MY137561A - Split-cycle engine with dwell piston motion - Google Patents

Abstract

AN ENGINE INCLUDES A CRANKSHAFT HAVING A CRANK THROW, THE CRANKSHAFT ROTATING ABOUT A CRANKSHAFT AXIS. A COMPRESSION PISTON IS SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN A COMPRESSION CYLINDER AND OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE CRANKSHAFT SUCH THAT THE COMPRESSION PISTON RECIPROCATES THROUGH AN INTAKE STROKE AND A COMPRESSION STROKE OF A FOUR STROKE CYCLE DURING A SINGLE ROTATION OF THE CRANKSHAFT. AN EXPANSION PISTON IS SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN AN EXPANSION CYLINDER. A CONNECTING ROD IS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE EXPANSION PISTON. A MECHANICAL LINKAGE ROTATIONALLY CONNECTS THE CRANK THROW TO THE CONNECTING ROD ABOUT A CONNECTING ROD/CRANK THROW AXIS SUCH THAT THE EXPANSION PISTON RECIPROCATES THROUGH AN EXPANSION STROKE AND AN EXHAUST STROKE OF THE FOUR STROKE CYCLE DURING THE SAME ROTATION OF THE CRANKSHAFT. A PATH IS ESTABLISHED BY THE MECHANICAL LINKAGE WHICH THE CONNECTING ROD/CRANK THROW AXIS TRAVELS AROUND THE CRANKSHAFT AXIS. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CONNECTING ROD/CRANK THROW AXIS AND ARANKSHAFT AXIS AT ANY POINT IN THE PATH DEFINES AN EFFECTIVE CRANK THROW RADIUS. THE PATH INCLUDES A FIRST TRANSITION REGION FROM A FIRST EFFECTIVE CRANK THROW RADIUS TO A SECOND EFFECTIVE CRANK THROW RADIUS THROUGH WHICH THE CONNECTING ROD/CRANK THROW AXIS PASSES DURING AT LEAST A PORTION OF A COMBUSTION EVENT IN THE EXPANSION CYLINDER.