WO1993021423A1

WO1993021423A1 - Remote combustion rotary engine

Info

Publication number: WO1993021423A1
Application number: PCT/AU1993/000171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter John Edwards
Original assignee: Peter John Edwards
Priority date: 1992-04-16
Filing date: 1993-04-16
Publication date: 1993-10-28

Abstract

A rotary piston remote combustion engine comprising a perfectly round cylinder (1) enclosed by side plates, in which rotates one or more rotors (2) each of two or more chambers. The rotor is centrally supported by an attached straight drive shaft (31) which is centrally supported within the cylinder by the side plates. The rotor has continuous sliding contact at each lobe (3) with the cylinder face (6) and at each side with the glinder side plates. The cylinder incorporates gas port and sliding chamber seal groups (7) arranged as 180 degree opposed pairs. The sliding chamber seal (8) is in constant sliding contact with the rotor, and permits each rotor chamber to perform two functions simultaneously (20/21 and 19/22). The seal also provides a rigid barrier against which gas pressure acts. The rotor supplies compressed air through the compression port (16) to a remote compression system, which supplies compression air on demand to remote combustion chamber, which contains the combustion process and supplies expanding gas and/or steam to the engine power chamber (21) via the power port (17).

Description

REMOTE COMBUSTION ROTARY ENGINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a rotary piston engine of cylindrical design, comprising one or more balanced rotors each of two or more chambers, with compression and combustion chambers remote from, but connected to, the rotary engine, whereby no combustion occurs within the engine cylinder or rotor chambers, the whole operating on the four cycle principle and so arranged that constant power from the combustion of fossil fuels and/or the production of steam within the combustion chambers is available to service the engine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A conventional four cycle internal combustion engine comprises pistons with intake and exhaust valves for each cylinder, valves being operated by cam shaft and valve lifters. Pistons are connected to offset crankshaft journals and move up and down within the cylinders. This reciprocating motion causes noise, vibration, loss of efficiency, complexity, excessive weight and size, poor thermal efficiency and low torque at low R.P.M. Developments have produced multi valve cylinders, two cycle engines, superchargers and turbochargers, but the outlook for further efficiency in reciprocating piston engines is poor.

Rotary engines, notably the Wankel engine, utilise a three - lobed rotor that rotates eccentrically within a trochoidal chamber around a fixed gear. This design has fewer moving parts, is quiet, small, lightweight and has relatively better horsepower and torque than comparable- piston engines. Greater fuel consumption than comparable piston engines, however, has limited the use of rotary engines.

With both engine designs, exhaust emissions have been of concern to manufacturers and government agencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention addresses these problems, and overcomes them, in whole or in part, by incorporating remote combustion chambers operating at very high temperatures, utilising steam to

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 3 control temperature and provide additional power and elmininating the burning of lubricating oil.

The use of sliding chamber seals permits each rotor chamber to perform two different functions simultaneously. The engine is perfectly cylindrical with one major moving, and perfectly balanced, part, and operates at a relatively low temperature, permitting close tolerances and excellent lubrication, resulting in less friction, wear, noise, vibration and polluting emissions, but superior thermal efficiency, fuel economy, power, torque, weight and size.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The design, function and operation of this invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of features in accordance with this invention.

The aim of the specification and drawings is to simplify the understanding of the broad design, essential features, and operation of the remote combustion rotary engine, and not intended to imply restriction to a particular design or to inhibit

SUBSTITUTE SHEET design preferences, nor to illustrate unnecessary detail which may interfere with comprehension of the essential detail. FIG 1 illustrates a side view of the cylinder case and rotor, showing the essential features of the cylinder in accordance with this invention, namely the two opposed groupings of cylinder ports and sliding chamber seals, and the way in which each rotor chamber performs two functions simultaneously due to the operation of the sliding chamber seal. The cylinder side plates are omitted for clarity.

FIG 2 illustrates the preferred design of the sliding chamber seal plate, the cylinder side plates with sliding seal grooves in section view, the sliding seal outer housing with sliding seal grooves and spring and gas pressure chamber in section view, and a sectional view of the rotor and the manner in which the chamber seal plate seals the cylinder- side plate grooves on each side of the rotor.

FIG 3 ilustrates a plan view of the two cylinder side plates enclosing the rotor, side faces, the sliding chamber seal grooves cut into each cylinder side plate and groove oiling holes. The sliding chamber seal plate outer edge is shown

sectionally.

