Engine apparatus and method for operation
A piston apparatus may include a plurality of piston assemblies respectively having a first piston body and a first piston disposed within a first volume defined by the first piston body, a second piston body and a second piston disposed within a second volume defined by the second piston body, and a connection member coupled to the first piston and the second piston. The first and second volume may respectively include an expansion chamber and a compression chamber defined by opposite sides of the corresponding piston. The respective expansion chambers may fluidly communicate with a corresponding compression chamber of another one of the piston assemblies. The first volume of a first piston assembly may fluidly communicate with the first volume and the second volume of a second piston assembly, and the first volume of a third piston assembly may fluidly communicate with the first volume and the second volume of the second piston assembly.
1. A piston apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of piston assemblies, wherein respective ones the plurality of piston assemblies comprise: a first piston body and a first piston disposed within a first volume defined by the first piston body, a second piston body and a second piston disposed within a second volume defined by the second piston body, and a connection member comprising opposing ends respectively coupled to the first piston and the second piston;
wherein the first volume and the second volume of respective ones of the plurality of piston assemblies respectively comprise an expansion chamber and a compression chamber respectively defined by opposite sides of the corresponding first piston or second piston;
wherein each respective expansion chamber of respective ones of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with a corresponding compression chamber of another one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
wherein the first volume of a first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the first volume and the second volume of a second one of the plurality of piston assemblies, and wherein the first volume of a third one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the first volume and the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
2. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the first volume and the second volume of a fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
3. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the first volume and the second volume of a fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
4. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
5. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
a first conduit fluidly communicating between the first volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the first volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
a second conduit fluidly communicating between the first volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
a third conduit fluidly communicating between the first volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the first volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
a fourth conduit fluidly communicating between the first volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
6. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
the expansion chamber of the first volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicating with the compression chamber of the first volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
the compression chamber of the first volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicating with the expansion chamber the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
the compression chamber of the first volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicating with the expansion chamber of the first volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
the expansion chamber of the first volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicating with the compression chamber the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
7. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
a conduit fluidly communicating between the expansion chamber of the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the compression chamber of the first volume of a fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
an additional conduit fluidly communicating between the compression chamber of the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the expansion chamber of the second volume of the fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
8. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
a conduit fluidly communicating between the compression chamber of the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the expansion chamber of the first volume of a fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
an additional conduit fluidly communicating between the expansion chamber of the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the compression chamber of the second volume of the fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
9. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , comprising at least one of:
a conduit fluidly communicating between the expansion chamber of the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the compression chamber of the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
an additional conduit fluidly communicating between the compression chamber of the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the expansion chamber of the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
10. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first piston body defines a first monolithic structure, and wherein the second piston body defines a second monolithic structure.
11. The piston apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the piston apparatus defines at least a portion of a closed cycle engine.
12. A piston apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of piston assemblies, wherein respective ones the plurality of piston assemblies comprise: a first piston body and a first piston disposed within a first volume defined by the first piston body, a second piston body and a second piston disposed within a second volume defined by the second piston body, and a connection member comprising opposing ends respectively coupled to the first piston and the second piston;
wherein the first volume and the second volume of respective ones of the plurality of piston assemblies respectively comprise an expansion chamber and a compression chamber respectively defined by opposite sides of the corresponding first piston or second piston;
wherein each respective expansion chamber of respective ones of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with a corresponding compression chamber of another one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
wherein the first volume of a first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the first volume and the second volume of a second one of the plurality of piston assemblies, and wherein the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the first volume and the second volume of a third one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
13. The piston apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first volume of a fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the first volume and the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
14. The piston apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second volume of a fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the first volume and the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
15. The piston apparatus of claim 12 , comprising at least one of:
a first conduit fluidly communicating between the first volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the first volume and of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
a second conduit fluidly communicating between the first volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
a third conduit fluidly communicating between the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the first volume of a third one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
a fourth conduit fluidly communicating between the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
16. The piston apparatus of claim 12 , comprising at least one of:
the expansion chamber of the first volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the compression chamber of the first volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
the compression chamber of the first volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the expansion chamber of the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies;
the expansion chamber of the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the compression chamber of the first volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
the compression chamber of the second volume of the first one of the plurality of piston assemblies fluidly communicates with the expansion chamber of the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
17. The piston apparatus of claim 12 , comprising at least one of:
a conduit fluidly communicating between the compression chamber of the first volume of a fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the expansion chamber of the first volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
an additional conduit fluidly communicating between the expansion chamber of the first volume of the fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the compression chamber of the second volume of the second one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
18. The piston apparatus of claim 12 , comprising at least one of:
a conduit fluidly communicating between the compression chamber of the second volume of a fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the expansion chamber of the first volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies; and
a conduit fluidly communicating between the expansion chamber of the second volume of the fourth one of the plurality of piston assemblies and the second volume of the third one of the plurality of piston assemblies.
19. The piston apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first piston body defines a first monolithic structure, and wherein the second piston body defines a second monolithic structure.
20. The piston apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the piston apparatus defines at least a portion of a closed cycle engine.