Single-ended barrel engine with double-ended, double roller pistons
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F02B-057/00
F02B-053/00
F02B-075/18
F02B-075/06
출원번호
US-0426547
(2003-04-29)
발명자
/ 주소
Thomas, Charles Russell
Hauser, Bret R.
Branyon, David P.
출원인 / 주소
Thomas Engine Company
대리인 / 주소
Gifford, Krass, Groh, Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, PC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
9인용 특허 :
3
초록▼
An internal combustion barrel engine includes an engine housing with a first and second end. An elongated power shaft is longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defines a longitudinal axis. A combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder are spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis t
An internal combustion barrel engine includes an engine housing with a first and second end. An elongated power shaft is longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defines a longitudinal axis. A combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder are spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis that is generally parallel to the central axis. The cylinders each have an inner end and an outer end, with the inner ends being closer to each other. The outer end of the combustion cylinder is closed. An intake system is operable to introduce a mixture of air and/or fuel into the combustion cylinder. A track is supported between the inner ends of the cylinders and has an undulating cam surface. The track is moveable such that the portion of the cam surface most directly between the cylinders undulates toward and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder. A double-ended piston includes a combustion end disposed in the combustion cylinder so as to define a combustion chamber between the combustion end and the closed end of the combustion cylinder. A guide end is disposed in the guide cylinder. A midportion extends between the combustion end and the guide end and is in mechanical communication with the guide surface of the track. A variable compression ratio device is operable to move the track axially towards and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder so as to adjust the compression ratio. Combustion occurs only in the combustion cylinder and does not occur in the guide cylinder.
대표청구항▼
1. An internal combustion barrel engine, comprising:an engine housing having a first end and a second end;a elongated power shaft longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defining a longitudinal axis of the engine;a combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder spaced apart and disposed on a com
1. An internal combustion barrel engine, comprising:an engine housing having a first end and a second end;a elongated power shaft longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defining a longitudinal axis of the engine;a combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis that is generally parallel to the central axis, the cylinders each having an inner end and a outer end with the inner ends being closer to each other, the outer end of the combustion cylinder being closed;an intake system operable to introduce a mixture of air and/or fuel into the combustion cylinder;a track supported between the inner ends of the combustion cylinder and the guide cylinder, the track having an undulating cam surface, the track being movable such that the portion of the cam surface most directly between the inner ends of the cylinders undulates toward and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder;a double-ended piston comprising:a combustion end movably disposed in the combustion cylinder such that a combustion chamber is defined between the combustion end of the piston and the closed end of the combustion cylinder;a guide end movably disposed in the guide cylinder;a midportion extending between the combustion end and the guide end, the midportion being in mechanical communication with the cam surface of the track such that as the track moves, the midportion urges the combustion end of the piston outwardly within the combustion cylinder to compress the mixture in the combustion chamber and allows the combustion end of the piston to move inwardly within the combustion cylinder as the mixture within the combustion chamber expands, the guide end moving with the midportion such that as the combustion end moves outwardly, the guide end moves inwardly in the guide cylinder, and as the combustion end moves inwardly, the guide end moves outwardly, the guide end and the guide cylinder cooperating to guide the motion of the double-ended piston; anda variable compression device operable to move the track axially towards and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder so as to adjust the compression ratio;wherein combustion occurs only in the combustion cylinder and does not occur in the guide cylinder. 2. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the track is disposed generally in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the engine and the cam surface is disposed at a generally constant distance from the longitudinal axis of the engine. 3. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the track is in mechanical communication with the power shaft such that the shaft and track rotate in unison with respect to the cylinders. 4. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the guide end of the piston comprises a pumping end and the guide cylinder comprises a pumping cylinder with a closed outer end, the pumping end and the pumping cylinder cooperating to compress a gas, the engine further comprising a valve assembly for providing a gas to the pumping cylinder and venting compressed gas from the pumping cylinder, and a compressed gas conduit in fluid communication with the valve assembly and the intake system such that the compressed gas from the pumping cylinder is provided to the combustion chamber so as to supercharge the engine. 5. The engine of claim 4, wherein the compressed gas conduit comprises a compression plenum in fluid communication with the valve assembly such that the compressed air from the compression cylinder flows into the compression plenum, the compression plenum being in fluid communication with the intake system such that the intake system is operable to introduce a compressed combustible mixture into the combustion cylinder. 6. The engine of claim 5, further comprising a wastegate in fluid communication with the compression plenum and selectively operable to vent compressed air from the compression plenum. 7. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the undulating cam surface is a first cam surface, the track further including a second cam surface, the first cam surfaces being generally directed toward the open end of the combustion cylinder and the second cam surface being opposed thereto and generally directed toward the guide cylinder, the midportion of the piston including a first and a second opposed roller, the first roller engaging the first cam surface and the second roller engaging the second cam surface. 