Radial cam engine
View Patent ↗The radial cam engine described consists of a piston assembly arranged in a radial configuration. Within the engine, a piston moves back and forth within a cylinder during the internal combustion process. The piston is connected to a follower that is guided and interacts with a central cam. This central cam is responsible for turning a drive shaft. The radial cam incorporates three different cam profiles, each designed for a specific stage of the engine's operation. These profiles are specifically tailored for the compression stroke, combustion stroke, and exhaust stroke. By utilizing distinct cam profiles for each stroke, the engine can optimize its performance throughout the entire combustion process.
1 . A radial cam engine comprising radially arranged piston assemblies, each comprising a piston reciprocating within an internal combustion cylinder and having a guided follower operably interfacing a central cam turning a drive shaft, the cam comprising three distinct cam profiles for compression, combustion and exhaust strokes, wherein the cam has a minimum radius at the exhaust cam profile; wherein the engine comprises a flywheel having an eccentric guide configured to retract the followers and wherein the eccentric guide surrounds roller bearings of the followers.
2 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a radius of the cam is at a maximum between the compression cam profile and the combustion cam profile.
3 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a radius of the exhaust cam profile is at a minimum at a midway point of the exhaust cam profile.
4 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a radius of the compression cam profile is at a maximum at an end of the compression cam profile.
5 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a radius of the compression cam profile is at a minimum at a start of the compression cam profile.
6 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the compression cam profile has a radius which increases linearly with angle.
7 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the combustion cam profile has a start profile shaped to impart a greater force vector component orthogonal to a radius of the cam as compared to at an end profile thereof.
8 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each follower comprises a roller bearing.
9 . The engine as claimed in claim 8 , wherein each roller bearing is guided within guide rails.
10 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, during the exhaust stroke, each piston moves beyond a side exhaust port of its cylinder.
11 . The engine as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the side exhaust ports are shaped to define an opening proportionate to piston offset.
12 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each piston assembly is at an angle of approximately 3° with respect to a radius defined by the driveshaft.
13 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising an intake manifold interfacing the piston assemblies and wherein the manifold is turbo injected with compressed air and further comprising valves between respective cylinders and the manifold, wherein the valves close during a compression stroke of their respective piston and opens during an exhaust stroke of their respective piston.
14 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a fuel injector interfacing each cylinder and wherein the fuel injector is timed to inject fuel substantially at a top dead centre piston position.
15 . The engine as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the engine operates on a dual fuel mixture, wherein the engine comprises dual fuel injectors for each cylinder, and wherein one of the dual fuel injectors are timed differently wherein one fuel injector injects a first type of fuel at the start of its respective compression stroke whereas the other fuel injector injects a second type of fuel towards the end of its respective compression stroke.
16 . A radial cam engine comprising radially arranged piston assemblies, each comprising a piston reciprocating within an internal combustion cylinder and having a guided follower operably interfacing a central cam turning a drive shaft, the cam comprising three distinct cam profiles for compression, combustion and exhaust strokes, wherein the cam has a minimum radius at the exhaust cam profile, wherein a radius of the exhaust cam profile is at a minimum at a midway point of the exhaust cam profile.