Patent ID: 9032918
Filing Date: 2015-05-19
Classification: F01B,F02B

Abstract:
1. A free-piston internal combustion engine comprising: a first compression chamber; a first compression piston reciprocable in the first compression chamber; a first power chamber; a first power piston reciprocable in the first power chamber; at least one conduit device for conducting fluid from the first compression chamber to the first power chamber; and at least one valve device for controlling the flow of fluid into and out of the first compression chamber and the first power chamber; wherein the first compression piston and the first power piston are rigidly coupled for reciprocation in unison; wherein the first compression chamber, first power chamber and at least one said valve device are configured such that during each reciprocation cycle of said first compression and power pistons: the first compression piston performs one intake stroke and one compression stroke of a four-stroke engine cycle, and the first power piston performs one power stroke and one exhaust stroke of the four-stroke engine cycle; and wherein at least one said valve device is configured such that compressed fluid discharged from said first compression chamber is delivered from at least one said conduit device to the first power chamber between an exhaust stroke and a following power stroke of the first power piston.