SUBSTiTUTΞ SHEET The chamber seal outer housing is omitted for clarity.

FIG 4 illustrates the preferred method of supporting the sliding chamber seal plates on roller bearings, with three optional ways of arranging the roller bearings within the seal plate and seal groove confines.

FIG 5 gives two illustrations of a dual alternative combustion chamber unit, the upper illustration being an end view, and the lower illustration being a side view. The upper illustration shows the alternating operation of a dual unit as determined by inlet and outlet valve positions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Where a component, configuration, operation, proces's design or material is described as "desired", the intended meaning is that the most suitable prior art component, configuration, operation, process design or material is to be used to suit specific end user or manufacturers requirements, specifications or operating environment, and to maximise efficiency and durability.

This description will now refer to a two

SUBSTITUTE SHEET chamber engine, with variations applicable to four or more chambers and further applications following.

The invention comprises a cylindrical engine case (1) incorporating a machined internal cylinder mating face in which a two chamber rotor (2) rotates with two rotor lobe seals (3) in intimate contact with the cylinder mating surface (6), and circular rotor side face seals (4) in intimate contact with the cylinder side plates (5).

The cylinder block (1) comprises a cylinder mating surface (6) machined around the internal circumference of the block and two circular side plates (5) machined on their inner faces, which fully enclose the cylinder. At least one side plate must be removable for engine assembly and service, and therefore attached to the cylinder block circumference by bolts or other desired method. The other side plate may be cast as an integral part of the cylinder block.

One or both cylinder side plates (5) centrally support bearings which support the rotor (2) and drive shaft (31) .

SUBSTITUTE SHEET The cylinder block mating face (6) incorporates two groups of ports and sliding chamber seals (7), 180 degrees opposed, each group (7) comprising one port, followed by one sliding chamber seal, followed by a second port, each of sufficient size to maximise efficiency and durability, and so assembled as to occupy the smallest practical degree of arc of the cylinder radial face. The ports and sliding chamber seal apertures (7) extend from the inner cylinder mating face radially through the cylinder case (1). The cylinder inner mating face (6) is so machined as to permit the rotor lobe seals (3) to pass smoothly over the ports and sliding chamber seal apertures (7). No valves are located within the cylinder block.

The rotor (2) comprises two chambers, each separated from the other by a rotor lobe (3) which contacts the cylinder mating face (6) by means of a rotor edge seal (3) which fully crosses the width of each lobe at sufficient angle so as to permit the seal to smoothly pass each cylinder port and sliding chamber seal and aperture (7).

SUBSTITUTE SHEET The rotor is supported at its centre by an attached straight drive shaft (31) which is supported by bearings located centrally in the cylinder block side plates (5).

The rotor profile is as desired, and will partly determine chamber capacity. The profile must be such that it provides a smooth cam action to the sliding chamber seals (8), which are in intimate contact with the rotor mating face ⁽9⁾. The rotor (2) is perfectly balanced. By referring to FIG 1, the operation of the induction chamber (19), compression chamber (20), power chamber (21) and exhaust chamber (22) is self evident, taking care to observe direction of rotation of the rotor.

The sliding chamber seals (8) permit each rotor chamber to perform two functions simultaneously, and also provide a rigid barrier against which various forces can act.

A sliding chamber seal (8) inner bearing edge (32) is held in intimate contact with the rotor mating face (9) by inward spring and/or gas pressure (10) acting against the seal outer edge. The seal slides in and out of the cylinder radially,

SUBSTITUTE SHEET as determined by the rotor (2) which, as it rotates, provides a smooth cam action to the seal plate bearing edge (32). A seal housing (11) is bolted to the outer radial edge of the cylinder block (1), and/or cylinder side plates (5) and this housing holds the spring and/or gas chamber (10⁾. which maintains an inwards force against the outer edge of the sliding seal (8). The sliding seal (8) is pushed fully into its housing (11) as the rotor lobe (3) passes the seal plate aperture.

To provide a gas seal, rigidity, and strength to the sliding chamber seal plate (8) the seal plate is located in grooves (12) cut radially into the cylinder side plate (5) and through the cylinder case (1) (the seal aperture). The seal plate (8) is therefore wider than the rotor mating face (9) by the sum of the depth of both grooves (12).

