Abstract: A hydro-mechanical system is disclosed for actuating an outwardly opening valve of an engine, such as a crossover passage valve of a split-cycle engine. A developed embodiment includes a body having a plunger cylinder in hydraulic fluid communication with a valve cylinder. A plunger in the plunger cylinder is reciprocated to displace hydraulic fluid into the valve cylinder, the engine valve being opened by the hydraulic fluid displaced by the plunger into the valve cylinder and acting against the valve piston. A valve spring, preferably an air spring returns the engine valve to engage an outwardly facing valve seat to close a gas passage of the engine. Control valves and an energy reusing accumulator, along with valve seating control and lift brake features may also be included.

Abstract: A split-cycle air hybrid engine operatively connects an air reservoir to a split cycle engine. A power piston is received within a power cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single revolution of the crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke in a single rotation of the crankshaft. The compression cylinder is selectively controllable to place the compression piston in a compression mode or an idle mode. An air reservoir is operatively connected between the compression cylinder and the power cylinder and selectively operable to receive compressed air from the compression cylinder and to deliver compressed air to the power cylinder for use in transmitting power to the crankshaft during engine operation.

Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.

Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.

Abstract: An engine includes a rotatable crankshaft and an expansion piston slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft. A crossover passage including walls connects a source of high pressure gas to the expansion cylinder. A crossover expansion (XovrE) valve is operable to control fluid communication between the crossover passage and the expansion cylinder. The XovrE valve includes a valve head and a valve stem extending from the valve head. A fuel injector operable to inject fuel into the crossover passage includes a plurality of spray holes disposed in a nozzle end and aimed at an at least one target at which fuel emitting from the spray holes is directed to form at least one spray pattern. The at least one target is located above a seated position of the XovrE valve head and between the walls of the crossover passage and the XovrE valve stem.

Abstract: A waste heat recovery system for a split-cycle engine includes a heat exchange unit. An air compressor device is in communication with the heat exchange unit. A waste heat input receives waste heat from the engine and is in fluid communication with the heat exchange unit. An ambient air intake connected to the air compressor device draws air into the air compressor device. A compressed air outlet member on the air compressor device in fluid communication with a compression cylinder of the split-cycle engine delivers compressed air from the air compressor device to the engine. Engine waste heat is communicated to the heat exchange unit and energy from the waste heat is used to drive the air compressor device, causing the air compressor device to draw in ambient air through the ambient air intake, compress the ambient air, and deliver compressed air to the engine through the compressed air outlet.

Abstract: An engine includes a crankshaft rotatable about a crankshaft axis. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston is operable to reciprocate through an intake stroke and a compression stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. An expansion (power) piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston is operable to reciprocate through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A variable volume crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders, and includes a variable volume housing to controllably regulate the air flow from the compression cylinder to the expansion cylinder.

Abstract: An engine includes a crankshaft rotatable about a crankshaft axis. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston is operable to reciprocate through an intake stroke and a compression stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. An expansion (power) piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston is operable to reciprocate through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. At least two crossover passages interconnect the compression and expansion cylinders. Each of the at least two crossover passages includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve operable to define a pressure chamber therebetween. The engine controls and maximizes engine efficiency at part-load by utilizing only selected crossover passages.

Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft. A ratio of cylinder volumes from BDC to TDC for either one of the expansion cylinder and compression cylinder is fixed at substantially 26 to 1 or greater.

Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes a rotatable crankshaft. A compression piston is slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. An expansion piston is slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the expansion and compression cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression valve and a crossover expansion valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. A pilot crossover valve is disposed between the crossover passage and the expansion cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a valve actuation system comprising a valve train for actuating a valve, the valve train including actuating elements and a valve lash, and a valve lash adjustment system for adjusting the valve lash, wherein the valve train and the valve lash adjustment system do not share any common actuating elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a valve actuation system comprising a valve train for actuating a valve, the valve train including actuating elements and a valve lash, and a valve lash adjustment system for adjusting the valve lash, wherein the valve train and the valve lash adjustment system do not share any common actuating elements.

Abstract: A seating control device for a valve, comprising: a vessel for containing a fluid; an upper snubber element translatably receivable in the vessel for controlling the seating velocity of a valve associated therewith; and a lower snubber element translatably receivable in the vessel, adjacent the upper snubber element, presenting a surface to the upper snubber element, for controlling the seating of the valve.

Abstract: Actuators, and corresponding methods and systems for controlling such actuators, provide independent valve control with a large initial or opening force.

Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes separate compression and expansion cylinders connected by a crossover passage. Crossover compression and expansion valves define a pressure chamber between them in the crossover passage for storing pressurized gas prior to timed delivery into the expansion cylinder. A fuel-air mixture is delivered into the expansion cylinder for ignition and expansion, developing power. One or more ignition sources, such as spark plugs, are positioned to encourage rapid combustion after ignition in the expansion cylinder but far enough from the crossover expansion valve(s) to prevent burning gases from reaching the crossover expansion valves before they are substantially closed to avoid entry of burning gas therein. A “safe distance” (“S”) between the ignition source and an opening of the crossover expansion valve is expressed by the function: S (mm)=combustion speed (mm/crank angle degree)×crank angle degrees from ignition to crossover expansion valve closing.

Abstract: An engine has a crankshaft. A compression piston within a compression cylinder is connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke. An expansion piston within an expansion cylinder is connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression valve and a crossover expansion valve. A runner section is in a downstream portion of the crossover passage, and a helical end section is integrally connected to the runner section. The helical end section has a funnel spiraling about a valve stem of the crossover expansion valve. The funnel forces incoming air to rotate about the valve stem prior to entering the expansion cylinder to promote turbulent kinetic energy in the cylinder air/fuel charge.

Abstract: An engine includes a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine. A power piston is received within a first cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through a power stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a second cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A gas passage interconnects the first and second cylinders. The gas passage includes an inlet valve and an outlet valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. The outlet valve permits substantially one-way flow of compressed gas from the pressure chamber to the first cylinder. The power piston descends to a firing position from its top dead center position.

Abstract: A split-cycle air hybrid engine operatively connects an air reservoir to a split cycle engine. A power piston is received within a power cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single revolution of the crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke in a single rotation of the crankshaft. The compression cylinder is selectively controllable to place the compression piston in a compression mode or an idle mode. An air reservoir is operatively connected between the compression cylinder and the power cylinder and selectively operable to receive compressed air from the compression cylinder and to deliver compressed air to the power cylinder for use in transmitting power to the crankshaft during engine operation.

Abstract: A shoe, boot and skate holder includes a handle, a stem extending from the handle, and a locking mechanism operatively connected to the stem. An eyelet rod is releasably lockable in the locking mechanism. The eyelet rod is insertable through eyelets of a shoe, boot or skate, and is lockable in the locking mechanism to retain the shoe, boot or skate in the holder.

Abstract: A split-cycle air hybrid engine operatively connects an air reservoir to a split cycle engine. A power piston is received within a power cylinder and operatively connected to a crankshaft such that the power piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single revolution of the crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke in a single rotation of the crankshaft. The compression cylinder is selectively controllable to place the compression piston in a compression mode or an idle mode. An air reservoir is operatively connected between the compression cylinder and the power cylinder and selectively operable to receive compressed air from the compression cylinder and to deliver compressed air to the power cylinder for use in transmitting power to the crankshaft during engine operation.