Internal combustion engine with tangential power transmission

Abstract

The invention relates to an internal combustion engine having a shaft (41) on which a drive element (400) is provided, a first cylinder (9) with a first drive piston (3) movably mounted therein, and a second cylinder (10) with a second drive piston (4) movably mounted therein, wherein the first drive piston (3) is fluidically coupled to a first working piston (43) in a first working cylinder (35), the second drive piston (4) is fluidically coupled to a second working piston (29) in a second working cylinder (33), and the first and second working piston (43, 29) move back and forth in opposite directions in the first and second working cylinder (25, 33) and are operatively connected to the drive element (400). The invention also relates to a method for operating the internal combustion engine, to a use of the internal combustion engine for driving a motor vehicle, aircraft or ship, and to a motor vehicle, aircraft or ship which contains the internal combustion engine.

Description

[0001] Internal combustion engine with tangential power transmission

[0002] The present invention relates to a novel internal combustion engine with tangential power transmission, a method for operating the internal combustion engine, a use of the internal combustion engine for driving a machine, a motor vehicle, aircraft or ship, and a machine, a motor vehicle, aircraft or ship containing the internal combustion engine.

[0003] Background of the invention

[0004] When developing internal combustion engines, one of the main objectives is to use the energy obtained from the fuel used as effectively as possible, i.e. to achieve the highest possible efficiency in order to save fuel.

[0005] Reciprocating piston engines are known in the art. The work performed by the expansion of the gases generated by fuel combustion in a cylinder is transmitted to a piston and then to a crankshaft via a connecting rod. The connecting rod has a joint connection to both the piston and the crankshaft (crank drive). This converts the oscillating motion of the piston into a rotary motion, i.e., generates torque.

[0006] The present invention aims to further improve the efficiency and operating behavior of an internal combustion engine.

[0007] Disclosure of the invention

[0008] The present invention therefore provides an engine that combines an internal combustion engine drive with a hydraulic transmission. The engine's drive elements can be designed / scaled to cover different power classes. The hydraulic transmission enables high torque across the entire engine speed range.

[0009] The internal combustion engine according to the invention can be of any size, from relatively small versions, such as a motorcycle engine, to car, boat, and aircraft engines, to very large versions, such as ship engines or generator drives. Its compact design allows for space-saving installation options.

[0010] The working principle of the engine according to the invention is similar to that of conventional internal combustion engines: the power is generated by the explosive combustion of a fuel in the combustion chambers of the cylinders and transferred into a torque of a shaft.

[0011] To do this, an ignitable fuel-oxygen, usually fuel-air, mixture is introduced into the combustion chambers of the cylinders, compressed there, and then ignited near a piston position with minimal distance to the cylinder head. The resulting heat release leads to a steep pressure increase in the combustion chambers, which causes the piston to move toward a position with maximum distance to the cylinder head.

[0012] The internal combustion engine comprises a shaft on which a drive element is arranged, as well as a first cylinder with a first drive piston movably arranged therein, and a second cylinder with a second drive piston movably arranged therein. The first and second cylinders, as well as the first and second drive pistons, can be of identical construction, in particular, they can have the same diameter and the same length or the same stroke.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the first drive piston can be mechanically connected to the second drive piston, and the drive pistons can move back and forth in opposite directions in the two cylinders. The mechanical connection between the two drive pistons can, in particular, be a push rod. In particular, the push rod can be arranged in the first and second cylinders in such a way that it can move unhindered.

[0014] In particular, it can also be provided that the first and second drive pistons are designed as a one-piece or one-part drive piston unit via the push rod. This drive piston unit can alternatively also be designed in several parts. The first and the second cylinder each have a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber is arranged on one side of the first or second drive piston and is designed as a combustion chamber, and the second chamber is arranged on an opposite side of the first or second drive piston and contains a fluid, in particular a hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic fluid can, for example, be a hydraulic fluid, such as a mineral oil- or water-based fluid.

[0015] A passage of the push rod from the first to the second cylinder can be fluid-tight with respect to the hydraulic fluid.

[0016] In particular, the first chamber (combustion chamber) can be adjacent to an upper side of the first or second drive piston, respectively, and the second chamber can be adjacent to an underside of the first or second drive piston. Each combustion chamber can contain at least one inlet valve for supplying fresh gas (e.g., air or fuel-air mixture) and at least one outlet valve for discharging combustion gases. The inlet and outlet valves can be designed, for example, as poppet or slide valves.

[0017] The internal combustion engine also typically includes an intake tract with known elements for providing an ignitable fuel-air mixture, which is adjacent to or arranged upstream of the intake valve. It is also possible for the fuel-air mixture to be formed in the combustion chamber and for only fresh air to be supplied via the intake tract. In this case, at least one fuel injector can be arranged in the combustion chamber. Furthermore, the internal combustion engine typically includes an exhaust tract with known elements for exhaust gas aftertreatment, which is adjacent to or arranged downstream of the exhaust valve. The engine may also include an exhaust gas turbocharger or a mechanical and / or electric compressor in the intake tract.

