Patent ID: 7080512

Claim:
An engine comprising: a condenser including an arrangement of spaced plates providing air-cooled surfaces and a sump below the arrangement of spaced plates for collecting 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; 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; and 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 with an exposed surface area within said combustion chamber allowing heat transfer in order to change phase of water within said steam line from liquid to steam for delivery to said injector valve; 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 a heat exchanger for pre-heating intake air prior to entering said combustion chamber, said heat exchanger using heat energy from exhaust gases released from said combustion chamber.