Internal combustion engine

• US 4,831,972 A
• Filed: 05/04/1988
• Issued: 05/23/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward A. Barnwell
• Original Assignee: Edward A. Barnwell
• Inventors: Barnwell, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cross, E. Rollins
• Application Number:
  US07/190,465
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 123/193 P, 123/46 R, 123/46 B
• US Class Current: 123/46.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 71/04 Adaptations of such engines for special use; Combinations of such engines with apparatus driven thereby

Abstract

Engine with a single oscillating piston body having five aligned piston portions operatively functioning in five aligned corresponding cylinder chambers, including a central large diameter double acting piston and cylinder, two intermediate diameter single acting pistons and cylinders, one on each side of the central piston; and two small diameter single acting end pistons and cylinders, each spaced outwardly from the respective intermediate pistons and cylinders.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a symmetrical floating differential multicomponent piston oscillating in a single multicomparment cylinder;

said piston including a central double-faced piston portion, and two end piston portions spaced outwardly from said central piston and being smaller in diameter than said central piston;

said multicompartment cylinder having a central chamber in which said central piston portion oscillates, and two end chambers in which said end piston portions oscillate; and

suitable inlet and exit valved ports communicating each said chamber with outside of said multicompartment cylinder.

2. The engine of claim 1 which additionally comprises two intermediate piston portions spaced between said central piston and said end piston portions and operating in intermediate chambers in which said intermediate piston portions oscillate.

3. The engine of claim 1 having a two-piece cylinder block which fits together along a longitudinal plane through the longitudinal axis of said multicomponent cylinder.

4. The engine of claim 1 having a two-piece cylinder block which fits together along a lateral plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said multicomponent cylinder through said central piston portion.

5. The engine of claim 2 wherein said central chamber, said central piston portion, and associated said inlet and exit valved ports comprise an hydraulic pump.

6. The engine of claim 2 wherein said central chamber, said central piston portion, and associated said inlet and exit valved ports comprise a pneumatic compresser.

7. The engine of claim 1 wherein said central chamber includes a coil of electricl conducting wire extending over a substantial portion of its axial length;

and said central piston portion includes permanent magnets covering a substantial portion of its outside surface, said magnets being adapted to induce electricity in said coil as said central piston portion oscillates therein.

8. The engine of claim 1 wherein said end chambers are adapted to function as combustion chambers and each of said end chambers has a third port to receive a spark plug.

9. The engine of claim 2 wherein said intermediate chambers are adapted to function as air compressors to compress air for use in said combustion chamber mixed with fuel.

10. The engine of claim 1 wherein said central chamber includes two sets of said inlet and exit valved ports, each set positioned at the end of said central chamber near the adjacent intermediate chamber.

11. An internal combustion engine driven electric generator comprising a symmetrical multicomponent piston oscillating in a corresponding multichamber cylinder;

including a central double-acting piston oscillating in a central cylinder, and two end pistons integral with said central piston and oscillating in two end cylinders respectively, which are adapted to function as internal combustion chambers;

said central piston including magnets rigidly attached thereto and said central cylinder including a coil of electrically conducting wire mounted therein with each turn of wire in said coil lying generally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said pistons and lying in close proximity to said magnets.

12. The generator of claim 11 wherein said magnets are permanent magnets attached to said central piston.

13. The generator of claim 11 wherein said magnets are electromagnets energized through electricity introduced by brushes to coils of wire mounted on said central piston.

14. The generator of claim 13 wherein said central piston comprise a cylindrical tubular portion mounted coaxially on a central shaft with said tubular portion having a coil of wire mounted thereon in contact with said brushes.

15. The generator of claim 12 wherein said central piston includes a central cylindrical tubular portion rigidly connected coaxially to a shaft portion which joins integrally with said two end pistons;

said tubular portion being spaced concentrically outwardly from said shaft portion;

said central cylinder including two said coils of wire adapted to permit said shaft portion to oscillate inside said coils and to permit said tubular portion to oscillate outside said coils;

said shaft portion and said tubular portion being covered with permanent magnets on the side facing said coils.