| 摘要 |
An internal combustion engine having a generally spherical cavity (14) within a rigid body (12), and the cavity (14) being divided into variable-sized compartments by a generally disk-shaped rotor (20) which is mounted for rotation about a first diametral axis (22) of the rotor (20). A separator plate (28) both rotates with the rotor (20) and oscillates with respect to the rotor (20) about a second axis (30). Either internal or external passages provide communication between certain compartments within the spherical cavity (14) as the rotor (20) (and an attached shaft) rotate. A controlled quantity of fuel is admitted to a gas within the engine, and the gas/fuel mixture is ignited at an appropriate time. In one embodiment there are two associated spherical chambers (314, 316), and heat exchanges (345, 365) are associated with passages leading to and from various compartments within the spherical chambers (314, 316). Under certain circumstances the engine may be operated as an internal combustion, Stirling-cycle engine. |
