WO1997035104A1 - Free piston engine and method of operating - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine power plant operation method, machine power plant operation regulation method and machine power plant. The invention is related to machine power plant and may be used, for instance, in automotive industry. To achieve minimum fuel consumption while transferring mechanical energy to automobile wheels the machine power plant should contain engine cylinder (1) with the differential piston (2) installed in it, hydraulic system including hydraulic pump (3) with a drive from differential piston (2), hydraulic motor (4), hydraulic accumulator (5). The plant contains supply and fuel ignition device (6), air compression device (7), as well as the control system (8) equipped with position transducers (9). The air compression device (7) is made with a drive from differential piston (2) intermediate stage and provided with receiver (10). The control system is made as the programmed one, position transducers (9) are installed on actuator-wheel (12). Controlled valves installed on gases exhaust from engine cylinder (13), on intake of this cylinder of compressed air (14) and fuel (15), on output from hydraulic pump (16) and on input of hydraulic motor (17) are connected to system with the help of actuators.

Description

Description

FREE PISTON ENGINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING.

Technical Field

The invention relates to machine power plant and may be used in automotive industry because it concerns the means providing an adaptation of engine and means, accumulating energy, to automobile modes

Background Art

Power analysis shows that automobile consumes much more fuel than it is necessary for automobile motion with constant speed [ 1] p 13, fig.2 This can be explained by the fact, that automobile drive scheme is poorly adapted to the varieties of motion regimes The known technical solutions allow to optimize an automobile power plant characteristics at its operation, for example, at the expense of the usage of hybrid drive as it has been realized in an experimental electric car of Garret. USA. in which reversible electric machines and flywheel are used for energy accumulation This allows to recuperate an energy at variation of automobile speed and with the use of control computing unit to optimize the load regime of the power plant [ 1 ], p 75-78, fig 77

However this technical solution has not been widely spread up to now because of its substantial disadvantage, which results high cost and huge electric accumulator mass and its low durability, that makes electric car uncompetitive in comparison with the automobile, using liquid fuel chemical energy Due to the simplicity of communication laying, good characteristics on specific transferring power, and maintenance safety the hydraulic systems are widely spread for mechanical energy transfer in different types of machines In this systems an energy is transferred by compressed liquid, accepting that the liquid is not compressible, and work is obtained at the expense of the operation in an actuator hydraulic drive of the difference of liquid pressure, received in hydraulic pump For example, selfpropellent chassis 01041 with hydraulic energy transfer to the hydraulic motors of the built-in-drive wheels of this chassis, are described in [2], p 269-271 fig 14 10 Known machines with hydraulic transmissions

e unlimited possibilities of fuel economy Losses due to the increased engine mass, the complex mechanism of energy transfer to wheels, the energy regulation, the exhaust gases, the inconsistence of engine characteristics and some of its operation regimes, and insufficient automobile movement energy recuperation leads to unproductive fuel combustion and considerable energy exhaust in environment

Different methods are known for power control of plant operation, for example, the method used by Porsche (Germany) in its automobile engines and described in [ 1] p 170- 172 and 193-197 This method of the power control consists in quantity change of the energy produced by engine, in the accumulation of a part of this energy, and in energy transfer to an actuator required to produce useful work

The known method provides the fuel economy at the vehicle operation, improves its ecological characteristics, that makes Porsche engines competitive on the modern market of automotive industry But this method of control requires a complex transmission that leads to additional losses at energy transfer Among the known technical solutions the closest to the claimed method of the power plant operation, its work regulation method and device, by the set of substantial signs, is the method described in invention [3] "Power Drive with Four- Stroke Free Piston Internal Combustion Engine", the engine operation method, its regulation method and design, that authors had accepted as the prototype of the claimed invention

The object accepted as a prototype in part of machine power plant operation method represents method, what air and fuel mixture is burnt in a cylinder with movable piston at, working gases heat energy transformed in mechanical one and the last is transferred to actuator with use of compressed liquid hydraulic energy, at this part of energy is used for air compression, conducted in cylinder

In part of power plant operation regulation accepted as prototype the method consists in energy quantity change produced by engine by means of quantity change of fuel conducted in cylinder, in fraction of energy accumulation for usage as it becomes necessary and in transfer to actuator of such energy quantity, that required to it for useful work production

In part of device accepted as prototype the object represents a machine power plant. containing engine piston with installed in it differential piston, hydraulic system, including hydraulic pump with drive from differential piston, hydraulic motor, hydraulic accumulator, pipe-line and valves, supplv and fuel ignition device, air compression device, as well control svstem. joined to valves and provided with position transducers

But, the object accepted as prototype does not exhaust all possibilities of fuel economv Losses, connected with increased engine mass and complex energy transfer mechanism on J

- wheels, its regulation, losses with exhausted gases, losses for engine characteristics inconsistence and single its maintenance regimes on automobile, insufficient automobile motion energy recuperation, bring to unproductive fuel combustion and considerable energy injections in environment. The proposed invention task is an elaboration of engine operation method and transfer regulation of its energy on wheels by means of adaptation in correspondence with engine characteristics and single regimes of its maintenance on automobile, vehicle drive complex scheme creation, capable to provide, at condition of minimum fuel consumption achievement, rotational first and second energy sources consumption at motion, including friction forces. aerodynamic resistance, inertia and gravity forces overcoming.