[0018] The internal combustion engine can be designed as a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine. In the 2-stroke engine, scavenging—that is, the expulsion of combustion gases and the supply of fresh gas into the cylinder—can be achieved in a conventional manner, e.g., by cross-flow scavenging, cocurrent scavenging, e.g., with a poppet valve, or reverse scavenging.

[0019] Both gasoline and diesel engine combustion processes can be used in the combustion chamber. In the case of a gasoline engine, at least one spark plug can be present in the combustion chamber. Common liquid and gaseous fuels can be used.

[0020] The first and second cylinders can be designed as separate units, for example, as tubes that are bolted together. It is also possible for the two cylinders to be designed as bores in a cylinder block.

[0021] The first drive piston is fluidly coupled to a first working piston in a first working cylinder by means of the hydraulic fluid, and the second drive piston is fluidly coupled to a second working piston in a second working cylinder by means of the hydraulic fluid. The first and second working cylinders, as well as the first and second working pistons, can be of identical construction, in particular, they can have the same diameter and length or stroke. Typically, the cylinders / working cylinders and, accordingly, the drive / working pistons have a circular cross-section.

[0022] The first and second working pistons move back and forth in opposite directions within the first and second working cylinders and are operatively connected to the drive element. The two working cylinders can be designed, particularly in the area of ​​the working piston strokes, so that the working pistons seal against the inner walls of the working cylinders.

[0023] A "counter-directional movement" of the drive piston and / or working piston means that when the first drive piston performs a forward stroke, the second drive piston performs a return stroke. The terms "forward stroke" and "return stroke" refer to the movement of a piston (drive piston or working piston) within its respective cylinder. "Forward stroke" refers to a movement of the piston that results in an enlargement of the cylinder space above the piston, and "return stroke" refers to a movement of the piston that results in a reduction of the cylinder space above the piston.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the first working cylinder can be connected at its upper end to the second chamber of the first cylinder and closed at its lower end by the first working piston. Similarly, the second working cylinder can be connected at its upper end to the second chamber of the second cylinder and closed at its lower end by the second working piston.

[0025] Due to the fluidic connection between the first drive piston and the first working piston, a forward stroke movement of the first drive piston induces a forward stroke movement of the first working piston in the first working cylinder. In this case, the hydraulic fluid is typically conveyed / pushed from the second chamber of the first drive cylinder into the first working cylinder. According to one embodiment, the opposing movement of the two drive pistons can additionally induce a return stroke movement of the second drive piston, thereby conveying / sucking hydraulic fluid from the second working cylinder into the second chamber of the second cylinder.

[0026] Similarly, the fluidic connection of the second drive piston to the second working cylinder induces a forward stroke movement of the second working piston in the second working cylinder by means of a forward stroke movement of the second drive piston, during which hydraulic fluid is typically pumped / forced into the second working cylinder. This can also induce a return stroke movement of the first drive piston, thereby pumping / sucking hydraulic fluid from the first working cylinder into the second chamber of the first cylinder.

[0027] In this way, during a working stroke (pre-stroke movement) of one of the two working pistons induced by the respective drive piston, the working stroke of the other working piston is simultaneously prepared by the return stroke movement of the other drive piston feeding hydraulic fluid back into the corresponding cylinder for the subsequent working stroke.

[0028] In the case of the return pumping of hydraulic fluid from the working cylinder as described above, the reduction in the cylinder space above the driving piston (first space or combustion chamber) associated with the return stroke movement of the respective drive piston causes an enlargement of the cylinder space below it (second space), whereby a pressure in the second space drops and hydraulic fluid is sucked from the working cylinder into it.

[0029] The forward stroke of the first / second power piston is generated by the release of heat and the resulting pressure increase in the respective combustion chamber, exerting a force on the upper surface of the corresponding power piston. Due to the opposing movement of the two power pistons, the other power piston performs a return stroke, allowing combustion gases to be expelled from the corresponding combustion chamber.

[0030] According to one embodiment, when the first or second drive piston is located at a position with a minimum or maximum distance from the upper end of the first or second cylinder, the first or second working piston can also be located at a position with a minimum or maximum distance from the upper end of the first or second working cylinder.

[0031] In other words, the fluidic connection between the drive piston and the working piston via the hydraulic fluid allows for coupling / synchronization of their piston strokes. Due to this hydraulic coupling to the opposing drive pistons, the working pistons also move in opposite directions.

[0032] To implement the fluidic connection, the second chamber of the first or second cylinder can be connected to the first or second working cylinder, for example, by means of a pipe. The two connecting pipes can, in particular, be designed identically.

[0033] It is also possible for the first and second cylinders, as well as the two working cylinders, to be integrated into a common cylinder block. In this case, the second chamber of the first and second cylinders can be connected to the first and second working cylinders, for example, via a bore in the cylinder block.

[0034] In particular, the second chamber of the first and second cylinders and the first and second working cylinders can have the same volume, allowing the first and second cylinders to have a larger piston stroke than the first and second working cylinders. Thus, the first and second cylinders are designed as so-called "long-stroke" cylinders, which are characterized by lower heat transfer losses.

