A volumetric expander (4) comprising a casing (50) having a general inlet and outlet (51, 52), a piston (6) operating inside the casing and adapted to define an expansion chamber (7) with variable volume, a main shaft (11) connected to the piston (6), and a valve (6) for selectively opening and closing an inlet and an outlet (8, 9) of the expansion chamber (7) allowing: a condition of introduction of the working fluid in the expansion chamber (7), a condition of expansion of the working fluid in the expansion chamber (7), and a condition of discharge of the working fluid from said expansion chamber (7). The expander comprises a transmission member (53) connected—on one side—to the valve (10) and—on the other side—to the main shaft (11). The casing (50) defines a discharge chamber in direct communication with the general outlet (52) and configured for being put in direct fluid communication with the outlet (9) of the expansion chamber (7) during the condition of discharging the working fluid from the expansion chamber (7) itself. The transmission member (53) is disposed in the casing (50) inside the working fluid discharge chamber. The casing (50) comprises an auxiliary inlet (59) which is only directly in communication with the discharge chamber of the casing (50) and through this latter, with the general outlet (52); the auxiliary inlet (59) is configured for enabling the working fluid to directly enter the casing (50).

The invention provides a fluid working machine comprising: a cylinder block (1) having an axial bore (4); a crankshaft (2) which extends within the axial bore (4) and is rotatable about an axis of rotation (3); and first and second valve cylinder devices (13) provided in the cylinder block (1) arranged about and extending outwards with respect to the axial bore (4), the first and second valve cylinder devices (13) being axially offset from each other, the first and second valve cylinder devices (13) being offset from each other about the axis of rotation (3), and the first valve cylinder device having an axial extent which overlaps the axial extent of the second valve cylinder device, wherein the first and second valve cylinder devices (13) comprise first valves (14) having respective first working fluid ports (48, 49), the said respective first working fluid ports (48, 49) of the first valves (14) of the first and second valve cylinder devices (13) being in fluid communication with each other via a common conduit (50, 52) extending within the cylinder block (1).

A volumetric expander (4) comprising a casing (50) having a general inlet and outlet (51, 52), a piston (6) operating inside the casing and adapted to define an expansion chamber (7) with variable volume, a main shaft (11) connected to the piston (6), and a valve (6) for selectively opening and closing an inlet and an outlet (8, 9) of the expansion chamber (7) allowing: a condition of introduction of the working fluid in the expansion chamber (7), a condition of expansion of the working fluid in the expansion chamber (7), and a condition of discharge of the working fluid from said expansion chamber (7). The expander comprises a transmission member (53) connectedon one sideto the valve (10) andon the other sideto the main shaft (11). The casing (50) defines a discharge chamber in direct communication with the general outlet (52) and configured for being put in direct fluid communication with the outlet (9) of the expansion chamber (7) during the condition of discharging the working fluid from the expansion chamber (7) itself. The transmission member (53) is disposed in the casing (50) inside the working fluid discharge chamber. The casing (50) comprises an auxiliary inlet (59) which is only directly in communication with the discharge chamber of the casing (50) and through this latter, with the general outlet (52); the auxiliary inlet (59) is configured for enabling the working fluid to directly enter the casing (50).

A volumetric expander (4) comprising a casing (50) having a general inlet and outlet (51, 52), a piston (6) operating inside the casing and adapted to define an expansion chamber (7) with variable volume, a main shaft (11) connected to the piston (6), and a valve (6) for selectively opening and closing an inlet and an outlet (8, 9) of the expansion chamber (7) allowing: a condition of introduction of the working fluid in the expansion chamber (7), a condition of expansion of the working fluid in the expansion chamber (7), and a condition of discharge of the working fluid from said expansion chamber (7). The expander comprises a transmission member (53) connectedon one sideto the valve (10) andon the other sideto the main shaft (11). The casing (50) defines a discharge chamber in direct communication with the general outlet (52) and configured for being put in direct fluid communication with the outlet (9) of the expansion chamber (7) during the condition of discharging the working fluid from the expansion chamber (7) itself. The transmission member (53) is disposed in the casing (50) inside the working fluid discharge chamber. The casing (50) comprises an auxiliary inlet (59) which is only directly in communication with the discharge chamber of the casing (50) and through this latter, with the general outlet (52); the auxiliary inlet (59) is configured for enabling the working fluid to directly enter the casing (50).

The invention provides a fluid working machine comprising: a crankshaft (2) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (3); adjacent first and second groups (5, 6, 8, 10) of valve cylinder devices (13) spaced from each other about the axis of rotation (3), one or each of the first and second groups (5, 6, 8, 10) of valve cylinder devices having first, second and third valve cylinder devices (13) arranged about and extending outwards with respect to the crankshaft (2), the first and third valve cylinder devices being axially offset from each other, the second valve cylinder device being axially offset from the first and third valve cylinder devices and the second valve cylinder device being offset from the first and third valve cylinder devices about the axis of rotation, wherein the second valve cylinder device has an axial extent which overlaps with the axial extent of one, or the axial extents of both, of the first and third valve cylinder devices.

The present invention provides a system for the reversible transformation of a reciprocating motion in a rotary motion, which comprises one or more actuating devices (11) adapted to cooperate on at least one interaction surface of a spiral profiled rotor (3), the system it is characterized in that each actuating device of said plurality of actuating devices (11) comprises hydraulic or internal combustion cylinders; the arrangement being such that each actuating device (11) urges a tubular slidable rod coupled to a respective cylinder, said tubular rod being associated with a slider (5), the slider (5) being adapted to transmit the thrust of said tubular rod (6) on said at least one interaction surface of the spiral profiled rotor (3) creating a torque on said rotor (3).

A two cycle-opposed piston, two cycle, homogenous charge compression ignition engine with cylinder sets, each cylinder set having a first cylinder with an intake port; a second cylinder coaxially aligned with the first cylinder and having an exhaust port; a first piston engaged within the first cylinder; a second piston engaged within the second cylinder; a combustion chamber formed between the first piston and the second piston; a first cam mechanically engaged with the first piston; a mechanical device to convert reciprocating motion to rotational motion connected to the second piston; and a charge pump connected to the intake port by an intake passage.

A drive transmission has two counter-rotating cams bearing-mounted within a housing about a rotational axis. The counter-rotating cams have asymmetrical lobe profiles which are operative to drive a corresponding pair of coaxial drive shafts in opposite directions along the rotational axis. The asymmetry of the lobe profiles prevents the cams from locking when the lobe apexes pass the top and bottom dead center positions relative to the follower or drive pins.

An internal combustion engine for use in land, aerial and water vehicles and various kinds of machinery. A first version of the engine has a cylinder with the inlet channel of compressed air and the outlet exhaust channel situated in the middle of it. In the cylinder head as well as in the partition there are the fuel injector, the water injector and the ignition element. In the middle of the partition the slide bearing is embedded, through which the tappet rod goes. The upper end of this rod is attached to the bilateral piston, whereas its lower end is connected to the connecting rod. The water injectors are powered from the water container through the heating element and the metering device. A second version the engine has a plurality of cylinders in a radial orientation.

Methods and systems for cooling a radial engine in a ground-based portable electric power generating system. The engine includes a plurality of cylinders extending radially from a central hub supporting a crankshaft. Each cylinder has a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port. The cooling system includes an inlet coolant manifold interconnecting at least two of the coolant inlet ports. The inlet coolant manifold is disposed external to the central hub.