Abstract:
The present invention relates to a combustion engine system having a balance arm, first and second sets of opposed combustion cylinders, and a set of opposed worked devices. The balance arm has a pivot point, and is configured so that an exploitable energy is taken from a kinetic energy of the balance arm. The first set of working combustion cylinders being interconnected by a common first piston rod that is connected to the balance arm. The second set of working combustion cylinders being interconnected by a common second piston rod that is connected to the balance arm so that the pivot point is between the first and second piston rods. The worked devices are interconnected by a common worked piston rod that is connected to the balance arm so that the worked devices are between the first and second sets of combustion cylinders.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part under 35 U.S.C. §120 based upon co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/746,606, filed on Jun. 7, 2010, which is a national stage entry application of International Application No. PCT/NO2009/000030 filed on Jan. 27, 2009. Additionally, this present application claims the benefit of priority of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/746,606, filed on Jun. 7, 2010. The entire disclosures of the prior applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention is related to a combustion engine having two sets of mutually connected piston. Said combustion engine can be combined with a steam engine comprising cylinders for combustion and steam. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    The efficiency of the Otto motor is known to be relatively low in relation to the energy of the fuel to be combusted. Several attempts have been made to increase the efficiency. Still, however, combustion engines produce large heat losses to the atmosphere. 
         [0006]    Engines of the above mentioned type are disclosed e.g. in GB 125 395, GB 125 174, GB 189373, GB 300631, U.S. Pat. No. 2,237,014 and DE 10 2004 013 854. 
         [0007]    While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a combustion engine having mutually connected pistons. 
         [0008]    Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved combustion engine having mutually connected pistons that can be used for increasing the efficiency in relation to conventional combustion engines. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the combustion engine having mutually connected pistons according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of increasing the efficiency in relation to conventional combustion engines. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of combustion engines now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved combustion engine having mutually connected pistons, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved combustion engine having mutually connected pistons and method which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a combustion engine having mutually connected pistons which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
         [0010]    With the combustion engine according to the present invention a substantial efficiency increase is reached in relation to conventional combustion engines. The combustion engine may be a two-stroke or four-stroke engine with optional type of fuel. In a development a further efficiency increase is obtained by utilization of the large amounts of heat from the combustion process of the combustion engine for operation of a steam engine connected to the combustion engine. 
         [0011]    To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a combustion engine having a balance arm, first and second sets of opposed combustion cylinders, and a set of opposed worked devices. The balance arm has a pivot point, and is configured so that an exploitable energy is taken from a kinetic energy of the balance arm. The first set of working combustion cylinders being interconnected by a common first piston rod that is connected to the balance arm. The second set of working combustion cylinders being interconnected by a common second piston rod that is connected to the balance arm so that the pivot point is between the first and second piston rods. The worked devices are interconnected by a common worked piston rod that is connected to the balance arm so that the worked devices are between the first and second sets of combustion cylinders. 
         [0012]    The worked devices can be hydraulic cylinders, compressors or electrical generators. 
         [0013]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
         [0014]    The invention may also include a heat exchanger for vaporization of a cooling fluid from a cooling jacket on each of the working combustion cylinders by exhaust gases. Heated steam from the cooling jacket of each of the working combustion cylinders is transferred away through pipe systems. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
         [0015]    Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0016]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0017]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combustion engine having mutually connected pistons that has all of the advantages of the prior art combustion engines and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0018]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved combustion engine having mutually connected pistons that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
         [0019]    An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combustion engine having mutually connected pistons that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such combustion engine having mutually connected pistons economically available to the buying public. 
         [0020]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new combustion engine having mutually connected pistons that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
         [0021]    Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a combustion engine having mutually connected pistons for increasing the efficiency in relation to conventional combustion engines. This allows for the elimination of a crankshaft which thus reduces weight and increases efficiency. 
         [0022]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the combustion engine having mutually connected pistons constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, with the phantom lines depicting environmental structure and forming no part of the claimed invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the balance arm connected to the balance wheel of the combustion engine having mutually connected pistons of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of compressor cylinders associated with the combustion engine having mutually connected pistons of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of generators associated with the combustion engine having mutually connected pistons of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the head point geometry of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a prior art crankshaft geometry. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the balance arm of the present invention. 