The drive efficiency is determined mainly with engine characteristics, that works most efficiently at definite parameters combination, considerably influences on engine indicator efficiency and mechanical losses.

To such parameters are related: air compression degree, cylinder filling, air surplus index, working gases expansion velocities and other parameters. The maximum efficiency is reached only at certain meanings of mentioned parameters. Any discrepancy from optimal meanings brings to, as a rule, net efficiency displacement from maximum. Because of this in drive, calculated for maximum efficiency maintenance, only pulse control mode may be used for engine power. The essence of this mode consists in fact, that for satisfaction of certain necessity in power the engine is switched and works at optimal piston motion velocity and other basic parameters, or stand still. The operation in any other mode will be necessarily connected with fuel consumption increase. The basic parameters constancy entails not only efficiency constancy but power also. Therefore, the drive, set on maximum efficiency reaching, must operate in constant power mode, produced in every working cycle. As a result of put on problem solution the new technical result is achieved, consisting in automobile power plant creation, providing:

— high power per litre and low engine weight,

— high efficiency,

— silence, — gear box absence.

Disclosure of Invention

This technical result is achieved by this, that at machine power plant operation method realization, which air and fuel mixture is burnt in cylinder with movable piston at. the working gases thermal energy is transformed in mechanical one and the last is transferred to actuator by means of compressed liquid hydraulic energy, at this the energy part is used for air compression, conducted in cylinder, according to invention, in every cycle the fuel in engine cylinder is burnt at the same process parameters, at this hydraulic energy is produced, stored and transferred as an internal energy of deformed liquid, and besides air is compressed and liquid is deformed at first at the expense of working gases energy and then at the expense of piston moving mass energy, at this air is compressed outside of engine cylinder till fuel conbustion ignition parameters.

At this machine power plant operation regulation method is realized, consisting in quantity variation of produced by engine energy by means of quantity variation of conducted in cylinder fuel, in accumulation of energy fraction for utility as far as necessity arise and in transfer to actuator of such energy quantity, that is necessity to it for useful work production, which energy quantity produced by engine, according to invention, is varied by means of cycle frequency variation of fuel combustion in engine cylinder, and energy quantity, transferred to actuator is regulated with frequency variation of deformed liquid transferred pulses, at this the difference between produced by engine and consumed by actuator energy is compensated at the expense of pulse situated in accumulator.

The power plant for these methods realization contains the engine cylinder with installed a differential piston in it, hydraulic system, including hydraulic pump with drive from differential piston, hydraulic motor, hydraulic accumulator, pipe-lines and valves, supply and fuel ignition device, air compression device as well control system joined to valves and equipped with position transducers, at this in accordance with invention, air compression device is realized with drive from intermediate differential piston stage and provided with receiver and cylinder volume of air compression device is practised in 1,5.. 3,0 times less than engine cylinder volume, and besides in variance the air compression device is realized as two- stage and device first stage cylinder volume is practised in 1,5 . 3,0 times less than engine cylinder volume.

Besides, according to invention, the control system is realized as programmed, position transducers are installed on actuator and valves are switched to system, installed on gases exhaust from engine cylinder, intake in this cylinder of compressed air and fuel, on output from hydraulic pump and on input in hydraulic motor. According to invention, the power plant may be realized with location in one engine cylinder of two differential pistons installed in opposite manner. Besides, according to invention, as working liquid of power plant hydraulic system is used the fuel, burnt in engine cylinder, at this ignition and fuel supply device may be joined with hydraulic accumulator through intermediate capacity, equipped with rebound valve.

The invention envisages realization variants, at which several hydraulic motors are switched to one hydraulic accumulator through separate valves, switched to control system, or several hydraulic accumulators are switched to single hydraulic motor through switch connected to control system or several hydraulic motors are switched to several hydraulic accumulator through hydraulic selector point to control system.

The distinguishing peculiarity of claimed invention is a fact, that in every cycle the fuel in engine cylinder is burnt at the same process parameters, at this hydraulic energy is produced, stored and transferred as an internal energy of deformed liquid.

The fuel combustion process parameters constancy, that is the same in every working cycle fuel quantity, compressed air quantity and parameters, combustion chamber volume and working gases volume in its expansion end, correspondingly, constancy for working gases in every cycle of temperatures and pressure, as maximum so final, permit to realize fuel combustion at optimal regime for extraction of its chemical energy, that is to receive maximum possible energy quantity from consumed fuel. And receiving and subsequent energy transfer as deformed liquid energy, that may be stored so long as You want, permit to transform hot working gases energy defied to prolong storage in deformed liquid easily controlled and long- stored energy, that gives possibility to burn fuel only for automobile motion unreversible resistance overcoming and losses replenishment of stored energy, providing by this minimum fuel consumption.

The other distinguishing peculiarity of claimed operation method is a fact, that air is compressed and liquid is deformed at first at the expense of working gases energy, and then at the expense of moving piston mass energy, at this air is compressed outside of engine cylinder till fuel combustion ignition parameters.

This peculiarity permits to realize so called prolonged working gases expansion in cylinder, at which working gases occupy the volume much more (in claimed engine in 1,5 .3,0 times) that fresh charge volume in traditional ICE to the end of its expansion, and at the same time to achieve for compression of air conducted in cylinder the required energy quantity In traditional ICE much energy is lost with exhaust gases so as exhausted gases temperature consists about 1700 grad K and pressure on output of its working cylinder - about 6 kg/sm sq. At this in exhaust gases the considerable amount of harmful gases is contained as a result of not complete fuel combustion. The working gases prolonged expansion provides the completeness of its energy usage and ecological requirements to exhaust gases, so as not only complete fuel combustion takes place but expansion till pressure lower than critical, that makes silent exhaust and enough clean.

