Abstract: An energy transfer machine includes a piston and cylinder. The piston can have a rocking motion as it enters and exits the cylinder, for example due to one being on a rotor and the other on a stator. The piston and cylinder form a primary chamber, and as they move relative to each other can form a seal separating the primary chamber into first and second sub-chambers which then unseals before the piston exits the cylinder. The first sub-chamber may reach a maximum geometric compression ratio, for example for the purpose of compression ignition, before the unsealing of the sub-chambers.

Abstract: An ignition coil has a core with a longitudinal axis, a secondary winding extending around the core, a sleeve extending around the core, a primary winding wrapped around the sleeve, and a controller connected to the primary winding so as to oscillate alternating current to said primary winding. The secondary winding has a high-voltage end and a low-voltage end. The primary winding is in spaced longitudinal relationship from the secondary winding. Specifically, the primary winding is located longitudinally away from the high-voltage end of the secondary winding. A bobbin is positioned over and around the core. The secondary winding is wrapped around at least a portion of the bobbin.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a current sensing circuit includes a differential current sensing amplifier adapted for sensing a voltage drop across a main transistor, the differential current sensing amplifier being adapted for providing a switched current output to a timing circuit which is adapted for providing a timing signal to one or more switching current sample-and-hold circuits based on a current waveform of the switched current output, and the one or more switching current sample-and-hold circuits, each of which are adapted for producing a substantially continuous output current. In another embodiment, a method for detecting a current includes driving a main transistor with a first current, driving one or more sensing transistors with a second current, measuring a sensing inductor current of the one or more sensing transistors, and determining the first current based on the sensing inductor current, wherein the sensing inductor current is related to the first current.

Abstract: Generally, embodiments of a pre-chamber unit having a pre-combustion chamber including one or more induction ports in a configuration which achieves flow fields and flow field forces inside the pre-combustion chamber which act to direct flame growth away quenching surface of the pre-combustion chamber.

Abstract: A toroidal engine that can be powered by a fuel/air mixture or by a compressed gas source. The toroidal engine uses one-way bearings to transfer torque generated in a toroidal chamber directly to a drive shaft. Pairs of pistons are mounted on two crank assemblies, which are concentric with the drive shaft. One-way bearings allow the crank assemblies to turn, one at a time, in one direction only. The crank assemblies are directly coupled to the drive shaft, which eliminates the need for complex gear and linkage arrangements. A system can be used with the toroidal engine to alternately stop the crank assemblies at a pre-determined position and to time the ignition of the engine.

Abstract: A guided-vane rotary internal combustion engine including a plurality of working chambers which are separated from one another by way of vane assemblies which rotate with a rotor assembly about an axis employs a rotor assembly having a plurality of sectors wherein each sector is associated with a corresponding working chamber and a plurality of spark plugs wherein each spark plug is mounted within a corresponding sector for igniting an air/fuel mixture contained within a corresponding working chamber. A rotor disk is mounted upon the rotor assembly for rotation therewith and acts as a distributor through which energizing charges are conducted to the spark plugs. In addition, a controller is utilized for selectively activating or de-activating the working chambers of the engine upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

Abstract: A rotary-piston internal-combustion engine comprises a rotating block with three radially situated cylinders with pistons and an outside placed stationary case with two intake ports and two exhaust ports. Between the rotating block and the stationary case there are sealing parts and connecting rods, connected to one crank pin of a crankshaft. Between the crankshaft and the rotating block there is gearing for three times higher revolutions of the crankshaft in the opposite direction with respect to the rotating block. In the stationary case there are at least two spark plugs placed on the opposite sides. The bore of cylinders is 2 to 3.5 times higher than the stroke of pistons and all sealing parts with pressure springs that seal spaces of cylinders to the outer stationary case are placed in cavities in the stationary case.

Abstract: A rotary machine is provided, having a stator forming a chamber for a rotor, the stator having two sidewalls defining opposite sides of the chamber and a substantially continuous, circumferentially extending inner wall, and at least one inlet and outlet. A rotor and stator define two cavities at opposite ends of the chamber. The rotor has at least two radially extending slots and at least two radially movable vanes having first and second primary rollers and first and second secondary rollers mounted on a radially inward section of the vane. Two roller cam devices are each provided on a respective one of the stator side walls and are positioned centrally adjacent opposite sides of the rotor. In use, outer tips of the vanes slidingly engage the inner wall of the stator. The primary rollers limit outward vane movement due to centrifugal forces. Secondary rollers limit and control inward vanes movement.

