Two-cycle swash plate internal combustion engine

• US 20060054117A1
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etcetera LLC
• Original Assignee: TGS Innovations LP (TGS Innovations)
• Inventors: Stephens, Thomas Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,137,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/56.400
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 3/0023 Actuating or actuated elements
• CPC Class Codes: F01B 3/102 Changing the piston stroke by changing the position of the swash plate
• 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 75/32 Engines characterised by connections between pistons and main shafts and not specific to preceding main groups

Abstract

A power-generation device comprising at least one cylinder, at least one cylinder head, at least one piston and an output shaft, having a central axis having a fixed angular relationship to the central axis of the cylinder. A swash plate, having a first swash plate surface having a normal axis disposed at a first fixed angle to the central axis of the output shaft, is fixed to the output shaft. At least one connecting rod is connected to at least one piston. At least one follower is secured to the second end of a connecting rod. The first follower surface contacts, and conforms to, the orientation of the first swash plate surface.

Claims

1. A power-generation device comprising:

At least one cylinder having an internal volume, an internal cylinder surface, a central axis, a first end and a second end;

At least one cylinder head, having an internal cylinder head surface, each such cylinder head being disposed at, and secured to, the first end of one of the at least one cylinders;

At least one piston, having an axis of motion parallel to the central axis of at least one of the cylinders, disposed in the internal volume of the cylinder and having a crown disposed toward the internal surface of the cylinder head secured to that cylinder, the crown of the piston, an internal cylinder surface, and the internal surface of the cylinder head for that cylinder together forming a combustion chamber for that cylinder;

An output shaft, having a central axis having a fixed angular relationship to the central axis of the cylinder;

A swash plate, fixed to the output shaft, having a first swash plate surface having a normal axis disposed at a first fixed angle to the central axis of the output shaft;

At least one connecting rod, having a principal axis, a first end axially and rotationally fixed to a piston, and a second end;

At least one follower, secured to the second end of a connecting rod, having a first follower surface having a normal axis disposed at the first fixed angle to the principal axis of the connecting rod to which it is secured, the first follower surface contacting, and conforming to, the orientation of the first swash plate surface.

2. The power-generation device of claim 1 wherein there are at least two cylinders.

3. The power-generation device of claim 2 wherein there are at least three cylinders.

4. The power-generation device of claim 3 wherein there are at least four cylinders.

5. The power-generation device of claim 4 wherein there are more than four cylinders.

6. The power-generation device of claim 1 wherein the power generation device operates according to the Otto cycle.

7. The power-generation device of claim 1 wherein the power generation device operates according to the Stirling cycle.

8. The power-generation device of claim 1 further comprising at least one fuel injector disposed to inject fuel into the combustion chamber wherein the power generation device operates according to the Diesel cycle.

9. The power-generation device of claim 1 wherein the power generation device operates according to a dual cycle.

10. The power-generation device of claim 1 wherein the swash plate may be moved axially with respect to the cylinder.

11. The power-generation device of claim 1 wherein at least one cylinder head incorporates at least one intake port.

12. The power-generation device of claim 11 wherein at least one cylinder head incorporates at least two intake ports.

13. The power-generation device of claim 11 wherein at least one intake port is pressurized.

14. The power-generation device of claim 13 further comprising a turbocharger pressurizing at least one intake port.

15. The power-generation device of claim 13 further comprising a supercharger pressurizing at least one intake port.

16. The power-generation device of claim 1 further comprising a clocking interface to synchronize the orientation of the piston about its central axis to the orientation of the swash plate about the central axis of the output shaft.

17. The power-generation device of claim 1 wherein the surface of the swash plate is substantially planar.

18. The power-generation device of claim 16 wherein the normal axis of the swash plate is disposed at approximately 45 degrees to the central axis of the output shaft.