[0035] Typically, the cylinders / working cylinders have at least one opening for filling and / or emptying the hydraulic fluid, which opening can be arranged, for example, in the connecting pipe / connecting bore between the first / second cylinder and the first / second working cylinder, preferably in a closable manner.

[0036] The operative connection between the working pistons and the drive element is arranged in such a way that a force generated by the reciprocating movement of the working pistons is transmitted tangentially to the drive element and the drive element sets the shaft in a continuous rotational movement.

[0037] In other words, the force generated by the forward stroke of the respective drive and working pistons is transmitted to the respective freewheel in such a way that the force is always transmitted tangentially, i.e., at a sine angle of 90°. For this purpose, both the cylinders of the drive pistons and the working cylinders are designed in a circular arc shape. In particular, the longitudinal axes of the cylinders, along which the pistons move, can have a circular arc shape.

[0038] The internal combustion engine according to the present invention can also be referred to as a “tangential internal combustion engine” or simply “tangential engine” due to the special design and arrangement of the cylinders and the special transmission of the forces generated during combustion into a torque.

[0039] According to one embodiment, a ratio of the maximum possible circular arc-shaped movements of the push rod or the first and second rack, expressed in angular degrees, and the maximum circular arc-shaped movement of the freewheels transmitted to the outside, expressed in angular degrees, can be greater than 1, preferably greater than 1.1 and more preferably greater than 1.25.

[0040] The design of the tangential motor ensures that the tangential forces always act or are transmitted at the maximum possible sine angle of 90°, i.e. during the entire working process. Furthermore, the tangential motor does not require a flywheel and the stroke of the drive and working pistons is not limited by mechanical dead centers, whereby a circular angle of the freewheels greater than 180° is possible for each back and forth movement of the working pistons. The motor according to the invention therefore offers the advantages of being able to achieve the highest possible torque even at low speeds, and also the most constant possible torque at different speeds. This enables the motor according to the invention to be more efficient than conventionally designed internal combustion engines and thus also to protect the environment.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the two working pistons can have a larger diameter than the two drive pistons, thereby creating a force transmission. This can serve to increase the tangential force transmitted to the drive element by the working pistons compared to the force transmitted by the drive pistons. This can further increase the engine torque or achieve an even more uniform torque output.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the drive element can comprise a first freewheel and a second freewheel, and the first working piston can be operatively connected to an outer side of the first freewheel, and the second working piston can be operatively connected to an outer side of the second freewheel. The freewheels of the drive element can, in particular, be structurally identical.

[0043] Freewheels usually have an outer and an inner side, which can be designed, for example, as an outer and inner ring, which can lock against each other (drive mode) or run freely (freewheel mode).

[0044] In particular, the inner sides of the freewheels can each be connected to the shaft in such a way that they freewheel and lock in the same direction. This allows the shaft to rotate continuously in one direction.

[0045] The operative connections of the working pistons with the outside of the first and second freewheels can be configured such that a reciprocating movement of the first working piston causes a rotary reciprocating movement of the first freewheel, and a reciprocating movement of the second working piston causes an opposing rotary reciprocating movement of the second freewheel. In this way, for example, a forward stroke movement of the first and second working pistons, induced by a corresponding forward stroke movement of the associated drive piston, can cause a continuous rotary movement of the shaft.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the operative connection between the working pistons and the freewheels can be formed by means of a toothing. For example, both the working pistons and the freewheels can each have a toothing or a toothed element.

[0047] In particular, the first working piston can be connected to a first rack and the second working piston can be connected to a second rack.

[0048] The racks are usually connected to the undersides of the working pistons, preferably rigidly.

[0049] The force is transmitted tangentially via the racks to the outer side of the freewheel associated with the working cylinder, which in turn converts the force into torque on its inner side. The torque is then transmitted to the shaft via the inner side of the locking freewheel, which is connected to the shaft. Furthermore, the outer side of the first freewheel can have a first toothing on its end face, and the outer side of the second freewheel can have a second toothing on its end face.

[0050] In this case, the operative connection between the first working piston and the first freewheel can be formed, for example, via a first gear, and the operative connection between the second working piston and the second freewheel can be formed, for example, via a second gear. The two gears can each be arranged between the corresponding rack and the toothing of the associated freewheel.

[0051] In particular, the first and second racks can be circularly arcuate in order to transmit the force provided by the working pistons tangentially to the freewheels via the first and second gears. For this purpose, the gears can, for example, engage both with a toothing on an inner side of the circular-arc-shaped racks and with the toothing on the front side of the freewheels. In this way, the force can be transmitted to the shaft, for example, initially via the inner side of the first freewheel, and then, during the rotational countermovement, via the inner side of the second freewheel.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the first rack can additionally be connected to a first guide piston, which is movably arranged in a first guide cylinder and moves in the opposite direction to the first working piston. Similarly, the second rack can additionally be connected to a second guide piston, which is movably arranged in a second guide cylinder and moves in the opposite direction to the second working piston.