The air compression till fuel ignition parameters outside engine cylinder permits to provide not only optimal parameters in cylinder for every fuel combustion cycle, but come to the principally new power plant operation regulation method, so as at present in any moment compressed air and corresponding fuel dose the working process in engine cylinder also may be realized in any time moment. The possibility arises to realize the new regulation method, that distinguishing peculiarity is a fact, that produced energy quantity by engine is varied by means of fuel combustion cycle frequency variation in engine cylinder, and energy quantity transferred to actuator is regulated by means of deformed liquid transferred pulses frequency variation, at this the difference between produced by engine and consumed by actuator energy is compensated at the expense of pulse present in accumulator

The compressed air parameters maintenance sufficient for fuel combustion ignition permits not only to liberate ICE cylinders from work to prepare a fresh charge, but in any automobile motion moment it's possible to supply fuel and receive from its combustion the required work, that is easily change engine cycle frequency, that expands the technological possibilities of claimed plant.

At the energy quantity regulation with fuel combustion cycle frequency variation it's possible to stop engine, ceasing fuel supply The engine is capable to adapt to external loads correspondingly changing operation cycles frequency.

The energy transfer through accumulator, at the expense of deformed liquid pulse present in it, provides practically unlimited possibilities for energy manovers at machine maintenance. Burning fuel it's possible to create the energy stock in any accumulator (flywheel, electric battery with reversible electric machine), switched to pulse accumulator according to claimed technical solution, because used in plant hydraulic motor and pump are reversible Analogously it's possible to transfer an energy in accumulator from main actuator, for instance, from automobile wheel at it breaking that is to recuperate mechanical energy.

In a such way a main disadvantage of known methods of automobile function providing - fuel combustionin power plant in cases, when it may not do, that bring to rather noticible consumption reduction, is excluded as well the possibility arises to use energy dissipated during breaking in known machine.

The power plant for claimed method realization, besides elements, providing fulfillment of functions considered above, that may be realized by already known means, has additionally its distinguishing peculaπties namely, in claimed plant the air compression device is made with drive from differential piston intermediate stage and supplied with receiver at this the air compression device cvhnder is practised in 1,5 3 0 times lower than engine cylinder volume The presence of volume for working gases expansion in 1,5 3,0 times greater than suction and supplied later air volume in cylinder and permits to receive the working gases prolonged expansion, to achieve such its parameters on exhaust, at which completely used the energy and provided sufficient exhaust puπty

At working cvhnder volume providing less than cited volumes ratio, all indicated traditional ICE exhaused drawbacks appears - high energy losses with exhausted gases unsufϊicient ecological purity, pressure on output from cylinder becomes higher than critical (1,86 kg/sm sq), it's necessary to use silence means, so as exhaust gases velocity becomes higher than sound velocity

At the air compression device cylinder volume providing in 3 0 times lower than engine cylinder volume gases pressure on exhaust consists less than 1,3 kg/sm sq, it s not required silencer, it's provided fuel combustion completeness and harmful exhaust reduction, gases energy decreases in a such way that at further working cylinder volume increasing (more than 3 times of air compression device cylinder volume) mechanical losses at piston motion become greater than advantage from gases expansion indicator work Besides, increasing more than 3 times working cylinder volume the energy fraction, transferred at the expense of piston moving energy so that it impeds providing of piston required mass, increases engine dimensions

The same exhaust conditions may be provided in execution variant at which the air compression device is fulfilled as two-stage, at this the device first stage cvhnder volume is practised in 1,5 3,0 times less than engine cylinder volume In this variant it's possible to achieve more high compressed air pressure, supplied in engine cylinder and realized in the last Diesel cycle

The claimed regulation method is realized at the expense of control system distinguishing peculaπty, that executed as programmed, at this position transducers are installed on actuator and valves are switched to system, installed on gases exhaust from engine cylinder on supply in this cylinder of compressed air and fuel, on output from hydraulic pump and on input in hydraulic motor The presence of controlled valves permits to organize the energy transfer between pump and hydraulic motor through hydraulic accumulator and to regulate the transferred energy power bv means of working strokes number variation So as a single fuel dose combustion, and at the same parameters a constant energy quantity is produced, a power value transferred w ith one deformed liquid pulse, is a constant value In any hvdrauiic transmission line of claimed power plant either there is deformed liquid pulse or it absents. In connection with this the transferred power regulation is realized with transferred pulses number, using at this programmed control system. With it use the wheel rotation speed is regulated, varying number in time unit, that is transferred pulses frequency. At this the principally new regulation method is realized, analogous to binary codes elaboration in computer technics, that at programmed control system permits to receive practically unlimited possibilities for consuming energy mechanism control automation. Usage of such regulation system in automobile will substentially increase not only efficiency but the security of its maintenance. Still one distinguishing pecularity of claimed power plant may be a fact, that fuel is used as hydraulic system working liquid, burnt in engine cylinder, at this the supply and fuel ignition device is connected with hydraulic accumulator through the intermediate capacity, equipped with rebound valve.

