Internal combustion engine with insulated piston
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorAlexander Goloff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved internal combustion engine of the type having a relatively high surface to volume ratio. An exemplary embodiment depicts the invention in a rotary engine having a rotor within a combustion chamber. The surfaces of the rotor that are exposed to the gases of combustion are provided with a plurality of pockets. Within each pocket is a heat insulating medium. The pockets are covered by a plurality of individual covers, one for each pocket. Heat flow to the rotor is thereby reduced to increase engine operating efficiency.
Claims6
In an internal combustion engine having a relatively high surface to volume ratio, the combination of:
- means defining a combustion chamber;
- means movable within said chamber and having at least one surface disposed to be subject to gases of combustion;
- means operatively associated with said movable means for converting movement thereof to a desired form of motion;
- a plurality of pockets in each said surface;
- heat insulation means within each of said pockets;
- and
- a plurality of covers, one for each said pocket, secured to said movable means to tightly embrace the movable means and close the corresponding one of said pockets to minimize the entry of hot gases of combustion into said pockets, said covers defining a continuation of said surface and being exposed to said gases of combustion,
- whereby heat loss to said movable means is retarded to increase engine efficiency.
In an internal combustion engine having a relatively high surface to volume ratio, the combination of:
- a housing defining an operating chamber;
- a piston movable within said chamber and having at least one surface disposed to be subject to gases of combustion;
- means, including a shaft, operatively associated with said piston for converting movement thereof to a desired form of motion;
- a plurality of pockets in each said surface(s);
- heat insulation means within each of said pockets;
- and
- a plurality of generally flat covers, one for each said pocket, secured to said movable means to tightly embrace the movable means and close the corresponding one of said pockets to minimize the entry of hot gases of combustion into said pockets, said covers defining a continuation of said surface and being exposed to said gases of combustion, said covers being slightly spaced from each other by a small gap when said piston is cold so that when said engine reaches normal operating temperature, thermal expansion of said covers will cause said gaps to close.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.