| 摘要 |
A pressure fluid driven piston and cylinder engine capable of providing high torque output at any engine speed for direct connection to a vehicle or machine to be driven. The engine may be used for any purpose, but is especially advantageous for powering an automotive vehicle. The engine does not require a transmission due to its ability to provide, in itself, a high torque at any engine speed and the ability to provide forward and reverse drive and neutral and park functions. The engine has at least a pair of piston and cylinder power units with pistons which move in an opposing manner to transmit power from elongate gear racks, respectively, on the piston rods to an outer pinion gear portion of respective conventional roller clutches. The roller clutches, in turn, change the reciprocating movement of the power units into unidirectional rotation of the drive shaft. Constant leverage is exerted by the pistons on the drive shaft throughout their power strokes by use of this gear and rack arrangement. Engine torque output is controlled by regulating the portion of each piston power stroke during which the intake valve is open, by selecting which one of preferably four intake valve settings is activated at a given instant, analogous to shifting gears in an automotive transmission. The reverse engine function is achieved by adding a second pair of power unit having a cylinder and piston and cooperative reversing unit coupled to oppositely rotating roller clutches on a separate drive shaft and by selectively engaging one or the other drive shaft for power takeoff. A clutch and a differential are disclosed for the engine or for use otherwise.
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