Patent ID: 6092365
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: F02G

Abstract:
A heat engine comprising:(a) a compression means for generating a compressed air supply,(b) a compressed air modulation means for varying the quantity of generation of said compressed air supply from said compression means,(c) an accumulator for receiving and storing said compressed air supply,(d) a combustion means, external from said compression means,(e) a means for supplying said combustion means with a pressurized, combustible fuel,(f) a flow control means, independent of said compressed air modulation means, for modulating the flow of products of said combustion means in response to engine load,(g) an expansion means, external from said compression means and said combustion means, for receiving and expanding products of said combustion means and for producing a rotational work output,(h) a power take off means for connecting a portion of said rotational work output to propel an external task,(i) a permanent coupling means communicating a portion of said rotational work output to said compression means,(h) a pressure control means comprising an accumulator pressure sensing device in communication with said accumulator, a control computer, and a means to actively manipulate said compressed air modulation means for maintaining a given pressure within said accumulator means,(g) a temperature control means comprising a temperature sensing device located at the exit of said combustion means, and a means to actively control said fuel supply means in order to maintain a desired combustion product temperature at the location of said temperature sensing device.