Patent ID: 6895907

Claim:
A diesel engine comprising: (a) a cylinder, (b) a first bore in said cylinder, (c) a cylinder head adjacent one end of said cylinder, (d) a second bore extending through said cylinder head, (e) means to introduce air into said second bore, (f) a compound piston assembly slidably mounted in said cylinder and movable between the bottom of its stroke and the top of its stroke, said compound piston assembly comprising: (i) a first piston having a first end slidably extending into said second bore, (ii) a main piston larger in diameter than said first piston and slidably engaging said first bore, (g) a combustion chamber within said cylinder and defined by the upper face of said main piston and the lower portion of said cylinder head, (h) a diesel fuel injector communicating with said combustion chamber and adapted to deliver diesel fuel into said combustion chamber, (i) said air introduced into said second bore bearing against the first end of said first piston and forcing said compound piston assembly downwardly in said cylinder the bottom of its stroke, (j) whereby the exit of the first end of said first piston from said second bore permits air in said second bore to enter said combustion chamber, (k) the dimensions of said combustion chamber being selected so that when said compound piston assembly reaches the top of its stroke within said cylinder, the temperature of the air and diesel fuel within said combustion chamber reaches the ignition point, (l) whereby, upon ignition of said air and diesel fuel within said combustion chamber, said compound piston assembly is forced longitudinally in said cylinder toward the bottom of its stroke, (m) an exhaust port extending through the wall of said cylinder and permitting the escape from said combustion chamber of the products of combustion therein, (n) a drive shaft rotatably mounted to said cylinder, (o) shaft rotating means operatively interposed between said compound piston assembly and said drive shaft to rotate said drive shaft upon longitudinal movement of said compound piston assembly in said cylinder.