The fuel usage hydraulic system working liquid resolves not only power plant lubrication problem, but the hydraulic system liquid degrading problem, so as at engine operation the liquid in hydraulic system is contineosly renewed. The proposed technical solution of fuel supply considerably simplifies the known fuel supply system, does not require of additional pumps, distinguishes with control simplicity, that is caused by namely a fact, that in claimed method the fuel dose burnt in every working cycle - the constant value. The construction of claimed power plant may be realized in different variants, realizing claimed operation method and regulation, in engine cylinder two differential pistons may be installed, situated oppositely, to one hydraulic accumulator several hydraulic motors are switched through separate, switched to control system valves, to single hydraulic motor several hydraulic accumulators are switched through separate switched to control system valves, to several hydraulic accumulators are switched several hydraulic motors through hydraulic switch joined to control system. To any hydraulic line a hydraulic motor may be switched, driving in operation an electric current generator or energy accumulator in form of flywheel. All this variants extend invention usage technological possibilities. The cited power plant execution variants are possible namely to fact, that in invention the pulse hydraulic energy transfer is used, so as energy received from working gases is transformed in deformed liquid energy, so at every fuel combustion tact the single liquid deformation pulse is received, that afterwards is stored so long as You want in hydraulic accumulator and is used in hydraulic motor as far as need.

The energy transfer by means of deformed liquid pulse is fulfilled on a single hydraulic line. The hydropulse transmission provides the energy consumer and motor interaction in conditions of pure hydraulic tie, at absence of transferring shafts, gears, levels and other mechanical links. The energy generator and consumer may change roles at this, that provides of energy recuperation, directing it in accumulator. For example, the flywheel or reversible electrical machine driving mechanism and vehicuie wheel may serve as ^" generator - consumer" couple. The claimed invention provides the interaction between source and mechanical energy receiver at the expense of liquid deformation and pipe-line, which it is included in, that considerably expands technological possibilities of such energy transfer

At rotation transfer deformed liquid pulses may be transferred on more than one hydraulic line with pulse transfer time moment shift on angle of source and consumer mechanisms revolution on value multiple to hydraulic lines number, that provides dead points absence at rotative moment transfer. For example, at three hydraulic lines with phase shift on 120 grad the rotative moment transfer uniformity on the wheel is the same as at asynchronous electric motor usage.

In a such way the main drawback of known mechanical energy transfer providing method is excluded with use of hydraulic system - presence of different valves in great number and hydraulic system partition, to provide energy transfer controllability and operation reliability, on part of low pressure and part of high pressure, that brings to great volumetric losses (till

15%).

The cited distinguishing pecularities of claimed invention in comparement with known technical solutions permit to create the power plant considerably more simple than known one, operating with minimal losses, permitting to use for it control the modern electronic facilities, having minimal dimensions and weight at installation and maintenance convenience, that correspondingly provides competitibility on modern market. These invention pecularities permit to create the automobile with substantially less fuel consumption, more reliable, safe and comfortable

The proposed power plant, operating in accordance with claimed method at regulation realizing accordingly to present invention provides:

— high efficiency,

— minimum hydraulic losses, — silence.

— gear box absence Brief Description of Drawings

On the draft the power plant principal scheme is presented, clarifying operation method and regulation method The machine power plant contains the engine cylinder 1 with the differential piston 2 installed in it, hydraulic system including hydraulic pump 3 with a drive from the differential piston 2, hydraulic motor 4, hydraulic accumulator 5, pipe-lines and controlled, equipped with drive valves and rebound valves performing due to the difference of pressure in corresponding environment

The plant also contains the supply and fuel ignition device 6, that in the case of the Diesel cycle (presented on draft) is an injector and in the case of the cycle with the lower compressed air pressure is a mixturer of the compressed air and fuel, equipped with an ignition plug, connected through the control system 8 to an electπc voltage source The plant contains the air compression device 7, the control system 8, connected to controlled valves with the use of corresponding drive and provided with position transducers 9 A.t this point the air compression device 7 is executed with drive from differential piston 2 intermediate stage and provided with receiver 10, and air compression device cylinder volume 7 is practised in 1,5 3,0 times less than engine 1 cylinder volume In variant illustrated on draft, the air compression device as two-stage with differential piston 2 additional stage providing, and between stages the intermediate receiver 1 1 is installed, at this cylinder volume of namely first device stage 7 is executed in 1,5 3,0 times less than engine 1 cylinder volume The air intake and receivers 10, 1 1 are joined to air compression device 7 through rebound valves

The control system 8 is executed as programmed, position transducers 9 are installed on actuator - wheel 12, the actuator may be also anv energy accumulator - flywheel or reversible electric machine with electπcal energy accumulator

To system 8 with use of actuators controlled valves are switched, installed on gases exhaust from engine cylinder 13, on compressed air supply 14 in this cylinder and fuel 15, on hydraulic pump output 16 and on input 17 in hydraulic motor

