The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a rotary actuator that includes a housing defining a first arcuate chamber portion and comprising a first cavity, a first open end, a first seal carrier assembly defining a second arcuate chamber portion and comprising a second cavity in fluid communication with the first cavity, a first piston seal, a second open end, and a third open end opposite the second open end, a first face seal in sealing contact with the housing proximal to the first open end and the second open end, a rotary output assembly, and an arcuate-shaped first piston disposed in said housing for reciprocal movement in the first arcuate chamber portion and in the second arcuate chamber portion.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an intake device including: an annular flow path which is formed in a circular housing; an inlet part which is installed at one side of the housing and guides an inflow of a fluid into the flow path; a outlet part which is installed at the other side of the housing and guides a discharge of the fluid which flows into the inlet part and passes through the flow path; a piston which is disposed in the flow path, and rotates along the flow path so as to compress the fluid introduced through the inlet part; and an opening and closing unit which is installed in the flow path between the inlet part and the outlet part, includes a plurality of opening and closing members, and elastic members which are installed between the plurality of opening and closing members and the flow path so as to support the plurality of opening and closing members, respectively, and opens and closes the flow path by pressing the piston, in which when the pressing of the piston is released, the plurality of opening and closing members closes the flow path by pressing force of the fluid which presses outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of opening and closing members in a direction in which the flow path is closed, and by elastic force of the elastic member.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides an intake device including: an annular flow path which is formed in a circular housing; an inlet part which is installed at one side of the housing and guides an inflow of a fluid into the flow path; a outlet part which is installed at the other side of the housing and guides a discharge of the fluid which flows into the inlet part and passes through the flow path; a piston which is disposed in the flow path, and rotates along the flow path so as to compress the fluid introduced through the inlet part; and an opening and closing unit which is installed in the flow path between the inlet part and the outlet part, includes a plurality of opening and closing members, and elastic members which are installed between the plurality of opening and closing members and the flow path so as to support the plurality of opening and closing members, respectively, and opens and closes the flow path by pressing the piston, in which when the pressing of the piston is released, the plurality of opening and closing members closes the flow path by pressing force of the fluid which presses outer circumferential surfaces of the plurality of opening and closing members in a direction in which the flow path is closed, and by elastic force of the elastic member.

An engine housing has the shape of a regular dodecagonal, and includes a piston of the same shape that moves with a circular pivot movement about the axis of a main shaft. The piston is guided in parallel by three crankshafts synchronously rotating about this center of rotation. Through this pivot movement, the piston in six combustion chambers each consecutively brings about the four cycles of a spark ignition or diesel engine. The three crankshafts are in permanent engagement through gears which are attached in a fixed manner with a sun wheel, which is seated on a main shaft in a fixed manner, driving it.

An internal combustion butterfly engine system includes a cylindrical housing; a first cylindrical snitch rotabably carried within the cylindrical housing and having a first tab and a second tab; a second cylindrical snitch rotabably carried within the cylindrical housing; a plurality of chambers; a plurality of spark plugs secured to the cylindrical housing and in gaseous communication with the plurality of chambers; a plurality of injectors secured to the cylindrical housing and in gaseous communication with the plurality of chambers; a bevel gear mechanism disposed within a center opening formed by the cylindrical housing, the first cylindrical snitch, and the second cylindrical snitch, the bevel gear mechanism is configured to cause the first cylindrical snitch to rotate in a direction opposite to a rotation of the second cylindrical snitch within the housing; and a ratchet and pawl mechanism disposed within the center opening and secured to the first cylindrical snitch and the second cylindrical snitch.

An engine includes a housing defining an annular bore and a piston assembly disposed within the annular bore. The engine includes at least one valve configured to oscillate between a first position within the annular bore to allow the piston assembly to travel from a first location proximate to the at least one valve to a second location distal to the at least one valve and a second position to define a combustion chamber relative to the piston assembly at the second location. The engine includes an exhaust gas port disposed in fluid communication with the combustion chamber and a fuel distribution assembly configured to mix fuel from a fuel source and air from an air source into a fuel and air mixture at a location external to the combustion chamber and to deliver the fuel and air mixture to the combustion chamber.

An engine configuration that uses multiple opposing piston pairs to form respective expansion chambers for expanding a gas within to move the pistons to drive a main shaft. The engine can be configured to operate as an internal combustion engine that uses diesel fuel, gasoline, or natural gas, or it can be configured as an expander to convert high pressure high temperature gas to rotary power. The pistons may be mounted on the circumference of one or more disks. For any given set of choices of numbers of pistons and sizes of pistons, disks, and gears, there are disclosed dimensional constraints useful for more efficient functioning of the engine. This engine can be provided with a compact design which results in high power to weight ratios.

An apparatus comprising a first piston member (22) rotatable about a first rotational axis (30) and a rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a) and pivotable about a second rotational axis (32). The first piston member (22) extends across the first chamber (34a). The rotor (16) and first piston member (22) are rotatable around the first rotational axis (30), and the rotor (16) is pivotable about the second rotational axis (32) to permit a relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22) linked to the rotor (16) rotating about the first rotational axis (30).

A toroidal engine that can be powered by a fuel/air mixture or by a compressed gas source. The toroidal engine uses one-way bearings to transfer torque generated in a toroidal chamber directly to a drive shaft. Pairs of pistons are mounted on two crank assemblies, which are concentric with the drive shaft. One-way bearings allow the crank assemblies to turn, one at a time, in one direction only. The crank assemblies are directly coupled to the drive shaft, which eliminates the need for complex gear and linkage arrangements. A system can be used with the toroidal engine to alternately stop the crank assemblies at a pre-determined position and to time the ignition of the engine.

A toroidal engine that can be powered by a fuel/air mixture or by a compressed gas source. The toroidal engine uses one-way bearings to transfer torque generated in a toroidal chamber directly to a drive shaft. Pairs of pistons are mounted on two crank assemblies, which are concentric with the drive shaft. One-way bearings allow the crank assemblies to turn, one at a time, in one direction only. The crank assemblies are directly coupled to the drive shaft, which eliminates the need for complex gear and linkage arrangements. A system can be used with the toroidal engine to alternately stop the crank assemblies at a pre-determined position and to time the ignition of the engine.