US3853100A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Free piston engine with antiknock means
Assignee: Tectonics Companies Inc
•
Filing: 1973-02-16
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-02-16
Abstract
Abstract A free piston engine in which knocking of the engine is prevented by changing the return energy available to move the piston in its compression stroke and hence to vary the compression ratio. The apparatus includes a condition responsive means associated with possible knocking of the engine, which controls some controlling means for varying the return energy. Where the free piston engine employs a bounce chamber for controlling the return energy, the controlling means may be effective to change the pressure in this bounce chamber. Where the free piston engine has two power pistons acting alternately on a single assembly, the pressure ratio may be varied by controlling the amount of fuel admitted into one or more of the power cylinders. The apparatus also contemplates means for changing the return energy if a movable member driven by the piston moves too far with respect to an associated stationary member.
Inventors
- 👤 A Braun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:11
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B17/00; F04B17/05; F02; F02B; F02B71/00; F02B71/04; F02B75/00; F02B75/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A free piston engine comprising: a power cylinder having a power piston reciprocally movable in said cylinder and defining an internal combustion chamber with Said power cylinder, and means for introducing air and fuel into said power cylinder between said piston and the head of said cylinder to form a mixture therein consisting of fuel and air, said piston being movable toward the head of said cylinder to compress the fuel mixture on a compression stroke and away from said head upon firing of the fuel mixture, return energy means operatively connected to said piston for applying return energy to said piston, said means being effective to apply sufficient return energy to said piston following the firing stroke of said engine to cause said piston to move towards the head of said power cylinder to compress the fuel mixture to the desired extent, and controlling means for so varying the amount of the return energy applied to said piston as to prevent sustained knocking of the engine, said controlling means comprising a condition responsive means having a condition sensing element located adjacent the engine and responsive to a condition normally followed by sustained knocking of the engine, and adjusting means controlled by said condition responsive means for variably controlling said return energy means to adjust the return energy in a direction and by an amount sufficient that the resulting change in the compression ratio in said cylinder will, without interrupting the operation of said engine, prevent the occurrence of sustained knocking thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
252 words
A free piston engine comprising: a power cylinder having a power piston reciprocally movable in said cylinder and defining an internal combustion chamber with Said power cylinder, and means for introducing air and fuel into said power cylinder between said piston and the head of said cylinder to form a mixture therein consisting of fuel and air, said piston being movable toward the head of said cylinder to compress the fuel mixture on a compression stroke and away from said head upon firing of the fuel mixture, return energy means operatively connected to said piston for applying return energy to said piston, said means being effective to apply sufficient return energy to said piston following the firing stroke of said engine to cause said piston to move towards the head of said power cylinder to compress the fuel mixture to the desired extent, and controlling means for so varying the amount of the return energy applied to said piston as to prevent sustained knocking of the engine, said controlling means comprising a condition responsive means having a condition sensing element located adjacent the engine and responsive to a condition normally followed by sustained knocking of the engine, and adjusting means controlled by said condition responsive means for variably controlling said return energy means to adjust the return energy in a direction and by an amount sufficient that the resulting change in the compression ratio in said cylinder will, without interrupting the operation of said engine, prevent the occurrence of sustained knocking thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The free piston engine of claim 1 in which the return energy means includes a bounce chamber and in which said controlling means is effective to change the pressure in said bounce chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The free piston engine of claim 1 in which the return energy means includes a positive bounce chamber and an opposing negative bounce chamber and in which said controlling means is effective to change the pressure in one of said bounce chambers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
The free piston engine of claim 2 in which the bounce chamber has a check valve for admitting fluid to said chamber and a biased outlet valve for permitting escape of fluid from said chamber and in which said controlling means is effective to change the bias on said outlet valve to change the pressure in said bounce chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The free piston engine of claim 4 in which a fluid motor having a pressure chamber is effective to change the bias on said outlet valve and in which said condition responsive means is effective to vary the pressure in the pressure chamber of said fluid motor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The free piston engine of claim 1 in which said controlling means includes a fluid motor for changing the return energy available to move the power piston and in which said condition responsive means is effective to vary the pressure in the pressure chamber of said fluid motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The free piston engine of claim 1 in which there are two power pistons each movable in a power cylinder, and in which the return energy means for either piston includes the other power piston and associated power cylinder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The free piston engine of claim 7 in which the controlling means is effective to control the amount of fuel admitted into the power cylinder associated with the other power piston.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The free piston engine of claim 7 in which there is a fuel pump for injecting fuel into such power cylinder associated with the other power piston and in which said controlling means controls the amount of fuel delivered by said pump.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
The free piston ngine of claim 7 in which said condition responsive means is associated with said engine in such a manner as to detect possible knocking in either cylinder and in which said controlling means is controlled by said condition responsive means in such a manner that if said condition responsive means detects possible knocking in either cylinder of the engine, said controlling means is effective to reduce the amount of fuel admitted into both power cylinders.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
The free piston engine of claim 10 in which said condition responsive means consists of a separate condition sensor associated with each cylinder and in wHich the controlling means is controlled by both of said condition sensors in such a manner that if either one of said condition sensors detects possible knocking of the engine, said controlling means is effective to reduce the amount of fuel admitted into both power cylinders.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The free piston engine of claim 10 in which there is a fuel pump associated with each cylinder with a common adjusting means for adjusting the amount of fuel delivered by both pumps and in which said controlling means operates upon said common adjusting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The free piston engine of claim 1 in which the condition responsive means is responsive to mechanical vibration associated with knocking of the engine.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
The free piston engine of claim 1 in which there is a movable member driven by said power piston and a stationary member with respect to which said movable member is moved and in which there is means responsive to said movable member moving too far with respect to said stationary member to cause said controlling means to decrease the compression ratio in said power cylinder to decrease the power output so as to decrease the extent to which said movable member is moved by said power piston with respect to said stationary member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The free piston engine of claim 14 in which the movable member and the stationary element are elements of an air compressor and in which a portion of the air compressed thereby is employed to cause said controlling means to decrease the compression ratio in said power cylinder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The free piston engine of claim 14 in which the excessive movement of said movable member is sensed by a control member lying in the path of said movable member and engaged thereby when said movable member moves too far with respect to said stationary member.
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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) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |