초록 ▼

The engine of the present invention provides the direct transfer of energy from the burning down of fuel in the engine cylinders into shaft power by forcing working liquid through guide devices and against an impulse turbine, thereby eliminating the need for supplemental pumps and the usual power lo

The engine of the present invention provides the direct transfer of energy from the burning down of fuel in the engine cylinders into shaft power by forcing working liquid through guide devices and against an impulse turbine, thereby eliminating the need for supplemental pumps and the usual power losses associated therewith, thus improving the fuel consumption to power output ratio. In addition the engine of the present invention provides an internal combustion engine characterized by a crankshaftless design which meets all of the requirements for operation over the speed ranges necessary for a wide range of the propulsion systems, such as but not limited to, cars, and trucks of all sizes, rail traction, and marine propulsion.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a) at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly containing therein a working liquid, said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly configured so as to be displaceable in a substantially reciprocating movement; b) at least one impulse turb

What is claimed is: 1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a) at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly containing therein a working liquid, said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly configured so as to be displaceable in a substantially reciprocating movement; b) at least one impulse turbine deployed within said hydraulic cylinder assembly, said at least one impulse turbine mechanically linked to a rotatable output shaft, said at least one impulse turbine configured such that movement of said working liquid onto said at least one impulse turbine during said reciprocating movement of said hydraulic cylinder assembly effects axial rotation of said at least one impulse turbine; c) at least a first and second pistons mechanically linked to said hydraulic cylinder assembly; and d) at least a first and second cylinders configured to slidingly receive said at least a first and second pistons such that movement of each of said pistons is effected within said first and second cylinders by combustion of fuel in combustion chambers defined by said at least a first and second pistons and said at least a first and second cylinders; wherein movement of said pistons affects said reciprocating movement of said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly and said hydraulic cylinder assembly is slidebly received on hydraulic cylinder guides. 2. The engine of claim 1, wherein said hydraulic cylinder guide includes at least two bladed guide devices formed by stationary guide buckets attached to said cylinder guides and facing said at least one impulse turbine in an opposing and concentric orientation, such that said working liquid is forced through said bladed guide devices and against said at least one impulse turbine. 3. The engine of claim 2, wherein said at least one impulse turbine is positioned between said at least two guide devices. 4. The engine of claim 3, wherein said hydraulic cylinder assembly and said hydraulic cylinder guides define a substantially annular space permanently filled with working liquid. 5. The engine of claim 4, wherein said at least one impulse turbine is mounted on said hydraulic cylinder guides. 6. The engine of claim 1, wherein said hydraulic cylinder assembly is deployed in a rigid case. 7. The engine of claim 6, wherein said cylinder guides are attached to said rigid case. 8. The engine of claim 6, wherein each of said at least a first and second pistons are deployed in an engine block assembly, each said engine block assembly being modularly attached to said rigid case. 9. The engine of claim 8, wherein each said engine block assembly houses one said cylinder configured to slidingly receive one said piston. 10. The engine of claim 8, wherein each said engine block assembly includes inlet and outlet valves, said inlet and outlet valves being actuated by an externally mounted mechanical timing assembly. 11. The engine of claim 10, wherein said mechanical timing assembly includes a crank mechanism activated by said reciprocating movement of said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly. 12. The engine of claim 11, wherein said timing assembly provides said two hydraulic cylinder assemblies running synchronously. 13. An internal combustion engine comprising: a) at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly containing therein a working liquid, said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly configured so as to be displaceable in a substantially reciprocating movement; b) at least one impulse turbine deployed within said hydraulic cylinder assembly, said at least one impulse turbine mechanically linked to a rotatable output shaft, said at least one impulse turbine configured such that movement of said working liquid onto said at least one impulse turbine during said reciprocating movement of said hydraulic cylinder assembly effects axial rotation of said at least one impulse turbine; c) at least a first and second pistons mechanically linked to said hydraulic cylinder assembly; and d) at least a first and second cylinders configured to slidingly receive said at least a first and second pistons such that movement of each of said pistons is effected within said first and second cylinders by combustion of fuel in combustion chambers defined by said at least a first and second pistons and said at least a first and second cylinders; wherein movement of said pistons affects said reciprocating movement of said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly wherein said at least a first piston is configured with a direction of stroke extending substantially parallel to an axis of said at least one impulse turbine, and said at least a second piston is configured with a direction of stroke extending substantially perpendicular to said axis of said at least one impulse turbine. 14. The engine of claim 13, wherein said at least a first piston is mechanically linked to said hydraulic cylinder assembly using connecting rods attached to a bracket substantially rigidly affixed to said hydraulic cylinder assembly and said at least a second piston is mechanically linked to said hydraulic cylinder assembly using connecting rods attached to at least one rotatable linking rod that is in turn rotatably attached to a support substantially rigidly affixed to said hydraulic cylinder assembly. 15. The engine of claim 13, wherein as one of said at least a first and said at least a second pistons is experiencing an expansion stroke another of said at least a first and said at least a second pistons is experiencing a compression stroke, such that force of said expansion stroke of one of said at least a first and said at least a second pistons provides force for said compression stroke of another of said at least a first and said at least a second pistons. 16. The engine of claim 15, wherein an inclination of said connecting rods is substantially unchanged throughout a course of said compression and said expansion strokes, therefore substantially no lateral forces are applied to wall of said cylinders by said pistons. 17. The engine of claim 15, wherein an expansion stroke of one of said at least a first and said at least a second pistons causes movement in a first direction of said reciprocating movement of said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly and an expansion stroke of another of said at least a first and said at least a second pistons causes movement in a second direction of said reciprocating movement of said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly. 18. The engine of claim 17, wherein said at least a first piston is implemented as a plurality of said first pistons configured with said direction of stroke extending substantially parallel to an axis of said at least one impulse turbine, and said at least a second piston is implemented as a plurality of said second pistons configured with said direction of stroke extending substantially perpendicular to said axis of said at least one impulse turbine. 19. The engine of claim 18, wherein a substantially similar working process occurs substantially simultaneously in each one of the engine block assemblies housing opposing pistons. 20. The engine of claim 18, wherein said at least one hydraulic cylinder assembly and said at least one impulse turbine are implemented as a first and second said hydraulic cylinder assemblies and a first and second impulse turbines, such that one of said first and second impulse turbines is deployed in each of said first and second hydraulic cylinder assemblies. 21. The engine of claim 20, wherein a first half of said plurality of said first pistons is mechanically linked to said first hydraulic cylinder assembly, a second half of said plurality of said first pistons is mechanically linked to said second hydraulic cylinder assembly, a first half of said plurality of said second pistons is mechanically linked to said first hydraulic cylinder assembly, and a second half of said plurality of said second pistons is mechanically linked to said second hydraulic cylinder assembly.