Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a first set of cylinders includes: a first two-stroke compression cylinder housing a first compression piston connected to a first crank shaft; an intermediate two-stroke compression cylinder housing an intermediate compression piston, wherein the second two-stroke compression cylinder is configured to receive compressed gas from the first two-stroke compression cylinder; and a first four-stroke combustion cylinder housing a first combustion piston, wherein the first four-stroke combustion cylinder is configured to receive compressed gas from the intermediate two-stroke compression cylinder; wherein the internal combustion engine further includes a second set of cylinders including: a second two-stroke compression cylinder housing a second compression piston connected to the first crank shaft, wherein the second two-stroke compression cylinder is configured to provide compressed gas to the intermediate two-stroke compression cylinder; and a second four-stroke combustion

Abstract: A single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine is described, and includes an engine block including first and second power cylinders and an expander cylinder fluidly coupled through a cylinder head, and first and second power pistons that connect to respective first and second crankpins of the crankshaft. A multi-link connecting rod assembly includes a rigid main arm extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft and supporting a first pivot pin, a second pivot pin and a third pivot pin. The first pivot pin connects via a connecting rod to an expander piston reciprocating in the third cylinder. A third crankpin of the crankshaft serves as the second pivot pin and has a throw that is located 180 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft from a throw of the first crankpin. The third pivot pin connects to a swing arm connected to the engine block.

Abstract: This invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to internal combustion engines and methods of operating the engines with a new fuel saving cycle. Various embodiments use a passage between adjacent cylinders to enable a mode in which fuel combusted in one cylinder supplies pressure to the other that has not been supplied with fuel, thus enabling driving of both cylinders with less fuel.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a first cylinder having an intake valve in fluid communication with an intake manifold, and a second cylinder having an exhaust valve in fluid communication with an exhaust manifold. A transfer passage fluidly connects the first cylinder with the second cylinder. A first fuel injector is configured to provide a first fuel to the first cylinder, and a second fuel injector is configured to provide a second fuel to the second cylinder. The first cylinder operates, at times, to push a first air/fuel mixture through the transfer passage into the second cylinder. The second fuel injector is configured to provide at least one fuel injection plume into the first air/fuel mixture.

Abstract: One non-limiting object of the present invention is to provide modifications to conventional in line 6 cylinder engines capable of increasing their efficiency in operation. This includes modifying the central two adjacent piston and cylinder assemblies of the engines. The modifications involve (1) changing the camshaft so that the central two adjacent piston and cylinder assemblies have their four stroke cycles in phase rather than 180° out of phase, (2) providing a communicating passage between the combustion chambers of the central two piston and cylinder assemblies and (3) modifying either the hardware or programming for the control of the fuel injectors of the central two piston and cylinder assemblies so that they can be selectively controlled not to inject fuel during the operation cycle thereof.

Abstract: A cylinder for an internal combustion engine having co-annular dual pistons. The cylinder has a main cylinder having a main cylinder wall and a cylinder head, a first or outer piston having an annular crown, an inner cylinder wall that defines an inner cylinder, and an annular outer sidewall extending from the periphery of the crown, an inner piston having a crown, and an annular inner sidewall extending from the periphery of the crown. A solenoid-actuated pin selectively secures the outer piston with the main cylinder during a portion of each cylinder cycle. The inner piston reciprocates within the inner cylinder during both the air inlet and compression strokes, while the outer piston reciprocates within the main cylinder only during the power stroke and the exhaust stroke, to increase the piston crown surface area exposed to the combustion gases to maximize the power and efficiency.

Abstract: An opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder OPOC engine is disclosed in which the central axis of the two cylinders is collinear. In four-stroke engines, this is possible with a built up crankshaft. Disclosed are connecting rod configurations that are suitable for a two-stroke engine that can be assembled to a unitary crankshaft, including both pullrods in tension and pushrods in compression. The configuration includes pistons arranged symmetrically, but with offset timing of the intake and exhaust pistons. The offset timing leads to a slight imbalance which can be partially overcome by having the center of gravity of the crankshaft offset from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: The horizontally opposed center fired engine improves on the traditional design of the horizontally opposed engines and center fired engines with a better engine geometry. The present invention utilizes four pairs of opposing pistons to compress a larger volume of air-fuel mixture within four different cylinders. The four different cylinders are radially positioned around a center axle in order to achieve a perfectly symmetric engine geometry. The center axle consists of two different shafts spinning in two different directions, which could drastically reduce engine vibrations in the present invention. Engine vibrations are caused by a change in engine speed and result in a loss of energy. Due to the design, the present invention will only experience energy loss in the form of entropy and friction. Thus, the present invention can convert a higher percentage of chemical energy into mechanical energy than any other internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A drive shaft and pistons assembly of a split-cycle four-stroke engine that contains a drive rotary shaft that supports at least two circular eccentrics pivotally connected to the first ends of connecting rods, the other ends of which are pivotally connected to the respective pistons. The circular eccentrics are angularly shifted with respect to each other by an angle optimal from the viewpoint of efficiency of the engine.

Abstract: A pressure surface is propelled within an engine chamber. Air is introduced into the chamber. The air in the chamber is compressed with the pressure surface. The compressed air is charged with fuel. The fuel is combusted to propel the pressure surface within the chamber. The air and the combusted fuel are exhausted from the chamber. A turbocharger is powered with the exhaust to compress air. The air compressed by the turbo charger is passed into the chamber to propel the pressure surface in the chamber.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is charged by a compressor such that for example only a fraction of the charge is supercharged for an operating cycle of the internal combustion engine and is supplied via a separate charging channel with the help of a short-stroke valve which is controlled by the camshaft after closure of the inlet of the internal combustion engine such that the suction/charging stroke of the four-stroke process is maintained entirely or partially.

Abstract: A four cycle engine having at least one cylinder unit is disclosed. The engine includes a continuously variable transmission (CVT) connected to the engine on one side of the engine. An air box is also provided that is located on the same side of the engine as the CVT. The engine further includes an intake manifold operatively connected to the air box for connecting the air box to each cylinder unit and a throttle assembly operatively connected to air box and the intake manifold. The intake manifold may have a generally Y-shaped manifold having a connector leg connected to the throttle assembly and a pair of branches. One branch is operatively connected to one of the cylinder units and another branch is connected to another of the cylinder units. The connector leg is generally parallel to the axis of the crankshaft. The intake manifold may further include a baffle assembly, which directs gas flow within the intake manifold.