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.

A split-cycle internal combustion engine includes a variable displacement compressor having two or more cylinders, an adjustment mechanism for varying the displacement volume of the compressor and possibly the phase between the compressor and the motor, and a rotary motor having two or more expansion chambers. A passage valve system located between the compressor and the motor transfers working fluid and combustion exhaust products, and, in addition, mechanically and thermally isolates the compressor from the high pressures and temperatures present in the motor.

An engine assembly including an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine each including a rotor sealingly and rotationally received within a respective internal cavity to provide rotating chambers of variable volume in the respective internal cavity, a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of the engine core, a first intake conduit in fluid communication with an inlet of the compressor and with a first source of air, a second intake conduit in fluid communication with the inlet of the compressor and with a second source of air warmer than the first source of air, and a selector valve configurable to selectively open and close at least the fluid communication between the inlet of the compressor and the first intake conduit. A method of supplying air to a compressor is also discussed.

A roticulating thermodynamic apparatus (100) having a first fluid flow section (111) and a second fluid flow section (115). The first fluid flow section (111) is configured for the passage of fluid between a first port (114a) and second port (114b) via a first chamber (134a). The second fluid flow section (115) is configured for the passage of fluid between a third port (116a) and a fourth port (116b) via a second chamber (134, 234b). The second port (114b) is in fluid communication with the third port (116a) via a first heat exchanger (302a).

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 apparatus comprising: a shaft (18) rotatable about a first rotational axis (30); an axle (20) defining a second rotational axis (32); a first piston member (22) extending from the axle (20) towards a distal end of the shaft (18); a rotor (16) carried on the axle (20); the rotor (16) comprising a first chamber (34a); a housing (12) having a wall defining a cavity (26); a first magnetic guide feature (52); a second magnetic guide feature (50); whereby: the rotor (16) and axle (20) are rotatable with the shaft (18) around the first rotational axis (30); the rotor (16) is pivotable about the axle (20) to permit relative pivoting motion between the rotor (16) and the first piston member (22) as the rotor rotates about the first rotational axis (30); and at least one of the first magnetic guide feature (52) and second magnetic guide feature (50) comprises an electromagnet to pivot the rotor (16) about the axle (20) relative to the first piston member (22).

A rotary engine, parts thereof, and methods associated therewith is provided. The engine is modular and adjustable to accommodate a variety of requirements and preferences. The system includes a combustion assembly having a housing and a power rotor positioned therein. The power rotor rotates in a first direction from the beginning of each combustion process through the end of each exhaust process. The system also includes a compression assembly linked to the combustion assembly such that the compression rotor rotates in the first direction from the beginning of each intake process through the end of each compression process. A tank assembly in fluid communication with the compression assembly and the combustion assembly provides stability to the system while eliminating or otherwise reducing transitional loses.

A toroidal combustion engine is provided. The toroidal combustion engine includes a first and a second toroidal cylinder which share a single common intersection to define a combustion chamber. The first toroidal cylinder carries a first piston set, while the second toroidal cylinder carries a second piston set. The first and second piston sets are each rotatable about circular paths which are disposed in planes that are perpendicular to one another.

A compact energy cycle construction that utilizes a working fluid in its operation is disclosed having a compact housing of a generally cylindrical form, an orbiting scroll type expander, a central shaft which is driven by the expander, a generator having a rotor and a stator with the central shaft being mounted to the rotor for rotating the rotor relative to the stator, a pump mounted to the central shaft, an evaporator positioned between the expander and the generator and surrounding the central shaft, and the orbiting scroll type expander, the central shaft, the generator, the pump, and the evaporator being housed within the compact housing to form an integrated system operable in accordance with an energy cycle.

A variable volume chamber device is disclosed. The chambers may be defined by the space between four pivotally connected vanes contained within two side plates. The vanes may be connected so as to create a sealed interior chamber that may be used as a combustion chamber in an internal combustion engine, or as a pumping chamber in a pump or compressor. The four vane assembly may also form additional variable volume chambers between the vanes and a surrounding structure. The plurality of variable volume chambers may be interconnected to progressively act on a working fluid.