US3623463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internal combustion engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-09-24
•
Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1989-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A four-stroke cycle internal combustion engine in which induction and compression occur in one cylinder and expansion and exhaust occur in another cylinder of greater volume to thereby increase the expansion ratio. The inlet valve for the compression cylinder, the exhaust valve for the expansion or power cylinder, and a transfer valve between the cylinders are all operated by cams affixed to the crankshaft, eliminating a half-speed camshaft and its timing gear or chain drive, whereby all four processes referred to occur in one revolution of the crankshaft rather than in two revolutions of same as in the conventional four-stroke Otto engine. Further optional features include an insulated piston in the power cylinder which effects further increase in efficiency and a heat exchanger for the compressed charge which utilizes exhaust waste heat for effecting a still further increase in efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerrit De Vries
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:58
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B41/00; F02B41/02; F02B41/06; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; F02B2700/00; F02B2700/02; F02B2700/023; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
In an internal combustion engine of the four-stroke type having at least one pair of cylinders with reciprocating pistons therein and closed by cylinder heads, one being an induction and compressor piston and the other being an expansion and exhaust piston, the expansion piston having a displacement greater than the compressor piston, the pistons being connected by connecting rods to a pair of crankpins on a crank shaft, the crankpins being in closely spaced angular phase relationship, the improvements, in combustion, comprising: a. the cylinder containing the induction and compressor piston having an inlet poppet valve in its head and the cylinder for the expansion and exhaust piston having an exhaust poppet valve (associated therewith) in its head; b. a transfer conduit in the heaDs communicating the upper ends of the cylinders and having a first end forming a first port in the head of the induction and compressor cylinder and a second end forming a second port in the head of the expansion and exhaust cylinder, c. a transfer poppet valve in the head of the induction and compressor cylinder for opening and closing said first port, adapted to have a relatively short duration of opening while the compressor piston is near its top center, d. said compressor piston having a minimized clearance volume thereabove when at its top center, e. the construction and arrangement being such that while said transfer valve is open, substantially all of the gas compressed by the compressor piston is transferred at a rate approaching instantaneously, through said transfer conduit while both pistons remain substantially at positions of dwell at their top centers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
In an internal combustion engine of the four-stroke type having at least one pair of cylinders with reciprocating pistons therein and closed by cylinder heads, one being an induction and compressor piston and the other being an expansion and exhaust piston, the expansion piston having a displacement greater than the compressor piston, the pistons being connected by connecting rods to a pair of crankpins on a crank shaft, the crankpins being in closely spaced angular phase relationship, the improvements, in combustion, comprising: a. the cylinder containing the induction and compressor piston having an inlet poppet valve in its head and the cylinder for the expansion and exhaust piston having an exhaust poppet valve (associated therewith) in its head; b. a transfer conduit in the heaDs communicating the upper ends of the cylinders and having a first end forming a first port in the head of the induction and compressor cylinder and a second end forming a second port in the head of the expansion and exhaust cylinder, c. a transfer poppet valve in the head of the induction and compressor cylinder for opening and closing said first port, adapted to have a relatively short duration of opening while the compressor piston is near its top center, d. said compressor piston having a minimized clearance volume thereabove when at its top center, e. the construction and arrangement being such that while said transfer valve is open, substantially all of the gas compressed by the compressor piston is transferred at a rate approaching instantaneously, through said transfer conduit while both pistons remain substantially at positions of dwell at their top centers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
An engine in accordance with claim 1 including a hollow metallic false pistonhead secured to the head of the expansion piston, said false pistonhead being filled with compressed insulating material other then gas or liquid, and having a substantial length to materially reduce heat loss to the expansion cylinder, an uncooled metallic cylinder head for the expansion cylinder, and heat-insulating material disposed between same and the expansion cylinder, said metallic false pistonhead and said metallic cylinder head forming walls of a closed metallic envelope in which a temperature may be maintained sufficient to support spontaneous combustion of a fuel-air mixture therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An engine in accordance with claim 1 including a port in the compressor cylinder head communicating the intake valve with a carburetor for furnishing a fuel-air mixture to the compressor cylinder, and a spark plug for the expansion cylinder for initiating combustion of the compressed fuel-air mixture delivered to same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
An engine in accordance with claim 1 including a port in the compressor cylinder head communicating the inlet valve with ambient air for furnishing air, without fuel, to the compressor cylinder, and a fuel injection nozzle for the expansion cylinder for injecting fuel into same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An engine in accordance with claim 1 including a second transfer valve associated with said transfer conduit, one transfer valve being disposed in the head of the compressor cylinder and the other being disposed in the head of the expansion cylinder, the transfer conduit being disposed therebetween.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
An engine in accordance with claim 5 including an exhaust conduit disposed in heat exchange relationship to the transfer conduit through which exhaust gas from the expansion cylinder may pass to thereby transfer waste heat to gas delivered to the transfer conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An engine in accordance with claim 5 including a port in the compressor cylinder head communicating the inlet valve with ambient air for furnishing air, without fuel, to the compressor cylinder, and a fuel injection nozzle for the expansion cylinder for injecting fuel into same.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
An engine in accordance with claim 5 including a hollow metallic false pistonhead secured to the head of the expansion piston, said false pistonhead being filled with compressed insulating material, other than gas or liquid, and having a substantial length to materially reduce heat loss to the expansion cylinder, an uncooled metallic cylinder head for the expansion cylinder, and heat-insulating material disposed between same and the expansion cylinder, said metallic false pistonhead and said metallic cylinder head forming walls of a closed metallic envelope in which a temperature may be maintained sufficient to support spontaneous combustion of a fuel-air mixture therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
An engine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valves are operated by three separate cams affixed to the crankshaft, said separate cams each operating separate push rods and rocker arms associated with the respective valves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |