Abstract: A variable-displacement engine comprises an engine block, cylinders and power shaft. Pistons and connecting rods mounted in the cylinders drive a wobble plate having a rotating ring portion and non-rotating ring portion connected to allow relative rotation therebetween while constraining the portions to remain parallel. The wobble plate defines an inclination plane, pivot axis and wobble plate angle ?. A piston control mechanism (PCM) includes a control yoke rotating with the power shaft and extending to an axially and radially fixed anchor line, a control shaft mounted on the yoke at the control line and a control arm extending from the rotating ring portion and defining a control slot captured over the control shaft. A lift mechanism changes the axial position of the pivot axis, in turn changing, via the PCM, the wobble plate angle ?. This changes the piston displacement of the engine while maintaining a predetermined compression ratio.

Abstract: A variable-displacement engine comprises an engine block, power shaft and rotating cylinder block. Pistons and connecting rods mounted in the cylinder block connect to a wobble plate having a rotating ring portion and non-rotating ring portion connected to allow relative rotation therebetween while constraining the portions to remain parallel. The wobble plate defines an inclination plane, pivot axis and wobble plate angle ?. A piston control mechanism includes axial lift, control lever supported by the lift and by an anchor bearing, and links connecting the control lever to the wobble plate. Axial movement of the lift changes the axial position of the control lever pivot and changes the control lever angle, in turn changing, via the connecting links, the wobble plate angle ? and the axial position of the wobble plate pivot axis. This changes the piston displacement of the engine while maintaining substantially constant compression ratio.

Abstract: A valve actuator system is capable of operating a number of valves with a single cam. The system includes a power shaft, a cam mounted around the power shaft and a gear train to drive the cam when the shaft rotates. Hydraulic actuator assemblies corresponding to the number of valves are radially positioned around the shaft axis for operation by the cam. Hydraulic tubes connect each actuator to a valve follower disposed adjacent to the respective valves. The cam profile pressing each actuator plunger in sequence as the cam rotates causes the hydraulic fluid to flow out of the actuator assembly, through the like-numbered pipe, and into the like-numbered follower assembly, which in turn causes the follower plunger to move the like-numbered valve from an open position or a closed position. This occurs sequentially for each valve.

Abstract: A variable-displacement engine comprises an engine block, power shaft and rotating cylinder block. Pistons and connecting rods mounted in the cylinder block connect to a wobble plate having a rotating ring portion and non-rotating ring portion connected to allow relative rotation therebetween while constraining the portions to remain parallel. The wobble plate defines an inclination plane, pivot axis and wobble plate angle ?. A piston control mechanism includes axial lift, control lever supported by the lift and by an axially fixed anchor bearing, and links connecting the control lever to the wobble plate. Axial movement of the lift changes the axial position of the control lever pivot and changes the control lever angle, in turn changing, via the connecting links, the wobble plate angle ? and the axial position of the wobble plate pivot axis. This changes the piston displacement of the engine while maintaining substantially constant compression ratio.

Abstract: A variable displacement engine comprises a block having one or more cylinders disposed in parallel around a rotating power shaft. A piston in each cylinder is connected to a connecting rod. A wobble plate, including a first ring, a second ring and a bearing assembly, is mounted on the shaft. The first ring rotates with the shaft and pivots about a pivot axis. The second ring is concentrically adjacent the first ring, has rod bearings connected to each connecting rod, and is connected to the block to prevent relative rotation. The bearing assembly is connected between the rings to allow relative rotation therebetween while constraining the rings to remain parallel. A displacement actuator connected to the wobble plate moves the pivot axis along the shaft to change the displacement, while a piston control linkage changes the wobble plate angle to maintain a constant compression ratio.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve actuator system comprises an actuator assembly including a housing and a piston disposed in a cavity of the housing and biased away from the housing, a pipe having a distal end connected to an outlet port of the actuator housing, and a valve follower assembly including a housing connected to the proximal end of the pipe and a piston disposed in a cavity of the housing and biased away from the housing. Movement of the actuator piston from a first to a second position causes hydraulic fluid to flow out of the actuator assembly, through the pipe, and into the follower assembly such that the follower piston moves from its first to its second position. Movement of the actuator piston from a second to a first position causes hydraulic fluid to reverse flow such that the follower piston moves from its second to its first position.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve actuator system comprises an actuator assembly including a housing and a piston disposed in a cavity of the housing and biased away from the housing, a pipe having a distal end connected to an outlet port of the actuator housing, and a valve follower assembly including a housing connected to the proximal end of the pipe and a piston disposed in a cavity of the housing and biased away from the housing. Movement of the actuator piston from a first to a second position causes hydraulic fluid to flow out of the actuator assembly, through the pipe, and into the follower assembly such that the follower piston moves from its first to its second position. Movement of the actuator piston from a second to a first position causes hydraulic fluid to reverse flow such that the follower piston moves from its second to its first position.