Single-ended barrel engine with double-ended, double roller pistons

• US 6,834,636 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2003
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Engine Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Thomas Engine Company, LLC
• Inventors: Branyon, David P., Hauser, Bret R., Thomas, Charles Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHTER, SHELDON J
• Application Number:
  US10/426,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20040035385A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 123/43.A, 123/43.AA, 123/78.R, 123/78.A, 123/78.B, 123/78.BA, 123/78.D, 123/241, 123/247
• US Class Current: 123/241
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 3/0035 having two or more sets of cylinders or pistons
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 3/04 the piston motion being transmitted by curved surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/12 with compression ignition with fuel-air charge ignited by compression ignition of an additional fuel F02B7/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/025 two
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 41/04 in main cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 47/02 the substances being water or steam
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 51/04 involving electricity or magnetism
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 57/08 Engines with star-shaped cylinder arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/02 Engines characterised by their cycles, e.g. six-stroke
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/04 Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/26 Engines with cylinder axes coaxial with, or parallel or inclined to, main-shaft axis; Engines with cylinder axes arranged substantially tangentially to a circle centred on main-shaft axis
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/36 Engines with parts of combustion- or working-chamber walls resiliently yielding under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/0087 Ceramic materials
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/1073 the members being reed valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 41/04 Conversion of internal-combustion engine cylinder units to pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F05C 2253/16 Fibres
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An internal combustion barrel engine includes an engine housing with a first and second end. An elongated power shaft is longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defines a longitudinal axis. A combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder are spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis that is generally parallel to the central axis. The cylinders each have an inner end and an outer end, with the inner ends being closer to each other. The outer end of the combustion cylinder is closed. An intake system is operable to introduce a mixture of air and/or fuel into the combustion cylinder. A track is supported between the inner ends of the cylinders and has an undulating cam surface. The track is moveable such that the portion of the cam surface most directly between the cylinders undulates toward and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder. A double-ended piston includes a combustion end disposed in the combustion cylinder so as to define a combustion chamber between the combustion end and the closed end of the combustion cylinder. A guide end is disposed in the guide cylinder. A midportion extends between the combustion end and the guide end and is in mechanical communication with the guide surface of the track. A variable compression ratio device is operable to move the track axially towards and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder so as to adjust the compression ratio. Combustion occurs only in the combustion cylinder and does not occur in the guide cylinder.

Claims

1. An internal combustion barrel engine, comprising:

an engine housing having a first end and a second end;

a elongated power shaft longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defining a longitudinal axis of the engine;

a combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis that is generally parallel to the central axis, the cylinders each having an inner end and a outer end with the inner ends being closer to each other, the outer end of the combustion cylinder being closed;

an intake system operable to introduce a mixture of air and/or fuel into the combustion cylinder;

a track supported between the inner ends of the combustion cylinder and the guide cylinder, the track having an undulating cam surface, the track being movable such that the portion of the cam surface most directly between the inner ends of the cylinders undulates toward and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder;

a double-ended piston comprising;

a combustion end movably disposed in the combustion cylinder such that a combustion chamber is defined between the combustion end of the piston and the closed end of the combustion cylinder;

a guide end movably disposed in the guide cylinder;

a midportion extending between the combustion end and the guide end, the midportion being in mechanical communication with the cam surface of the track such that as the track moves, the midportion urges the combustion end of the piston outwardly within the combustion cylinder to compress the mixture in the combustion chamber and allows the combustion end of the piston to move inwardly within the combustion cylinder as the mixture within the combustion chamber expands, the guide end moving with the midportion such that as the combustion end moves outwardly, the guide end moves inwardly in the guide cylinder, and as the combustion end moves inwardly, the guide end moves outwardly, the guide end and the guide cylinder cooperating to guide the motion of the double-ended piston; and

a variable compression device operable to move the track axially towards and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder so as to adjust the compression ratio;

wherein combustion occurs only in the combustion cylinder and does not occur in the guide cylinder.

2. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the track is disposed generally in a plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the engine and the cam surface is disposed at a generally constant distance from the longitudinal axis of the engine.

3. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the track is in mechanical communication with the power shaft such that the shaft and track rotate in unison with respect to the cylinders.

4. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the guide end of the piston comprises a pumping end and the guide cylinder comprises a pumping cylinder with a closed outer end, the pumping end and the pumping cylinder cooperating to compress a gas, the engine further comprising a valve assembly for providing a gas to the pumping cylinder and venting compressed gas from the pumping cylinder, and a compressed gas conduit in fluid communication with the valve assembly and the intake system such that the compressed gas from the pumping cylinder is provided to the combustion chamber so as to supercharge the engine.

5. The engine of claim 4, wherein the compressed gas conduit comprises a compression plenum in fluid communication with the valve assembly such that the compressed air from the compression cylinder flows into the compression plenum, the compression plenum being in fluid communication with the intake system such that the intake system is operable to introduce a compressed combustible mixture into the combustion cylinder.

6. The engine of claim 5, further comprising a wastegate in fluid communication with the compression plenum and selectively operable to vent compressed air from the compression plenum.

