Abstract: An improved lubrication system and method for the normally contacting and abutting piston pin and connecting rod journal bearing surfaces of an internal combustion engine that includes an inertia pump in a connecting rod. The inertia pump reacts to the movement of the connecting rod and conveys a predetermined measure of lubricating oil at a high enough pressure to overcome the forces which cause the surfaces to normally maintain contact. By separating the normally contacting surfaces of the pin and the connecting rod journal, the surfaces become lubricated. Several embodiments of inertia pumps provide variations in implementing the invention.

Abstract: A continuous combustion system for an internal combustion engine includes a reaction vessel external to the engine cylinders. The reaction vessel contains a combustion chamber for sustaining continuous combustion of an air fuel mixture during the operation of the associated engine. The reaction vessel contains an incoming air chamber and an exhaust gas chamber that are each in communication with the combustion chamber. Injected fuel vapor is mixed with scavenged exhaust gas for pre-heating and with compressed air from each cylinder provided during the compression stroke of each piston. The compressed air and fuel vapor mixture sustains the ignited combustion continuously, while exhaust gas is fed to the cylinders to provide working fluid to the engine during the power stroke of each piston. A valve mechanism is provided to control the flow of air from and working fluid to the cylinders at the appropriate times in order to sustain operation of the engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piston of an internal combustion engine comprising an upper part (1) and a lower part (3) that consist of a respective light metal alloy (15) and to an associated method for increasing the thermal load-bearing capacity of a multi-part piston that is subjected to high thermal stress in an internal combustion engine. The piston is provided with at least one insulating element, in particular a gap (7) between the lower part (3) and the upper part (1), at least one piston ring carrier (6), which consists of a different material from that of the upper part (1) and the lower part (3), in particular of steel or grey cast iron, being located next to said gap as a component. A thermal current that is introduced into the piston base (2) is prevented from dissipating via the piston ring carrier (6) by means of the insulating element.

Abstract: The present invention is a rotary device that may be adapted for use as a propeller assembly and electrical generator for aerial vehicles or other vehicles intended for fluid media. In one example, the device includes a ring assembly having a plurality of centrally linked blades coupled to a rotatable common hub. Rotary motion of the ring assembly is facilitated by coupling it to an opposed cylinder, opposed piston, internal combustion. The ring assembly includes components of an electrical power generating system so that electrical power is produced from the rotation of the ring assembly.

Abstract: An improved spark ignition system for an internal combustion engine that includes a pair of electrodes disposed to extend from opposite sides and into a combustion chamber to form a spark gap between them that is central to the combustion chamber. Each electrode is integral with a conductive fuel delivery tube that contains a capillary passage and fuel outlet ports adjacent the electrode. The heat from combustion conducted into the electrodes and fuel delivery tubes is used to vaporize the fuel within the capillary passages before it exits the outlet ports as an atomized fog into the combustion chamber adjacent the spark gap. The vaporization of the fuel flowing in the capillary passages absorbs energy from the electrodes and thus performs a cooling effect on the electrodes. The spacing of the electrodes from opposite sides of the cylinder also allows a design that can utilize and increased spark gap to produce a larger spark across the gap.

Abstract: A highly efficient radiant burner assembly (100) for use in a patio heater or the like in areas where people prefer or require low NOX emissions. The efficiencies are created through the use of a spherical burner element (116) that is either formed of a high temperature steel wire mesh or stamping containing apertures of a predetermined size to allow combustion to remain within the burner element and to not cause the temperature of the burner element to exceed the temperature at which NOX are developed. Coating the burner with a catalyst also aids the low emission combustion process. Additional efficiencies are provided by atomizing the fuel before it is mixed with air and by the use of a laminar flow heat exchanger (940) that utilizes a fluid media flowing in a helical coil condenser unit.

Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine is disclosed having opposed cylinders, each cylinder having a pair of opposed pistons, with all the pistons connected to a common central crankshaft. The inboard pistons of each cylinder are connected to the crankshaft with pushrods and the outboard pistons are connected to the crankshaft with pullrods. Each opposed cylinder further comprises an integrated scavenge pump for providing positive intake pressure. This configuration results in a compact engine with a very low profile, in which the free mass forces can be substantially balanced. The engine configuration also allows for asymmetrical timing of the intake and exhaust ports through angular positioning of the journals on the crankshaft.

Abstract: A continuous combustion system for an internal combustion engine includes a reaction vessel external to the engine cylinders. The reaction vessel contains a combustion chamber for sustaining continuous combustion of an air fuel mixture during the operation of the associated engine. The reaction vessel contains an incoming air chamber and an exhaust gas chamber that are each in communication with the combustion chamber. Injected fuel vapor is mixed with scavenged exhaust gas for pre-heating and with compressed air from each cylinder provided during the compression stroke of each piston. The compressed air and fuel vapor mixture sustains the ignited combustion continuously, while exhaust gas is fed to the cylinders to provide working fluid to the engine during the power stroke of each piston. A valve mechanism is provided to control the flow of air from and working fluid to the cylinders at the appropriate times in order to sustain operation of the engine.

Abstract: An improved lubrication system and method for an internal combustion engine that includes an inertia pump in a piston that reacts to the movement of the piston and conveys a predetermined measure of lubricating oil to the space between the piston and its adjacent cylinder wall immediately below the upper piston rings as the piston reaches top dead center of its stroke cycle. A first embodiment utilizes check valves to responsively open and close passages for the pump in order to control the injection of the proper amount of oil during each cycle. A second embodiment relies on a single moving plunger mass element to provide both the pumping and the valving functions of the inertia pump. A third embodiment utilizes throttle valves to control the injection of the proper amount of oil and allow for a spill path without additional passages. A fourth embodiment utilizes a throttle valve and a check valve in combination to provide secure pumping and a spill path for excess oil.

