Full expansion internal combustion engine with co-annular pistons

摘要

A cylinder for an internal combustion engine having co-annular dual pistons. The cylinder has a main cylinder having a main cylinder wall and a cylinder head, a first or outer piston having an annular crown, an inner cylinder wall that defines an inner cylinder, and an annular outer sidewall extending from the periphery of the crown, an inner piston having a crown, and an annular inner sidewall extending from the periphery of the crown. A solenoid-actuated pin selectively secures the outer piston with the main cylinder during a portion of each cylinder cycle. The inner piston reciprocates within the inner cylinder during both the air inlet and compression strokes, while the outer piston reciprocates within the main cylinder only during the power stroke and the exhaust stroke, to increase the piston crown surface area exposed to the combustion gases to maximize the power and efficiency.

主权项

1. A cylinder for a four-stroke internal combustion (IC) engine having co-annular dual pistons, the cylinder including:
i) a main cylinder including a main cylinder wall and a cylinder head, and having at least one exhaust port, an exhaust valve disposed in the exhaust port, and at least one inlet air port, and an inlet air valve disposed in the inlet air port; ii) an outer piston having an annular crown, an inner cylinder wall defining an inner cylinder, and an annular outer sidewall extending from the periphery of the crown, the outer piston configured for reciprocating movement within the main cylinder; iii) an inner piston having a crown, and an annular inner sidewall extending from the periphery of the crown, the inner piston configured for reciprocating movement within the inner cylinder; and iv) a securement configured for securing the outer piston with the main cylinder through an intake stroke and a compression stroke, and for disengagement of the outer piston with the main cylinder through a combustion and power stroke and an exhaust stroke.