Abstract: A toroidal combustion chamber shape with a side injector is disclosed for an opposed-piston engine. Fuel is injected into the toroidal volume from a fuel injector in the cylinder wall. In one embodiment, fuel is injected from each injector a plurality of times with the timing between the injections such that fuel clouds from each injection remain substantially isolated from each other.

Abstract: An improved oil and gas seal assembly for an internal combustion engine that includes a scraper ring retained within an annular containment groove that, in several embodiments, is formed in the side wall of the cylinder and sized to allow the scraper ring to be fitted therein. The depth of the annular containment groove is sufficient to allow the scraper ring to be expanded during assembly with the piston and during engine operation when the assembly is exposed to vibration and heat variations. A resilient element surrounds the scraper ring within the annular containment groove in order to apply inward forces to the scraper ring and keep it in contact with the movable piston skirt side wall, and also in contact with at least one wall of the groove to prevent an alternative migration path for oil or combustion gases.

Abstract: A combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has at least a first and a second exhaust port, which are decoupled downstream of the combustion chamber. The first exhaust port is opened before the second exhaust port during an expansion stroke of the piston. The first exhaust port is coupled to a high-pressure turbine and the second exhaust port is coupled to a low-pressure turbine. By directing exhaust gases at higher pressure to the high-pressure turbine and gases at lower pressure to the low-pressure turbine, the overall energy recovery from the exhaust gases is greater than a system with one or more exhaust turbines coupled in series with all of the exhaust ports.

Abstract: An electrical generator utilizing two internal combustion engine having an expanded range of power output is disclosed. A primary internal combustion engine is coupled to the magnet rotor assembly. The primary engine is operated solely in a lower power range. A secondary engine, coupled to a coil assembly is locked in place in such lower power range to make the coil assembly stationary. In a higher power range, that overlaps the lower power range, the secondary engine is unlocked and operated to rotate in a counter-rotating direction with respect to the first engine. The secondary engine can be started by operating the generator (consisting of the magnet rotor assembly and the coil assembly) as a motor by appropriate application of current.

Abstract: A fuel injector system for raising fuel to its supercritical state and injecting the supercritical-state fuel to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A plurality of injector embodiments provides alternative ways to heat the pressurized fuel to its supercritical state. Injection of supercritical fuel into the combustion chamber is known to improve fuel entrainment and reducing ignition delay to thereby increase combustion rate, which leads to an increase in fuel efficiency. According to some embodiments, the system provides for preventing coking that may otherwise occur in an exhaust gas heat exchanger used for preheating the high pressure fuel. In other embodiments, engine cold start assistance is provided by storing pressurized, heated fuel in an insulated container.

Abstract: An improved configuration for internal combustion engine that reduces side forces on pistons during the engine cycle. The improvement is an intermediate and guided bridge element located between pull rods and pistons with articulated connections that allow side forces to be dissipated away from the pistons.

Abstract: A combustion chamber for an internal combustion engine is disclosed in which the piston has a large squish region at a peripheral location on the piston top and a depression in the center of the piston top. A side injector sprays fuel into the depression in the piston top through a channel defined in the squish region. In some embodiments, two injectors are provided that are diametrically opposed to each other. In some embodiments, the engine is an opposed-piston engine in which each piston has the squish regions and depressions in the piston top.

Abstract: A combustion chamber in an opposed-piston, internal-combustion engine is disclosed in which the pistons tops are designed so that when they approach each other, they induce a tumble flow in one or two hemispherical spaces defined in the piston tops. The combustion chamber further includes injectors side mounted in the cylinder wall. In one embodiment, the tumble flows in the two hemispheres are in the same direction and in another embodiment, in opposite directions. In yet another embodiment, there is only one injector and one hemisphere in which a tumble flow is induced.

Abstract: A toroidal combustion chamber shape with a side injector is disclosed for an opposed-piston engine. Fuel is injected into the toroidal volume from a fuel injector in the cylinder wall. In one embodiment, fuel is injected from each injector a plurality of times with the timing between the injections such that fuel clouds from each injection remain substantially isolated from each other.

