This invention relates to the field of internal combustion engines and compressors in general and to linear compressors, in particular these used as in U.S. Pat. No. 8,056,527, by accurately controlling the pressure being delivered into the combustion chambers of said engine while returning unused energy of the compression phase into the motor for complete expansion.

Another improvement relates to a pressure compensated vane to be used inside grooves of the motor assembly rotor. This invention enables the vane to seal against the cavity of the housing tightly with minimal force.

This invention relates to the field of internal combustion engines and compressors in general and to linear compressors, in particular these used as in U.S. Pat. No. 8,056,527, by accurately controlling the pressure being delivered into the combustion chambers of said engine while returning unused energy of the compression phase into the motor for complete expansion.

Another improvement relates to a pressure compensated vane to be used inside grooves of the motor assembly rotor. This invention enables the vane to seal against the cavity of the housing tightly with minimal force.

A pneumatic engine includes first and second pneumatic motors. Each motor has a stator, a rotor, and a gas flow path. The rotor is rotatably connected to the stator. The gas flow path is defined at least in part by the stator and the rotor, and extends from a gas inlet to a terminal gas outlet. The gas flow path has an expansion portion extending between the gas inlet and an intermediate gas outlet, and a compression portion extending between the intermediate gas outlet and the terminal gas outlet. The terminal gas outlet of the first pneumatic motor is fluidly connected upstream of the gas inlet of the second pneumatic motor.

A non-Wankel rotary engine having an insert in the peripheral wall of the outer body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface bordering the cavity, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the housing and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert.

A non-Wankel rotary engine having an insert in the peripheral wall of the outer body, the insert being made of a material having a greater heat resistance than that of the peripheral wall, having a subchamber defined therein and having an inner surface bordering the cavity, the subchamber communicating with the cavity through at least one opening defined in the inner surface and having a shape forming a reduced cross-section adjacent the opening, a pilot fuel injector having a tip received in the subchamber, an ignition element having a tip received in the subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the housing and having a tip communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the insert.

A supercharger constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a housing, a first rotor, a second rotor, a first timing gear, a second timing gear, a first rotor shaft and a second rotor shaft. The first and second rotors are received in cylindrical overlapping chambers of the housing. The first timing gear has first helical teeth. The second timing gear has second helical teeth. The second timing gear is arranged in meshed engagement with the first timing gear such that the second timing gear is driven by the first timing gear. The first rotor shaft supports the first rotor and the first timing gear. The second rotor shaft supports the second rotor and the second timing gear. The first timing gear has a first axial lead. The first rotor has a second axial lead. The first and second axial leads match.

In one aspect, described is a rotary engine having a purge port located rearwardly of the inlet port and forwardly of the exhaust port along a direction of the revolutions of the rotor, the purge port being in communication with the exhaust port through each of the chambers along a respective portion of each revolution, and the inlet and outlet ports being relatively located such that a volumetric compression ratio of the engine is lower than a volumetric expansion ratio of the engine.

A rotary engine including a rotor sealingly received within an internal cavity of an outer body to define a plurality of combustion chambers having a variable volume, a pilot subchamber located in a wall of the outer body, the pilot subchamber in fluid communication with the internal cavity via at least two spaced apart transfer holes defining a flow restriction between the pilot subchamber and the internal cavity, a pilot fuel injector in fluid communication with the pilot subchamber, an ignition element configured for igniting fuel in the pilot subchamber, and a main fuel injector extending through the stator body and communicating with the cavity at a location spaced apart from the pilot subchamber. A method of combusting fuel in a rotary engine is also discussed.

A method of controlling an air intake flow in a rotary engine having primary and secondary inlet ports, including positioning the secondary inlet port rearwardly of the primary inlet port and forwardly of the exhaust port along a direction of a revolution of the rotor, providing independently closable communications between an air source and the primary and secondary inlet ports, and controlling air intake flows between the air source and the primary and secondary inlet ports. Controlling air intake flows includes simultaneously allowing the air intake flow between the primary inlet port and the air source and between the secondary inlet port and the air source. Exhaust gases of the engine are purged with the air intake flow of the secondary inlet port. A rotary engine is also discussed.

A method of controlling an air intake flow in a rotary engine having primary and secondary inlet ports, including positioning the secondary inlet port rearwardly of the primary inlet port and forwardly of the exhaust port along a direction of a revolution of the rotor, providing independently closable communications between an air source and the primary and secondary inlet ports, and controlling air intake flows between the air source and the primary and secondary inlet ports. Controlling air intake flows includes simultaneously allowing the air intake flow between the primary inlet port and the air source and between the secondary inlet port and the air source. Exhaust gases of the engine are purged with the air intake flow of the secondary inlet port. A rotary engine is also discussed.