US3583155A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Double piston engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-26
•
Granted: 1971-06-08
•
Expires: 1989-09-26
Abstract
Abstract A cylinder separated into two opposed portions interconnected by an elongated gas passageway which is constantly heated at one end and constantly cooled at its opposite end. Gas is forced back and forth through the passageway by a free piston arranged within the cylinder portion between the heated passageway end and adjacent cylinder end and by a driven piston arranged in the opposite cylinder portion. The free piston is reciprocated by the pressure of the heated gas on one face and the pressure on its opposite fact of gas compressed by the free piston itself. The driven piston is connected to a power takeoff shaft and is reciprocated on its drive stroke by the pressure of the cooled gas from the passageway and on its return stroke by a mechanical means, such as a flywheel, aided by reduced gas pressure against the driven piston.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Schuman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:21
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/0435
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
An engine comprising a closed free piston cylinder portion containing a reciprocating free piston having opposite piston faces, and a driven piston cylinder portion containing a reciprocating driven piston; the two cylinder portions being interconnected by an elongated gas passageway extending within the cylinder for conveying gas into and between them, with the two pistons reciprocating towards and away from their adjacent passageway ends so that each forces gas through the passageway towards the other; means for constantly heating the passageway adjacent to the free piston cylinder portion, and means for constantly cooling the passageway adjacent to the driven piston cylinder portion for respectively heating and cooling the gas passing through the passageway; the free piston being alternately reciprocated by the pressure of the heated gas, received in its cylinder portion from the passageway, applied against one face thereof and by the pressure of gas compressed between its opposite face and the adjacent end of the piston portion; and the driven piston being alternately reciprocated by the pressure of the cooled gas received from its adjacent passageway end and by a means for reciprocating the driven piston back towards its passageway end.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
An engine comprising a closed free piston cylinder portion containing a reciprocating free piston having opposite piston faces, and a driven piston cylinder portion containing a reciprocating driven piston; the two cylinder portions being interconnected by an elongated gas passageway extending within the cylinder for conveying gas into and between them, with the two pistons reciprocating towards and away from their adjacent passageway ends so that each forces gas through the passageway towards the other; means for constantly heating the passageway adjacent to the free piston cylinder portion, and means for constantly cooling the passageway adjacent to the driven piston cylinder portion for respectively heating and cooling the gas passing through the passageway; the free piston being alternately reciprocated by the pressure of the heated gas, received in its cylinder portion from the passageway, applied against one face thereof and by the pressure of gas compressed between its opposite face and the adjacent end of the piston portion; and the driven piston being alternately reciprocated by the pressure of the cooled gas received from its adjacent passageway end and by a means for reciprocating the driven piston back towards its passageway end.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An engine as defined in claim 1, and said cylinder portions being formed of the opposite end portions of a single cylinder, the pistons reciprocating towards and away from each other, with means blocking the central portion of the cylinder between the pistons, except for said passageway.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An engine as defined in claim 2, and said blocking means including elongated plates extending between the pistons, each having gas passageways extending to the cylinder end portions between the opposed piston faces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An engine as defined in claim 3, and with the opposed piston faces each being formed into an axially elongated, sawtoothlike fin configuration, and correspondingly shaped fins formed on the blocking means between the plates and extending between and mating with their adjacent piston face fins.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
An engine as defined in claim 1, and including a source of compressed gases connected through a throttle valve to the free piston cylinder portion at each of the opposite ends of the free piston for controlling the pressure of the gas upon the opposite faces of the free piston and therefor the stroke of the free piston.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
An engine comprising a closed cylinder having a free piston in one end and a driven piston coupled to a power takeoff means in its opposite end, with the pistons being reciprocally fitted within the cylinder and with the two piston containing cylinder ends connected by at least one elongated passageway extending within the cylinder through which gas may freely pass to the opposed faces of the two pistons; means for externally, constantly heating the passageway at the free piston end thereof and for externally, constantly cooling the passageway at the driven piston end thereof for thereby respectively heating and cooling gas moved through the passageway by reciprocation of the pistons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
111 words
An engine comprising a closed cylinder having a free piston in one end and a driven piston coupled to a power takeoff means in its opposite end, with the pistons being reciprocally fitted within the cylinder and with the two piston containing cylinder ends connected by at least one elongated passageway extending within the cylinder through which gas may freely pass to the opposed faces of the two pistons; means for externally, constantly heating the passageway at the free piston end thereof and for externally, constantly cooling the passageway at the driven piston end thereof for thereby respectively heating and cooling gas moved through the passageway by reciprocation of the pistons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
An engine as defined in claim 6 above, and said passageway being formed lengthwise through an elongated plate extending between the pistons and fixed within the cylinder, the cylinder being blocked against movement of gas between the pistons except for the passageway; and said heating and cooling means being applied to the upper and lower end portions, respectively, of the plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
An engine as defined by claim 6 above and with the opposing faces of the two pistons each being formed in a sawtoothlike fin configuration; and means blocking the cylinder between the piston opposing faces except for the passageway, said means including sawtoothlike fins arranged for fitting between and mating with the adjacent piston fins.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US734220A
Cited
US3353349A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |