Claims
- 1. An internal combustion engine having an adjustable compression ratio comprising:(a) a housing; (b) a first piston assembly adjustably coupled to the housing; (c) a first cylinder reciprocatingly disposed within the housing, wherein the first cylinder reciprocates relative to the first piston assembly during operation of the internal combustion engine; and (d) a compression ratio adjustment mechanism in communication with the first piston assembly and adaptable to adjust the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine during operation.
- 2. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to adjust a spacing of the first piston assembly relative the first cylinder to adjust the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine.
- 3. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:(a) an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the first cylinder; and (b) a crankshaft coupled to the first cylinder, wherein the crankshaft comprises a lobe for actuating the exhaust valve between an open position and a closed position.
- 4. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising a first intake port located in the first cylinder and operable to deliver a gas into the first cylinder, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism is adaptable to adjust the first piston assembly to position the first piston assembly to selectively impede passage of the gas through the first intake port.
- 5. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:(a) a second piston assembly coupled to the housing so as to oppose the first piston assembly; and (b) a second cylinder coupled to the first cylinder, wherein the first and second cylinders reciprocate relative to the first and second piston assemblies during operation of the internal combustion engine.
- 6. The internal combustion engine of claim 5, further comprising:(a) a third piston assembly coupled to the housing so as to oppose a fourth piston assembly coupled to the housing; and (b) a third cylinder coupled to a fourth cylinder, wherein the third and fourth cylinders reciprocate relative to the third and fourth piston assemblies during operation of the internal combustion engine and reciprocate substantially orthogonally relative to the first and second cylinders.
- 7. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising a crankshaft at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the first cylinder for transferring energy from the internal combustion engine to a power take-off assembly attachable to the crankshaft.
- 8. The internal combustion engine of claim 7, further comprising a sliding member that slidingly engages the power take-off assembly and interconnects the power take-off assembly to the crankshaft.
- 9. The internal combustion engine of claim 7, wherein the crankshaft rotates about a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation.
- 10. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising a crankshaft at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the first cylinder and a reduction for transferring energy from a component of the internal combustion engine to the reduction system.
- 11. The internal combustion engine of claim 10, wherein the reduction system adjusts a first rotation rate of the crankshaft to a second rotation rate of an output member coupled to the reduction system.
- 12. The internal combustion engine of claim 10, wherein the reduction system further comprises a first power transfer device coupled to the crankshaft and a second power transfer device coupled to the output member, wherein the first power transfer device rotates within the second power transfer device.
- 13. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising:(a) an intake chamber; and (b) a gas compression apparatus coupled to the first cylinder, wherein when the first cylinder reciprocates in a first direction, the gas compression apparatus passes through the intake chamber, thereby compressing a gas contained therewithin.
- 14. The internal combustion engine of claim 13, the first cylinder further comprising a combustion chamber defined by an inner cavity of the first cylinder and the first piston assembly, wherein a maximum volume of the intake chamber is equal to or greater than a maximum volume of the combustion chamber.
- 15. The internal combustion engine of claim 13, further comprising an intake port in fluid communication with the intake chamber and the first cylinder for allowing a gas compressed by the gas compression apparatus to be released into the first cylinder.
- 16. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, further comprising a first intake port located in the first cylinder, wherein the first intake port is operable to deliver a gas into the first cylinder for an adjustable duration of time, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to adjust the duration of time.
- 17. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism actuates the first piston assembly between a first position, arranging the internal combustion engine in a high compression ratio and a low power setting configuration, and a second position, arranging the internal combustion engine in a low compression ratio and a high power setting configuration.
- 18. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the internal combustion engine is a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine.
- 19. An internal combustion engine having a compression ratio comprising:(a) a housing; (b) a first piston assembly adjustably coupled to the housing; (c) a first cylinder reciprocatingly disposed within the housing, wherein the first cylinder reciprocates relative to the first piston assembly during operation of the internal combustion engine; (d) an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the first cylinder; and (e) a reciprocating and rotating mechanism coupled to the first cylinder, wherein the reciprocating and rotating mechanism comprises a lobe for actuating the exhaust valve between an open position and a closed position.
- 20. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, further comprising a compression ratio adjustment mechanism in communication with the first piston assembly and adaptable to adjust the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine during operation.
- 21. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to adjust a spacing of the first piston assembly from the first cylinder.
- 22. The internal combustion engine of claim 21, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to adjust the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine in response to a position of a throttle.
- 23. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism actuates the first piston assembly between a first position, arranging the internal combustion engine in a high compression ratio and a low power setting configuration, and a second position, arranging the internal combustion engine in a low compression ratio and a high power setting configuration.
- 24. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, further comprising a first intake port located in the first cylinder and operable to deliver a gas into the first cylinder, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to position the first piston assembly to selectively impede passage of the gas through the first intake port.
- 25. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, further comprising:(a) a second piston assembly coupled to the housing so as to oppose the first piston assembly; and (b) a second cylinder coupled to the first cylinder, wherein the first and second cylinders reciprocate relative to the first and second piston assemblies during operation of the internal combustion engine.
- 26. The internal combustion engine of claim 25, further comprising:(a) a third piston assembly coupled to the housing so as to oppose a fourth piston assembly coupled to the housing; and (b) a third cylinder coupled to a fourth cylinder, wherein the third and fourth cylinders reciprocate relative to the third and fourth piston assemblies and substantially orthogonally relative to the first and second cylinders during operation of the internal combustion engine.
- 27. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, further comprising a reciprocating and rotating mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the first cylinder for transferring energy from the internal combustion engine to a power take-off assembly in communication with the reciprocating and rotating mechanism.
- 28. The internal combustion engine of claim 27, further comprising a sliding member that slidingly engages the power take-off assembly and interconnects the power take-off assembly to the reciprocating and rotating mechanism.
- 29. The internal combustion engine of claim 27, wherein the reciprocating and rotating mechanism rotates about two axes of rotation.
- 30. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, further comprising a reciprocating and rotating mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the first cylinder and a reduction system for transferring energy from a component of the internal combustion engine to the reduction system.
- 31. The internal combustion engine of claim 30, wherein the reduction system adjusts a first rotation rate of the reciprocating and rotating mechanism to a second rotation rate of an output member of the reduction system.
- 32. The internal combustion engine of claim 30, wherein the reduction system further comprises a drive device coupled to the reciprocating and rotating mechanism and a driven device coupled to the output member, wherein the drive device rotates within the driven device.
- 33. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, further comprising:(a) an intake chamber; and (b) a gas compression apparatus coupled to the first cylinder, wherein when the first cylinder reciprocates in a first direction, the gas compression apparatus passes through the intake chamber compressing a gas contained therewithin.
- 34. The internal combustion engine of claim 33, further comprising an intake port in fluid communication with the intake chamber and the first cylinder for allowing the gas compressed by the gas compression apparatus to be released into the first cylinder.
- 35. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, further comprising a first intake port located in the first cylinder, wherein the first intake port is operable to deliver a gas into the first cylinder for an adjustable duration of time, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to selectively adjust the duration of time that the first intake port is operable to deliver the gas into the first cylinder.
- 36. The internal combustion engine of claim 19, wherein the internal combustion engine is a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine.
- 37. An internal combustion engine having an adjustable compression ratio comprising:(a) a housing; (b) a first piston assembly and a second piston assembly, wherein the first and second piston assemblies are adjustably coupled to the housing to permit adjustment of the compression ratio during operation of the internal combustion engine; and (c) a first cylinder liner mounted within the housing, wherein the first cylinder liner is operable to be reciprocated between the first and second piston assemblies.
- 38. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, wherein the cylinder liner is disposed within the housing such that a portion of the first piston assembly is received within a first end of the cylinder liner and a portion of the second piston assembly is received within a second end of the cylinder liner.
- 39. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, further comprising a compression ratio adjustment mechanism in communication with the first piston assembly and adaptable to adjust the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine during operation.
- 40. The internal combustion engine of claim 39, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to adjust a spacing of the first piston assembly relative to the first cylinder liner to adjust the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine.
- 41. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, further comprising:(a) an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the first cylinder liner; and (b) a reciprocating and rotating mechanism coupled to the first cylinder liner, wherein the reciprocating and rotating mechanism comprises a lobe for actuating the exhaust valve between an open position and a closed position.
- 42. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, further comprising a first intake port located in the first cylinder liner and operable to deliver a gas into the first cylinder liner, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism is adaptable to adjust the first piston assembly to selectively impede passage of the gas through the first intake port.
- 43. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, further comprising:(a) a third piston assembly coupled to the housing so as to oppose a fourth piston assembly coupled to the housing; and (b) a second cylinder liner, wherein the second cylinder liner reciprocates relative to the third and fourth piston assemblies and substantially orthogonally relative to the second cylinder liner during operation of the internal combustion engine.
- 44. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, further comprising a reciprocating and rotating mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the first cylinder liner for transferring energy from the internal combustion engine to a power take-off assembly in communication with the reciprocating and rotating mechanism.
- 45. The internal combustion engine of claim 44, further comprising a sliding member that slidingly engages the power take-off assembly and interconnects the power take-off assembly to the reciprocating and rotating mechanism.
- 46. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, further comprising a reciprocating and rotating mechanism at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the first cylinder for transferring energy from a component of the internal combustion engine to the reduction system.
- 47. The internal combustion engine of claim 46, wherein the reduction system adjusts a first rotation rate of the reciprocating and rotating mechanism to a second rotation rate of an output member of the reduction system.
- 48. The internal combustion engine of claim 46, wherein the reduction system further comprises a drive device coupled to the reciprocating and rotating mechanism and a driven device coupled to the output member, wherein the drive device rotates within the driven device.
- 49. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, further comprising:(a) an intake chamber; and (b) a gas compression apparatus coupled to the first cylinder liner, wherein when the first cylinder liner reciprocates in a first direction, the gas compression apparatus passes through the intake chamber, thereby compressing a gas contained therewithin.