[0053] In particular, it can also be provided that the first working piston and the first guide piston form a one-piece or single-part first working piston unit via the first rack. Similarly, it can be provided that the second working piston and the second guide piston form a one-piece or single-part second working piston unit via the second rack. However, it is also possible for the first and / or second working piston unit to be constructed in multiple parts. Gearing and corresponding racks can be designed simply and offer high operational reliability and reliable power transmission.

[0054] Typically, gears, racks or gears, pistons and any bearings of the internal combustion engine according to the invention are supplied with lubricant in a conventional manner.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the first guide cylinder can be arranged opposite the first working cylinder in a cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine and the second guide cylinder can be arranged opposite the second working cylinder in a cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine.

[0056] Conveniently, the two guide cylinders can be arranged relative to the working cylinders in such a way that a forward stroke of the working pistons in the working cylinders results in a return stroke of the guide pistons in the guide cylinders. For this purpose, the guide cylinders can also be designed in a circular arc.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the two working cylinders and the two guide cylinders can be arranged at an equal radial distance from the shaft.

[0058] In particular, the first working cylinder and the first guide cylinder, together with the first working piston unit, can form a first working cylinder unit driven by the first drive piston. Similarly, the second working cylinder and the second guide cylinder, together with the second working piston unit, can form a second working cylinder unit driven by the second drive piston.

[0059] The respective cylinders can be designed as separate units, e.g., as tubes that are screwed together. However, it is also possible for the two working cylinder units to be arranged in a common cylinder block. This can also include the two cylinders with the drive pistons. According to one embodiment, the first working cylinder can be arranged next to / behind the second guide cylinder in the axial direction of the shaft, and the second working cylinder can be arranged next to / in front of the first guide cylinder in the axial direction of the shaft. In other words, the first and second working cylinder units can be arranged one behind the other in the axial direction of the shaft.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the first cylinder with the first drive piston and the second cylinder with the second drive piston can be arranged opposite one another in a cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine and at the same radial distance from a central axis running parallel to the shaft. In other words, the first and second cylinders can be arranged below or, in particular, above the working cylinder units.

[0061] The present invention further relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine in one of the embodiments described here and to the use of an internal combustion engine in one of the embodiments described here for driving a motor vehicle, aircraft or ship.

[0062] The method according to the invention comprises the steps of: a) releasing heat in a first chamber on one side of a drive piston in a cylinder to generate a forward stroke movement of the drive piston; b) inducing a forward stroke movement of a working piston in a working cylinder by means of a fluidic connection of the drive piston to the working piston; and c) driving a shaft of the internal combustion engine by means of a drive element that is mechanically connected to the working piston.

[0063] The invention also relates to a machine, a motor vehicle, aircraft, or ship comprising at least one internal combustion engine according to the invention. The internal combustion engine according to the invention can comprise exactly two cylinder units, but also more than two cylinder units. A cylinder unit can comprise a cylinder with a drive piston that is (fluidically) connected to a working cylinder unit. In particular, the internal combustion engine according to the invention can contain a multiple of two cylinder units, for example, 2, 4, 6 cylinder units, etc.

[0064] Unless explicitly stated, where applicable, all embodiments described as "usual," "customary," or "preferred" that refer to a cylinder and / or its associated or assigned components are also considered "usual," "customary," or "preferred" for all other cylinders of the internal combustion engine. This also applies to the cylinder units described. This applies accordingly to the embodiments that refer to a piston, whereby this applies in particular to drive pistons and working pistons, unless exclusive.

[0065] Short description of the drawings

[0066] Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic sectional view of a front view of an embodiment of the internal combustion engine according to the invention with a drive piston unit in a first and second cylinder, a first working cylinder unit and a drive unit.

[0067] Fig. 2 shows a second working cylinder unit and the drive unit of the internal combustion engine shown in Fig. 1 in a rear view.

[0068] Fig. 3 shows a side view of the drive unit of the internal combustion engine shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Embodiment(s) of the invention

[0069] An embodiment of the internal combustion engine according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0070] The embodiment of the internal combustion engine according to the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 has a first circular-arc-shaped cylinder 9 with a first drive piston 9 movably arranged therein, and a second circular-arc-shaped cylinder 10 with a second drive piston 10 movably arranged therein. The two drive pistons 3, 4 shown move in opposite directions in the cylinders 9, 10. The first drive piston 3 travels a stroke from a position 12', which has a minimum distance from an upper end of the first cylinder 9 (upper piston position 12'), to a position 12, which has a maximum distance from the upper end of the first cylinder (lower piston position 12).The second drive piston accordingly travels in opposite directions through a stroke from a position 11', which has a maximum distance from an upper end of the second cylinder 10 (lower piston position 11'), to a position 11, which has a minimum distance from the upper end of the second cylinder 10 (upper piston position 11). The two drive pistons 3, 4 are connected by means of a circular-arc-shaped push rod 13 and thus form a drive piston unit 100.

