Patent ID: 6065945
Filing Date: 2000-05-23
Classification: F03C,F04B

Abstract:
A hydraulic engine comprising:an upper cylinder extending between opposite first and second ends, the first end being closed and including an injector port, the upper cylinder having a predetermined inside diameter, and the upper cylinder further having an exhaust port intermediate the first and second ends;a lower cylinder extending between opposite first and second ends, the first end being connected to the upper cylinder second end, the lower cylinder second end being closed and including an inlet port and an outlet port, the lower cylinder having an inside diameter less than the upper cylinder inside diameter;an upper piston mounted within the upper cylinder for sealed sliding movement therein, the upper piston being substantially dome-shaped with a topmost position adjacent the first end;a lower piston mounted within the lower cylinder for sealed sliding movement therein;an upper piston rod connecting the upper piston with the lower piston;a lower piston rod projecting from the lower piston and mounted for sealed sliding movement penetrating the lower cylinder second end;converting means, connected to the lower piston rod, for converting reciprocating motion to rotary motion;a source of pressurized fluid, the source being an initially charged first accumulator wherein the first accumulator is capable of maintaining the pressurized fluid substantially at an initially charged pressure at the source during operation of the hydraulic engine;a tank for storing fluid at ambient pressure;exhaust communicating means for communicating fluid from the exhaust port to the tank;a control valve having an open position wherein the pressurized fluid source communicates with the injector port, and a closed position wherein the injector port is sealed;first actuating means, responsive to the position of the upper piston, for actuating the control valve into the open position when the upper piston is in the generally topmost position, so that pressurized fluid will pass through the injector port and enter the upper cylinder, the upper piston will move downward in response to the pressurized fluid pressure, and the upper piston will pass the exhaust port allowing the fluid pressure to decrease to ambient pressure;inlet communicating means for communicating fluid unidirectionally from the tank to the inlet port, so that as the lower piston moves upward, fluid will be drawn into the lower cylinder;outlet communicating means for communicating fluid unidirectionally from the outlet port to the pressurized fluid source, so that as the lower piston moves downward, fluid will be pressurized, and will flow from the lower cylinder to the pressurized fluid source to generally replenish the pressurized fluid source;flow regulating means, connected between the pressurized fluid source and the control valve, for regulating the flow rate of fluid into the upper cylinder, thereby regulating the speed of the engine; anda motor-driven pump connected between the tank and the pressurized fluid source in combination with a unidirectional valve connected to the pressurized fluid source, the pump for initial charging of the pressurized fluid source and for recharging thereof so as to maintain the pressurized fluid source under a pressure sufficient to maintain the operation of the hydraulic engine.