Means for treatment of the gases of combustion engines and the transmission of their power

• US 7,117,827 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1972
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitja V. Hinderks
• Original Assignee: Mitja V. Hinderks
• Inventors: Hinderks, Mitja V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US08/477,704
• Time in Patent Office: 4,143 Days
• Field of Search: 123/45.R, 123/45.A, 123/43.R, 123/43.A, 123/43.AA, 123/43.C, 123/198.E, 123/197.1, 123/197.2, 74/57, 74/22.R
• US Class Current: 123/43.00R
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 75/00 Other engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18024 Rotary to reciprocating and rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18312 Grooved

Abstract

The disclosure relates to fluid working devices including reciprocating internal combustion engines and pumps. A number of arrangements for pistons and cylinders of unconventional configuration are described, mostly intended for use in IC engines operating without cooling. Included are toroidal combustion or working chambers, some with fluid flow through the core of the toroid, pistons reciprocating between pairs of working chambers, tensile valve actuation, tensile links between piston and crankshaft, energy absorbing piston-crank links, crankshafts supported on gas bearings, cylinders rotating in housings, injectors having components reciprocate or rotate during fuel delivery. In some embodiments pistons mare rotate while reciprocating. High temperature exhaust emissions systems are described, including those containing filamentary material, as are procedures for reducing emissions during cold start by means of valves at reaction volume exit.

Claims

1. A device for the working of fluids, said device comprising a housing with a cylinder assembly mounted therein, at least one component assembly mounted to reciprocate within said cylinder assembly, said cylinder assembly having at least one first working surface and said component assembly having at least one second working surface such that said working surfaces in operation are approximately parallel and co-axial and variably spaced, said surfaces partly defining at least one fluid working chamber varying in capacity during an operating cycle of said device, means deployed between said cylinder assembly and said component assembly to cause said component assembly and said second surface to rotate while reciprocating relative to said cylinder assembly and said first surface, said device including structure which defines a volume substantially surrounding said cylinder assembly, in operation said volume functioning as a passage for fluids worked by said device.

2. The device of claim 1, said cylinder assembly being rotatably mounted in said housing.

3. A reciprocating internal combustion engine, including the device of claim 1, said engine having a system for supplying charge and fuel to said working chamber.

4. The engine of claim 3, said cylinder assembly being rotatably mounted in said housing.

5. The engine of claim 4, wherein said housing comprises insulating material for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

6. A compound engine comprising the engine of claim 3, at least one other engine of another type, and a second means for transferring work between each of said at least two engines.

7. The compound engine of claim 6, wherein said second means includes the flow of heated gases in a conduit between said engines.

8. The engine of claim 3, wherein said component assembly defines a passage for fluids worked by said device.

9. The engine of claim 8, including filamentary material within said passage.

10. The engine of claim 9, wherein said filamentary material is catalytic to expedite reactions between portions of the working fluids.

11. The engine of claim 3, including filamentary material within said volume.

12. The engine of claim 11, wherein said filamentary material is catalytic to expedite reactions between portions of the working fluids.

13. The engine of claim 3, including insulating material at least partially encasing said engine, for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

14. The engine of claim 3, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

15. The engine of claim 14, including at least one electrical circuit within said ceramic material.

16. The engine of claim 3, wherein said component assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

17. The engine of claim 16, including at least one electrical circuit within said ceramic material.

18. The engine of claim 3, wherein said means comprise a guide restrained by a single endless substantially sinusoidal path, one of each guide and path being on said component assembly, the other on said cylinder assembly.

19. The engine of claim 18, wherein said guide is a roller of truncated conical configuration.

20. The engine of claim 3, wherein said fluid working chamber is at least partially of toroidal configuration.

21. The engine of claim 3, wherein said component assembly has a projecting portion which at least partly penetrates a portion of said cylinder assembly during at least part of said cycle.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein said component assembly defines a passage for fluids worked by said device.

23. The device of claim 1, including insulating material at least partially encasing said device, for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein said component assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein said component assembly has a first distinct surface and said cylinder assembly a second distinct surface, in operation said distinct surfaces being approximately constantly spaced from and approximately parallel to one another, at least one of said distinct surfaces defining at least one manufactured depression in operation wholly fillable by fluids worked by said device.

27. The device of claim 1, wherein said cylinder assembly is comprised of portions including at least one element, each said element holding said portions together and being pre-loaded under tension.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein said element is of tubular form.

29. The device of claim 1, wherein said component assembly is comprised of portions including at least one element, each said element holding said portions together and being pre-loaded under tension.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said element is of tubular form.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein said means comprise a guide restrained by a single endless substantially sinusoidal path, one of each guide and path being on said component assembly, the other on said cylinder assembly.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein said guide is a roller of truncated conical configuration.

33. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid working chamber is at least partially of toroidal configuration.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein said component assembly consists of one monolithic piece.

35. The device of claim 1, wherein said component assembly has a projecting portion which at least partly penetrates a portion of said cylinder assembly during at least part of said cycle.

36. The device of claim 1 including a mechanism and a rotatable shaft, said shaft linked to said component assembly by said mechanism such that said shaft only rotates while said component assembly reciprocates and rotates.

37. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 36, in which work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by a series of splines slidably mounted on another series of splines.

38. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 36 including rollers, in which work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by a series of flanges slidably mounted on another series of flanges, said two series of flanges being separated by said rollers.

39. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 36, wherein work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by at least one bellows.

40. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 36, wherein work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by at least one hinged element.

41. A rotatable shaft, a mechanism and device for the working of fluids, said device comprising a housing with a cylinder assembly mounted therein, at least one component assembly mounted to reciprocate within said cylinder assembly, said cylinder assembly having at least one first working surface and said component assembly having at least one second working surface such that said working surfaces in operation are approximately parallel and co-axial and variably spaced, said surfaces partly defining at least one fluid working chamber varying in capacity during an operating cycle of said device, means deployed between said cylinder assembly and said component assembly to cause said component assembly and said second surface to rotate while reciprocating relative to said cylinder assembly and said first surface, said component assembly being linked to said shaft by said mechanism, said mechanism causing said shaft to only rotate while said component assembly reciprocates and rotates, said cylinder assembly being rotatably mounted in said housing.

42. A reciprocating internal combustion engine, including the device of claim 41, said engine having a system for supplying charge and fuel to said working chamber.

43. A compound engine comprising the engine of claim 42, at least one other engine of another type, and a second means for transferring work between each of said at least two engines.

44. The compound engine of claim 43, wherein said second means includes the flow of heated gases in a conduit between said engines.

45. The engine of claim 42, wherein said component assembly defines a passage for fluids worked by said device.

46. The engine of claim 45, including filamentary material within said passage.

47. The engine of claim 46, wherein said filamentary material is catalytic to expedite reactions between portions of the working fluids.

48. The engine of claim 42, including structure which defines a volume substantially surrounding said cylinder assembly, in operation said volume functioning as a passage for fluids worked by said device.

49. The engine of claim 48, including filamentary material within said volume.

50. The engine of claim 49, wherein said filamentary material is catalytic to expedite reactions between portions of the working fluids.

51. The engine of claim 42, including insulating material at least partially encasing said engine, for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

52. The engine of claim 42, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

53. The engine of claim 52, including at least one electrical circuit within said ceramic material.

54. The engine of claim 42, wherein said component assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

55. The engine of claim 54, including at least one electrical circuit within said ceramic material.

56. The engine of claim 42, wherein said means comprise a guide restrained by a single endless substantially sinusoidal path, one of each guide and path being on said component assembly, the other on said cylinder assembly.

57. The engine of claim 56, wherein said guide is a roller of truncated conical configuration.

58. The engine of claim 42, wherein said fluid working chamber is at least partially of toroidal configuration.

59. The engine of claim 42, wherein said housing comprises insulating material for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

60. The engine of claim 42, wherein said component assembly has a projecting portion which at least partly penetrates a portion of said cylinder assembly during at least part of said cycle.

61. The device of claim 41, wherein said component assembly defines a passage for fluids worked by said device.

62. The device of claim 41, including structure which defines a volume substantially surrounding said cylinder assembly, in operation said volume functioning as a passage for fluids worked by said device.

63. The device of claim 41, including insulating material at least partially encasing said device, for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

64. The device of claim 41, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

65. The device of claim 41, wherein said component assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

66. The device of claim 41, wherein said component assembly has a first distinct surface and said cylinder assembly a second distinct surface, in operation said distinct surfaces being approximately constantly spaced from and approximately parallel to one another, at least one of said distinct surfaces defining at least one manufactured depression in operation wholly fillable by fluids worked by said device.

67. The device of claim 41, wherein said cylinder assembly is comprised of portions including at least one element, each said element holding said portions together and being pre-loaded under tension.

68. The device of claim 67, wherein said element is of tubular form.

69. The device of claim 41, wherein said component assembly is comprised of portions including at least one element, each said element holding said portions together and being pre-loaded under tension.

70. The device of claim 69, wherein said element is of tubular form.

71. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 41, in which work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by a series of splines slidably mounted on another series of splines.

72. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 41 including rollers, in which work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by a series of flanges slidably mounted on another series of flanges, said two series of flanges being separated by said rollers.

73. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 41, wherein work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by at least one bellows.

74. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 41, wherein work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by at least one hinged element.

