Orbital Internal Combustion Engine Momentum Loss
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines face inefficiencies due to reciprocating piston momentum changes, complex mechanisms, and peripheral components like coolant systems and crankshafts, which increase weight, reduce horsepower, and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
The engine design features angularly counter-rotating carrier wheels with cooperating piston and cylinder pairs, eliminating momentum reversal and using direct injection and air cooling, allowing for high horsepower-to-weight ratios and flexibility with various fuels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If reciprocating piston mechanism is used, then combustion can be achieved, but momentum reversal occurs causing energy loss and increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional reciprocating motion by using a rotating piston that moves in a circular path within a cylindrical chamber. Instead of the piston moving linearly back and forth, it rotates continuously, eliminating momentum reversal. The piston is driven by combustion pressure acting on its curved surface, creating continuous rotational motion that directly drives the output shaft without requiring a crankshaft or connecting rods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the crankshaft, connecting rods, and other complex transmission components from the conventional engine design. By using a rotating piston that directly converts combustion pressure into rotational motion, the design removes these intermediate mechanical elements, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining the core combustion function.
2Reliability
If coolant systems and lubrication apparatus are added, then engine reliability improves, but weight increases and horsepower ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating piston design serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the combustion chamber seal and the direct driver of rotational motion, eliminating the need for separate crankshaft and connecting rod assemblies. The simplified structure reduces the number of moving parts that require lubrication, while the continuous rotational motion provides inherent lubrication benefits by maintaining constant oil film formation between moving surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating piston design creates self-lubricating conditions through its continuous rotational motion, which maintains constant oil film formation between the piston and chamber walls. The design also allows the piston itself to serve as the primary structural element, reducing the need for additional support components that would require separate lubrication systems.
3Power
If crankshaft and connecting rods are used, then piston motion is converted to rotational output, but weight increases and horsepower to weight ratio decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of converting linear piston motion to rotational motion through a crankshaft, the patent inverts the approach by having the piston itself rotate. The combustion pressure acts on the curved surface of the rotating piston, directly generating rotational motion that is transmitted to the output shaft. This eliminates the need for crankshafts and connecting rods, significantly reducing weight and simplifying the motion conversion mechanism.
4Ease of operation
If complex mechanisms are used to tilt pistons or cylinders into mating orientations, then interfittment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for tilting mechanisms by inverting the conventional approach. Instead of tilting the piston or cylinder to achieve mating orientation, the design uses a rotating piston that naturally maintains the correct orientation through its circular motion within the cylindrical chamber. The piston's rotation automatically provides the necessary interfittment without requiring additional tilting or alignment mechanisms.
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 minimizes frictional and inertial losses, reduces engine wear, and enhances efficiency, enabling operation at low and high RPMs with various fuels, including synfuels and biofuels, while simplifying construction and reducing pollution.
Implementation Method 1
a spring biased valve and valve controller against escape of the mixture
Implementation Method 2
Heat from combustion is cooled from the piston and cylinder by exposing these parts to coolant typically comprising only ambient air as they are carried circularly toward their next conjunction
Implementation Method 3
Progressive penetration of the cylinder by the piston body, necessarily effected by the intersecting angular paths of the respective carriers, compresses the air fuel mixture
Implementation Method 4
Once the fuel is detonated, the exhaust port being closed, the piston and cylinder are driven apart thereby and their movement impels their respective carrier wheels to further rotation
Data Source
AI summary
A combustible fluid operated engine free of lost momentum during piston reciprocation has respective series of cylinders and pistons on counter-rotating carrier wheels. Fuel is injected into the cylinders from the pistons. The carrier wheels are variably spaced relatively to vary the combustible fuel compression. The power output is variable.