[0071] The first drive piston 3 and the second drive piston 4, as well as the cylinders 9, 10, are identical in construction and arranged opposite one another in a cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine. The two cylinders 9, 10 are designed as circular-arc tubes, which contain an upper screw connection 18 at an upper position 16 and a lower screw connection 19 at a lower position 17. The two cylinders 9, 10 can be screwed together and / or to a housing (not shown) of the internal combustion engine. Any other connection between the two cylinders 9, 10 and / or to the housing is also possible.

[0072] In each of the two cylinders 9, 10, two chambers are formed by means of the drive pistons 3, 4, wherein a first chamber 1, 2 is arranged above the drive pistons 3, 4 and a second chamber 14, 23 is arranged below the drive pistons 3, 4. The first chamber 1, 2 is designed as a combustion chamber 1, 2 and in this case comprises an inlet valve 5, 6, an exhaust valve 7, 8 and a spark plug 101, 102. An inlet tract (not shown) can be connected to the inlet valves 5, 6 in a known manner and an exhaust tract (not shown) can be connected to the exhaust valves 7, 8. In particular, it is also possible for combustion gases from both combustion chambers to be fed to the exhaust tract via a common exhaust valve.

[0073] In the second chamber 14, 23 of the two cylinders 9, 10 there is a hydraulic fluid (marked by the dotted area below the drive pistons 3, 4).

[0074] The drive pistons 3, 4 are sealed from the combustion chambers 1, 2 in the usual way, for example, by means of suitable piston rings. A passage 15 of the push rod 13 from the first to the second cylinder 9, 10 is designed to be fluid-tight with respect to the hydraulic fluid.

[0075] The first and second drive pistons 3, 4 are fluidly coupled via the hydraulic fluid to a first and a second working piston 43, 29 in a first and second circular-arc working cylinder 35, 33. The hydraulic fluid can be, for example, a hydraulic fluid, such as a mineral oil- or water-based fluid.

[0076] For fluidic coupling, an upper end of the first working cylinder 35 is connected to the first cylinder 9 via a first pipe 20, and an upper end of the second working cylinder 33 is connected to the second cylinder 10 via a second pipe 21. The lower ends of the two working cylinders 35, 33 are closed off by the respective working pistons 43, 29. For this purpose, the pistons can be provided with suitable seals that are fluid-tight with respect to the hydraulic fluid.

[0077] The first working piston 43 and the second working piston 29 are identical in design and larger than the drive pistons 9, 10, thus forming a hydraulic transmission. In particular, the working pistons 43, 29 have a larger diameter than the drive pistons. Accordingly, the diameter of the working cylinders 35, 33 is also larger than the diameter of the cylinders 9, 10 with the drive pistons 3, 4. Apart from their different sizes, the drive pistons 3, 4 and the working pistons 43, 29 have the same geometric shape.

[0078] Due to the hydraulic coupling of the two working pistons 43, 29 to the drive pistons 3, 4, the working pistons 43, 29 also move in opposite directions to each other. During a forward stroke, the first working piston 43 travels a stroke from a position 54', which is at a minimum distance from an upper end of the first working cylinder 35 (upper piston position 54'), to a position 54, which is at a maximum distance from the upper end of the first working cylinder (lower piston position 54). The second drive piston accordingly performs a return stroke and travels a stroke from a position 27', which is at a maximum distance from an upper end of the second working cylinder 33 (lower piston position 27'), to a position 27, which is at a minimum distance from the upper end of the second working cylinder 33 (upper piston position 27).

[0079] While during a forward stroke movement of the drive and working pistons 3, 4, 43, 29 hydraulic fluid is pressed from the second chamber 14, 23 of the corresponding cylinder 9, 10 into the associated working cylinder 35, 33 (working stroke), during a return stroke movement of the pistons 3, 4, 43, 29 the hydraulic fluid is sucked back into the second chamber 14, 23, whereby it is again available for a subsequent working stroke.

[0080] In this case, the first working piston 43 is also connected by means of a first circular-arc-shaped rack 38 to a first guide piston 44, which is movably arranged in a first circular-arc-shaped guide cylinder 36. In a cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine, the first guide cylinder 36 is arranged opposite the first working cylinder 35. Similarly, the second working piston 29 is connected by means of a second circular-arc-shaped rack 37 to a second guide piston 30, which is movably arranged in a second guide cylinder 34. The two guide pistons 44, 30 are structurally identical to the two working pistons 43, 29. Thus, the first working piston 43, the first guide piston 44, and the first rack 38 form a one-piece first working piston unit 430, and the second working piston 29, the second guide piston, and the second rack 37 form a one-piece second working piston unit 290.

[0081] In particular, the first working and guide piston 43, 44 perform an opposite movement in the first working or guide cylinder 35, 36 and the second working and guide piston 29, 30 perform an opposite movement in the second working or guide cylinder 33, 34.

[0082] The first guide piston 44 is in a position 53' with maximum distance to an upper end of the first guide cylinder 36 (lower piston position 53') when the first working piston 43 is in its upper piston position 54' and in a position 53 with minimum distance to the upper end of the first guide cylinder 36 (upper piston position 53) when the first working piston 43 is in its lower piston position 54.

