Abstract: A motion conversion apparatus (100) comprises a rodrack assembly (110), which includes two guide members (140) and a first gear connection member (120) comprising opposing engaging arrangements (1201). The motion conversion apparatus (100) further comprises a gearshaft member (150) causing reciprocating linear motion of the rodrack assembly (110) along a reciprocation direction (D) by rotational motion of the gearshaft member (150). The gearshaft member (150) includes a second gear connection member (160) configured to engage with the first gear connection member (120), and a guiding surface arrangement (170) configured to contact a guide member (140) during rotational motion of the gearshaft member (150), wherein one gearshaft member (150) revolution causes a single period of reciprocating linear motion of the rodrack assembly (110). The guiding surface arrangement (170) contacts one of the two guide members (140) at an endpoint of the reciprocating linear motion of the rodrack assembly (110).

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided that may include Stirling cycle configurations and/or linear-to-rotary mechanisms in accordance with various embodiments. Some embodiments include a Stirling cycle device that may include a first hot piston contained within a first hot cylinder and a first cold piston contained within a first cold cylinder. A first single actuator may be configured to couple the first hot piston with the first cold piston such that the first hot piston and the first cold piston are on different thermodynamic circuits. The different thermodynamic circuits may include adjacent thermodynamic circuits. The Stirling cycle configuration may be configured as a single-acting alpha Stirling cycle configuration. Some embodiments include a linear-to-rotary mechanism device. The device may include multiple linkages. The device may include a cam plate coupled with the multiple linkages utilizing a cam and multiple cam followers. The linkages may include Watt linkages.

Abstract: A combustion engine having a pair of two-chamber cylinders, in which double ended pistons are located and directed toward themselves oppositely by the angle 180° and compressed together via crankshafts consisting of two crank elements, which are linked rotationally backward by a spacer bearing. The compression is realized with the use of two connecting rod pairs, from which each connecting rod is linked on the one side to with one crank element, whereas the second connecting rod ends are linked to one of shafts, out of which each shaft is connected with one of pistons via a valve rod. In the middle of each cylinder's wall the outlet channel of compressed air is located as well as the outlet channel of products of combustion together with air. In the head of each cylinder and in the compartment the fuel injector, the water vapor injector and the ignition element are located.

Abstract: An opposed piston engine has a driveshaft with at least two combustion cylinders serially aligned along a center cylinder axis so as to be coaxial, where the center cylinder axis is parallel with but spaced apart from the driveshaft axis. A cam is disposed between adjacent combustion cylinders, as well as adjacent the outermost end of each combustion cylinder in order to reciprocatingly drive piston pairs disposed in each combustion cylinder.

Abstract: One-stroke internal combustion engines may comprise reciprocating pistons which are either straight or rotary. Three principles are required to make one-stroke engines work: create four dedicated chambers, assign the chambers with coordinated functions, and make pistons move in unison. The functions will be assigned only to a single stroke but an Otto cycle produces a repeating four stroke cycle. Since four functions are performed simultaneously during one stroke, every stroke becomes a power stroke. In reality, 1-stroke engines are physically rearranged 4-stroke engines. Both straight and rotary 1-stroke engines can be modified to comprise opposed piston opposed cylinder (OPOC) engines. The reciprocating piston output of 1-stroke pistons may be converted to continuously rotating output by using crankshafts with split bushings or newly developed Crankgears with conventional bearings.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward implementations of internal combustion engines. The disclosure describes various embodiments of internal combustion engines where most of the internal elements rotate. Such engines allow for more efficient transfer of the energy created by combustion to the motive components of a vehicle such as wheels or propellers. One specific embodiment includes a rotating cylinder with a single piston which both reciprocates and rotates. The rotating motion of the piston is transferred to the cylinder, which in turn is connected to a driveshaft. Various embodiments of the invention employ differing numbers and configurations of pistons. All embodiments have the advantage of decreasing engine volume and increasing efficiency over traditional internal combustion engines.

Abstract: Internal combustion engines and methods of operating an internal combustion engine are provided. The engine may include double-ended pistons such that power strokes can be applied to drive the double-ended piston in both directions along the axis along which the piston reciprocates. In some engines, multiple pistons may be connected to a single piston shaft and arranged inline such that the motion thereof is in the same direction at all times along the piston axis of motion. In one engine, the double-ended piston divides a cavity of the engine block or cylinder wall into two separate compression chambers. Each compression chamber has its own fuel inlet. Each fuel inlet is coupled to a different fuel source such that one fuel may be combusted in one of the compression chambers and a different fuel is combusted in the other one of the compression chambers.

