Abstract: An opposed piston, internal-combustion engine including a cylinder with a bore and opposed pistons disposed within the bore is provided with one or more hypocycloidal drives that convert the linear motion of a piston to rotary output motion. An electrical generator includes an opposed piston, internal-combustion engine with a coil mounted to the skirt of a piston and a hypocycloidal drive connected by a rod to the piston. The construction of the hypocycloidal drive imposes a sinusoidal period on the linear motion of the piston. As the piston transports the coil though a magnetic field, a sinusoidal voltage is induced in the windings of the coil.
Abstract: In a two-cycle, opposed-piston internal combustion engine, opposed pistons disposed in a cylinder are coupled to a pair of side-mounted crankshafts by connecting rods that are subject to substantially tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts. This geometry reduces or eliminates side forces between the pistons and the bore of the cylinder. The cylinder and the pistons are independently cooled to reduce cylindrical deformation caused by thermal expansion during engine operation.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 22, 2009
Publication date:
December 3, 2009
Applicant:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
James U. Lemke, William B. McHargue, Michael H. Wahl, Patrick R. Lee
Abstract: An engine having a cylinder with a bore opposed pistons disposed for reciprocation in the bore includes compliant members that allow for angular adjustment of piston structure with respect to the cylinder in response to an imbalance in forces coupled to the pistons by connecting rods.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 11, 2008
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2009
Assignee:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
James U. Lemke, Ronald J. Hoffman, Michael H. Wahl, Patrick R. Lee
Abstract: In a two-cycle, opposed-piston internal combustion engine, opposed pistons disposed in a cylinder are coupled to a pair of side-mounted crankshafts by connecting rods that are subject to substantially tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts. This geometry reduces or eliminates side forces between the pistons and the bore of the cylinder. The cylinder and the pistons are independently cooled to reduce cylindrical deformation caused by thermal expansion during engine operation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 10, 2005
Date of Patent:
June 23, 2009
Assignee:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
James U. Lemke, William B. McHargue, Michael H. Wahl, Patrick R. Lee
Abstract: In a two-stroke, opposed-piston internal combustion engine with optimized cooling and no engine block, the opposed pistons are coupled to a pair of crankshafts by connecting rods that are subject to substantially tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts.
Abstract: An internal combustion engine including a cylinder with bore and a piston disposed to reciprocate in the bore is operated by moving the piston in the bore between top and bottom dead center positions and applying lubricant to a portion of the piston that protrudes from the bore. Lubricant is wiped from the piston as the piston travels into the bore toward its top dead center position.
Abstract: An engine having a cylinder with a bore opposed pistons disposed for reciprocation in the bore includes compliant members that allow for angular adjustment of piston structure with respect to the cylinder in response to an imbalance in forces coupled to the pistons by connecting rods.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 11, 2008
Publication date:
July 10, 2008
Applicant:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
James U. Lemke, Ronald J. Hoffman, Michael H. Wahl, Patrick R. Lee
Abstract: A two-cycle, opposed piston engine with side-mounted crankshafts and cylinders isolated from mechanical stresses of the engine includes tailored cooling of cylinders and symmetrical cooling of the interior surfaces of piston crowns. Each opposed piston includes a compliant member that permits movement of an axially-centered rod mounted in the piston in order to maintain axial alignment with the bore of a cylinder in which the piston is disposed during engine operation. A single wristpin is disposed externally of the piston to connect the piston with connecting rods that run between the piston and the crankshafts.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 17, 2006
Date of Patent:
April 22, 2008
Assignee:
Achates Power, Inc.
Inventors:
James U. Lemke, Ronald J. Hoffman, Michael H. Wahl, Patrick R. Lee
Abstract: A fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine includes a common rail, a plurality of accumulator injectors, and at least one accumulator controller separate from the accumulator injectors and connected to the common rail. Each accumulator controller includes a solenoid-controlled valve to control the fuel injection operations of one or more accumulator injectors.
Abstract: In a two-cycle, opposed-piston internal combustion engine, opposed pistons disposed in a cylinder are coupled to a pair of side-mounted crankshafts by connecting rods that are subject to substantially tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts. This geometry reduces or eliminates side forces between the pistons and the bore of the cylinder. The cylinder and the pistons are independently cooled to reduce cylindrical deformation caused by thermal expansion during engine operation.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 10, 2005
Publication date:
October 25, 2007
Applicant:
Achates Power, LLC
Inventors:
James Lemke, William McHargue, Michael Wahl, Patrick Lee
Abstract: An opposed piston, internal-combustion engine including a cylinder with a bore and opposed pistons disposed within the bore is provided with one or more hypocycloidal drives that convert the linear motion of a piston to rotary output motion. An electrical generator includes an opposed piston, internal-combustion engine with a coil mounted to the skirt of a piston and a hypocycloidal drive connected by a rod to the piston. The construction of the hypocycloidal drive imposes a sinusoidal period on the linear motion of the piston. As the piston transports the coil though a magnetic field, a sinusoidal voltage is induced in the windings of the coil.
Abstract: An engine of the opposed piston, two-stroke, compression ignition type includes provision for injection of a main charge of liquid fuel into the bore of a cylinder between opposed pistons early in a compression stroke to permit the fuel to evaporate and mix with air during the remainder of the compression stroke to the point where the stoichiometric components of the mixture are insufficient for autoignition. Further provision is made for injection of a pilot charge of liquid fuel into the compressed air/fuel mixture later in the compression stroke. The pilot charge provides a stoichiometric component which autoignites, thereby activating ignition of the compressed air/fuel mixture.
Abstract: In a two-stroke, opposed-piston internal combustion engine with optimized cooling and no engine block, the opposed pistons are coupled to a pair of crankshafts by connecting rods that are subject to substantially tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts.
Abstract: In a two-cycle, opposed-piston internal combustion engine with optimized cooling and no engine block, the opposed pistons are coupled to a pair of crankshafts by connecting rods that are subject to substantially tensile forces acting between the pistons and the crankshafts.