ABSTRACT
A patented (Reference [1]) new power machine
concept has been designed and analyzed for production,
and proof of principle subscale tests have been
performed, with positive results. The machine design
concept is applicable as a compressor, pump, motor, or
engine. Simplicity of design based on spherical ball
pistons (Figures 1 and 2) enables a low moving part
count, high power to weight ratio, elimination of valve
train and water cooling systems, and perfect dynamic
balance.
May 1996
page 1
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
May 1996
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
May 1996
page 3
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
May 1996
F ma F F F cos T sin
F ma F F sin T cos
M I F Tr
r
(1)
at 2R R
R 2
a R
(2)
page 4
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
Figure 4. Ball piston free body diagram for power and intake
strokes (ball position radius R increasing, and taken as zero at
TDC before intake)
where
(3)
k= +1 if F > 0 and
k= -1 if F < 0.
R 2 ) sin m 2R R cos I
FI m(R
G
r
(4)
May 1996
page 5
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
600
ball spin
Coriolis
Centrifugal
Combustion
400
( ) 2
FI m(R ( ) R ( ))sin ( ) 2mR ( )cos ( ) IG
r ( )
Force, lb
200
(7)
-200
-400
-600
0
45
90
135
180
225
270
315
360
200
-100
optimal track
constant ball spin rate
sine wave optimized
-200
100
Force, lb
-300
0
45
90
135
180
225
270
315
360
R ( )
r ( )cos ( )
(5)
( ) 2
(6)
May 1996
1 dR( )
tan1
R ( ) d
(8)
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
1.1
1.05
BDC
BDC
35
30
25
20
Ball diameter
15
1.0 inch
1.5 inch
2.0 inch
3.0 inch
10
5
0
5
10
12
40
Stroke loss, %
5
6
7
8
9
10
0.95
0.9
0
0
0.85
0.5
1.5
2.5
TDC
TDC
optimal track
0.75
rho
45
90
135
180
225
270
315
360
R
1
14
Simulation
Model
- A multi-energy domain
1.5
9
2
6
engine simulation model was developed for efficiency
2.5
4.5
studies. The3 model4 was based on the equations of
May 1996
page 7
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
May 1996
1.75
1.5
Hp/in^3 of displacement
1.25
1
0.75
0.5
0.25
0
0
10
kRPM
50
40
Torque, in-lb/ball
30
20
10
0
0
10
kRPM
Figure 11. Torque comparison for track designs (2 inch diameter
silicon nitride ball, mean ball position radius=10.00 inch, 0.1
coefficient of friction, ball diametral clearance of 0.001 inch)
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
May 1996
page 9
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
cos sin k
(9)
cos
sin1
(10)
1.2
0.8
cfm/HP
k= -1 if F < 0.
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
RPM
F2
2
F
Fy 0 FP FR 22
where
k= +1 if F > 0 and
May 1996
0 F3 F
F1
2
F1
2
(11)
0 F3r2 F r1 FR
page 10
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
70
Amplitude, lb
60
Diametral Clearance
0.0015 inch
0.0020 inch, series #2
0.0008 inch
Effective Orifice C
0.6
0.4
50
0.2
40
0
0
30
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
20
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
Coefficient of Friction
Figure 15. Predicted correlation of test force F3 with coefficient of
friction (1.5 inch ball, 0.6 inch stroke, 800 rpm, 0.6 inch drive wheel
offset, 11.80 inch drive wheel diameter)
35.4
0.3
50.9
0.1
36.4
Test Results-Leakage
- First, non-rotating
0.12were used
37.5 to measure leakage as a
blowdown tests
0.14
38.7
function of ball piston clearance and cylinder pressure.
0.16
39.9
Figure 16 shows
0.18the results
41.2 for all non-rotating tests that
42.5
were performed0.2to date,
in the form of effective orifice
0.25
46.4
coefficient.
It was clear that the assumed orifice
0.35
56.3
Convergence Engineering
Corp.
0.4
63
May 1996
400
Thus far, leakage data indicate that previous
500
assumptions, although simplistic, are conservative for
600
clearances of 0.0015 inch diametral or less. For 700
a
800
probable design clearance of 0.001 inch diametral,
900
leakage will be significantly less than previous
1000
predictions, at least at lower speeds. Higher speeds
have yet to be tested, but as was already shown, leakage
is a minor loss factor at higher speeds.
page 11
p
0.47
0.49
0.5
0.53
0.5
0.59
0.64
0.58
0.64
0.6
0.62
0.67
0.72
0.78
0.88
1.06
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
May 1996
The Ball Piston Engine - A New Concept in High Efficiency Power Machines
()
( )
May 1996
Figure 17. Typical test oscillatory loads data, compared with pure
sine wave fits (1.5 inch ball, 0.6 inch stroke, 0.3 inch eccentricity,
800 rpm, 0.6 inch drive wheel offset, 11.80 inch drive wheel
diameter)
page 13