Piston guides for a free piston engine
First Claim
1. A free piston engine comprising:
- an energy generation and control assembly having a first side;
a first combustion cylinder assembly located adjacent to the first side of the energy generation and control assembly and including a first cylinder liner that defines a generally cylindrical first engine cylinder, which is centered about an axis of motion;
an outer piston assembly having a first outer piston located and telescopically slidable within the first engine cylinder along the axis of motion and having a first outer piston head facing the energy generation and control assembly, with the first outer piston including a first piston bridge portion located on an opposed end of the first outer piston from the first outer piston head, with the first piston bridge portion including a first rod boss and a guide post boss, which includes a cylindrical bore therethrough that extends parallel to the axis of motion, and a first rod mounted to the first rod boss and operatively engaging the energy generation and control assembly; and
a first guide post extending parallel to the axis of motion and fixed relative to the first cylinder liner, and having an outer surface that is located and telescopically slidable within the bore of the first piston bridge portion to thereby align the first outer piston relative to the first cylinder liner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A free piston engine is configured with a pair of opposed engine cylinders located on opposite sides of a fluid pumping assembly. An inner piston assembly includes a pair of inner pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with a push rod connected between the inner pistons. The push rod extends through an inner pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. An outer piston assembly includes a pair of outer pistons, one each operatively located in a respective one of the engine cylinders, with at least one pull rod connected between the outer pistons. The pull rod extends through an outer pumping chamber in the fluid pumping assembly and forms a fluid plunger within this chamber. The movement of the inner and outer piston assemblies during engine operation will cause the fluid plungers to pump fluid from a low pressure container into a high pressure chamber as a means of storing the energy output from the engine. Alternatively, the piston assemblies may drive a linear alternator. Piston guide posts are fixed and guide the outer pistons as they reciprocate within the engine cylinders.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A free piston engine comprising:
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an energy generation and control assembly having a first side; a first combustion cylinder assembly located adjacent to the first side of the energy generation and control assembly and including a first cylinder liner that defines a generally cylindrical first engine cylinder, which is centered about an axis of motion; an outer piston assembly having a first outer piston located and telescopically slidable within the first engine cylinder along the axis of motion and having a first outer piston head facing the energy generation and control assembly, with the first outer piston including a first piston bridge portion located on an opposed end of the first outer piston from the first outer piston head, with the first piston bridge portion including a first rod boss and a guide post boss, which includes a cylindrical bore therethrough that extends parallel to the axis of motion, and a first rod mounted to the first rod boss and operatively engaging the energy generation and control assembly; and a first guide post extending parallel to the axis of motion and fixed relative to the first cylinder liner, and having an outer surface that is located and telescopically slidable within the bore of the first piston bridge portion to thereby align the first outer piston relative to the first cylinder liner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A free piston engine comprising:
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an energy generation and control assembly having a first side and a second side in opposed relation to the first side; a first combustion cylinder assembly located adjacent to the first side of the energy generation and control assembly and including a first cylinder liner that defines a generally cylindrical first engine cylinder, which is centered about an axis of motion; a second combustion cylinder assembly located adjacent to the second side of the energy generation and control assembly and including a second cylinder liner that defines a generally cylindrical second engine cylinder, which is centered about the axis of motion; an outer piston assembly having a first outer piston located and telescopically slidable within the first engine cylinder along the axis of motion and having a first outer piston head facing the energy generation and control assembly, with the first outer piston including a first piston bridge portion located on an opposed end of the first outer piston from the first outer piston head, with the first piston bridge portion including a first rod boss and a guide post boss, which includes a cylindrical bore therethrough that extends parallel to the axis of motion, a second outer piston located and telescopically slidable within the second engine cylinder along the axis of motion and having a second outer piston head facing the energy generation and control assembly, with the second outer piston including a second piston bridge portion located on an opposite end of the second outer piston from the second outer piston head, and with the second piston bridge portion including a second rod boss, and a second guide post boss, which includes a cylindrical bore therethrough that extends parallel to the axis of motion, and a first rod mounted to the first and second rod bosses and operatively engaging the energy generation and control assembly; a first guide post extending parallel to the axis of motion and fixed relative to the first cylinder liner, and having an outer surface that is located and telescopically slidable within the bore of the first piston bridge portion to thereby align the first outer piston relative to the first cylinder liner; and a second guide post extending parallel to the axis of motion and fixed relative to the second cylinder liner, and having an outer surface that is located and telescopically slidable within the bore of the second piston bridge portion to thereby align the second outer piston relative to the second cylinder liner.
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13. A free piston engine comprising:
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an energy generation and control assembly having a first side; a first combustion cylinder assembly located adjacent to the first side of the energy generation and control assembly and including a first cylinder liner that defines a generally cylindrical first engine cylinder, which is centered about an axis of motion; an outer piston assembly having a first outer piston located and telescopically slidable within the first engine cylinder along the axis of motion and having a first outer piston head facing the energy generation and control assembly, with the first outer piston including a first piston bridge portion located on an opposed end of the first outer piston from the first outer piston head, with the first piston bridge portion including a first rod boss and a guide post boss, which includes a cylindrical bore therethrough that extends parallel to the axis of motion, and a first rod mounted to the first rod boss and operatively engaging the energy generation and control assembly; a scavenge pump that is fixed positionally relative to the first cylinder liner and includes a scavenge pump housing, which defines an air inlet, an air outlet and includes a wall that defines a main pumping chamber selectively connectable to the air inlet and the air outlet, with the main pumping chamber telescopically receiving the first piston bridge portion therein; and a first guide post extending parallel to the axis of motion and mounted to the scavenge pump housing, and having an outer surface that is located and telescopically slidable within the bore of the first piston bridge portion to thereby align the first outer piston relative to the first cylinder liner.
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Specification