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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

External combustion engine with improved piston and crankshaft linkage

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5473464

This patent describes improvement in an external heat engine having a piston mounted for movement between a first position and a second position, means for forcibly moving the piston from the first position to the second position (power stroke), a crankshaft rotatable about a main axis, and means for linking the piston and crankshaft so that linear movement of the piston from the first position to the second position during the power stroke is transformed into rotational movement of the crankshaft, the power stroke corresponding to a first portion of one rotation of the crankshaft about the main axis, the piston moving from the second position to the first position during a second portion of one rotation of the crankshaft (compression stroke). The improvement comprises: means for linking the piston and crankshaft comprises a rotatable member; means connected to the piston for rotatably supporting the rotatable member, the rotatable member being rotatable about a first point and being connected to the crankshaft at a second point offset from the first point, for rotation about the first point in response to rotation of the crankshaft about its main axis, the first point being disposed so that when the piston is in the first position, the first point is substantially aligned with the main axis of the crankshaft during a third portion of one rotation of the crankshaft about the main axis.

Assignee:
NOV; NOV-91-018067; EDB-91-124210
Patent Number(s):
US 4998411; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-458609
OSTI ID:
5473464
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English