Abstract: A lightweight rotary engine is provided that comprises a structurally efficient, lightweight rotor housing. Disposed in the wall of the rotor housing is a combustion zone thermal barrier insert. The thermal barrier insert is comprised of a material with low thermal conductivity. The use of the insert allows the rotor housing to be constructed from higher strength material such as steel or titanium.

Abstract: The problems of prior compressor structures relying upon conventional check valves are obviated by using, instead, flow control passages which operate to control flow while avoiding mechanical moving elements which may become problematical.

Abstract: A split-cycle variable capacity rotary spark ignition engine system having at least a first rotary configuration (C1) including repetitively volume variable working chambers [60, 61, 62] for carrying out the combustion-expansion and exhaust phases and at least a second rotary configuration (C2) including repetitively volume variable working chambers (70, 71, 72) for carrying out the intake and compression phases of a four phase engine cycle. Dividing seal means (73, 74 of C1, 75, 76 of C2) for periodically dividing each of successive working chambers into a volume enlarging leading portion and a volume contracting trailing portion. Discharge valve means for varying compression chamber capacity through discharging fraction of trapped intake gas from compression chambers. A first phase altering arrangement is provided for varying the phase relation between the first rotary configuration (C1) and the second rotary configuration (C2).

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a support structure, including a tube and a hollow stator core, supported by and rigidly affixed to the tube. Additionally, a rotor assembly is eccentrically and rotatably mounted about the stator core and having a pair of partial sidewalls, each of which defines a circular opening. A pair of shaft seals, in which each shaft seal is set into one of the circular openings and are rotatably mounted about the tube. The stator core, rotor and shaft seals together define multiple, separate sealed chambers that change volume as the rotor moves. Finally, ignition, intake and exhaust mechanisms are mounted internal to the hollow stator core.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprising a support structure, including a tube and a hollow stator core, supported by and rigidly affixed to the tube. Additionally, a rotor assembly is eccentrically and rotatably mounted about the stator core and having a pair of partial sidewalls, each of which defines a circular opening. A pair of shaft seals, in which each shaft seal is set into one of the circular openings and are rotatably mounted about the tube. The stator core, rotor and shaft seals together define multiple, separate sealed chambers that change volume as the rotor moves. Finally, ignition, intake and exhaust mechanisms are mounted internal to the hollow stator core.

Abstract: A reciprocating rotary piston system includes a cylinder (3) having an annular and hollow interior; a plurality of pistons (1A to 1D) of which first and second parties are formed to be disposed alternately on the same inner circumference of the cylinder, the first and second parties of the pistons reciprocating along a given arc at the same speed and in the opposite direction with respect to each other; a plurality of intake valves (4A to 4D) mounted at each point of the cylinder where the two adjacent pistons meet for controlling flow of a fluid introduced therein to from the outside; and a plurality of exhaust valves (5A to 5D) mounted at each point of the cylinder where the two adjacent pistons meet for controlling flow of a fluid forced out from the inside. The piston system is used for a hydraulic/pneumatic pump, a vacuum pump and an internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A rotary engine having a pair of nested rotors positioned with a housing to define a central combustion chamber and four subchambers having variable volumes. Rotors are mounted about a driveshaft extending through the housing. The rotary engine utilizes tunable gas compression and expansion in order to manage emissions without needing exhaust gas recirculation or a complicated and expensive fuel injection system. The rotary engine is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, has no valve train, is vibrationless, has high power density, and has a wide speed range.

Abstract: A rotary engine in which two rotors having interleaving radial vanes revolve inside a cylindrical cavity and are connected to a planetary output gear system which causes them to alternately speed up and slow down. The radial vanes divide the cylindrical cavity into four chambers in which intake, compression, explosion and exhaustion occur. At least two glow plugs, each of which contains a coil of refractory wire, are located at different angular positions relative to the axis of the cavity. The glow plugs are selected so that one, which cools more rapidly than the other, will cause ignition at an earlier time than another of the glow plugs that cools more slowly. A passageway containing an adjustable, pressure-sensitive, valve vents the compression chamber to the intake chamber to allow the compression ratio to be varied, to allow a greater expansion ratio than compression ratio, and to allow adjustment of the time at which ignition occurs during each cycle.

Abstract: A rotary Wankel type engine system is disclosed, wherein the crankshaft is supported by a center main roller bearing. The rotor apexes are sealed by two piece apex seals and by side seals. The engine system further includes an oiling system which permits oil flow through the center bearing and through lubrication passages in the engine rotor to provide a means for cooling the engine rotor under high loading conditions. Riblets are defined in the combustion face of the rotor to promote aerodynamic lateral stratified charge control to minimize atomized fuel charge loss to surface wetting before ignition.

