Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Multiple piston expansion chamber engine

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5313233
An internal combustion engine is described wherein combustion, expansion and exhaust functions are performed in a cylinder comprised of an auxiliary piston reciprocating in the cylinder, a sleeve valve reciprocating within the auxiliary piston, a working piston reciprocating within the sleeve valve and leading the auxiliary piston, an auxiliary chamber above the auxiliary piston and a combustion chamber above the working piston. The sleeve valve controlling communication of the auxiliary chamber with the combustion chamber to prevent communication of combusted products from the chamber above the working piston to the chamber above the auxiliary piston from when the working piston is at about TDC until a subsequent expansion stroke of the working piston is underway and at a point between 30 and 160 degrees past TDC and with the auxiliary piston being at about TDC at this same instant when the working piston is at the point and the communication then is commenced. To permit communication only during the expansion stroke continuing past the point and a following exhaust stroke of the working piston so as to utilize energy of expansion from the auxiliary piston as it expands until the working piston has passed through BDC and returns to about TDC during the exhaust stroke of the working piston.
Assignee:
NOV; EDB-88-072996; NOV-88-001163
Patent Number(s):
US 4715328
OSTI ID:
5313233
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English