Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder having an inside surface. A piston which is reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder includes a piston head and a plunger rod. The plunger rod is attached to the piston head and has a longitudinal axis. The piston head includes a non-metallic cap and a metallic skirt. The cap has a outside surface lying closely adjacent to and defining a bearing surface with the inside surface of the combustion cylinder. The cap is substantially immovably attached to the skirt in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plunger rod, and is movably attached to the skirt in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the plunger rod.

Abstract: A method of operating a free piston engine with a housing including a combustion cylinder and a second cylinder. A piston includes a piston head reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder, a second head reciprocally disposed within the second cylinder, and a plunger rod interconnecting the piston head with the second head. The second head and the second cylinder define a variable volume pressure chamber on a side of the second head generally opposite the interconnecting plunger rod. The piston is moved between a bottom dead center position and a top dead center position during a compression stroke. A fuel and air mixture is combusted in the combustion cylinder when the piston is at or near the top dead center position. The piston is moved between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position during a return stroke. A hydraulic accumulator is coupled with the pressure chamber during the return stroke.

Abstract: Method for operating a free-piston engine to produce relatively low amounts of undesirable NOx by initiating injection of the atomized fuel mixture into the combustion chamber after closure of exhaust apertures by the combustion chamber piston during the compression stroke thereof to attain a homogeneous fuel-air mixture and relatively lower and more uniform local combustion flame temperature in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A reciprocating micro heat engine for electrical and mechanical power generation is disclosed The micro heat engine uses a reciprocating free piston that is driven by a periodic combustion process, and is implemented using micromachining technology. In the application of electrical power generation, the mechanical and electrical functionality of the engine are highly integrated; i.e., the same piston performs both the fuel-to mechanical energy conversion as well as the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion.

Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine includes a housing with a combustion cylinder and a compression cylinder. A fluid inlet port is disposed in communication with the compression cylinder for transporting a pressurized fluid into the compression cylinder. A piston includes a piston head reciprocally disposed within the combustion cylinder, a compression head reciprocally disposed within the compression cylinder, and a plunger rod attached to each of and interconnecting the piston head and the compression head. The compression head includes a plurality of radially extending vanes which are positioned to be at least intermittently disposed in association with the fluid inlet port, whereby pressurized fluid which is transported into the compression cylinder from the fluid inlet port causes the piston to rotate.

Abstract: A free piston engine wherein a combustion piston directly drives a pumping piston to pump hydraulic fluid to and fro to a linear to rotary motion pump/motor converter which is in the form of a "split cycle" machine.

Abstract: A power unit with a diesel free piston device which is fed with air from a compressor device (96), and whose exhaust gas runs a turbine (150). The device has a cylinder (12) with two pistons (24, 26) which are movable in anti-phase and which between them define a combustion chamber (54). The cylinder end sections (36, 38) comprise buffer end chambers (56, 58). An electronic device (160) controls the pressure of the air in the end chambers (56, 58, 256, 258). A central piston section (48, 50) of each piston together with a related cylinder section (40, 42) forms a piston pump chamber (68, 70) which supplies the device's inlet manifold (80) and a mixing chamber (148) with compressed air, exhaust gases and the compressed air being mixed in the mixing chamber before being passed to the turbine (150). The electronic device (160) also controls the pressure of the air in the compression chambers (68, 70) by means of the compressor device, valves, pressure sensors, etc.

Abstract: The efficiency of a vehicle having a body and a reciprocating piston four-stroke internal combustion engine is increased substantially by greatly reducing the size of the engine relative to the weight of the body. The great reduction in engine size relative to the weight of the body causes the engine to operate in a much more efficient range during almost all of the time of its operation. Peak power needs are satisfied by turbocharging and varying the compression ratio.