Abstract: A dual-crankshaft engine is presented. In one embodiment, the engine includes a first crankshaft and a second crankshaft. The second crankshaft is coupled with the first crankshaft such that the first crankshaft and the second crankshaft are horizontally coplanar. The engine further includes a first piston that is operable to reciprocate in a first horizontal cylinder via coupling with the first crankshaft, and a second piston that is operable to reciprocate in a second horizontal cylinder via coupling with the second crankshaft. The second horizontal cylinder is horizontally collinear with and opposing the first horizontal cylinder.

Abstract: An action reaction combustion engine comprising of one or more engines with one or more pistons having adequate mass being housed in mated cylinders and having two opposing heads also having valving plumbing fuel delivery and starting means and allowed to reciprocate on linear bearings delivering a workforce on each end of back and fourth stroke one force when the pistons compresses and stops and one force when fuel ignites or high pressure air pushes and drives the piston back producing four power events every one complete reciprocating cycle or revolution of the crank or other drive mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a crankshaft is described. The crankshaft includes a main shaft and an axially offset crank pin connected to the main shaft. The apparatus includes a first piston that alternately drives an attached connecting frame in reciprocating motion. A hub is rotatably mounted within the connecting frame with the hub defining a channel and the crank pin disposed therein. The apparatus includes a locking mechanism with a locked state in which the hub is prevented from rotating and an unlocked state in which the hub freely rotates. The reciprocating motion of the first piston and the connecting frame imparts reciprocating travel of the crank pin between ends of the channel and consequent rotation of the main shaft in the locked state; while the crankshaft and the hub rotate freely in the unlocked state, with the first piston and the connecting frame in a stationary position.

Abstract: An engine including at least two piston and cylinder assemblies that, when operating with a fuel savings cycle, establish at the end of the simultaneous compression strokes a charge of compressed air in one cylinder of one assembly and a charge of compressed air fuel mixture in the other cylinder of the other assembly. When the air fuel mixture is ignited, the high pressure conditions in the other cylinder are immediately communicated through a passage to the one cylinder to accomplish a double expansion during the simultaneous power drive strokes thus using much of the pressure energy before exhaust occurs by the pistons themselves. The improvement comprises changing the other assembly which has the charge of compressed air fuel mixture therein between the two piston and cylinder assemblies in a predetermined pattern as, for example, an operative alternation between the two piston and cylinder assembles.

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

Abstract: An opposed-piston, opposed-cylinder engine in which the intake and exhaust pistons are symmetrically arranged has a small inertial force imbalance in the direction of reciprocation of the pistons. A center of gravity of the crankshaft can be displaced from the axis of rotation to at least partially overcome this imbalance. Such counterweighting of the crankshaft cancels a portion of the inertial balance due to the pistons but introduces an inertial imbalance in an orthogonal direction with respect to the piston-induced imbalance. By providing additional counterweights on pulleys rotating at the same speed, but the opposite direction, as the crankshaft, the imbalance can be substantially eliminated to yield substantially a perfectly-balanced engine.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a heat engine where combustion, expansion, and compression are independent, continuous, parallel cycles. The disclosed engine includes a crankcase situated between two axially-aligned, opposed cylinder blocks. Each opposed cylinder block contains zero-clearance cylinders. An oscillating two-headed piston separates each cylinder into expansion and compression chambers. A connecting rod connects the piston heads of opposed cylinder pairs, and articulates with a central, linear-throw, planetary crank mechanism. A single, rotary disk valve mates with each external expander face of the paired, opposed cylinder blocks to regulate expansion and exhaust functions. Controllable intake and outlet valves, integrated within each internal compressor face of the paired cylinder blocks, regulate intake, compression, and regenerative engine braking functions. A separate combustion chamber with heat regeneration capabilities and at least one compressed-air storage reservoir are included.

Abstract: A bearing connection having a connecting rod connected rigidly to a piston and a crankshaft driven by the connecting rod. The connecting rod is connected on the crankshaft side to a transverse bearing for a sliding block, the sliding block being mounted such that it can move to and fro in the transverse bearing and a rolling contact bearing being arranged in the sliding block in order to receive the crank pin of a crankshaft. At least one cavity is formed in the piston crown and, in the area thereof close to the piston longitudinal axis, is connected to an oil feed line running through the connecting rod and that the oil feed line in the connecting rod is led or extended to the end region thereof remote from the piston and, from there, is led onward into the interior of the transverse bearing via a transfer channel.