To prevent gas leakage via these seal grooves (12), the sliding chamber seal plate (8) extends on both sides, past the seal bearing edge (32), within the grooves (12) and flush with the cylinder inner side faces (5), thereby sealing the groove on both sides of the rotor (2).

SUBSTITUTE SHEET The sliding chamber seal (8) is lubricated via drilled passages (14) opening to both seal grooves (12), or by any desired system. Oil leakage will lubricate rotor seals (3)(4) and seal bearing edge (32). It is envisaged that excess oil will be returned to the oil sump via oil traps probably within the compression (16) and/or inlet (15) ports.

Referring to FIG 4, to reduce friction between the seal plate (8) and its supporting grooves in the cylinder side plate (5) and seal housing (11), the seal to groove mating faces incorporate caged or uncaged roller bearings, housed within the confines of the seal plate (8) and supporting groove as depicted in Diagrams 1 to 5 on FIG 4.

Due to the close tolerances achievable in the remote combustion rotary engine, and the better maintenance of an oil film between mating surfaces due to the relatively low operating temperature of this engine, the use of special gas seals within the sliding chamber seal mechanisms may be redundant, and have not been shown in the drawings.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET The compression system is remote from, but connected to, the engine compression port (16) via manifolds, pipes or a desired method.

The compression system comprises a pressure vessel which receives compressed air from the cylinder compression port (16) via a one-way valve, and releases compressed air on demand to the combustion chambers (23) via manifolds (24), pipes or as desired.

The compression system will incorporate pressure relief valves or other safety devices or control mechanisms as desired, and an isolation valve of solonoid or desired type which will seal the pressure vessel or system from leakage when the engine is not operating.

Compression system capacity, pressure, configuration and location will be determined by end user and/or manufacturers requirements and/or specifications, and are as desired.

The combustion system comprises one or more internal combustion chambers (23) which are remote from, but connected to, the engine cylinder power

SUBSTITUTE SHEET port (17) via manifolds (25), pipes or desired means.

The combustion chambers (23) are of high temperature and high strength material as desired and connected to the compression system via manifolds (24), pipes, or desired means.

Each combustion chamber comprises ports for compression air inlet (inlet port) (24) and expanding gas and/or steam outlet (outlet port) (25) and both inlet and outlet ports are controlled by valves (26), (27), and valve control mechanisms, constructed of high temperature steel, ceramic, or other desired high temperature material.

Valves (26) (27) will preferably be of rotary or sliding design, or as desired, and, being external from the engine, will be easily accessible and may be a periodic maintenance item.

Each combustion chamber (23) incorporates two or more injectors (28) of desired design to inject fuel and/or water into the combustion chamber, and one or more spark plugs (29) or other ignition devices.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET Combustion system valves (26) (27), fuel and water injectors (28) and ignition (29) are timed from the rotor timing gear (2) (34) , drive shaft (31), or desired timing system.

The preferred combustion system incorporates dual alternating internal combustion chambers (23) of identical size and configuration, assembled as a single operational power source, thereby sharing inlet and outlet valves (26) (27) which alternately direct compression air to each chamber inlet port (26), and alternately control expanding gas and/or steam from each chamber outlet port (27) to the engine power port (17), thereby providing a continuous power source to the engine. When two or more rotor power chambers are to be driven simultaneously, combustion chamber volume is incre&sed.

Two or more dual alternating combustion chamber (23) units will be used for multi rotor engines and multi chamber rotors.

Combustion chamber (23) design will provide the most efficient and smoothest combustion of fuel, and will be of the most suitable desired configuration.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 14 The combustion system will incorporate a combustion chamber thermostat (30) or other heat sensing device, and when combustion chambers (23) reach a pre-determined temperature, injection of pre-heated water into the combustion chambers (23) will commence either simultaneously with fuel injection or alternating with fuel injection (28). The temperature at which water injection commences will be sufficiently high so that the pre-heated water, when injected into the combustion chamber, instantly vaporises, thereby producing power for the engine and absorbing heat from the combustion chambers.

Should combustion chamber temperature continue to rise to a pre-determined maximum, fuel injection will cease, and water injection alone will provide power to the engine until combustion chamber temperature falls to a pre-determined level, at which point .fuel injection will re-commence.

