GB678634A - Improvements in or relating to power plants - Google Patents

Abstract

678,634. Motor power plant. MITCHELL, G. April 5, 1951 [April 5, 1950], No 8564/50. Class 110(iii) In a motor power plant comprising an internal combustion engine supplying useful output which is provided with a cooling jacket through which flows a cooling liquid the vapour from which is used in a four stroke piston and cylinder engine also supplying useful output, the vapour engine has a heater tube, heated by the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine, which passes through the cylinder head and has one end closable. The plant shown has a single cylinder four stroke internal combustion engine 1 and a single cylinder single acting vapour engine 2 both of which drive a crankshaft 6. The vapour engine 2 has inlet and outlet valves 12, 13 operated by cam mechanism (not shown) so that the engine operates on a four stroke cycle. The cylinders 3, 9 of the engines 1, 2, are surrounded by a water jacket 14, which'has an outlet 15 leading to the engine 2. A heater tube 18 has, at one end, a cock 19 and, at the other end, passes through the cylinder head 17, A tube 20 through which pass the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine 1 surrounds the tube 18. The exhaust conduit 21 of the engine 1 communicates with the inlet of the engine 2 through a conduit 24 provided with a butterfly valve 25 which is closed during normal operation, and opened during starting to enable the engine 2 to be heated. During normal operation, the cock 19 is also closed and the tube 18 is used to heat the vapour before it expands. The exhaust from the engine 2 may be condensed and returned to the jacket 14. Substances other than water may be used as a cooling medium. The pressure at the inlet to the engine 2 is preferably low, e.g. below atmospheric.