Patent ID: 7856822

Claim:
An engine comprising: a condenser for condensing steam into a liquid condensate; a sump for collecting the liquid condensate; a steam generator including at least one burner adapted to burn a supplied fuel, and a combustion chamber communicating with said at least one burner for generating heat within said combustion chamber from the burning of the supplied fuel; a main engine drive assembly comprising: at least one cylinder; a piston movably captivated within said cylinder and including a piston head structured and disposed for sealed, reciprocating movement within said cylinder; a crankshaft; a crank cam fixed to said crankshaft and rotatable therewith; a connecting rod pivotally connected between said piston and said crank cam; an injector valve operable between a closed position and an open position to release a pressurized charge of steam into a top portion of said cylinder; a steam line for delivering steam to said injector valve for injection into said cylinder upon momentary opening of said injector valve; a pump for pumping water from said sump and through said steam line; said steam line including a section within said combustion chamber, and said section having an exposed surface area within said combustion chamber for allowing heat transfer from an exterior of said steam line to an interior of said steam line in order to heat the water traveling therethrough and to change phase of the water within said steam line from liquid to steam for delivery to said injector valve; and an exhaust transfer passage for delivering exhaust steam from said at least one cylinder to said condenser, wherein the exhaust steam changes phase into liquid prior to collection within said sump; and at least one heat exchanger for heating the water in said steam line before entering said section of said steam line within said combustion chamber, and said at least one heat exchanger using heat from the exhaust steam that is exhausted from said at least one cylinder.