MOTOR/ENGINE WITH ROTATING PISTONS

摘要

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods involving an engine and/or motor having piston lobes that rotate with a drive shaft or shafts, which may be implemented with a toroidal-based engine housing. As may be implemented with some embodiments, an apparatus includes drive shafts having a common axis of rotation, with each drive shaft operable to rotate independently of the other drive shaft. The housing extends around the drive shafts, and defines a sidewall of a chamber having inlet and exhaust ports. Clutch bearings limit rotation of the drive shafts to a common rotational direction. One or more piston lobes are connected to each drive shaft, with each piston lobe being disposed within the chamber and operable to move circumferentially within the chamber about the axis of rotation, with the drive shaft to which it is coupled.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
first and second drive shafts having a common axis of rotation, each drive shaft being configured and arranged to rotate independently of the other drive shaft; a housing around the drive shafts, the housing defining a sidewall of a chamber having inlet and exhaust ports; and for each drive shaft,
a respective clutch bearing connected to the drive shaft and configured and arranged to limit rotation of the drive shaft to a rotational direction that is the same for both drive shafts, andat least one piston lobe connected to the drive shaft, each piston lobe disposed within the chamber and configured and arranged to move circumferentially within the chamber and about the axis of rotation with the drive shaft, each piston lobe having a magnet, the magnets of adjacent ones of the piston lobes having polarities that provide a magnetic field that generates a magnetic force in a direction that acts to repel the adjacent ones of the piston lobes away from one another.