Combustionless vapor driven engine and its method of operation

Abstract

A steam engine includes at least one piston and cylinder assembly. A fluid injector injects a liquid into the cylinder and onto a heated surface area of a heating element. The heating element may be a plate, coil or other such surface that is heated to a temperature exceeding a flash point of the liquid. As the liquid comes into contact with the heating element it flashes to a vapor causing the internal pressure of the cylinder increase. This increase in internal pressure forces the piston towards an open side or bottom of the cylinder. The piston is coupled to a driven crank shaft via a crank rod. At least one exhaust port is provided for evacuating or draining the fluid from the cylinder.

1 . A combustionless steam engine comprising: 
 a power source for supplying electrical energy;    at least one cylinder having a sidewall, a closed end and an opening;    at least one piston having a head and being reciprocally mounted within the cylinder, said piston further including a connecting rod that passes through the opening of the cylinder and is connected to a crankshaft;    a heating element mounted near the cylinder and connected to the power source, for causing a fluid to be flashed into a vapor;    an expandable fluid that may be flashed from a liquid state to a gaseous state;    a fluid reservoir for storing the fluid separate from the cylinder;    a fluid injector passing through a portion of the cylinder for injecting fluid into the cylinder;    a conduit connected between the fluid reservoir and the fluid injector for carrying fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fluid injector; and,    an exhaust valve being connected to said fluid reservoir for passing vapor and fluid from an interior area of the cylinder to the fluid reservoir.    
   
   
       2 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 1  wherein the power source comprises a battery.  
   
   
       3 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 1  further comprising an additional exhaust valve arranged near the closed end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       4 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 1  wherein said fluid is water.  
   
   
       5 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 1  wherein the heating element is mounted within the cylinder sidewall.  
   
   
       6 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 1  wherein the heating element is mounted on an exterior surface of the cylinder sidewall.  
   
   
       7 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 1  wherein the exhaust valve is arranged near the closed end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       8 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 1  wherein the exhaust valve is arranged near the open end of the cylinder.  
   
   
       9 . A combustionless steam engine comprising: 
 a power source for supplying electrical energy;    at least one cylinder having a sidewall, a closed end and an opening;    at least one piston having a head and being reciprocally mounted within the cylinder, said piston further including a connecting rod that passes through the opening of the cylinder and is connected to a crankshaft;    a heating element mounted near the cylinder and connected to the power source, for causing a liquid fluid to be flashed into a vapor;    a fluid that may be flashed from a liquid state to a gaseous state;    a fluid reservoir for storing the fluid separate from the cylinder;    a fluid injector passing through a portion of the cylinder for injecting the fluid in the liquid state into the cylinder;    a conduit connected between the fluid reservoir and the fluid injector for carrying fluid in the liquid state from the fluid reservoir to the fluid injector;    a first exhaust valve arranged near the closed end of the cylinder and being connected to said fluid reservoir for passing fluid in the liquid and gaseous states from an interior area of the cylinder to the fluid reservoir; and,    a second exhaust valve arranged near the opening of the cylinder and being connected to said fluid reservoir for passing fluid in the liquid and gaseous state from an interior area of the cylinder to the fluid reservoir.    
   
   
       10 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 9  wherein the power source comprises a battery.  
   
   
       11 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 9  wherein said fluid is water.  
   
   
       12 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 9  wherein the heating element is mounted within the cylinder sidewall.  
   
   
       13 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 9  wherein the heating element is mounted on an exterior surface of the cylinder sidewall.  
   
   
       14 . A combustionless steam engine comprising: 
 a power source for supplying electrical energy;    at least one cylinder having a sidewall, a closed end and an opening;    at least one piston having a head and being reciprocally mounted within the cylinder, said piston further including a connecting rod that passes through the opening of the cylinder and is connected to a crankshaft;    water;    a heating element mounted near the cylinder and connected to the power source, for causing the water to be flashed into steam;    a water reservoir for storing the water separate from the cylinder;    a water injector passing through a portion of the cylinder for injecting water into the cylinder;    a conduit connected between the water reservoir and the water injector for carrying water from the water reservoir to the water injector; and,    an exhaust valve being connected to said water reservoir for passing steam and water from an interior area of the cylinder to the water reservoir.    
   
   
       15 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 14  wherein the power source comprises a battery.  
   
   
       16 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 14  wherein the heating element is mounted within the cylinder sidewall.  
   
   
       17 . The combustionless steam engine of  claim 14  wherein the heating element is mounted on an exterior surface of the cylinder sidewall.