Abstract: An improvement to the crank piston for reciprocating operation within a cylinder of any internal combustion engine includes a short cylinder defining a recess under a piston crown port plate closing the recess to define a bounce gas chamber therein. A rocket piston disc is disposed for reciprocation within the bounce gas chamber. The plate defines a plurality of openings therethrough to permit communication of combustion gas between the engine cylinder and the chamber above the piston disc. The rocket piston disc is sized to allow combustion gas to leak behind the disc into the bounce gas chamber. The disc operates as a rocket piston by first trapping a fraction of peak pressure as bounce gas between the disc and the bottom of the cylinder, next compressing this bounce gas in response to auto-ignition gas pressure exerted through the ports, and then providing supplemental crank power as the rocket piston disc is pushed upward to seat by the increased pressure bounce gas.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine in one embodiment includes a number of cylinders each having a crank piston connected to an engine crankshaft and disposed within a combustion chamber. Each cylinder includes a valve seat projecting inward from cylinder wall offset from the top dead center position of the crank piston. A free piston is slidingly disposed within the cylinder between the head end and the valve seat. The free piston has an outer diameter that is less than the inner diameter of the cylinder to permit leakage of combustion gas past the free piston. The free piston also includes a lower face opposing the crank piston with an annular groove defined in the lower face configured for sealing engagement with the valve seat. The free piston defines a pressure chamber that is pressurized during the by combustion process when the free piston is disposed apart from the valve seat.

Abstract: A two cycle internal combustion engine is disclosed incorporating a spherical joint between the piston and the connecting rod. The spherical joint draws lubricating oil into a clearance volume, wherein the oil is sealed therein to hydrostatically transfer piston loads thereacross as the piston reciprocates. The engine further includes a working pump piston for operating on hydraulic fluid. An accumulator chamber is also provided in combination with the engine, wherein the pressure of the fluid in the accumulator chamber is maintained equal to the working fluid pressure of the engine pump by valve means. Also disclosed is a pulse pressure booster for delivering charged air to the combustion chamber of the engine. The pulse pressure booster receives pressurized sump gas and includes a piston for separating the inlet air from the sump gas while communicating pressures thereacross.

Abstract: A hydrostatic pump and motor combination is disclosed including a rotor having radially disposed cylinders containing reciprocatably disposed spherical balls therein. A free outer race is eccentrically disposed about the rotor to define either a pump or motor. The cylinders are tilted relative to the center of the rotor to reduce side torque thrust loads on the cylinders. Also disclosed are a hydrostatic pump and motor including matching spherical slipper shoes and spherical free outer race. Hydrostatic thrust cups are disposed within the cylinders to reduce frictional losses, wear, and leakage. The thrust cups include hydrostatic means for supporting the balls in the cylinders, thereby self adjusting in response to fluid pressure and centrifugal loads.

Abstract: A two-cycle internal combustion engine includes two opposed pistons reciprocatable within a cylinder, between which an air-fuel mixture is injected and ignited. One of the pistons, a compression piston, is connected to a rotatable flywheel for storing energy from reciprocation of the compression piston during the adiabatic expansion stroke. The other piston, a power piston, is attached to a pump piston which operates in a hydraulic pump to displace a hydrostatic fluid at a constant reaction pressure but at a variable stroke. Work is removed from this engine through the hydrostatic fluid, which can be fed to a hydrostatic drive unit. The flywheel is not connected to the primary load, but is used principally to drive the compression piston upward during the compression stroke of the engine. During the compression stroke, the air-fuel mixture is compressed and ignited to a pressure determined by the hydraulic reaction pressure in the hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A two-cycle internal combustion engine includes two opposed pistons reciprocatable within a cylinder, between which an air-fuel mixture is injected and ignited. One of the pistons, a compression piston, is connected to a rotatable flywheel for storing energy from reciprocation of the compression piston during the adiabatic expansion stroke. The other piston, a power piston, is attached to a pump piston which operates in a hydraulic pump to displace a hydrostatic fluid at a constant reaction pressure but at a variable stroke. Work is removed from this engine through the hydrostatic fluid, which can be fed to a hydrostatic drive unit. The flywheel is not connected to the primary load, but is used principally to drive the compression piston upward during the compression stroke of the engine. During the compression stroke, the air-fuel mixture is compressed and ignited to a pressure determined by the hydraulic reaction pressure in the hydraulic pump.