           [0031]    The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1-7 , an embodiment of the combustion engine having mutually connected pistons of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
         [0033]    In  FIG. 1 , a new and improved combustion engine having mutually connected pistons  10  of the present invention for increasing the efficiency in relation to conventional combustion engines is illustrated and will be described. The combustion engine comprises combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  where opposed pistons of combustion cylinders  12  and  16  are connected with a common piston rod  20  and pistons of the opposed combustion cylinders  14  and  18  are connected with a common piston rod  22 . The piston rods  20  and  22  are connected with a balance arm  26  which coordinate the movements of the piston rods. One end of the balance arm  26  is connected to a balance wheel  28 , as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Each combustion cylinder  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  comprises a cooling jacket  30 . Furthermore the combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  each comprises a valve  32  for fuel, a valve  34  for air inlet to the combustion cylinders and a valve  36  for exhaust gas. 
         [0034]    In a further development a steam engine may be connected to the combustion engine. Each cooling jacket  30  thereby being connected with a heat exchanger  38  where the heated cooling water is further heated by the exhaust gas from the exhaust gas valve  36  until the cooling water is in the state of super-heated steam. Cooled exhaust gas thereafter is released to the atmosphere or to other possible use. The steam is transferred to a steam cylinder  42  in the steam engine through a pipe line  40 . 
         [0035]    The pistons of the steam cylinders  42  and  44  are connected with a common piston rod  52  and the pistons of the steam cylinders  46  and  48  are correspondingly connected with a common piston rod  54 . Said piston rods  52  and  54  are connected with a balance arm  50 . The rocking movements of the balance arms  24  and  50  are coordinated by a connection  56 . The balance arms  24  and  50  each rock about a pivot point  27  and  51  respectively. Upon executed work in the steam cylinder  42  steam/condensate is returned to the cooling jacket  30  as cooled condensate. 
         [0036]    In the drawing the combustion cylinder  12  is disclosed at the end of a working stroke. The heated cooling water in the cooling jacket  30  is conducted to the heat exchanger  38  through the pipe line  40  and further to the steam cylinder  42 . The exhaust gas is flushed out of by air from the air inlet  34  and through a valve to the heat exchanger  38  for heating and vaporization of the cooling water. Thereafter fuel is guided through the valve  32  for compressing and combustion. 
         [0037]    The steam from the heat exchanger  38 , which is transferred through the pipe line  40 , brings the steam cylinder  42  to perform a working stroke in the steam cylinder  42  by forcing the piston rod  52  downwardly in  FIG. 1  whereby the piston rod  20  of the combustion cylinder  12  thereby is pressed upwardly. By the return stroke of the steam cylinder  42 , steam from the steam cylinder  42  is forced through the pipe line  58  to the temperature regulator  59  whereby cooled cooling water is transferred from the temperature regulator  59  to the cooling jacket  30  around the combustion cylinder  12 . With the arm  26  the movements of the mutually connected balance arms  24  and  50  may turn balance wheel  28  by rotation or the linear movement of the arm  26  may be used directly in a working machine. 
         [0038]    The combustion cylinder with the piston connected with the piston rod  20  and the steam cylinder  44  work oppositely of the combustion cylinder  12  and the steam cylinder  42 . Correspondingly the combustion cylinder  18  and the steam cylinder  48  work together with the combustion cylinder  12  and the steam cylinder  48  by the heat exchanger  38  and the temperature regulator  59 . The combustion cylinder  14  and the steam cylinder  46  work oppositely of the combustion cylinder  12  and the steam cylinder  42 . 
         [0039]    Correspondingly the combustion cylinder  14  of the combustion engine is connected with the steam cylinder  46 , the combustion cylinder  16  is connected with the steam cylinder  44  and the combustion cylinder  18  is connected with the steam cylinder  48 . Hereby pipe lines correspond with the pipe lines  40 ,  58  and temperature regulators corresponding with the temperature regulator  59  being connecting the cylinders. 
         [0040]    The geometry between the connection of the balance arms  24  to the piston rods  20  and  22  and connection of the balance  50  to the piston rods  52  and  54  in relation to the turning point of the connection  56  as well as the distance to the turning point of the balance wheel arm  26  of the balance arm  24  is optimized as regards to achieving as large moment of force as possible. At the same time the output of the steam engine in relation to the heat development of the combustion engine is optimized thereby to achieve optimal efficiency. 
         [0041]    Regarding  FIG. 3 , an alternated embodiment combustion engine having mutually connected pistons  60  of the present invention is illustrated. The combustion engine  60  comprises combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  in connection with hydraulic cylinders or compressors  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  by a balance arm  62 . Pistons of combustion cylinders  12  and  16  are opposed to each other and are connected with the common piston rod  20  and pistons of the opposed combustion cylinders  14  and  18  are connected with the common piston rod  22 . Pistons  76  of the hydraulic cylinders  64  and  68  are connected with a common piston rod  72  and pistons  76  of the hydraulic cylinders  66  and  70  are correspondingly connected with a common piston rod  74 . Said piston rods  20 ,  22 ,  72  and  74  are connected with the balance arm  62 , so that piston rods  20  and  72  are connected to a free side of the balance arm  62  past a pivot point  63 , and the piston rods  22  and  74  are connected between to the balance arm  62  between the pivot point  63  and the balance arm  26 . The rocking movements of the balance arms  24  and  50  are coordinated by a connection  56 . The balance arm  62  is configured to rock about the pivot point  63 . The combustion engine  60  is configured so that that the hydraulic cylinders  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  are connected to the balance arm  62  so as to be between the combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18 . Alternatively, it can be appreciated that the combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  may be located between the hydraulic cylinders  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70 . 
         [0042]    The balance arm  62  coordinates the movements of the piston rods  20 ,  22 ,  72  and  74 . One end of the balance arm  26  may be connected to the balance wheel. Each combustion cylinder  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  may comprise a cooling jacket. Furthermore the combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  each comprises a valve for fuel, a valve for air inlet to the combustion cylinders and a valve for exhaust gas. 
         [0043]    Each of the hydraulic cylinders  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  includes a piston  76 , and valves  78  for controlling the input and output of a fluid from the hydraulic cylinders respectively. 
         [0044]    Combustion cylinder  16  and the hydraulic cylinder  70  work oppositely of the combustion cylinder  12  and the hydraulic cylinder  66 . Correspondingly the combustion cylinder  18  and the hydraulic cylinder  68  may work together with the combustion cylinder  12  and the hydraulic cylinder  68 . The combustion cylinder  14  and the hydraulic cylinder  64  work oppositely of the combustion cylinder  12  and the hydraulic cylinder  66 . 
         [0045]    Correspondingly the combustion cylinder  14  of the combustion engine is connected with the hydraulic cylinder  64 , the combustion cylinder  16  is connected with the hydraulic cylinder  70  and the combustion cylinder  18  is connected with the hydraulic cylinder  68 . It can be appreciated that the cylinders may be connected by pipe lines and temperature regulators. 
         [0046]    The geometry between the connection of the balance arm  62  to the piston rods  20 ,  22 ,  72  and  74  in relation to the pivot point  63  is optimized as regards to achieving as large moment of force as possible. 
         [0047]    Regarding  FIG. 4 , an alternated embodiment combustion engine having mutually connected pistons  80  of the present invention is illustrated. The combustion engine  80  comprises combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  in connection with generators  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  by a balance arm  62 . Pistons of combustion cylinders  12  and  16  are opposed to each other and are connected with the common piston rod  20  and pistons of the opposed combustion cylinders  14  and  18  are connected with the common piston rod  22 . Reciprocating member  88  of the generators  80  and  84  are connected with a common piston rod  72  and reciprocating members  88  of the generators  82  and  86  are correspondingly connected with a common piston rod  74 . Said piston rods  20 ,  22 ,  72  and  74  are connected with the balance arm  62 , so that piston rods  20  and  72  are connected to a free side of the balance arm  62  past a pivot point  63 , and the piston rods  22  and  74  are connected between to the balance arm  62  between the pivot point  63  and the balance arm  26 . The rocking movements of the balance arms  24  and  50  are coordinated by a connection  56 . The balance arm  62  is configured to rock about the pivot point  63 . The combustion engine  60  is configured so that that the hydraulic cylinders  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  are connected to the balance arm  62  so as to be between the combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18 . Alternatively, it can be appreciated that the combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  may be located between the generators  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86 . 
         [0048]    The balance arm  62  coordinates the movements of the piston rods  20 ,  22 ,  72  and  74 . One end of the balance arm  26  may be connected to the balance wheel. Each combustion cylinder  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  may comprise a cooling jacket. Furthermore the combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  each comprises a valve for fuel, a valve for air inlet to the combustion cylinders and a valve for exhaust gas. 
