Patent ID: 7121236
Filing Date: 2006-10-17
Classification: F02B

Abstract:
1. A method for decelerating an expansion piston of an engine, the method comprising the steps of: providing an engine, the engine including a crankshaft, rotating about a crankshaft axis of the engine, an expansion piston slidably received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke of a four stroke cycle during a single rotation of the crankshaft, a compression piston slidably received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke of the same four stroke cycle during the same rotation of the crankshaft; accelerating the expansion piston during the expansion stroke from the expansion piston's top dead center position; decelerating the expansion piston during a portion of the expansion stroke crank angle interval of between 0 degrees and 60 degrees after top dead center; and re-accelerating the expansion piston after the expansion piston has decelerated during a portion of the expansion stroke crank angle interval of between 0 degrees and 60 degrees after top dead center.