In engine cylinder 1 two differential pistons 2 may be installed situated oppositely, at corresponding location and connection of other power plant elements analogous to presented on the draft As hydraulic system working liquid the fuel is used, burnt in engine cylinder, at this supply and fuel ignition device 6 is connected with hydraulic accumulator 5 through the intermediate capacity 18, equipped with rebound valve For fuel filling the capacity 19 serves equipped with spπng-loaded piston 20, that is joined to hydraulic accumulator 5 through rebound valve To single hydraulic accumulator 5 several hydraulic motors 4 may be joined through separate, switched to control system 8 valves. To single hydraulic motor 4 several hydraulic accumulators 5 may be joined through separate, switched to control system 8 valves To several hydraulic accumulators 5 several hydraulic motors 4 may be joined through hydraulic switch (not shown on the draft, may be executed as known construction, for example, as hydraulic distributor with drive), switched to control system 8. In all these cases the rest. presented on the draft and joined to hydraulic accumulator 5 plant's elements correspondingly kept.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

The claimed method of power plant operation we consider on example of scheme presented on the draft, which Diesel cycle is realized on, and that operates in the following way. Before operation inition the plant hydraulic system is completely filled with liquid fuel. filling it through capacity 19 throat. At this the piston 20 compresses the mechnical or gase spring and in hydraulic system the initial surplus pressure is created of order 0,5-1,0 atm. that provides absence of gas bubles in hydraulic system. In receiver 10 the compressed air stored at fuel combustion inition parameters in engine 1 cylinder. The compressed air pressure in receiver 10 and pressure in the intermediate capacity 18 is provided during preceding engine operation or at first start is created from external source. In initial condition, before automobile motion start the power plant must have required energy supply to overcome inertial forces at acceleration and kinetic energy giving to automobile mass, overcome gravity forces on ascent For mentioned supply providing the energy is accumulated in flywheel or reversible electrical machine accumulator, setting engine in motion, burning fuel in it and transferring energy on corresponding actuator 12 of energy accumulator as it described below.

Controlled valves 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 are stand in position, presented on the draft The piston 2 at this comes in upper dead point of engine 1 cylinder.

On instruction from control system 8 corresponding drives open valves 14 and 15, in cylinder 1 from receiver 10 compressed air comes in, and from the intermediate capacity 18 through device 6, that in case of Diesel cycle and corresponding compressed air pressure is the nozzle, enters fuel.

The compressed air quantity is determined with cylinder 1 dead capacity volume, and fuel dose - with intermediate capacity volume. After this valves 14 and 15 are switched off. At mixing of fiiel with high pressure air the mixture self ignition takes place, fuel dose burns with working gases formation at maximum cycle temperature In variant of cycle realization with lower compressed air pressure in device 6 at valves 14 and 15 opening the mixing of compressed air and fuel is produced and mixture ignition with candle spark, generated on instruction from control system 8 Under action of working gases pressure the piston 2 is set in motion and besides in motion inition a pressure on piston differential surfaces from air compression device and hydraulic pump is little and piston moves with accelaration (on the draft from left to right) At piston motion the air compression takes place in compession device 7 stages and liquid ousting from hydraulic pump 3 cylinder through opened valve 16 The air entered in the first stage of device 7 from atmosphere is ousted in intermediate receiver 1 1 , and air at intermediate receiver pressure is ousted in receiver 10 The pressure of compressed air in receiver 10 achieves at this the value of order 100 atm

In variant of air compression device 7 realization as one stage the compressed air enters at once in receiver 10 at more low pressure, that correspondingly requires the other device 6 design for supply and fuel ignition, described above.

So as hydraulic system is completely filled with liquid, in hydraulic accumulator 5 the elastic liquid deformation takes place on value of volume ousted from pump 3. The liquid deformation takes place simulteneously in accumulator 5 and intermediate capacity 18 Then the intermediate capacity 18 is switched off from hydraulic accumulator 5 with rebound valve The liquid pressure at this achieves the value of order 500 atm

So as at piston 2 motion pressure on its differential surfaces is increased, working gases energy in cylinder 1 is consumed on arising counterpressure resistance overcoming and piston mass acceleration. To the moment of hydraulic pressure equilizing from opposite piston 2 sides the last acquires the corresponding motion velocity At further piston motion the moving mass energy accumulated by it is transformed in compressed air energy and deformed liquid, and continued working gases volume increasing correspondingly decreases its temperature and pressure, realizing by this the prolonged gases expansion The reaching of lower dead point by piston 2 (extreme right position on the draft) from system 8 enters sygnal on valve 16 drive and the last is closed, closing in hydraulic accumulator 5 deformed liquid The liquid deformation energy at this is equal to pulse, received from fuel dose combustion in cylinder 1

At valves 15. 16. 17 closed the received energy pulse is stored as elasticly deformed liquid in hydraulic accumulator 5 and in intermediate capacity 18 At this, in difference to working gases energy, that it^'s impossible to keep sufficeintly long time, the deformation energy may be kept as long as You want In intermediate capacity 18 at this the insignificant fraction of deformed energy is stored.

The intermediate capacity 18 volume consists value not more than 0.01-0.02 from hydraulic accumulator 5 volume. So as fuel combustion process parameters in cylinder 1 are constant. the intermediate capacity 18 volume is calculated in a such way that liquid, deformed in it at pulse production, represents the fuel dose for one working cycle, that value is also constant.

