Concentric cylinder engine

摘要

A concentric cylinder engine includes a toroidal outer cylinder having an inner cylinder contained therein, the inner cylinder wall comprising a sleeve assembly acting as a transfer valve. Each cylinder contains a piston, the two pistons being connected to a single crankshaft. The inner and outer piston crank throws are at least generally opposite one another, with the two pistons traveling in opposite directions during engine operation. The outer piston provides intake and compression functions, while the inner piston simultaneously provides power and exhaust functions. The concentric cylinder engine thus provides the four separate and distinct intake, compression, power, and exhaust phases of conventional Otto cycle engine operation during a single revolution of the crankshaft. The concentric cylinder engine may be constructed in multiple cylinder configurations having spark or compression ignition, in either liquid or air cooled embodiments.

主权项

1. A concentric cylinder engine comprising:
a crankcase; a crankshaft rotationally disposed within the crankcase, the crankshaft having two outer piston crank throws and an inner piston crank throw disposed therebetween, the outer piston crank throws offset generally opposite the inner piston crank throw; an outer cylinder extending from the crankcase; a generally toroidal outer piston disposed within the outer cylinder, the outer piston reciprocally communicating with the outer piston crank throws of the crankshaft; a sleeve assembly having a sleeve valve reciprocally disposed within the outer piston; an inner piston disposed within the sleeve assembly, the inner piston reciprocally communicating with the inner piston crank throw of the crankshaft; said sleeve valve assembly comprising:
a fixed inner sleeve affixed to and depending from a cylinder head and extending down into the outer cylinder below the inner piston at the top of the inner piston stroke; andan outer sleeve being adapted to reciprocate concentrically about said inner sleeve;
whereby when said outer sleeve valve is opened by reciprocating down from said inner sleeve at the bottom of the inner piston stroke, said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve define a generally toroidal intake charge passage therebetween above the top of said inner piston.