Patents Assigned to Tour Engine, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11668231
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a compression chamber, housing a first piston, that induces and compresses working fluid; an expansion chamber, housing a second piston, that expands and exhausts the working fluid; and a transfer chamber, housing a third piston and a fourth piston, wherein the third piston and the fourth piston move relatively to vary a volume within the transfer chamber and to selectively fluidly couple the volume within the transfer chamber to the compression chamber and the expansion chamber. A method of operating an engine includes: inducing working fluid in a first chamber; compressing the working fluid in the first chamber; moving a first moveable boundary of a second chamber; moving a second moveable boundary of the second chamber; expanding the working fluid in the third chamber; and exhausting the working fluid from the third chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Wahl, Amit Helfand, Gilad Tour, Yehoram Hofman, Hugo Benjamin Tour, Oded Tour
  • Patent number: 11230965
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour, Ehud Sivan, Michael H. Wahl
  • Publication number: 20220010724
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a compression chamber, housing a first piston, that induces and compresses working fluid; an expansion chamber, housing a second piston, that expands and exhausts the working fluid; and a transfer chamber, housing a third piston and a fourth piston, wherein the third piston and the fourth piston move relatively to vary a volume within the transfer chamber and to selectively fluidly couple the volume within the transfer chamber to the compression chamber and the expansion chamber. A method of operating an engine includes: inducing working fluid in a first chamber; compressing the working fluid in the first chamber; moving a first moveable boundary of a second chamber; moving a second moveable boundary of the second chamber; expanding the working fluid in the third chamber; and exhausting the working fluid from the third chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. WAHL, Amit HELFAND, Gilad TOUR, Yehoram HOFMAN, Hugo Benjamin TOUR, Oded TOUR
  • Publication number: 20210095591
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo TOUR, Oded TOUR, Gilad TOUR, Ehud SIVAN, Michael H. WAHL
  • Patent number: 10598080
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour, Ehud Sivan, Michael H. Wahl
  • Patent number: 10378431
    Abstract: A split-cycle internal combustion engine (ICE) is provided, comprising a compression cylinder, an expansion cylinder and a crossover valve having a valve cylinder housing inside a shuttle and a combustion chamber structure defining a combustion chamber. The shuttle is configured to perform reciprocating motion inside the valve cylinder synchronously with a compression piston and an expansion piston, thereby alternatingly fluidly coupling and decoupling the combustion chamber with the compression cylinder and with the expansion cylinder, selectively. Sealing rings positioned between the valve cylinder and the shuttle prevent gas leaks between them during the reciprocating motion. In some embodiments, a phase shift between the pistons may be set or varied by a piston phase transmission gear. A bi-directional fluid flow split-cycle internal combustion engine (ICE) is also provided having a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a combustion chamber and a single crossover valve fluidly communicating them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Tour, Oded Tour, Hugo Benjamin Tour
  • Patent number: 10253724
    Abstract: An engine includes a compression chamber that intakes and compresses working fluid; an expansion chamber that expands and exhausts working fluid; and a transfer chamber that receives working fluid from the compression chamber and transfers working fluid to the expansion chamber, wherein an internal volume of the transfer chamber decreases during the transfer of working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Benjamin Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour, Ehud Sivan, Michael H. Wahl
  • Publication number: 20190055881
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo TOUR, Oded TOUR, Gilad TOUR, Ehud SIVAN, Michael H. WAHL
  • Patent number: 10107178
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour, Ehud Sivan, Michael H. Wahl
  • Publication number: 20180266308
    Abstract: A split-cycle internal combustion engine (ICE) is provided, comprising a compression cylinder, an expansion cylinder and a crossover valve having a valve cylinder housing inside a shuttle and a combustion chamber structure defining a combustion chamber. The shuttle is configured to perform reciprocating motion inside the valve cylinder synchronously with a compression piston and an expansion piston, thereby alternatingly fluidly coupling and decoupling the combustion chamber with the compression cylinder and with the expansion cylinder, selectively. Sealing rings positioned between the valve cylinder and the shuttle prevent gas leaks between them during the reciprocating motion. In some embodiments, a phase shift between the pistons may be set or varied by a piston phase transmission gear. A bi-directional fluid flow split-cycle internal combustion engine (ICE) is also provided having a first cylinder, a second cylinder, a combustion chamber and a single crossover valve fluidly communicating them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad TOUR, Oded TOUR, Hugo Benjamin TOUR
  • Patent number: 9689307
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, including a combustion chamber with a first aperture; a compression chamber with a second aperture; and a crossover valve comprising an internal chamber, first and second valve seats, a valve head, and first and second valve faces on the valve head, wherein the first aperture allows fluid communication between the combustion chamber and the internal chamber, the second aperture allows fluid communication between the compression chamber and the internal chamber, the first valve face couples to the first valve seat to occlude the first aperture, and the second valve face couples to the second valve seat to occlude the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Benjamin Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour
  • Publication number: 20170058759
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo TOUR, Oded TOUR, Gilad TOUR, Ehud SIVAN, Michael H. WAHL
  • Publication number: 20170009701
    Abstract: An engine includes a compression chamber that intakes and compresses working fluid; an expansion chamber that expands and exhausts working fluid; and a transfer chamber that receives working fluid from the compression chamber and transfers working fluid to the expansion chamber, wherein an internal volume of the transfer chamber decreases during the transfer of working fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Applicant: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Benjamin TOUR, Oded TOUR, Gilad TOUR, Ehud SIVAN, Michael H. WAHL
  • Publication number: 20160305311
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, including a combustion chamber with a first aperture; a compression chamber with a second aperture; and a crossover valve comprising an internal chamber, first and second valve seats, a valve head, and first and second valve faces on the valve head, wherein the first aperture allows fluid communication between the combustion chamber and the internal chamber, the second aperture allows fluid communication between the compression chamber and the internal chamber, the first valve face couples to the first valve seat to occlude the first aperture, and the second valve face couples to the second valve seat to occlude the second aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Benjamin TOUR, Oded TOUR, Gilad TOUR
  • Patent number: 9435233
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: TOUR ENGINE, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour, Ehud Sivan, Michael H. Wahl
  • Publication number: 20150315959
    Abstract: A split-cycle engine includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston, wherein the first piston performs an intake stroke and a compression stroke, but does not perform an exhaust stroke; a second cylinder housing a second piston, wherein the second piston performs an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke, but does not perform an intake stroke; and a valve chamber housing a valve, the valve comprising an internal chamber that selectively fluidly couples to the first and second cylinders, wherein the valve and internal chamber move within the valve chamber and relative to the first and second cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Hugo TOUR, Oded TOUR, Gilad TOUR, Ehud SIVAN, Michael H. WAHL
  • Patent number: 9097178
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, including a combustion chamber with a first aperture; a compression chamber with a second aperture; and a crossover valve comprising an internal chamber, first and second valve seats, a valve head, and first and second valve faces on the valve head, wherein the first aperture allows fluid communication between the combustion chamber and the internal chamber, the second aperture allows fluid communication between the compression chamber and the internal chamber, the first valve face couples to the first valve seat to occlude the first aperture, and the second valve face couples to the second valve seat to occlude the second aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Benjamin Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour
  • Publication number: 20140338646
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine, including a combustion chamber with a first aperture; a compression chamber with a second aperture; and a crossover valve comprising an internal chamber, first and second valve seats, a valve head, and first and second valve faces on the valve head, wherein the first aperture allows fluid communication between the combustion chamber and the internal chamber, the second aperture allows fluid communication between the compression chamber and the internal chamber, the first valve face couples to the first valve seat to occlude the first aperture, and the second valve face couples to the second valve seat to occlude the second aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: TOUR ENGINE, INC.
    Inventors: Hugo Benjamin Tour, Oded Tour, Gilad Tour
  • Patent number: 8584629
    Abstract: An interstage valve for fluidly coupling two chambers of a double-piston engine is disclosed. The interstage valve may include a main valve body, a seal, and an electric coil. When closed, the seal is coupled to the main valve body as a result of electromagnetic forces generated by the electrical coil. The interstage valve is opened when the pressure differential between the engine chambers exceeds the electromagnetic forces. As the interstage valve opens, the electromagnetic forces diminish. The electromagnetic valve moves from the open state to the closed state when the pressure differential reverses. As the seal moves toward the main valve body, the electromagnetic forces increase, coupling the seal to the main valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventors: Oded Tour, Hugo Benjamin Tour
  • Patent number: 7516723
    Abstract: A Dual Piston Cycle Engine utilizes a unique dual piston apparatus that includes: a first cylinder housing a first piston therein; a second cylinder thermally isolated from the first cylinder and housing a second piston therein; an intake valve coupled to the first cylinder for allowing a fuel mixture to enter into the first cylinder; an exhaust valve coupled to the second cylinder for allowing an exhaust gas to exit the second cylinder; and an interstage valve that couples an internal chamber of the first cylinder to an internal chamber of the second cylinder and configured to minimize dead space between the first and second cylinders, wherein the first piston performs only intake and compression strokes and the second piston performs only combustion and exhaust strokes and the first and second cylinders are thermally isolated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Tour Engine, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin H. Tour