Abstract: A rotary Wankel type engine system is disclosed, wherein the crankshaft is supported by a center main roller bearing. The rotor apexes are sealed by two piece apex seals and by side seals. The engine system further includes an oiling system which permits oil flow through the center bearing and through lubrication passages in the engine rotor to provide a means for cooling the engine rotor under high loading conditions. Riblets are defined in the combustion face of the rotor to promote aerodynamic lateral stratified charge control to minimize atomized fuel charge loss to surface wetting before ignition.

Abstract: A stratified charge rotary combustion engine includes a main fuel injector, a pair of spark plugs and a piot fuel injector. The first spark plug is located upstream of the pilot fuel injector. The second spark plug is located upstream of the main fuel injector and is located upstream of the center of the top-dead-center region of the housing.

Abstract: An ignition plug is housed in a plug channel the cross-section of which reduces towards the end of the channel remote from the plug, and which terminates in an opening which is narrower in the direction of engine rotation. Burning efficiency is thereby enhanced, with effective constraint of harmful exhaust gas production.

Abstract: An ignition system for rotary piston engines includes a glow plug in addition to the normal leading spark plug and trailing spark plug. The glow plug is mounted in the housing of the engine on the leading side with respect to the trochoidal minor axis in the direction of the rotor rotation and performs continuous ignition of the mixture during low speed and load operation of the engine. Thus, during the low speed and load operation the glow plug performs ignition in place of the leading spark plug whereas during other engine operating conditions the leading spark plug and the trailing spark plug perform the ignition of the mixture.

Abstract: An ignition system for rotary piston engine wherein a glow plug mounted in the epitrochoidal housing of the engine is supplied with electric power to maintain the surface temperature of the glow plug within a range from 900.degree. to 1100.degree. C. A control unit for controlling the supply of electric power to the glow plug produces an output pulse signal the pulse width thereof being varied depending on engine operating conditions such as the amount of fuel supply and engine rotational speeds. A power circuit receives the pulse signal from the control unit and on-off controls the supply of electric power to the plug from a battery.

Abstract: An ignition system means for a rotary piston engine having a leading and a trailing ignition plug and incorporating an exhaust gas recirculation system. A control circuit is disclosed which selectively stops or delays the sparking operation of the trailing ignition plug only when the three conditions are simultaneously satisfied: that the throttle opening is in a medium range for effecting a low load operation of the engine; that the engine rotational speed is below a predetermined relatively low value; and that the exhaust gas recirculation ratio is below a predetermined relatively moderate value.

Abstract: A rotary piston internal combustion engine of the Wankel type for reducing unburned detrimental components such as NOx, HC, CO, etc. in exhaust gas without decrease of engine performance which comprises a first combustion chamber communicating by means of a passage means with a second combustion chamber formed between a trochoidal inner peripheral surface of a housing and a side surface of a rotary piston, said first combustion chamber being formed radially outside of said trochoidal inner peripheral surface, the volume of said first combustion chamber being 35 to 65% of the sum of both said combustion chambers at the top dead center (T.D.C.) of the engine, a fuel injection nozzle and an ignition plug provided in said first combustion chamber, said passage means opening onto said trochoidal inner peripheral surface in the range of 15.degree. before the junction of the two arcuate portions of said trochoidal inner surface to 30.degree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for igniting the air-fuel mixture within a rotary combustion engine. A primary transformer core half and its primary winding are positioned in the upper cover plate of a Wankel rotary engine. Three spark plugs are electrically connected to their own secondary transformer core halves and secondary windings in a hollow rotor piston. The transformer core halves are arranged so that whenever the rotor is in correct position for ignition to occur (around T.D.C.) the primary transformer core half and one secondary transformer core half are in proper alignment for magnetic flux coupling between the two transformer core halves. When so coupled, high voltage necessary for spark plug firing is induced in the secondary winding whenever the primary winding is excited with an alternating current generated by a gated power oscillator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving the combustion process of an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A prechamber containing a combustible mixture is designed to generate a torch eminating therefrom upon ignition; the torch is controlled to extend and penetrate deeply into the main combustion at a predetermined orientation without contact with the chamber walls. The swirling flame front of the sustained torch produces superior mixing with the unburned combustible mixture in the main combustion, particularly of a rotary engine. The prechamber is located outside the epitrochoid chamber of the rotary engine; in a nonstratified charge mode of this invention, the prechamber serves to receive a portion of the main chamber inducted charge during the compression cycle, which may lean and difficult to ignite in the main chamber. In the prechamber, concentrated hot walls and a localized spark facilitate ready ignition, which in turn permits generation of a torch therefrom.