Patent ID: 6202416
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: F01B,F02B,F02G

Abstract:
An internal combustion engine comprising:at least one combustion cylinder having an intake port for intake of combustion air, an exhaust port for exhausting of gaseous products of combustion within said combustion cylinder and ignition means for igniting an air-fuel mixture therein to produce combustion;a combustion piston mounted within said combustion cylinder for reciprocating motion therein responsive to combustion within said combustion cylinder;an engine crankshaft connected to and rotatably driven by the reciprocating motion or said combustion piston;at least one expansion cylinder having a gas inlet port for intake of the gaseous products of combustion exiting said combustion cylinder and a gas outlet port for exhausting all the gaseous products exiting after expansion within said expansion cylinder;an expander piston mounted within said expansion cylinder reciprocating motion therein, responsive to the expansion of gaseous products of combustion between a top dead center and a bottom dead center, said gas outlet port being located between the top dead center and the bottom dead center, closer to bottom dead center, whereby said expander piston serves as a valve for said gas outlet port, permitting the exhaust of the gaseous products from the expansion cylinder as the expander piston uncovers said gas outlet port in approaching bottom dead center;an expander crankshaft connected to and rotatably driven by the reciprocating motion of said expander piston;a gas passage connecting said exhaust port of said combustion cylinder with said gas inlet port of said expansion cylinder;a single valve located between said exhaust port and said gas inlet port regulating both the exhaust gas of the gaseous products from said combustion cylinder and the intake of the gaseous products into said expansion cylinder; anda drive shaft rotatably driven by said engine crankshaft and by said expander crankshaft.