Regenerative internal combustion engine

Patent · Tue Dec 13 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:6484693

Ferrenberg, A J; Webber, W T

This patent describes a thermally regenerated reciprocating cyclic internal combustion engine having a rotating power output shaft composed of a number of similar working units, each working unit comprising a cylinder closed at one end by a cylinder head, with a number of intake valves to draw cool fresh air into the cylinder, and a number of exhaust valves to exhaust the spent combustion gases from the cylinder; a first means for opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves in a predetermined manner once in each engine cycle; a piston inside the cylinder moving along the axis of the cylinder in a reciprocating manner toward and away from the cylinder head between the top dead center position closest to the cylinder head and the bottom dead center position furthest away from the cylinder head, the piston being connected to the power output shaft by a second means which translates the reciprocating motion of the piston to rotation of the power output shaft; a thermal regenerator inside the cylinder between the cylinder head and the piston, capable for being moved in predetermined cyclic reciprocating motion along the axis of the cylinder and comprising a permeable core and other structure, to absorb heat from the hot combustion gases when moved in one direction, and to transfer the absorbed heat to the cool fresh air when moved in the opposite direction; a third means for imparting a predetermined periodic motion to the thermal regenerator; an injection means for injecting combustible fuel into the cylinder; and an ignition means for igniting the mixture of the air and the fuel in the cylinder.

• Assignee: Regenic Corp., Canoga Park, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4790284
• OSTI ID: 6484693
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330100* -- Internal Combustion Engines
CYLINDERS
DESIGN
ENGINES
FUEL SYSTEMS
HEAT ENGINES
IGNITION
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MACHINE PARTS
OPERATION
REGENERATION
SHAFTS
THERMODYNAMIC CYCLES
THERMODYNAMICS