EP3290670A1 - Piston with flat movable upper surface - Google Patents

Piston with flat movable upper surface Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3290670A1
EP3290670A1 EP17001454.2A EP17001454A EP3290670A1 EP 3290670 A1 EP3290670 A1 EP 3290670A1 EP 17001454 A EP17001454 A EP 17001454A EP 3290670 A1 EP3290670 A1 EP 3290670A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
piston head
flat
flat member
internal combustion
engines
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP17001454.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3290670B1 (en
Inventor
Jon Otegui van Leeuw
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Otegui Rebollo Juan Luis
Van Leeuw Christiane
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP3290670A1 publication Critical patent/EP3290670A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3290670B1 publication Critical patent/EP3290670B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02BINTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B41/00Engines characterised by special means for improving conversion of heat or pressure energy into mechanical power
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02BINTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B75/00Other engines
    • F02B75/04Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads
    • F02B75/044Engines with variable distances between pistons at top dead-centre positions and cylinder heads by means of an adjustable piston length

Definitions

  • the present invention comprises the use of a flat member (1.4, 2.4) which connects to a flexible member (1.3, 2.3) which attaches both said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and the top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the surface of the piston head (1.12, 2.12) which is positioned lower than the edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is mounted on the lower surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • the aim of this design is to eliminate the exhaust fumes remaining inside the clearance volume by eliminating said clearance volume when the piston head (1.12, 2.12) reaches the top dead centre in the exhaust stroke, while keeping the clearance volume cleared when the piston head (1.12, 2.12) reaches top dead centre at the compression stroke.
  • This designs therefore removes more than 90 % of the clearance volume when it is required at top dead centre at the end of the exhaust stroke, while leaving the clearance volume clear at the compression and ignition strokes in order for the compressed gases to be housed inside the cylinder as required, hence maximising the combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine.
  • Said design can be applied to both two-stroke and four-stroke internal combustion engine designs.
  • the system fully functions automatically without the need of any further components, apart from a set of arrow shaped metallic members (1.6, 2.6) which stop the flat member (1.4, 2.4) from moving higher than required due to inertial forces when reaching the top dead centre at the exhaust stroke.
  • Two flat teethed members (1.5, 2.5) stop the arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) from moving away due to inertia.
  • These teethed members (1.5, 2.5) are sustained by solid members (1.7, 2.7) which connect to the lower surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • top surfaces (2.5) teethed members (2.7) stop said flat member (2.4) from being moved further downwards by the pressure of the fluid, as well as the material of the flexible material (2.3) which connect said flat member (2.4) to said upper surface (2.10) of the lower part of the piston head (2.12).
  • the fluid positioned at the top of the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is fully isolated from the fluids positioned below the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such as oil.
  • the fluid positioned under said flat member (2.4) is vented downwards via a set of hollow cavities (1.11, 2.11) when said flat member (1.4,2.4) is moved downwards by the pressure of the compression and igniting fluid situated inside the cylinder.
  • Said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) which connects said flat member (1.4, 2.4) to the upper position head surface (1.10) fully seal the upper volume positioned on top of the piston head, from the chamber positioned under said flat member (1.4,2.4).
  • said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is made of a metallic flexible material such as aluminium alloy, which can resist to high temperatures without changing its shape, as well as offer high strengths to stresses.
  • This member (1.3, 2.3) comprises a spring-like cross-sectional geometry, but which is fully closed, and hence sealed along the sides of said member (1.3, 2.3).
  • the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is attached to the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) by welding, adhesive bonding, or both. Then, said two-member part is attached to the lower piston head surface (1.10, 2.10) by adhesive bonding and/or welding the lateral edge (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) to the upper surface (1.10, 2.10) of the lower member of the piston head (1.12).
  • the welding should preferably be a laser welding process, as dimensional detail is required for this welding operation.
  • the flexible member (1.3,2.3) is attached to the flat member (1.4, 2.4) by laying adhesive on an inner edge surface (1.8, 2.8) comprised on the flexible member and on the bottom edge of the flat member (1.4, 2.4).
  • a welding process can be applied in place of the adhesive bonding process concerned, or in addition to the adhesive bonding operation concerned.
  • the resulting design removes the clearance volume automatically when required, and leaves it automatically when required.
  • the inertial forces of the flat member (1.4, 2.4) and the inertial forces of the flexible member (1.3,2.3) when reaching top dead centre at the ned of the compression stroke will by far by overpowered by the high stresses offered by the compressing fluid inside the cylinder, hence moving the flat member (1.4, 2.4) downwards as required.
  • the unstressed position of the flexible member is when said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is positioned at its highest position possible (1.4), meeting the highest of the lateral edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • the arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) can be connected to the flat member (1.4, 2.4) either by adhesive bonding, welding, or both.
  • the retaining members (1.7, 2.70 which are attached to the upper surface of the piston head (1.10, 2.10) can be either welded, adhesive bonded, or both.
  • Said members (1.7, 2.7) can also be part of the piston head as a one piece cast or forged member.
  • the piston head (1.12, 2.12) can also comprise an upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) which is fully flat, hence comprising the middle section (1.10, 2.10) being positioned at exactly the same height as the lateral edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1), hence being equally as high in relation to each (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) other.
  • the diameter of the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is equal to the diameter of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). This design will ensure that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) will remove as much of the clearance volume as possible when the piston head will reach top dead centre at the end of the exhaust stroke, hence maximising the removal of the exhaust gases, and hence maximising the combustion efficiency of the engine.
  • the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) will attach to the outer upper edge surface (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head in order to occupy as much of the clearance volume as possible during the exhaust stroke. Said design will hence remove more than 90 % of the clearance volume at top dead centre at the end of the exhaust stroke.
  • the flexible arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) and the teethed retaining members (1.7, 2.7) will stay positioned on the same place for the design concerned, as said teethed member (1.7, 2.7) will just need to stay attached to the top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the middle section of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), but which will just be at the same height level (1.10, 2.10) as the outer edge top surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • the arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) which are attached to the flat member (1.4, 2.4) will be flexible enough to be pushed inside into the teeth (1.5, 2.5) of the teethed members (1.7, 2.7) during the assembly process of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). Said flexible arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) will both be deflected inwards when said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is being pushed onto the piston head's mid surface (1.10, 2.10) due to the arrow shaped geometries of said members (1.6, 2.6).
