Tangential internal combustion engine

Abstract

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine comprising two cylinders (7, 7') having an arc shape in the longitudinal direction, one piston (5, 5') disposed in each cylinder so as to be able to move from a position (Pmin) at a minimum distance from the cylinder head to a position (Pmax) at a maximum distance from the cylinder head, wherein the cylinders (7, 7') are arranged such that the movement of the piston (5) in the first cylinder (7) generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4) of the first cylinder (7) and the movement of the piston (5') in the second cylinder (7') generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4') of the second cylinder (7') occur in the same direction, and one piston rod (6, 6') having an arc shape in the longitudinal direction, and one freewheel associated with each cylinder (7, 7') is present on the side of the piston (5, 5') facing away from the combustion chamber (4, 4'), and the axis of the shaft (11) is connected to the cylinder (7, 7') and the piston rod (6, A cylinder (7, 7') is further arranged to serve as the center point of a circle defining the arc shape of 6'), and the sides of the pistons (5, 5') of the first and second cylinders (7, 7') and the opposite piston rods (6, 6') are connected to the outer part (8, 8') of a freewheel, and the inner part (10, 10') of the freewheel is respectively connected to a shaft (11), and the freewheel is arranged so that the motion generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4, 4') of the cylinder (7, 7') and transmitted to the outer part (8, 8') of the freewheel by the piston rods (6, 6') of the pistons (5, 5') is transmitted to the shaft (11), and the freewheel moves freely in opposite directions, and the outer part (8, 8') of the freewheel is coupled to move in opposite directions, and accordingly the pistons (5, 5') in the first and second cylinders (7, 7') 5') is about an internal combustion engine that moves in the opposite direction, a method for operating such an internal combustion engine, and using such an internal combustion engine to drive an automobile, an aircraft, or a ship.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a new internal combustion engine. Background Technology

[0002] One of the primary objectives in the development of internal combustion engines is to conserve fuel by utilizing the energy present in the fuel as efficiently as possible, that is, by achieving the highest possible efficiency.

[0003] A reciprocating piston engine is known in the prior art in which work generated by gases produced by burning fuel expanding in a cylinder is transmitted to a crankshaft by a piston rod, and the piston rod consists of articulated connections to the piston and the crankshaft (crank drive), respectively. Accordingly, the vibrating motion of the piston is converted into rotational motion, that is, torque is generated.

[0004] One of the disadvantages of the power transmission in the aforementioned conventional reciprocating piston engine is that mechanical dead center points exist due to crank drive, and the transmitted force drops in a sinusoidal curve as it approaches these points.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to further increase the efficiency of a conventional internal combustion engine to enable fuel-saving operation.

[0006] US 4,127,036 discloses an internal combustion engine having at least one annular cylinder and a matching annular piston, wherein the cylinder and the piston are configured to rotate about a central crankshaft. The first circular rotation of the piston and the cylinder is transmitted to the shaft through a feeding means that prevents rotation in the opposite direction.

[0007] US Patent No. 5,025,756 discloses an internal combustion engine having an annular 360-degree cylinder set, each comprising two sets of double-headed pistons. The piston set is displaced about 45 degrees forward and backward within the cylinder between two combustion openings spaced 180 degrees apart from each other. The forward and backward movement of the piston set is converted into rotational motion through four ratchet and latch mechanisms connected to a circular gear set.

[0008] US 1,352,127 discloses an internal combustion engine in which a plurality of cylinders are arranged in a circle, their axes are aligned circumferentially, and their pistons are connected to a vibrating element, thereby allowing the cylinders to operate in a synchronized manner, and the vibrating element is connected to a rotor through a suitable ratchet mechanism. The problem to be solved

[0009] The present invention is based on the insight that through the special shape of the cylinder, the piston stroke motion generated internally is converted into direct torque, and the transmitted force can always be transmitted to the shaft in a tangential direction, that is, at a sinusoidal angle of 90°.

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention is an internal combustion engine comprising two cylinders (7, 7') having an arc shape in the longitudinal direction, one piston (5, 5') disposed in each cylinder so as to be able to move from a position (Pmin) at a minimum distance from the cylinder head to a position (Pmax) at a maximum distance from the cylinder head, and a shaft (11), wherein the cylinders (7, 7') are arranged such that the movement of the piston (5) in the first cylinder (7) generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4) of the first cylinder (7) and the movement of the piston (5') in the second cylinder (7') generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4') of the second cylinder (7') occur in the same direction.

