Internal Combustion Engine Parallel Parting Plane Design
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional internal-combustion engines face challenges in flexible manufacturing and effective mass balancing, leading to inefficient operation due to perpendicular parting planes between housing parts, which restricts engine design and compactness.
Innovation Solution
The internal-combustion engine design features a parting plane parallel to the piston's path of movement, allowing for the creation of desired numbers of combustion chambers using pairs of housing parts, enabling curved piston motion and compact engine design by eliminating undercuts and allowing for multiple combustion chambers within a smaller footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the parting plane is oriented perpendicular to the piston path (conventional design), then the engine structure is traditional and stable, but the manufacturing flexibility is reduced and mass balancing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional parting plane orientation from perpendicular to parallel with the piston path. This inversion enables the housing parts to be arranged in parallel configurations, allowing flexible assembly of multiple combustion chambers while simplifying manufacturing processes and improving mass balancing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional arrangement by orienting the parting plane parallel to the piston path, creating a parallel configuration of housing parts rather than the traditional perpendicular stacking. This dimensional change enables more flexible engine layouts and combustion chamber arrangements.
2Ease of manufacture
If the parting plane is oriented parallel to the piston path, then manufacturing flexibility and mass balancing improve, but the piston path becomes curved instead of straight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces curvature to the piston path by arranging the combustion chamber and piston geometry such that the piston follows a curved trajectory between top and bottom dead centers. This curved path is enabled by the parallel parting plane configuration and contributes to compact engine design while facilitating easier manufacturing of housing parts without undercuts.
3Volume of moving object
If conventional perpendicular parting planes are used, then the engine design is straightforward, but the engine size is larger and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple combustion chambers within a compact configuration by arranging housing parts in parallel with the parting plane parallel to the piston path. This allows combustion chambers to be closely integrated, reducing the overall engine footprint while maintaining functional independence of each cylinder.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where multiple combustion chambers are positioned within a compact volume, with housing parts and pistons arranged to maximize space utilization. The parallel parting plane configuration enables combustion chambers to be nested more efficiently, reducing the engine's external dimensions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design facilitates easier manufacturing, enhances engine compactness, and improves mass balancing, enabling the creation of engines with a desired number of cylinders while maintaining stability and operational efficiency, suitable for both two-cycle and four-cycle principles.
Implementation Method 1
A pin connection (30) is provided to align the housing parts (6 and 8) with each other. The first piston (50) is connected to a first piston connecting rod (54), while the second piston (52) is connected with a second piston connecting rod (56). All piston connecting rods (54 and 56) pivot around a central pivot axis (64) by means of bearings (88).
Implementation Method 2
The path of movement of the piston when travelling between an upper dead center position and a lower dead center position is not straight, as in conventional engines, but rather curved. This allows for a particularly compact engine, especially if two pistons delimit the combustion chamber.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention concerns an internal-combustion engine, the engine comprising an engine housing having a combustion chamber and a piston travelling within the combustion chamber along a path of movement delimited between an upper dead center position and a lower dead center position. The engine housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, the first housing part and the second housing part delimiting portions of the combustion chamber, abutting each other, and defining a parting plane, the parting plane being arranged parallel to the path of movement of the piston.