Abstract: An interstage valve for fluidly coupling two chambers of a double-piston engine is disclosed. The interstage valve may include a main valve body, a seal, and an electric coil. When closed, the seal is coupled to the main valve body as a result of electromagnetic forces generated by the electrical coil. The interstage valve is opened when the pressure differential between the engine chambers exceeds the electromagnetic forces. As the interstage valve opens, the electromagnetic forces diminish. The electromagnetic valve moves from the open state to the closed state when the pressure differential reverses. As the seal moves toward the main valve body, the electromagnetic forces increase, coupling the seal to the main valve body.

Abstract: A cylinder linkage method for a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine comprising connecting piston rods (27) and pistons (28) of four or more linkage combustion and compression reversible cylinder blocks (14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D) and of reversible precompression cylinder blocks (3, 8) simultaneously by one linkage rod (26), such that the linkage rod (26) is able to drive the linkage pistons (28) to move in the same direction simultaneously and to arrive at a top dead center or a bottom dead center or any same stroke position between the two dead centers of all the linkage cylinder blocks simultaneously. The cylinder linkage method for a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine can be used to manufacture a multi-cylinder linkage compound internal-combustion engine, and further used to manufacture internal-combustion engines such as gasoline internal-combustion engine, diesel internal-combustion engine, natural gas internal-combustion engine etc.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes a heat engine where combustion, expansion, and compression are independent, continuous, parallel cycles. Compression and expansion ratios are continuously controllable variables. The disclosed engine includes a crankcase situated between two axially-aligned, opposed cylinder blocks. Each opposed cylinder block contains four zero-clearance cylinders. An oscillating piston head separates each cylinder into external expansion and internal compression chambers. A single connecting rod rigidly connects the piston heads of opposed cylinder pairs, and articulates with a central, linear-throw, planetary crank mechanism. A single, rotary disk valve mates with each external expander face of the paired, opposed cylinder blocks and regulate all expansion and exhaust functions. Controllable intake and outlet valves, integrated within each internal compressor face of the paired, opposed cylinder blocks and regulates intake, compression, and regenerative engine braking functions.

Abstract: The horizontally opposed center fired engine improves on the traditional design of the horizontally opposed engines and center fired engines with a better engine geometry. The present invention utilizes four pairs of opposing pistons to compress a larger volume of air-fuel mixture within four different cylinders. The four different cylinders are radially positioned around a center axle in order to achieve a perfectly symmetric engine geometry. The center axle consists of two different shafts spinning in two different directions, which could drastically reduce engine vibrations in the present invention. Engine vibrations are caused by a change in engine speed and result in a loss of energy. Due to the design, the present invention will only experience energy loss in the form of entropy and friction. Thus, the present invention can convert a higher percentage of chemical energy into mechanical energy than any other internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A force transfer mechanism is provided for an internal-combustion engine. In the most preferred configuration, the force transfer mechanism comprises two inter-connected first class levers that are driven by four pistons. Each of the pistons is driven through its non-powered strokes by the action of the piston in its powered stroke on the first class levers. The force transfer mechanism also drives the crankshaft through a single connecting rod. The force transfer mechanism provides for less frictional loss, and greater efficiency, than a typical internal combustion engine.

Abstract: An electrical generator includes an opposed piston, internal-combustion engine with a piston and a hypocycloidal drive connected by a rod to the piston. The construction of the hypocycloidal drive imposes a sinusoidal period on the linear motion of the piston and connecting rod. As generator associated with the piston produces a sinusoidal voltage in response to the liner motion of the piston and connecting rod.

Abstract: Constant velocity internal combustion engines/designs capable of converting linear motion to rotary motion or rotary motion to linear motion include a gearshaft rather than a crankshaft, at least one pair of opposed and reciprocating pistons, and the gearshaft controlling the reciprocal linear translation of the pistons.

