GAS EXCHANGE THROUGH ENGINE PISTON ROD

摘要

A linear reciprocating engine may include a cylinder having a first combustion chamber at one end and a second combustion chamber at an opposing end, first and second cylinder heads located at an end of the first and second combustion chambers, respectively, and a double-faced piston slidably mounted within the cylinder. The engine may further include a first piston rod portion extending from a first face of the double-faced piston through the first combustion chamber, and a second piston rod portion extending from a second face of the piston through the second combustion chamber. Passageways in the piston rod portions may be configured to communicate gases between the combustion chamber and a location outside the cylinder and configured to prevent gases from being exchanged between the cylinder and a location outside the cylinder via a path that crosses both face of the piston.

主权项

1. A linear reciprocating engine, comprising:
a cylinder having a first combustion chamber at a first end thereof and a second combustion chamber at an opposing second end thereof; a first cylinder head located at an end of the first combustion chamber; a second cylinder head located at an end of the second combustion chamber; a double-faced piston slidably mounted within the cylinder and configured to travel in a first stroke from a first position in a region of the first combustion chamber to a second position in a region of the second combustion chamber, the double-faced piston including a first face and a second face; a first piston rod portion extending from the first face of the double-faced piston through the first combustion chamber; a second piston rod portion extending from a second face of the piston through the second combustion chamber; a first recess in the first piston rod portion forming a first passageway configured to communicate gases between the first combustion chamber and a first location outside the cylinder opposite the first cylinder head; a second recess in the second piston rod portion forming a second passageway configured to communicate gases between the second combustion chamber and a second location outside the cylinder opposite the second cylinder head; and a peripheral port in a side wall of the cylinder, wherein the peripheral port is configured such that when the piston is in the first combustion chamber, the peripheral port communicates with the second combustion chamber, and when the piston is in the second combustion chamber, the peripheral port communicates with the first combustion chamber; and wherein the piston, the port and the cylinder are configured such that following an expansion stage in the first combustion chamber, the piston moves to a location in the second combustion chamber such that the entire piston substantially overshoots one side of the peripheral port, and such that following an expansion stage in the second combustion chamber, the piston moves to a location in the first combustion chamber such that the entire piston substantially overshoots an opposite side of the peripheral port.