[0011] A piston rod (6, 6') having an arc shape in the longitudinal direction and a freewheel associated with each cylinder (7, 7') are present on the side of a piston (5, 5') facing away from the combustion chamber (4, 4'), and further cylinders (7, 7') are arranged such that the axis of the shaft (11) becomes the center point of a circle defining the arc shape of the cylinder (7, 7') and the piston rod (6, 6').

[0012] The sides of the pistons (5, 5') of the first and second cylinders (7, 7') and the opposite piston rods (6, 6') are connected to the outer portion (8, 8') of a freewheel, and the inner portions (10, 10') of the freewheel are each connected to a shaft (11).

[0013] The above freewheel is arranged so that the motion generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4, 4') of the cylinder (7, 7') and transmitted to the outer part (8, 8') of the freewheel by the piston rod (6, 6') of the piston (5, 5') is transmitted to the shaft (11), and the freewheel moves freely in opposite directions, respectively.

[0014] The present invention provides an internal combustion engine characterized in that the outer portions (8, 8') of the freewheel are coupled to each other and move in opposite directions, and accordingly, the movement of the pistons (5, 5') in the first and second cylinders (7, 7') also proceeds in opposite directions.

[0015] The internal combustion engine according to the present invention may be referred to as a "tangential internal combustion engine" or simply a "tangential engine" due to specific embodiments and arrangements of cylinders and specific conversion of force generated during fuel combustion.

[0016] An embodiment of the tangential engine ensures that the tangential force acts and is transmitted at a maximum sinusoidal angle of 90° throughout the entire operation process. Accordingly, the engine offers the advantage of achieving the highest possible torque even at low engine speeds, that is, a torque that is as constant as possible across various engine speeds. This enables higher efficiency of the engine according to the present invention compared to conventionally designed reciprocating piston engines, thereby allowing for fuel savings. Furthermore, since the engine does not require a crankshaft, there is no dead center point caused by crank drive in conventional engines.

[0017] The engine according to the present invention directly "converts" the arc-shaped reciprocating motion of a piston displaced in a cylinder into constant rotational motion of a shaft. Accordingly, there is no need to deflect force through various components as in conventional internal combustion engines. Therefore, the engine provides power without delay upon request.

[0018] The internal combustion engine according to the present invention can have any size, ranging from relatively small embodiments such as motorcycle engines to very large embodiments such as automobile, boat and aircraft engines, and marine engines. The compact form of the engine enables space-saving installation.

[0019] The operating principle of the engine according to the present invention is the same as that of a conventional internal combustion engine, where force is generated by the explosive combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber of the cylinder and converted into shaft torque, which is converted in a new way as described above.

[0020] To this end, a combustible fuel-oxygen mixture, typically a fuel-air mixture, is introduced into the combustion chamber of the cylinder, compressed, and then ignited near the piston position (Pmin) at the minimum distance from the cylinder head. The resulting gas expands explosively, causing the piston to move toward the respective position at the maximum distance from the cylinder head (Pmax).

[0021] In the engine according to the present invention, the movement of the pistons in the first cylinder and the second cylinder is in opposite directions to each other, that is, when the piston in the first cylinder is displaced from position Pmin,1 to position Pmax,1, the piston in the other cylinder is simultaneously displaced from position Pmax,2 to position Pmin,2.

[0022] Next, the movement of the piston from Pmin,1 to Pmax,1 and from Pmin,2 to Pmax,2 is in the same direction at different points in time.

[0023] The freewheel each has an outer part and an inner part, and can be implemented as an outer ring and an inner ring that can be fixed relative to each other (drive mode) or freely driven (freewheel mode).

[0024] In each case, force is transmitted to the outside of the freewheel associated with the cylinder by the piston rod of the piston, and the freewheel converts that force into torque on the inside, which is then converted into torque on the shaft connected to the inside of the freewheel; that is, in the corresponding direction, the freewheel is in the driving mode (locking direction).

[0025] As soon as the piston exceeds the Pmax position, the direction of motion of the piston within the cylinder is reversed, that is, the piston is displaced in the Pmin direction. Accordingly, the freewheel associated with the cylinder is in freewheel mode (freewheel direction).

[0026] The movement of the piston from position Pmax to Pmin engages the outer part of the freewheel, causing a movement opposite to that of the outer part of the freewheel, resulting in an opposite movement of the piston rod and the piston connected thereto. Consequently, the piston returns to its original position.

