US 2003/0188701 A1 · Internal combustion engine

Abstract

An improved internal combustion engine is provided having a plurality of cylinders that are disposed about a crankshaft at an angle substantially parallel to the crankshaft (e.g., to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft), resulting in a substantially constant and optimal power stroke angle. The engine may include eight cylinders and sixteen pistons disposed in a 360 degree pattern every 45 degrees around the crankshaft. The cylinders may be positioned substantially parallel to the crankshaft resulting in a relatively constant and optimal power stroke (e.g., at 90 degrees), thereby producing higher torque and horsepower compared to combustion engines with varying power stroke angles. Each cylinder may have two opposing pistons. Specifically, each cylinder may include two pistons that move in opposite directions during the power stroke, thereby producing a simultaneous thrust at two different points, which is applied to the crankshaft on every power stroke. The dual pistons in each cylinder also control precise movement of all gases throughout each cylinder cycle, thereby improving efficiency. One piston per cylinder can be made to sit “idle,” allowing the opposing piston to import gases for a longer duration, and export virtually the entire cylinder of spent gases in a single cycle. Moreover, this dual-piston design provides for a four-stroke process in a simplified valve-less engine design, thereby combining the advantages of both four-stroke and two-stroke type engines.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An internal combustion engine comprising:

a housing;
a crankshaft, which is rotatably disposed within the housing, and which includes at least one groove formed around an outer surface;
and
a plurality of combustion chambers formed within the housing and disposed around the crankshaft in a substantially parallel relationship to the crankshaft, each combustion chamber including:
at least one intake port for receiving a fuel and air mixture into the combustion chamber;
at least one exhaust port for expelling exhaust gases from the combustion chamber;
at least one piston which slidably moves within the combustion chamber, effective to selectively compress the fuel and air mixture, and which includes a crankshaft engaging portion which engages the at least one groove, effective to rotatably drive the crankshaft;
and
at least one ignition device, which extends into the combustion chamber and which selectively generates energy which ignites the compressed air and fuel mixture, effective to forcibly move the piston within the combustion chamber, thereby rotatably driving the crankshaft.

6 more elements

An internal combustion engine comprising:

a housing;
a crankshaft, which is rotatably disposed within the housing, and which includes an outer surface having a first and second guide disposed around the outer surface;
a plurality of combustion chambers contained within the housing and disposed around the crankshaft in a substantially parallel relationship to the crankshaft, each combustion chamber including:
at least one intake port for receiving a fuel and air mixture into the combustion chamber;
at least one exhaust port for expelling exhaust gases from the combustion chamber;
and
a pair of opposing pistons, which are operatively disposed within the combustion chamber, and comprising an intake side piston that moves within the combustion chamber in a manner effective to selectively open and close the intake port, and an exhaust side piston that moves within the combustion chamber in a manner effective to selectively open and close the exhaust port and which cooperates with the intake side piston to compress the fuel and air mixture and drive the crankshaft;
a plurality of connecting pins, each of which is coupled to a unique one of the pistons and which includes a crankshaft engaging portion that engages one of the first and second guides, thereby allowing the piston to rotatably drive the crankshaft;
and
a plurality of ignition devices, each of which extends into a combustion chamber and selectively generates energy for igniting the compressed air and fuel mixture, effective to forcibly move the pistons within the combustion chambers, thereby rotatably driving the crankshaft.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22