         [0049]    Each of the generators  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  includes a reciprocating member or piston  88  which contain magnets, and a coil  90  configured around the piston  88  so as to produce electricity upon linear movement of the piston  88 . Electrical contacts  98  are connected to coil  90  to transfer electrical energy to a load (not shown). 
         [0050]    Combustion cylinder  16  and the generator  86  work oppositely of the combustion cylinder  12  and the generator  82 . Correspondingly the combustion cylinder  18  and the generator  84  may work together with the combustion cylinder  12  and the generator  84 . The combustion cylinder  14  and the generator  80  work oppositely of the combustion cylinder  12  and the generator  82 . 
         [0051]    Correspondingly the combustion cylinder  14  of the combustion engine is connected with the generator  80 , the combustion cylinder  16  is connected with the generator  86  and the combustion cylinder  18  is connected with the generator  84 . It can be appreciated that the cylinders may be connected by pipe lines and temperature regulators. 
         [0052]    The geometry between the connection of the balance arm  62  to the piston rods  20 ,  22 ,  72  and  74  in relation to the pivot point  63  is optimized as regards to achieving as large moment of force as possible. 
         [0053]      FIG. 5  best illustrates the geometry of the head points of the combustion cylinders  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  and the hydraulic cylinders  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  or the generators  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86 . The pressure P on the hydraulic cylinders  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70  or the generators  80 ,  82 ,  84  and  86  is determined by Equation 1, 
         [0000]        CP   comb   ×B−CP   hc   ×b=P   Equation 1
 
         [0000]    where CP comb  is the cylinder pressure of the combustion cylinder, B is the distance from the pivot point  63  to the piston rod  22  and balance arm  62  connection point, CP hc  is the cylinder pressure of the hydraulic cylinder  64 , and b is the distance from the pivot point  63  to the piston rod  72  and balance arm  62  connection point. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate the difference between a conventional crankshaft and the geometry of the present invention. Conventional engines are limited by the crankshaft radius to obtain maximal geometry, while the geometry of the present invention overcomes this limitation. The improvements of the present invention as compare to a conventional engine can be shown with the below calculations using a cylinder pressure of 10 kg. 
         [0055]    Equation 2 is representative of a conventional engine with a piston angle of approximately 20°. 
         [0000]      10 kg×1.7 cm=17 kg/cm  Equation 2
 
         [0056]    Equation 3 is representative of a single combustion cylinder of the combustion engine of the present invention with the piston in a top position, as per Equation 1. 
         [0000]      10 kg×20 cm=200 kg/cm−10 kg×5 cm=150 kg/cm  Equation 3
 
         [0057]    Equation 4 is representative of the combustion engine of the present invention while using two opposed working combustion cylinders. 
         [0000]      150 kg/cm×2 (2 cylinders working together)=300 kg/cm  Equation 4
 
         [0058]    Equation 5 is representative of a conventional engine with a piston angle of approximately 90°. 
         [0000]      5 kg×5 cm=25 kg/cm  Equation 5
 
         [0059]    Equation 6 is representative of a single combustion cylinder of the combustion engine of the present invention with a piston angle of approximately 90°, as per Equation 1. 
         [0000]      5 kg×20 cm=100 kg/cm−5 kg×5 cm=75 kg/cm  Equation 6
 
         [0060]    The combustion engine of the present invention overcomes the limitations of a convention engine by not having a crankshaft. The power of the combustion engine of the present invention is delivered via the balance arm which provides a new geometry that is optimized for the specific engine and its use. High power output is obtained by the pair of two cylinders working in parallel. 
         [0061]    Due to the control of the temperature of each cylinder, the combustion engine of the present invention can use hydrogen as fuel since it is now possible to avoid detonation because the temperature of the cylinders can be controlled. As described above, the combustion engine of the present invention can be used in combination with a steam engine. Thus heat from cooling and from the exhaust may be utilized for other purposes. 
         [0062]    While embodiments of the combustion engine having mutually connected pistons have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. And although increasing the efficiency in relation to conventional combustion engines have been described, it should be appreciated that the combustion engine having mutually connected pistons herein described is also suitable for pumps, compressors, power trains, and non-combustion engines. 
         [0063]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.