Dual alternating combustion chamber valves

(25⁾ (26), fuel and water injectors (28) and ignition operation are timed from the rotor timing gear (2) (3.4) or drive shaft (31). As a combustion chamber inlet valve (26) opens, air from the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET compression system is forced into the combustion chamber (23) and purges the chamber of burned gas through the outlet valve (27) which is closing. When the outlet valve (27) has closed, compression occurs within the combustion chamber (23) and the inlet valve (26) closes.

Fuel and/or water injection (28) and ignition (29) occur as the outlet valve (27) opens, allowing expanding gas and/or steam to pass through the outlet valve (27) and cylinder power port (17) to the rotor power chamber (21) thereby driving the rotor (2)

The operation of the second combustion chamber is identical to the first but timed to alternate with the first chamber (i.e. 180° opposed timing). Therefore the power of expanding gas and/or steam from dual alternating combustion chambers to the rotor power chamber (21) is continuous.

The heat retrieval system will utilise circulating air, coolant, oil and/or desired medium, to remove excess heat from the engine, exhaust system, compression system and other components, but excluding the combustion system,

SUBSTITUTE SHEET the heat so retrieved being used, via a desired heat exchanger, to pre-heat water for the water injectors.

To conserve heat, the engine, components and all systems, including the combustion system, will be heat insultated to the maximum practical extent using Aerogel or other desired high temperature insultation.

The ultimate aim is to eliminate heat loss from burned fuel, and to superheat, under pressure, water to be injected into the combustion chambers, thereby raising the thermal efficiency of the engine to the highest possible level.

The use of all or any seals within the remote combustion rotary engine may be redundant, given that the low operating temperature will allow close tolerance and better maintenance of an oil film between mating surfaces. With the exception of drive shaft bearings and the sliding chamber seal plates and grooves, all mating surfaces are light load or no load.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET MULTI CHAMBER VARIATIONS

From FIG 1 it can be seen how a two chamber remote combustion rotary engine will perform the functions of induction, compression, power and exhaust twice per rotor revolution (each 180°).

A four chamber engine would comprise a four lobe rotor, four port and sliding chamber seal groups (7), at 90° intervals, and a larger (or two) dual alternating combustion chamber system (FIG 5).

Each function of induction, compression, power and exhaust will occur eight times per rotor revolution (twice consecutively each 90°).

Additional chambers will increase the frequency and reduce the duration of each of the four cycle functions.

FURTHER APPLICATIONS

With some variations the remote combustion rotary engine design can be used as a gas compressor or as a liquid pump the nomenclature being a split chamber rotary pump.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET For both applications, the combustion chamber (FIG 5) are deleted entirely and for a two chamber pump, the induction (15) and compression (16) ports would remain, and the power port (17) would become a second induction port, and the exhaust port (18) would become a second compression port. Port and sliding chamber seal groupings are identical to the remote combustion rotary engine. The pump will then transfer twice its chamber volume each rotor revolution, no valves being required other than, if desired, a one way valve in each compression port.

For use as a gas, steam or liquid driven split chamber rotary engine the mechanical arrangement is the same as for a pump, except no valves at all are used. The four ports then become_. two power ports and two exhaust ports, the configuration being the same as for the remote combustion rotary engine and rotary split chamber pump. Port and sliding chamber seal groupings (7) opposed as in the remote combustion rotary engine, and used in all applications.

For use in small applications, the remote combustion rotary engine compression port (16) may be connected directly to the combustion chamber inlet port (24).

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Claims

My claims defining the remote combustion rotary engine are:

1. A rotary piston remote combustion engine of cylindrical design and four cycle operation comprising a cylinder case with a machined inner surface incorporating two or more gas ports and sliding chamber seal groups, the groups being equally spaced around the cylinder case, two circular cylinder side plates attached to, and enclosing, the cylinder case and centrally supporting drive shaft bearings and containing sliding chamber seal plate support grooves on their inner faces, two or more rotors each of two or more chambers supported centrally by the cylinder side plates, sliding chamber seals which enable each rotor chamber to perform two separate functions simultaneously, and separate compression and combustion chambers which are remote from, but connected to, the rotary engine, whereby no combustion .occurs within the engine cylinder or rotor chambers, the whole so arranged that the combustion of fossil fuels and/or the production of steam within the remote combustion chambers produces an uninterrupted supply of power to the rotary engine.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET

2. A rotary piston remote combustion engine of Claim 1, wherein a circular cylinder case incorporates two or more groups of gas ports and sliding chamber seal apertures, the ports being of any desired efficient configuration and allowin the entry and exit of gasses and/or steam to or from the cylinder, and therefore cast or cut through the cylinder case, and the seal plate apertures being machined or cut through and across the cylinder case so as to provide a close tolerance fit and rigid support to the seal plate whilst permitting free radial movement of the seal plate into, and out of, the cylinder, and each port and seal plate aperture group arranged as one port, followed by one seal plate aperture, followed by a second port, such group occupying the smallest practical degree of arc of the cylinder case, and groups within the cylinder case being arranged in diametrically opposed pairs such that each pair is traversed simultaneously by two 180 degree opposed rotor lobes and/or seals, and the number of opposed pairs within the cylinder case being dependant upon the number of chambers into which the rotor lobes and/or seals divide the cylinder, therefore each pair of port and seal plate aperture groups is

SUBSTITUTE SHEET traversed simultaneously by a 180 degree opposed pair of rotor lobes and/or seals, and that the internal face of the cylinder case is so machined as to permit each rotor lobe and/or seal to smoothly traverse each port and seal plate aperture group, and that the cylinder case may incorporate one cylinder side plate, cast integrally with the cylinder case, and incorporating the essential features of a cylinder side plate.

3. A rotary piston remote combustion engine of Claims 1 and 2, wherein two circular cylinder side plates are attached to the cylinder case, and form a gas seal around their circumference, thereby fully enclosing the cylinder chambers, and centrally containing a bearing in each side plate to support the rotor drive shaft and incorporate in each side plate inner surface machined sliding chamber seal plate grooves, extending from the outer circumference of each side plate radially inwards sufficiently far to enable the seal plate to slide within the grooves to the extent determined by the rotor profile and that the number of radial seal plate grooves cut into each side plate will be determined by the number of sliding

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 22 chamber seal plates in use within the engine according to the number of cylinder chambers within the engine, and in any case the seal plate radial grooves will be an even number, and will be evenly spaced around each side plate, and the inner face of each side plate is so machined to permit close tolerances to be maintained with the rotor side faces, and that the side plates contain drillings to each radial groove of sufficient size and number to enable the passage of lubricant to each groove in such quantity to ensure adequate lubrication of the grooves, roller bearings and sliding chamber seal plates and, by leakage, to adequately lubricate all internal cylinder seal plate, and rotor mating surfaces.

4. A rotary piston remote combustion engine of Claims 1, 2 and 3, whereby the sliding chamber seal comprises a seal plate constructed of steel or other strong rigid, heat resistant material, and of roughly square or rectangular configuration and of sufficient thickness to withstand the forces acting upon it, such that the seal plate completely seals the rotor chamber, which is enclosed by the cylinder outer case, cylinder side plates, and

SUBSTITUTE SHEET rotor, and given that the sliding chamber seal plate extends in width beyond the confines of the cylinder side plates, thereby engaging radial grooves cut in both cylinder side plates, which enable the seal plate to slide in and out radially within the grooves, and be strongly and rigidly contained laterally within' the grooves, and given that this extension in width now enables the seal plate sides which are contained within the grooves to be extended inwards within the confines of the grooves and given that the seal plate now extends outwards beyond the confines of the cylinder case and through a seal aperture cut through ^' the cylinder case, thence into a sliding chamber seal housing, whereby the seal plate is rigidly supported by the cylinder case and seal housing, whilst still having free radial movement, the seal plate will then extend inwards down either side of the rotor, and form a gas seal with both sides and the face of the rotor and with both cylinder side plates, and outwards through the cylinder case aperture, and form a gas seal with the cylinder case, and given that the seal plate can now move radially into, and out of, the cylinder and that the seal plate is held in contact with the rotor by the inward force from the spring and gas chamber,

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 1

24 then the rotor profile acts as a cam against the seal plate rotor bearing surface, thereby moving the seal plate radially into, and out of, the cylinder as the rotor rotates and as determined by the rotor profile.