[0083] Likewise, the second guide piston 30 is in a position 28' with minimum distance to an upper end of the second guide cylinder 34 (upper piston position 28') when the second working piston 29 is in its lower piston position 27' and in a position 28 with maximum distance to the upper end of the second guide cylinder 34 (lower piston position 28) when the second working piston 29 is in its upper piston position 27.

[0084] The two guide cylinders 36, 34 are advantageously gas-permeable at their upper and lower ends, so that, for example, air contained in the guide cylinders 36, 34 is not compressed. This allows the guide pistons 44, 30 to move freely in the guide cylinders 36, 34, except for any friction.

[0085] The two working cylinders 35, 33 and the two guide cylinders 36, 34 are circular arc-shaped and shorter than the cylinders 9, 10. In particular, the lengths of the cylinders 3, 4 and the lengths of the working cylinders 35, 33 can be designed according to the different cylinder diameters in such a way that both have the same volume between the upper piston positions 12', 11, 54', 27 and the lower piston positions 12, 11', 54, 27'.

[0086] The first working piston unit 430 forms a first working cylinder unit 431 with the first working and guide cylinder 35, 36 and the second working piston unit 290 forms a second working cylinder unit 291 with the second working and guide cylinder 33, 34.

[0087] In this case, the first working cylinder 35 and the first guide cylinder 36 are connected to one another by means of the first screw connection 26, and the second working cylinder 33 and the second guide cylinder 34 are connected to one another by means of the second screw connection 26. Any other connection between the working and guide cylinders 35, 33, 36, 34 is also possible. The working cylinder units 431, 291 can be suitably fastened / integrated into the housing (not shown) of the internal combustion engine. The housing of the internal combustion engine can, for example, also be a cylinder block in which all circular-arc-shaped cylinders 9, 10, 33-36 are integrated as circular-arc-shaped bores.

[0088] The internal combustion engine further comprises a shaft 41 on which a drive element 400 is arranged. The shaft 41 comprises two shaft end sections (not further designated) that can be connected to a working machine by means of suitable connecting / coupling elements. The shaft can also be mounted in the housing (not shown) of the internal combustion engine 41.

[0089] The two working cylinders 35, 33 and the two guide cylinders 36, 34 are arranged at the same radial distance from the shaft 41. The first working cylinder 35 is arranged next to / behind the second guide cylinder 34 in the axial direction of the shaft 41, and the second working cylinder 33 is arranged next to / in front of the first guide cylinder 36 in the axial direction of the shaft 41. In this way, the first and second working cylinder units 431, 291 are arranged one behind the other in the axial direction of the shaft 41.

[0090] In addition, in a cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine, the first cylinder 9 with the first drive piston 3 and the second cylinder 10 with the second drive piston 4 are arranged opposite one another and at the same radial distance from a central axis running parallel to the shaft 41. In this case, the two cylinders 9, 10 with the drive piston unit 100 are arranged above the two working cylinder units 431, 291.

[0091] In the illustrated embodiment, the drive element 400 comprises two annular freewheels 39, 40, each of which has gear teeth 31, 32 on one end face of their unspecified outer rings. The freewheels 39, 40 are each connected to the shaft 41 by means of an inner ring (not shown), which may also have gear teeth. The freewheels 39, 40 of the drive element 400 are structurally identical in the present case.

[0092] The outer and inner rings of the two freewheels 39, 40 can lock against each other (drive mode) or run freely (freewheel mode). In particular, the inner sides of the freewheels 39, 40 can be connected to the shaft 41 in this case so that they run freely or lock in the same direction.

[0093] The outer ring of the first freewheel 40 is operatively connected to the first working piston unit 430 via a first gear 50. Similarly, the outer ring of the second freewheel 39 is operatively connected to the second working piston unit 290 via a second gear 49. The two gears 50, 49 can each be mounted in the housing (not shown) of the internal combustion engine by means of a gear shaft 48, 47. The first gear 50 is arranged between the first circular-arc-shaped rack 38 and the outer ring of the first freewheel 40, and its toothing 46 engages with a toothing of the first rack 38 and with the toothing 32 on the end face of the outer ring of the first freewheel 40.The second gear is accordingly arranged between the second circular-arc-shaped rack 37 and the outer ring of the second freewheel 39 and engages with its toothing 45 in a toothing of the second rack 37 as well as in the toothing 31 on the front side of the outer ring of the second freewheel 39.

[0094] The first working cylinder unit 431 is here driven by the first drive piston 3 and the second working cylinder unit 291 by the second drive piston 4. A reciprocating movement of the first working piston 43 induced by the first drive piston 3 causes a rotary reciprocating movement of the first freewheel 40 and a reciprocating movement of the second working piston 29 causes an opposite rotary reciprocating movement of the second freewheel 39. In this way, for example, a forward stroke movement of the first and second working pistons 43, 29, which was induced by a corresponding forward stroke movement of the associated drive piston 3, 4, can cause a continuous rotary movement of the shaft 41.

[0095] Via the circular racks 38, 37 and the gears 50, 49, a force induced by the drive pistons 3, 4 and amplified by the hydraulic transmission of the working pistons 43, 29 is transmitted tangentially to the outside of the freewheels 40, 39, which in turn convert the force into a torque on their inside. The torque is transmitted to the shaft 41 via the inside of the locking freewheel 40, 39, which is connected to the shaft 41. The force can be transmitted to the shaft 41, for example, initially via the inside of the first freewheel 40 and subsequently, during the rotational countermovement, via the inside of the second freewheel 39.

[0096] Overall, the force generated by the respective forward stroke movement of the drive pistons 3, 4 and amplified by the working pistons is introduced tangentially into the drive element 400 consisting of the two freewheels 40, 39 in such a way that it transmits a torque in always the same direction to the shaft 41.

[0097] The internal combustion engine with tangential power transmission described in the exemplary embodiment enables high efficiency and high torque across the entire engine speed range due to its mechanical and hydraulic properties.

[0098] 1 , 2 first room, combustion chamber

[0099] 3, 4 first / second drive piston

[0100] 5, 6 Inlet valve

[0101] 7, 8 Exhaust valve

[0102] 9, 10 first / second cylinder

[0103] 12', 11 upper piston position first / second drive piston

[0104] 12, 11 ' lower piston position first / second drive piston

[0105] 13 Push rod

[0106] 14, 23 second room

[0107] 15 Push rod bushing

[0108] 16, 17 Cylinder screw connection

[0109] 18, 19 Position screw connection cylinder

[0110] 20, 21 pipe

[0111] 26, 25 Screw connection of first / second working and guide cylinder

[0112] 54', 27 upper piston position first / second working piston

[0113] 54, 27' lower piston position first / second working piston

[0114] 53, 28' upper piston position first / second guide piston

[0115] 53', 28 lower piston position first / second guide piston

[0116] 43, 29 first / second working piston

[0117] 44, 30 first / second guide piston

[0118] 32, 31 Gearing on first / second freewheel

[0119] 35, 33 first / second working cylinder

[0120] 36, 34 first / second guide cylinder

[0121] 37, 38 first / second rack

[0122] 40, 39 first / second freewheel

[0123] 41 Wave

[0124] 46, 45 Toothing first / second gear

[0125] 48, 47 first / second gear shaft

[0126] 50, 49 first / second gear

[0127] 100 power piston unit

[0128] 101 , 102 Spark plug

[0129] 400 drive element

[0130] 430, 290 first / second working piston unit

[0131] 431 , 291 first / second working cylinder unit

Claims

Patent claims 1. Internal combustion engine, comprising a shaft (41) on which a drive element (400) is arranged, a first cylinder (9) with a first drive piston (3) movably arranged therein, and a second cylinder (10) with a second drive piston (4) movably arranged therein, wherein the first and the second cylinder (9, 10) each have a first chamber (1, 2) and a second chamber (14, 23), wherein the first chamber (1, 2) is arranged on one side of the first or second drive piston (3, 4) and is designed as a combustion chamber, and the second chamber (14, 23) is arranged on an opposite side of the first or second drive piston (3, 4) and contains a fluid, in particular a hydraulic fluid, the first drive piston (3) is fluidically coupled to a first working piston (43) in a first working cylinder (35), the second drive piston (4) is fluidically coupled to a second working piston (29) in a second working cylinder (33) is fluidically coupled,wherein the first and second working pistons (43, 29) in the first and second working cylinders (25, 33) move back and forth in opposite directions and are operatively connected to the drive element (400), wherein the internal combustion engine is configured to induce a forward stroke movement of the first working piston (43) in the first working cylinder (35) by means of a forward stroke movement of the first drive piston (3), and to induce a forward stroke movement of the second working piston (29) in the second working cylinder (34) by means of a forward stroke movement of the second drive piston (4), and wherein the operative connection between the working pistons (43, 29) and the drive element (400) is configured such that a force generated by the back and forth movement of the working pistons (43, 29) is transmitted tangentially to the drive element (400) and the drive element (400) sets the shaft (41) in a continuous rotational movement, wherein, both the cylinders of the drive pistons and the working cylinders are circular in shape.

2. Internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the first drive piston (3) is mechanically connected to the second drive piston (4) and the drive pistons (3, 4) move back and forth in opposite directions in the two cylinders (9, 10), wherein the internal combustion engine is designed to induce a return stroke movement of the second drive piston (4) during a forward stroke movement of the first drive piston (3) and in the process to convey the fluid from the second working cylinder (33) into the second chamber (23) of the second cylinder (4), and to induce a return stroke movement of the first drive piston (3) during a forward stroke movement of the second drive piston (4) and in the process to convey the fluid from the first working cylinder (35) into the second chamber (14) of the first cylinder (3).

3. Internal combustion engine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the movements of the drive pistons (3, 4) in the cylinders (9, 10) are such that, when the first drive piston (3) of the first cylinder (9) is at a position with a minimum distance to an upper end (12') of the first cylinder (9), the second piston (4) in the second cylinder (10) is at a position with a maximum distance to an upper end (11) of the second cylinder (10), and / or the movements of the working pistons (29, 43) in the working cylinders (35, 33) are such that, when the first working piston (29) is at a position with a minimum distance to an upper end (54') of the first working cylinder (35), the second working piston (24) in the second working cylinder (33) is at a position with a maximum distance to an upper end (27) of the second working cylinder (33).

