GB2094406A

GB2094406A - Internal combustion piston engine with auxiliary heated-air-or- gas cylinders

Info

Publication number: GB2094406A
Application number: GB8138195A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-02-04
Filing date: 1981-12-18
Publication date: 1982-09-15
Also published as: DE3203854A1; JPS58113510A

Abstract

The heat from the cylinder of the internal combustion piston and cylinder (A) is extracted by air or gas which is passed through chambers (8, 8') on each side of the combustion cylinder by means of auxiliary pneumatic piston and cylinders (B and C) which are driven by the heated air or gas and do work to increase the efficiency of the engine, the auxiliary piston and cylinders (B and C) being used to increase the power of the engine and/or to drive any auxiliary mechanism. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Internal combustion piston engine This invention relates to internal combustion piston engines and more particularly, but not exclusively, to air-cooled internal combustion piston engines.

As is known, internal combustion piston engines comprise at least one cylinder and a piston which is moved in the cylinder by the explosion of a mixture of fuel and air ignited by an electric spark. In such engines there are high losses because of heat dissipation. As is also known, heat is damaging to the engine's functioning and therefore a cooling system, using water or air has to be provided.

This invention proposes a way of making use of the heat dissipated by the pistons which up until now has been expelled without any usefulness.

According to the present invention there is provided an internal combustion piston engine provided with means for cooling the engine with a compressible fluid, in which auxiliary pneumatic piston and cylinders are provided which utilize the compressible fluid heated by heat extracted from the internal combustion piston and cylinder of the engine in order to produce work to increase the power of the engine.

Preferably, two auxiliary piston and cylinders are provided for each internal combustion cylinder, in this way, energy that until now has been lost can be used for the purpose of giving the engine greater power and/or to move or activate any auxiliary mechanism desired.

Basically, an internal combustion piston engine is furnished with elements that allow advantage to be taken of the work that the cooling air can produce after it is heated by the internal combustion piston and cylinder while at the same time the said internal combustion cylinder is cooled for better functioning.

Preferably, elements are provided that allow dissipation of greater heat, such as fins on the outside part of the internal combustion cylinder; also preferably, two auxiliary piston and cylinders are provided for each internal combustion cylinder which auxiliary piston and cylinders work in synchronism.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a cylinder block provided with two auxiliary pneumatic piston and cylinders, Figure 2 is a lateral schematic view of the cylinder block with two lateral auxiliary piston and cylinders, Figure 3 is a view on one side of the cylinder block of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, including the spark plug, and, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the main cylinder.

The internal combustion engine has a cylinder block provided with a main cylinder A in which reciprocates a main piston. The cylinder block is hollow and divided by a wall D into two chambers 8 and 8' located on opposite sides of the main cylinder. The bottom of the cylinder block is provided with a floor P in the region of the chambers 8 and 8'. Extending from the bottom of the cylinder block are two pneumatic piston and cylinders B and C.

The cylinder of piston and cylinder B has air inlet and outlet passages controlled by valves 1 and 2 and ports which communicate with respective chambers 8 and 8' which are controlled by respective valves 3 and 4. The cylinder of piston and cylinder C has valves 1', 2', 3' and 4' which correspond with the valves 1 to 4.

The main cylinder A has an intake duct 10 leading to a port controlled by an inlet valve 7 and an exhaust duct 11 which communicates with an exhaust port controlled by an exhaust valve 6. The main cylinder A is also provided with a spark ignifion plug 9. The main cylinder A is provided on its exterior with fins 5 which extend into the chambers 8 and 8'. Fins 5 are provided along the whole length of the main cylinder A but the drawings only show the upper and lower fins. Fins 5 are also provided on the cylinder head of the main cylinder A as shown more clearly in Figure 5.

The drawings only show a few fins, the whole head and exhaust duct of the cylinder A is preferably covered with fins.

By means of the air heated due to absorbing heat from the main cylinder A to effect cooling of the internal combustion cylinder A, the pistons of the piston and cylinders B and C are activated to produce work.

The engine operates in the following manner: When the piston of piston and cylinder B is on its descending course, air is admitted into the cylinder of device B by means of an inlet valve 2, and when the piston of piston and cylinder B is in its ascending course, the air passes out of the cylinder of piston and cylinder B through the port controlled by valve 3, and flows into the chamber 8 situated to one side of cylinder A where the air absorbs heat from the cylinder A. The other part of the heat from cylinder A is absorbed by the air that the piston of piston and cylinder C supplies to chamber 8' through valve 3', in its ascending course.

As the air in the chambers 5, 8 and 8' is at a constant volume and there is heat transference to the air, the pressure of the air in chambers 8 and 8' increases because of the temperature rise, later the heated air is expanded through valve 4' or 4 of the pneumatic piston opposite the one that discharged the air into the respective hot chamber 8, 8'. Once the air has expanded in the respective cylinder of piston and cylinders B, C it is exhausted through a respective discharge valve 1 and 1', normally to the atmosphere.

As an alternative in place of air fed to chambers 8, 8', a gas may be used or mixtures of air and gas or any suitable compressible fluid and/or in place of expelling the fluid to the atmosphere, it may be recovered to be reused.

The two pneumatic piston and cylinders B and C work in synchronized fashion. The cylinder A (the placement of the spark plug does not matter) will have a much greater exterior area for heat dissipation; for example, it is provided with the fins 5.

The pneumatic piston and cylinders B and C may also go to one side of piston and cylinder A or above or below the same, this not constituting any limitation.

Likewise, it is pointed out that pistons of the cylinders A, B and C may be connected to the same crankshaft or that the pistons of piston and cylinders B and C may be connected to a different crankshaft from the one to which the piston of cylinder A is connected or that each piston may be connected to a different crankshaft.

It is obvious that many adaptations may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An internal combustion piston engine provided with means for cooling the engine with a compressible fluid, in which auxiliary pneumatic piston and cylinders are provided which utilize the compressible fluid heated by heat extracted from the internal combustion piston and cylinder of the engine in order to produce work to increase the power of the engine.

2. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in claim 1, in which an exterior chamber is formed around the internal combustion piston and cylinder and is divided into two separate chambers each of which communicate with the auxiliary pneumatic piston and cylinders.

3. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in claim 2, in which the internal combustion cylinder is provided on its exterior with heat dissipating elements located in said chambers.

4. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in claim 3, in which said elements comprise fins.

5. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in any preceding claim, in which two auxiliary piston and cylinders are provided for each internal combustion piston and cylinder of the engine, the pistons of said two auxiliary piston and cylinders being arranged to work in synchronism.

6. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in any preceding claim, in which control of the fluid to and from the auxiliary piston and cylinders is carried out by means of valves.

7. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the fluid is air.

8. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 7, in which the fluid is a gas or a gas/air mixture.

9. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the pistons of the auxiliary piston and cylinders and the piston of the internal combustion piston and cylinder are connected to a common crankshaft of .the engine.

1 0. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which the pistons of the auxiliary piston and cylinders are connected to a different crankshaft from the one that the piston of the internal combustion piston and cylinder is connected.

11. An internal combustion piston engine as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, in which the pistons of the auxiliary piston and cylinder devices are connected to separate crankshafts.

12. An internal combustion piston engine provided with means for cooling the engine with a compressible fluid, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.