Abstract: An internal combustion engine operates on a four-stroke cycle and includes a housing defining: one or more generally wedge-shaped combustion chambers, and an internal cavity in which a wheel is mounted for rotation on a crankshaft. Arranged inside each combustion chamber is a gate, with each gate having a corresponding gate control assembly including a control shaft. Each control shaft is supported by bearings that engage and ride in a generally elliptical cam-cutout defined in the surface of the wheel. Movement of the gate control assemblies within and with respect to the elliptical cam-cutout controls the movement and operation of the gates, such that, as the wheel rotates, a fuel/air mixture is drawn into a combustion chamber; compressed by the rotating movement of a gate; and ignited, imparting a force on the gate, with the gate then rotating to expel combustion gases through an exhaust port.
Abstract: An internal combustion engine operates on a four-stroke cycle and includes a housing defining: one or more generally wedge-shaped combustion chambers, and an internal cavity in which a wheel is mounted for rotation on a crankshaft. Arranged inside each combustion chamber is a gate, with each gate having a corresponding gate control assembly including a control shaft. Each control shaft is supported by bearings that engage and ride in a generally elliptical cam-cutout defined in the surface of the wheel. Movement of the gate control assemblies within and with respect to the elliptical cam-cutout controls the movement and operation of the gates, such that, as the wheel rotates, a fuel/air mixture is drawn into a combustion chamber; compressed by the rotating movement of a gate; and ignited, imparting a force on the gate, with the gate then rotating to expel combustion gases through an exhaust port.
Abstract: An internal combustion engine that has a torque wheel mounted for rotation within the central cavity defined by the housing and driving a crankshaft. The torque wheel has a plurality of arms in a spaced arrangement about the center of the torque wheel, thereby defining a plurality of corresponding volumes between the respective arms. A plurality of substantially identical combustion gates are positioned within these corresponding volumes, each combustion gate being mounted for rotation within a respective volume about a pivot pin. Rotation of the combustion gates about the respective pivot pins and resultant inward and outward movement of the combustion gates relative to the center of the torque wheel achieves a four-stroke combustion cycle.