Abstract: A computerized, self-contained, internal supercharged, positive displacement, internal combustion engine that transfers the work being generated in the combustion cylinder directly into useful work in a pump without the disadvantages of crankshafts, camshafts, and powertrain. A piston-rod assembly that has a much smaller frictional surface area replaces the above crankshafts, camshafts, and powertrain. The elimination of the crankshaft, and other associated parts reduces operational, maintenance, and manufacturing cost. Conventional engines that employ a crankshaft as a means of extracting work from the combustion cylinder have reached their innate design limits. This novel device will allow further development of the positive displacement, internal combustion engine; can be employed in certain applications that crankshafted devices cannot; and open new applications. It can be used directly as a pump or in systems requiring a pump. Its application can be stationary, mobile, and transportation vehicles.

Abstract: Three elements are hydraulically coupled by a hydraulic fluid contained within one of the elements serving as a housing so that reciprocally driven motion of one of the elements is transmitted to move another element responsively in a reciprocal motion. The movements can be counter-reciprocal or co-reciprocal, and the housing can be an unmoved element or can be one of the reciprocally moving elements. The stroke lengths and velocities of the reciprocal movements can vary, and the effect can involve dynamic balance, power transformation, vibrational dampening, and many variations of these possibilities.

Abstract: A road vehicle drive system using a crankless, unthrottled internal combustion engine directly powering its wheels hydrostatically to eliminate wasteful idling and part-throttle operation so that fuel use and harmful emissions are much reduced in a lighter, less costly vehicle retaining the operational convenience of conventional systems.

Abstract: A control system for a variable stroke free piston engine, sets the ignition timing as a function of measured piston velocity. This velocity proportional ignition system provides spark advance on a stroke by stroke basis as an aid to starting the engine. Ignition changes over to a piston position based system when the engine is running at steady state. Fuel injection occurs at either piston dead point or is set as a function of piston position. Fuel injection is suppressed during cycles were the ports are not uncovered. The control system can also regulate compression ratio based upon piston position or knock sensor data. The preferred control system includes a hybrid digital analog system which includes a microprocessor.

Abstract: A fuel injector for injecting gaseous fuel into an internal combustion engine. The injector includes an electromagnetic control valve which controls the admission of actuation gas to a metering valve assembly. The metering valve incorporates a positive mechanical stop to limit valve lift. The force to open the metering valve is supplied by the actuation gas.

Abstract: A double-acting tandem free-piston engine comprising a housing including a cylinder having combustion chambers at opposite ends and one in its center with double-acting pistons displaceable between one end and the center chamber and between the other end and the center chamber. Each piston includes opposite piston heads with connecting rods between them together with balancing means to provide symmetrical piston movement. Each combustion chamber has a inlet port and valve and an exhaust valve, the valves timed to open and close to produce a pressure volume relationship therein wherein the pressure drops below atmospheric during at least a portion of the piston's displacement. The engine combined with a linear alternator in a hybrid vehicle powers electric wheel driving motors and stores power in its storage battery.

Abstract: A free-piston engine in which combustion gas is conducted around a piston for a short time during the expansion stroke. The resulting lowered pressure enables intaking in the final part of this stroke. Pressure from the gas conducted around the piston serves as the piston rebounding force and as the engine output.

Abstract: A compact free piston engine of the unsymmetrical type including a structure with a cylinder detachably supported therein, said cylinder having a pair of pistons with a combustion chamber therebetween and each piston having a rod extending through the adjacent end of the cylinder and having motion reversing means at one end of said cylinder and extending between said rods. Preferably, the structure is of strong but lightweight construction. It may have a skeleton type of housing with bolt type columns spaced around the cylinder. Portions of the reversing means lie along the side of the cylinder while another major portion thereof lies beyond one end of the cylinder. An energy absorbing device or devices may be connected to one only or to each of the rods, and each rod will be driven simultaneously in an opposite direction to the other by both pistons.

