Internal-combustion engine with guided roller piston drive

Abstract

An internal-combustion engine (1) with improved reciprocating operation comprises at least one hollow cylinder (C), which contains a chamber for the evolution of a working fluid and has one end closed by a head and the opposite end closed by a piston (2) which can slide with a reciprocating rectilinear motion between a bottom dead center (BDC) and a top dead center (TDC), and a device (3) for converting the reciprocating rectilinear motion of the piston (2) into a rotary motion of an engine shaft (4) which comprises a push rod (5), which is substantially perpendicular to the engine shaft (4) and in which a first end (5a) is connected to the piston (2) and a second end (5b) is connected to at least one pin (13) for supporting at least one pusher roller (7) and at least one return roller (8), which rotate in mutually opposite directions, a rotating contoured body (9), which is fixed to the engine shaft (4) and is provided with at least one pusher circuit (10) and at least one return circuit (11), along which the respective rollers (8) travel, at least one guiding arm (12), in which one end is associated with the roller supporting pin (13) and the opposite end is articulated so that it can move about a fixed axis (D); the pusher and return circuits (10, 11) comprise respective circular arcs for the sliding of the pusher and return rollers (7, 8) which, when the piston (2) is proximate to the top dead center, are suitable to keep the push rod (5) and the piston (2) in a substantially stationary configuration over a predefined space or angle of rotation of the rotating contoured body, the volume of the chamber remaining substantially constant until explosion has occurred.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine with improved reciprocating operation. Background technique [0002] It is known that an internal combustion engine can convert energy generated by fuel into mechanical work through a working fluid in the combustion chamber. [0003] Internal combustion engines have a cycle of operation that includes the strokes of intake, compression, combustion or expansion, and discharge of a waste stream in the form of unburned gases. [0004] The known type of working cycle of an internal combustion engine approximates the Sabathé ideal thermodynamic cycle, which ideally simulates a combustion process with two transformations: a first transformation at constant volume and a second transformation at constant pressure. [0005] The first two ideal thermodynamic cycles are known to be simplifications of the Sabathé cycle: the Otto cycle, in which combustion manifests itself through constant-volume transf...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0017] This results in a high consumption rate and a lower power level, unlike an ideal engine with constant volume combustion

[0018] Another drawback of the known engine is that when the corresponding pistons move from top dead center to bottom dead center and vice versa, lateral thrust is exerted on them (and thus on the whole mechanism) and absorbs considerable energy, in Deformation on cylinders and pistons, causing mechanical wear and noise (commonly known as "piston rattle"), shortening and also impairing performance and life of said engine

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