[0027] Each piston rod is positioned and guided within the cylinder so that the rod can be displaced within the cylinder without obstruction.

[0028] Unlike conventional internal combustion engines that require articulated connections, the piston rod(s) can be connected to each associated piston in a stationary manner, that is, rigidly.

[0029] Additionally, the piston rod(s) can be rigidly connected to each associated outer part of the associated freewheel, preferably in a stopped manner, i.e., to the outer ring.

[0030] The movement of the pistons in the two cylinders generally causes the piston of the first cylinder to be at a position of minimum distance from the cylinder head (Pmin,1), while the piston of the second cylinder is at a position of maximum distance from the cylinder head (Pmax,2).

[0031] Generally, freewheel(s) are designed to include a complete inner ring and a complete outer ring.

[0032] In principle, the cylinder(s) and the piston(s) associated therewith have a circular cross-section.

[0033] The two cylinders are generally identical, and in particular, generally have the same arc-shaped piston path (stroke).

[0034] Next, it is desirable that the piston, piston rod, and / or freewheel associated with the first or second cylinder are also identical to each other.

[0035] As is known, the longitudinal range of a cylinder or piston path can be expressed in degrees due to the arc shape, where 360° corresponds to a full circle.

[0036] In the internal combustion engine according to the present invention, the arc-shaped length range of one or two cylinders is 60° or more, preferably 90° or more, more preferably 120° or more, and further preferably 160° or more with respect to the circle defining the arc shape.

[0037] The arc shape length range of one or more preferably two cylinders for a circle defining an arc shape is generally not greater than 180°.

[0038] The arc shape length range of one or more preferably two cylinders for a circle defining an arc shape is preferably selected such that the range corresponds to, for example, a maximum possible range of 170° to 178°.

[0039] In addition, in the internal combustion engine according to the present invention, the arc-shaped piston path of one or two cylinders is preferably 60° or more, preferably 90° or more, more preferably 120° or more, and further preferably 160° or more with respect to the circle defining the arc shape.

[0040] The arc-shaped piston path of a piston in one or more preferably two cylinders with respect to a circle defining the arc shape is generally not greater than 180°.

[0041] The arc-shaped piston path of a piston in one or more preferably two cylinders with respect to a circle defining an arc shape is preferably selected such that the range corresponds to a maximum possible range of, for example, 170° to 178°.

[0042] For example, a maximum possible range of 356° of piston path can be achieved for a full circle or a complete rotation of the shaft.

[0043] More preferably, the coupling for the movement of the outer portion in the opposite direction of the freewheel is achieved by a gear connection. This connection can be implemented, for example, by a crown gear type with gear teeth existing on the circular disc-shaped sides of the outer rings of the freewheels facing each other, and by a spur gear existing between them.

[0044] These gear connections are simple to implement and provide high operational reliability.

[0045] Preferably, one or two cylinders are positioned directly above or on the outer side of the associated freewheel, respectively. This allows the piston rod to be simply connected to the outer side of the associated freewheel.

[0046] In one embodiment of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention, the cylinders are arranged to be offset tangentially with respect to a circle defined with the axis of the shaft as the center point. For example, if there are exactly two cylinders in the engine, the cylinders may be arranged to be offset by 180°. When the length range of the cylinders is 180°, the second cylinder starts at the position where the first cylinder ends with respect to the entire circle centered on the shaft.

[0047] Generally, each cylinder of the internal combustion engine according to the present invention has at least one intake valve and one exhaust valve.

[0048] Generally, there is one spark plug per cylinder.

[0049] The internal combustion engine according to the present invention may be composed of exactly two cylinders, but may also be composed of two or more cylinders. Preferably, the internal combustion engine according to the present invention has a plurality of cylinders, for example, two, four, six, etc.

[0050] The internal combustion engine according to the present invention may be implemented, for example, as a 2-cycle engine or as a 4-cycle engine.

[0051] In an embodiment as a 2-cycle engine, scavenging, that is, the discharge of combustion gases and incoming gases from the cylinder, can be performed in a known manner, and can be scavenged, for example, by cross-flow scavenging, uni-flow scavenging by a poppet valve, loop scavenging, etc.

[0052] In the case of an embodiment as a 4-cycle engine, in one of the embodiments described herein, there are generally at least 4 cylinders, and preferably there are 2 pairs of one first and one second cylinder having associated components.

