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.

A rotary engine has a rotor with a rotor pocket for receiving air-fuel mixture that is combusted therein to propel the rotor within the housing. The rotary engine may have one or more intake spray injectors that spray fuel into the rotor pocket and onto the rotor face within the intake chamber to effectively cool the rotor pocket and rotor face. An air channel extension of the rotor pocket may be configured in the housing and/or in the rotor to extend from the compression chamber into the ignition-combustion chamber to relieve some pressure in the trailing compression chamber of a rotor face to minimize negative work. A supplemental air-fuel conduit may be configured to supply high-pressure gas from the compression chamber to an ignition injector(s). A thrust nozzle may be configured within the rotor pocket to direct combustion gases therethrough to propel the rotor and increase efficiency.

An internal combustion engine includes a housing defining an internal cavity, an inner body sealingly moving within the internal cavity for defining at least one combustion chamber of variable volume, a pilot subchamber in communication with the at least one working chamber, an ignition element in communication with the pilot subchamber, a main injector communicating with the at least one combustion chamber, and a pilot injector having a tip in communication with the pilot subchamber. The tip of the pilot injector includes at least a first injection hole defining a first spray direction and a second injection hole defining a second spray direction different from the first spray direction. The first spray direction extends toward the communication between the pilot subchamber and the at least one working chamber. A method of performing combustion in an internal combustion engine is also discussed.

A topological rotary engine includes a first transmission mechanism, a second transmission mechanism, a valve mechanism, a rotor, and a cylinder. The rotor is arranged in an inner chamber of the cylinder. A cross section of the rotor is a curved-side topological polygon having n sides. A cross section of the inner chamber of cylinder is a curved-side topological polygon having n+1 sides, and n is an even number greater than or equal to 4. An outer topological curved surface of the rotor is meshed with an inner topological curved surface of the cylinder. The rotor reversely revolves around an axis of the cylinder with an eccentricity as a radius while rotating, and divides the cylinder into n+1 independent chambers. The cylinder is provided with n+1 fuel injection nozzles and n+1 spark plugs, which cooperate with the rotor and the valve mechanism.

A rotary engine includes a shroud surrounding a rotor. The rotor carries at least one combustion chamber spaced from an axis of rotation of the rotor. A pressure activated valve, such as a relief valve, is located between the combustion chamber and obliquely arranged exhaust nozzles. A drive shaft is engaged to the rotor for mutual rotation. An ECU controls the combustion cycle of the engine based on a signal from a pressure sensor in the combustion chamber. A fuel control valve delivers fuel into the combustion chamber. An air control valve delivers pressurized air into the combustion chamber. The electronic control responds to the pressure signal from the pressure sensor to open the fuel control valve, to fire a spark plug and cause combustion of the fuel within the combustion chamber, and to thereafter open the air control valve to purge the combustion chamber of exhaust gasses. A method of operating the controls is also disclosed.

The present invention provides a rotary engine comprising: a housing provided with three lobe accommodation parts; a rotor which is provided with two lobes continuously accommodated in the lobe accommodation parts, has an intake storage part communicating with an intake port provided on the front surface-side, and has an exhaust storage part communicating with an exhaust port provided on the rear surface-side; an intake-side housing cover provided with an intake hole communicating with the intake storage part; an exhaust-side housing cover provided with an exhaust hole communicating with the exhaust storage part; and a crankshaft, wherein the flow of an exhaust gas into a stroke chamber during an intake stroke is reduced by preventing the exhaust storage part, at a portion of a section in which the exhaust port is open, from communicating with the exhaust hole during the intake stroke.

The present invention provides a rotary engine comprising: a housing provided with three lobe accommodation parts; a rotor which is provided with two lobes continuously accommodated in the lobe accommodation parts, has an intake storage part communicating with an intake port provided on the front surface-side, and has an exhaust storage part communicating with an exhaust port provided on the rear surface-side; an intake-side housing cover provided with an intake hole communicating with the intake storage part; an exhaust-side housing cover provided with an exhaust hole communicating with the exhaust storage part; and a crankshaft, wherein the flow of an exhaust gas into a stroke chamber during an intake stroke is reduced by preventing the exhaust storage part, at a portion of a section in which the exhaust port is open, from communicating with the exhaust hole during the intake stroke.

A rotational engine system comprises a rotational engine and a propulsion system. The rotational engine includes an outer ring enclosure, an inner ring component, and a drive gear. The inner ring component includes a piston and a drive gear engagement portion. The piston is configured to travel within the outer ring enclosure along a circumference of the outer ring enclosure. The drive gear engagement portion is configured to rotate as the piston travels along the circumference of the circular shape of the outer ring enclosure. The drive gear is coupled to the drive gear engagement portion of the inner ring component such that rotation of the drive gear engagement portion rotationally drives the drive gear. The propulsion system is configured to deliver propulsive energy to propel the piston along the circumference of the outer ring enclosure.

A rotary internal combustion engine (ICE) has: a housing defining a rotor cavity; a rotor received within the rotor cavity to define working chambers of variable volume around the rotor, the rotor having circumferentially spaced peripheral apex seals biased radially outwardly in sliding engagement against a peripheral wall of the housing to separate the working chambers from one another, the housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough and opening into an inner surface of the peripheral wall; and an injector having a lubricant inlet hydraulically connected to a lubricant source, an actuation inlet hydraulically connected to a source of an actuation fluid, and a lubricant outlet, the injector having an open state in which the lubricant outlet is in fluid flow communication with the fluid passage upon the actuation fluid received within the injector and a closed state in which the lubricant outlet is disconnected from the fluid passage.

A rotary internal combustion engine (ICE) has: a housing defining a rotor cavity; a rotor received within the rotor cavity to define working chambers of variable volume around the rotor, the rotor having circumferentially spaced peripheral apex seals biased radially outwardly in sliding engagement against a peripheral wall of the housing to separate the working chambers from one another, the housing having a fluid passage defined therethrough and opening into an inner surface of the peripheral wall; and an injector having a lubricant inlet hydraulically connected to a lubricant source, an actuation inlet hydraulically connected to a source of an actuation fluid, and a lubricant outlet, the injector having an open state in which the lubricant outlet is in fluid flow communication with the fluid passage upon the actuation fluid received within the injector and a closed state in which the lubricant outlet is disconnected from the fluid passage.