Parallel Cylinder Engine Spacer Crankshaft Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines suffer from low efficiency due to friction, incomplete combustion, mechanical stress, and high weight, leading to reduced power output, increased fuel consumption, and environmental pollution.
Innovation Solution
An internal combustion engine design featuring two cylinders with parallel axes, a spacer connecting the pistons to maintain fixed spacing, and a crankshaft with a lifter that reduces transverse forces and increases axial guidance, allowing for longer high-pressure combustion and reduced second-order inertia forces, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a connecting rod-crank mechanism is used to transform linear motion to rotational motion, then the engine can generate torque to drive the vehicle, but transverse forces are generated on the piston during stroke, causing friction and mechanical wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second piston moving in a parallel cylinder, creating a three-dimensional spatial arrangement where the second piston's motion constrains the first piston's transverse displacement. This adds a dimensional constraint that eliminates the harmful transverse forces while maintaining the rotational output.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a novel constraint mechanism (crosshead and guide rails) as an intermediary between the two pistons. This intermediary transfers the linear motion of the second piston to constrain the first piston, mediating the interaction between the two cylinders to eliminate transverse forces.
2Speed
If the piston strokes quickly between top dead center and bottom dead center, then the engine operates at higher speed, but the combustion phase duration is reduced, leading to incomplete combustion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a periodic motion pattern where the piston accelerates and decelerates in a controlled manner during the stroke cycle. By optimizing the acceleration-deceleration profile, the piston spends more time at top dead center during the combustion phase, extending the effective combustion duration while maintaining overall engine speed.
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 engine achieves higher efficiency, lower fuel consumption, and reduced emissions by minimizing transverse forces and maximizing combustion time, with a significant reduction in engine size and weight, resulting in over 60% lower fuel consumption compared to traditional engines.
Implementation Method 1
followed by a phase of compression of this mixture by the or each piston
Implementation Method 2
combustion phases of the mixture, generating an increase in the pressure in the combustion chamber, and expansion of the burnt gases
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The internal combustion engine (10) comprises at least two cylinders (11, 1') with parallel longitudinal axes, each cylinder comprising an opening and a piston (12, 12') capable of moving in translation inside said cylinder, the respective openings of the cylinders facing each other, the pistons being in kinematic relation with a connecting rod-crank mechanism comprising: - a spacer (13) connecting said pistons, suitable for maintaining a fixed spacing between the pistons, the pistons being respectively attached to the arms (131, 131') of the spacer, - a crankshaft (20) rotating about an axis, arranged between the openings of the cylinders and between the longitudinal axes of said cylinders, the crankshaft comprising a crank pin (21), - a rocker (40) rotating about the crank pin, - at least one connecting rod (30) comprising a first so-called "bottom" end (31), rigidly attached to the spacer, and a second so-called "head" end (32), rigidly attached to one of the ends of the rocker.