A crank and connecting rod mechanism having an angularly disposed connecting rod and mirror image gear sets, each comprising: a crank gear rotatably mounted on a crank gear shaft, having a crankpin pivotally connected to and driven by the connecting rod, the crankpin following the path of a roulette of a centered trochoid about a first stationary gear as the crank gear is driven about the first stationary gear and a crankshaft driven gear is driven about a second stationary gear, a counterbalanced radial arm affixed to a drive shaft at a pivot point of the counterbalanced radial arm, the counterbalanced radial arm driving the drive shaft at the pivot point and the crank gear shaft at an outer radial arm bearing, the drive shaft driving a drive shaft gear, which drives an output gear that drives an output shaft.

A high efficiency reciprocating engine, nominally of the internal combustion type but alternatively of the external combustion type is disclosed. The new engine uses Hypocycloidal and alternatively Epicycloidal gear mechanisms to create differentiated compression and expansion ratios which then promote significant improvements in efficiency through lower compression losses and higher extraction of available energy. Through suitable augmentation, the engines can be made to provide higher power when needed over higher efficiency. Additionally, other parameter modifications enable realization of low side wall loads and true zero exhaust volume.

The invention relates to a constant-volume combustion engine (10; 110; 210), in particular a reciprocating engine for generating mechanical energy by the expansion of a gas or a hot gas from the combustion of a gas mixture or gas-fuel mixture, having at least one piston/cylinder unit, the piston (14; 114; 214) of which is connected to a piston rod (20; 120; 220), wherein said piston rod (20; 120; 220) is drivingly connected to at least two crankshafts (30, 40; 130, 140; 230a, 230b, 240), the first crankshaft (40; 140; 240) being mounted, such that it can rotate eccentrically, on the second crankshaft (30; 130; 230a, 230b), which is parallel thereto and is rotationally coupled thereto.

A Polygon Oscillating Piston Engine having multiple pistons on one of two oscillating disks. Each piston moves in a straight line along one of the sides of a polygon within a cylindrical chamber, while the oscillating disks move in an arc about a central shaft. The difference in the straight motion of the piston and angular motion of the oscillating disk is accommodated by a slip sleeve within the piston that slides on a peg or bar mounted to each disk. The engine can be configured to operate as an internal combustion engine that uses diesel fuel, gasoline, or natural gas, or it can be configured as an expander to convert high pressure high temperature gas to rotary power. This engines compact design results in a high power-to-weight ratio.

A crank-piston mechanism for a reciprocating double-acting piston-type gas compressor that allows for infinitely variable compression ratios during operations. The mechanism includes a gear pin crankshaft, a forward piston-connecting rod, a rearward piston-connecting rod, a forward crosshead, a rearward tubular crosshead, and a tandem piston assembly. The forward piston-connecting rod and the rearward piston-connecting rod are each rotatably connected to the gear pin crankshaft about two parallel but offset axes. On the opposite end, the forward piston-connecting rod and the rearward piston-connecting rod are connected to the forward crosshead and the rearward tubular crosshead, respectively. Wherein, the forward crosshead is slidably mounted within the rearward tubular crosshead. The forward crosshead is connected to a forward piston from the tandem piston assembly and the rearward tubular crosshead is connected to a rearward piston from the tandem piston assembly. The forward piston and the rearward piston are aligned for reciprocating motion.

A crank-piston mechanism for a reciprocating double-acting piston-type gas compressor that allows for infinitely variable compression ratios during operations. The mechanism includes a gear pin crankshaft, a forward piston-connecting rod, a rearward piston-connecting rod, a forward crosshead, a rearward tubular crosshead, and a tandem piston assembly. The forward piston-connecting rod and the rearward piston-connecting rod are each rotatably connected to the gear pin crankshaft about two parallel but offset axes. On the opposite end, the forward piston-connecting rod and the rearward piston-connecting rod are connected to the forward crosshead and the rearward tubular crosshead, respectively. Wherein, the forward crosshead is slidably mounted within the rearward tubular crosshead. The forward crosshead is connected to a forward piston from the tandem piston assembly and the rearward tubular crosshead is connected to a rearward piston from the tandem piston assembly. The forward piston and the rearward piston are aligned for reciprocating motion.

A balanced and rotating mechanism of an internal combustion engine, which combines adjustable variable compression ratio with long power and exhaust strokes and short intake and compression strokes to obtain an internal combustion engine with variable air intake flow and maintain a constant pressure ignition. The mechanism includes a mirror-image planetary-gear assembly, a gear-pin assembly, and a piston-and-connecting rod assembly. The mirror-image planetary-gear assembly includes a first planetary-gear assembly and a second planetary-gear assembly; wherein each includes a sun gear, a primary planet gear, a plurality of secondary planet gears, and a ring gear. The first planetary-gear assembly and the second planetary-gear assembly are mounted along a main rotation axis, offset from each other and mirroring each other. The gear-pin assembly is eccentrically connected between the primary planet gears. Resultantly, rotating the sun gears alters the orientation of the gear-pin assembly, and thus changing the top dead center height.

A balanced and rotating mechanism of an internal combustion engine, which combines adjustable variable compression ratio with long power and exhaust strokes and short intake and compression strokes to obtain an internal combustion engine with variable air intake flow and maintain a constant pressure ignition. The mechanism includes a mirror-image planetary-gear assembly, a gear-pin assembly, and a piston-and-connecting rod assembly. The mirror-image planetary-gear assembly includes a first planetary-gear assembly and a second planetary-gear assembly; wherein each includes a sun gear, a primary planet gear, a plurality of secondary planet gears, and a ring gear. The first planetary-gear assembly and the second planetary-gear assembly are mounted along a main rotation axis, offset from each other and mirroring each other. The gear-pin assembly is eccentrically connected between the primary planet gears. Resultantly, rotating the sun gears alters the orientation of the gear-pin assembly, and thus changing the top dead center height.

Embodiments are directed to a front end accessory drive (FEAD) and power modulating devices (PMD) which can be used in a FEAD. In one embodiment, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) is coupled directly to a crankshaft of a prime mover, and the CVT is used to regulate the speed and/or torque delivered to an accessory. A compound drive device includes a motor/generator subassembly cooperating with a CVT subassembly to provide a motor functionality with torque multiplication or division, or alternatively, a generator functionality with torque multiplication or division. In some embodiments, a FEAD includes a PMD having a sun shaft configured to couple to a sun of the PMD and to an electric motor component, such as an electrical armature or an electrical field. In one embodiment, the electrical armature the electrical field are placed concentrically and coaxially and configured to rotate relative to one another in opposite directions.

A high efficiency reciprocating engine, nominally of the internal combustion type but alternatively of the external combustion type is disclosed. The new engine uses Hypocycloidal and alternatively Epicycloidal gear mechanisms to create differentiated compression and expansion ratios which then promote significant improvements in efficiency through lower compression losses and higher extraction of available energy. Through suitable augmentation, the engines can be made to provide higher power when needed over higher efficiency. Additionally, other parameter modifications enable realization of low side wall loads and true zero exhaust volume.