The control system 8 in correspondence with assigned by operator programme, with taking in account the actuator 12 position, controlled with transducer 9, and its functional assignment (automobile wheel, energy accumulator drive and so on) in necessary moment time proceeds the sygnal for valve 17 opening. At this hydraulic accumulator 5 and hydraulic motor 4 are connected, at the expense of liquid deformation pulse hydraulic motor piston moves, accomplishing working stroke and transferring the energy to actuator 12. So as liquid volume value in hydraulic accumulator 5 and hydraulic motor 4 is less on fuel dose value, entered in the intermediate capacity 18, than liquid in hydraulic accumulator 5 and pump 3, the liquid pressure in hydraulic accumulator 5 is decreased less than pressure at hydraulic system filling, and from capacity 19 with piston 20 the additional liquid volume is ousted through rebound valve, compensating fuel consumption. At actuator 12 movement in direction opposite to working one the system 8 produces sygnal for valves 16 and 13 opening. The liquid from hydraulic motor cylinder is ousted in hydraulic accumulator 5 and corresponding liquid volume is ousted in pump 3 cylinder. The pressure in hydraulic system at this is kept on value close to filling pressure. So as flowing through volumes is little and hydraulic losses at this are insignificant

The piston 2 ousted by liquid moves in initial state (upper dead point of engine, the extreme left postion on the draft). Exhausted gases through opened valve 13 are ejected, and through rebound valve and intake in the air compression device 7 the fresh charge entakes At device 7 execution as two-stage in its second stage the air enters from receiver 1 1 , compressed by first stage on the preceding working stroke. At reaching by piston of its extreme position valves 13 and 17 close and the plant comes in initial state, waiting the next instruction from control system 8 programme. In connection with fact, that hydraulic motor 4 and hydraulic pump 3 are completely reversible in claimed plant, the energy recuperation process is realized, at which hydraulic motor under action of actuator 12 produces deformed liquid pulse in hydraulic accumulator 5 (valve 16 at this must be closed) and as was desirable above, the deformed liquid pulse on sygnal, produced by system 8, may be transferred to other actuator. transferring energy to accumulator (flywheel, reversible electric machine drive and so on)

Thus, for example, at automobile breaking the energy is returned, consumed on its acceleration. The claimed plant provides the accelaration and breaking without energy losses

By this it's similar to pendulum or spring and may be named by energetic pendulu

The claimed power plant operation regulation is realized with frequency variation of deformed liquid pulses produced with engine and/or deformed pulse transfer direction change from one of plant element to other. These variations are produced on sygnals from control system 8 as it was described above. Sygnals are produced by system 8 according to programme, assigned by operator, that takes in consideration actuators position, controlled by transducers 9, common machine maintenance parameters, for instance, automobile motion speed, necessity of its change and so on, as well position in concrete time moment of power plant elements in every hydraulic line.

The engine power may be regulated with fuel combustion frequency variation This is the principally new method, permitting to receive any beforhand assigned mediun power without cylinder variation and working mixture composition. The scheme setting on concrete regime may be realized practically instantly (more exactly during one pumper stroke) at the expense of corresponding valves switching program modification. This permits to use frequency (pulse) method of power control, at which charge weight in cylinder and fuel-air mixture composition are kept constant. At this relation between fuel mass and air might be selected in a such way that percentage composition of harmful exhaust in exhaust gases is constantly kept on minimum level. The frequency principle of power control requires principally new working process organization, when ICE may stop produce mechanical energy on any step and on any other one - produce working stroke. Such possibility is provided by compressed air reservation in receiver 10, that permits to realize power plant working process with built in ICE start process and provide the substantial rotative moment appearance at actuator 12 wheel rotation null speed. At frequency control the useful power may vary in very broad limits. In combination with engine loading possibility "from start" we receive engine characteristics, that may work without gear box and clutch, that permits directly connect engine with wheel.

The frequency control is principally the programme control and may be realized with use of control system 8, executed on a base of microprocessor, that prepares working strokes execution programme similar to programme for machine tool with numerical control, when working strokes alteration is reflected by binary code.

Thus proposed power plant, transferring mechanical energy produced by its functional elements to automobile wheel according to claimed method provides:

— high power per litre and low engine weight,

— high efficiency. — silence,

— possibility to start from place simulteneously with ICE start,

— gear box absence

Industrial Applicability

Calculations for the LADA make car have proved that in order to accelerate it from 0 to 90 km/h within 10 s, the hydropulse transmission of three lines at the working liquid with elasticity module E= 15000 kg/sm sq and maximum pressure of 600 kg/sm sq (that is achieved by the known engineering means) has the following parameters: diameter of pump and hydraulic motor piston - 1,25 sm. piston stroke - 1,5 sm, hydraulic accumulator volume - 46.3 sm cu.

Calculations also showed that the fuel consumption on highway for the LADA make car with claimed invention use is reduced up to 2 1 per every 100 km, that without doubts makes this automobile competitive with the most modern automobiles. Calculated dimensions and power plant parameters permit to substantially reduce mass and dimension characteristics of automobile, besides using known materials and structure elements that without doubts makes this automobile competitive with the most modern ones

Bibliographic data of information sources:

1. Julius Matskerle Automobil's ucinnosti. SNTL - Nakladatelstvi technicke literatury. Praha. 1985

2. "Hydropneumoautomation and hydrodrive of mobile machines. Volumetric hydro- pneumomachines and transmissions^" authors Andrejev A.F. and other, Minsk. High School Publishing House, 1 87

3. Invention certificate of USSR No 1592541, F 02B 71/04, 1987 — prototype.

Claims

Claims

1. Machine power plant operation method, when air/fuel mixture is burnt in cylinder with movable piston, working gases heat energy is transformed in mechanical and the iast is transferred to actuator with the use of a hydraulic energy of compressed liquid, and part of this an energy is used for compression of air directed into cylinder, distinguishing by the fact that during every cycle a fuel in engine cylinder is burnt at the same process parameters, and hydraulic energy is received, stored and transferred as an internal energy of a deformed liquid

2. Machine power plant operation method on cl.1. distinguished by the fact that air initially compressed and liquid initially deformed at the expense of working gases energy, and then at the expense of moving piston mass energy, and air is compressed outside of cylinder up to fuel combustion inition parameters.