75. The device of claim 41, wherein said means comprise a guide restrained by a single endless substantially sinusoidal path, one of each guide and path being on said component assembly, the other on said cylinder assembly.

76. The device of claim 75, wherein said guide is a roller of truncated conical configuration.

77. The device of claim 41, wherein said fluid working chamber is at least partially of toroidal configuration.

78. The device of claim 41, wherein said housing comprises insulating material for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

79. The device of claim 41, wherein said component assembly consists of one monolithic piece.

80. The device of claim 41, wherein said component assembly has a projecting portion which at least partly penetrates a portion of said cylinder assembly during at least part of said cycle.

81. A rotatable shaft, a mechanism and device for the working of fluids in cycles, said device comprising a housing with a cylinder assembly mounted therein, at least one component assembly mounted to reciprocate within said cylinder assembly, said cylinder assembly having at least one working surface and said component assembly having at least one second working surface such that said working surfaces in operation are approximately parallel at least one time each cycle and are co-axial and variably spaced, said surfaces partly defining at least one fluid working chamber varying in capacity during an operating cycle of said device, each of said surfaces being of endless wave-like configuration to permit and limit said component assembly and said second surface to both reciprocate and rotate relative to said cylinder assembly and said first surface, said device including structure which defines a volume substantially surrounding said cylinder assembly, in operation said volume functioning as a passage for fluids worked by said device.

82. The device of claim 81, said cylinder assembly being rotatably mounted in said housing.

83. The device of claim 82, wherein said housing comprises insulating material for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

84. The device of claim 81, wherein said component assembly defines a passage for fluids worked by said device.

85. The device of claim 81, including insulating material at least partially encasing said device for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

86. The device of claim 81, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

87. The device of claim 81, wherein said component assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

88. The engine of claim 87, including at least one electrical circuit within said ceramic material.

89. The device of claim 81, wherein said component assembly has a first distinct surface and said cylinder assembly a second distinct surface, in operation said distinct surfaces being approximately constantly spaced from and approximately parallel to one another, at least one of said distinct surfaces defining at least one manufactured depression in operation wholly fillable by fluids worked by said device.

90. The device of claim 81, wherein said cylinder assembly is comprised of portions including at least one element, each said element holding said portions together and being pre-loaded under tension.

91. The device of claim 90, wherein said element is of tubular form.

92. The device of claim 81, wherein said component assembly is comprised of portions including at least one element, each said element holding said portions together and being pre-loaded under tension.

93. The device of claim 92, wherein said element is of tubular form.

94. The device of claim 81, wherein said fluid working chamber is at least partially of toroidal configuration.

95. The device of claim 81, wherein said component assembly consists of one monolithic piece.

96. The device of claim 81, wherein said component assembly has a projecting portion which at least party penetrates a portion of said cylinder assembly during at least part of said cycle.

97. A reciprocating internal combustion engine, including the device of claim 81, said engine having a system for supplying charge and fuel to said working chamber.

98. The engine of claim 97, said cylinder assembly being rotatably mounted in said housing.

99. The engine of claim 98, wherein said housing comprises insulating material for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

100. A compound engine comprising the engine of claim 97, at least one other engine of another type, and a second means for transferring work between each of said at least two engines.

101. The compound engine of claim 100, wherein said second means includes the flow of heated gases in a conduit between said engines.

102. The engine of claim 97, wherein said component assembly defines a passage for fluids worked by said device.

103. The engine of claim 102, including filamentary material within said passage.

104. The engine of claim 103, wherein said filamentary material is catalytic to expedite reactions between portions of the working fluids.

105. The engine of claim 97, including filamentary material within said volume.

106. The engine of claim 105, wherein said filamentary material is catalytic to expedite reactions between portions of the working fluids.

107. The engine of claim 97, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

108. The engine of claim 97, wherein said component assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

109. The engine of claim 108, including at least one electrical circuit within said ceramic material.

110. The engine of claim 97, wherein said fluid working chamber is at least partially of toroidal configuration.

111. The engine of claim 97, wherein said component assembly has a projecting portion which at least partly penetrates a portion of said cylinder assembly during at least part of said cycle.

112. The device of claim 81 including a mechanism and a rotatable shaft, said shaft linked to said component assembly by said mechanism such that said shaft only rotates while said component assembly reciprocates and rotates.

113. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 112, in which work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by a series of splines slidably mounted on another series of splines.

114. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 112 including rollers, in which work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by a series of flanges slidably mounted on another series of flanges, said two series of flanges being separated by said rollers.

115. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 112, wherein work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by at least one bellows.

116. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 112, wherein work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by at least one hinged element.

