Internal combustion engine

Abstract

The improved internal combustion engine of the cam drive axial piston type includes modification to the drive shaft, bearings and other internal elements to facilitate the flow of oil and lubricants to engine parts. The cooling system is modified to allow coolant flow directly to the engine block and head assembly simultaneously and to control flow through the engine and radiator to reduce hot spots. The valves and valve crown structure have been modified for ease of assembly and reliability of the roller valve lifter and valve interface. Use of alternate fuel supply systems which eliminate the need for a valve train are also accommodated. The drive shaft and engine have been modified to allow the mounting of a variety of aircraft propellers using a hub as well as mounting a flywheel for reduced start motor stress.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved lubrication system, the improvement comprising: 
 a cam drive shaft rotatably engaged in a plurality of main bearings;    the main bearings are in fluid communication with a lubrication fluid source which supplies lubricant under pressure to the bearings; and    the bearings expelling lubricant to the internal elements of the engine.    
     
     
         2 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved lubrication system, the improvement comprising: 
 a tubular spacer intermediate and attached to two engine blocks;    the tubular spacer having a plurality of lubricant apertures defined therein which are spaced circumferentially around a wall of the tubular spacer;    a means for supplying a fluid lubricant under pressure to the lubricant apertures through which the fluid lubricant is thereby sprayed into the interior of the tubular spacer and internally to the central portion of the engine.    
     
     
         3 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved lubrication system, the improvement comprising a cam follower having a hollow longitudinal center portion therein.  
     
     
         4 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved cam follower retention system, the improvement comprising a piston having grooves and bores defined therein for receiving a cam follower and the piston at the edge of the grooves and bores having a protrusion for retention of an inserted cam follower.  
     
     
         5 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved valve crown, the improvement comprising: 
 a detachable valve crown assembly for retention of the engine valve lifters.    
     
     
         6 . The engine as in  claim 5  wherein there is an oil supply system in fluid communication with the valve crown assembly, which distributes oil to a plurality of hydraulic roller valve lifters and other engine parts.  
     
     
         7 . The engine as in  claim 6  wherein the engine valve lifters are of the hydraulic type having hydraulic oil apertures therein for introduction of oil into a lifter reservoir and a hydraulic piston inserted into the lifter reservoir which piston is attached to one of the valves.  
     
     
         8 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive piston type having an improved cooling system, the improvement comprising: 
 a system for introducing coolant into an engine block and a head assembly simultaneously with out the necessity of coolant flow through a head gasket.    
     
     
         9 . The engine as in  claim 8  wherein the system for introducing coolant includes a dual feed fitting for adjacent engine blocks and head assemblies.  
     
     
         10 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive piston type having an improved cooling system, the improvement comprising: 
 a three port thermostat in fluid communication with a coolant pump, an engine coolant inlet and a radiator wherein the thermostat controls water flow to the engine coolant inlet and the radiator as set for a specified water temperature.    
     
     
         11 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved operating cycle, the improvement comprising: 
 an 8 cylinder, 4 piston, 2 stroke structure with the four pistons spaced 90 degrees circumferentially about a drive shaft;    a cam having 90 degree separation between lobes; and    each cylinder having a plurality of input ports and exhaust ports formed therein which ports are positioned for each piston to control opening and closing at a specified time in the engine operating cycle.    
     
     
         12 . The engine as in  claim 11  wherein alternating cylinders in an engine block are arranged as a firing cylinder and a compression cylinder, and a conduit is connected from the compression cylinder exhaust port to the firing cylinder input port.  
     
     
         13 . The engine as in  claim 11  wherein all cylinders in an engine block are firing cylinders and a charging system produces pressured fuel, air mixture.  
     
     
         14 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved fuel input system, the improvement comprising: 
 a fuel injector in fluid communication with three cylinders of a twelve cylinder engine.    
     
     
         15 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved equipment attachment system, the improvement comprising: 
 a drive shaft having a front end bore defined therein which bore is in fluid communication with a hydraulic fluid source.    
     
     
         16 . The engine as in  claim 15  wherein the hydraulic fluid source is a hydraulic fluid governor pump in powered relationship with the engine and the hydraulic fluid governor pump is in fluid communication with a fitting in fluid communication with the bore.  
     
     
         17 . An internal combustion engine of a cam drive axial piston type having an improved drive shaft extended equipment mounting structure, the improvement comprising: 
 a drive shaft end portion shaped to receive a hub which hub is attached thereto; and    the hub having a flange.    
     
     
         18 . The engine as in  claim 17  wherein the hub has a flywheel attached thereto which flywheel having circumferentially a plurality of gear teeth for mating with a starter motor gear drive mechanism and the starter motor attached to the nose of the engine.