Oscillating piston engine

摘要

An engine configuration that places multiple pistons on one or two oscillating discs. The engine can be configured to operate as an internal combustion engine that uses diesel fuel, gasoline, or natural gas, or it can be configured as an expander to convert high pressure high temperature gas to rotary power. For any given set of choices of numbers of pistons and sizes of pistons, disks, and gears, there are disclosed dimensional constraints useful for more efficient functioning of the engine. This engine is especially suited as a driver for electrical power generation as it delivers high torque at low engine speeds, among other uses. Its compact design results in high power to weight ratios.

主权项

1. An engine comprising:
a first disk having formed therethrough a first axial hole and a first offset hole offset from the axis of said first disk; a second disk having formed therethrough a second axial hole and a second offset hole offset from the axis of said second disk; a first piston attached to a circumference of said first disk; a second piston attached to a circumference of said second disk; a main shaft passing through said first axial hole and said second axial hole, wherein said main shaft can rotate within said first axial hole and said second axial hole; a crank shaft passing through said first offset hole and said second offset hole, wherein said crank shaft can rotate within said first offset hole and said second offset hole; a rotation transmission mechanism for connecting said crank shaft to said main shaft, said rotation transmission mechanism being structured such that a rotation of said crank shaft imposes a rotation on said main shaft; an oscillation transmission mechanism for connecting one of said first disk or said second disk to said crank shaft, said oscillation transmission mechanism being structured for transmitting an oscillation of said one of said first disk or said second disk into a rotation of said crank shaft; and a housing, wherein said housing forms a chamber for at least partially containing said first piston and said second piston such that said first piston on said first disk and said second piston on said second disk are arranged with said chamber for forming an expansion volume between said first piston and said second piston, and wherein said expansion volume is alternatively compressed and expanded as said engine is operating by the oscillation of at least said one of said first disk or said second disk about said main shaft, thereby converting said oscillation to a rotation of said crank shaft which thereby rotates said main shaft.