Engine having alternately rotating orbital pistons and cylinders
OwnerAdolf P. Pintoinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An engine having valve means, timing means, fuel distribution means and ignition means configured for operation on a combustible mixture of fuel and air, or other energy source, comprises at least one annular cylinder and mating annular piston forming combustion chambers at both ends and configured for orbital rotation about a central crank. Escapement means transfers orbital rotation of the piston and cylinder in a first direction to the crank and prevents their rotation in the opposite direction relative to the grounded frame which encloses the engine. The piston and cylinder alternately are rotated in the first direction by expansion or contraction of the energy source in successively predetermined combustion chambers on each stroke to rotate the crank.
Claims8
A rotary engine comprising:
- a. a non-rotatable frame,
- b. a crank rotatably journaled centrally in the frame,
- c. at least one annular cylinder having closed end portions and a connecting rod, the connecting rod interconnecting the cylinder and the crank for free orbital rotation of the cylinder about the crank and configured to position the cylinder within the frame,
- d. at least one annular piston and a piston rod, the piston rod interconnecting the piston and the crank for free orbital rotation of the piston about the crank and configured to position the piston within the cylinder for reciprocating movement therebetween, wherein
- e. the cylinder defines an arc of greater extent than the piston forming a combustion chamber at each end thereof, and
- f. escapement means configured to automatically, selectively, intermittently interengage the piston and cylinder with the frame and crank in a manner to transfer orbital rotation of the piston and cylinder in a first direction to the crank and prevent orbital rotation of the piston and cylinder in the opposite direction relative to the frame.
In a rotary internal combustion engine having valve means, valve timing means, fuel distribution means and ignition means configured for operation on a four-stroke cycle with a combustible mixture of fuel and air, a propulsion system comprising:
- a. a non-rotatable frame,
- b. a crank rotatably journaled centrally in the frame,
- c. at least two annular cylinders having closed end portions, and at least one connecting rod;
- the connecting rod interconnecting the cylinders and the crank for free orbital rotation of the cylinders about the crank and configured to position the cylinders within the frame,
- d. at least two annular pistons and at least one piston rod;
- the piston rod interconnecting the pistons and the crank for free orbital rotation of the pistons about the crank and configured to position the pistons within the cylinders for reciprocating movement therebetween, wherein
- e. the cylinders define arcs of greater extent than the pistons forming combustion chambers at each end, and
- f. escapement means configured to automatically, selectively, intermittently interengage the pistons and cylinders with the frame and crank in a manner to transfer orbital rotation of the pistons and cylinders in a first direction to the crank and prevent rotation of the pistons and cylinders in the opposite direction relative to the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.