Technical Paper
A Critical Evaluation of the Geared Hypocycloid Mechanism for Internal Combustion Engine Application
1988-02-01
880660
The geared hypocycloid mechanism, a kinematic arrangement that provides a straight-line motion, can be used as the basis for an internal combustion engine. Such an engine would have a number of advantages: Perfect balance can be achieved with any number of cylinders. The straight-line motion eliminates the need for a wrist pin bearing, further allowing a very short piston to be used without danger of cocking. Piston side load is virtually eliminated, and “piston slap” will not occur even with a large piston/cylinder clearance. These features make it particularly attractive for small single cylinder engine applications where vibration is undesirable, and also for the uncooled “adiabatic engines”, in which piston cylinder lubrication and friction are major concerns.