Variable-displacement piston-cylinder device
First Claim
1. A variable-displacement piston-cylinder device comprising:
- a cylinder, said cylinder defining at least two generally cylindrical chambers in substantially coaxial arrangement and having different diameters;
an inlet at each of said at least two chambers, each of said inlets being adapted to selectively conduct a fluid into a respective one of said at least two chambers;
an outlet at each of said at least two chambers, each of said outlets being adapted to conduct a fluid out of the respective one of said at least two chambers;
a piston, said piston comprising at least two piston members joined to one another in substantially coaxial arrangement and having different diameters corresponding to the different diameters of said cylindrical chambers, wherein each of said at least two piston members is movably and reciprocally received in a respective one of said at least two chambers to define a displacement volume for each of said cylindrical chambers;
a controller, said controller being operable to select whether the fluid is conducted into either of said at least two chambers via said inlets; and
wherein each of said at least two chambers is independently activatable and deactivatable by said controller selecting whether the fluid is conducted into either of said at least two chambers via said inlets.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A variable-displacement piston-cylinder device may be adapted for providing work output, and/or for pumping or compressing fluids. The piston-cylinder device defines two or more coaxial cylindrical expansion chambers between a piston having two or more coaxial and conjoined piston members, and a correspondingly-shaped cylinder. Substantially any combination of the expansion chambers may be activated or deactivated in order to vary the effective displacement of the piston-cylinder device. The effective displacement of each piston-cylinder may be changed in mid-operation in order to reduce power output and fuel consumption (or pumping or compressing capacity), without introducing vibration. In addition, a control system is provided for managing the effective displacement of each piston-cylinder according to output required, desirable operating parameters, and other parameters that can effect the operation of the device.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A variable-displacement piston-cylinder device comprising:
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a cylinder, said cylinder defining at least two generally cylindrical chambers in substantially coaxial arrangement and having different diameters; an inlet at each of said at least two chambers, each of said inlets being adapted to selectively conduct a fluid into a respective one of said at least two chambers; an outlet at each of said at least two chambers, each of said outlets being adapted to conduct a fluid out of the respective one of said at least two chambers; a piston, said piston comprising at least two piston members joined to one another in substantially coaxial arrangement and having different diameters corresponding to the different diameters of said cylindrical chambers, wherein each of said at least two piston members is movably and reciprocally received in a respective one of said at least two chambers to define a displacement volume for each of said cylindrical chambers; a controller, said controller being operable to select whether the fluid is conducted into either of said at least two chambers via said inlets; and wherein each of said at least two chambers is independently activatable and deactivatable by said controller selecting whether the fluid is conducted into either of said at least two chambers via said inlets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A variable-displacement reciprocating combustion engine comprising:
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a cylinder, said cylinder defining at least two generally cylindrical chambers in substantially coaxial arrangement and having different diameters; an inlet at each of said at least two chambers, each of said inlets comprising a valve to selectively conduct a combustible fluid into a respective one of said at least two chambers; an outlet at each of said at least two chambers, each of said outlets comprising a valve to selectively conduct a fluid out of the respective one of said at least two chambers; a piston, said piston defining at least two piston members joined to one another in substantially coaxial arrangement and having different diameters corresponding to the different diameters of said cylindrical chambers, wherein each of said at least two piston members is movably and reciprocally received in a respective one of said at least two chambers to define a displacement volume for each of said cylindrical chambers; a controller, said controller being operable to select whether the fluid is conducted into either of said at least two chambers via said inlets; and wherein each of said at least two chambers is independently activatable and deactivatable by said controller selecting whether the combustible fluid is conducted into either of said at least two chambers via said inlets. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of controlling a variable-displacement piston-cylinder device, said method comprising:
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providing a cylinder defining at least two generally cylindrical chambers in substantially coaxial arrangement and having different diameters; providing a piston comprising at least two piston members joined to one another in substantially coaxial arrangement and having different diameters corresponding to the different diameters of said cylindrical chambers; providing a controller; positioning the piston in the cylinder so that each of the piston members is movably and reciprocally received in a respective one of the chambers to define a displacement volume for each of the cylindrical chambers; independently controlling, via the controller, fluid flow through fluid inlets to any single cylindrical chamber or combination of the cylindrical chambers; and independently controlling, via the controller, fluid flow through the outlets out of any single cylindrical chamber or combination of the cylindrical chambers. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification