Opposed-Piston Engine With Phase-Shifted Compressor Cylinder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing opposed-piston internal combustion engines are not optimized for efficient combustion and exhaust gas removal, leading to inefficiencies and potential pollution.
Innovation Solution
The engine design features a phase shift between the working pistons and compressor pistons, evenly distributed ports, and a crankshaft transmission to synchronize the pistons, allowing for a turbocharging effect and cleaner exhaust gases, with a deltoid-shaped piston head for optimal fuel injection and a resonator for exhaust treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional single-piston design is used, then the engine structure is simpler, but combustion efficiency and exhaust gas removal are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The engine divides the combustion chamber into two sections with two pistons moving in opposite directions, each responsible for different phases of the combustion cycle. This segmentation allows simultaneous compression and exhaust operations, improving combustion efficiency while maintaining a relatively compact structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the compression function and exhaust removal function into a single engine cycle by having two pistons work simultaneously in opposite directions. The first piston compresses the air-fuel mixture while the second piston expels exhaust gases, merging multiple functions into one integrated system
2Productivity
If ports are positioned in standard locations, then manufacturing is easier, but exhaust gas removal and air intake efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet ports are positioned at specific locations on the cylinder wall rather than at standard piston crown locations. The inlet port is arranged to be open during the compression stroke while the outlet port is open during the expansion stroke, creating locally optimized flow paths that improve air intake and exhaust removal efficiency
3Productivity
If pistons are synchronized without phase shift, then mechanical coupling is simpler, but combustion completeness and exhaust gas evacuation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The crankshafts are synchronized with a specific phase shift angle (typically 180 degrees) to create dynamic coordination between the two pistons. This dynamic timing arrangement ensures that when one piston is at top dead center for combustion, the other is at bottom dead center for exhaust removal, achieving complete combustion and efficient exhaust evacuation
4Power
If a two-stroke cycle is used, then power output is higher, but exhaust gas removal and pollution control become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The exhaust removal function is extracted and dedicated to the second piston, which operates independently to expel exhaust gases during the expansion stroke. This separation of functions ensures complete exhaust evacuation before the next compression stroke, reducing pollution while maintaining high power output characteristic of two-stroke engines
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
The design achieves efficient combustion with cleaner exhaust gases and reduced pollution, utilizing oil-free fuel and a turbocharging effect for improved performance.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor piston arranged in the compressor cylinder... providing a mechanical coupling between the strokes of the working pistons and the strokes of the compressor pistons generating compressed air for the working cylinder
Implementation Method 2
a spark plug arranged in the central portion of the working cylinder
Implementation Method 3
a fuel injection nozzle also arranged in the central portion of the working cylinder
Implementation Method 4
Both crankshafts are coupled through a gear transmission
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to internal combustion engines, to opposed-piston internal combustion engines in particular.The opposed-piston internal combustion engine comprises a working cylinder and an adjacently-located compressor cylinder. The working cylinder comprises a first working piston and a second working piston, an inlet port and an outlet port formed on the working cylinder, a spark plug and a fuel injection nozzle arranged in the working cylinder, a first crankshaft and a second crankshaft. The engine also comprises a crankshaft transmission coupling the first crankshaft with the second crankshaft. The compressor cylinder comprises a first compressor piston and a second compressor piston, an air-exchange port in order to provide the inflow and outflow of air from the compressor cylinder, and a compressed-air overflow channel providing forcing of the compressed air to the working cylinder.