The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 01, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 23, 1994
Dan Merritt, Coventry, GB;
Coventry University, Coventry, GB;
Abstract
An internal combustion engine comprises one or more pairs of first and second cylinders, the first cylinder having a larger swept volume than the second cylinder and respective first and second pistons reciprocable in the cylinders. The second piston has a drive stem and divides the second cylinder into a first volume containing the drive stem of the second piston and a second volume between the two pistons. An air inlet and an exhaust outlet are provided for the first cylinder. A common combustion space is formed between the pistons when the pistons are substantially at their inner dead center positions, the combustion space comprising the second volume. A transfer means enables gas flow between the first volume and the combustion space towards the end of the compression stroke while an inhibiting means inhibits the movement of fuel/air mixture from the first volume into the second volume until towards the end of the compression stroke of the second piston. A fuel injector provides fuel to the first volume during the induction stroke of the second piston. The engine also has drive means for driving the second piston, the drive means including means for maintaining the second piston substantially at its inner dead center position during at least a portion of the expansion stroke of the first piston.