  • the flat member (1.4, 2.4) will be positioned over exactly the same planar orientation as the top surfaces (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head's geometry (1.12, 2.12).
  • the length of said flexible arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) does not vary during the compression or exhaust strokes, and hence does not vary whether said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is pushed downwards by the pressure of the top positioned fluids on top of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), or left pushed upwards by the elastic forces of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) and the inertial forces of said flat member (1.4, 2.4).
  • the flat member (1.4, 2.4) which is attached to the lower top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). Therefore, the diameter of the flat member (1.4, 2.4) should always be slightly lower than the dimeter of the lower top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • the flat member (1.4, 2.4) With a slightly lower diameter than that of the middle surface (1.10, 2.10) on which it (1.4, 2.4) connects to, the flat member (1.4, 2.4) will move freely up and down freely as required, hence maximising the engine's combustion efficiency, and hence maximising the overall efficiency of the engine.
  • the teethed members stop the flat member (1.4, 2.4) from being driven higher than required by the means of its internal teethed geometries (1.5, 2.5), thus stopping said flat member (1.4, 2.4) from entering into contact with the intake or exhaust valves positioned along the cylinder head, as well as the cylinder head itself.
  • the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is always positioned such that its (1.4, 2.4) top and bottom surfaces are positioned exactly parallel to the top surfaces (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head's design (1.12, 2.12), hence maximising geometrical equality along the upper surfaces (1.1, 2.1, 1.4, 2.4) of the entire piston head design (1.12, 2.12).
  • Said piston head can also comprise wider positioning members (3.5) for the flat member (1.4, 2.4) in order to distribute the load more evenly when said flat member (1.4, 2.4) enters into contact with said piston positioning member (3.5).
  • Rubber or foam layers can be adhesive bonded to the surfaces (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7) of contact, such that the flat member (1.4, 2.4) will be decelerated at a much slower declaration rate, hence maximising the life of said flat member (1.4, 2.4).
  • This operation should be performed before sticking and adhesive bonding said flat member (1.4, 2.4) over the top surface of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • This design will also minimise material fatigue of said flat member (1.4, 2.4).
  • Said sustaining member (3.5) also maximises the life of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) by distributing the contacting load between said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and said positioning members (3.5) as evenly as possible along the piston head.
  • Air evacuation conduits (3.8) provide and air transfer path form the central chamber to the lower piston head area in case that said chamber is comprised with said positioning members (3.5) being geometrised in a full round 360 degree circumference profile. So, said air will find an escape route, and the force required to push said flat member (1.4, 2.4) downwards will be minimised, hence minimising the energy required, and maximising the system's efficiency.
  • More contacting members (3.6) can also be comprised, e.g. along the edges of said system. This distributes the load more evenly. This design will hence minimise the stresses comprised on said contacting members (3.4, 3.6).
  • the bottom flat members (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible members can be pressed into positon over the piston head by a press, for the adhesive bonding to take place.
  • a laser welding process can be driven all around the piston head to make sure that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is being inserted into its exact and required position.
  • said laser welding process can be performed on a later manufacturing step.
  • Said flat member (1.4, 2.4) can also be riveted to said piston head (4.1), such that no laser welding process would be required.
  • said piston head (4.1) can comprise a plurality of fasteners (4.2), preferably rivets (4.2), bolts (4.2) or nuts (4.2), which project perpendicularly to the direction of motion of said piston head (4.1), and so through the side of said piston head's (4.1) upper surface.
  • said fasteners (4.2) project through the sides of the attaching member (4.3) of said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4), to the inner side of said attaching member (4.3).
  • said attaching member (4.3) remains positioned over said inner flat surface (4.4) of said piston head member (4.1), hence minimising design difficulties. So, said attaching member (4.3) is always comprised over said flat surfaced member (4.4), and hence under said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4).
  • Said lower flat attaching members (4.3) of said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4), is attached to the main body of the piston head (4.1) by a plurality of rivets (4.2), nuts (4.2) or bolts (4.2), such that said fasteners (4.2) attach perpendicularly to the direction of the forces of the injection's engine's pressures, hence projecting perpendicularly to the direction of motion of said piston head (4.1).
  • Said fasteners (4.2) should preferably project horizontally sidewise from the outer side of said piston head (4.1) to the inner side of said flat attaching members (4.3).
  • a plurality of fasteners should always be used, as said fasteners (4.2) should maintain the movable member (1.4, 2.4) at the required position constantly, and hence, a plurality of fasteners (4.2) are required for the system's structural stability.
  • Said fasteners can be made of steel, titanium or aluminium, or any other metallic alloy.
  • Said fasteners (4.2) should be comprised in sets of at least two or four, and preferably in sets of at least six or eight, with said fasteners (4.2) being comprised one projecting in front of another (4.2). So, said fastener (4.2) would each project in front of another fastener (4.2) which is comprised projecting through the other side of said lateral piston head material area (4.1).
  • This design would minimise stresses, and maximise stability of said movable member (1.4, 2.4), not only by distributing stresses unevenly, but also by guaranteeing the stability of said movable member (1.4, 2.4) by guaranteeing a stiff sustaining position at each fastener simultaneously.
  • Said fasteners (4.2) should be pressed through the sides of said side surface of said piston head (4.1), hence being pushed perpendicularly to said lateral surface (4.1), hence guaranteeing functional stability, and simultaneous attaching to the sustaining member (4.3) of the movable flat member (1.4, 2.4).
  • Each of said fasteners would project simultaneously through said side area of said piston head (4.1) and said sustaining member (4.3) of said movable flat member (1.4, 2.4), hence maximising stability and maximising an even stress distribution model.
  • Said fasteners (4.2) would be positioned through cavities comprised inside said side areas (4.1) of said piston head (4.1) and simultaneously through cavities comprised through said sustaining member (4.3).
  • Each fastener (4.2) would be pushed into position from the outer side surface of the piston head (4.1). Hammering presses or electric hammers might be used to accomplish said job, as said cavities would comprise a certain degree of friction, in order to keep said fasteners (4.2) tight and stiff after being pushed into position.
  • Said cavities should be comprised in front of each other simultaneously through both piston head side area (4.1) and sustaining member (4.3) of said movable flat member (1.4, 2.4).
  • Said cavities can be of rectangular or circular cross-section, but should preferably be of circular cross-section, as this design would distribute stresses as evenly as possible with maximum structural stability.
  • the material of the flat member should be a resistant material which offers very high strengths and withstands high temperatures, preferably steel, titanium or aluminium, and should preferably be stainless steels or titanium alloys.
  • the flexible member should be made of a strong and highly resistant material which should withstand high temperatures but should also be much more flexible. Materials of the flexible member would be aluminium alloys or titanium alloys, preferably aluminium or titanium alloys.