3. Machine power plant operation regulation method consisting of energy variation produced by engine by means of variation of fuel quantity directed into cylinder, accumulation of energy fraction for its usage if necessary, and in transfer of such energy quantity to actuator that is required for work execution, distinguishing by the fact that energy produced by engine is changed by means of fuel combustion cycle frequency variation in engine cylinder, and the quantity of energy transferred to actuator regulated by means of deformed liquid transferred pulses frequency variation and a difference between the energy produced by engine and the energy consumed by actuator is compensated at the expense of pulse in accumulator 4 Machine power plant containing engine cylinder with the differential piston instaled in it. hydraulic system including hydraulic pump with the drive from differential piston, hydraulic motor, hydraulic accumulator, pipe-lines and valves, supply and fuel ignition device, air compression device, as well as the control system connected to valves and equipped with position transducers, distinguished by the fact that the air compression device is done with a drive from the intermediate stage of differential piston and is equipped with receiver, and the air compression device cylinder volume is 1.5 - 3.0 times less than engine cylinder volume

5. Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that air compression device has two-stages, and the volume of the first stage cylinder is 1.5 - 3.0 times less than the engine cylinder volume. 6. Machine power plant on cl.4. distinguished by the fact that control system is executed as the programmed one. postion transducers are installed on actuator, valves are joined to system and installed on gases exhaust from engine cylinder, on intake in this cylinder of compressed air and fuel, on output from hydraulic pump and on input to hydraulic motor 7 Machine power plant on cl 4. distinguished by the fact that t\\ differential pistons are installed oppositely in one engine cylinder

8 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that the fuel burnt in engine cylinder is used as a hydraulic working liquid 9 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that ignition and fuel supply device is connected to hydraulic accumulator through intermediate tank equipped with a rebound valve

10 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that several hydraulic motors are joined to a single hydraulic accumulator through separate valves connected to the control system

1 1 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that several hydraulic accumulators are joined to asingle hydraulic motor through separate valves connected to a control system

12 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that several hydraulic motors are joined to several hydraulic accumulators through hydraulic switch connected to a control system

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 09 July 1997 (09.07.97); original claims 1-12 replaced by amended claims 1-12 (2 pages)]

1. Machine power plant operation method, when air/fuel mixture is burnt in cylinder with movable piston, working gases heat energy is transformed into the mechanical energy , which is transferred to actuator with the use of hydraulic energy of compressed liquid, and part of this energy is used for compression of air directed into cylinder, distinguishing by the fact that during each cycle fuel inside engine cylinder is burnt under the same process parameters, and hydraulic energy is received, stored and transferred as the internal energy of deformed liquid, and therein the useful work is produced as recoverable-strain work of deformed liquid

2. Machine power plant operation method on cl.1, distinguished by the fact that air is compressed and liquid is deformed initially at the expense of working gases energy and then at the expense of moving piston mass energy, at this point air is compressed outside of cylinder up to fuel combustion ignition parameters

3 Machine power plant operation control method consisting of energy variation produced by engine by means of variation of fuel quantity directed into cylinder, of accumulation of energy portion for its usage if necessary, and of transfer of such energy quantity to actuator that is required for work execution, distinguishing by the fact that energy produced by engine is changed by means of fuel combustion cycle frequency variation of the same portion of fuel in engine cylinder, and the quantity of energy transferred to actuator is controlled by frequency variation of deformed liquid transferred pulses of the same amount of deformed liquid internal energy and a difference between the energy produced by engine and the energy consumed by actuator is compensated at the expense of a pulse of the internal energy of deformed liquid in accumulator.

4 Machine power plant containing engine cylinder with the built-in differential piston, hydraulic system including hydraulic pump with the drive from differential piston, hydraulic motor, hydraulic accumulator, pipe-lines and valves, supply and fuel ignition device, air compression device done with a drive of the intermediate stage of differential piston and is equipped with receiver, as well as a control system connected to valves and equipped with position transducers, distinguished by the fact that a receiver of the air compression device is connected to engine cylinder through the controlled valve joined to the control system, and the air compression device cylinder volume is 1 5 - 3 0 times less than the engine cylinder volume, and the hydraulic pump is connected to the hydraulic motor by only one pipe-line equipped with the hydraulic accumulator and controlled valves installed between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic accumulator and between the hydraulic accumulator and the hydraulic motor AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 1$ 5 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that air compression device has two stages, and the volume of the first stage cylinder is 1 5 - 3 0 times less than the engine cylinder volume.