[0053] Next, since the movement of the outer part of one of the freewheels of the first cylinder pair can be coupled to the outer part of one of the freewheels of the second cylinder pair, the coupling is performed in the opposite direction, and the piston in the cylinder of the first cylinder pair associated with the freewheel and the piston in the cylinder of the second cylinder pair associated with the freewheel are kinematically coupled to each other and perform movement in the opposite direction.

[0054] In a similar manner, it is desirable that the movement of the outer part of the piston or freewheel be coupled even when there are more cylinders in the engine, for example, 6, 8, etc.

[0055] Lubricating oil is supplied to the gears and bearings of the engine according to the present invention in a generally conventional manner.

[0056] Unless otherwise explicitly stated, all embodiments describing a cylinder and / or associated component as “typical,” “common,” or “preferable,” where applicable, shall apply as “typical,” “common,” or “preferable” to all other cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The same shall apply to the described pair of cylinders.

[0057] The present invention relates to a method of operating an internal combustion engine in one of the embodiments described herein, and to using the internal combustion engine in one of the embodiments described herein to power a vehicle, an aircraft or a ship. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0058] One embodiment of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a front view of one embodiment of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the overall structure composed of a shaft, a freewheel, and a cylinder of an embodiment of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows the opposite side view of FIG. 2 of the overall structure of the shaft, freewheel, and cylinder of an embodiment of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0059] An embodiment of the internal combustion engine according to the invention illustrated in the drawing comprises two identical arc-shaped cylinders (7, 7') having a circular cross section, and each cylinder has one piston (5, 5') having one arc-shaped piston rod (6, 6') connected to the side of the piston (5, 5') opposite the combustion chamber (4, 4'). The piston (5, 5') moving back and forth between position Pmin (i.e., the position of the piston at the minimum distance from the cylinder head) and Pmax (i.e., the position of the piston at the maximum distance from the cylinder head) in each cylinder (7, 7') is sealed from the combustion chamber (4, 4') in a typical manner, for example through a piston ring.

[0060] Each cylinder (7, 7') is positioned on the outer ring (8, 8') of one of the annular freewheels associated with each cylinder. Then, the end of the piston rod (6, 6') opposite the piston is fixedly connected to the outer ring (8, 8') of the associated freewheel via a connecting bar (9, 9').

[0061] The inner ring (10, 10') of the freewheel is fixedly connected to a shaft (11) supported by a mount (15).

[0062] The cylinders (7, 7') are arranged so that pistons (5, 5') that move back and forth in the same manner perform opposite arc movements.

[0063] Next, the freewheel is positioned so that in each case, the direction of motion of the piston is briefly shifted from Pmin to Pmax, that is, the freewheel is in a driving mode in which the outer ring is displaced in the direction (13), and is positioned to drive freely in the opposite direction of the outer ring motion (12) which is displaced from Pmax to Pmin.

[0064] As a result, the two locking directions are in the same direction, that is, the shaft (11) receives torque transmitted in the same direction during the combustion process of both cylinders.

[0065] The outer rings (8, 8') of the two freewheels each have gear teeth on the sides of circular disc-shaped surfaces facing each other. The gear teeth are coupled by a spur gear (14) to cause the outer rings (8, 8') of the freewheels to be displaced in opposite directions, thereby causing each piston to move from Pmax to Pmin, which is transmitted by the piston rod in freewheeling mode.

[0066] During engine operation, the fuel-air mixture is supplied to the combustion chamber (4, 4') of the cylinder (7, 7') through the intake valve (1, 1'), and in each case, the combustion gas to be injected from the cylinder (7, 7') is discharged from the cylinder through the exhaust valve (2, 2').

[0067] Ignition of the fuel-air mixture is achieved through spark plugs (3, 3') in the combustion chamber of each cylinder.

[0068] For example, ignition occurs at a position (Pmin) near the piston in the first cylinder (7) of the engine, as illustrated in FIG. 3. As a result, the piston (5) is displaced along an arc-shaped path of the first cylinder (7) by the force generated during the explosive combustion process, and said force is transmitted to the outer ring (8) of the freewheel associated with the first cylinder. Since the freewheel is in a driving mode, the force is transmitted to the shaft (11) as torque in the direction (13).

[0069] When the piston (5) reaches Pmax of the first cylinder (7), the piston (5) of the second cylinder (7') is at Pmin, and ignition of the second cylinder (7') occurs near the above position. As a result, the piston (5) is displaced along the arc-shaped path of the second cylinder (7') by the force generated during the explosive combustion process, where the force is transmitted to the outer ring (8) of the freewheel associated with the second cylinder (7'). Since the freewheel is in a driving mode, the force is also transmitted to the shaft (11) as torque in the direction (13).