7. The engine according to claim 1, wherein the undulating cam surface is a first cam surface, the track further including a second cam surface, the first cam surfaces being generally directed toward the open end of the combustion cylinder and the second cam surface being opposed thereto and generally directed toward the guide cylinder, the midportion of the piston including a first and a second opposed roller, the first roller engaging the first cam surface and the second roller engaging the second cam surface.

8. The engine according to claim 7, wherein the combustion end, guide end, and midportion of the double ended piston are rigidly interconnected.

9. The engine according to claim 7, wherein the combustion end, guide end and midportion of the double ended piston are integrally formed.

10. An internal combustion barrel engine, comprising:

an engine housing having a first end and a second end;

a elongated power shaft longitudinally disposed in the engine housing and defining a longitudinal axis of the engine;

a combustion cylinder and a guide cylinder spaced apart and disposed on a common cylinder axis that is generally parallel to the central axis, the cylinders each having an inner end and a outer end with the inner ends being closer to each other, the outer end of the combustion cylinder being closed;

an intake system operable to introduce a mixture of air and/or fuel into the combustion cylinder;

a track supported between the inner ends of the combustion cylinder and the guide cylinder, the track having an undulating cam surface, the track being movable such that the portion of the cam surface most directly between the inner ends of the cylinders undulates toward and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder, the undulating cam surface defining a non-sinusoidal shape; and

a double-ended piston comprising;

a combustion end movably disposed in the combustion cylinder such that a combustion chamber is defined between the combustion end of the piston and the closed end of the combustion cylinder;

a guide end movably disposed in the guide cylinder;

a midportion extending between the combustion end and the guide end, the midportion being in mechanical communication with the cam surface of the track such that as the track moves, the midportion urges the combustion end of the piston outwardly within the combustion cylinder to compress the mixture in the combustion chamber and allows the combustion end of the piston to move inwardly within the combustion cylinder as the mixture within the combustion chamber expands, the motion of the piston being non-sinusoidal, the guide end moving with the midportion such that as the combustion end moves outwardly, the guide end moves inwardly in the guide cylinder, and as the combustion end moves inwardly, the guide end moves outwardly, the guide end and the guide cylinder cooperating to guide the motion of the double-ended piston;

wherein combustion occurs only in the combustion cylinder and does not occur in the guide cylinder.

11. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the cam surface includes at least one top dead center portion, the top dead center portion being linearly shorter than if the cam surface defined a sinusoidal shape.

12. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the cam surface defines at least one compression stroke and one expansion stroke, the compression stroke being slower and the expansion stroke being faster than if the cam surface defined a sinusoidal shape.

13. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the cam surface defines a combustion top dead center and a breathing top dead center, the breathing top dead center being further from the closed outer end of the combustion cylinder than the combustion top dead center is from the closed outer end of the combustion cylinder.

14. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the guide end of the piston comprises a pumping end and the guide cylinder comprises a pumping cylinder with a closed outer end, the pumping end and the pumping cylinder cooperating to compress a gas, the engine further comprising a valve assembly for providing a gas to the pumping cylinder and venting compressed gas from the pumping cylinder, and a compressed gas conduit in fluid communication with the valve assembly and the intake system such that the compressed gas from the pumping cylinder is provided to the combustion chamber so as to supercharge the engine.

15. The engine of claim 14, wherein the compressed gas conduit comprises a compression plenum in fluid communication with the valve assembly such that the compressed air from the compression cylinder flows into the compression plenum, the compression plenum being in fluid communication with the intake system such that the intake system is operable to introduce a compressed combustible mixture into the combustion cylinder.

16. The engine of claim 15, further comprising a wastegate in fluid communication with the compression plenum and selectively operable to vent compressed air from the compression plenum.

17. The engine according to claim 10, further comprising a variable compression device operable to move the track axially towards and away from the inner end of the combustion cylinder so as to adjust the compression ratio.

18. The engine according to claim 17, wherein the guide end of the piston comprises a pumping end and the guide cylinder comprises a pumping cylinder with a closed outer end, the pumping end and the pumping cylinder cooperating to compress a gas, the engine further comprising a valve assembly for providing a gas to the pumping cylinder and venting compressed gas from the pumping cylinder, and a compressed gas conduit in fluid communication with the valve assembly and the intake system such that the compressed gas from the pumping cylinder is provided to the combustion chamber so as to supercharge the engine.

19. The engine of claim 18, wherein the compressed gas conduit comprises a compression plenum in fluid communication with the valve assembly such that the compressed air from the compression cylinder flows into the compression plenum, the compression plenum being in fluid communication with the intake system such that the intake system is operable to introduce a compressed combustible mixture into the combustion cylinder.

20. The engine of claim 19, further comprising a wastegate in fluid communication with the compression plenum and selectively operable to vent compressed air from the compression plenum.

21. The engine according to claim 10, wherein the undulating cam surface is a first cam surface, the track further including a second cam surface, the first cam surfaces being generally directed toward the open end of the combustion cylinder and the second cam surface being opposed thereto and generally directed toward the guide cylinder, the midportion of the piston including a first and a second opposed roller, the first roller engaging the first cam surface and the second roller engaging the second cam surface.

22. The engine according to claim 21, wherein the combustion end, guide end, and midportion of the double ended piston are rigidly interconnected.

23. The engine according to claim 21, wherein the combustion end, guide end and midportion of the double ended piston are integrally formed.