Radial internal combustion engine with floating balanced piston

• US 6,769,384 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Dougherty
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Dougherty
• Inventors: Dougherty, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US10/190,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20030005894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 123/54-- 5, 123/197.1
• US Class Current: 123/54.1
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/18 DOHC [Double overhead camshaft]
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 53/02 Methods of operating
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/222 with cylinders in star arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A radial piston engine is disclosed wherein power is transferred such that the power take-off is truly balanced, where the piston runs truly parallel to the cylinder walls. This concept reduces wear of the cylinders and piston rings. The engine provides improved gas mileage due to the reduced piston drag. One unique feature is the power take-off from the piston to the flywheels. The design takes power from inside the cylinder compartment, through four transfer arms, to cams that in turn transfer the power to two flywheels. By firing complimentary cylinders 180 degrees at the same time, almost no vibration is noticed. Also, since the cylinders can fire many times per flywheel rotation, the torque which this engine produces is greater other designs. Any number of cylinders is possible. Single cylinders and two cylinder designs with chain power take-offs are also possible for lawnmowers and motorcycles.

Claims

1. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein a power stroke of each piston inward with respect to the engine block pulls each rotating gear inward with respect to the engine block.

2. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein:

each rotating gear for each piston is connected to the piston by an arm.

3. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein:

combustion within each combustion chamber transfers power to at least one flywheel by way of inward motion of each piston toward the center of the engine block.

4. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein:

each gear is connected to the engine block.

5. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing for covering the engine block and each flywheel.

6. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein:

the output shaft is rotatably disposed in a central bore in the engine block.

7. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 1 wherein:

the engine has an even number of combustion chambers radially arranged in equal spacing on the periphery of the engine block, and

the air-fuel mixture is ignited at substantially the same time in each pair of combustion chambers located at diametrically opposed positions on the periphery of the engine block.

8. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein each rotating gear for each piston is connected to the piston by an arm, and

wherein each arm is connected to an end of each piston opposite the cylinder head which partly defines the combustion chamber for each piston.

9. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 8 wherein:

each arm is connected to each piston by a flange.

10. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein at least two rotating gears are connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston meshing with at least one other rotating gear for each piston for rotating the other rotating gear, the other rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each other rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel.

11. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein at least two rotating gears are connected to each piston, and

at least two rotating gears for each piston are connected to the piston by a pair of parallel, spaced apart arms.

12. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein at least two rotating gears are connected to each piston, at least two rotating gears for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel.

13. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein each rotating gear for each piston is connected to the piston by an arm, and

each arm is located exterior to the engine block.

14. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least three combustion chambers radially arranged in equal spacing on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber, each exhaust port including an exhaust valve;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air into its associated combustion chamber, each intake port including an intake valve;

a fuel injector associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel injector positioned for directing fuel into intake air in its associated intake port or positioned for directing fuel into intake air in its associated combustion chamber to form an air-fuel mixture;

a spark device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

a first flywheel secured to the output shaft and a second flywheel secured to the output shaft, the first flywheel being disposed on one side of the engine block and the second flywheel being disposed on an opposite side of the engine block; and

at least two rotating gears connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston meshing with at least one other rotating gear for each piston for rotating the other rotating gear, the other rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each other rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel.

15. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 14 wherein:

a first pair of rotating gears and a second pair of rotating gears are connected to each piston,

one rotating gear for the first pair of each piston meshing with the other rotating gear for the first pair of each piston for rotating the other rotating gear for the first pair, the other rotating gear for the first pair engaging a surface of the first flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of the other rotating gear of the first pair thereby causing rotation of the first flywheel, and

one rotating gear for the second pair of each piston meshing with the other rotating gear for the second pair of each piston for rotating the other rotating gear for the second pair, the other rotating gear for the second pair engaging a surface of the second flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of the other rotating gear for the second pair thereby causing rotation of the second flywheel.

16. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 14 wherein:

a first pair of rotating gears and a second pair of rotating gears are connected to each piston,

the first pair of rotating gears being connected to a side of each piston by a pair of parallel, spaced apart arms, and

the second pair of rotating gears being connected to an opposite side of each piston by another pair of parallel, spaced apart arms.

17. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 16 wherein:

each gear is connected to the engine block.

18. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 16 wherein:

each arm is connected to each piston by a flange.

19. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a chain; and

a power shaft engaging the chain such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging the chain thereby causing rotation of the power shaft,

wherein a power stroke of each piston inward with respect to the engine block pulls each rotating gear inward with respect to the engine block.

20. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 19 wherein:

at least two rotating gears are connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston meshing with at least one other rotating gear for each piston for rotating the other rotating gear, the other rotating gear engaging the chain such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each other rotating gear engaging the chain thereby causing rotation of the power shaft.

21. The radial internal combustion engine of claim 19 wherein:

at least two rotating gears are connected to each piston, and

at least two rotating gears for each piston are connected to the piston by a pair of parallel, spaced apart arms.

22. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein the engine block includes a cavity such that the piston may be installed from a side of the engine block.

23. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating gear connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein the engine includes two flywheels, one flywheel being disposed on one side of the engine block and the other flywheel being disposed on an opposite side of the engine block.

24. A radial internal combustion engine comprising:

an engine block having at least one combustion chamber arranged on the periphery of the engine block, each combustion chamber being defined by a cylinder, a reciprocating piston contained within the cylinder, and a cylinder head on the periphery of the engine block;

an exhaust port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber;

an intake port associated with and in fluid communication with each combustion chamber for directing intake air or an air-fuel mixture into its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel introduction device associated with each intake port and its associated combustion chamber, each fuel introduction device directing fuel into its associated intake port or directing fuel into its associated combustion chamber thereby resulting in an air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

a fuel ignition device associated with each combustion chamber for igniting the air-fuel mixture in its associated combustion chamber;

an output shaft;

at least one flywheel secured to the output shaft; and

at least one rotating near connected to each piston, at least one rotating gear for each piston engaging a surface of at least one flywheel such that reciprocating motion of each piston causes rotation of each rotating gear engaging a surface of at least one flywheel thereby causing rotation of at least one flywheel,

wherein at least one flywheel has a flange extending outward from its periphery, the flange having a bearing surface that engages and opens each exhaust valve for a first time period and that engages and opens each intake valve for a second time period during rotation of the flywheel.