  • the flat member (1.4, 2.4) can be compression forged, cast, or laser cut from a sheet of material and then further treated for finishing operations.
  • the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) can be cold formed and the welded such that it is fully sealed at the sides.
  • said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) can be produced with the injection moulding or casting process. High pressure forging is also an option for the production of said flexible member (1.3, 2.3).
  • the applications for this system comprise all types of four stroke and two-stroke internal combustion engines. However, four stroke engines would see a simpler and more essential application for this system.
  • Applications for this system include road vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, racing vehicles, racing cars, cars, trucks, lorries, tractors, excavators, marine vehicles, ships, boats, submarines, yachts, industrial systems, power systems, power generation systems, aircraft, light aircraft, helicopters, light helicopters, model aircraft, model helicopters, gas compressors, air compressors, compressors, railway vehicles, locomotives, maintenance railway vehicles, diesel multiple units, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, gardening equipment, gardening machines, powered saws, two stroke engines, four stroke engines, motorcycle engines, car engines, bus engines, truck engines, submarine engines, marine engines, generator engines, compressor internal combustion engines, aircraft piston engines, helicopter piston engines, reciprocating machines, and reciprocating combustion engines.
  • the present invention comprises an internal combustion engine which comprises a flat member (1.4, 2.4) in which the top and bottom surfaces of said member (1.4, 2.4) are positioned exactly in parallel to the upper surfaces of the piston head (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10), such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) attaches to the lower surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head's (1.12, 2.12) top geometry by the means of a flexible member (1.3, 2.3) which is fully sealed along the sides, such that said member attaches to both the lower surface of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and to the piston head's mid surface (1.10, 2.10), such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) seals the volume over said flat member (1.4, 2.4) from the volume under said flat member (1.4, 2.4), and can be pushed downwards by fluid pressures situated over said flat member (1.4, 2.4) by constantly comprising a spring like cross-sectional geometric profile.
  • said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) comprises an inward horizontal surfaced member (1.8, 2.8) along its upper surface, while simultaneously comprising an outward horizontal surfaced member (1.9, 2.9) along its lower surface, such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is designed to be attached to both the flat member's bottom surface (1.4, 2.4) on top of it (1.3, 2.3), and to the middle top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12) beneath it (1.3, 2.3), hence forming a well attached set of components (1.4, 1.3, 1.10, 2.4, 2.3, 2.10) which seals the top volume over the flat member (1.4, 2.4) from that which is between said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and the mid upper surface (1.10, 2.10) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • An internal combustion engine in which a set of at least two hollow cavities (1.11, 2.11) is comprised through the member (1.12, 2.12) which separates the top middle surface (1.10, 2.10) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12) form the volume situated below said piston head (1.12, 2.12), hence offering a venting path for air or oil to be vented in or out of the chamber situated between said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and said upper mid surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said cavities (1.11, 2.11) should preferably be comprised around the centre but not at said centre of the piston head's middle surface (1.10, 2.10).
  • said flat member (1.4, 2.4) comprises the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the entire upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said piston head comprises a flat surface in which the middle surface (1.10, 2.10) should preferably be exactly as high as the outer edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) will attach said flat member (1.4, 2.4) to the outer edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • An internal combustion engine which comprises adhesive bonded layers of coatings or flexible material coatings such as foam or rubber being comprised over the surfaces (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7) of the members (3.5, 3.6) which can enter into contact with each other when said upper movable plate member (1.4, 2.4) is moved up and down passively by the pressure over the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said system can also comprise an air evacuation conduit (3.8) which connects the bottom chamber under said piston head (1.12, 2.12) to the chamber(s) of the connecting members (3.4, 3.5, 3.6) if said piston head sustaining member (3.5) is geometrised into a closed loop profiled geometry.
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which the members comprised are to be manufactured by injection moulding, casting, die casting, high pressure die casting, laser cutting, high pressure forging processes or high pressure moulding processes, such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is to be attached to said flexible member (1.3) by adhesive bonding on the upper inner surface (1.8, 2.8) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) and the outer bottom surface of the flat member (1.4, 2.4), while the lower outer bottom surface (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is to be adhesive bonded to the upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head.
  • An internal combustion engine are comprised of highly stress resistant materials such as aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, and/or steels, as well as high temperature resistant materials such as titanium alloys, aluminium alloys, and/or steels, such that said materials should preferably be stainless steels, aluminium alloys and/or titanium alloys.
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which said system design is applied in applications including road vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, racing vehicles, racing cars, cars, trucks, lorries, tractors, excavators, marine vehicles, ships, boats, submarines, yachts, industrial systems, power systems, power generation systems, aircraft, light aircraft, helicopters, light helicopters, model aircraft, model helicopters, gas compressors, air compressors, compressors, railway vehicles, locomotives, maintenance railway vehicles, diesel multiple units, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, gardening equipment, gardening machines, powered saws, two stroke engines, four stroke engines, motorcycle engines, car engines, bus engines, truck engines, submarine engines, marine engines, generator engines, compressor internal combustion engines, aircraft piston engines, helicopter piston engines, locomotive engines, racing engines, racing marine engines, reciprocating machines, and reciprocating combustion engines.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Pistons, Piston Rings, And Cylinders (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention comprises the use of a flat member (1.4, 2.4) which connects to a flexible member (1.3, 2.3) which attaches both said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and the top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the surface of the piston head (1.12, 2.12) which is positioned lower than the edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is mounted on the lower surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). The aim of this design is to eliminate the exhaust fumes remaining inside the clearance volume by eliminating said clearance volume when the piston head (1.12, 2.12) reaches the top dead centre in the exhaust stroke, while keeping the clearance volume cleared when the piston head (1.12, 2.12) reaches top dead centre at the compression stroke.
This designs therefore removes more than 90 % of the clearance volume when it is required at top dead centre at the end of the exhaust stroke, while leaving the clearance volume clear at the compression and ignition strokes in order for the compressed gases to be housed inside the cylinder as required, hence maximising the combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine. Said design can be applied to both two-stroke and four-stroke internal combustion engine designs.

