Multiple Crankshafts Patents (Class 123/52.6)
  • Patent number: 8960138
    Abstract: A dual-crankshaft engine is presented. In one embodiment, the engine includes a first crankshaft and a second crankshaft. The second crankshaft is coupled with the first crankshaft such that the first crankshaft and the second crankshaft are horizontally coplanar. The engine further includes a first piston that is operable to reciprocate in a first horizontal cylinder via coupling with the first crankshaft, and a second piston that is operable to reciprocate in a second horizontal cylinder via coupling with the second crankshaft. The second horizontal cylinder is horizontally collinear with and opposing the first horizontal cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas G. Leone, Alvin Henry Berger
  • Patent number: 8807098
    Abstract: A twin vertical bank hybrid internal combustion H-engine system; an assembly having an engine block with parallel left side and right side vertical inline piston banks, each having a crankshaft and pistons, a cylinder head, and individual fuel feeds operable on a first and second fuel type respectively. Each piston bank operates independently of the other but is housed within the same engine block and has separate lubrication systems. An operator selects which engine to run based on fuel availability, convenience, or lower cost of a certain fuel type. The chosen engine is mechanically or electrically selected via an engine bank selector box using a selector control which selects the fuel type and engages a drive gear on the crankshaft of the selected engine, and transfers power to the transmission. The selector control actuates a transfer system that prevents simultaneous operation of both engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Herns Louis
  • Patent number: 8464671
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Inventor: Bo Zhou
  • Patent number: 7921817
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided. Facing pistons eliminate a cylinder head, thereby reducing heat losses through a cylinder head. Facing pistons also halve the stroke that would be required for one piston to provide the same compression ratio, and the engine can thus be run at higher revolutions per minute and produce more power. An internal sleeve valve is provided for space and other considerations. A combustion chamber size-varying mechanism allows for adjustment of the minimum size of an internal volume to increase efficiency at partial-power operation. Variable intake valve operation is used to control engine power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Cleeves Engines Inc.
    Inventor: James M. Cleeves
  • Publication number: 20080141855
    Abstract: Disclosed are crankshaft, single-plate cam and beam mechanisms that provide significant improvements in performance for 2 & 4-stroke engines, compressors and pumps. These cost effective mechanisms include linkages with the new and improved use of pivoting arms that operate with a variety of cylinder arrangements. One embodiment of the crankshaft mechanism has its crankpin roller positioned within a novel yoke-arm. The cam mechanism uses a pair of centrally positioned parallel links that are connected to roller cam followers and single or diametrically-opposed pistons. A pair of laterally extending follower arms connects to the ends of the links to provide support and alignment for the piston rods. Between the reciprocating links, cam followers and follower arms is a rotating odd-lobe plate cam. A beam mechanism uses opposite-direction extending balancing beams that are connected to links, cam followers and piston rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Patrick T. Fisher
  • Patent number: 6189493
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine having first and second synchronized subassemblies. The subassemblies are synchronized by a mechanical linkage of their crankshafts to provide identical timing between corresponding pistons in the two subassemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, Jr.