Abstract: A fuel injector intended for use on an internal combustion engine contains an injector needle that is longitudinally driven by an ultrasonic actuator during the time the injector valve is open to provide an atomized fuel spray output of sub-micron droplet sizes. A piezoelectric disk stack is mounted within the injector housing to surround a portion of the injector needle component and is used to provide the mechanical ultrasonic stimulation to the injector valve at the end of the injector needle and set up a corresponding wave-front at the injector valve to atomize the fuel as it leaves the injector nozzle.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is disclosed having opposed cylinders, each cylinder having a pair of opposed pistons. All the pistons may be connected to a common central crankshaft. The inboard pistons of each cylinder may be connected to a common joint on the crankshaft with pushrods and the outboard pistons may be connected to a common joint on the crankshaft with pullrods. Each opposed cylinder may include an integrated scavenge pump for providing positive intake pressure. The engine configuration also allows for asymmetrical timing of the intake and exhaust ports through angular positioning of the journals on the crankshaft.

Abstract: An improved configuration for an opposing piston-opposing cylinder (“OPOC”) internal combustion engine with a single camshaft to reduce friction between the pistons and the cylinder walls during the combustion phase of the engine cycle. The improvements are presented in two embodiments that provide offsets between the bore axes of the cylinders and the crankshaft axis of rotation to cause the connecting rods to achieve an orientation substantially parallel to the cylinder bore at TDC and shortly thereafter.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide an opposed piston, opposed cylinder (OPOC) internal combustion engine. The OPOC engine comprises two cylinders opposed at 180 degrees. A linking element connects two outer pistons so that they move in tandem. A central piston is disposed between and moves in opposition to the outer pistons. The linking element is adapted to drive secondary mechanisms in accordance with embodiments of a drive shaft, electric generator, hydraulic pump, pneumatic pump, and gear-driven mechanisms, among others.

Abstract: An Opposing Piston Opposing Cylinder (“OPOC”) internal combustion engine combined with an externally mounted pre-ignition assembly with an internal swirl chamber to improve cold start and continuing operation. The pre-ignition assembly contains both a fuel injector and an ignition device that are in communication with the swirl chamber. The inlet/outlet passage opening that extends between the combustion chamber of the engine and the swirl chamber allows fresh combustion air to be forced from the cylinder of the engine into the swirl chamber during the compression stroke and allows the subsequently ignited plasma gases from the swirl chamber to enter into the combustion chamber as to the pistons reach their TDC positions.

Abstract: An electrically controlled turbocharger having a substantially vertically oriented shaft interconnecting a turbine and a compressor. The vertical orientation serves to eliminate the effects of gravity on the rotating components. Placing the turbine vertically above the motor and compressor and provides additional cooling through convection of heat produced by hot exhaust gas flowing through the turbine. A lubricating system utilizes scavenged air from the compressor to draw lubricating oil through internal passages of the motor housing to maintain a desirable oil sump level, ventilate the auxiliary induction motor, and provide pressure to the oil seals of the motor cavity.

Abstract: An improved lubrication system and method for an internal combustion engine that includes an inertia pump in a piston that reacts to the movement of the piston and conveys a predetermined measure of lubricating oil to the space between the piston and its adjacent cylinder wall immediately below the upper piston rings as the piston reaches top dead center of its stroke cycle. A first embodiment utilizes check valves to responsively open and close passages for the pump in order to control the injection of the proper amount of oil during each cycle. A second embodiment relies on a single moving plunger mass element to provide both the pumping and the valving functions of the inertia pump. A third embodiment utilizes throttle valves to control the injection of the proper amount of oil and allow for a spill path without additional passages. A fourth embodiment utilizes a throttle valve and a check valve in combination to provide secure pumping and a spill path for excess oil.

Abstract: An improved lubrication system and method for the normally contacting and abutting piston pin and connecting rod journal bearing surfaces of an internal combustion engine that includes an inertia pump in a connecting rod. The inertia pump reacts to the movement of the connecting rod and conveys a predetermined measure of lubricating oil at a high enough pressure to overcome the forces which cause the surfaces to normally maintain contact. By separating the normally contacting surfaces of the pin and the connecting rod journal, the surfaces become lubricated. Several embodiments of inertia pumps provide variations in implementing the invention.

Abstract: An improved configuration for an opposing piston-opposing cylinder (“OPOC”) internal combustion engine with a single camshaft to reduce friction between the pistons and the cylinder walls during the combustion phase of the engine cycle. The improvements are presented in two embodiments that provide offsets between the bore axes of the cylinders and the crankshaft axis of rotation to cause the connecting rods to achieve an orientation substantially parallel to the cylinder bore at TDC and shortly thereafter.

Abstract: A highly efficient radiant burner assembly (100) for use in a patio heater or the like in areas where people prefer or require low NOX emissions. The efficiencies are created through the use of a spherical burner element (116) that is either formed of a high temperature steel wire mesh or stamping containing apertures of a predetermined size to allow combustion to remain within the burner element and to not cause the temperature of the burner element to exceed the temperature at which NOX are developed. Coating the burner with a catalyst also aids the low emission combustion process. Additional efficiencies are provided by atomizing the fuel before it is mixed with air and by the use of a laminar flow heat exchanger (940) that utilizes a fluid media flowing in a helical coil condenser unit.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide an opposed piston, opposed cylinder (OPOC) internal combustion engine. The OPOC engine comprises two cylinders opposed at 180 degrees. A linking element connects two outer pistons so that they move in tandem. A central piston is disposed between and moves in opposition to the outer pistons. The linking element is adapted to drive secondary mechanisms in accordance with embodiments of a drive shaft, electric generator, hydraulic pump, pneumatic pump, and gear-driven mechanisms, among others.