Tangential Combustion Engine Eliminates Mechanical Dead Points

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional reciprocating piston engines suffer from mechanical dead points caused by the crank mechanism, leading to inefficient energy transmission and reduced fuel efficiency due to sinusoidal force decrease.

Innovation Solution

The design of a tangential internal combustion engine with circular arc-shaped cylinders and pistons, where the piston thrust movement is directly converted into torque at a 90° sine angle, eliminating the need for a crankshaft and allowing for constant torque at various speeds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a conventional crank drive mechanism is used to convert piston motion to rotary motion, then the engine can generate torque, but mechanical dead points are created and the transmitted force decreases in a sinusoidal curve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque generationVSAvoidenergy transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the conventional crank mechanism with a spherical piston design that moves in a circular path within the cylindrical combustion chamber. The piston's spherical shape and circular motion path eliminate mechanical dead points and maintain constant torque transmission throughout the entire rotation cycle, converting the sinusoidal force variation into uniform rotational force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and eliminates the crank mechanism entirely from the engine design. By removing the connecting rod and crankshaft assembly, the patent eliminates the source of mechanical dead points and sinusoidal force variation, achieving direct and continuous torque transmission from the spherical piston to the output shaft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If a crank drive mechanism is used, then piston motion can be converted to rotary motion, but the transmitted power decreases towards dead points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion conversionVSAvoidtransmitted force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical piston design with circular motion path ensures that the force vector remains tangential to the rotation throughout the entire cycle. This geometric configuration maintains constant torque transmission without the force drops characteristic of crank mechanisms, as the spherical piston continuously pushes against the circular path without dead centers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Use of energy by moving object

If conventional reciprocating piston engines are used, then fuel combustion can drive the piston, but fuel efficiency is reduced due to mechanical losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefuel energy utilizationVSAvoidmechanical energy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the connecting rod and crank mechanism, the invention eliminates the mechanical losses associated with these components. The spherical piston directly converts combustion pressure into rotational motion, reducing friction, inertial losses, and mechanical inefficiencies while improving overall fuel energy utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spherical piston design with circular motion path creates more efficient force transmission by maintaining constant tangential force throughout the rotation. This geometric configuration reduces mechanical losses compared to the reciprocating motion of conventional pistons, improving fuel efficiency through better energy conversion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 enhances fuel efficiency by achieving maximum torque at low speeds and maintaining constant torque across different speeds, eliminating mechanical dead points and improving power delivery without delay.

Implementation Method 1

combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber 4 of the first cylinder 7

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 2

the piston thrust movement generated therein can be directly converted into a torque and thus the transmitted force is always transmitted tangentially, ie at a sine angle of 90°, to a shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

an associated freewheel is provided for each cylinder 7, 7'

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4321727B1Tangential combustion engine
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 FNF INNOVATION SH P K
  • EP4321727B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4321727B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4321727B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine characterized in that it comprises two longitudinally segment-shaped cylinders 7, 7', in each of which a piston 5, 5' is movably arranged from a position at minimum distance to the cylinder head Pmin to a position at maximum distance to the cylinder head Pmax, and a connecting rod 6, 6', which is longitudinally segment-shaped, on the sides of the pistons 5, 5' facing away from the combustion chamber 4, 4', an associated freewheel for each cylinder 7, 7', and a shaft 11, wherein the cylinders 7, 7' are arranged such that the axis of the shaft 11 represents the center of the circle underlying the segment-shaped form of the cylinders 7, 7' and the connecting rods 6, 6', respectively, with the outer side 8, 8' opposite the piston 5, 5' of the first and second cylinders 7, 7'. one of the freewheels is connected, and the inner sides are 10,10' of the freewheels are each connected to the shaft 11, the freewheels are arranged such that the motion generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber 4, 4' of a cylinder 7, 7' and transmitted by the connecting rod 6, 6' of a piston 5, 5' to the outside of the freewheel 8, 8' is transmitted to the shaft 11, and the freewheels each rotate freely in the opposite direction, the cylinders 7, 7' are further arranged such that the motion of the piston 5 in the first cylinder 7 generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber 4 of the first cylinder 7 and the motion of the piston 5' in the second cylinder 7 generated by the combustion of fuel in the combustion chamber 4' of the second cylinder 7' occur in the same direction, and the outside surfaces of the freewheels 8, 8' are coupled to each other so that they perform an opposite motion, thereby also the motion of the pistons 5, 5' in the first and second cylinders 7, 7' is running in the opposite direction.