Methods and systems for managing a clearance gap in a piston engine
AssigneeMainspring Energy, Inc.
InventorsJohn Lawler, Matt Svrcek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A piston engine may include a clearance gap between a piston assembly and a cylinder. The piston may be configured to translate in a bore of the cylinder. The clearance gap between the piston assembly and the bore may be actively or passively controlled. A control system may provide one or more adjustments based on, for example, a detected temperature, pressure, flow rate, work metric, and/or other indicator. The adjustments may include, for example, adjusting a cylinder liner, adjusting a flow through a bearing element, adjusting a coolant flow, adjusting a heat pipe property, and/or other adjustments. One or more auxiliary systems may be used to provide the adjustments.
Claims40
A method of controlling a clearance gap between a piston assembly and a cylinder of a free-piston engine, the method comprising:
- detecting at least one indicator of the clearance gap;
- determining a control response based at least in part on the indicator;
- generating a control signal based at least in part on the control response;
- and
- causing the clearance gap to be adjusted based at least in part on the control signal, wherein:
- the piston assembly comprises at least one feature or component that interacts with blow-by gas from a compression section of the free-piston engine to aid in centering the piston assembly, wherein the at least one feature or component is selected from the group consisting of a step, a slotted pocket, a labyrinth, and any combination thereof.
A system configured to control a clearance gap between a piston assembly and a cylinder of a free-piston engine, the system comprising:
- at least one sensor configured to detect at least one indicator of the clearance gap;
- processing equipment configured to determine a control response based at least in part on the at least one indicator;
- and
- a control interface configured to provide a control signal based at least in part on the control response, wherein:
- the piston assembly comprises at least one feature or component that interacts with blow-by gas from a compression section of the free-piston engine to aid in centering the piston assembly, wherein the at least one feature or component is selected from the group consisting of a step, a slotted pocket, a labyrinth, and any combination thereof.
A method of controlling a clearance gap between a piston assembly and a cylinder of a free-piston engine, the method comprising:
- causing the clearance gap to be adjusted based at least in part on a control signal, wherein:
- the piston assembly comprises at least one feature or component that interacts with blow-by gas from a compression section of the free-piston engine to aid in centering the piston assembly, wherein the at least one feature or component is selected from the group consisting of a step, a slotted pocket, a labyrinth, and any combination thereof.
A free-piston piston assembly comprising at least one feature or component that interacts with blow-by gas from a compression section of a free-piston machine in which the free-piston assembly reciprocates to aid in centering the piston assembly, wherein the at least one feature or component is selected from the group consisting of a step, a slotted pocket, a labyrinth, and any combination thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.