[0070] By combining the two outer rings (8, 8') of the freewheel, the pistons (5, 5') of the first cylinder (7') and the second cylinder (7') are returned from Pmax to Pmin, respectively, and the freewheel is in a freewheeling mode for the movement in the direction (12).

[0071] The cylinder (7, 7') is mounted to the support device of the engine (15) via the attachment device (17). The gear tooth portion (19) to which the gear of the starter motor (18) meshes is located on the outer side facing the mount of the freewheel associated with the second cylinder.

[0072] The support device of the engine (15) can be anchored to the foundation by fastening a screw (16). Additionally, a shaft bearing (20) is present in the support device (15). Explanation of the symbols

[0073] 1, 1': Intake valve 2, 2': Exhaust valve 3, 3': Spark plug 4, 4': Combustion chamber 5, 5': Piston 6, 6': Piston rod 7, 7': Cylinder 8, 8': Outer ring of a freewheel having gear teeth 9, 9': Connecting bar between the piston rod and the outer ring of the freewheel 10, 10': Inner ring of the freewheel 11: Shaft 12: Freewheel freewheeling direction 13: Freewheel locking direction 14: Connecting Gear 15: Support device 16: Fastening screw 17: Cylinder Mount 18: Starter motor 19: Gear tooth profile for starter motor 20: Bearing

Claims

Claim 1 An internal combustion engine comprising two cylinders (7, 7') having an arc shape in the longitudinal direction, one piston (5, 5') disposed in each cylinder so as to be able to move from a position (Pmin) at a minimum distance from the cylinder head to a position (Pmax) at a maximum distance from the cylinder head, and a shaft (11), wherein the cylinders (7, 7') are arranged such that the movement of the piston (5) in the first cylinder (7) generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4) of the first cylinder (7) and the movement of the piston (5') in the second cylinder (7') generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4') of the second cylinder (7') occur in the same direction, wherein a piston rod (6, 6') having an arc shape in the longitudinal direction and a freewheel associated with each cylinder (7, 7') exist on the side of the piston (5, 5') facing away from the combustion chamber (4, 4'), and the axis of the shaft (11) is connected to the cylinder (7, 7') and A cylinder (7, 7') is further arranged to form the center point of a circle defining the arc shape of a piston rod (6, 6'), and the sides of the pistons (5, 5') of the first and second cylinders (7, 7') and the opposite piston rods (6, 6') are connected to the outer part (8, 8') of a freewheel, and the inner part (10, 10') of the freewheel is respectively connected to a shaft (11), and the freewheel is arranged so that the motion generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber (4, 4') of the cylinder (7, 7') and transmitted to the outer part (8, 8') of the freewheel by the piston rod (6, 6') of the piston (5, 5') is transmitted to the shaft (11), and the freewheel moves freely in opposite directions, and the outer part (8, 8') of the freewheel is coupled to move in opposite directions, and accordingly in the first and second cylinders (7, 7') An internal combustion engine characterized by the movement of the piston (5, 5') also proceeding in the opposite direction. Claim 2 An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the piston (5, 5') within the cylinder (7, 7') is such that when the piston (5) of the first cylinder (7) is at a position of minimum distance (Pmin, 1) from the cylinder head, the piston (5') of the second cylinder (7') is at a position of maximum distance (Pmax, 2) from the cylinder head. Claim 3 An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the arc-shaped length range of one or two cylinders (7, 7') is 60° or more with respect to the circle defining the arc shape. Claim 4 An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the arc-shaped piston path of one or two cylinders (7, 7') is 60° or more with respect to the circle defining the arc shape. Claim 5 An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection of the outer portions (8, 8') of the freewheel is achieved by a gear connection. Claim 6 An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that one or two cylinders (7, 7') are each placed directly on the outer portion (8, 8') of an associated freewheel. Claim 7 An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the cylinder (7, 7') is positioned offset with respect to a circle defined with respect to the axis of the shaft (11) as the center point. Claim 8 An internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one intake valve (1, 1') and an exhaust valve (2, 2') exist for each cylinder (7, 7'). Claim 9 A method of operating an internal combustion engine according to any one of paragraphs 1 through 8. Claim 10 A method of using an internal combustion engine according to any one of paragraphs 1 through 8 to supply power to an automobile, aircraft, or ship.

Images