Internal combustion engine
AssigneePinnacle Engines, Inc.
InventorJames M. Cleeves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An internal combustion engine is provided. Facing pistons eliminate a cylinder head, thereby reducing heat losses through a cylinder head. Facing pistons also halve the stroke that would be required for one piston to provide the same compression ratio, and the engine can thus be run at higher revolutions per minute and produce more power. An internal sleeve valve is provided for space and other considerations. A combustion chamber size-varying mechanism allows for adjustment of the minimum size of an internal volume to increase efficiency at partial-power operation. Variable intake valve operation is used to control engine power.
Claims20
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a body defining a cylinder;
- a piston in the cylinder, a front surface of the piston and a wall of the cylinder defining an internal volume;
- a port in the body to allow air and fuel into the internal volume;
- a sleeve valve at least partially around the piston having an exterior surface and a distal end, the sleeve valve being movable between a first position where the port is open and a second position where the sleeve valve closes the port;
- an oil path-defining piece adjacent to the exterior surface of the sleeve valve, wherein surfaces of the oil path-defining piece and the exterior surface of the sleeve valve define an oil passage;
- an oil inlet port through the body into the oil passage;
- an oil outlet port from the oil passage through the body;
- and
- a flexible seal having a first end affixed to the body and a second end affixed to the exterior surface of the sleeve valve.
An internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a body defining first and second cylinders in communication with each other;
- first and second pistons in the first and second cylinders respectively, front surfaces of the first and second pistons and walls of the first and second cylinders defining an internal volume;
- a first port in the body to allow air and fuel into the internal volume;
- a second port in the body to allow exhaust gas out of the internal volume;
- a first sleeve valve at least partially around the first piston, the first sleeve valve being movable between a first position where the first port is open and a second position where the first sleeve valve closes the first port;
- a second sleeve valve at least partially around the second piston, the second sleeve valve being movable between a first position where the second port is open and a second position where the second sleeve valve closes the second port;
- an oil path-defining piece adjacent the first sleeve valve, wherein surfaces of the oil path-defining piece and the sleeve valve define an oil passage;
- an oil inlet port through the body into the oil passage;
- an oil outlet port from the oil passage through the body;
- and
- a bellows seal having a first end affixed to the body and a second end affixed to the first sleeve valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.