Two stroke cycle engine
First Claim
1. For use in a free-piston two stroke cycle engine, a piston rod assembly comprising a rigid unitary connecting rod having first and second ends and a longitudinal center, first and second power pistons mounted on said first and second ends, respectively, said connecting rod having, substantially at said longitudinal center, a circumferential groove therearound, said groove providing a slot for use in determining the position and velocity of said piston rod assembly, and first and second power transfer pistons of high strength permanent magnet material rigidly mounted on said connecting rod at first and second locations, respectively, said first location being between said groove and said first end and said second location being between said groove and said second end.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A free-piston two stroke cycle engine includes a piston rod assembly having a connecting rod with first and second ends, first and second power pistons affixed to the ends of the rod and first and second power transfer pistons mounted on the rod between the power pistons at locations spaced from each other, first and second power cylinders with sealed cavities in which the power pistons are movable. The cavities and the power pistons provide precompression chambers and combustion chambers of varying volumes. A timing module is located between the power cylinders, and first and second power transfer modules, each including a power transfer cylinder are between the timing module and the first and second power pistons, respectively. The connecting rod passes through the timing module and the power transfer modules and the first and second power transfer pistons reciprocate within the power transfer cylinders. The engine also includes gating and valving devices as appropriate, as well as a computer for controlling various aspects of the operation of the engine.
109 Citations
25 Claims
- 1. For use in a free-piston two stroke cycle engine, a piston rod assembly comprising a rigid unitary connecting rod having first and second ends and a longitudinal center, first and second power pistons mounted on said first and second ends, respectively, said connecting rod having, substantially at said longitudinal center, a circumferential groove therearound, said groove providing a slot for use in determining the position and velocity of said piston rod assembly, and first and second power transfer pistons of high strength permanent magnet material rigidly mounted on said connecting rod at first and second locations, respectively, said first location being between said groove and said first end and said second location being between said groove and said second end.
- 5. A free-piston two stroke cycle engine comprising a piston rod assembly including a connecting rod having first and second ends, first and second power pistons mounted on said first and second ends, respectively, and at least a first power transfer piston rigidly mounted on said connecting rod at a first location between said first and second ends, and first and second power cylinders having first and second sealed cavities containing said first and second power pistons, respectively, said first and second power pistons being reciprocatable in said first and second cavities, respectively, between relative tops and relative bottoms, such that as either said power piston moves from its relative top toward its relative bottom the other said power piston moves from its relative bottom toward its relative top, the portions of said first and second cavities between said power pistons providing first and second precompression chambers, respectively, and the portions of said first and second cavities on opposite sides of said power pistons providing first and second combustion chambers, respectively, a timing module between said power cylinders, and at least a first power transfer module between said timing module and said first power cylinder, said connecting rod passing through said timing module and said first power transfer module, said first power transfer module including a first power transfer cylinder in which said first power transfer piston reciprocates, wherein said timing module includes a light bar and fiber optic sensors and said connecting rod includes a timing slot around its periphery within said timing module such that said timing slot reciprocates back and forth within said timing module and said fiber optic sensors continuously sense the position of said timing slot to determine the position and velocity of said piston rod assembly.
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7. A free-piston two stroke cycle engine comprising a piston rod assembly including a connecting rod having first and second ends, first and second power pistons mounted on said first and second ends, respectively, and at least a first power transfer piston rigidly mounted on said connecting rod at a first location between said first and second ends, and first and second power cylinders having first and second sealed cavities containing said first and second power pistons, respectively, said first and second power pistons being reciprocatable in said first and second cavities, respectively, between relative tops and relative bottoms, such that as either said power piston moves from its relative top toward its relative bottom the other said power piston moves from its relative bottom toward its relative top, the portions of said first and second cavities between said power pistons providing first and second precompression chambers, respectively, and the portions of said first and second cavities on opposite sides of said power pistons providing first and second combustion chambers, respectively, a timing module between said power cylinders, and at least a first power transfer module between said timing module and said first power cylinder, said connecting rod passing through said timing module and said first power transfer module, said first power transfer module including a first power transfer cylinder in which said first power transfer piston reciprocates, wherein said timing module includes a housing of plastic material and said first power transfer module includes a housing of plastic material.
- 8. A free-piston two stroke cycle engine comprising a rigid connecting rod having first and second ends, first and second power pistons mounted on said first and second ends, respectively, first and second power cylinders having first and second sealed cavities, respectively, containing said first and second power pistons, respectively, the portion of said first cavity between said power pistons providing a first precompression chamber and the portion of said second cavity between said power pistons providing a second precompression chamber, the portion of said first cavity on the side of said first power piston opposite said first precompression chamber providing a first combustion chamber, and the portion of said second cavity on the side of said second power piston opposite said second precompression chamber providing a second combustion chamber, at least one accumulator connecting said first precompression chamber and said first combustion chamber, and at least one accumulator connecting said second precompression chamber and said second combustion chamber, each said accumulator having an area holding injector gate assembly adjacent its said associated combustion chamber, an area holding intake/transfer gate assembly adjacent its said precompression chamber and an area therebetween for receiving and holding a precompressed fuel-air mixture until it is injected into the associated said combustion chamber.
- 12. A free-piston two stroke cycle engine comprising a piston rod assembly including a connecting rod having first and second ends, first and second power pistons mounted on said first and second ends, respectively, and first and second power transfer pistons mounted on said rod at locations spaced from each other and from said power pistons, and first and second power cylinders having first and second sealed cavities containing said first and second power pistons, respectively, said first and second power pistons being reciprocatable in said first and second cavities, respectively, between relative tops and relative bottoms, such that as either said power piston moves from its relative top toward its relative bottom the other said power piston moves from its relative bottom toward its relative top, the portions of said first and second cavities between said power pistons providing first and second precompression chambers, respectively, and the portions of said first and second cavities on opposite sides of said power pistons providing first and second combustion chambers, respectively, a timing module between said power cylinders, and first and second power transfer modules between said timing module and said first power cylinder and between said timing module and said second power cylinder, respectively, said connecting rod passing through said timing module and said power transfer modules, said first and second power transfer modules including first and second power transfer cylinders, respectively, in which said first and second power transfer pistons reciprocate, respectively.
Specification