Modular Internal Combustion Engine with Adaptable Piston Stroke

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing internal combustion engine designs fail to effectively control piston stroke patterns and do not allow for modular expansion of engine systems, requiring total remanufacturing when adding additional pistons, and lack integration of air, fuel, and cooling systems.

Innovation Solution

A modular internal combustion engine design featuring a cam crank shaft with integrated manifold systems for air and fuel management, and coolant distribution, allowing for expansion by combining multiple engine banks on a longer cam crank shaft, with opposed cylinders arranged radially and optional single-cylinder configurations for inertia support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional internal combustion engine designs are used, then the engine structure is simple, but the piston stroke pattern cannot be effectively controlled and modular expansion is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodular expansion capabilityVSAvoidengine structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engine is divided into separate engine banks, each with its own cylinders and pistons operating on independent cam lobes. This segmentation allows individual engine banks to be manufactured separately and then combined modularly on a common crankshaft, enabling expansion from single-cylinder to multi-cylinder configurations without requiring complete engine remanufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cam crank shaft design with multiple cam lobes provides universal functionality, where each cam lobe can independently control a piston in different engine banks. The same cam crank shaft structure serves multiple functions by accommodating various piston stroke patterns and engine configurations through its modular cam lobe arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Power

If additional pistons are added to increase engine power, then the power output increases, but total engine remanufacturing is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveengine power outputVSAvoidengine assembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The engine is segmented into independent engine banks that can be manufactured separately and then assembled together on a common crankshaft. This allows power scaling by simply adding or removing engine banks without requiring complete remanufacturing of the entire engine system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engine configuration is made dynamic and adaptable through the modular cam crank shaft design, where cam lobes can be selectively engaged or disengaged to activate or deactivate specific engine banks, allowing flexible power adjustment without physical remanufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If cam-driven piston systems are implemented to control stroke patterns, then piston stroke control is improved, but forces impeding implementation are not effectively ameliorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiston stroke controlVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the engine into separate banks with independent cam lobes, each controlling specific pistons, the system distributes mechanical forces across multiple independent pathways. This segmentation prevents force concentration and improves reliability by isolating potential failure points to individual engine banks rather than the entire system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cam crank shaft acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates rotational motion into controlled piston strokes through its cam lobes. This intermediary design provides precise stroke control while distributing and managing the forces between the rotating crankshaft and the reciprocating pistons, ameliorating the forces that would otherwise impede the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Adaptability or versatility

If integrated manifold systems are added for air, fuel, and coolant management, then system integration is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem integration levelVSAvoidmanifold system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manifold system merges air intake, fuel delivery, and coolant distribution into an integrated assembly that serves all engine banks. This combining of functions into a unified manifold structure improves system integration and adaptability while managing complexity through consolidated design rather than separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated manifold system provides multi-functionality by handling air intake, fuel injection, and coolant distribution through a single unified structure. This universal manifold design serves all engine banks simultaneously, improving system integration without proportionally increasing complexity through functional consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables flexible engine configurations, efficient management of air, fuel, and coolant, and allows for modular expansion without complete engine remanufacturing, improving engine performance and adaptability.

Implementation Method 1

a cam crank having a cam crank profile, wherein the cam crank profile controls a position of the piston with respect to the combustion chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical contact and force transmission: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentUS11725576B2Internal combustion engine with adaptable piston stroke
Publication Date: 2023.08.15 ARDEZZONE FR J
  • US11725576B2 patent drawing
  • US11725576B2 patent drawing
  • US11725576B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A modular internal combustion engine (10) comprising a cam crank assembly (75) having a cam crank (74), an intake cam (90) and an exhaust cam (92), the cam crank (74) having a piston stroke guide pattern (76) to control the stroke motion profile of the piston (70), which can be expanded by replacing the crank shaft (22) with a longer crank shaft (22), and installing a supplemental engine block (18) with a supplemental cam crank assembly (75).