Patents by Inventor Craig N. Hansen

Craig N. Hansen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5000136
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a head with valve assemblies for controlling intake and exhaust gases to and from piston chambers. A head plate is located between the head and a block having cylinders accommodating pistons. The head plate has openings in communication with the cylinders and valve assemblies. Each valve assembly has a continuous ceramic sleeve having an intake port, and an exhaust port. Rotatably disposed within the sleeve is a rotatable valve body having a valving combustion chamber open to a piston chamber. A spark plug is mounted on each valve body. A ceramic segment seal mounted on the valving body has sealing surfaces engageable with the sleeve. A face seal is located between the head plate and the rotating valve body. The valving body and seal are rotatably driven to sequentially align the valving combustion chamber with the intake port and exhaust port during the operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
  • Patent number: 4915071
    Abstract: An orbit internal combustion engine having a housing with a cylindrical internal wall surrounding a plurality of combustion chambers. A plurality of pairs of intake and exhaust valves mounted on the housing control the flow of an air and fuel mixture into and exhaust gases out of the combustion chambers. A piston mounted on the shaft has a primary eccentric that supports the piston in the combustion chambers. A pair of secondary eccentrics spaced from the primary eccentric are mounted on the piston and housing to control the orbital movement of the piston. Seal assemblies slidably mounted in slots in the piston engage the cylindrical internal wall of the housing to form separate combustion chambers. The housing has arcuate slots non-concentric with its cylindrical internal wall accommodating axles on the seal assemblies to maintain the seal assemblies in constant and substantially uniform sealing engagement with the internal wall of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Hasen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4813392
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a heat with valve assemblies for controlling intake and exhaust gases to and from piston chambers. A head plate is located between the head and a block having cylinders accommodating pistons. The head plate has openings in communication with the cylinders and valve assemblies. Each valve assembly has a continuous ceramic sleeve having an intake port, an exhaust port, and ignition hole. Rotatably disposed within the sleeve is a rotatable valve body having a valving combustion chamber open to a piston chamber. A ceramic segment seal member movably mounted on the valving body has sealing surfaces engageable with the sleeve. A face seal is located between the head plate and the rotating valve body. The valving body and seal member are rotatably driven to sequentially align the valving combustion chamber with the intake port, ignition hole, and exhaust port during the operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
  • Patent number: 4782656
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a housing with an elliptical inside surface surrounding an elliptical rotor forming with the housing combustion chambers. Valve and ignition assemblies connected to a source of air under pressure and injectors for introducing fuel into the air supply sequentially allows the air and fuel mixture to flow into the combustion chambers and ignite the air and fuel mixture therein. Vane and seal assemblies on the rotor and housing are controlled with cam and linkages to provide positive effective gas seals between the housing and rotor. A slack adjuster maintains lateral sealing relationships between the housing vane and seal assemblies and opposite side walls of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4773364
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a head with valve assemblies for controlling intake and exhaust gases to and from piston chambers. A head plate is located between the head and a block having cylinders accommodating pistons. The head plate has openings in communication with the cylinders and valve assemblies. Each valve assembly has a continuous ceramic sleeve having an intake port, an exhaust port, and ignition hole. Rotatably disposed within the sleeve is a rotatable valve body having a valving combustion chamber open to a piston chamber. A ceramic segment seal member movably mounted on the valving body has sealing surfaces engageable with the sleeve. A face seal is located between the head plate and the rotating valve body. The valving body and seal member are rotatably driven to sequentially align the valving combustion chamber with the intake port, ignition hole, and exhaust port during the operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
  • Patent number: 4692104
    Abstract: An air pump and compressor having a housing with a cylindrical internal chamber. A plurality of pairs of intake and exhaust valves mounted on the housing control the flow of air into and out of the chamber. A piston located within the chamber is mounted on a shaft rotated on the housing. The shaft has a primary eccentric that supports the piston in the chamber. A pair of secondary eccentrics spaced from the primary eccentric are mounted on the piston and housing to control the orbital movement of the piston. Seal assemblies slidably mounted in slots in the piston engage the inner cylindrical wall of the housing to form separate pumping chambers. Each pumping chamber is in communication with an intake valve and an exhaust valve so that on orbital movement of the piston the air flows into and is pumped out of each pumping chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4667468
    Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine has a housing with an elliptical inside surface surrounding an elliptical rotor forming with the housing combustion chambers. Valve and ignition assemblies connected to a source of air under pressure and injectors for introducing fuel into the air supply sequentially allows the air and fuel mixture to flow into the combustion chambers and ignite the air and fuel mixture therein. Vane and seal assemblies on the rotor and housing are controlled with cam and linkages to provide positive effective gas seals between the housing and rotor. A slack adjuster maintains lateral sealing relationships between the housing vane and seal assemblies and opposite side walls of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4618318
    Abstract: A rotary device has a housing with an elliptical inside surface surrounding an elliptical rotor. Vane and seal assemblies on the rotor and housing are controlled with cam and linkages to provide positive effective gas seals between the housing and rotor. A slack adjuster maintains lateral sealing relationships between the housing vane and seal assemblies and opposite side walls of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1986
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4612886
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a head with valve assemblies for controlling intake and exhaust gases to and from piston chambers. A head plate is located between the head and a block having cylinders accommodating pistons. The head plate has openings in communication with the cylinders and valve assemblies. Each valve assembly has a continuous ceramic sleeve having an intake port, an exhaust port, and ignition hole. Rotatably disposed within the sleeve is a rotatable valve body having a valving combustion chamber open to a piston chamber. A ceramic segment seal member mounted on the valving body has sealing surfaces engageable with the sleeve. A face seal is located between the head plate and the rotating valve body. The valving body and seal member are rotatably driven to sequentially align the valving combustion chamber with the intake port, ignition hole, and exhaust port during the operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventors: Craig N. Hansen, Paul C. Cross
  • Patent number: 4507067
    Abstract: A rotary device has a housing with an elliptical inside surface surrounding an elliptical rotor. Vane and seal assemblies on the rotor and housing are controlled with cam and linkages to provide positive effective gas seals between the housing and rotor. A slack adjuster maintains lateral sealing relationships between the housing vale and seal assemblies and opposite side walls of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4494500
    Abstract: A head for an internal combustion engine has a rotary valve for controlling intake and exhaust gas from the combustion chamber of a piston-type internal combustion engine. The valve has a continuous ceramic sleeve having an intake port, an exhaust port, and ignition hole. Rotatably disposed within the sleeve is a rotatable ceramic ring having a valving port open to the combustion chamber. The sleeve is rotatable by a driven body to sequentially align the valving port with the intake port, ignition hole, and exhaust port during the operation of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4449490
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having a cylinder bore providing a combustion chamber, and a piston located in the cylinder bore. A head mounted on the cylinder has concentric intake and exhaust valves operable to control the flow of gas into and out of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1984
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen
  • Patent number: 4192348
    Abstract: A control unit receiving fluid under pressure discharges the fluid in a pulsed manner to a receiver. The control unit has a rotatable sleeve accommodating an axially movable piston. The sleeve and piston have cooperating openings and grooves that control the pulsed flow of fluid from the control unit. The operating position of the piston responds to the pressure of the fluid on the piston and the relative angular orientation of the piston to the fluid discharge openings in the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Assignee: Hansen Engine Corporation
    Inventor: Craig N. Hansen