8. The engine according to claim 7, wherein the combustion end, guide end, and midportion of the double ended piston are rigidly interconnected. 9. The engine according to claim 7, wherein the combustion end, guide end and midportion of the double ended piston are integrally formed. 10. An internal combustion barrel engine, comprising:an engine housing having a first end and a second end;a elongated power shaft longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defining a longitudinal axis of the engine;a combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis that is generally parallel to the central axis, the cylinders each having an inner end and a outer end with the inner ends being closer to each other, the outer end of the combustion cylinder being closed;an intake system operable to introduce a mixture of air and/or fuel into the combustion cylinder;a track supported between the inner ends of the combustion cylinder and the guide cylinder, the track having an undulating cam surface, the track being movable such that the portion of the cam surface most directly between the inner ends of the cylinders undulates toward and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder, the undulating cam surface defining a non-sinusoidal shape; anda double-ended piston comprising:a combustion end movably disposed in the combustion cylinder such that a combustion chamber is defined between the combustion end of the piston and the closed end of the combustion cylinder;a guide end movably disposed in the guide cylinder;a midportion extending between the combustion end and the guide end, the midportion being in mechanical communication with the cam surface of the track such that as the track moves, the midportion urges the combustion end of the piston outwardly within the combustion cylinder to compress the mixture in the combustion chamber and allows the combustion end of the piston to move inwardly within the combustion cylinder as the mixture within the combustion chamber expands, the motion of the piston being non-sinusoidal, the guide end moving with the midportion such that as the combustion end moves outwardly, the guide end moves inwardly in the guide cylinder, and as the combustion end moves inwardly, the guide end moves outwardly, the guide end and the guide cylinder cooperating to guide the motion of the double-ended piston;wherein combustion occurs only in the combustion cylinder and does not occur in the guide cylinder. 11. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the cam surface includes at least one top dead center portion, the top dead center portion being linearly shorter than if the cam surface defined a sinusoidal shape. 12. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the cam surface defines at least one compression stroke and one expansion stroke, the compression stroke being slower and the expansion stroke being faster than if the cam surface defined a sinusoidal shape. 13. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the cam surface defines a combustion top dead center and a breathing top dead center, the breathing top dead center being further from the closed outer end of the combustion cylinder than the combustion top dead center is from the closed outer end of the combustion cylinder. 14. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the guide end of the piston comprises a pumping end and the guide cylinder comprises a pumping cylinder with a closed outer end, the pumping end and the pumping cylinder cooperating to compress a gas, the engi ne further comprising a valve assembly for providing a gas to the pumping cylinder and venting compressed gas from the pumping cylinder, and a compressed gas conduit in fluid communication with the valve assembly and the intake system such that the compressed gas from the pumping cylinder is provided to the combustion chamber so as to supercharge the engine. 15. The engine of claim 14, wherein the compressed gas conduit comprises a compression plenum in fluid communication with the valve assembly such that the compressed air from the compression cylinder flows into the compression plenum, the compression plenum being in fluid communication with the intake system such that the intake system is operable to introduce a compressed combustible mixture into the combustion cylinder. 16. The engine of claim 15, further comprising a wastegate in fluid communication with the compression plenum and selectively operable to vent compressed air from the compression plenum. 17. The engine according to claim 10, further comprising a variable compression device operable to move the track axially towards and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder so as to adjust the compression ratio. 18. The engine according to claim 17, wherein the guide end of the piston comprises a pumping end and the guide cylinder comprises a pumping cylinder with a closed outer end, the pumping end and the pumping cylinder cooperating to compress a gas, the engine further comprising a valve assembly for providing a gas to the pumping cylinder and venting compressed gas from the pumping cylinder, and a compressed gas conduit in fluid communication with the valve assembly and the intake system such that the compressed gas from the pumping cylinder is provided to the combustion chamber so as to supercharge the engine. 19. The engine of claim 18, wherein the compressed gas conduit comprises a compression plenum in fluid communication with the valve assembly such that the compressed air from the compression cylinder flows into the compression plenum, the compression plenum being in fluid communication with the intake system such that the intake system is operable to introduce a compressed combustible mixture into the combustion cylinder. 20. The engine of claim 19, further comprising a wastegate in fluid communication with the compression plenum and selectively operable to vent compressed air from the compression plenum. 21. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the undulating cam surface is a first cam surface, the track further including a second cam surface, the first cam surfaces being generally directed toward the open end of the combustion cylinder and the second cam surface being opposed thereto and generally directed toward the guide cylinder, the midportion of the piston including a first and a second opposed roller, the first roller engaging the first cam surface and the second roller engaging the second cam surface. 22. The engine according to claim 21, wherein the combustion end, guide end, and midportion of the double ended piston are rigidly interconnected. 23. The engine according to claim 21, wherein the combustion end, guide end and midportion of the double ended piston are integrally formed.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
Thomas, Charles Russell, Homogenous charge compression ignition and barrel engines.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.