Description

    Description of the invention:
  • The present invention comprises the use of a flat member (1.4, 2.4) which connects to a flexible member (1.3, 2.3) which attaches both said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and the top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the surface of the piston head (1.12, 2.12) which is positioned lower than the edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is mounted on the lower surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). The aim of this design is to eliminate the exhaust fumes remaining inside the clearance volume by eliminating said clearance volume when the piston head (1.12, 2.12) reaches the top dead centre in the exhaust stroke, while keeping the clearance volume cleared when the piston head (1.12, 2.12) reaches top dead centre at the compression stroke.
  • This designs therefore removes more than 90 % of the clearance volume when it is required at top dead centre at the end of the exhaust stroke, while leaving the clearance volume clear at the compression and ignition strokes in order for the compressed gases to be housed inside the cylinder as required, hence maximising the combustion efficiency of the internal combustion engine. Said design can be applied to both two-stroke and four-stroke internal combustion engine designs.
    • Figure 1 comprises a cross-sectional view of the piston head (1.12) when the flat member (1.4) is positioned at its uppermost position possible.
    • Figure 2 comprises a cross-sectional view of the piston head (2.12) when the flat member (2.4) is positioned at its lowest position possible.
    • Figure 3 comprises a side cross-sectional view of said piston head, with an air evacuation conduit (3.8) which connects the bottom area of said piston head (1.12, 2.12) to the mid chamber, as well as comprising wider piston head positioning members (3.5) and layers of adhesive bonded foam or rubber on the contacting surfaces (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7).
    • Figure 4 comprises a side of a cross-sectional side view of said piston head (4.1), comprising a fastener (4.2), preferably a rivet (4.2), bolt (4.2) or nut (4.2), which projects perpendicularly to the direction of motion of said piston head (4.1), and so through the side of said piston head's (4.1) upper surface, and simultaneously through the sides of the attaching member (4.3) of said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4), to the inner side of said attaching member (4.3), such that said attaching member (4.3) remains positioned over said inner flat surface (4.4).
  • The system fully functions automatically without the need of any further components, apart from a set of arrow shaped metallic members (1.6, 2.6) which stop the flat member (1.4, 2.4) from moving higher than required due to inertial forces when reaching the top dead centre at the exhaust stroke. Two flat teethed members (1.5, 2.5) stop the arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) from moving away due to inertia. These teethed members (1.5, 2.5) are sustained by solid members (1.7, 2.7) which connect to the lower surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • When the piston head reaches top dead centre at the compression stroke, the inertial forces move the flat member (1.4) to the highest position possible, at which the top surface of the member (1.4) is aligned with the lateral upper surfaces (1.1) of the piston head, which come nearly in contact with the cylinder head. The teethed members (1.5) stop the flat member (1.4) from moving higher than required by the means of its arrow shaped members (1.6), which are connected to the flat member (1.4) and are stopped by said teethed members (1.5). When the piston head reaches top dead centre at the compression stroke, the pressure of the fluid inside the cylinder moves the flat member (2.4) as downwards as possible, which reaches a lower position which is just optimised for the compressed fluid to be compressed at the required compression ratio. The top surfaces (2.5) teethed members (2.7) stop said flat member (2.4) from being moved further downwards by the pressure of the fluid, as well as the material of the flexible material (2.3) which connect said flat member (2.4) to said upper surface (2.10) of the lower part of the piston head (2.12).
  • The fluid positioned at the top of the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is fully isolated from the fluids positioned below the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such as oil. The fluid positioned under said flat member (2.4) is vented downwards via a set of hollow cavities (1.11, 2.11) when said flat member (1.4,2.4) is moved downwards by the pressure of the compression and igniting fluid situated inside the cylinder. When the flat member (1.4) moves upwards due to the inertial forces of said flat member (1.4) and the elastic force of the flexible material (1.3) which connects it (1.4) to the piston head (1.10), the fluid can reach the chamber which is positioned between said flat ember (1.4) and the top surface (1.10) of the lower part of the piston head (1.12) by the means of the same hollow cavities (1.11) comprised into the piston head's (1.12) material. Said cavities (1.11) connect the upper (1.10) and lower surfaces of the middle section of the piston head (1.12) together.
  • Said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) which connects said flat member (1.4, 2.4) to the upper position head surface (1.10) fully seal the upper volume positioned on top of the piston head, from the chamber positioned under said flat member (1.4,2.4). This is because said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is made of a metallic flexible material such as aluminium alloy, which can resist to high temperatures without changing its shape, as well as offer high strengths to stresses. This member (1.3, 2.3) comprises a spring-like cross-sectional geometry, but which is fully closed, and hence sealed along the sides of said member (1.3, 2.3).
  • During the manufacturing process, the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is attached to the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) by welding, adhesive bonding, or both. Then, said two-member part is attached to the lower piston head surface (1.10, 2.10) by adhesive bonding and/or welding the lateral edge (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) to the upper surface (1.10, 2.10) of the lower member of the piston head (1.12). The welding should preferably be a laser welding process, as dimensional detail is required for this welding operation.
  • The flexible member (1.3,2.3) is attached to the flat member (1.4, 2.4) by laying adhesive on an inner edge surface (1.8, 2.8) comprised on the flexible member and on the bottom edge of the flat member (1.4, 2.4). A welding process can be applied in place of the adhesive bonding process concerned, or in addition to the adhesive bonding operation concerned.
  • The resulting design removes the clearance volume automatically when required, and leaves it automatically when required. The inertial forces of the flat member (1.4, 2.4) and the inertial forces of the flexible member (1.3,2.3) when reaching top dead centre at the ned of the compression stroke will by far by overpowered by the high stresses offered by the compressing fluid inside the cylinder, hence moving the flat member (1.4, 2.4) downwards as required. The unstressed position of the flexible member is when said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is positioned at its highest position possible (1.4), meeting the highest of the lateral edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • The arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) can be connected to the flat member (1.4, 2.4) either by adhesive bonding, welding, or both. The retaining members (1.7, 2.70 which are attached to the upper surface of the piston head (1.10, 2.10) can be either welded, adhesive bonded, or both. Said members (1.7, 2.7) can also be part of the piston head as a one piece cast or forged member.
  • The piston head (1.12, 2.12) can also comprise an upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) which is fully flat, hence comprising the middle section (1.10, 2.10) being positioned at exactly the same height as the lateral edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1), hence being equally as high in relation to each (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) other. In that case, the diameter of the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is equal to the diameter of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). This design will ensure that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) will remove as much of the clearance volume as possible when the piston head will reach top dead centre at the end of the exhaust stroke, hence maximising the removal of the exhaust gases, and hence maximising the combustion efficiency of the engine.
  • In the case of this design, the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) will attach to the outer upper edge surface (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head in order to occupy as much of the clearance volume as possible during the exhaust stroke. Said design will hence remove more than 90 % of the clearance volume at top dead centre at the end of the exhaust stroke. The flexible arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) and the teethed retaining members (1.7, 2.7) will stay positioned on the same place for the design concerned, as said teethed member (1.7, 2.7) will just need to stay attached to the top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the middle section of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), but which will just be at the same height level (1.10, 2.10) as the outer edge top surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • In the case of all piton head designs, the arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) which are attached to the flat member (1.4, 2.4) will be flexible enough to be pushed inside into the teeth (1.5, 2.5) of the teethed members (1.7, 2.7) during the assembly process of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). Said flexible arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) will both be deflected inwards when said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is being pushed onto the piston head's mid surface (1.10, 2.10) due to the arrow shaped geometries of said members (1.6, 2.6).