Abstract: The installation comprises a compression unit and a power unit. The compression unit comprises at least one engine operation according to a Diesel cycle and supercharged by a turbine having an expansion turbine supplied with the exhaust gases of the engine and rotary compressor taking air from the atmosphere through a filter. The compressor delivers a primary supercharging flow to the Diesel cylinders via a cooler. The Diesel engine drives two compressors supplied with atmospheric air through the filter. One of the compressors provides a secondary flow to the power unit. The power unit comprises a combustion chamber which is supplied through the exchanger with part at least of the secondary airflow from the compression unit. The combustion chamber feeds a turbine producing on its shaft the whole of the output power. The Diesel type engine may be a conventional crank type engine or a free piston engine.

Abstract: Engine with a single oscillating piston body having five aligned piston portions operatively functioning in five aligned corresponding cylinder chambers, including a central large diameter double acting piston and cylinder, two intermediate diameter single acting pistons and cylinders, one on each side of the central piston; and two small diameter single acting end pistons and cylinders, each spaced outwardly from the respective intermediate pistons and cylinders.

Abstract: A fluid-powered actuator has a piston slidably mounted in a cylinder. The piston subdivides the cylinder into first and second end chambers. A plurality of solenoid valves are arranged to selectively inject fuel and oxidizer into either chamber, or to inject liquid oxidizer to react with a solid fuel. Upon contact with one another, the fuel and oxidizer undergo a hypergolic reaction, and the products of this reaction create a pressure sufficient to displace the piston. Alternatively, a mono-propellant fluid fuel may be injected into such chamber. Upon contact with a catalyst in the chamber, the fuel undergoes a disassociation reaction, and the products thereof may be used to displace the piston.

Abstract: A free-piston reciprocating compressor includes a reciprocating piston disposed within a cylinder such that one end of the piston-cylinder provides for a compression space and the other end of the piston-cylinder provides for a balancing space. The piston is coupled to and reciprocatingly driven by the armature of a linear electrodynamic motor, which armature reciprocates on guide means. The compressor also includes porting means operative to establish a stabilizing gradient sufficient to keep the piston operating at a related fixed mid-stroke position. The motor armature is also coupled to a centering-resonance spring.

Abstract: An improved free piston power unit includes a pair of power pistons at opposite ends of a common power cylinder, wherein the power pistons are linked for reciprocation in unison in opposite directions. The power pistons carry a respective pair of compressor pistons disposed within compressor cylinders to generate a supply of compressed air or the like upon power piston reciprocation. The power pistons further cooperate with a respective pair of gas-containing bounce cylinders which provide pneumatic reaction forces to return the power pistons through a compresion stroke at the conclusion of a combustion expansion stroke. The bounce cylinders each have a relieved end face to provide an increased minimum bounce cylinder volume thereby limiting the maximum pressure and temperature to which the bounce cylinders are subjected, without requiring increase in the overall envelope size for the power unit.

Abstract: An external combustion engine including a rotary motor providing the means for compressing air and expanding combusted gases, and an externally located combustion member in which fuel is burned. The combustion member comprises a sleeve and a free piston reciprocating therein, thereby forming combustion chambers between its two ends and the end closures of the sleeve, as it reaches the end of its stroke. The back and forth motion of the piston is independent of the rotation of the motor as these two components are not mechanically connected, having only ducting connections therebetween. The combustion member air admission, combusted gas exhaust, the fuel injection and the ignition are all timely controlled and activated as a result of the free piston motion and location in the sleeve. The fuel/air ratio is continuously monitored so as to prevent high combustion temperatures.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a cyclic power mechanism including means providing for a variable dwell between cycles of the mechanism. The mechanism produces energy during each cycle and stores the energy of each cycle for consumption. The variable dwell between cycles is terminated and a new cycle is initiated upon the consumption of a preestablished portion of the stored energy. A preferred embodiment of the mechanism is a free piston engine operation on an Otto cycle. The piston of the engine is restrained after each combustion cycle as the energy of that combustion is stored for use. When a preestablished portion of the stored energy has been consumed, the piston is released and forced into another compression and combustion cycle for further storage of the combustion energy.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which a rotor or turbine is driven by the exhaust gases of interconnected double acting pistons. The three parallel pistons are interconnected by pinion gears engaging racks on the sides of the pistons. Improved mechanisms are disclosed for coordination of the movement of the pistons, the manner in which the intake and exhaust valves are operated, the manner in which the engine is started, and the manner in which the firing of spark plugs is timed. A control wheel is provided for starting and valve operation. A cam connected to the pinion gears operates sets of points to fire the spark plugs.

