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US 7,156,056 B2Granted
Two-cycle, opposed-piston internal combustion engine
AssigneeAchates Power, Inc.
InventorsJames U. Lemke, William B. McHargue
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a two-cycle, opposed-piston internal combustion engine with optimized cooling and no engine block, the opposed pistons are coupled to a pair of crankshafts by connecting rods that are subject to substantially tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts.
Claims53
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylinder with an internal bore;
- first and second opposed pistons for reciprocating in the bore so as to protrude from the bore during at least a portion of an operating cycle of the engine;
- each piston including a crown and a skirt with inner and outer surfaces;
- and
- a liquid coolant supply system including dispensing means for applying a liquid coolant to an external portion of the outer surface of the skirt of each piston that protrudes from the bore.
2 more elements
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylinder with an internal bore;
- first and second opposed pistons for reciprocating in the bore so as to be substantially withdrawn from the bore during at least a portion of an operating cycle;
- each piston including crown and a skirt with external and internal surfaces;
- and
- a liquid coolant supply system including dispensing means for applying a liquid coolant to a portion of each piston that protrudes from the bore;
- the portion including substantially all of the external surface of the skirt.
3 more elements
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylinder with an internal bore;
- wherein the cylinder does not constitute a structural component of the engine;
- first and second opposed pistons for reciprocating in the bore so as to be substantially withdrawn from the bore during at least a portion of an operating cycle;
- and
- each piston including a crown and a skirt with external and internal surfaces;
- and
- a liquid coolant supply system for supplying a liquid coolant under pressure;
- dispensing means in the liquid coolant supply system for applying the liquid coolant to a portion of the external surface of the skirt of each piston that protrudes from the bore.
5 more elements
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylinder with an internal bore and two ends;
- first and second opposed pistons for reciprocating in the bore so as to be substantially withdrawn from the bore during at least a portion of an operating cycle;
- each piston including a crown and a skirt with external and internal surfaces;
- and
- a liquid coolant supply system for supplying a liquid coolant;
- the liquid coolant supply system including dispenser means outboard of the ends of the cylinder for applying the liquid coolant to an external portion of each piston that protrudes from the bore.
3 more elements
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylinder with an internal bore;
- first and second opposed pistons for reciprocating in the bore so as to be substantially withdrawn from the bore during at least a portion of an operating cycle;
- and
- each piston including a crown and a skirt with external and internal surfaces;
- and
- means for applying a liquid coolant to a portion of the external surface of the skirt of each piston that protrudes from the bore.
3 more elements
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- at least one cylinder;
- a pair of opposed pistons in the at least one cylinder;
- each piston including a crown and a skirt with external and internal surfaces;
- a pair of side-mounted crankshafts;
- a plurality of rods linking each piston to both crankshafts for moving in response to primarily tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts;
- the engine characterized by an engine cycle in which each piston is substantially withdrawn from the cylinder and then driven back into the cylinder;
- a liquid coolant supply system for supplying a liquid;
- and,
- dispenser means connected to the liquid coolant supply system for applying the liquid coolant to the external surface of the skirt of each piston that is withdrawn from the at least one cylinder.
6 more elements
A combination for an internal combustion engine, including:
- a radially symmetric cylinder;
- a pair of opposed pistons disposed in the cylinder for being at least partially withdrawn from the cylinder to receive externally-applied liquid coolant during engine operation;
- each piston including a crown and a skirt with external and internal surfaces;
- and
- a dispenser means on the cylinder for applying the liquid coolant to an external portion of the skirt of each piston as the piston is withdrawn from the cylinder.
2 more elements
A two-stroke, opposed piston, internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a pair of side-mounted crankshafts;
- at least one cylinder module disposed between the crankshafts;
- a pair of opposed pistons in each cylinder module for being substantially withdrawn from the cylinder module during engine operation;
- each piston including a crown and a skirt with external and internal surfaces;
- each pair of pistons coupled to the crankshafts so as to exert no side force on a cylinder module during engine operation;
- and
- means for applying a liquid coolant to a portion of the external surface of the skirt of each piston that is substantially withdrawn from a cylinder module.
4 more elements
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a cylinder with an internal bore;
- first and second opposed pistons for reciprocating in the bore so as to be substantially withdrawn from the bore during at least a portion of an operating cycle of the internal combustion engine;
- each piston including a skirt with external and internal surfaces;
- and
- a supply system means for providing a single liquid to cool the external surface of the skirt of each piston that protrudes from the bore, to lubricate the pistons, and to fuel the engine.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.