Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an engine block has a cylinder defined therein. The cylinder has a longitudinal axis. A first piston and a second piston are disposed within the cylinder. The first piston is directly opposed to the second piston. A first crankshaft is coupled to the first piston. A second crankshaft is coupled to the second piston. The first crankshaft is coupled to the second crankshaft through a plurality of gears. A pocket extends from the cylinder. The pocket defines a dead space therein. The pocket has a first wall spaced apart from a second wall, and a third wall coupled between the first wall and the second wall. The first wall has a first opening. The second wall has a second opening. The third wall has a third opening. A first valve is located within the first opening. A second valve located within the second opening. A spark plug is located within the third opening.

Abstract: A valveless four-stroke internal combustion engine employs an intake piston and an exhaust piston that reciprocate within intake and exhaust cylinders disposed adjacent the combustion chamber of the engine. A power piston reciprocates within a cylinder that defines a portion of the combustion chamber. An intake port opens into the intake cylinder, and an exhaust port opens into the exhaust cylinder. Upon reciprocation of the intake and exhaust pistons, the exhaust ports will be covered and uncovered. By coordinating movement of the intake and exhaust pistons with reciprocation of the power piston, a combustible fuel-air mixture will be drawn into the combustion chamber, ignited, and exhausted. The timing and extent of movement of the intake and exhaust pistons can be controlled by a crankshaft or cams.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine comprises one or more pairs of first and second cylinders, the first cylinder having a larger swept volume than the second cylinder and respective first and second pistons reciprocable in the cylinders. The second piston has a drive stem and divides the second cylinder into a first volume containing the drive stem of the second piston and a second volume between the two pistons. An air inlet and an exhaust outlet are provided for the first cylinder. A common combustion space is formed between the pistons when the pistons are substantially at their inner dead center positions, the combustion space comprising the second volume. A transfer means enables gas flow between the first volume and the combustion space towards the end of the compression stroke while an inhibiting means inhibits the movement of fuel/air mixture from the first volume into the second volume until towards the end of the compression stroke of the second piston.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for a dual compression and dual expansion internal combustion engine (8) that is compact, efficient, and has low combustion noise and emissions. The subject engine (8) includes a low pressure piston assembly (56) reciprocally disposed in an operating chamber (22) defined in a housing (10). A pair of opposed high pressure piston assemblies (58) and (60) are directly mounted on a pair of geared together, counter rotating, crankshafts (52) and (54) and reciprocally disposed in bores (178) and (186) of the low pressure piston assembly (56). The disposition of the second and third piston assemblies (58) and (60) within their respective bores (178) and (186) defines a combustion chamber (254). An intake chamber (144) for compression of inducted air and an an exhaust chamber (146) for expansion of exhaust gas are defined in the operating chamber (22) between the low pressure piston assembly (56) and the housing (10).

Abstract: An internal combustion engine presenting a number of cylinders, each defined by a respective axially symmetrical cavity formed in the engine block, and each defining, together with a piston sliding axially inside the cylinder and a head connected to the block, a combustion chamber served by a supply system on the head; the cylinders being divided into a first and second group, each composed of pairs of first and second cylinders arranged in a V and converging towards a respective drive shaft for each group; and the two groups being connected inverted and facing each other, so that the first and second cylinders in each pair of cylinders in the first group are connected at the respective head end so as to form a V with respective first and second cylinders in each corresponding pair of cylinders in the second group, and so that each pair of first cylinders in the two groups defines a first combustion chamber, and each pair of second cylinders in the two groups defines a second combustion chamber common to the

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for a dual compression and dual expansion internal combustion engine (8) that is compact, efficient, and has low combustion noise and emissions. The subject engine (8) includes a low pressure piston assembly (56) reciprocally disposed in an operating chamber (22) defined in a housing (10). A pair of opposed high pressure piston assemblies (58) and (60) are directly mounted on a pair of geared together, counter rotating, crankshafts (52) and (54) and reciprocally disposed in bores (178) and (186) of the low pressure piston assembly (56). The disposition of the second and third piston assemblies (58) and (60) within their respective bores (178) and (186) defines a combustion chamber (254). An intake chamber (144) for compression of inducted air and an exhaust chamber (146) for expansion of exhaust gas are defined in the operating chamber (22) between the low pressure piston assembly (56) and the housing (10).