Abstract: Method of and device for producing electric energy from a cyclic combustion process. The device includes two oppositely disposed aligned spark ignited internal combustion engine cylinders axially spaced from each other, means rigidly connecting the pistons so that they reciprocate in unison in their respective cylinders, and a reciprocable electrical linear generator-motor unit driven by said reciprocatory piston system. The generator-motor unit includes a very light coreless (ironless) coil rigidly attached to and reciprocatory with the piston system, the said coil reciprocating through a constant strength magnetic field. The beginning of the combustion process (or cycle) in each combustion chamber takes place at the lowest possible compression ratio sufficient for the initial ignition of the fuel-air mixture, the combustion process proceeding at a diminishing volume under the pressure from the compression- and combustion-forces of the opposite combustion chamber-piston system.

Abstract: A variable displacement engine (2) includes a free piston (4) reciprocal in a cylinder (6) between a combustion chamber (8) and a fluid filled work chamber (10). The work chamber has a work output port (12) expelling fluid (14) during the power stroke of the piston. A fluid motor (24) is operatively coupled to the work chamber and driven by fluid from the work output port. A valve (28) is selectively actuated during the power stroke of the piston to stop expulsion of fluid from the work output port to the fluid motor to halt movement of the piston, providing variable displacement according to actuation timing of the valve. A control (72) is coupled to the valve and to the fuel supply (16) to the combustion chamber, and the supplied fuel may be matched to the variable length power stroke of the piston.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a cyclic power mechanism including means providing for a variable dwell between cycles of the mechanism. The mechanism produces energy during each cycle and stores the energy of each cycle for consumption. The variable dwell between cycles is terminated and a new cycle is initiated upon the consumption of a preestablished portion of the stored energy. A preferred embodiment of the mechanism is a free piston engine operation on an Otto cycle. The piston of the engine is restrained after each combustion cycle as the energy of that combustion is stored for use. When a preestablished portion of the stored energy has been consumed, the piston is released and forced into another compression and combustion cycle for further storage of the combustion energy.

Abstract: A free-piston engine formed by one or more units, each comprising a pair of opposed pistons connected to a common piston rod and movable within two opposed cylinders, with a load, such as the inductor of a linear alternator, connected to an intermediate point of the piston rod, and in which there is provided at least a cam controlled by an operatively independent motor and engaging at least a tappet connected to the piston rod of a unit of pistons. This cam is profiled and controlled in such a way as to substantially follow the movement of the tappets which is produced by the free-piston engine during normal operation, but to limit the travel of the piston units and provide the energy for the compression stroke, in case of anomalous operation. The cam serves also to start the engine, as well as to mutually synchronize the various units of pairs of pistons in engines having a plurality of units. The engine may also be in the form of an adiabatic engine fed by coal dust or other solid fuel.

Abstract: Arrangements for engine compressor units are disclosed in which power cylinders operating on the two-stroke cycle are provided with charging air from a blower or other source which also provides charging air to two-cycle compressor cylinders so as to increase compressor volumetric efficiency through the delivery of precompressed inlet charges.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which a rotor or turbine is driven by the exhaust gases of a pair of interconnected double-acting pistons. The double-acting pistons are interconnected by a pinion gear and are internally constructed to have an inner piston slidably reciprocating within a chamber defined within an outer piston. The purpose of the inner piston is to feed additional fuel into the main combustion chamber in a controlled manner. Exhaust gases are collected and washed before being exhausted to the atmosphere or recycled within the engine.

Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine has at least a motor cylinder formed with intake and exhaust ports and a driving piston reciprocating in said cylinder and cooperating with the exhaust ports. Air delivery means are formed in the cylinder for supplying air originating from a compression cylinder associated with the motor cylinder as a jet directed along the driving piston, towards the head ring of the latter to prevent overheating. The cylinder may additionally be provided with a circuit for circulating a coolant.

Abstract: An improved engine comprises a primary piston and primary cylinder in which air and fuel is precombusted. The piston is reciprocated in the cylinder by an external prime mover. The exhaust of the precombusted air/fuel mixture is controlled by a floating exhaust valve piston which seats against the exhaust port and has its other end pressurized at a set pressure preferably by an inert gas. The precombusted air/fuel mixtures are exhausted to secondary combustion chambers where additional air, fuel and prime mover exhaust gases are added to increase the velocity and pressure of the gas and provide for more complete combustion of the fuel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine in which a rotor or turbine is driven by the exhaust gases of a pair of interconnected double-acting pistons. The double-acting pistons are interconnected by a pinion gear and are internally constructed to have an inner piston slidably reciprocating within a chamber defined within an outer piston. The purpose of the inner piston is to feed additional fuel into the main combustion chamber in a controlled manner. Exhaust gases are collected and washed before being exhausted to the atmosphere or recycled within the engine.

Abstract: The engine has a compressor which compresses air for delivery via a heat exchanger to an expander. The expander receives the compressed air and fuel and, while combustion occurs during a power stroke, the air pressure is reduced to atmosphere and the expander drives a crankshaft. The fuel is injected at a rate to maintain the air temperature at the entry temperature. The exhaust passes through the heat exchanger to heat the incoming flow of compressed air to the expander. Energy may be stored via the crankshaft or used directly.

Abstract: A linear engine/hydraulic pump system provides an efficient source of controllable fluid power thay may be used for a hydrostatic drive system of a vehicle. The engine/pump has a prompt first stroke full power capability and capability of prompt power increase from a lower power operation. A supplemental engine (bounce engine) produces output work to operate the power engine of the free piston engine pump during a compression stroke of the latter. The engine is of the opposed piston type with a synchronizer and cross drive to maintain controlled interrelated operational movement of the two oppositely moving pistons thereof while combining output work effort and holding approximately constant the approximate center of mass of the engine. A novel starter also is disclosed.

Abstract: A linear type of compressor wherein a housing section, for enclosing a crankshaft and pinions of a counterbalancing synchronizer, has axially extending support means for the pinions formed integrally therewith through an inner flange also integral with the housing section, so that the holes for the pinion shafts may be formed in the support means when the hole in the housing for the crankshaft is formed. This assures the making of all of the holes exactly parallel and avoids time-consuming assembly work, experienced in prior art compressor manufacturing, when the housing sections are put together. By providing a large opening through the upper portion of the support means or through the bottom of the housing an axial bore may be made to receive a piston type of crosshead.

Abstract: A rotational machine developed mechanical power from the reciprocation of a free-piston in a closed cylinder to drive a mechanical output shaft or electrical generator or conversely operated in a pumping mode utilizes the rotation of an output drive to pump fluid by means of the free piston. The machine generally described has a frame means or outer body rotating about a first axis or shaft, a carrier means rotating about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, the chamber or cylinder extending generally parallel to the second axis and orthogonal to the first axis. As the frame means rotates and the piston reciprocates, the reaction forces on the piston are translated into a torque producing rotation of the carrier means. Power is therefore developed at the carrier means in the engine mode of operation. Frame means rotation is effected by coupling to the carrier means or an independent prime mover.

