| abstract |
An engine and method in accordance with this invention includes a plurality of parallel cylinders equally spaced from a longitudinally extending engine axis with a pair of opposed pistons in each cylinder for controlled reciprocation therein. Respective rotatably mounted axial-faced cams and followers control the motion of the pistons through the operating cycle to permit at least one power stroke from each cylinder during each rotation of the engine. A controllable divider valve located between the opposed faces of the pistons defines, on one side, a first air/fuel receiving compression chamber and, on the other side, a second relatively high-pressure ignition air receiving chamber. Before the cam-controlled compression stroke, the divider valve is closed so that the air/fuel mixture on the one side of the closed valve is compressed to a first pressure and the ignition air on the other side of the valve is compressed to a relatively higher pressure causing the temperature of this more highly compressed air to increase to a temperature above the ignition temperature of the compressed air/fuel mixture. Ignition begins by opening the divider valve to permit the high-pressure, high-temperature ignition air in the second chamber to enter the compressed air/fuel mixture in the first chamber, causing burning thereof. The burning air/fuel mixture then enters the second chamber on the other side of the still-open valve to heat a relatively large mass of air causing both pistons to retract during the power stroke. |