Internal Combustion Engine and Method

Abstract

Internal combustion engine and method in which pistons on different rotors move relative to each other to form chambers of variable volume in a toroidal cylinder. The pistons move in stepwise fashion, with the pistons on one rotor travelling a predetermined distance while the pistons on the other rotor remain substantially stationary. Fuel is drawn into a chamber as one of the pistons defining the chamber moves away from the other, and then compressed as the second piston moves toward the first. Combustion of the fuel drives the first piston away from the second, and the spent gases are then expelled from the chamber by the second piston moving again toward the first. An output shaft is connected to the rotors in such manner that the shaft rotates continuously while the rotors and pistons move in their stepwise fashion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation of Ser. No. 10 / 852,915, filed May 24, 2006, which was a division of Ser. No. 10 / 108,186, filed Mar. 26, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,307.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of Invention [0003] This invention pertains generally to machines such as engines, pumps, and the like and, more particularly, to a positive displacement internal combustion engine and method. [0004] 2. Related Art [0005] For more than a century, internal combustion engines have been relied upon a principal source of power in a variety of applications. Of those engines, the most widely used are the reciprocating piston engines which are found in automobiles and other forms of transportation, as well as in a variety of industrial and consumer applications. Such engines can be built in a variety of sizes, depending upon the power requirements of a particular application, ranging from a single cylinder up to 32 cylinders or more. Other types of i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0078] The invention has a number of important features and advantages. It provides a very compact and highly efficient engine which can be used in a variety of applications, both large and small, it can burn a variety of fuels and can be operated either in a diesel mode or with a spark ignition. In automotive applications, the high burning efficiency and large displacement provide both very high fuel mileage and high power. The engine has very few parts, and its design is both simple and elegant. It can also be configured as a pump without changing the basic mechanism.

Problems solved by technology

All of these engines have certain limitations and disadvantages.

Those engines also require rather complex valve systems in order to get the fuel mixture and the exhaust gases into and out of the combustion chambers at the proper times.

Notwithstanding those advantages, however, rotary engines have found only limited use due to poor fuel economy, short operating life, and dirty exhaust.

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