Tangential Internal Combustion Engine Eliminates Dead Centers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reciprocating piston engines suffer from mechanical dead center points, leading to a drop in transferred force and reduced efficiency, especially at low engine speeds.
Innovation Solution
A tangential internal combustion engine design with circular arc-shaped cylinders and pistons, utilizing freewheels to convert piston stroke motion directly into torque, eliminating the need for a crankshaft and ensuring continuous force transfer at a 90° sinusoidal angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional crank drive is used to transfer piston force to the shaft, then the engine structure is simple and well-established, but mechanical dead center points are created and transferred force drops off in a sinusoidal curve
Solution Approach 1:
The piston rod is designed with a circular arc shape instead of a straight configuration. This curved geometry allows the piston rod to maintain a tangential connection to the rotating shaft throughout the entire piston stroke, eliminating dead center positions where force transfer would be lost. The curvature radius is specifically chosen to match the shaft radius, ensuring continuous tangential force application.
Solution Approach 2:
A tangential connection element (such as a tangential gear or tangential arm) is introduced as an intermediary between the piston rod and the shaft. This mediator converts the reciprocating linear motion of the piston into continuous rotational motion of the shaft, maintaining constant tangential force transfer without creating mechanical dead centers.
2Productivity
If a crankshaft mechanism is used, then the conversion from linear to rotary motion is achieved, but the transferred force follows a sinusoidal curve causing efficiency loss
Solution Approach 1:
The circular arc-shaped piston rod maintains a constant tangential angle (90 degrees) with the shaft throughout the piston stroke. This geometric configuration ensures that the force vector remains perpendicular to the shaft radius at all times, maximizing torque generation and eliminating the sinusoidal variation in force transfer that occurs with conventional crank mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the force transmission mechanism by using a curved piston rod with a specific radius of curvature matching the shaft radius. This parameter adjustment transforms the force transfer characteristic from sinusoidal to constant tangential, improving efficiency especially at low engine speeds.
3Power
If conventional reciprocating piston design is used, then the engine structure is proven and reliable, but efficiency is reduced especially at low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The circular arc-shaped piston rod creates a direct tangential force path from the piston to the shaft, maximizing torque generation at all engine speeds. This curved geometry eliminates the mechanical disadvantage present in conventional crank mechanisms, particularly improving low-speed torque output and overall fuel efficiency.
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 high torque and efficiency across various speeds without mechanical dead centers, resulting in fuel savings and compact installation possibilities.
Implementation Method 1
one piston rod 6, 6′ each, having a circular arc shape in the longitudinal direction thereof
Implementation Method 2
one freewheel associated with each cylinder 7, 7′ are present at the sides of the pistons 5, 5′ facing away from the combustion chambers 4, 4′
Implementation Method 3
the motion of the piston 5 in the first cylinder 7 generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber 4
Data Source
AI summary
An internal combustion engine with two arced cylinders, with movement of the pistons in first and second cylinders takes place in the same direction. An arcing connecting rod on each of the sides of the pistons are averted from the combustion chambers. A freewheel is associated with each cylinder. An axis of the shaft represents the center of the arced shape of the cylinders and connecting rods. A side of the connecting rod opposite the piston connects to the outer side of a freewheel, and inner sides of the freewheels each connect to the shaft. Movement produced by the combustion is transmitted by the connecting rod to the outer side of the freewheel and the shaft. Outer sides of the freewheels are coupled to move in opposite directions, so the pistons in the first and the second cylinder run oppositely. A method operates such an internal combustion engine.