Step Piston Patents (Class 123/58.6)
  • Patent number: 9109470
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mounting a timing belt pulley to a crankshaft can include a crankshaft rotatable about a center longitudinal axis, the crankshaft including a pin assembly configured for connection to a reciprocating piston. A timing belt pulley can be positioned against the pin assembly and configured for engaging the pin assembly such that the timing belt pulley is coupled to the crankshaft for rotation about the center longitudinal axis. For example, the pin assembly can include a slot formed on an exterior surface thereof, and the timing belt pulley can include a key extending towards the pin assembly and configured for engaging the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Vaughn, Brian C. Doklovic, Nathaniel Artemis Lenfert
  • Patent number: 8985071
    Abstract: The converting of linear motion into rotational energy when using the cylinders and pistons of an internal combustion engine without the use of a crankshaft. The replacement with dual high lead cam-screws and dual cam-followers allows for the efficient use of a complete combustion stroke without the resistance from the crankshaft at top dead center, and a greatly reduced resistance for the return stroke as there is no crankshaft turning resistance at the outer limit of the piston stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Graeme Harold Newman
  • 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