Abstract: An internal ballistic engine for providing high thermal efficiency comprising a housing, a powering chamber, a ballistic piston, not directly engaged with the output shaft in the state of motion of the piston, primarily depending on its mass moment of inertia and the internal forces provided by the powering chamber, this piston is disposed in, and movable in the powering chamber, for accumulating a substantial portion of the internal energy in the powering chamber as kinetic energy in conjunction with its mass moment of inertia, such transfer of energy causing the temperature and pressure in the powering chamber to be drastically reduced, therefore lowering the rate of loss of heat to the walls; a second chamber, in tandem with the powering chamber, so that the second chamber is being compressed as the powering chamber is being expanded, whereby the kinetic energy accumulated on the ballistic piston is being converted into potential energy temporarily stored in the second chamber; means of interaction between

Abstract: The machine comprises one cylinder in which two symmetrical opposed working pistons are placed. A gas-oil introduced between the pistons burns and causes a reciprocating motion of the working pistons against the return motion of two resilient devices. An energy is produced thereby and is extracted without mechanical connections. The mass of the working pistons ranges between 5 and 30 grams per cm.sup.3 of the cylinder. The quantity of gas-oil ranges between 0.01 and 0.02 milligram per cm.sup.3 of the cylinder. The resilient devices are effective for accumulating and sending back upon each reciprocating motion thereof a power ranging between 0.5 and 2 joules per cm.sup.3 of the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to the safety against shocks in a free piston machine.The engine section of a unit operating according to the Diesel cycle and air-cooled runs the risk of supplying an important amount of energy to the piston, so that the latter might knock against the cover of the bounce cylinder or chamber. The constructional elements (stroke and diameters) of the machine are calculated in a manner such that their ratios cause, as a result of expansion, the ignition to stop before the dead point on the bounce section side (curve 12) knocks against the cylinder.Application: compressor with 2-stroke Diesel engine, having a one-piece movable member, and air-cooled.

Abstract: A gas cushioned free piston type engine comprises two oppositely arranged combustion cylinders and a pair of pistons reciprocably mounted therein, which are rigidly connected to each other by a common piston rod. The engine includes further a pump cylinder provided in a central part of the engine located between the two combustion cylinders, a pump piston having opposite faces impingeable by fluid, fixed to the piston rod and dividing the pump cylinder into a pair of pump cylinder chambers, a common suction chamber and a common pressure chamber, which, together with inlet valves and outlet valves, are arranged in the central part of the engine.

Abstract: There is disclosed an engine which drives a turbine via a series of relatively identical hot gas pulses. The series of pulses are generated by a combustor-compressor unit under a controllable firing rate. The firing rate of the unit is rapidly variable over a wide range to enable one to drive the turbine and a shaft coupled to the turbine for propelling a vehicle. The combuster compressor is controlled to develop the gas pulses by a servo system which monitors the shaft rotation for varying mechanical loads to operate the turbine at a constant speed. A torque converter is employed to transform the shaft power into mechanical power necessary to propel a vehicle at conventional and required speed variations.

Abstract: A four-cycle internal combustion engine having a transmission linkage between the engine piston and the power output enabling the power stroke of the engine piston to be substantially greater than the intake stroke. The preferred form of transmission linkage comprises a hydraulic circuit including a ram fixed to the engine piston and a pair of branch hydraulic lines including displacement pistons timed to produce the lengthened power stroke.Preferably, a Stirling-type engine is connected to the output and utilizes the waste heat from the internal combustion engine to improve the efficiency of the system.Another feature of the internal combustion engine system is the utilization of a unique, timed, sleeve valve mechanism for controlling the intake and exhaust ports.

Abstract: A fuel injector for a compression ignition engine comprises a fuel injection nozzle, a valve controlled fuel supply chamber located behind the injection nozzle for storing a quantity of fuel, a port for admitting fuel to the supply chamber, a fuel piston operating in the supply chamber for compressing the fuel stored therein and expelling the fuel therefrom via the injection nozzle, and a hydraulic actuator means responsive to engine cylinder pressure for actuating the fuel piston. The hydraulic actuator means includes a spring loaded shuttle valve arranged to reciprocate between two limit positions in accordance with cyclical variations of gas pressure in the engine cylinder, and pumping means for controlling the supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid to actuate the fuel piston in accordance with the position of the shuttle valve.

