AN ENGINE WITH A PLURALITY OF OPERATING MODES INCLUDING OPERATION BY COMPRESSED AIR

摘要

The present invention relates (with reference to FIG. 1 ) to an internal combustion engine in which a combustion chamber ( 12 ) can be connected to a reservoir ( 16 ) for storing compressed air. Gas flow control valve means ( 15 ) controls flow between the chamber ( 12 ) and reservoir ( 16 ) so that air pressurised in the chamber ( 12 ) can be relayed to charge the reservoir ( 16 ) and pressurised air can be delivered to the chamber ( 12 ) to drive piston ( 10 ). The chamber ( 12 ) is also used for combustion of fuel. The invention also relates to a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of pressurised air between the chamber ( 12 ) and reservoir ( 16 ), in which a balancing force is applied to the gas flow control valve ( 115 ) to cancel the force on the valve ( 115 ) arising from the pressure applied to the back face of the valve ( 115 ).