Patent · US Expired

Free piston internal combustion engine

US6170442A · kind A · utility

53Cited by
21References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 6, 1998
Grant dateJan 9, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 6, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02T10/12
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A free piston internal combustion engine having improved valve timing. A pair of oppositely disposed combustion chamber passageways extending between the combustion chamber and the earth's atmosphere, each have a combustion chamber valve for controlling the passage of gas through the passageways. The combustion chamber valves are essentially simultaneously opened and closed to permit independent variation and control of the compression ratio, expansion ratio, and stroke of the engine. When the valves are opened, the combustion chamber is purged or supercharged with combustion supporting air, and closed to initiate compression. Variable control of the piston positions at which the valves are opened and closed permits the engine to operate at a high efficiency over a broad range of power output loading conditions.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.