4. Internal combustion engine according to claim 3, wherein when the first or the second drive piston (3, 4) is at a position with a minimum distance to the upper end (12') of the first or second cylinder (9, 10), the first or second working piston (43, 29) is located at a position with a minimum distance to the upper end (54') of the first or second working cylinder (35), and when the first or second drive piston (3, 4) is located at a position with a maximum distance to the upper end (12') of the first or second cylinder (9, 10), the first or second working piston (43, 29) is located at a position with a maximum distance to the upper end (54') of the first or second working cylinder (35). 5 Internal combustion engine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first working cylinder (35) is connected at its upper end (54') to the second chamber (14) of the first cylinder (9) and is closed off at its lower end (54) by the first working piston (43), and wherein the second working cylinder (33) is connected at its upper end (27) to the second chamber (23) of the second cylinder (4) and is closed off at its lower end (27') by the second working piston (29).

6. Internal combustion engine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the two working pistons have a larger diameter than the two drive pistons.

7. Internal combustion engine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive element (400) comprises a first freewheel (39) and a second freewheel (40), and the first working piston (29) is operatively connected to an outer side of the first freewheel (39) and the second working piston (43) is operatively connected to an outer side of the second freewheel (40).

8. Internal combustion engine according to claim 7, wherein The inner sides of the freewheels (39, 40) are each connected to the shaft (41) in such a way that they run freely or lock in the same direction in order to set the shaft (41) in a continuous rotational movement, and the operative connections of the working pistons (29, 43) with the outside of the first and second freewheels (39, 40) are designed such that a back and forth movement of the first working piston (29) causes a rotary back and forth movement of the first freewheel (39) and a back and forth movement of the second working piston (43) causes an opposite rotary back and forth movement of the second freewheel (38).

9. Internal combustion engine according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the operative connection of the working pistons (29, 43) with the freewheels (39, 40) is formed by means of a toothing.

10. Internal combustion engine according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the first working piston (29) is connected to a first rack (37) and the second working piston (43) is connected to a second rack (38), the outer side of the first freewheel (39) has a first toothing (31) on its end face and the outer side of the second freewheel (40) has a second toothing (32) on its end face, and wherein the operative connection of the first working piston (29) to the first freewheel (39) is formed via a first gear (49) and the operative connection of the second working piston (43) to the second freewheel (40) is formed via a second gear (50), wherein the first gear (49) is arranged between the first rack (38) and the first toothing (31) of the first freewheel (39) and the second gear (50) is arranged between the second rack (37) and the second toothing (32) of the second freewheel (40).

11. Internal combustion engine according to claim 10, wherein a ratio of the maximum possible circular arc-shaped movements of the push rod (13) or of the first and second rack (38, 37) expressed in angular degrees and the maximum circular arc-shaped movement of the freewheels (39, 40) transmitted to the outside, expressed in angular degrees, is greater than 1, preferably greater than 1.1 and more preferably greater than 1.

25.

12. Internal combustion engine according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the first rack (38) is additionally connected to a first guide piston (44) which is movably arranged in a first guide cylinder (36) and moves in the opposite direction to the first working piston (43), and the second rack (37) is additionally connected to a second guide piston (30) which is movably arranged in a second guide cylinder (34) and moves in the opposite direction to the second working piston (43).

13. Internal combustion engine according to claim 12, wherein the first Guide cylinder (36) in a cross-sectional view of the Internal combustion engine opposite the first working cylinder (35) and the second guide cylinder (34) is arranged opposite the second working cylinder (33) in a cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine.

14. Internal combustion engine according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the two working cylinders (35, 33) and the two guide cylinders (36, 34) are arranged at an equal radial distance from the shaft (41).

15. Internal combustion engine according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the first working cylinder (35) is arranged in the axial direction of the shaft next to the second guide cylinder (34) and the second working cylinder (33) is arranged in the axial direction of the shaft (41) next to the first guide cylinder (36).

16. Internal combustion engine according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second cylinders (3, 4) are arranged opposite one another in a cross-sectional view of the internal combustion engine and are arranged at an equal radial distance from a central axis which runs parallel to the shaft (41).

17. A method for operating an internal combustion engine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps: a) heat release in a first chamber (1, 2) on one side of a drive piston (3, 4) in a cylinder (9, 10) to generate a forward stroke movement of the drive piston (3, 4); b) inducing a forward stroke movement of a working piston (43, 29) in a working cylinder (35, 33) by means of a fluidic Connecting the drive piston (3, 4) to the working piston (43, 29); c) Driving a shaft (41) of the internal combustion engine by means of a drive element (400) that is mechanically connected to the working piston (43, 29).

18. Use of an internal combustion engine according to one of the claims 1 to 15 for driving a machine, motor vehicle, aircraft or ship.

19. Machine, motor vehicle, aircraft or ship, comprising at least one internal combustion engine according to one or more of claims 1 to 16.