Self acting compressed air engine - has reciprocating inner cylinders compressing air inside stationary outer cylinders with four stroke action

摘要

The engine has four fixed cylinders. In place of a piston each has an inner cylinder which reciprocates within it. The bottom of each reciprocating inner cylinder is joined by a connecting rod to a crankshaft, the four cranks being angularly displaced from each other. Each inner cylinder has a floating piston within it which is moved by air pressure. The fixed cylinders have valve openings through which an initial charge of compressed air is introduced. This starts the engine and then on each stroke two cylinders provide the driving force while the other two are compressing a fresh charge of air. The engine thus continues to run without further supplies of fuel or energy.