A tangential force internal combustion engine invention utilizes the four cycle internal combustion engine process. Working gas chambers are formed via a torroid in the housing and two adjacent piston assemblies. Pistons, ring seals, and inner seal plate elements seal this chamber. The four gas cycles are spaced over the 360 degree torroid chamber with gas ports appropriately placed. One power vane (PV) and one reaction vane (RV) connect to a central shaft with pistons attached to each vane end. The PV produces driving torque on a central shaft through an Overrunning Clutch System (OCS). At specific angles and for controlled durations the PV and VN are slowed, stopped, held to the housing, and then accelerated and coupled to the shaft. Vane movement is controlled by gears, cam ramps, and pin mechanisms operating via three independent but time-coordinated systems. The power vane has no controlled acceleration; combustion pressure serves to immediately couple this vane to the shaft via the OCS. This immediateness and direct-coupling are thought to provide efficiency.

A rotary internal combustion engine, comprising at least one first and second piston, hub and side-disk assembly set each of the piston, hub and side-disk assembly sets having first and second pistons that are fixed on a side disk diametrically opposite each other, the hubs cooperating with each other so that the first and second pistons, hub and side disk of the first piston, hub and side-disk assembly can also rotate relative to the first and second pistons, hub and side disk of the second piston, hub and side-disc assembly, such that in operation one of said pistons will be a leading piston and one a trailing piston said disks being connected to the periphery of a set of two one way clutches or ratchets placed back-to-back, one being adapted to connect and disconnect with the shaft and therefore provide for fast moving/direct torque and the other being adapted to connect/disconnect with a planetary gear train's planets carrier and therefore provide a multiplied torque-to-force advancement of the trailing piston.

A rotary internal combustion engine, comprising at least one first and second piston, hub and side-disk assembly set each of the piston, hub and side-disk assembly sets having first and second pistons that are fixed on a side disk diametrically opposite each other, the hubs cooperating with each other so that the first and second pistons, hub and side disk of the first piston, hub and side-disk assembly can also rotate relative to the first and second pistons, hub and side disk of the second piston, hub and side-disc assembly, such that in operation one of said pistons will be a leading piston and one a trailing piston said disks being connected to the periphery of a set of two one way clutches or ratchets placed back-to-back, one being adapted to connect and disconnect with the shaft and therefore provide for fast moving/direct torque and the other being adapted to connect/disconnect with a planetary gear train's planets carrier and therefore provide a multiplied torque-to-force advancement of the trailing piston.

The invention relates to a heat engine (29), including a drive unit (1) provided with: a casing (2) delimiting therein an annular chamber (12), two triads of pistons (7a-7b-7c; 9a-9b-9c) rotatably housed in the casing of the annular cylinder (or toroidal cylinder), a three-shaft movement system (18) configured to transmit motion from and/or to the two triads of pistons; wherein the heat engine is configured so as to carry out a Rankine or Rankine-Hirn thermodynamic cycle, capable of producing electrical energy and heat; the same invention further relates to a pneumatic motor (61) including the aforesaid drive unit (1), configured so as to transform the compressed air at high pressure, contained in a tank, into mechanical energy.

The invention relates to a heat engine (29), including a drive unit (1) provided with: a casing (2) delimiting therein an annular chamber (12), two triads of pistons (7a-7b-7c; 9a-9b-9c) rotatably housed in the casing of the annular cylinder (or toroidal cylinder), a three-shaft movement system (18) configured to transmit motion from and/or to the two triads of pistons; wherein the heat engine is configured so as to carry out a Rankine or Rankine-Hirn thermodynamic cycle, capable of producing electrical energy and heat; the same invention further relates to a pneumatic motor (61) including the aforesaid drive unit (1), configured so as to transform the compressed air at high pressure, contained in a tank, into mechanical energy.

