Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to a heat engine. The heat engine includes a pipe that defines a continuous internal path. The pipe includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section. The heat engine includes a first piston disposed within the first pipe section. The heat engine includes a second piston disposed within the second pipe section. The first and second pistons are magnetically linked to travel along the continuous internal path of the pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of generating electricity using buoyancy principles, a buoyancy-driven power generation system comprising a closed-loop passage defined by a surrounding structure, the closed-loop passage arranged vertically to extend longitudinally along a closed-loop path, the passage configured to retain a liquid, a plurality of rotor-vessels slidingly arranged within the closed-loop passage and configured to translate along the closed-loop path within the closed-loop passage, each of the plurality of rotor-vessels including a fluid-retention cavity formed in a body of the rotor-vessel and having a density greater than a liquid in which the plurality of rotor-vessels will be submerged for power generation operations.

Abstract: An energy conversion system which utilizes magneto-hydrodynamics for energy based on the Stirling cycle without any moving parts. The energy conversion system generally includes a containment chamber which includes no moving parts. A compressible gas traverses through four distinct sections of the containment chamber to allow for energy conversion based on the Stirling cycle. The first section performs constant volume heating of the medium, the second section performs isothermal expansion of the medium, the third section performs constant volume cooling of the medium, and the fourth section performs isothermal compression of the medium. Electrical conductors installed within the containment chamber and magnetic field placed adjacent to the electric conductors within the containment chamber will extract electrical energy from the moving compressed ionized gas (CIG) using the principle of magneto-hydrodynamics.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a toroidal motor comprising a centrally located output shaft, a circular plate centrally and transversely affixed to the output shaft, a toroidal cylinder located in the same plane as and to the outside edge of the circular plate, pistons affixed to the outside edge of the circular plate and residing in the toroidal cylinder. A circular timing track may be used to time the action of a knife gate assembly which may be configured to induce a camming action in the knife gate assembly, rotating the knife gate into the toroidal cylinder, blocking the cylinder just behind a passing piston. Pressurized fluid may be introduced between the knife gate and the rear of the immediate downstream piston to cause a differential pressure to propel the piston through the toroidal cylinder.

Abstract: An engine with expansion piston located on the end of a motion arm connected to the engine shaft. On the shaft, rotating compression pistons are mounted. The distance between the two piston types allows for the production of great torque. The geometry of expansion chamber and compression chamber is concentric toroidal. A pressure chamber stores the air-fuel mixture coming from the compression chamber to the expansion chamber and is therefore interposed between the two. The timing of the two or more sliding ports attached to the compression chambers determines the compression volume, while the valves control the communication of the pressure chamber with the other chambers.

Abstract: A rotary vane engine system for using exhaust heat energy of a fuel-based heat engine. The heat engine includes a crankshaft being driven by a combustion cycle, and the heat engine generates exhaust gases by combustion. The system comprises an independent air system, wherein the independent air system contains air separate to the exhaust gases. A heat exchanger system is provided for transferring exhaust heat energy from the exhaust gases to the air contained in the independent air system to generate pressurized air. A rotary vane engine is also provided having a housing, a rotor contained within the housing and coupled to the crankshaft of the heat engine, and a plurality of vanes extending radially from the rotor. The pressurized air is expanded within the rotary vane engine for rotation of the rotor thereby providing drive to the crankshaft of the heat engine.

Abstract: A rotary-vane machine, has a stationary tubular housing having a lubricated pump with an oil carter, and an oil-free section, with two pairs of ports through which a working medium enters or exits, a housing cover plate, a sun gear attached to a boss, a bearing and oil transferring member, a cover disc attachable to the end of the oil-free housing section, and a tubular rotor inside of which are fixedly attachable, two tapering vanes rotatable, together with the rotor, at a uniform speed.

Abstract: An expansible chamber device includes a braking system with a set of cam surfaces on the piston assemblies and a set of movable members adapted to alternately engage first and second sets of cam surfaces to stop the rotation of first piston assembly while permitting second piston assembly to rotate freely. A pair of elongate pivotable members engage the piston assemblies on one end and engage a slidable member having an adjustable length on the other end. The slidable member and the pivotable members alternate between first and second positions in response to engagement with ramp and stop surfaces provided on the piston assemblies. The rotating piston synchronizing system includes a set of biasing springs to urge the pivotable members into a suitable position to permit the device to be started from an at rest condition. The adjustable length slidable member enables a variable compression ratio.

