| 摘要 |
An internal combustion engine and method of operating such an engine are disclosed. In some embodiments, the engine includes a piston provided within a cylinder, wherein a combustion chamber is defined within the cylinder at least in part by a face of the piston, and an intake valve within the cylinder capable of allowing access to the combustion chamber. The engine further includes a source of compressed air, where the source is external of the cylinder and is coupled to the cylinder by way of the intake valve, and where the piston does not ever operate so as to compress therewithin an amount of uncombusted fuel/air mixture, whereby the engine is capable of operating without a starter. In further embodiments, the piston is rigidly coupled to another, oppositely-orientated second piston, and the two pistons move in unison in response to combustion events to drive hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic motor. |
| 主权项 |
1. An internal combustion engine comprising:
first and second cylinders having first and second hydraulic chambers, respectively, first and second combustion chambers, respectively, and first and second intake valves, respectively, the intake valves being capable of governing flow into the respective combustion chambers; first and second pistons positioned within the first and second cylinders, respectively, the first and second pistons being rigidly coupled to one another in a manner such that the pistons are substantially aligned with one another and oppositely-directed relative to one another; third and fourth cylinders having third and fourth hydraulic chambers, respectively, third and fourth combustion chambers, respectively, and third and fourth intake valves, respectively, the intake valves being capable of governing flow into the respective combustion chambers; third and fourth pistons positioned within the third and fourth cylinders, respectively, the third and fourth pistons being coupled to one another in a manner such that the pistons are substantially aligned with one another and oppositely-directed, at least one hydraulic link at least indirectly connecting each of the first, second, third, and fourth hydraulic chambers with a hydraulic motor so as to convey hydraulic fluid driven from the first, second, third, and fourth hydraulic chambers, respectively, by the first, second, third, and fourth pistons, respectively, to the hydraulic motor; and at least one source of compressed air that is linked at least indirectly to the combustion chambers by way of the respective intake valves, the compressed air being provided to the combustion chambers in anticipation of combustion strokes, whereby, due to the providing of the compressed air from the at least one source, the pistons need not perform any compression strokes in order for combustion events to occur therewithin. |