A round internal combustion engine (10) comprising: a stationary toroidal combustion chamber (44); a first (24A) and a second (24B) shaft member, each for connecting thereof to at least one piston (26A1, 26A2, 26B1, 26B2) disposed within the stationary toroidal combustion chamber (44); and a positioning mechanism (60), for changing angular positioning and velocity between the first (24A) and second (24B) shaft members, for increasing and decreasing a distance between the pistons (26A1, 26A2, 26B1, 26B2) of the shaft members (24A, 24B), the positioning mechanism (60) comprising: at least one rotatable wheel (28i, 28ii, 28iii) disposed eccentrically (58) within the first shaft member (24A); and at least one rotatable connecting-rod (56i, 56ii, 56iii) disposed between the first (24A) and second (24B) shaft members, for directly connecting an eccentric anchor (36A) of the at least one rotatable wheel (28i, 28ii) to an eccentric anchor (36B) of the second shaft member (24B).

A round internal combustion engine (10) comprising: a stationary toroidal combustion chamber (44); a first (24A) and a second (24B) shaft member, each for connecting thereof to at least one piston (26A1, 26A2, 26B1, 26B2) disposed within the stationary toroidal combustion chamber (44); and a positioning mechanism (60), for changing angular positioning and velocity between the first (24A) and second (24B) shaft members, for increasing and decreasing a distance between the pistons (26A1, 26A2, 26B1, 26B2) of the shaft members (24A, 24B), the positioning mechanism (60) comprising: at least one rotatable wheel (28i, 28ii, 28iii) disposed eccentrically (58) within the first shaft member (24A); and at least one rotatable connecting-rod (56i, 56ii, 56iii) disposed between the first (24A) and second (24B) shaft members, for directly connecting an eccentric anchor (36A) of the at least one rotatable wheel (28i, 28ii) to an eccentric anchor (36B) of the second shaft member (24B).

A displacement type rotary machine with non-rotatable housing, two mutually movable co-axial rotors includes an outer rotor movable along housing inside wall, and an inner rotor movable relative to an inner circumferential face of the outer rotor. The outer rotor has radially inwardly directed wings. The inner rotor has a hub with radially outwardly directed wings. Each inner rotor wing is movable between a pair of the outer rotor wings to create chambers. A free end of the inner rotor wings is movable adjacent a curved inside wall of the outer rotor. A free end of the outer rotor wings is movable adjacent the hub. Both rotors are movable adjacent a first cover on the housing. The inner rotor is in movable adjacent a second cover on the outer rotor. Controlling gears control movement of the rotors, the gears including elliptical gearwheels and circular gearwheels.

A displacement type rotary machine with non-rotatable housing, two mutually movable co-axial rotors includes an outer rotor movable along housing inside wall, and an inner rotor movable relative to an inner circumferential face of the outer rotor. The outer rotor has radially inwardly directed wings. The inner rotor has a hub with radially outwardly directed wings. Each inner rotor wing is movable between a pair of the outer rotor wings to create chambers. A free end of the inner rotor wings is movable adjacent a curved inside wall of the outer rotor. A free end of the outer rotor wings is movable adjacent the hub. Both rotors are movable adjacent a first cover on the housing. The inner rotor is in movable adjacent a second cover on the outer rotor. Controlling gears control movement of the rotors, the gears including elliptical gearwheels and circular gearwheels.

One embodiment may include a rotary engine, whose cylinder is in doughnut-shape. A cross-section of the cylinder is circular. The engine includes a pair of rotation disks, a power disk and passive disk. A power-output shaft is coaxial with an axis of the cylinder. A power piston and passive piston rotate around an axis of the power-output shaft. A space between the power piston in front and the passive piston at the back is a working chamber. When combustion and expansion take place in the working chamber, the power piston will be pushed forward continuously by the expanding gases, and output power via the power-output shaft. The passive piston relies on a driving system to drive it moving forward. Volume of the working chamber varies within one revolution of rotation. Larger volume of the working chamber causes combustion and expansion. Smaller volume of the working chamber causes compression and emission.