part constituting the active chamber (CA) which is included in the cylinder and a second part constituting the expansion chamber (CD), the cylinder (1) being closed at its upper part by a cylinder head (6) comprising at least one duct and an inlet (7) and at least one duct and an exhaust port ( 8), and which is arranged such that, when the piston (2) is at its top dead point, the residual volume between the piston (2) and the cylinder head (6) is, by construction, reduced to the only games minimum allowing operation without contact between the piston and the cylinder head, and in which compressed air, or any other pressurized gas supplied from a compressed air storage tank, or any other pressurized gas, is admitted into the cylinder (1) above the piston, and under the continuous thrust of the compressed air, or any other pressurized gas, the volume of the active chamber (CA) increases by producing a work, the admission of compressed air, or any other gas under pressure, into the cylinder is closed when the maximum volume of the active chamber (CA) is reached, and that the amount of compressed air, or other gas under pressure, included in said active chamber then relaxes by pushing the piston on the second part of its stroke by producing a work thus ensuring the relaxation phase, the piston having reached its bottom dead point, the exhaust port is then open to ensure the exhaust phase during the ascent of the piston over its entire stroke,

characterized

in that the reservoir (12) for storing compressed air at high pressure, or any other pressurized gas, directly supplies the intake of the driving cylinder (1);

in that the filling of the active chamber (CA) in the cylinder takes place at a constant inlet pressure at each engine revolution, this intake pressure being degressive as the pressure is lowered in the storage tank (12) during the emptying of this tank;

- in that the maximum volume of the active chamber (CA) is variable and increases gradually as the lowering pressure in the storage tank (12) which determines said intake pressure;

in that the means (7, 9) for opening and closing the admission of the compressed air into the active chamber (CA) make it possible not only to open the orifice and the inlet duct (7); ) substantially at the top dead center of the piston stroke, but also make it possible to modify the duration and / or the angular sector of the intake, as well as the passage section of the opening;

- in that the maximum volume of the active chamber (CA) is dimensioned for the maximum storage pressure, then is gradually increased so that, depending on the inlet pressure, the volume ratio between the active chamber included (CA) and the expansion chamber (CD), the pressure at the end of expansion before the opening of the exhaust (8) being close to atmospheric pressure.

2. Active chamber motor according to claim 1, characterized in that it operates according to a three-phase thermodynamic cycle comprising:

- isobaric and isothermal transfer;

- polytropic relaxation with work;

an exhaust at ambient pressure.

3. Active chamber motor according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises at least two cylinders of increasing displacement (1; 1A) each operating according to the same principle which has just been described, and characterized:

4. Active chamber motor according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises at least three cylinders, of which said at least two cylinders of increasing displacement, whereby it is possible to adjust more finely the total displacement used as a function of the pressure. of admission, by operating successively, jointly and / or in combination said at least three cylinders of the engine.

5. Active chamber motor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in its dual-energy application, characterized in that, between the storage tank (12) and the engine intake, is positioned a thermal device forming isobaric heater to increase, at constant pressure, the temperature of the air, or any other gas, that passes through it and to increase the amount of usable and available energy by the fact that compressed air, or any other gas, at constant pressure and before its introduction into the active chamber (CA), will increase its temperature and increase its volume by allowing the increase of the autonomy of a machine equipped with the engine, in the proportion of said increase of volume.

6. Active chamber motor according to claim 5, in its dual-energy application, characterized in that the isobaric heater heating device comprises a solar parabola focusing in the isobaric heater forming thermal device to allow the increase of the temperature of the compressed air, or any other gas, and increase the amount of usable and available energy by the fact that compressed air, or any other gas, at constant pressure, and before its introduction into the active chamber (CA ) will increase its temperature and increase volume by allowing the increase of the autonomy of said machine.

7. Active chamber motor according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that its thermodynamic cycle is four-phase comprising:

an increase in isobaric temperature;

- isothermal transfer;

- polytropic relaxation with work;

an exhaust at ambient pressure.

8. Active chamber motor according to one of claims 5 or 6, in its dual-energy autonomous application, characterized in that it is coupled with and drives an air compressor (19) allowing, during its operation with a additional energy, supplying compressed air, or any other gas, the high-pressure storage tank (12).

9. Active chamber motor according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a heat exchanger, air-air or other, which is positioned between the compressor (19) and the storage tank (12) so that the compressed air, or any other gas, at high pressure and at high temperature at the output of the compressor found in the storage tank, a temperature close to room temperature.

10. Active chamber motor according to claim 9, characterized in that its thermodynamic cycle comprises six phases comprising:

polytropic compression of the ambient / atmospheric air;

cooling at ambient / atmospheric temperature for storage;

an increase in isobaric temperature;

an isobaric / isothermal transfer;

- polytropic relaxation with work;

an exhaust at ambient pressure.

11. Active chamber engine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the torque and the engine speed are controlled by an accelerator-controlled device which controls the opening and closing of the opening / closing means. (9) the intake duct (8) which supplies air, or any other gas, the active chamber (CA) by not only opening the opening / closing means, substantially at the top dead center but also to modify the duration and / or the angular sector of the admission, as well as the passage section of the opening in order to determine the pressure at the end of the expansion, as a function of the pressure in the storage tank (12), the amount of compressed air, or any other gas, admitted, the volume of the active chamber (CA) by closing the opening / closing means (9).

12. Active chamber motor according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that, during operation in dual energy mode with additional energy, the engine comprises an electronic calculator which controls the amount of energy supplied in function the pressure of the compressed air, or any other gas, and therefore the mass of air, or any other gas, introduced into the active chamber (CA).

Active chamber motor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor operates in three modes, which can be used separately or in combination comprising:

- the mono-energy operation mode, zero pollution, with air, or any other gas, previously compressed contained in the high-pressure storage tank;

- the dual-energy mode of operation, with air, or any other gas, previously compressed contained in the storage tank more the additional energy provided by a heating device forming a heater;