  • In the case of all piston head designs, the flat member (1.4, 2.4) will be positioned over exactly the same planar orientation as the top surfaces (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head's geometry (1.12, 2.12). The length of said flexible arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) does not vary during the compression or exhaust strokes, and hence does not vary whether said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is pushed downwards by the pressure of the top positioned fluids on top of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), or left pushed upwards by the elastic forces of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) and the inertial forces of said flat member (1.4, 2.4).
  • In the case of the piston head designs (1.12, 2.12) in which the outer edge top surfaces (1.1, 2.12) are positioned higher than the middle section's top surfaces (1.10,2.10), the flat member (1.4, 2.4) which is attached to the lower top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). Therefore, the diameter of the flat member (1.4, 2.4) should always be slightly lower than the dimeter of the lower top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). With a slightly lower diameter than that of the middle surface (1.10, 2.10) on which it (1.4, 2.4) connects to, the flat member (1.4, 2.4) will move freely up and down freely as required, hence maximising the engine's combustion efficiency, and hence maximising the overall efficiency of the engine.
  • In the case of all internal combustion engine designs, the teethed members (1.7, 2.7) stop the flat member (1.4, 2.4) from being driven higher than required by the means of its internal teethed geometries (1.5, 2.5), thus stopping said flat member (1.4, 2.4) from entering into contact with the intake or exhaust valves positioned along the cylinder head, as well as the cylinder head itself.
  • The flat member (1.4, 2.4) is always positioned such that its (1.4, 2.4) top and bottom surfaces are positioned exactly parallel to the top surfaces (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head's design (1.12, 2.12), hence maximising geometrical equality along the upper surfaces (1.1, 2.1, 1.4, 2.4) of the entire piston head design (1.12, 2.12).
  • Said piston head can also comprise wider positioning members (3.5) for the flat member (1.4, 2.4) in order to distribute the load more evenly when said flat member (1.4, 2.4) enters into contact with said piston positioning member (3.5). Rubber or foam layers can be adhesive bonded to the surfaces (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7) of contact, such that the flat member (1.4, 2.4) will be decelerated at a much slower declaration rate, hence maximising the life of said flat member (1.4, 2.4). This operation should be performed before sticking and adhesive bonding said flat member (1.4, 2.4) over the top surface of the piston head (1.12, 2.12). This design will also minimise material fatigue of said flat member (1.4, 2.4). Said sustaining member (3.5) also maximises the life of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) by distributing the contacting load between said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and said positioning members (3.5) as evenly as possible along the piston head.
  • Air evacuation conduits (3.8) provide and air transfer path form the central chamber to the lower piston head area in case that said chamber is comprised with said positioning members (3.5) being geometrised in a full round 360 degree circumference profile. So, said air will find an escape route, and the force required to push said flat member (1.4, 2.4) downwards will be minimised, hence minimising the energy required, and maximising the system's efficiency.
  • More contacting members (3.6) can also be comprised, e.g. along the edges of said system. This distributes the load more evenly. This design will hence minimise the stresses comprised on said contacting members (3.4, 3.6).
  • The bottom flat members (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible members, can be pressed into positon over the piston head by a press, for the adhesive bonding to take place. Simultaneously, a laser welding process can be driven all around the piston head to make sure that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is being inserted into its exact and required position. Alternatively, said laser welding process can be performed on a later manufacturing step.
  • Said flat member (1.4, 2.4) can also be riveted to said piston head (4.1), such that no laser welding process would be required. So, said piston head (4.1) can comprise a plurality of fasteners (4.2), preferably rivets (4.2), bolts (4.2) or nuts (4.2), which project perpendicularly to the direction of motion of said piston head (4.1), and so through the side of said piston head's (4.1) upper surface. Simultaneously, said fasteners (4.2) project through the sides of the attaching member (4.3) of said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4), to the inner side of said attaching member (4.3). So, said attaching member (4.3) remains positioned over said inner flat surface (4.4) of said piston head member (4.1), hence minimising design difficulties. So, said attaching member (4.3) is always comprised over said flat surfaced member (4.4), and hence under said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4).
  • Said lower flat attaching members (4.3) of said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4), is attached to the main body of the piston head (4.1) by a plurality of rivets (4.2), nuts (4.2) or bolts (4.2), such that said fasteners (4.2) attach perpendicularly to the direction of the forces of the injection's engine's pressures, hence projecting perpendicularly to the direction of motion of said piston head (4.1). Said fasteners (4.2) should preferably project horizontally sidewise from the outer side of said piston head (4.1) to the inner side of said flat attaching members (4.3). A plurality of fasteners should always be used, as said fasteners (4.2) should maintain the movable member (1.4, 2.4) at the required position constantly, and hence, a plurality of fasteners (4.2) are required for the system's structural stability. Said fasteners can be made of steel, titanium or aluminium, or any other metallic alloy.
  • Said fasteners (4.2) should be comprised in sets of at least two or four, and preferably in sets of at least six or eight, with said fasteners (4.2) being comprised one projecting in front of another (4.2). So, said fastener (4.2) would each project in front of another fastener (4.2) which is comprised projecting through the other side of said lateral piston head material area (4.1). This design would minimise stresses, and maximise stability of said movable member (1.4, 2.4), not only by distributing stresses unevenly, but also by guaranteeing the stability of said movable member (1.4, 2.4) by guaranteeing a stiff sustaining position at each fastener simultaneously. Said fasteners (4.2) should be pressed through the sides of said side surface of said piston head (4.1), hence being pushed perpendicularly to said lateral surface (4.1), hence guaranteeing functional stability, and simultaneous attaching to the sustaining member (4.3) of the movable flat member (1.4, 2.4).
  • Each of said fasteners would project simultaneously through said side area of said piston head (4.1) and said sustaining member (4.3) of said movable flat member (1.4, 2.4), hence maximising stability and maximising an even stress distribution model. Said fasteners (4.2) would be positioned through cavities comprised inside said side areas (4.1) of said piston head (4.1) and simultaneously through cavities comprised through said sustaining member (4.3). Each fastener (4.2) would be pushed into position from the outer side surface of the piston head (4.1). Hammering presses or electric hammers might be used to accomplish said job, as said cavities would comprise a certain degree of friction, in order to keep said fasteners (4.2) tight and stiff after being pushed into position.
  • Said cavities should be comprised in front of each other simultaneously through both piston head side area (4.1) and sustaining member (4.3) of said movable flat member (1.4, 2.4). Said cavities can be of rectangular or circular cross-section, but should preferably be of circular cross-section, as this design would distribute stresses as evenly as possible with maximum structural stability.
  • The material of the flat member should be a resistant material which offers very high strengths and withstands high temperatures, preferably steel, titanium or aluminium, and should preferably be stainless steels or titanium alloys. The flexible member should be made of a strong and highly resistant material which should withstand high temperatures but should also be much more flexible. Materials of the flexible member would be aluminium alloys or titanium alloys, preferably aluminium or titanium alloys.
  • The flat member (1.4, 2.4) can be compression forged, cast, or laser cut from a sheet of material and then further treated for finishing operations. The flexible member (1.3, 2.3) can be cold formed and the welded such that it is fully sealed at the sides. Alternatively, said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) can be produced with the injection moulding or casting process. High pressure forging is also an option for the production of said flexible member (1.3, 2.3).
