Achates Power, Inc.

Bryant A Wagner

James U Lemke

Ryan G Mackenzie

John J Koszewnik

Patrick T Lee

William B McHargue

Brian J Callahan

Patrick Rodney Lee

Abhishek Sahasrabudhe

Patrick R Lee

Steven J Bethel

In ported engine constructions, cooling of piston crowns and cylinder liners results in reduction or elimination of bore/liner distortions, thus ensuring circularity of the bore/piston interface throughout engine operation. Consequently, the need for heavily-tensioned piston rings is eliminated. Such engine constructions incorporate annular low-tension compression seals on the pistons, which substantially reduce port bridge wear during all phases of engine operation while also limiting blow-by during combustion.

Ported engine constructions with low-tension compression seals

A cylinder liner for an opposed-piston engine, and corresponding methods of extending engine durability and thermal management therewith, has opposite ends and a bore with a longitudinal axis for supporting reciprocating movement of a pair of opposed pistons. An intermediate portion of the liner extends between the opposite ends and includes an annular liner portion within which the pistons reach respective TC locations. A liner ring is seated in a portion of the bore in the annular liner portion, between the TC locations, for scraping carbon from top lands of the pistons and/or increasing the thermal resistance of the annular liner portion.

Cylinder liner for an opposed-piston engine

A piston crown for a piston of a pair of pistons in a two-stroke, opposed-piston, compression ignition combustion engine has a barrier layer and a conductive layer. The barrier layer at least partially surrounds a combustion chamber formed by the piston crown and an end surface of an opposing piston. The conductive layer connects the crown to the rest of the piston body. The barrier layer and the conductive layer are joined either through welding or through the fabrication process. Optionally, the piston crown includes an insulating layer between the barrier and conductive layers.

Multi-layered piston crown for opposed-piston engines

A barrier ring for a cylinder assembly for an opposed-piston engine fits into a groove fashioned into a portion of the cylinder liner that is adjacent to the top dead center location of the end surfaces of the pistons, in a volume of the cylinder liner that defines the combustion chamber. The barrier ring and groove are part of a barrier assembly that prevents heat generated during combustion from reaching the outer wall of the cylinder assembly, reducing the need for conventional cooling systems and increasing the amount of heat retained in the combustion chamber. The barrier assembly allows for increased engine efficiency because of the combustion heat retained in the combustion chamber, as well as a reduction in the overall size of the engine because of the reduction in engine cooling needed.

Barrier ring and assembly for a cylinder of an opposed-piston engine

An opposed piston engine includes at least one cylinder with a bore surface and longitudinally-spaced exhaust and intake ports that open through the sidewall of the cylinder. A pair of opposed pistons is disposed in the cylinder for sliding movement along the bore surface. An oil-retaining surface texture pattern in an interface between the pistons and the bore surface extends in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder, aligned with bridges of at least one port. The surface texture pattern includes a plurality of separate recesses on an outside surface of a skirt of each piston. Alternatively, or in addition, the surface texture pattern includes a plurality of separate recesses extending in a longitudinal direction of the cylinder, aligned with bridges of at least one port.

Oil retention in the bore/piston interfaces of ported cylinders in opposed-piston engines

The structure of a cylinder with longitudinally-separated exhaust and intake ports includes a powdered metal (PM) ring sintered over grooves and/or slots in the exhaust port bridges and/or the top center (TC) portion of a cylinder liner.

Liner component for a cylinder of an opposed-piston engine

A piston rolling thrust bearing construction is constituted of a pair of bearing plates with opposing faces disposed in a spaced alignment with a rolling ball assembly positioned between the opposing faces to support relative movement between the bearing plates. The piston rolling thrust bearing is mounted to the open end of the skirt of a piston disposed in a cylinder to compensate for non-axial motion relative to the cylinder axis due to the articulating motions of connecting elements or any structural misalignments within an engine drive train assembly.

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Santee, CA, United States of America

Bryant A Wagner