Abstract: An improved oil and gas seal assembly for an internal combustion engine that includes a scraper ring retained within an annular containment groove that, in several embodiments, is formed in the side wall of the cylinder and sized to allow the scraper ring to be fitted therein. The depth of the annular containment groove is sufficient to allow the scraper ring to be expanded during assembly with the piston and during engine operation when the assembly is exposed to vibration and heat variations. A resilient element surrounds the scraper ring within the annular containment groove in order to apply inward forces to the scraper ring and keep it in contact with the movable piston skirt side wall, and also in contact with at least one wall of the groove to prevent an alternative migration path for oil or combustion gases.

Abstract: A rotor for use in an electrical motor which includes an anti-expansion ring centrally mounted on the rotor to restrict the extent rotor elements mounted on a rotatable shaft may expand outward due to centrifugal forces generated when the motor is operated. Such motors are suited for use in high rotational speed environments such as electrically controlled turbochargers.

Abstract: A hybrid engine and coupling system for use with a vehicle or other load which employs a motor/generator unit connected through controllable couplers to a kinetic energy storage device and to one or more internal combustion engine modules in a programmed manner. Several embodiments provide varying configurations to satisfy various power and packaging design requirements.

Abstract: By providing an electrically-controlled turbocharger (ECT) on a compression-ignition (CI) engine, the engine can be provided a desired lambda and a desired EGR fraction over the range of operating conditions. When lambda in the exhaust is leaner than the desired lambda, electrical energy to the electric motor of the ECT is reduced to bring actual lambda to desired lambda. Analogously, when lambda in the exhaust is richer than the desired lambda, electrical energy to the ECT is increased.

Abstract: A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine is described that includes a scraper ring with an oil collector located immediately beneath an upper piston ring on a reciprocating piston. The scraper ring serves to deposit oil onto the inner surface of the upper cylinder liner near the combustion chamber in reaction to the decelerating movement of the piston as the piston approaches TDC. The oil scraper collects oil in a collection groove as the piston travels along the lower portion of the cylinder and carries inertia onto the cylinder liner.

Abstract: A combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has primary intake ports located a first distance from the crankshaft and primary intake ports located a second distance from the crankshaft. One or more unidirectional valves, such as reed valves, are place in an intake duct upstream of the primary intake ports. The valves prevent backflow from the cylinder into the intake when the pressure in the cylinder exceeds that of the intake. The backflow into the intake is reduced by having valves in the intake; therefore scavenging efficiency is improved. Furthermore, the asymmetry between the intake and exhaust port timing may be reduced by providing such valves. Additionally, the total intake port area can be increased with two sets of intake ports and valves disposed in the primary ports, thereby improving the volumetric efficiency in spite of the pressure drop presented by the valves.

Abstract: A hybrid engine control system for use with a vehicle or other load which employs a motor/generator unit connected through controllable couplers to a kinetic energy storage device and to one or more internal combustion engine modules in a programmed manner. Several embodiments provide varying configurations to satisfy various power and packaging design requirements.

Abstract: Reciprocating motion can be converted to rotary motion through a crankshaft and a connecting rod. In a connecting rod that is primarily in compression, two opposing connecting rods can be coupled to a single journal. Two bearing shell portions are placed over the journal with a pushrod placed over each bearing shell portion. The pushrods are normally in compression. To overcome the potentiality of the pushrods briefly being in tension, retainers can be coupled to the pushrods. Because both pushrods are coupled in-line, the width of the journal that can accommodate these pushrods is shorter than for a journal on which the two pushrods are side by side. The crankshaft can be shorter, stronger, and lighter weight.

Abstract: Reciprocating motion can be converted to rotary motion through a crankshaft and a connecting rod. In a connecting rod that is primarily in tension, two opposing connecting rods can be coupled to a single journal. Two bearing caps are placed over the journal, the bearing caps having fingers that extend away from the bearing cap with the fingers of the two bearing caps being enmeshed. Fingers of each bearing cap are coupled to the connecting rods. The resulting joint is compact and lighter weight with a shorter journal than prior joints.

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 partially overcome by having the center of gravity of the crankshaft offset from the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine has at least a first and a second exhaust port, which are decoupled downstream of the combustion chamber. The first exhaust port is opened before the second exhaust port during an expansion stroke of the piston. The first exhaust port is coupled to a high-pressure turbine and the second exhaust port is coupled to a low-pressure turbine. By directing exhaust gases at higher pressure to the high-pressure turbine and gases at lower pressure to the low-pressure turbine, the overall energy recovery from the exhaust gases is greater than a system with one or more exhaust turbines coupled in series with all of the exhaust ports.