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US 4,592,309 AGranted
Internal combustion engine
OwnerGerald J. Williamsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved internal combustion engine which separates the compression stroke from the power generator. In particular, the invention utilizes a cam profiled power shaft of a shape to accomodate the new movement of the power pistons to suit the particular phase of the combustion process.
Claims25
A variable power internal combustion engine comprising
- a separate air compressor for receiving and compressing a flow of air to a given pressure, said compressor having an inlet valve introducing a flow of air into said compressor and an outlet valve for exhausting compressed air out of said compressor into a compressed air storage means,
- at least one expander having a cylinder, a cylinder head closing an end of said cylinder, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder for movement away from said cylinder head in a power stroke from an initial position defining a combustion chamber within said cylinder between said cylinder head and said piston, to a deep expansion position and for movement in an exhaust stroke towards said cylinder head returning to said position defining said combustion chamber;
- an inlet valve for said combustion chamber connecting said compressed air storage means and said combustion chamber for directing a flow of compressed air into said combustion chamber during an intake phase intermediate the start of said power stroke and the completion of said exhaust stroke, an exhaust valve of exhausting an expanded flow of air from said cylinder during said exhaust stroke, and means for adjusting the volume of said combustion chamber;
- said compressed air storage means receiving said pressurized flow of air from said compressor and being of a volume adequate to provide compressed air in said combustion chamber essentially at said given pressure essentially over the power output of said engine,
- means for introducing an amount of combustible fuel in said compressed charge to be present with compressed air in said combustion chamber and providing combustion of said an amount of fuel in said cylinder with said inlet and exhaust valves closed,
- cam shaft means in contact with said piston for absorbing and storing the energy of said power stroke of said piston and controlling movement of the piston within said cylinder during said exhaust stroke and said intake phase to move said piston towards said cylinder head and maintain said piston in said position defining the combustion chamber volume for a time sufficient to complete the flow of compressed air into said cylinder and provide a compressed air pressure within said combustion chamber before combustion essentially equal to the pressure of said storage means and to allow substantial combustion of said compressed air and amount of fuel prior to commencement of said power stroke,
- said means for varying the volume of said combustion chamber being controlled in accordance with power requirements to provide variable power output and improved efficiency of said engine at power outputs reduced relative to a given design power output of said engine by providing a variable expansion ratio of a minimum of at least about 30 to 1 at said given design power output and higher with reduced power output.
4 more elements
A cyclic process for an internal combustion piston engine with variable power output comprising the steps of
- compressing a flow of air to a given pressure to provide a compressed air charge supply,
- accumulating a storage of compressed air charge supply and including an inlet valve separating said flow of air being compressed from the air charge supply,
- operatively connecting the accumulated storage of compressed air with an inlet valve of a power expander having a combustion chamber and a movable piston which defines part of said combustion chamber when said piston is essentially stationary and defining said combustion chamber volume,
- holding said piston essentially stationary defining said combustion chamber for at least about 15 degrees of a 360 degree piston cycle,
- closing said inlet valve of said power expander after admission of an amount of compressed air determined by the volume of said combustion chamber,
- admitting a combustible fuel to mix with said amount of compressed air to be at least present in said combustion chamber,
- igniting and effecting substantial combustion of the compressed air and fuel in said combustion chamber prior to said piston moving in a power stroke against a cam shaft,
- opening an exhaust valve in a manner to allow positive expulsion of the combusted fuel and air by movement of said piston in a direction opposite to the direction of said power stroke caused by further rotation of said cam and closing such exhaust valve after positive expulsion of the combusted fuel and air,
- monitoring the pressure in said storage of compressed air and varying such flow of air to be compressed to reduce energy expended in compressing such flow of air when the desired pressure of compressed air is achieved, and
- adjusting the volume of such combustion chamber in accordance with power output requirements of such engine,
- said process providing a variable expansion ratio of at least about 30 to 1 at a design power output of such engine and a higher expansion ratio at reduced power output to improve engine efficiency at such reduced power output.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.