Apparatuses, systems and method for utilizing multi-zoned combustion chambers (and/or multiple combustion chambers) for achieving compression ignition (and/or spark-assisted or fuel-assisted compression ignition) in an internal combustion engine are provided. In addition, improved apparatuses, systems and methods for achieving and/or controlling compression ignition (and/or spark-assisted or fuel-assisted compression ignition) in a “Siamese cylinder” internal combustion engine are provided.

Apparatuses, systems and method for utilizing multi-zoned combustion chambers (and/or multiple combustion chambers) for achieving compression ignition (and/or spark-assisted or fuel-assisted compression ignition) in an internal combustion engine are provided. In addition, improved apparatuses, systems and methods for achieving and/or controlling compression ignition (and/or spark-assisted or fuel-assisted compression ignition) in a “Siamese cylinder” internal combustion engine are provided.

A cylinder for an internal combustion opposed-piston engine includes a bore, either as part of the cylinder directly or of a liner. The bore has a surface for guiding a pair of pistons disposed for opposing movement in the cylinder. The cylinder bore has three zones of surface finishes: an inner zone extending between and including exhaust and intake ports, where only piston compression rings travel on the bore surface; two instances of an outer zone where only piston oil control rings travel on the bore surface; and two instances of a port zone where both types of rings travel on overlapping paths in the same bore surface portion. Each zone may have a particular surface finish that is tailored to specific requirements including oil control, ring wear, and scuff resistance relevant to the zone.

A valve system/method suitable for an internal combustion engine (ICE), compressor pump, vacuum pump, and/or reciprocating mechanical device is disclosed. The system/method is optimized for construction of a four-stroke ICE. The rudimentary system incorporates a unitized intake and exhaust engine block cover (UEC) that enclose an intake rotary valve cylinder (IVC) and exhaust rotary valve cylinder (EVC) that control intake/exhaust flow through a respective intake rotary valve port (IVP) and an exhaust rotary valve port (EVP) into and out of a combustion cylinder that provides power to a piston and crankshaft. An intake multi-staged valve (IMV) and exhaust multi-staged valve (EMV) provide intake and exhaust flow control for the IVC/IVP and EVC/EVP. An enhanced system may include a variety of intake/exhaust port seals (IPS/EPS), forced induction (FIN), forced discharge (FID), centrifugal advance (CAD), and/or cooling channel spool (ICS/ECS).

A valve system/method suitable for an internal combustion engine (ICE), compressor pump, vacuum pump, and/or reciprocating mechanical device is disclosed. The system/method is optimized for construction of a four-stroke ICE. The rudimentary system incorporates a unitized intake and exhaust engine block cover (UEC) that enclose an intake rotary valve cylinder (IVC) and exhaust rotary valve cylinder (EVC) that control intake/exhaust flow through a respective intake rotary valve port (IVP) and an exhaust rotary valve port (EVP) into and out of a combustion cylinder that provides power to a piston and crankshaft. An intake multi-staged valve (IMV) and exhaust multi-staged valve (EMV) provide intake and exhaust flow control for the IVC/IVP and EVC/EVP. An enhanced system may include a variety of intake/exhaust port seals (IPS/EPS), forced induction (FIN), forced discharge (FID), centrifugal advance (CAD), and/or cooling channel spool (ICS/ECS).

Two-cycle engine includes cylinder block formed with a cylinder and crank chamber. The cylinder block includes: an exhaust passage leading to a combustion chamber in the cylinder through an exhaust port opened to an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder; a scavenging port opened to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder; a communication passage extending from the scavenging port in a radial direction of the cylinder; and a scavenging passage extending in an axial direction of the cylinder, communicating with the crank chamber, and having an opening portion formed in a bottom surface of the communication passage. A ceiling surface of the communication passage is inclined toward a cylinder head with increasing distance from a scavenging passage side thereof toward the scavenging port. A bottom surface of the communication passage is inclined toward the crank chamber with increasing distance from a scavenging passage side thereof toward the scavenging port.

Two-cycle engine includes cylinder block formed with a cylinder and crank chamber. The cylinder block includes: an exhaust passage leading to a combustion chamber in the cylinder through an exhaust port opened to an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder; a scavenging port opened to the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder; a communication passage extending from the scavenging port in a radial direction of the cylinder; and a scavenging passage extending in an axial direction of the cylinder, communicating with the crank chamber, and having an opening portion formed in a bottom surface of the communication passage. A ceiling surface of the communication passage is inclined toward a cylinder head with increasing distance from a scavenging passage side thereof toward the scavenging port. A bottom surface of the communication passage is inclined toward the crank chamber with increasing distance from a scavenging passage side thereof toward the scavenging port.

A valve system/method suitable for an internal combustion engine (ICE), compressor pump, vacuum pump, and/or reciprocating mechanical device is disclosed. The system/method is optimized for construction of a two-stroke ICE. The rudimentary system incorporates an intake engine block cover (IEC) and exhaust engine block cover (EEC) that enclose an intake rotary valve cylinder (IVC) and exhaust rotary valve cylinder (EVC) that control intake/exhaust flow through a respective intake rotary valve port (IVP) and an exhaust rotary valve port (EVP) into and out of a combustion cylinder that provides power to a piston and crankshaft. Intake/exhaust multi-staged valves (IMV/EMV) provide intake/exhaust flow control for the IVC/IVP and EVC/EVP. An enhanced system may include a variety of intake/exhaust port seals (IPS/EPS), forced induction/discharge (FIN/FID), centrifugal advance (CAD/ICA/ECA), and/or cooling channel spool (ICS/ECS).

A valve system/method suitable for an internal combustion engine (ICE), compressor pump, vacuum pump, and/or reciprocating mechanical device is disclosed. The system/method is optimized for construction of a two-stroke ICE. The rudimentary system incorporates an intake engine block cover (IEC) and exhaust engine block cover (EEC) that enclose an intake rotary valve cylinder (IVC) and exhaust rotary valve cylinder (EVC) that control intake/exhaust flow through a respective intake rotary valve port (IVP) and an exhaust rotary valve port (EVP) into and out of a combustion cylinder that provides power to a piston and crankshaft. Intake/exhaust multi-staged valves (IMV/EMV) provide intake/exhaust flow control for the IVC/IVP and EVC/EVP. An enhanced system may include a variety of intake/exhaust port seals (IPS/EPS), forced induction/discharge (FIN/FID), centrifugal advance (CAD/ICA/ECA), and/or cooling channel spool (ICS/ECS).

An internal combustion may include a cylinder having a first combustion chamber at one end and a second combustion chamber at an opposing end, first and second cylinder heads located at an end of the first and second combustion chambers, respectively, and a double-faced piston slidably mounted therein. The piston may be configured to move in a first stroke that includes an expansion stroke portion and a non-expansion stroke portion. The engine may further include first and second piston rod portions extending from opposite faces of the piston. A recess in the piston rod portions may be configured to communicate gases between a combustion chamber and locations outside the cylinder. There may also be a chamber surrounding the first or second piston rod portion, the chamber configured to be supplied with gas and the chamber being isolated from the first combustion chamber and the second combustion chamber.