Abstract: An opposed piston internal combustion engine comprises an output shaft, at least one cylinder, at least one pair of first and second opposed pistons slidable in said cylinder, a first cam connected to the output shaft and a first cam follower assembly connecting the first piston to the first can, a second cam connected to the output shaft and a second cam follower assembly connecting the second piston to the second cam, an intake valve comprising a slide valve obtained by first piston covering and uncovering an intake port provided in a sidewall of the cylinder at a first end of the cylinder, and an exhaust valve comprising a slide valve obtained by the second piston covering and uncovering an exhaust port provided in the sidewall of the cylinder at a second opposite end of the cylinder, the first and second cams cooperating to provide a cycle of relative movements between the pistons and of valve actions giving rise to five cycles of (i) intake, (ii) compression, (iii) expansion, (iv) exhaust, and (v) return

Abstract: Presented is an internal combustion engine that utilizes horizontally opposed pistons operating in direct opposition to one another in axially aligned open ended cylinders suspended below a base plate and arranged generally symmetrically on opposite sides of a vertical plane coincident with the rotational axis of a longitudinally extending main power crankshaft also suspended for rotation below the base plate. A pair of auxiliary crankshafts are provided spaced on opposite sides of the vertical plane and having rotational axes that lie in a common plane below and parallel with the plane of the base plate and coincident with the longitudinal axis of the cylinders. A cam shaft is provided to be driven by at least one of the auxiliary crankshafts in timed sequence with linear displacement of the pistons and operation of poppet-type intake and exhaust valves actuated by the cam shaft to admit a fuel mixture into the combustion chamber defined by the juxtaposed heads of the pistons.

Abstract: Each main cylinder (10) of an internal combustion engine is provided with a smaller idle cylinder (12). Pistons (14, 20) in the cylinders (10, 12) are operated substantially in unison and are driven by crank shafts (18, 24) which are mechanically connected (26). A fuel air charge is compressed within the idle cylinder (12). Then, it is ignited within an ignition passageway (60). The ignited mixture is injected into a center region of the combustion chamber (58) of the main cylinder (10). A relatively lean fuel-air mixture is delivered by a duct (54) into the combustion chamber (58) as a swirling stream. Air alone is delivered by duct (56) into the combustion chamber around the swirling fuel-air stream from duct (54). The ignited gases from passageway (60) ignites the fuel air mixture in combustion chamber (58).

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has two cylinders (12, 14) interconnected at their head ends by a combustion chamber (20) which contains a catalyst (22). The cylinders have respective pistons (16, 18) reciprocable towards and way from the combustion chamber (20) and arranged to perform together the induction, compression, expansion and exhaust strokes. Air only or the like is freely inducted into one cylinder (12) while fuel or a fuel/air mixture is metered and inducted into the other cylinder (14) during the induction stroke. The catalyst is of a type which effects a chemical reaction to initiate combustion at a relatively low temperature so that when the fuel/air mix contacts the catalyst at the required temperature ignition takes place.

