Rectangular Piston Design for Combustion Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internal combustion engines with circular cross-section pistons and cylinders face inefficiencies due to space and weight constraints, limited overhead space for valves and injectors, reliance on lubrication systems, and suboptimal flame propagation and force transfer, leading to reduced engine power and increased maintenance costs.

Innovation Solution

The development of internal combustion engines with non-circular cross-section pistons and cylinders, featuring a rectangular shape with rounded corners and a domed piston head, which reduces the need for lubrication, optimizes space and weight, enhances flame propagation, and incorporates a multi-stage telescoping poppet valve for improved air flow and variable valve timing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If circular cross-section pistons and cylinders are used, then the engine structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the engine weight increases and overhead space for valves and injectors is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiston and cylinder manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidengine weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by changing the piston cross-section from a conventional circular shape to a rectangular shape with rounded corners. This asymmetric design reduces the piston diameter required for the same displacement, thereby reducing engine weight and increasing overhead space for valves and injectors, while maintaining manufacturability through standard machining processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Device complexity

If circular cross-section pistons and cylinders are used, then the engine structure is simple, but the overhead space for valves, injectors, and other components is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine structure simplicityVSAvoidoverhead space for valves and injectors

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The rectangular piston with rounded corners creates an asymmetric configuration that increases the overhead space area in the cylinder. This allows for larger or additional valves, injectors, and other components to be positioned in the overhead area, improving engine breathing and fuel injection capabilities while maintaining relatively simple engine structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Reliability

If conventional lubrication systems are used, then the piston-cylinder interface is protected, but maintenance costs increase and oil contamination occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiston-cylinder interface protectionVSAvoidmaintenance costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by designing the rectangular piston with rounded corners and corresponding rectangular cylinder to create a geometry-based sealing mechanism. The sharp edges and flat surfaces of the rectangular configuration provide natural sealing that reduces reliance on lubrication systems, thereby decreasing maintenance costs and oil contamination while maintaining protection of the piston-cylinder interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If conventional circular pistons are used, then the engine design is traditional, but flame propagation and force transfer are suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombustion efficiencyVSAvoidpiston cross-section shape

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The rectangular piston with rounded corners creates an asymmetric combustion chamber geometry that optimizes flame propagation paths and improves force transfer from the expanding gases to the piston. The flat surfaces and sharp edges of the rectangular configuration enhance turbulence and flame front propagation, thereby improving combustion efficiency and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The rounded corners of the rectangular piston apply curvature principles to smooth the transition between flat surfaces, optimizing flame propagation by eliminating sharp corners that could cause flow separation. The curved surfaces enhance turbulence and improve mixing, thereby improving combustion efficiency while maintaining the overall rectangular asymmetric shape

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS10526953B2Internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2020.01.07 QUEST ENGINES LLC

AI summary

Internal combustion engines having non-circular, preferably rectangular, cross-section pistons and cylinders are disclosed. The pistons may include a skirt with a field of pockets that provide a ringless, non-lubricated, seal equivalent. The pistons also may have a domed piston head with depressions thereon to facilitate the movement of air/charge in the cylinder. The engines also may use multi-stage poppet valves in lieu of conventional poppet valves, and a split crankshaft. The engines may use the pumping motion of the engine piston to supercharge the cylinder with air/charge. The engines also may operate in an inverted orientation in which the piston is closer to the local gravitationally dominant terrestrial body's center of gravity at top dead center position than at bottom dead center position.