  • The applications for this system comprise all types of four stroke and two-stroke internal combustion engines. However, four stroke engines would see a simpler and more essential application for this system.
  • Applications for this system include road vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, racing vehicles, racing cars, cars, trucks, lorries, tractors, excavators, marine vehicles, ships, boats, submarines, yachts, industrial systems, power systems, power generation systems, aircraft, light aircraft, helicopters, light helicopters, model aircraft, model helicopters, gas compressors, air compressors, compressors, railway vehicles, locomotives, maintenance railway vehicles, diesel multiple units, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, gardening equipment, gardening machines, powered saws, two stroke engines, four stroke engines, motorcycle engines, car engines, bus engines, truck engines, submarine engines, marine engines, generator engines, compressor internal combustion engines, aircraft piston engines, helicopter piston engines, reciprocating machines, and reciprocating combustion engines.
  • So, the present invention comprises an internal combustion engine which comprises a flat member (1.4, 2.4) in which the top and bottom surfaces of said member (1.4, 2.4) are positioned exactly in parallel to the upper surfaces of the piston head (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10), such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) attaches to the lower surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head's (1.12, 2.12) top geometry by the means of a flexible member (1.3, 2.3) which is fully sealed along the sides, such that said member attaches to both the lower surface of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and to the piston head's mid surface (1.10, 2.10), such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) seals the volume over said flat member (1.4, 2.4) from the volume under said flat member (1.4, 2.4), and can be pushed downwards by fluid pressures situated over said flat member (1.4, 2.4) by constantly comprising a spring like cross-sectional geometric profile.
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is in its unstressed position when said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is positioned as high as possible, such that the top surface of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is exactly aligned in height with the top edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is positioned such that its top surface (1.4, 2.4) cannot move higher than that of the upper edge surface (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which a set of teethed members (1.7, 2.7) are attached to the mid surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said teethed surfaces (1.7, 2.7) stop the excessively high movement of a set of arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) which are restrained by teethed geometric profiles (1.5, 2.5) which make part of said teethed members (1.7, 2.7), such that said arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) are attached to the lower surface of the flat member (1.4, 2.4), therefore impeding the top surface (1.4, 2.4) of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) from moving higher than the edge surface (1.1, 2.1) heights of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which said flat member (1.4, 2.4) comprises a slightly lower dimeter than the dimeter of the flat surface (1.10, 2.10) onto which it (1.4, 2.4) is attached to from beneath it (1.4, 2.4).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) comprises an inward horizontal surfaced member (1.8, 2.8) along its upper surface, while simultaneously comprising an outward horizontal surfaced member (1.9, 2.9) along its lower surface, such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is designed to be attached to both the flat member's bottom surface (1.4, 2.4) on top of it (1.3, 2.3), and to the middle top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12) beneath it (1.3, 2.3), hence forming a well attached set of components (1.4, 1.3, 1.10, 2.4, 2.3, 2.10) which seals the top volume over the flat member (1.4, 2.4) from that which is between said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and the mid upper surface (1.10, 2.10) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which a set of at least two hollow cavities (1.11, 2.11) is comprised through the member (1.12, 2.12) which separates the top middle surface (1.10, 2.10) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12) form the volume situated below said piston head (1.12, 2.12), hence offering a venting path for air or oil to be vented in or out of the chamber situated between said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and said upper mid surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said cavities (1.11, 2.11) should preferably be comprised around the centre but not at said centre of the piston head's middle surface (1.10, 2.10).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which said flat member (1.4, 2.4) comprises the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the entire upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said piston head comprises a flat surface in which the middle surface (1.10, 2.10) should preferably be exactly as high as the outer edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) will attach said flat member (1.4, 2.4) to the outer edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which said flat member (1.4, 2.4) comprises the same outer diameter as the outer dimeter of the piston head's (1.12, 2.12) upper surfaces (1.1, 2.1) such that said flat member is positioned over the upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above which comprises adhesive bonded layers of coatings or flexible material coatings such as foam or rubber being comprised over the surfaces (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7) of the members (3.5, 3.6) which can enter into contact with each other when said upper movable plate member (1.4, 2.4) is moved up and down passively by the pressure over the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said system can also comprise an air evacuation conduit (3.8) which connects the bottom chamber under said piston head (1.12, 2.12) to the chamber(s) of the connecting members (3.4, 3.5, 3.6) if said piston head sustaining member (3.5) is geometrised into a closed loop profiled geometry.
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above, in which said lower flat attaching members (4.3) of said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4), is attached to the main body of the piston head (4.1) by a plurality of rivets (4.2), nuts (4.2) or bolts (4.2), such that said fasteners (4.2) attach perpendicularly to the direction of the forces of the injection's engine's pressures, hence projecting perpendicularly to the direction of motion of said piston head (4.1), hence preferably horizontally sidewise from the outer side of said piston head (4.1) to the inner side of said flat attaching members (4.3).
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which the members comprised are to be manufactured by injection moulding, casting, die casting, high pressure die casting, laser cutting, high pressure forging processes or high pressure moulding processes, such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is to be attached to said flexible member (1.3) by adhesive bonding on the upper inner surface (1.8, 2.8) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) and the outer bottom surface of the flat member (1.4, 2.4), while the lower outer bottom surface (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is to be adhesive bonded to the upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head.
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is welded to the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) by welding said inner upper member (1.8, 2.8) to said flat member (1.4, 2.4), followed by the welding of the outer bottom surface (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) to the upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), preferably by welding said outer member (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) to the lower part of the inner wall (1.2, 2.2) of the piston head's (1.12, 2.12) upper volume.
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which the materials of which the parts concerned in this invention are made, are comprised of highly stress resistant materials such as aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, and/or steels, as well as high temperature resistant materials such as titanium alloys, aluminium alloys, and/or steels, such that said materials should preferably be stainless steels, aluminium alloys and/or titanium alloys.
  • An internal combustion engine according to the above in which said system design is applied in applications including road vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, racing vehicles, racing cars, cars, trucks, lorries, tractors, excavators, marine vehicles, ships, boats, submarines, yachts, industrial systems, power systems, power generation systems, aircraft, light aircraft, helicopters, light helicopters, model aircraft, model helicopters, gas compressors, air compressors, compressors, railway vehicles, locomotives, maintenance railway vehicles, diesel multiple units, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, gardening equipment, gardening machines, powered saws, two stroke engines, four stroke engines, motorcycle engines, car engines, bus engines, truck engines, submarine engines, marine engines, generator engines, compressor internal combustion engines, aircraft piston engines, helicopter piston engines, locomotive engines, racing engines, racing marine engines, reciprocating machines, and reciprocating combustion engines.

