The present invention is directed to a dual engine-compressor system having a crankcase enclosing a crankshaft and having engine cylinder housings and compressor cylinder housings linearly disposed on opposite sides of the crankcase. Combustion pistons are reciprocatingly disposed in the engine cylinder housings and defines alternating combustion chambers on opposite sides of the pistons. Compressor pistons are reciprocatingly disposed in the compressor housings and define alternating low and high pressure compressor chambers on opposite sides of the compressor pistons. The compressor pistons undergo a 4-cycle process to drawn in, re-distribute, and then compress fluid. The compressor cylinder and piston has a series of one-way intakes and reed valves to selectively draw or push fluid in response to movement of the compressor piston.

A multi-cylinder engine includes an engine body having first and second cylinder groups, first and second exhaust passage groups each having a plurality of independent exhaust passage parts and a collective exhaust passage part, and an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) passage. In a plan view in cylinder axis directions, the passage groups are disposed adjacent to each other, and, in the first exhaust passage group, a first independent exhaust part of the plurality of independent exhaust passage parts is connected to the EGR passage and a second independent exhaust passage part is connected to the collective exhaust passage part so as to be directed to a connection of the first independent exhaust passage part to the collective exhaust passage part, and in the second exhaust passage group, an opening of the collective exhaust passage part is offset toward the first exhaust passage group in a lineup direction.

An air intake apparatus includes a plurality of funnel-shaped portions provided in a plurality of intake ports. The plurality of funnel-shaped portions respectively include open ends located at positions at which lengths of the plurality of intake ports are aligned with each other, the open ends being provided along a direction perpendicular to a direction in which respective centerlines of the plurality of intake ports extend.

An air intake apparatus includes a plurality of funnel-shaped portions provided in a plurality of intake ports. The plurality of funnel-shaped portions respectively include open ends located at positions at which lengths of the plurality of intake ports are aligned with each other, the open ends being provided along a direction perpendicular to a direction in which respective centerlines of the plurality of intake ports extend.

In an embodiment, an internal combustion engine comprises a plurality of cylinders, each of the plurality of cylinders comprising at least one intake deactivator operatively connected to at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust deactivator operatively connected to at least one exhaust. An intake deactivator controller is operatively connected to the intake deactivators associated with at least two cylinders of the plurality of cylinders, and an exhaust deactivator controller is operatively connected to the exhaust deactivators associated with the at least two cylinders. In another embodiment, only a single deactivator controller is operatively connected to both the intake deactivators and to the exhaust deactivators associated with the at least two cylinders of the plurality of cylinders.

According to the invention, a method is provided of operating a combustion engine comprising more than three cylinders with cylinder valves that are operated in a cycle of fuel intake, pressurizing, firing and exhaust strokes. The method comprises carrying out the cycle for at least two cylinders in a simultaneous operation; and having the simultaneously operated cylinders to exhaust in a manifold that couples to a single turbine.

According to the invention, a method is provided of operating a combustion engine comprising more than three cylinders with cylinder valves that are operated in a cycle of fuel intake, pressurizing, firing and exhaust strokes. The method comprises carrying out the cycle for at least two cylinders in a simultaneous operation; and having the simultaneously operated cylinders to exhaust in a manifold that couples to a single turbine.

The present invention is directed to a process for operating a combustion engine having a double-sided piston in a piston cylinder, wherein every stroke of the double-sided piston is a power stroke. Every piston cylinder defines a combustion chamber on each side of the double-sided piston. The process includes igniting a fuel-air mixture in each combustion chamber on each side of double-sided piston during every compression, i.e., at about top dead center and at about bottom dead center. The process utilizes the double-sided piston to achieve two power strokes per piston for each engine cycle.

The present invention is directed to a process for operating a combustion engine having a double-sided piston in a piston cylinder, wherein every stroke of the double-sided piston is a power stroke. Every piston cylinder defines a combustion chamber on each side of the double-sided piston. The process includes igniting a fuel-air mixture in each combustion chamber on each side of double-sided piston during every compression, i.e., at about top dead center and at about bottom dead center. The process utilizes the double-sided piston to achieve two power strokes per piston for each engine cycle.

In some aspects, reciprocating engines can include a first reciprocating mechanism that includes an axially translating y-axis component configured to reciprocate substantially along a y-axis with a reciprocating motion of a piston assembly relative to a base to which the y-axis component is slidingly attached. The first reciprocating mechanism can include an x-axis component slidingly coupled to and translating with the y-axis component along the y-axis, the x-axis component being: i) configured to reciprocate substantially perpendicularly to the y-axis relative to the y-axis component, ii) comprising an orbital output component, and iii) comprising an orbital linking component disposed substantially concentric with the orbital output component. The first reciprocating mechanism can include a stationary output component and a stationary linking component that are substantially concentric and disposed in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the x-y plane.