Patent ID: 7856823

Claim:
In an engine having a steam generator with a combustion chamber for producing pressurized steam, at least one conduit formed of a heat transferring material for directing water through a delivery path to the steam generator, at least one piston and cylinder arrangement for receiving pressurized steam in order to drive the piston within the cylinder, and a condenser; a method comprising the steps of: directing the at least one conduit through a coil wound about and surrounding the exterior of the cylinder and in heat transferring relation to exhaust ports of the cylinder; releasing steam from the exhaust ports and over outer surfaces of the coils and transferring heat from the released steam and to the water in the coil in order to heat the water traveling through the coil along the delivery path to the steam generator; cooling the steam as a result of the heat transfer to the coil; and directing the cooled steam to the condenser for condensing the steam to a liquid.