Abstract: A cylinder linkage method for a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine comprising connecting piston rods (27) and pistons (28) of four or more linkage combustion and compression reversible cylinder blocks (14A, 14B, 14C, 14D, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D) and of reversible precompression cylinder blocks (3, 8) simultaneously by one linkage rod (26), such that the linkage rod (26) is able to drive the linkage pistons (28) to move in the same direction simultaneously and to arrive at a top dead center or a bottom dead center or any same stroke position between the two dead centers of all the linkage cylinder blocks simultaneously. The cylinder linkage method for a multi-cylinder internal-combustion engine can be used to manufacture a multi-cylinder linkage compound internal-combustion engine, and further used to manufacture internal-combustion engines such as gasoline internal-combustion engine, diesel internal-combustion engine, natural gas internal-combustion engine etc.

Abstract: An interstage valve for fluidly coupling two chambers of a double-piston engine is disclosed. The interstage valve may include a main valve body, a seal, and an electric coil. When closed, the seal is coupled to the main valve body as a result of electromagnetic forces generated by the electrical coil. The interstage valve is opened when the pressure differential between the engine chambers exceeds the electromagnetic forces. As the interstage valve opens, the electromagnetic forces diminish. The electromagnetic valve moves from the open state to the closed state when the pressure differential reverses. As the seal moves toward the main valve body, the electromagnetic forces increase, coupling the seal to the main valve body.

Abstract: A piston of an internal combustion engine includes a cavity for gases passing a piston ring and a first flow path leading from the cavity to a piston ring region and a second flow path extending from the cavity to an outlet opening for removing gases to an inlet opening in a cylinder wall in at least one piston position.

Abstract: An opposed piston, internal-combustion engine including a cylinder with a bore and opposed pistons disposed within the bore is provided with one or more hypocycloidal drives that convert the linear motion of a piston to rotary output motion. An electrical generator includes an opposed piston, internal-combustion engine with a coil mounted to the skirt of a piston and a hypocycloidal drive connected by a rod to the piston. The construction of the hypocycloidal drive imposes a sinusoidal period on the linear motion of the piston. As the piston transports the coil though a magnetic field, a sinusoidal voltage is induced in the windings of the coil.

Abstract: The efficiency of a multi-cylinder engine is optimized by coupling the volume change in each cylinder to a common coordinate under conditions such that, at each point in the engine's cycle, the energy necessary to produce a differential volume change is reduced substantially to zero. Each cylinder is coupled to the common coordinate through a cam or through a variable-length connecting rod. The same efficiency optimization may be achieved with various combinations of cylinders in a two-cycle engine, a four-cycle engine, or a multi-cylinder compressor.

Abstract: A horizontally opposed engine includes a first cylinder and a second cylinder, a first camshaft, a second camshaft, a crankshaft side sprocket, a first camshaft side sprocket, a second camshaft side sprocket, and a timing chain wound around the sprockets. The timing chain is wound so that it extends substantially parallel with an axis of the cylinders extending between the first camshaft side sprocket and the second camshaft side sprocket. An upper chain guide defines a guide rail that is arranged to ensure that the timing chain extends straight. The horizontally opposed engine has a single timing chain that is arranged to transmit a rotation of a crankshaft to a camshaft in each cylinder, and that is resistant to the effects of elongation of the timing chain.

Abstract: A reciprocating device which may be operated either as a compressor or an engine. Each cylinder has a reciprocating piston connected to a piston rod. Dual cylinder chambers are located in each cylinder on opposite sides of the piston. The pistons are connected to a scotch yoke which translates the reciprocating motion of the pistons to rotary motion at a shaft in the engine mode. In the compressor mode, the shaft is connected to a power source. The engine components such as the pistons, rods, bushings and cylinder lines may be high quality steel or a ceramic.

Abstract: A multiple watt-linkage force transfer mechanism is provided for an internal-combustion engine. The force transfer mechanism comprises two “bell cranks” that are used to drive a single crankshaft through a watt linkage mechanism. Each bell crank, in turn, is driven by two pistons through corresponding watt linkage mechanisms. The watt linkages connected to the pistons enable the connection ends of the pistons to travel along substantially straight paths, significantly reducing side loads against the piston walls. Also, all four pistons preferably drive a single connecting rod. This changes the role of the crankshaft—and the corresponding strength and rigidity requirements for the crankshaft—by reducing the necessary number of rod journals and main journals on the crankshaft.

