Single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine

摘要

A single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine is described, and includes an engine block including first and second power cylinders and an expander cylinder fluidly coupled through a cylinder head, and first and second power pistons that connect to respective first and second crankpins of the crankshaft. A multi-link connecting rod assembly includes a rigid main arm extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft and supporting a first pivot pin, a second pivot pin and a third pivot pin. The first pivot pin connects via a connecting rod to an expander piston reciprocating in the third cylinder. A third crankpin of the crankshaft serves as the second pivot pin and has a throw that is located 180 degrees of rotation of the crankshaft from a throw of the first crankpin. The third pivot pin connects to a swing arm connected to the engine block.

主权项

1. A single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine, comprising:
an engine block, a cylinder head, a single crankshaft and a multi-link connecting rod assembly; the engine block including first and second power cylinders and an expander cylinder; the cylinder head fluidly coupling the first and second power cylinders and the expander cylinder; first and second power pistons reciprocating in the first and second power cylinders, respectively, and connected to respective radially coincident first and second crankpins of the crankshaft; the multi-link connecting rod assembly including a rigid main arm extending orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft and supporting a first pivot pin located on a first end of the main arm, a second pivot pin located on a central portion of the main arm and a third pivot pin located on a second end of the main arm; the first pivot pin connected via a connecting rod to an expander piston reciprocating in expander cylinder; the second pivot pin connected to a third crankpin of the crankshaft, the third crankpin having a throw that is located at 180 degrees of rotation around the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft from a throw of the first and second crankpins; and the third pivot pin connected to a swing arm connected to the engine block.