An internal combustion engine includes a housing defining an internal cavity, an inner body sealingly moving within the internal cavity for defining at least one combustion chamber of variable volume, a pilot subchamber in communication with the at least one working chamber, an ignition element in communication with the pilot subchamber, a main injector communicating with the at least one combustion chamber, and a pilot injector having a tip in communication with the pilot subchamber. The tip of the pilot injector includes at least a first injection hole defining a first spray direction and a second injection hole defining a second spray direction different from the first spray direction. The first spray direction extends toward the communication between the pilot subchamber and the at least one working chamber. A method of performing combustion in an internal combustion engine is also discussed.

A method of operating a thermal exchange engine having a thermal energy conduction surface and rotating elements in the vessel which form a plurality of closed working chambers which increase or decrease in volume as the rotating elements move. The method involves placing a phase change fluid in each of the working chambers and operating the vessel as on a closed cycle without addition of phase change fluid into the vessel or removal of phase change fluid from the vessel. The method involves applying thermal energy to the thermal energy conduction surface, thereby thermally increasing or decreasing a pressure inside at least one working chamber positioned adjacent to the thermal energy conduction surface, such that the change in pressure inside the at least one working chamber causes the rotating elements to move the at least one working chamber away from the thermal energy conduction surface.

A method of operating a thermal exchange engine having a thermal energy conduction surface and rotating elements in the vessel which form a plurality of closed working chambers which increase or decrease in volume as the rotating elements move. The method involves placing a phase change fluid in each of the working chambers and operating the vessel as on a closed cycle without addition of phase change fluid into the vessel or removal of phase change fluid from the vessel. The method involves applying thermal energy to the thermal energy conduction surface, thereby thermally increasing or decreasing a pressure inside at least one working chamber positioned adjacent to the thermal energy conduction surface, such that the change in pressure inside the at least one working chamber causes the rotating elements to move the at least one working chamber away from the thermal energy conduction surface.

A hot-air engine (10) includes a compressor (12), a heating chamber (14), a rotary displacement type working engine (16) and a drive means (22). The compressor (12) has an inlet (12a) and an outlet (12b). The heating chamber (14) has an inlet (14a), in fluid communication with the outlet (12b) of the compressor (12), and an outlet (14b). The working engine (16) has an inlet (16a), in fluid communication with the outlet (14b) of the heating chamber (14), and an output shaft (16a). The drive means (22) connects the working engine (16) to the compressor (12) such that operation of the working engine (16) causes operation of the compressor (12).

Devices convert non-uniform rotational motion into uniform rotational motion and vice versa. A motion conversion mechanism includes a housing, a common shaft, a symmetrical differential reduction gear, rings for differential power flows, cams having an inner working surface, cams having an outer working surface, and sliders with fingers. The inner working surface cam profile is described by the polar radius as a function of the polar angle and is an equidistant curve distanced outwardly from a first-order derivative of a basic closed curve by the size of the finger's radius. The outer working surface cam profile is described by the polar radius as a function of the polar angle and is an equidistant curve distanced outwardly from a second-order derivative of a basic closed curve by the size of the finger's radius. In a single revolution of the shaft, each ring performs two half revolutions back and forth.

Devices convert non-uniform rotational motion into uniform rotational motion and vice versa. A motion conversion mechanism includes a housing, a common shaft, a symmetrical differential reduction gear, rings for differential power flows, cams having an inner working surface, cams having an outer working surface, and sliders with fingers. The inner working surface cam profile is described by the polar radius as a function of the polar angle and is an equidistant curve distanced outwardly from a first-order derivative of a basic closed curve by the size of the finger's radius. The outer working surface cam profile is described by the polar radius as a function of the polar angle and is an equidistant curve distanced outwardly from a second-order derivative of a basic closed curve by the size of the finger's radius. In a single revolution of the shaft, each ring performs two half revolutions back and forth.

An improved vane pump assembly is provided. The vane pump assembly includes a housing with an open chamber that is circular in shape when viewed in cross-section and has an inner wall that surrounds the open chamber. A rotor is rotatably disposed in the open chamber of the housing. As with the open chamber, the rotor is circular in shape when viewed in cross-section and has a diameter. The rotor further has at least one through-passage which extends diametrically across the rotor. The rotor is positioned such that it has a center that is offset from a center of the circular open chamber of the housing.

The present invention relates to a rotary motor, comprising a plurality of vanes, wherein each of the vanes is split into two subvanes, one or more elastic members, wherein the elastic member is configured to push each of the subvanes forming a vane toward an end plate to form a seal between the subvane and the end plate; an inner rotary member housing the plurality of vanes projecting from a central rotation axis of the inner rotor; a lobe member encompassing the inner rotary member and the plurality of vanes; a plurality of chambers wherein each of the chambers is encompassed by an inner surface of the lobe member and an outer surface of the inner rotary member; and one or more end plates to enclose the plurality of vanes, the inner rotary member, the lobe member and the plurality of chambers.

The present invention relates to a rotary motor, comprising a plurality of vanes, wherein each of the vanes is split into two subvanes, one or more elastic members, wherein the elastic member is configured to push each of the subvanes forming a vane toward an end plate to form a seal between the subvane and the end plate; an inner rotary member housing the plurality of vanes projecting from a central rotation axis of the inner rotor; a lobe member encompassing the inner rotary member and the plurality of vanes; a plurality of chambers wherein each of the chambers is encompassed by an inner surface of the lobe member and an outer surface of the inner rotary member; and one or more end plates to enclose the plurality of vanes, the inner rotary member, the lobe member and the plurality of chambers.

A pneumatic engine includes a plurality of pneumatic motors and an engine drive shaft. Each motor has a motor gas inlet, a motor gas outlet, and a rotor driven by gas flow between the motor gas inlet and the motor gas outlet. The engine drive shaft is drivingly coupled to the motor drive shaft of each of the pneumatic motors.