Abstract: A combustion engine that has at least a plurality of power strokes during a complete cycle of engine operation that is of compact packaging and Brayton cycle or modified Brayton cycle operable. In some embodiments, a piston-cylinder arrangement is used to compress air and deliver it to a combustion chamber where it is combusted along with fuel, while in some embodiments, at least some of the compressed air is delivered to and stored in a pressure vessel. The pressurized air stored in pressure vessel can be delivered to the combustion chamber or can pneumatically power various engine or vehicle accessories. Combustion gases are returned back to the piston-cylinder arrangement where they act on the piston to output power in a power stroke.

Abstract: A combustion engine that has at least a plurality of power strokes during a complete cycle of engine operation that is of compact packaging and Brayton cycle operable. In a preferred embodiment, a piston-cylinder arrangement used to compress air and deliver it to a combustion chamber where it is combusted along with fuel. The combustion gases are returned back to the piston-cylinder arrangement where they act on the piston to output power in a power stroke. A second power stroke can be implemented where additional combustion gases are available to extract additional power from. In a preferred embodiment, the same piston-cylinder arrangement receives the additional combustion gases from the combustion chamber in the second power stroke.