- 50. The internal combustion engine of claim 49, the first cylinder liner further comprising a combustion chamber defined by an inner cavity of the first cylinder liner and the first piston assembly, wherein a maximum volume of the intake chamber is equal to or greater than a maximum volume of the combustion chamber.
- 51. The internal combustion engine of claim 50, further comprising an intake port in fluid communication with the intake chamber and the first cylinder liner for allowing the gas compressed by the gas compression apparatus to be released into the first cylinder liner.
- 52. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, further comprising a first intake port located in the first cylinder liner, wherein the first intake port is operable to deliver a gas into the first cylinder liner for an adjustable duration of time, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to position the first piston assembly to adjust the duration of time.
- 53. The internal combustion engine of claim 39, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to adjust a spacing of the first piston assembly from the first cylinder.
- 54. The internal combustion engine of claim 39, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to adjust the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine in response to a position of a power setting device.
- 55. The internal combustion engine of claim 39, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism actuates the first piston assembly between a first position, arranging the internal combustion engine in a high compression ratio and a low power setting configuration, and a second position, arranging the internal combustion engine in a low compression ratio and a high power setting configuration.
- 56. The internal combustion engine of claim 37, wherein the internal combustion engine is a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine.
- 57. An internal combustion engine comprising:(a) a housing; (b) a first cylinder disposed within the housing; (c) a first intake port in fluid communication with the first cylinder; (d) a first piston assembly disposed within the first cylinder, wherein the first cylinder is adaptable to be reciprocated relative to the first piston assembly, and wherein the first piston assembly is adjustable during operation of the internal combustion engine to selectively impede passage of a gas through the first intake port.
- 58. The internal combustion engine of claim 57, further comprising a compression ratio adjustment mechanism in communication with the first piston assembly and adaptable to adjust a compression ratio of the internal combustion engine during operation.
- 59. The internal combustion engine of claim 58, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism communicates with the first piston assembly to adjust a spacing of the first piston assembly from the first cylinder to adjust the compression ratio of the internal combustion engine.
- 60. The internal combustion engine of claim 57, further comprising:(a) an exhaust valve in fluid communication with the first cylinder; and (b) a crankshaft coupled to the first cylinder, wherein the crankshaft comprises a lobe for actuating the exhaust valve between an open position and a closed position.
- 61. The internal combustion engine of claim 58, wherein the compression ratio adjustment mechanism is adaptable to adjust the first piston assembly to selectively impede passage of the gas through the first intake port.
- 62. The internal combustion engine of claim 57, further comprising:(a) a second piston assembly coupled to the housing so as to oppose the first piston assembly; and (b) a second cylinder coupled to the first cylinder, wherein the first and second cylinders reciprocate relative to the first and second piston assemblies during operation of the internal combustion engine.
- 63. The internal combustion engine of claim 62, further comprising:(a) a third piston assembly coupled to the housing so as to oppose a fourth piston assembly coupled to the housing; and (b) a third cylinder coupled to a fourth cylinder, wherein the third and fourth cylinders reciprocate relative to the third and fourth piston assemblies and reciprocate substantially orthogonally relative to the first and second cylinders during operation of the internal combustion engine.
- 64. The internal combustion engine of claim 57, further comprising a crankshaft at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the first cylinder for transferring energy from the internal combustion engine to a power take-off assembly in communication with the crankshaft.
- 65. The internal combustion engine of claim 64, further comprising a sliding member that slidingly engages the power take-off assembly and interconnects the power take-off assembly to the crankshaft.
- 66. The internal combustion engine of claim 65, wherein the crankshaft rotates about a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation.
- 67. The internal combustion engine of claim 57, further comprising a crankshaft at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the first cylinder for transferring energy from a component of the internal combustion engine to the reduction system.
- 68. The internal combustion engine of claim 67, wherein the reduction system adjusts a first rotation rate of the crankshaft to a second rotation rate of an output member of the reduction system.
- 69. The internal combustion engine of claim 67, wherein the reduction system further comprises a first power transfer device coupled to the crankshaft and a second power transfer device coupled to the output member, wherein the first power transfer device rotates within the second power transfer device.
- 70. The internal combustion engine of claim 57, further comprising:(a) an intake chamber; and (b) a gas compression apparatus coupled to the first cylinder, wherein when the first cylinder reciprocates in a first direction, the gas compression apparatus passes through the intake chamber, thereby compressing a gas contained therewithin.
- 71. The internal combustion engine of claim 70, the first cylinder further comprising a combustion chamber defined by an inner cavity of the first cylinder and the first piston assembly, wherein a maximum volume of the intake chamber is equal to or greater than a maximum volume of the combustion chamber.
- 72. The internal combustion engine of claim 57, wherein the internal combustion engine is a two-stroke cycle internal combustion engine.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/136,780, filed May 1, 2002, which is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/819,938, filed Mar. 27, 2001, which is a continuation of related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/520,265, filed Mar. 7, 2000, now abandoned which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/926,088, filed Sep. 2, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,622, issued Mar. 7, 2000, priority from the filing date of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120 and the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
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Continuations (2)
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