Abstract: A two-cycle free piston engine which is adapted to burn various types of fuel but is particularly adapted to burn gaseous fuel. It introduces the fuel through at least one hole in the side wall of at least one cylinder at a location inwardly of the cylinder air intake and exhaust ports so as to be closed by the power piston at a time or position before the compression pressure in the power cylinder is equal to the injection pressure and also not before the valving system has interrupted the fuel flow. This advantageously keeps the fuel admission controls out of the hottest portion of the cylinder's combustion chamber, gives safer and better mixing of fuel and air and prevents blow back of fuel in the fuel supply line.The fuel admission is preferably started shortly before or after the air intake port is closed, but before the exhaust port is closed and not earlier than is sufficient to prevent the first fuel particles entering the cylinder from escaping through the exhaust port.

Abstract: A diesel pile hammer housing is seated upon a pile and a ram moves alternately up and down within the housing, striking an anvil and driving the pile. The ram and the housing cooperate to define a power chamber and a separate scavenging chamber that are interconnected for gases to flow from the power chamber to the scavenging chamber. During the diesel operating cycle, upward movement of the ram creates a sub-atmospheric pressure in the scavenging chamber and gases are drawn from the power chamber into the scavenging chamber. During starting operation, the ram is elevated by a generally cylindrical push rod that fits through a circular guide bushing in the housing to contact the ram within the scavenging chamber. An intermediate portion of the push rod is deformed from its generally cylindrical shape by removal of a segment thereof to form a flat surface along one side of the rod.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for generating a high pressure mixture of steam and combustion gases for utilization by a steam engine or the like. The apparatus includes a combustion cylinder and an accumulator cylinder of substantially equal diameter, with both cylinders interconnected at each end by pipes of substantially equal diameter to form a closed loop. A first pair of opposed free pistons is movable toward and away from each other in the combustion cylinder and a second pair of opposed free pistons is movable toward and away from each other in the accumulator cylinder. The space between the first pair of pistons comprises a combustion chamber, while the space between the second pair of pistons comprises an operating accumulator chamber filled with a compressible fluid.

Abstract: A variable stroke alternating compressor is disclosed wherein a movable one-piece free piston 1 serves at the same time as an engine piston 2, a compressor piston 3, and a bounce piston 4; the elements are integrated; the assembly is dynamically balanced, cooled, and insulated. It has no movable mechanical connections. The elements thereof have motions which are all controlled by the travel of the free piston.

Abstract: A piston engine employing a flywheel rotor, in lieu of a crankshaft, driven hydraulically by the piston. One end of a plunger is connected to the piston, the other end being slidably disposed in an hydraulic cylinder. In the combustion mode, fuel and oxygen are injected and spark ignited, both by the same variable speed D.C. speed control motor. The piston-driven plunger displaces hydraulic fluid in the cylinder through a high speed orifice to impinge against spaced cavity surfaces formed along the periphery of the flywheel rotor, thereby spinning the rotor. A slide valve is disposed in the orifice and is hydraulically connected to the cylinder so that pressure changes in the cylinder reciprocate the slide valve to provide momentary delay, during pressure build-up, and then release of the cylinder fluid, thereby increasing the fluid velocity. Hydraulic fluid is recirculated during an exhaust stroke wherein the piston is returned by injected air pressure.

Abstract: An illustrative system is disclosed for use as a rotary-drive engine, utilizing combustible fuel and a hydraulic system of energy conversion. An engine block defines a pair of expansion cylinders (combustion chambers) and an associated concentric pair of hydraulic chambers. The chambers matingly receive unitary piston structures for phase-opposed reciprocal movement.The hydraulic working chambers communicate with each other and can exhaust high pressure fluid through a control valve structure for drive power. Exhausted fluid is replaced in volume by low-pressure spent fluid. The body of the fluid contained in the hydraulic working chambers along with the piston means and springs connected to the engine block define an oscillatory system which is resonant at the operating frequency. That consideration, along with the absence of lateral loads on the pistons, results in relatively high efficiency.