Claims (15)

  1. An internal combustion engine which comprises a flat member (1.4, 2.4) in which the top and bottom surfaces of said member (1.4, 2.4) are positioned exactly in parallel to the upper surfaces of the piston head (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10), such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) attaches to the lower surface (1.1.0, 2.10) of the piston head's (1.12, 2.12) top geometry by the means of a flexible member (1.3, 2.3) which is fully sealed along the sides, such that said member attaches to both the lower surface of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and to the piston head's mid surface (1.10, 2.10), such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) seals the volume over said flat member (1.4, 2.4) from the volume under said flat member (1.4, 2.4), and can be pushed downwards by fluid pressures situated over said flat member (1.4, 2.4) by constantly comprising a spring like cross-sectional geometric profile.
  2. An internal combustion engine according to claim 1 in which said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is in its unstressed position when said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is positioned as high as possible, such that the top surface of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is exactly aligned in height with the top edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  3. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 2 in which said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is positioned such that its top surface (1.4, 2.4) cannot move higher than that of the upper edge surface (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  4. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 3 in which a set of teethed members (1.7, 2.7) are attached to the mid surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said teethed surfaces (1.7, 2.7) stop the excessively high movement of a set of arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) which are restrained by teethed geometric profiles (1.5, 2.5) which make part of said teethed members (1.7, 2.7), such that said arrow shaped members (1.6, 2.6) are attached to the lower surface of the flat member (1.4, 2.4), therefore impeding the top surface (1.4, 2.4) of said flat member (1.4, 2.4) from moving higher than the edge surface (1.1, 2.1) heights of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  5. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 4 in which said flat member (1.4, 2.4) comprises a slightly lower dimeter than the dimeter of the flat surface (1.10, 2.10) onto which it (1.4, 2.4) is attached to from beneath it (1.4, 2.4).
  6. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 5 in which said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) comprises an inward horizontal surfaced member (1.8, 2.8) along its upper surface, while simultaneously comprising an outward horizontal surfaced member (1.9, 2.9) along its lower surface, such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is designed to be attached to both the flat member's bottom surface (1.4, 2.4) on top of it (1.3, 2.3), and to the middle top surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12) beneath it (1.3, 2.3), hence forming a well attached set of components (1.4, 1.3, 1.10, 2.4, 2.3, 2.10) which seals the top volume over the flat member (1.4, 2.4) from that which is between said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and the mid upper surface (1.10, 2.10) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  7. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 6 in which a set of at least two hollow cavities (1.11, 2.11) is comprised through the member (1.12, 2.12) which separates the top middle surface (1.10, 2.10) of said piston head (1.12, 2.12) form the volume situated below said piston head (1.12, 2.12), hence offering a venting path for air or oil to be vented in or out of the chamber situated between said flat member (1.4, 2.4) and said upper mid surface (1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said cavities (1.11, 2.11) should preferably be comprised around the centre but not at said centre of the piston head's middle surface (1.10, 2.10).
  8. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 7 in which said flat member (1.4, 2.4) comprises the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the entire upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said piston head comprises a flat surface in which the middle surface (1.10, 2.10) should preferably be exactly as high as the outer edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said flexible member (1.3, 2.3) will attach said flat member (1.4, 2.4) to the outer edge surfaces (1.1, 2.1) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  9. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 8 in which said flat member (1.4, 2.4) comprises the same outer diameter as the outer dimeter of the piston head's (1.12, 2.12) upper surfaces (1.1, 2.1) such that said flat member is positioned over the upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12).
  10. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 9 which comprises adhesive bonded layers of coatings or flexible material coatings such as foam or rubber being comprised over the surfaces (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7) of the members (3.5, 3.6) which can enter into contact with each other when said upper movable plate member (1.4, 2.4) is moved up and down passively by the pressure over the piston head (1.12, 2.12), such that said system can also comprise an air evacuation conduit (3.8) which connects the bottom chamber under said piston head (1.12, 2.12) to the chamber(s) of the connecting members (3.4, 3.5, 3.6) if said piston head sustaining member (3.5) is geometrised into a closed loop profiled geometry.
  11. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 10, in which said lower flat attaching members (4.3) of said flat movable member (1.4, 2.4), is attached to the main body of the piston head (4.1) by a plurality of rivets (4.2), nuts (4.2) or bolts (4.2), such that said fasteners (4.2) attach perpendicularly to the direction of the forces of the injection's engine's pressures, hence projecting perpendicularly to the direction of motion of said piston head (4.1), hence preferably horizontally sidewise from the outer side of said piston head (4.1) to the inner side of said flat attaching members (4.3).
  12. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 11 in which the members comprised are to be manufactured by injection moulding, casting, die casting, high pressure die casting, laser cutting, high pressure forging processes or high pressure moulding processes, such that said flat member (1.4, 2.4) is to be attached to said flexible member (1.3) by adhesive bonding on the upper inner surface (1.8, 2.8) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) and the outer bottom surface of the flat member (1.4, 2.4), while the lower outer bottom surface (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) is to be adhesive bonded to the upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head.
  13. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 12 in which the flat member (1.4, 2.4) is welded to the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) by welding said inner upper member (1.8, 2.8) to said flat member (1.4, 2.4), followed by the welding of the outer bottom surface (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) to the upper surface (1.1, 2.1, 1.10, 2.10) of the piston head (1.12, 2.12), preferably by welding said outer member (1.9, 2.9) of the flexible member (1.3, 2.3) to the lower part of the inner wall (1.2, 2.2) of the piston head's (1.12, 2.12) upper volume.
  14. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 13 in which the materials of which the parts concerned in this invention are made, are comprised of highly stress resistant materials such as aluminium alloys, titanium alloys, and/or steels, as well as high temperature resistant materials such as titanium alloys, aluminium alloys, and/or steels, such that said materials should preferably be stainless steels, aluminium alloys and/or titanium alloys.
  15. An internal combustion engine according to claims 1 to 14 in which said system design is applied in applications including road vehicles, motorcycles, scooters, racing vehicles, racing cars, cars, trucks, lorries, tractors, excavators, marine vehicles, ships, boats, submarines, yachts, industrial systems, power systems, power generation systems, aircraft, light aircraft, helicopters, light helicopters, model aircraft, model helicopters, gas compressors, air compressors, compressors, railway vehicles, locomotives, maintenance railway vehicles, diesel multiple units, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, gardening equipment, gardening machines, powered saws, two stroke engines, four stroke engines, motorcycle engines, car engines, bus engines, truck engines, submarine engines, marine engines, generator engines, compressor internal combustion engines, aircraft piston engines, helicopter piston engines, locomotive engines, racing engines, racing marine engines, reciprocating machines, and reciprocating combustion engines.
EP17001454.2A 2016-09-05 2017-08-29 Piston with flat movable upper surface Active EP3290670B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB1615056.7A GB201615056D0 (en) 2016-09-05 2016-09-05 Flat member for clearance volume control

