Patent ID: 7765963
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: F01C,F02B,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An internal combustion engine usable for producing a rotational output, said internal combustion engine comprising: a casing; a first cylinder defining a first cylinder head and a first combustion chamber extending from said first cylinder head, said first combustion chamber being substantially arc segment shaped and defining a first chamber radius of curvature, said first 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 first combustion chamber, said substantially annular path having a path radius of curvature substantially similar to said first chamber radius of curvature; a first piston, said first piston being operatively coupled to said first cylinder so as to be reciprocatingly movable within said first combustion chamber, said first piston being mounted to said casing so as to be movable relatively thereto along said substantially annular path; 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 casino so as to be movable relatively thereto along said substantially annular path, said first and second combustion chambers having substantially similar radii of curvature; a 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; a central shaft extending substantially perpendicularly to said substantially annular path, said central shaft defining a rotation axis extending substantially centrally and longitudinally relatively thereto; 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; a 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: said first and second linkage arms being each unidirectionally rotatable in a common predetermined direction relatively to said central shaft; an output element operatively coupled to said first and second cylinders and to said first and second pistons for producing said rotational output; and a unidirectional coupler operatively coupling said first cylinder and said first piston to said casing such that both said first cylinder and said first piston are unidirectionally movable relatively to said casing in said common predetermined direction, 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 180 degrees relatively to each other, said first cylinder and said second piston being mechanically coupled to each other so as to be jointly movable along said substantially annular path and said second cylinder and said first piston being mechanically coupled to each other so as to be jointly movable along said substantially annular path; and wherein said output element includes a planetary gear train, said planetary gear train including: said first and second planetary gears being 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 ear relatively to said casing.