Abstract: An intake manifold arrangement for internal combustion engines whereby the combustion chamber can be supercharged without the use of mechanical gears and/or pumps. A pressure chamber is mounted upon the combustion chamber and communicates with the combustion chamber and an air and fuel mixture supply. A check valve for selectively allowing the mixture to enter the pressure chamber is provided between the air and fuel supply and the pressure chamber. An intake valve for providing selective communication between the pressure chamber and the combustion chamber is provided and controlled by the compression ratio control mechanism. The compression ratio control mechanism includes an axially slidable cam having a lifting surface of greater duration axially at one end of the cam than the other end of the cam. The cam is selectively axially shifted by an accelerator pedal which controls a hydraulic piston coupled to the cam.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder internal combustion engine comprising: first and second crankshafts disposed apart from and parallel with each other; first and second pistons operatively connected to the first and second crankshafts through connecting rods, respectively; and first and second cylinders for slidably accommodating therein the first and second pistons, respectively, both the crankshafts being interlocked with each other to rotate synchronously, the first and second cylinders being disposed adjacent to each other in the axial directions of the crankshafts. Vibrations due to the primary inertial force can be eliminated or alleviated without using a special balancer shaft. The size and weight of the engine are greatly reduced as compared with a conventional horizontally opposed type or V type engine.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine adapted to be powered by a burnable gaseous fuel includes one cylinder, first and second pistons reciprocally movable in the cylinder substantially in opposite directions, inlet and outlet valves for controlling the flow of the gaseous fuel into the cylinder, and the exhaust of the burnt fuel therefrom, respectively, and a linkage device connected to the pistons for converting the reciprocating movement thereof into a rotary movement.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine utilizing either an Otto or a Diesel cycle contains two opposed pistons in each cylinder. The first piston drives a crank arm which drives a crankshaft. The crankshaft, through a timing means, drives an eccentric positive-motion cam which drives a movable cylinder head piston. The positive-motion cam drives the movable cylinder head piston via two roller followers, placed on opposite sides of the axis of rotation of the cam. The first piston functions as a driving piston. The movable cylinder head piston changes the volume in the cylinder between the pistons as a function of the movement and position of the first piston.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided having a housing with a pair of crankshafts rotatably mounted within the housing in a spaced and parallel relationship. One or more throughbores, forming the cylinder for the engine, are provided in the housing between the crankshafts and slidably receive a pair of piston members therein and in a facing relationship, the piston members being connected to their respective crankshafts by connecting rods in the usual manner. A fuel inlet passageway is provided in the housing to supply a fuel air mixture to each cylinder and between the piston members while, similarly, an exhaust passage is provided in the housing to permit the exhaust fumes to be expelled from each cylinder. An inlet rotary valve is positioned within the inlet passageway and includes at least one diametric throughport for selectively opening and closing the inlet passageway in dependence upon the rotational position of the inlet valve.

Abstract: A diesel, gasoline or gas internal combustion engine adapted for operation on a two-cycle or four-cycle basis includes apparatus to vary the compression ratio of gases during operation of the engine. Two pistons, connected to separate crankshafts, communicate with each other in a single internal combustion chamber. One piston is reciprocated by a crankshaft in one cylinder portion to convert thermal energy into mechanical energy. The displacement of the one piston defines a fixed compression ratio and the displacement of a second piston by a second crankshaft in the other cylinder portion operates in the combustion chamber to a second fixed compression ratio. The two crankshafts are coupled together through timing means used to change the relative rotational phase relation between the crankshafts whereby a net compression ratio is formed as components of the compression ratios of both pistons.

Abstract: A paired piston engine has a rotary valve positioned above and transversely to the cylinders. The rotor of each rotary valve unit has three passages associated with three ports in the pressure pieces at the sides of the rotors. One passage/port arrangement opens and closes the intake. A second passage/port arrangement opens and closes the exhaust. The third passage/port arrangement opens and closes a second exhaust or second intake. As a result, the engine is a six cycle engine (third passage/port as a second exhaust) or a stratified charge engine (third passage/port as a stratified charge intake).

Abstract: A power device or mechanism embodying cyclic compression and expansion of compressible fluids, such as various gases, in a unique manner hereinafter referred to as the "Zachery" cycle. The power device, as disclosed, includes a chamber, such as a cylinder, and movable components, such as opposed pistons, associated with the chamber for varying the volume of the chamber and varying the pressure of gases therein with the movable components being mechanically connected to crankshafts or other mechanisms to enable the highest pressures obtained during the compression-expansion cycle to occur at or near the maximum lever arm of a crankshaft or other mechanism thereby generating the maximum torque possible from the gas pressure available. The power device also exerts its maximum force when the pressure within the chamber is at a maximum.