Swing beam internal-combustion engines

Abstract

Novel internal-combustion engines of the swing beam type incorporate an improved construction utilizing a Rapson slide motion and also are derived from two or three degree of freedom mechanisms for controlling the displacement of the piston as a function of crankshaft displacement and of the displacement of a control shaft. The control shaft either operates at an average speed which is preferably a prescribed ratio of crank speed, thereby yielding an improved thermodynamic cycle (such as the Atkinson cycle in the case of a four-stroke engine) and cycle timing, or functions as a lever for obtaining variable stroke operation. The mechanism can also incorporate a continuously rotating control shaft together with a second control shaft functioning as a lever, thereby yielding an improved thermodynamic cyle and cycle timing together with variable stroke operation. The control shaft, functioning as a lever, can be replaced by a similar actuating device. The mechanism can also incorporate a variable compression ratio feature.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.