US 4,380,220 A · Internal combustion engine

Abstract

A four cycle internal combustion engine comprising a housing defining an internal compartment having one or more peripheral lobes, an inner body mounted in the housing for non-rotational orbital movement and having one or more peripheral lobes corresponding in number to the number of compartment lobes, and with each inner body lobe disposed within a corresponding compartment lobe for movement therein during at least a portion of the orbital movement of the inner body. The inner body is provided with one or more recesses corresponding in number to the inner body lobes and a movable wall member is mounted for movement in each inner body recess to define with the housing and inner body a fluid intake and compression chamber of the engine. The housing and inner body define a variable volume power chamber and a variable volume exhaust chamber in each peripheral lobe of the housing, and passageway means are provided for intercommunicating the intake and compression chamber with intake means of the engine, and with respective power chambers of the engine to transfer compressed fluid to the power chambers during orbital movement of the inner body. Exhaust chambers of the engine respectively communicate with exhaust port means during portions of the orbital movement of the inner body. Several embodiments of the engine are disclosed in the application, and the construction of the engine provides more efficient transfer of fuel combustion power to an output shaft of the engine.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An internal combustion engine comprising:

(a) a housing defining an internal compartment having at least one peripheral lobe;
(b) an inner body having at least one peripheral lobe thereon, means mounting said inner body in said compartment for non-rotational, orbital movement with said inner body lobe disposed for movement within said housing lobe during at least a portion of orbital movement;
(c) an opening located in said inner body inwardly of the periphery thereof, a movable wall member disposed in said opening, and means mounting said movable wall member for movement in said opening;
(d) portions of at least certain of movable wall member, inner body, and housing cooperatively defining a fluid intake and compression chamber, a variable-volume power chamber, and a variable-volume fluid exhaust chamber in said compartment during at least a portion of orbital movement of said inner body;
(e) intake port means and exhaust port means in said housing communicating with said compartment;
(f) passageway means comprising:
(1) said intake and compression chamber with said intake port means;
(2) said intake and compression chamber with said power chamber;
and
(3) said exhaust chamber with said exhaust port means
during at least some portions or orbital movement of said inner body;
and
(g) a power output shaft, and means operatively connecting said inner body with said power output shaft to impart rotational movement thereto during orbital movement of said inner body.

10 more elements

An internal combustion engine comprising:

(a) a housing defining an internal compartment having a plurality of peripheral lobes;
(b) an inner body having corresponding number of peripheral lobes thereon, means mounting said inner body in said compartment for non-rotational, orbital movement with each of said inner body lobes disposed for movement within a respective housing lobe during at least a portion of orbital movement of the inner body;
(c) a plurality of openings located in said inner body inwardly of the periphery thereof correspondingly in number to said inner body lobes, a movable wall member disposed in each opening, and means mounting said movable wall member for movement in its opening;
(d) portions of at least certain of said movable wall member, inner body, and housing cooperatively defining a fluid intake and compression chamber in each opening, and a variable volume power chamber and a variable volume fluid exhaust chamber in each housing lobe during at least a portion of orbital movement of said inner body;
(e) intake port means and exhaust port means in said housing communicating with said compartment;
(f) passageway means communicating
(1) each intake and compression chamber with said intake port means,
(2) each intake and compression chamber with a respective power chamber, and
(3) each exhaust chamber with said exhaust port means
during at least some portions of orbital movement of said inner body;
and
(g) a power output shaft, and means operatively connecting said inner body with said power output shaft to impart rotational movement thereto during orbital movement of said inner body.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Internal combustion engine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17