INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

摘要

An internal combustion engine is described that includes an expansion cylinder adjacent to a first combustion cylinder (or power cylinder). Combustion gases from the first cylinder are directed to the expansion cylinder to act on the piston in the expansion cylinder. The expansion cylinder has a larger bore (i.e. larger diameter piston) and/or a longer stroke than the first cylinder. The longer stroke also results in a much larger crankshaft arm resulting in a significantly improved mechanical advantage (i.e. torque). In addition, the expansion cylinder includes a check valve that is designed to automatically open the expansion chamber to atmosphere if a negative pressure develops due to the varying amount of exhaust gases at different speeds. In one embodiment, two power cylinders can be connected to one expansion cylinder.

主权项

1. An internal combustion engine, comprising:
a first cylinder with a first piston slidably disposed in the first cylinder, the first cylinder defining a combustion chamber having a first diameter; the first piston having a first stroke; an expansion cylinder adjacent to the first cylinder, with a second piston slidably disposed in the expansion cylinder, the expansion cylinder defining an expansion chamber having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; the second piston having a second stroke that is larger than the first stroke; an exhaust passage fluidly connecting the combustion chamber and the expansion chamber; one or more valves controlling the flow of gas from the combustion chamber to the expansion chamber through the exhaust passage.