Abstract:
A progressive internal combustion engine that improves fuel efficiency, power output, and decreases emissions having a standard four stroke operation; the intake stroke, compression stroke, power stroke, and exhaust stroke when cylinders are engaged. The progressive internal combustion engine provides for disengaging cylinders. When disengaged, a bypass valve opens, allowing the disengaged cylinder to operate free of compression. The progressive internal combustion engine may be utilized for gasoline, diesel and natural gas type engines.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to engines, and more particularly, to internal combustion engines. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Many designs for internal combustion engines have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a progressive combustion engine that provides for engaging and disengaging predetermined cylinders for greater fuel efficiency. 
   In operation a fully loaded tractor-trailer vehicle requires approximately 400 horsepower to run. However, an empty tractor-trailer vehicle may only require approximately 180 horsepower to run. Disengaging a predetermined number of cylinder assemblies allows a driver to reduce horsepower and fuel when not needed. 
   Passenger vehicles are another example of inefficient horsepower and fuel utilization. Disengaging a predetermined number of cylinder assemblies allows an officer to reduce horsepower and fuel utilization when not needed, such as when the vehicle is idling at a traffic stop. 
   Of the numerous designs for reciprocating internal combustion engines, most of them comprise four stroke/cycle designs for each cylinder. These type of designs are inefficient when a vehicle having such an engine is stopped or when cruising at a predetermined speed. 
   There are no internal combustion engines to the best of applicant&#39;s knowledge that include means for engaging and disengaging cylinders to conserve fuel and improve engine efficiency. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A progressive internal combustion engine, comprising a housing structure; cylinder means encased in the housing structure; crankcase means affixed to the housing structure; crankshaft means positioned in the crankcase means; valve system means including an air intake valve, exhaust valve, and bypass valve. The valve system means is connected to the cylinder means; and actuating means to engage and disengage a predetermined number of the cylinder means. 
   Combustion means have four strokes within the cylinder means when engaged. The four strokes are an air intake stroke; a compression stroke; a power stroke; and an exhaust stroke. When disengaged, compression-free means within the cylinder means causes the bypass valve to be in an open position and the air intake valve and the exhaust valve to be in a closed position. 
   The progressive internal combustion engine further comprises a piston and piston rod. The piston and piston rod are assembled in the cylinder means. The piston rod is assembled to the crankshaft means in the crankcase means. A fuel injection system has a fuel injection inlet into the cylinder means. 
   When disengaged, the compression-free means within the cylinder means cause the fuel injection system to be in a non-operating mode while the bypass valve is in an open position, and the air intake valve and the exhaust valve are in a closed position. The actuating means includes a switch and a computer module. When actuated, the computer module sends an electronic signal to a solenoid for engaging and disengaging. When disengaged, fuel-air mixture within the cylinder assembly flows through the bypass valve, through a bypass port, and recycles through a muffler system to an intake. 
   It is therefore one of the main objects of the present invention to provide a progressive internal combustion engine that provides means for engaging and disengaging engine cylinders. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a progressive internal combustion engine that conserves fuel. 
   It is another object of this invention to provide a progressive internal combustion engine that improves engine efficiency. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide such an engine that is inexpensive to manufacture and maintain while retaining its effectiveness. 
   Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     With the above and other related objects in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an elevational cross section through a crankshaft, piston, cylinder head, and valve system of an engaged cylinder of a progressive engine on an intake stroke. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevational cross section through a crankshaft, piston, cylinder head, and valve system of the engaged cylinder of the progressive engine on a compression stroke. 
       FIG. 3  is an elevational cross section through a crankshaft, piston, cylinder head, and valve system of the engaged cylinder of the progressive engine on a power stroke. 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational cross section through a crankshaft, piston, cylinder head, and valve system of the engaged cylinder of the progressive engine on an exhaust stroke. 
       FIG. 5  is an elevational cross section through a crankshaft, piston, cylinder head, and valve system of a disengaged cylinder of the progressive engine on a bypass stroke. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings and particularly to  FIG. 1 , a progressive engine is shown at  10 . It can be observed that it basically includes cylinder assembly  20 , crankcase assembly  30 , valve assembly  40 , and solenoid assembly  50 . 
   The progressive engine may consist of two or more cylinders and associated mechanisms assembled with it as described in this invention. A typical cylinder and associated mechanisms of a progressive engine is portrayed in  FIG. 1  as provided in this invention. Only a portion of the cylinder assembly  20 , crankcase assembly  30 , valve assembly  40 , and solenoid assembly  50  is shown in order to describe the invention. This partial illustration is sufficient to describe the invention. However, it is to be understood that variation in these elements of structure to obtain the same operation is within the scope and intent of the invention. 
