Multi-fuel engine

• US 9,010,287 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Janet E. Morreim
• Original Assignee: Janet E. Morreim
• Inventors: Morreim, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Low, Lindsay
• Assistant Examiner(s): LATHERS, KEVIN ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US14/212,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 123/61.R, 123/61.V, 123/63, 123/53.6, 123/575
• US Class Current: 123/61.R
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 7/16 with pistons synchronously moving in tandem arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/041 Linear electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/06 for pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/002 Double acting engines

Abstract

Internal combustion engines and methods of operating an internal combustion engine are provided. The engine may include double-ended pistons such that power strokes can be applied to drive the double-ended piston in both directions along the axis along which the piston reciprocates. In some engines, multiple pistons may be connected to a single piston shaft and arranged inline such that the motion thereof is in the same direction at all times along the piston axis of motion. In one engine, the double-ended piston divides a cavity of the engine block or cylinder wall into two separate compression chambers. Each compression chamber has its own fuel inlet. Each fuel inlet is coupled to a different fuel source such that one fuel may be combusted in one of the compression chambers and a different fuel is combusted in the other one of the compression chambers.

Claims

1. An engine comprising:

a cylinder wall defining a cavity;

a pair of cylinder head portions attached to the cylinder wall and closing opposite ends of the cavity;

a double-ended piston having opposed piston faces that face axially away from one another, the double-ended piston being positioned within the cavity and separating the cavity into separate first and second compression chambers;

a piston shaft extending through at least one of the cylinder head portions and operably connected to the double-ended piston, the piston shaft moving in reciprocating linear motion with the double-ended piston;

a crankshaft;

a connecting rod operably coupling the piston shaft to the crankshaft;

a first fuel injector operably coupled to a first source of fuel positioned to inject the first fuel into the first compression chamber;

a second fuel injector operably coupled to a second source of fuel, different than the first source of fuel, positioned to inject the second fuel into the second compression chamber;

a controller configured to control operation in a dual power stroke mode where combustion occurs in both the first and second compression chambers; and

wherein the controller is also configured to control operation in a single power stroke mode where combustion occurs in only either the first or second compression chamber, the controller configured to switch between the dual power stroke mode and the single power stroke mode.

2. The engine of claim 1, wherein the controller is also configured to switch between the dual power stroke mode and the single power stroke mode depending on the loading on the engine.

3. An engine comprising:

a cylinder wall defining a cavity;

a pair of cylinder head portions attached to the cylinder wall and closing opposite ends of the cavity;

a double-ended piston haying opposed piston faces that face axially away from one another, the double-ended piston being positioned within the cavity and separating the cavity into separate first and second compression chambers;

a piston shaft extending through at least one of the cylinder head portions and operably connected to the double-ended piston shaft moving in reciprocating linear motion with the double-ended piston;

a crankshaft;

a connecting rod operably coupling the piston shaft to the crankshaft;

a first fuel injector operably coupled to a first source of fuel positioned to inject the first fuel into the first compression chamber;

a second fuel injector operably coupled to a second source of fuel, different than the first source of fuel, positioned to inject the second fuel into the second compression chamber; and

a controller configured to control operation in a single power stroke mode where combustion occurs in only either the first or second compression chamber.

4. The engine of claim 3, further comprising:

a second cylinder wall defining a second cavity;

a second pair of cylinder head portions attached to the second cylinder wall and closing opposite ends of the second cavity;

a second double-ended piston having opposed piston faces that face axially away from one another, the second double-ended piston being positioned within the second cavity and separating the second cavity into separate third and fourth compression chambers, the second double-ended piston operable connected to the piston shaft such that the piston shaft, first double-ended piston, and second double-ended piston move in coordinated reciprocating linear motion;

a third fuel injector operably coupled to the first source of fuel positioned to inject the first fuel into the third compression chamber; and

a fourth fuel injector operably coupled to the second source of fuel positioned to inject the second fuel into the fourth compression chamber.

5. The engine of claim 3, further comprising a controlled device that operates on linear reciprocating motion connected to the piston shaft on an opposite axial side of the double-ended piston as the connecting rod.

6. The engine of claim 5, wherein the controlled device is a fluid pump.

7. The engine of claim 6, wherein the fluid pump is an air pump and an outlet of the air pump is fluidly coupled to an intake port of at least one of the first and second combustion chambers.

8. The engine of claim 5, wherein the controlled device is an electric generator.

9. An engine comprising:

a cylinder wall defining a cavity;

a pair of cylinder head portions attached to the cylinder wall and closing opposite ends of the cavity;

a double-ended piston having opposed faces that face axially away from one another, the double-ended piston being positioned within the cavity and separating the cavity into separate first and second compression chambers;

a piston shaft extending through at least one of the cylinder head portions and operably connected to the double-ended piston, the piston shaft moving in reciprocating linear motion with the double-ended piston;

a crankshaft;

a connecting rod operably coupling the piston shaft to the crankshaft;

a first fuel injector operably coupled to a first source of fuel positioned to inject the fuel into the first compression chamber;

a second fuel injector operably coupled to a second source of fuel, different than the first source of fuel, positioned to inject the second fuel into the second compression chamber; and

wherein a compression ratio of the first compression chamber is different than the compression ratio of the second compression chamber.

10. The engine of claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to control operation in a dual power stroke mode where combustion occurs in both the first and second compression chambers.

11. An engine comprising:

a first cylinder wall defining a first cavity;

a first pair of cylinder head portions attached to the first cylinder wall and closing opposite ends of the first cavity;

a first double-ended piston having opposed piston faces that face axially away from one another, the first double-ended piston being positioned within the first cavity and separating the first cavity into separate first and second compression chambers;

a first fuel injector positioned to inject fuel into the first compression chamber;

a second fuel injector positioned to inject fuel into the second compression chamber;

a second cylinder wall defining a second cavity;

a second pair of cylinder head portions attached to the second cylinder wall and closing opposite ends of the second cavity;

a second double-ended piston having opposed piston faces that face axially away from one another, the second double-ended piston being positioned within the second cavity and separating the second cavity into separate third and fourth compression chambers;

a third fuel injector positioned to inject fuel into the third compression chamber;

a fourth fuel injector positioned to inject fuel into the fourth compression chamber;

a piston shaft extending axially through the first pair of cylinder head portions and operably connected to the first double-ended piston, the piston shaft extending through at least one of the second pair of cylinder head portions and operably connected to the second double-ended piston, the piston shaft moving in reciprocating linear motion with the first and second double-ended pistons;

a crankshaft;

a connecting rod operably coupling the piston shaft to the crankshaft;

wherein a compression ratio of the first compression chamber is different than the compression ratio of the second compression chamber.

12. An engine comprising:

a cylinder wall defining a cavity;

a pair of cylinder head portions attached to the cylinder wall and closing opposite ends of the cavity;

a double-ended piston having opposed piston faces that face axially away from one another, the double-ended piston being positioned within the cavity and separating the cavity into separate first and second compression chambers;

a piston shaft extending through at least one of the cylinder head portions and operably connected to the double-ended piston, the piston shaft moving in reciprocating linear motion with the double-ended piston;

a crankshaft;

a connecting rod operably coupling the piston shaft to the crankshaft;

a first fuel injector positioned to inject fuel into the first compression chamber;

a second fuel injector positioned to inject fuel into the second compression chamber; and

wherein a compression ratio of the first compression chamber is different than the compression ratio of the second compression chamber.