19. A power-generation device comprising:

An output shaft, having a central axis;

At least two cylinders, disposed symmetrically about the central axis of the output shaft, each having a central axis parallel to the central axis of the output shaft, an internal volume, an internal cylinder surface, a central axis, a first end and a second end;

At least two cylinder heads, each having an internal cylinder head surface, each such cylinder head being disposed at, and secured to, the first end of one of the cylinders;

At least two pistons, each having an axis of motion aligned to the central axis of a cylinder, disposed in the internal volume of the cylinder and having a crown disposed toward the internal surface of the cylinder head secured to that cylinder, the crown of the piston, an internal cylinder surface, and the internal surface of the cylinder head for that cylinder together forming a combustion chamber for that cylinder;

A swash plate, fixed to the output shaft, having a swash plate clocking interface fixed to the orientation of the output shaft about the central axis of the output shaft;

At least two connecting rods, each having a principal axis, a first end axially and rotationally fixed to a piston, and a second end;

At least two followers, each secured to the second end of a connecting rod, having a follower clocking interface fixed to the orientation of the connecting rod about the principal axis of the connecting rod and the orientation of the swash plate clocking interface.

20. The power-generation device of claim 19 wherein there are at least three cylinders.

21. The power-generation device of claim 20 wherein there are at least four cylinders.

22. The power-generation device of claim 21 wherein there are more than four cylinders.

23. The power-generation device of claim 19 wherein the power generation device operates according to the Otto cycle.

24. The power-generation device of claim 19 wherein the power generation device operates according to the Stirling cycle.

25. The power-generation device of claim 19 further comprising at least one fuel injector disposed to inject fuel into a combustion chamber and wherein the power generation device operates according to the Diesel cycle.

26. The power-generation device of claim 19 wherein the power generation device operates according to a dual cycle.

27. The power-generation device of claim 19 wherein the swash plate may be moved axially with respect to the cylinder.

28. The power-generation device of claim 19 wherein at least one cylinder head incorporates at least one intake port.

29. The power-generation device of claim 28 wherein at least one cylinder head incorporates at least two intake ports.

30. The power-generation device of claim 28 wherein at least one intake port is pressurized.

31. The power-generation device of claim 30 further comprising a turbocharger pressurizing at least one intake port.

32. The power-generation device of claim 30 further comprising a supercharger pressurizing at least one intake port.

33. The power-generation device of claim 19 wherein the swash plate clocking interface is a substantially planar surface disposed at an angle to the central axis of the output shaft.

34. The power-generation device of claim 33 wherein the substantially planar surface is disposed at approximately 45 degrees to the principal axis of the output shaft.

35. A power-generation device comprising:

An output shaft, having a central axis;

Four cylinders, disposed symmetrically and regularly about the central axis of the output shaft and axially-movable with respect to the output shaft, each having a central axis parallel to the central axis of the output shaft, an internal volume, an internal cylinder surface, a central axis, a first end and a second end;

Four cylinder heads, each having an internal cylinder head surface, an intake port, and an exhaust port, each such cylinder head being disposed at, and secured to, the first end of a cylinder;

Four pistons, each having an axis of motion aligned to the central axis of a cylinder, disposed in the internal volume of the cylinder and having a crown disposed toward the internal surface of the cylinder head secured to that cylinder, the crown of the piston, an internal cylinder surface, and the internal surface of the cylinder head for that cylinder together forming a combustion chamber for that cylinder;

A swash plate, fixed to the output shaft, having a substantially-planar swash plate surface having a normal axis disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the central axis of the output shaft;

Four connecting rods, each having a principal axis, a first end axially and rotationally fixed to a piston, and a second end;

Four followers, each secured to the second end of a connecting rod, having a substantially-planar follower surface fixed to the connecting rod and having a normal axis disposed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the central axis of the output shaft.

36. The power-generation device of claim 35 wherein the power generation device operates according to the Otto cycle.

37. The power-generation device of claim 35 further comprising at least one fuel injector disposed to inject fuel into the combustion chamber and wherein the power generation device operates according to the Diesel cycle.

38. The power-generation device of claim 35 wherein the power generation device operates according to a dual cycle.

39. The power-generation device of claim 35 wherein at least one cylinder head incorporates a second intake port.

40. The power-generation device of claim 35 wherein at least one intake port is pressurized.

41. The power-generation device of claim 40 further comprising a turbocharger pressurizing at least one intake port.

42. The power-generation device of claim 40 further comprising a supercharger pressurizing at least one intake port.