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 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.

When a natural gas compressor completes its compression cycle, residual pressurized natural gas remains in the cylinders, valves, and conduits of the compressor. Gas leaks into the environment increasing greenhouse gas emissions and introducing safety concerns. The systems and methods herein provide ways for substantially reducing or eliminating leakage of natural gas to the atmosphere while the system sits idle between compression cycles.

An internal combustion engine having an independent combustion chamber comprises a combustion chamber (1), an air inlet system (2), a material feeding system (3), and a working system (4). The air inlet system (2) and the combustion chamber (1) are connected together and configured to transport a compressed air to the combustion chamber (1). The material feeding system (3) and the combustion chamber (1) are connected together and configured to transport a fuel to the combustion chamber (1). The combustion chamber (1) has a fixed volume and has no movable wall such as a piston. The fuel continues to be burned in the combustion chamber (1) to generate a high-temperature and high-pressure gas, and chemical energy of the fuel is converted into internal energy of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas. The working system (4) and the combustion chamber (1) are connected together. The piston (21) of the working system (4) works to convert the internal energy of the gas into a mechanical energy.

An internal combustion engine having an independent combustion chamber comprises a combustion chamber (1), an air inlet system (2), a material feeding system (3), and a working system (4). The air inlet system (2) and the combustion chamber (1) are connected together and configured to transport a compressed air to the combustion chamber (1). The material feeding system (3) and the combustion chamber (1) are connected together and configured to transport a fuel to the combustion chamber (1). The combustion chamber (1) has a fixed volume and has no movable wall such as a piston. The fuel continues to be burned in the combustion chamber (1) to generate a high-temperature and high-pressure gas, and chemical energy of the fuel is converted into internal energy of the high-temperature and high-pressure gas. The working system (4) and the combustion chamber (1) are connected together. The piston (21) of the working system (4) works to convert the internal energy of the gas into a mechanical energy.

A split cycle internal combustion engine includes a combustion cylinder accommodating a combustion piston and a compression cylinder accommodating a compression piston. The engine also includes a controller arranged to receive an indication of a parameter associated with the combustion cylinder and/or a fluid associated therewith and to control an exhaust valve of the combustion cylinder in dependence on the indicated parameter to cause the exhaust valve to close during the return stroke of the combustion piston, before the combustion piston has reached its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is less than a target value for the parameter; and close on completion of the return stroke of the combustion piston, as the combustion piston reaches its top dead centre position (TDC), when the indicated parameter is equal to or greater than the target value for the parameter.

Split-cycle internal combustion engine comprising at least one compressor cylinder and at least one combustion cylinder each associated with a relating piston and a relating head, equipped with at least one admission valve and one exhaust valve of the combustor piston, first controller of the at least one admission valve and second controller of the at least one exhaust valve, the piston of the combustion cylinder is associated with a crankshaft by a crank mechanism and when the engine is in a firing condition the second controller is arranged to cause a first opening event of the at least one exhaust valve in a first predetermined angular position of the crankshaft and when the engine is in the engine braking condition the second controller is arranged to reposition the first event in a second predetermined angular position out of phase by 180 degrees with respect to the first angular position.

A piston arrangement for an engine is provided and includes a crankshaft located within a crank case and a primary piston located within a first cylinder and interconnected to the crankshaft by a first drive rod for converting reciprocating motion of the primary piston within the first cylinder driven by combustion occurring within the first cylinder into rotational motion of the crankshaft. The arrangement also includes a pumping piston located within a second cylinder and interconnected to the crankshaft by a second drive rod for converting the rotational motion of the crankshaft into reciprocating motion of the pumping piston within the second cylinder. The pumping piston is located between the primary piston and the crank case and seals the first and second cylinders from the crankcase. A stepped-piston and a two-stroke engine are also disclosed.

A piston arrangement for an engine is provided and includes a crankshaft located within a crank case and a primary piston located within a first cylinder and interconnected to the crankshaft by a first drive rod for converting reciprocating motion of the primary piston within the first cylinder driven by combustion occurring within the first cylinder into rotational motion of the crankshaft. The arrangement also includes a pumping piston located within a second cylinder and interconnected to the crankshaft by a second drive rod for converting the rotational motion of the crankshaft into reciprocating motion of the pumping piston within the second cylinder. The pumping piston is located between the primary piston and the crank case and seals the first and second cylinders from the crankcase. A stepped-piston and a two-stroke engine are also disclosed.

In an axial piston motor in which fuel and compressed combustion medium are continuously burned in a combustion chamber so as to be turned into the working fluid and successively be delivered to working cylinders, at least one of the compressor discharge valves is closed in a positively controlled manner and is opened by a compressor pressure building up in the respective compressor cylinder.