   Cylinder assembly  20  is constructed in a suitable housing means to which crankcase assembly  30  is attached, likewise a housing for valve assembly  40  is also attached to cylinder assembly  20  to enclose external portions of valve assembly  40 . A typical piston  24 , piston rod  26 , and crankshaft  34  are illustrated assembled within cylinder  22  and crankcase  32 . Assuming engine  10  is a gasoline model, an intake valve  42 , spring  48 , and intake valve cam  70  operate for the introduction of a fuel-air mixture into cylinder  22 . Intake valve  42  is shown open. When cycled to open, the intake valve  42  admits the introduction of air through the air intake port  43 . Arrows indicate the direction of the flow of air from the air intake port  43 . At the precise predetermined and timed moment, fuel is injected into cylinder  22  from a fuel pump, not seen, through fuel line  29  and through fuel injector  28 . 
   An exhaust valve  46 , spring  48 , and exhaust gas valve cam  74  operates for the elimination of burned gas from cylinder  22 . Exhaust valve  46  is shown closed. When cycled to open, exhaust valve  46  permits the burned gas from the power stroke (described hereinafter) to be eliminated through the exhaust port  47 . Arrows indicate the direction of the flow of the burned gas from exhaust port  47 , seen in  FIG. 4 . 
   It is noted that the valve cams may be of a variety of styles, and springs  48  normally keep valves  42 , and  46  closed, until cam actions by cams  70  and  74  operate at proper cycle to open the valves, which they serve. Fuel injector  28  is mounted at cylinder head  23  of cylinder  22 . In addition, air filter housing  39  and air filter  38  may be of a variety of styles or as shown. It is noted that the valve system means include intake valve  42 , exhaust valve  46 ; and bypass valve  44 ; and that combustion means has four strokes within cylinder assembly  20  when engaged. The four strokes are an air intake stroke; a compression stroke; a power stroke; and an exhaust stroke. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  in conjunction with  FIGS. 2 through 5  successively, the operation of the progressive engine of this invention will be described hereinafter. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates piston  24  starting in a downward direction for the first intake stroke cycle to draw the fuel-air mixture into cylinder assembly  20 . The valve configuration for the intake stroke commands that the intake valve  42  be open, and the exhaust valve  46  and bypass valve  44  are closed. As piston  24  moves downward, air is drawn into the interior cavity of cylinder  22  until piston  24  reaches the bottom of its stroke for the completion of the first stroke. The direction of rotation of crankshaft  34  is shown in each of  FIGS. 1 through 5 . The air enters through intake port  43 , as indicated by the arrows into cylinder  22 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 2 , piston  24  travels in the upward direction to the position of top dead center. The valve configuration for the compression stroke commands that the intake valve  42 , exhaust valve  46  and bypass valve  44  are closed. 
   As seen in  FIG. 3 , as the fuel-air mixture ignites, expanding gas drives piston  24  in a downward direction a full longitudinal piston stroke. The valve configuration for the power stroke commands that intake valve  42 , exhaust valve  46 , and bypass valve  44  are closed. 
   Seen in  FIG. 4  is the fourth stroke. In this stroke of an engaged progressive engine  10 , the burned gases are eliminated by the upward movement of piston  24  through exhaust valve  46 , which is now open, and out through the exhaust port  47  as illustrated. The valve configuration for the exhaust stroke commands that the exhaust valve  46  be open and the intake valve  42  and bypass valve  44  be closed. In the continuous operation of this engaged progressive engine, the intake stroke ( FIG. 1 ) follows the exhaust stroke ( FIG. 4 ). 
   Seen in  FIG. 5  is the bypass stroke. In the bypass stroke of the progressive engine  10 , piston  24  continues to travel in the normal upward and downward movement defined in each of the strokes described above. The valve configuration for the bypass stroke commands that the intake valve  42  and the exhaust valve  46  be closed, and that bypass valve  44  be open. Bypass valve  44  works in conjunction with fuel injector  28  to disengage each cylinder assembly  20  as desired. It is noted that actuating means to engage and disengage each cylinder assembly  20 , comprise computer module  52 , and a switch, not shown, accessible by a driver of the vehicle. 
   When disengaged by the driver at the switch, computer module  52  sends an electronic signal via connector  60  to bypass solenoid  62 , to disengage cylinder assembly  20 . Disengaging cylinder assembly  20  causes fuel injector  28  to disengage and bypass valve  44  to open. With bypass valve  44  in the open position, engine  10  does not develop any compression defined as compression-free means. All remaining fuel-air mixture within cylinder assembly  20  flows through bypass valve  44 , through bypass port  45  and recycles to the intake through a muffler system, not shown. 
   This invention is suitable to be used with gasoline, diesel or compressed gas type fuel. Ignition can be accomplished with a spark plug, glow plug or the heat of compression in a traditional manner. Traditional components such as timing chains, gears etc. have not been depicted. It is understood that these components will be part of the final embodiment. The progressive internal combustion engine may consist of one or more cylinders and necessary mechanisms constructed of suitable materials as described in this invention. Only a portion of the mechanism means has been illustrated enough to describe the invention, it is to be understood that variation in these elements of structure to obtain the same results is within the scope of the invention. 
   As can be readily understood from the foregoing description of the invention, the present structure can be configured in different modes to provide the ability to construct a progressive engine. Accordingly, the foregoing description conveys the best understanding of the objectives and advantages of the present invention. Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.