An operation system for a piston-type expander includes: a first engaging member which is fixed to an output shaft of the piston-type expander, rotates together with the output shaft, and has a first slanting surface; a second engaging member which is rotatably disposed on the output shaft, and has a second slanting surface; and a drive device which, while keeping a rotation direction of the second engaging member around the output shaft fixed, moves the second engaging member in an axial direction of the output shaft to press the second slanting surface onto the first slanting surface, converts a pressing force of the second engaging member in the axial direction into a rotational torque of the first engaging member and the output shaft at a contact surface of the first and second slanting surfaces, and causes the first engaging member to rotate together with the output shaft.

A balanced rotary engine for applying torque to a drive shaft. The engine has an outer casing with a main drive case. A cylinder is rotably mounted in the casing and a piston is mounted to move longitudinally within the cylinder. Two connecting arms, each with a connecting end, one of the ends is connected to the piston, and two crankshafts, each one being rotably connected to the other connecting end of the connecting arms. Two drive wheels are contra-rotably connected to the respective first and second crankshafts. A fixed drive ring has a circumferentially disposed drive member surface. The fixed drive ring is mounted in the case so that the drive member surface faces the piston. The two drive wheels mesh with the drive ring.

A balanced rotary engine for applying torque to a drive shaft. The engine has an outer casing with a main drive case. A cylinder is rotably mounted in the casing and a piston is mounted to move longitudinally within the cylinder. Two connecting arms, each with a connecting end, one of the ends is connected to the piston, and two crankshafts, each one being rotably connected to the other connecting end of the connecting arms. Two drive wheels are contra-rotably connected to the respective first and second crankshafts. A fixed drive ring has a circumferentially disposed drive member surface. The fixed drive ring is mounted in the case so that the drive member surface faces the piston. The two drive wheels mesh with the drive ring.

An opposed piston engine has a driveshaft with at least one combustion cylinder positioned between opposing, curvilinear shaped cams mounted on the driveshaft, where the center axis of the combustion cylinder is parallel with but spaced apart from the driveshaft axis. A piston assembly is disposed in each end of the cylinder, with one piston assembly engaging one cam and the other piston assembly engaging the other cam. Each piston assembly includes a cam follower that can move along a curvilinear shaped cam to reciprocate the piston assembly within the cylinder. The combustion cylinder includes an intake port in fluid communication with an annular intake channel formed in the engine block in which the cylinder is mounted, and an exhaust port in fluid communication with an annular exhaust channel formed in the engine block.

An opposed piston engine has a driveshaft with at least one combustion cylinder positioned between opposing, curvilinear shaped cams mounted on the driveshaft, where the center axis of the combustion cylinder is parallel with but spaced apart from the driveshaft axis. A piston assembly is disposed in each end of the cylinder, with one piston assembly engaging one cam and the other piston assembly engaging the other cam. Each piston assembly includes a cam follower that can move along a curvilinear shaped cam to reciprocate the piston assembly within the cylinder. The combustion cylinder includes an intake port in fluid communication with an annular intake channel formed in the engine block in which the cylinder is mounted, and an exhaust port in fluid communication with an annular exhaust channel formed in the engine block.

The present invention provides a novel internal combustion engine design and methods for using the same. The internal combustion engine of the present invention may include two rotors on which the pistons and cylinders and pistons are mounted, respectively. A plurality of cylinders mounted on a cylinder rotor, and a plurality of pistons mounted on a piston rod rotor, where the arrangements of the pistons and cylinders are complementary and each piston is paired with one of the cylinders. The cylinder rotor and the piston rod rotor may be position at oblique angle relative to one another, such that their central axes are located on a same plane, but the axes are not coaxially aligned and intersect on that plane.

An electric device has a driveshaft with at least one stator cylinder positioned between opposing, curvilinear shaped cams mounted on the driveshaft, where the center axis of the stator cylinder is parallel with but spaced apart from the driveshaft axis. A magnet assembly is disposed in each end of the stator cylinder, with one magnet assembly engaging one cam and the other magnet assembly engaging the other cam. Each magnet assembly includes a cam follower that can move along a curvilinear shaped cam. A magnet slide arm attached to the cam reciprocates magnets carried on the magnet slide arm through electromagnetic windings disposed around the stator cylinder. An electrical input delivered to the windings can reciprocate the arm, driving the cams to rotate the driveshaft. Alternatively, rotation of the driveshaft can be used to reciprocate the arm to induce electric current in the windings.

A valve with an opening is driven by an electric motor to rotate around the cylinder of an opposed piston engine such that the opening separately matches an intake and exhaust opening on the cylinder to allow fuel to enter the combustion chamber of the engine and allow exhaust to be expelled. The intake and exhaust cylinder openings may be separated from each other by approximately sixty degrees of the outside of the cylinder.

A valve with an opening is driven by an electric motor to rotate around the cylinder of an opposed piston engine such that the opening separately matches an intake and exhaust opening on the cylinder to allow fuel to enter the combustion chamber of the engine and allow exhaust to be expelled. The intake and exhaust cylinder openings may be separated from each other by approximately sixty degrees of the outside of the cylinder.

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.