Abstract: Toroidal internal combustion engine comprising two concentric engine rings. Intake valves are assembled in two faces of one set of pistons and exhaust valves in two faces of the second set of pistons. The intake-valve pistons are fixedly attached to one of the engine rings and the exhaust-valve pistons to the other engine ring. The face of one intake-valve piston and the face of one adjacent exhaust-valve piston form boundaries of an engine chamber. Combustion forces on the piston faces force the two concentric engine rings to counter-rotate. The intake-valve piston and the adjacent exhaust-valve piston sweep the same chamber volume at different strokes of the engine cycle. The engine is constructed of CRC material and mounted on a central shaft, with the intake manifold and the exhaust manifold mounted on each side of the engine, providing a lightweight, self-lubricating, highly fuel efficient, and dynamically balanced engine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing predetermined quantities of a meat product, inc which the apparatus comprises a twin vane concentric pump with an inlet and an outlet circumferentially spaced from one another, and a pair of independently movable vanes. During operation, one of the vanes is positioned between the inlet and outlet to permit pressurization of meat chunks in a chamber communicating with an outlet opening. The other vane is advanced toward the outlet with the outlet valve closed until a predetermined pressure is reached, at which point the outlet valve is opened to dispense a predetermined quantity of meat product. Similar to single vane meat pumps, the disclosed twin vane pump is capable of handling large meat chunks while causing relatively little damage to the chunks.

Abstract: Described here are the working chamber assembly of a rotary engine comprising the outer cover and first and second piston assemblies, each of which assemblies includes a piston hub to which coaxial piston shafts and at least one pair of diametrically opposite pistons are affixed; circular seal means housed along the crevice between the two piston assemblies, and along the crevices between the two piston assemblies and the outer cover; seal means housed along the convex outer ridge surface of each piston; and a lubricant oil delivery/recycling system to those seal means. Piston rings are provided with a centrifugal force containment mechanism to minimize the negative effect of centrifugal force on them.

Abstract: An expansible chamber device includes a rotating piston braking system and a rotating piston synchronizing system. The rotating piston braking system controls the motion of the expansible chamber device piston assemblies to cause intermittent rotation of the piston assemblies in the same direction during recurrent periods of rotation, with each of the piston assemblies being stopped between the periods of rotation. The braking system includes a set of cam surfaces on the piston assemblies and a set of movable members adapted to alternately engage the first and second set of cam surfaces to stop the rotation of first piston assembly while permitting second piston assembly to rotate freely. A pair of elongate pivotable members engage the piston assemblies on one end and engage a slidable member on the other end. The slidable member and the pivotable members alternate between first and second positions in response to engagement with ramp and stop surfaces provided on the piston assemblies.

Abstract: A machine with rotary pistons having an engine unit with a cylindrical chamber, the engine having two rotors coaxially mounted in the cylindrical chamber. The first rotor is continuously rotationally driven. The second rotor is intermittently rotationally driven in a same direction as the first rotor. A transmission is connected between the rotors. This transmission includes an engaging member having a non-return mechanism. The non-return mechanism includes a first element fixed to the engine unit and a second element in engagement with the second rotor. The first and second elements are cooperative with each other through an angular blocking during the explosion and intake phase of the engine unit. The hydraulic pump has a rotor coupled to the first rotor and a stator coupled to the engine unit. A hydraulic motor is coupled to the second rotor and connected to the hydraulic pump by a hydraulic circuit. At least one valve is operatively connected to the engaging member.

Abstract: An orbiting piston combustion engine includes a toroidal cylindrical block with a continuous toroidal cylinder within the block. Within the cylinder is a continuously orbiting piston assembly which includes a compression piston with a compression chamber therebehind in the direction of rotation within the cylinder and a power piston with a combustion chamber therebehind in the direction of rotation within the cylinder. A power transfer mechanism is engageable with the continuously orbiting piston assembly for power transfer from the engine.