Abstract: An engine of the opposed piston, two-stroke, compression ignition type includes provision for injection of a main charge of liquid fuel into the bore of a cylinder between opposed pistons early in a compression stroke to permit the fuel to evaporate and mix with air during the remainder of the compression stroke to the point where the stoichiometric components of the mixture are insufficient for autoignition. Further provision is made for injection of a pilot charge of liquid fuel into the compressed air/fuel mixture later in the compression stroke. The pilot charge provides a stoichiometric component which autoignites, thereby activating ignition of the compressed air/fuel mixture.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine wherein each cylinder has two pistons placed in the opposite direction and attached together by an arm-type connecting rod and wherein a cylinder head has a rotor blade rotating in the middle between the upper cylinder head and the lower cylinder head whereby the upper cylinder head and the lower cylinder head are perforated with an intake port and an exhaust port. The rotor blade is perforated with one port and rotates by a gear which is at the outer edge of the rotor blade. When the piston reaches the power stroke, it generates force to act on the arm-type connecting rod and when the connecting rod arm moves in a linear motion, it transmits the force towards the crankshaft or the transmission shaft which is attached by a guide rail platform.

Abstract: The invention provides a 4-stroke reciprocating piston engine having a supercharging piston, which ensures dynamic balance of the engine with only a simple construction and achieves high output.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including at least one engine cylinder, the cylinder includes a cylinder cavity with first and second cylinder heads which are interconnected by a cylinder wall, the cylinder further includes a piston member which is slidably movement within the cylinder cavity and between a first and a second extreme position intermediate between the first and second cylinder heads, the piston member partitions the cavity into a first and a second combustion chambers which are in alternate combustion when in normal engine operation. This engine cylinder configuration substantially increases the usable cylinder volume to enhance efficiency and reduces the weight to power ratio.

Abstract: This engine 1 relies on a flywheel having a flywheel axis and an undulating cam surface. A piston with a roller at its base is positioned in a cylinder such that the roller abuts the undulating cam surface at some radial distance from the flywheel axis. Thus, as the piston is pushed downward by combustion pressure in the cylinder, it pushes against the cam surface causing the flywheel to rotate. As the flywheel continues to rotate its undulating surface pushes the piston back into position for a repetition of the cycle. The cam surface is configured to control at least one engine parameter such as compression ratio, duration of intake stroke, duration of exhaust stroke, duration of combustion stroke, duration of power stroke, compression stroke pattern, volumetric efficiency, or power stroke pattern.

Abstract: This engine 1 relies on a flywheel having a flywheel axis and an undulating cam surface. A piston with a roller at its base is positioned in a cylinder such that the roller abuts the undulating cam surface at some radial distance from the flywheel axis. Thus, as the piston is pushed downward by an explosion in the cylinder, it pushes against the cam surface causing the flywheel to rotate. As the flywheel continues to rotate its undulating surface pushes the piston back into position for a repetition of the cycle. More complex embodiments include one in which undulating surfaces are located on opposite faces of the same flywheel with separate pistons interacting with each face and one in which undulating surfaces are located on the facing surfaces of two separate flywheels with pistons positioned between the flywheels. In the latter embodiment, pistons can share the same cylinder.

Abstract: The bearing arrangement includes an annular flange provided with a groove, a holder disposed on a fixed axis opposite the groove and a hollow shell-shaped sphere mounted between the holder and the groove in the annular flange. The sphere is elastically deformable so that loads imposed on the bearing arrangement, for example, by a reciprocating piston rod of an internal combustion engine, can be spread over a large area as the sphere elastically deforms.

Abstract: A V-type engine having a turbocharger located between two banks, and an oil shield between the turbocharger and a valley of the banks. The oil shield blocks the oil spattered from the interbank valley so that flying of the oil to the turbocharger from the interbank valley is prevented. The oil shield may be an oil shielding plate. The oil shielding plate includes a cover portion covering a lower part of the turbocharger, and a plurality of extensions extending from the cover potion to be mounted on the engine. The cover portion has an oil outlet to allow a leakage oil to escape from the cover portion therethrough. An oil drain is formed in the interbank valley, and the leakage oil collected by the cover portion drops onto the interbank valley from the oil outlet of the cover portion and is subsequently discharged from the engine through the oil drain.

Abstract: The internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders which are arranged in an annular series about a common central drive shaft. Each cylinder includes a pair of opposed pistons which are movable towards and away from each other while defining a combustion chamber therebetween. Each piston is connected to a piston rod which causes rotation of a cam guide device secured to the drive shaft. At least one cam guide device is provided with an annular flange which subdivides a pressure oil chamber at the end of the drive shaft into two sub-chambers. Pressure oil can be delivered to one or the other of the sub-chambers in order to move the cam guide device axially thereby changing the compression ratio in the combustion chamber between the two pistons.