Internal combustion engine

Abstract

An internal combustion engine usable for producing a rotational output, the internal combustion engine comprising: a casing; a cylinder defining a cylinder head and a combustion chamber extending from the cylinder head, the combustion chamber being substantially arc segment shaped and defining a chamber radius of curvature, the cylinder being mounted to the casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along a substantially annular path extending in a substantially concentric relationship relatively to the combustion chamber, the substantially annular path having a path radius of curvature substantially similar to the chamber radius of curvature; a piston, the piston being operatively coupled to the cylinder so as to be reciprocatingly movable within the combustion chamber, the piston being mounted to the casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along the substantially annular path; an output element operatively coupled to the cylinder and to the piston for producing the rotational output; and a unidirectional coupler operatively coupling at least one of the cylinder and the piston to the casing such that the at least one of the cylinder and the piston is unidirectionally movable relatively to the casing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be disclosed, by way of example, in reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1, in a perspective view, illustrates the external appearance of an internal combustion engine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2, in a perspective view, illustrates some of the features of the external casing of the internal combustion engine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3, in a perspective view, illustrates some of the features of the external casing of the internal combustion engine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, in a perspective view, illustrates part of an oil circuitry used with the internal combustion engine shown throughout the Figures;

FIG. 5, in perspective views with sections taken out, illustrates a planetary system part of the internal combustion engine shown in FIGS. 1 through 4;

FIG. 6, in side elevation view with sections taken out, illustrates the planetary system part of the internal combustion engine shown in FIGS. 1 through 5;

FIG. 7, in cross-sectional view along the line L-L of FIG. 6 with sections taken out illustrates a planetary system part of the internal combustion engine shown in FIGS. 1 through 6;

FIG. 8, in a perspective view, illustrates some of the details of cylinders and pistons part of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9, in an exploded view, illustrates some of the details of cylinders and pistons part of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10, in a perspective view, illustrates some of the details of an air, fuel and oil distribution system part of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11, in a perspective view with sections taken out, illustrates a valve actuator associated with the internal combustion engine in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12, in a perspective view with sections taken out, illustrates details of the valve actuator shown in FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13 to 16, in respective top views with sections taken out, illustrate schematically the four-stroke cycle of the internal combustion engine shown throughout the Figures;

FIGS. 17 a to 17d, in perspective views with sections taken out, illustrates details of the valve actuator shown in FIG. 11;

FIGS. 18 a to 18c, in perspective views with sections taken out, illustrates details of the valve actuator shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 19, in a side elevation view, illustrates some of the details of an air, fuel and oil distribution system part of the internal combustion engine in accordance with the present invention;

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine usable for producing a rotational output, said internal combustion engine comprising: a casing;a cylinder defining a cylinder head and a combustion chamber extending from said cylinder head, said combustion chamber being substantially arc segment shaped and defining a chamber radius of curvature, said cylinder being mounted to said casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along a substantially annular path extending in a substantially concentric relationship relatively to said combustion chamber, said substantially annular path having a path radius of curvature substantially similar to said chamber radius of curvature;a piston, said piston being operatively coupled to said cylinder so as to be reciprocatingly movable within said combustion chamber, said piston being mounted to said casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along said substantially annular path;an output element operatively coupled to said cylinder and to said piston for producing said rotational output; anda unidirectional coupler operatively coupling at least one of said cylinder and said piston to said casing such that said at least one of said cylinder and said piston is unidirectionally movable relatively to said casing.

2. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said unidirectional coupler operatively couples said cylinder and said piston to said casing such that both said cylinder and said piston are unidirectionally movable relatively to said casing in a common predetermined direction.

3. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 2, wherein said cylinder is a first cylinder, said combustion chamber is a first combustion chamber, said cylinder head is a first cylinder head and said piston is a first piston;said internal combustion engine further comprises a second cylinder defining a second cylinder head and a second combustion chamber extending from said second cylinder head, said second combustion chamber being substantially arc segment shaped, said second cylinder being mounted to said casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along said substantially annular path, said first and second combustion chambers having substantially similar radii of curvature; anda second piston, said second piston being operatively coupled to said second cylinder so as to be reciprocatingly movable within said second combustion chamber, said second piston being mounted to said casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along said substantially annular path;wherein said first and second pistons and said first and second cylinders are operatively coupled to each other such that said first and second pistons reciprocate respectively relatively to said first and second combustion chambers so as to be out of phase by about 180 degrees relatively to each other.

4. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 3, wherein said first cylinder and said second piston are mechanically coupled to each other so as to be jointly movable along said substantially annular path and said second cylinder and said first piston are mechanically coupled to each other so as to be jointly movable along said substantially annular path.

5. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 4, further comprising a central shaft extending substantially perpendicularly to said substantially annular path;a first linkage arm rotatably mounted to said central shaft, said first linkage arm mechanically coupling said first cylinder and said second piston to each other; anda second linkage arm rotatably mounted to said central shaft, said second linkage arm mechanically coupling said second cylinder and said first piston to each other.

6. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 5, wherein said first and second linkage arms are each unidirectionally rotatable in a common predetermined direction relatively to said central shaft.

7. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 6, comprising a third cylinder defining a third cylinder head and a third combustion chamber extending from said third cylinder head, said third combustion chamber being substantially arc segment shaped, said third cylinder being mounted to said first linkage arm, said first and third combustion chambers having substantially similar radii of curvature;a fourth cylinder defining a fourth cylinder head and a fourth combustion chamber extending from said fourth cylinder head, said fourth combustion chamber being substantially arc segment shaped, said fourth cylinder being mounted to said second linkage arm, said first and fourth combustion chambers having substantially similar radii of curvature;a third piston, said third piston being operatively coupled to said third cylinder so as to be reciprocatingly movable within said third combustion chamber, said third piston being mounted to said second linkage arm; anda fourth piston, said fourth piston being operatively coupled to said fourth cylinder so as to be reciprocatingly movable within said fourth combustion chamber, said fourth piston being mounted to said first linkage arm.

8. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 7, wherein said first, second, third and fourth cylinders each extend over about 60 degrees.

9. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 6, wherein said central shaft defines a rotation axis extending substantially centrally and longitudinally relatively thereto; andsaid output element includes a planetary gear train, said planetary gear train including: a first and a second sun gear each mounted to said casing so as to be rotatable unidirectionally about said rotation axis in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction;a ring gear rotatably mounted to said casing concentrically to said first and second sun gears, said ring gears being rotatable about said rotation axis;a first planetary gear mounted between said first sun and ring gears, said first planetary gear being rotatably mounted to said first arm;a second planetary gear mounted between said second sun and ring gears, said second planetary gear being rotatably mounted to said second arm;wherein said first and second planetary gears are mounted respectively to said first and second arms such that a rotation of said first and second arms relatively to said casing moves respectively said first and second planetary gears relatively to both said planetary and said first and second sun gears and thereby produces a rotation of said ring gear relatively to said casing.

10. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 9, wherein said first and second sun gears are each selectively operable in an engaged configuration and in a disengaged configuration, wherein in said engaged configuration, said first and second sun gears are unidirectionally movable relatively to said casing and in said disengaged configuration, said first and second sun gears are bidirectionally movable relatively to said casing.

11. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 10, further comprising a starter motor operatively coupled to said first and second linkage arms for starting said combustion engine.

12. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 11, further comprising a starter controller operatively coupled to said first and second sun gears and to said starter motor for energizing said starter motor to rotate said first and second linkage arms;alternatively operating each of said first and second sun gears in said engaged and disengaged configurations, said first sun gear being in said engaged configuration when said second sun gear is in said disengaged configuration and said first sun gear being in said disengaged configuration when said second sun gear is in said engaged configuration;whereby alternatively operating each of said first and second sun gears in said engaged and disengaged configurations causes said first and second pistons to reciprocate within respectively said first and second combustion chamber to allow starting said internal combustion engine.

13. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylinder head defines an input valve aperture and an output valve aperture;said cylinder head includes an input valve and an output valve, said input and output valves being mounted substantially adjacent respectively to said input and output valve apertures, said input and output valves being each movable so as to selectively open and close said input and output valve apertures.

14. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 13, further comprising a fuel admission line extending from said input valve substantially radially inwardly toward said rotation axis.

15. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 13, further comprising an oil pan and an oil duct extending substantially radially between said oil pan and said cylinder, said oil duct and said cylinder being movable substantially jointly relatively to said casing.

16. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 13, further comprising an air compressor operatively coupled to said cylinder for compressing air when said cylinder moves along said substantially annular path; andan air admission line extending between said air compressor and said input valve for providing said compressed air to said cylinder.

17. An internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said cylinder includes wings extending substantially radially outwardly from said cylinder.