Abstract: A turbocharger for internal combustion engines comprising a unidirectional energy converter having a closed, continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely-movable, unrestrained bodies which travel around the passageway in one direction only. In one region of the passageway, successive bodies are propelled in one direction around the passageway by exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. In another region of the passageway, the kinetic energy of the propelled bodies is used to compress a gas, which can be mixed with fuel. This compressed gas is then forced into the cylinders of the internal combustion engine; whereupon the bodies are again propelled around the passageway to repeat the cycle.

Abstract: Heat pump apparatus employing a continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely-movable, unrestrained bodies. The bodies are accelerated around the passageway in one direction by adiabatic expansion of a fluid between the bodies in an expander region of the passageway. The expanded, cooler fluid is discharged from the passageway via one or more vent-intake ports in the passageway beyond the expander region. Warmer fluid enters the passageway via said ports and is compressed between the propelled bodies in a compression region of the passageway, thereby raising its temperature from a first temperature (e.g., the temperature of the outdoor atmosphere or an industrial waste heat stream) to a second temperature higher than the first. The compressed, warmer fluid is thereafter passed through a heat exchanger to extract heat.

Abstract: Heat pump apparatus employing a continuous loop passageway containing a plurality of freely movable, unrestrained bodies. The bodies are accelerated around the passageway in one direction by isentropic expansion of a fluid between the bodies in an expander region of the passageway. The expanded, cooler fluid is discharged from the passageway via one or more vent-intake ports in the passageway beyond the expander region. Warmer fluid enters the passageway via said ports and is compressed between the propelled bodies in a compression region of the passageway, thereby raising its temperature from a first temperature (e.g., the temperature of the outdoor atmosphere or an industrial waste heat stream) to a second temperature higher than the first. The compressed, warmer fluid is thereafter passed through a heat exchanger to extract heat.

Abstract: Rotary engine has four pistons circling in a toroidal chamber formed inside a casing, successive pairs of cylinders accelerating and decelerating relative to each other. The pistons are carried on piston carriers that are generally figures of revolution. Portions of these piston carriers are joined by bevel gears through which both rotation and accompanying oscillation are enforced upon the piston carriers.

Abstract: This rotary engine has two rotary piston carriers, with each of them carrying two pistons which circle a toroidal chamber. Crankshafts contacting those piston carriers offcenter program them in oppositely phased acceleration and deceleration, with two cycles of this superimposed upon one 360.degree. turn of the piston carriers.Pinion gears are solidly secured to the crankshafts and run in (and mesh with) a fixed ring gear of twice the pinion diameter. That diameter relation precludes running the ordinary shaft through the toroid's central axis. As disclosed here a drum-like assembly is put together which can rotate in that space. Diametrically opposite the offcenter crankshaft is a tie rod. Both it and the crankshaft are secured to the piston carriers snugly against any looseness, and this drum-like assembly rotates continuously at and around the central axis.

Abstract: In an internal-combustion engine having a cylindrical casing and two sets of pistons mounted in the casing for rotation about the casing axis and for angular reciprocating movement of one set relative to the other set, whereby combustion chambers between the two sets alternatingly expand and contract, the circumferential faces of all pistons sealingly engage the casing wall, the circumferential faces in one set of pistons being much wider than in the other set. Recesses in each of the wide faces bound an elongated land obliquely inclined relative to the casing axis while the narrow circumferential faces are axially elongated. The ports in the casing wall alternatingly opened and closed by the piston faces are parallelogram-shaped, two sides of each parallelogram being parallel with the direction of elongation of the lands, the other two sides being parallel with the narrow circumferential faces when the ports are covered by the faces respectively.

Abstract: A rotary engine including a pair of concentric rotors one being rotatable within the other, one of said rotors being driven by the output shaft of the engine and the other rotor connected to drive said output shaft. The outer rotor having radially inwardly extending abutments and the inner rotor having radially outwardly extending abutments, the abutments of the two rotors defining therebetween a plurality of expansible gas chambers. The inner rotor having means to hold same stationary so as to provide a reaction member for said outer rotor and intermittent drive means driven by said output shaft and adapted to intermittently drive said inner rotor to create relative rotation between said rotors whereby expansion and contraction of said chambers will take place.