6 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that the control system is executed as the programmed one, position transducers are installed on actuator, valves are connected to the control system and installed on gase exhaust from engine cylinder, on intake of compressed air and fuel, on output from hydraulic pump, and on input into hydraulic motor

7 Machine power plant on cl.4, distinguished by the fact that two differential pistons are installed opposite in one engine cylinder. 8 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that the fuel burnt in engine cylinder is used as hydraulic working liquid

9 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that ignition and fuel supply device is connected to hydraulic accumulator through intermediate tank equipped with a check valve 10 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that several hydraulic motors are joined to a single hydraulic accumulator through separate valves connected to the control system and therein only one of the valves is opened

1 1 Machine power plant on cl.4, distinguished by the fact that several hydraulic accumulators are joined to a single hydraulic motor through separate valves connected to a control system and therein only one of the valves is opened

12 Machine power plant on cl 4, distinguished by the fact that several hydraulic motors are joined to several hydraulic accumulators through hydraulic switch connected to the control system and at the deformed liquid pulse transfer any of the hydraulic accumulators may be connected to only one of the hydraulic motors

STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

The amendment of claims l , 3, 4, 10, l l , 12 is made in order to more clearly un¬ derstand of the declare invention.

In initial materials of the application is indicated in the description on page 1 1 (first from down paragraph and page 12), that the parameters of burning of a fuel in the declare invention are determined by the volume of the dead space of a cylinder and the volume of intermediate capacity with a fuel. As these volumes represent strictly fixed sizes, and temperature and pressure of the charge of compressed air and fuel located in them are supported constant, as it is indicated in the description of the stated invention, therefore parameters of process of the fuel's burning in each cycle are same. On page 13 ... 15 the detailed description of advantages of a stated way of the fuel's burning is indi¬ cated, which permits to receive a new way of regulation of capacity of an engine in es¬ sence.

Thanking that an air from the receiver submit at the parameters beginnings of burning in a cylinder, in a stated engine there is away compress air charge in the cylin¬ der, as it is executed in the known technical decisions. In stated object or working cycle is made, or it is not present, that is the engine works as well as computer on a binary code, as permits in essence on other to adjust work of all power plant.

Main difference of a hydraulic system of the stated invention from the prototype is that in it, in difference from known hydraulic systems of transfers, in which liquid is accepted non-compressible (i.e. the size created in object of pressure not very is high, that it was necessary to take into account deformation called by compression of a liquid), ability of a liquid elastically deformed is used, as well as a firm body, for example, the spring, in this connection is entered the term "a pulse of a deformed liquid".

The feature of transfer of energy by pulses of a deformed liquid consists, as well as for an engine, of work on a binary code: in any unit of a hydraulic system or there is a pulse, or it is not present. Just work on a binary code of a source of energy - the en¬ gine 1. and transmitting energy of any units of a hydraulic system permit to realize in essence new way of regulation of work power plant of a machine, constructed on princi¬ ples of work of computer engineering.

At execution of international search the technical decisions about the international application WO93/ 10343 (PCT/NL92/00210) with a priority from 19.1 1.91 were found out, as well as under the patents USA JMB 4599861 from 13.05.85 and JMs 4705460 from 26.02.85, and European Patent application JMB 0493135 from which the attributes speci¬ fied in the declare invention are known.

In the claim 1 is underlined, that the energy of a deformed liquid is its internal energy, that ought not to mixture signs of a way of transfer of energy in the stated in¬ vention and in known under the international application W093/ 10343. as well as under the patents USA JMb 4599861 and JM 4705460, and EP JMb 0493135. But in the claim 1 is not underlined, that the useful work is produced as recoverable-strain work of deformed liquid.

Besides in the claim 2 is underlined, that in a stated way a liquid just deform, in^¬ stead of is simple compress, as it is accepted to understand in known hydraulic systems, consisting part of low pressure and part of high pressure. In the known hydraulic sys¬ tems, in difference from the stated invention, increase of its pressure from a level of a part low pressure up to a level of a part of high pressure is accepted to consider by compression of a liquid. In the stated invention all hydraulic system represents one line, on which is transmitted the deformed volume of a liquid.

Accordingly in the claim 3 of the initial formula is not underlined, that in differ¬ ence from known hydraulic receivers, in which the liquid is under increased pressure at the expense of energy of a compressed spring or compressed gas, in stated object a pulse of a deformed liquid is same, that is liquid with a redundant stock internal energy is stored.

Accordingly in the claims 10, 1 1 , 12 formula is not underlined, that the variants indicated in these items will realize just transfer a pulse of a deformed liquid.

In the claim 4 the authors have faulty attributed to distinctive attributes fulfil¬ ment of a device of compression of air with a drive from intermediate stage and differen¬ tial piston and supply its receiver.

At the same time in a distinctive part of this claim are not specified the repre¬ sented on the drawing elements of communication of a stated device of compression of air with a cylinder of engine and communication of elements its hydraulic system, char¬ acteristic just for the stated technical decision and stipulated by that the work of all elements of a stated power plant is executed in a binary code.

The refinements, such as above, are necessary because all hydraulic system is originally completely filled in by a liquid and any of change of volumes of a liquid in ele¬ ments of hydraulic system are connected only to redistribution of its internal energy, that is with the deformations of a liquid as a physical body. The absence in the formula sharp about this instructions can made difficult of understanding realized in stated object of process, as well as volume of its legal protection.

Namely due to the deformation of a liquid occurs possibility as longer as it is long to save expended on this energy and then completely it to use, as makes main a distinc¬ tive feature of a way of transfer of energy in the stated invention. The opportunity to burn a fuel at the same parameters of process just therefore and occurs, that the unit produced thus of energy will be realized then always as constant value (as an energy of a pulse of a deformed liquid and an energy, expended on reproduction of process burning - to prepare a charge of air and fuel).