Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for a dual compression and dual expansion internal combustion engine (8) that is compact, efficient, and has low combustion noise and emissions. The subject engine (8) includes a low pressure piston assembly (56) reciprocally disposed in an operating chamber (22) defined in a housing (10). A pair of opposed high pressure piston assemblies (58) and (60) are directly mounted on a pair of geared together, counter rotating, crankshafts (52) and (54) and reciprocally disposed in bores (178) and (186) of the low pressure piston assembly (56). The disposition of the second and third piston assemblies (58) and (60) within their respective bores (178) and (186) defines a combustion chamber (254). An intake chamber (144) for compression of inducted air and an exhaust chamber (146) for expansion of exhaust gas are defined in the operating chamber (22) between the low pressure piston assembly (56) and the housing (10).

Abstract: An engine is disclosed that is applicable for automotive and truck use but is also adaptive for other power producing uses. Two reciprocating cylinders are housed within an outer cylinder. A piston is housed within each of the two reciprocating cylinders. The reciprocating cylinders are so designed that after combustion in one reciprocating cylinder, the movement caused by the combustion will aid in setting up the circumstances combustion in the opposing compression chamber formed by the opposing reciprocating cylinder and opposing piston. Due to this design, the horizontal reciprocating movement is continuous and all of the horizontal movement caused by the combustion in both opposing reciprocating cylinders and both opposing pistons is useful. The horizontal movement of the reciprocating cylinders and pistons is translated into rotational energy in the crankshaft by three scotch yokes, each scotch yoke housing a scotch block, each scotch block in turn surrounding one crankthrow.

Abstract: A compact lightweight engine or pump is constructed having a H-shaped piston, usually double acting. Each end of the piston has extending surfaces which form two moving sidewalls which act with two case sidewalls and a block-shaped head protrusion to define a working chamber with the appropriate top surface of the piston which moves to extract or add energy to the working chamber. Energy is transferred between the piston and a crankshaft by means of a slide block on the crankshaft and the inner surfaces of a pair of parallel walls forming the center of the "H" of the piston, whose opposite surfaces form the piston top surfaces. Through the use of suitable cams and valves, 4-cycle, 2-cylinder equivalent engines can be produced. With suitable porting, baffles, and/or auxillary compression means, 2-cycle engines can also be produced as well as air pumps.

Abstract: An engine is shown as having a ring-like cylinder with a ring type piston reciprocatingly received therein, connecting rods operatively interconnect the ring piston to a related crankshaft; the combustion chamber means is formed generally by two chamber volumes the first of which is defined by the annular space between the working surface of the ring piston and the juxtaposed cylinder head surface and the second of which is defined by a generally medially or centrally formed chamber of unexpandable volume; the two chamber volumes communicate with each other as by a relatively narrow opening formed generally peripherally about the chamber of unexpandable volume.

Abstract: An engine of the air-cooled, super-charged type which includes a stationary piston, a cylinder movable relative to the piston and operable in a first position to provide a compression chamber between adjoining ends of the cylinder and piston. In a second position, the compression chamber is opened to provide purging air flow from a compressor stage. A cooling air flow is provided about the surfaces of the cylinder and piston in both positions of the cylinder and during its travel between those positions.In a different embodiment of the engine, the internal combustion portion of the engine just described above is combined with a gas turbine stage. Upon firing of the fuel in the compression chamber and the subsequent opening of the chamber, the flow of hot gases is applied to provide a further rotative force to the turbine wheel.