117. An un-cooled device for the working of fluids, said device comprising a housing substantially surrounding a cylinder assembly mounted therein, at least one component mounted to reciprocate within said cylinder assembly, said cylinder assembly having at least one working surface and said component having at least one second working surface such that said working surfaces in operation are approximately parallel and co-axial and variably spaced, said surfaces partly defining at least one fluid working chamber varying in capacity during an operating cycle of said device, means deployed between said cylinder assembly and said component to cause said component and said second surface to rotate while reciprocating relative to said cylinder assembly and said first surface, said housing including substantial insulating material for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

118. The device of claim 117, said cylinder assembly being rotatably mounted in said housing.

119. The device of claim 117, wherein said component assembly defines a passage for fluids worked by said device.

120. The device of claim 117, including structure which defines a volume substantially surrounding said cylinder assembly, in operation said volume functioning as a passage for fluids worked by said device.

121. The device of claim 117, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

122. The device of claim 117, wherein said component assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

123. The device of claim 117, wherein said component assembly has a first distinct surface and said cylinder assembly a second distinct surface, in operation said distinct surfaces being approximately constantly spaced from and approximately parallel to one another, at least one of said distinct surfaces defining at least one manufactured depression in operation wholly fillable by fluids worked by said device.

124. The device of claim 117, wherein said cylinder assembly is comprised of portions including at least one element, each said element holding said portions together and being pre-loaded under tension.

125. The device of claim 124, wherein said element is of tubular form.

126. The device of claim 117, wherein said component assembly is comprised of portions including at least one element, each said element holding said portions together and being pre-loaded under tension.

127. The device of claim 126, wherein said element is of tubular form.

128. The device of claim 117 including a mechanism and a rotatable shaft, said shaft linked to said component assembly by said mechanism such that said shaft only rotates while said component assembly reciprocates and rotates.

129. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 128, in which work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by a series of spines slidably mounted on another series of splines.

130. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 128 including rollers, in which work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by a series of flanges slidably mounted on another series of flanges, said two series of flanges being separated by said rollers.

131. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 128, wherein work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by at least one bellows.

132. The rotatable shaft, mechanism and device of claim 128, wherein work is transferred from said device to said shaft in said mechanism by at least one hinged element.

133. The device of claim 117, wherein said means comprise a guide restrained by a single endless substantially sinusoidal path, one of each guide and path being on said component assembly, the other on said cylinder assembly.

134. The device of claim 133, wherein said guide is a roller of truncated conical configuration.

135. The device of claim 117, wherein said fluid working chamber is at least partially of toroidal configuration.

136. The device of claim 117, wherein said component assembly consists of one monolithic piece.

137. The device of claim 117, wherein said component assembly has a projecting portion which at least partly penetrates a portion of said cylinder assembly during at least part of said cycle.

138. A reciprocating internal combustion engine, including the device of claim 117, said engine having a system for supplying charge and fuel to said working chamber.

139. The engine of claim 138, said cylinder assembly being rotatably mounted in said housing.

140. The engine of claim 139, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

141. The engine of claim 140, including at least one electrical circuit within said ceramic material.

142. The engine of claim 139, including secondary insulating material at least partially encasing said device for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

143. A compound engine comprising the engine of claim 138, at least one other engine of another type, and a second means for transferring work between each of said at least two engines.

144. The compound engine of claim 143, wherein said second means includes the flow of heated gases in a conduit between said engines.

145. The engine of claim 138, wherein said component assembly defines a passage for fluids worked by said device.

146. The engine of claim 145, including filamentary material within said passage.

147. The engine of claim 146, wherein said filamentary material is catalytic to expedite reactions between elements of the working fluids.

148. The engine of claim 138, including structure which defines a volume substantially surrounding said cylinder assembly, in operation said volume functioning as a passage for fluids worked by said device.

149. The engine of claim 148, including filamentary material within said volume.

150. The engine of claim 149, wherein said filamentary material is catalytic to expedite reactions between elements of the working fluids.

151. The engine of claim 138, including secondary insulating material at least partially encasing said device for purpose of reducing heat loss from said fluid working chamber.

152. The engine of claim 138, wherein said cylinder assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

153. The engine of claim 138, wherein said component assembly is formed at least in part of ceramic material.

154. The engine of claim 153, including at least one electrical circuit within said ceramic material.

155. The engine of claim 138, wherein said means comprise a guide restrained by a single endless substantially sinusoidal path, One of each guide and path being on said component assembly, the other on said cylinder assembly.

156. The engine of claim 155, wherein said guide is a roller of truncated conical configuration.

157. The engine of claim 138, wherein said fluid working chamber is at least partially of toroidal configuration.

158. The engine of claim 138, wherein said component assembly has a projecting portion which at least partly penetrates a portion of said cylinder assembly during at least part of said cycle.