VARIABLE-COMPRESSION ENGINE ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. An engine assembly comprising:
- an output shaft;
a flywheel with a variable cam surface, the flywheel being slidably mounted onto the output shaft and rotatable about a flywheel axis; and
an internal combustion device with a piston movable along a central axis in a cycle between retracted and extended positions, the piston engaging the variable cam surface, and the central axis of the piston being spaced from the flywheel axis,wherein the cycle includes a power stroke when the piston moves from the retracted position to the extended position whereby the piston presses against the variable cam surface and thereby rotates the flywheel, and a compression stroke when the piston moves from the extended position to the retracted position responsive to the variable cam surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Variable-compression engine assemblies with an internal combustion device and a flywheel are presented herein. An engine assembly is disclosed which includes an output shaft and a flywheel, which includes a variable cam surface and is slidably mounted onto the output shaft and rotatable about a flywheel axis. Also included is an internal combustion device with a piston that is movable along a central axis in a cycle between refracted and extended positions. The piston engages the variable cam surface, and the central axis of the piston is spaced from the flywheel axis. The cycle includes a power stroke when the piston moves from the retracted position to the extended position whereby the piston presses against the variable cam surface and thereby rotates the flywheel, and a compression stroke when the piston moves from the extended position to the retracted position responsive to the variable cam surface.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An engine assembly comprising:
-
an output shaft; a flywheel with a variable cam surface, the flywheel being slidably mounted onto the output shaft and rotatable about a flywheel axis; and an internal combustion device with a piston movable along a central axis in a cycle between retracted and extended positions, the piston engaging the variable cam surface, and the central axis of the piston being spaced from the flywheel axis, wherein the cycle includes a power stroke when the piston moves from the retracted position to the extended position whereby the piston presses against the variable cam surface and thereby rotates the flywheel, and a compression stroke when the piston moves from the extended position to the retracted position responsive to the variable cam surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A variable-compression engine assembly comprising:
-
an output shaft rotatable about a common axis; a flywheel with a variable cam surface, the flywheel being mounted onto the output shaft for common rotation therewith, the flywheel being rotatable about the common axis and selectively slidable on the output shaft along the common axis; an internal combustion device with a piston disposed in a cylinder, the piston being movable along a central axis in a cycle between retracted and extended positions, an outboard end of the piston engaging the variable cam surface, and the central axis of the piston being radially spaced from the common axis; and a prime mover configured to move the flywheel longitudinally along the output shaft to thereby selectively change a compression ratio of the internal combustion device, wherein the cycle includes a power stroke when the piston moves from the retracted position to the extended position whereby the piston presses against the variable cam surface and thereby rotates the flywheel, and a compression stroke when the piston is moved by the flywheel from the extended position to the retracted position responsive to the variable cam surface.
-
-
15. An engine assembly comprising:
-
an output shaft rotatable about a common axis; a first flywheel with a first variable cam surface, the first flywheel being slidably mounted onto the output shaft and rotatable about the common axis; a second flywheel coaxial with and spaced from the first flywheel, the second flywheel having a second variable cam surface facing the first variable cam surface, the second flywheel being mounted onto the output shaft and rotatable about the common axis; and an internal combustion device disposed between the first and second flywheels, the internal combustion device having first and second opposing pistons each being movable along a central axis in a cycle between respective retracted and extended positions, the central axis of the pistons being spaced from the common axis of the output shaft and flywheels, the first piston engaging the first variable cam surface and the second piston engaging the second variable cam surface, wherein each cycle includes a power stroke, whereat a respective one of the pistons moves from respective retracted to extended positions whereby the respective piston presses against a respective one of the variable cam surfaces and thereby rotates a respective one of the flywheels, and a compression stroke, whereat the respective piston moves from respective extended to retracted positions responsive to the respective variable cam surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification