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 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 rotary engine includes a rotor coupled to a shaft, the rotor having a first side wall, a second opposing side wall, and a rim extending between the first side wall and the second side wall. A piston extends from the rim of the rotor. A pressure chamber is defined by a face of the piston, the interior surface of a housing, and the rim of the rotor. An inlet directs fluid through the housing and into the pressure chamber. A backpressure flap is pivotably attached to the interior surface of the housing. An outlet directs fluid from the pressure chamber to the exterior of the housing. An effluent flap is pivotably attached to the interior surface of the housing. The inlet and outlets are closed when their respective flaps sealingly engage an interior surface of the housing.

A rotary engine includes a rotor coupled to a shaft, the rotor having a first side wall, a second opposing side wall, and a rim extending between the first side wall and the second side wall. A piston extends from the rim of the rotor. A pressure chamber is defined by a face of the piston, the interior surface of a housing, and the rim of the rotor. An inlet directs fluid through the housing and into the pressure chamber. A backpressure flap is pivotably attached to the interior surface of the housing. An outlet directs fluid from the pressure chamber to the exterior of the housing. An effluent flap is pivotably attached to the interior surface of the housing. The inlet and outlets are closed when their respective flaps sealingly engage an interior surface of the housing.

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 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.

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.

A rotary engine with axially directly connected compression and power cylinders is disclosed, which includes a compression cylinder, a power cylinder, an intermediate cylinder wall located between the compression and the power cylinder to serve as a common inner-end wall of the two cylinders, and a combustion chamber unit fixed to a circumferential surface of the intermediate cylinder wall, so that the rotary engine has axially directly connected compression and power cylinders. A compression-side and a power-side rotational valve are separately fitted in two recessed end surfaces of the intermediate cylinder wall. The compression-side and the power-side rotational valve are provided with three L-shaped first and second openings, respectively. Compressed air-fuel mixture in the compression cylinder flows through the L-shaped first openings into the combustion chamber, and high temperature high pressure gas generated after explosion in the combustion chamber unit flows through the L-shaped second openings into the power cylinder.

A rotary engine with axially directly connected compression and power cylinders is disclosed, which includes a compression cylinder, a power cylinder, an intermediate cylinder wall located between the compression and the power cylinder to serve as a common inner-end wall of the two cylinders, and a combustion chamber unit fixed to a circumferential surface of the intermediate cylinder wall, so that the rotary engine has axially directly connected compression and power cylinders. A compression-side and a power-side rotational valve are separately fitted in two recessed end surfaces of the intermediate cylinder wall. The compression-side and the power-side rotational valve are provided with three L-shaped first and second openings, respectively. Compressed air-fuel mixture in the compression cylinder flows through the L-shaped first openings into the combustion chamber, and high temperature high pressure gas generated after explosion in the combustion chamber unit flows through the L-shaped second openings into the power cylinder.

A rotary engine with axially directly connected compression and power cylinders is disclosed, which includes a compression cylinder, a power cylinder, an intermediate cylinder wall located between the compression and the power cylinder to serve as a common inner-end wall of the two cylinders, and a combustion chamber unit fixed to a circumferential surface of the intermediate cylinder wall, so that the rotary engine has axially directly connected compression and power cylinders. A compression-side and a power-side rotational valve are separately fitted in two recessed end surfaces of the intermediate cylinder wall. The compression-side and the power-side rotational valve are provided with three L-shaped first and second openings, respectively. Compressed air-fuel mixture in the compression cylinder flows through the L-shaped first openings into the combustion chamber, and high temperature high pressure gas generated after explosion in the combustion chamber unit flows through the L-shaped second openings into the power cylinder.