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3290670A1 true EP3290670A1 (en) 2018-03-07
EP3290670B1 EP3290670B1 (en) 2022-06-08

Family

ID=57140018

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17001454.2A Active EP3290670B1 (en) 2016-09-05 2017-08-29 Piston with flat movable upper surface

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3290670B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2924042T3 (en)
GB (1) GB201615056D0 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2376214A (en) * 1943-07-15 1945-05-15 Philip S Webster Flexible piston for internalcombustion engines
JP2002371912A (en) * 2001-06-14 2002-12-26 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Variable compression ratio piston and producing method thereof
US20120227705A1 (en) * 2010-03-02 2012-09-13 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Combustion pressure control system
GB2526336A (en) * 2014-05-21 2015-11-25 Jon Otegui Van Leeuw Efficient two-stroke engine

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2376214A (en) * 1943-07-15 1945-05-15 Philip S Webster Flexible piston for internalcombustion engines
JP2002371912A (en) * 2001-06-14 2002-12-26 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Variable compression ratio piston and producing method thereof
US20120227705A1 (en) * 2010-03-02 2012-09-13 Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha Combustion pressure control system
GB2526336A (en) * 2014-05-21 2015-11-25 Jon Otegui Van Leeuw Efficient two-stroke engine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3290670B1 (en) 2022-06-08
GB201615056D0 (en) 2016-10-19
ES2924042T3 (en) 2022-10-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN107524541B (en) High-efficiency piston
CN1944994A (en) Welded forged steel integrated piston and its producing method
US9951712B2 (en) Internal combustion engine with interbore cooling
EP3290670B1 (en) Piston with flat movable upper surface
US20160319767A1 (en) Cylinder liner of an internal combustion engine
US9470177B2 (en) Cylinder head for internal combustion engine
JP2016520763A (en) Power delivery apparatus for reciprocating engines, and systems and methods related thereto
CN201757003U (en) Opposite piston type engine
EP3371422B1 (en) Combustion engine intake valve
CN201284698Y (en) Pin hole copper-inlaid lining type piston with inner-cooling structure
CN2851607Y (en) Welding type forged steel single-piece piston
US9995187B2 (en) Intake valve apparatus for use with a combustion engine and methods of use and manufacture thereof
CN111102095B (en) Low heat dissipation composite structure piston
CN201916014U (en) Operating cylinder of exhaust brake valve of automobile engine
CN201110231Y (en) Integral marine engine piston
US20200400066A1 (en) Combustion engine
CN100554663C (en) Ring cylinder intelligent piston internal combustion engine
CN109519298B (en) Combined piston
WO2008012006A3 (en) Reciprocating-piston internal combustion engines
US10156179B2 (en) Support unit for supporting an exhaust system of a vehicle
CN201486595U (en) Pneumatic machine
CN218192349U (en) Crankshaft forging die for ship internal combustion engine
CN211549848U (en) Engine cylinder bottom with buffer structure
CN213322647U (en) Battery case and car
CN220929498U (en) Automobile valve with oil seal structure

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20180906

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: F02B 75/04 20060101ALI20190206BHEP

Ipc: F02B 41/00 20060101AFI20190206BHEP

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20190314

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20190405

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: OTEGUI VAN LEEUW, JON

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: OTEGUI VAN LEEUW, JON

19U Interruption of proceedings before grant

Effective date: 20191002

19W Proceedings resumed before grant after interruption of proceedings

Effective date: 20200504

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: VAN LEEUW, CHRISTIANE

Owner name: OTEGUI REBOLLO, JUAN LUIS

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: OTEGUI VAN LEEUW, JON

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

GRAJ Information related to disapproval of communication of intention to grant by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the epo deleted

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSDIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20210610

INTC Intention to grant announced (deleted)
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20220202

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1497063

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20220615

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602017058207

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG9D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2924042

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

Effective date: 20221004

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20220608

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220908

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220909

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220908

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1497063

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20220608

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221010

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20221008

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602017058207

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220829

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220831

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220831

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20220831

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20230310

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220829

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220831

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20220831

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20230815

Year of fee payment: 7

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20230906

Year of fee payment: 7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20230727

Year of fee payment: 7

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20170829

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20220608