5. A rotary piston remote combustion engine of Claims 1 and 4, whereby frictional energy loss between the sliding chamber seal plate and cylinder side plate grooves is reduced by the preferred inclusion of straight caged roller bearings within the cylinder side plate grooves, such that the grooves contain two sets of straight roller bearings within each groove, with the seal plate contained between roller bearings on both faces and on both sides and within the grooves in the cylinder side plates, and that the cylinder side

_* plate grooves are of sufficient depth to also permit a close tolerance fit between the full length but not the full width,of each face of each side of the seal plate contained within the grooves and the groove surfaces, thereby providing a gas seal between the seal plate and both cylinder side plates, and whereby frictional wear between the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET sliding chamber seal plate and the rotor outer edge occurs mainly on a soft metalic bearing edge of suitable material which is attached to the rotor mating edge of the seal plate.

6. A rotary piston remote combustion engine of Claims 1, 2, 4 and 5, wherein a sliding chamber seal housing is attached to the outer side of the cylinder case, positioned so the sliding chamber seal plate can slide radially out of the cylinder through the seal aperture, and into the housing, wherein it is contained within the housing between straight caged roller bearings positioned to firmly support the seal plate on both faces and both sides whilst permitting free radial movement to the seal plate, which has an inward force applied to its outer edge by a spring contained between the seal plate outer edge and the top of the sliding chamber seal housing, and is assisted by gas pressure also applying inward force to the outer edge of the seal plate, such gas being bled from the compression and/or combustion systems, and contained within a gas and spring chamber within the sliding chamber seal housing, and the housing is of sufficient dimension to permit the seal plate to completely

SUBSTITUTE SHEET enter the housing thereby permitting a rotor lobe and/or seal to traverse the cylinder seal plate aperture.

7. A rotary piston remote combustion engine of Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9, wherein a rotor of two or more chambers of even number, each chamber being separated from the other by a rotor lobe and seal and which is so profiled as to impart a smooth cam action to each sliding chamber seal plate, is centrally supported by an attached drive shaft, and is supported in bearings positioned centrally within cylinder side plates, whereby the rotor rotates perfectly balanced within the engine cylinder with the rotor lobes and seals in contact with the cylinder mating face, and whereby each cam lobe seal passes diagonally across the width of each cam lobe at such an angle that the cam lobe and seal can smoothly pass each port and valve plate aperture group contained within the cylinder case, and wherein the rotor is sealed against the cylinder side plates by means of a circular seal groove cut into each side of the rotor centrally, the seals contained therein sealing against each cylinder side plate in such a position as to contact a smoothly machined seal mating area on

SUBSTITUTE SHEET 27 each side plate, and wherein the rotor incorporate around it- hub.a gear which win _{time the functlon} of valves, fuel and water injector- and o ignition.

8. A rotary piston remote combustion rotary engine of Claim 1, whereby a combustion chamber, of spherical or other efficient configuration and constructed of cast iron, steel or other strong, rigid, and very high temperature material, is located remote from, but connected to, the engine, the connections being by manifolds or pipes, the inlet connection being from a remote compression system which supplies compressed air on demand to the combustion chamber and as determined by the throttle and the combustion chamber inlet valve, and the outlet connection being to the remote combustion rotary engine power port, permitting the passage of expanding gas and/or steam from the combustion chamber to the engine as determined by the combustion chamber outlet valve, wherein the combustion chamber incorporates one or more fuel injectors, water injectors, and spark plugs or other ignition devices, and the whole combustion chamber and components are designed to operate at

SUBSTITUTE SHEET very high temperatures, with temperature upper and lower limits being controlled by means of water injection, which commences and ceases as determined by a thermostat or other device which senses combustion chamber temperature and thereby controls water injection of pre-heated water, controlling combustion chamber temperature and providing steam for conversion to motive power by the engine.

9. A rotary piston remote combustion rotary engine of Claims 1 and 8, whereby two combustion chambers are combined as a single power unit known as dual alternating combustion chambers, using common pipes from the compression system to a common combustion chamber inlet valve, which directs compressed air to one combustion chamber or the other alternately through separate manifolds or pipes to each combustion chamber, and whereby expanding gas and/or steam passes from each combustion chamber alternately, as determined by the rotor timing gear, which controls the timing of fuel and/or water injection, ignition, and valves, and through a separate manifold from each combustion chamber to a common outlet valve, which alternately releases . expanding gas and/or steam from each combustion chamber through a common manifold or pipe to the engine, power port and power

chamber.