Patent · US Active

High-efficiency two-piston linear combustion engine

US8413617B2 · kind B2 · utility

24Cited by
30References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 23, 2010
Grant dateApr 9, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02B63/041
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed toward a two-piston linear combustion engine, comprising: a cylinder having a cylinder wall and a pair of ends, the cylinder including a combustion section disposed in a center portion of the cylinder; a pair of opposed piston assemblies adapted to move linearly within the cylinder, each piston assembly disposed on one side of the combustion section opposite the other piston assembly; a pair of driver sections, each driver section comprising a compression mechanism that directly provides at least some compression work during a compression stroke of the engine; and a pair of linear electromagnetic machines adapted to directly convert kinetic energy of the piston assembly into electrical energy, and adapted to directly convert electrical energy into kinetic energy of the piston assembly for providing compression work during the compression stroke, wherein each linear electromagnetic machine is located distal to an end of the cylinder; wherein the engine includes a variable expansion ratio greater than 50:1.

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