Internal combustion engine
AssigneeCleeves Engines Inc.
InventorJames M. Cleeves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An internal combustion engine is provided. Facing pistons eliminate a cylinder head, thereby reducing heat losses through a cylinder head. Facing pistons also halve the stroke that would be required for one piston to provide the same compression ratio, and the engine can thus be run at higher revolutions per minute and produce more power. An internal sleeve valve is provided for space and other considerations. A combustion chamber size-varying mechanism allows for adjustment of the minimum size of an internal volume to increase efficiency at partial-power operation. Variable intake valve operation is used to control engine power.
Claims24
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a body defining a cylinder;
- a piston in the cylinder, a surface of the piston and an interior wall of the cylinder defining an internal volume;
- a port in the body to allow air and fuel into the internal volume;
- a drive shaft having a bearing section mounted for rotation on a respective drive shaft axis through the body and having an offset throw section, the piston and offset throw section of the drive shaft being connected such that reciprocating movement of the piston increases and decreases a size of the internal volume between minimum and maximum sizes;
- a sleeve valve at least partially around the piston having a sleeve portion and an end surface forming a lip having an inner surface and an outer surface, the sleeve valve being movable between a first position where the port is open and a second position where the sleeve valve closes the port;
- and
- wherein as the piston decreases the size of the internal volume to the minimum size, with the sleeve valve located in the second position, a positive pressure differential is created between the inner surface of the lip and the outer surface of the lip that assists in maintaining the sleeve valve in the second position.
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a body defining first and second cylinders in communication with each other;
- first and second pistons in the first and second cylinders respectively, surfaces of the first and second pistons and walls of the first and second cylinders defining an internal volume;
- a first port in the body to allow air and fuel into the internal volume;
- a second port in the body to allow exhaust gas out of the internal volume;
- a first sleeve valve at least partially around the first piston, the first sleeve valve having a sleeve portion and an end surface with a lip, the first sleeve valve being movable between a first position where the first port is open and a second position where the first sleeve valve closes the first port;
- and
- a second sleeve valve at least partially around the second piston, the second sleeve valve being movable between a first position where the second port is open and a second position where the second sleeve valve closes the second port.
In an internal combustion engine having a body defining a cylinder, a piston moving within the cylinder, a surface of the piston and an interior wall of the cylinder defining an internal volume, and a port in the body to allow air and fuel into the internal volume, a sleeve valve comprising:
- a body having a sleeve portion and an end surface;
- a lip extending from the end surface;
- and
- the body being slidably movable within the cylinder between a first position where the port is open and a second position where the sleeve valve closes the port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.