John F Kessler

US Patent:

20200080626, Mar 12, 2020

Filed:

Oct 30, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/669157

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
ABHISHEK B. SAHASRABUDHE - Santa Clara CA, US
JOHN M. KESSLER - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

ACHATES POWER, INC. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

F16H 57/12
F02B 75/28
F16F 15/14
F16F 15/173
F16H 55/18
F16H 57/00

Abstract:

An opposed-piston engine includes at least two of: a gear train with a backlash reducing means; a viscous damper; and a centrifugal pendulum absorber. The opposed-piston engine can include two crankshafts and a gear train to connect the crankshafts. Any viscous dampers and centrifugal pendulum absorbers can be used to mitigate torsional velocity fluctuations in crankshafts in the engine, and multiple viscous dampers and/or centrifugal pendulum absorbers can be used in an engine. The backlash reducing means can include any of a means to adjust the position of gears in a gear train relative to each other and one or more backlash reducing gears.

US Patent:

20190264608, Aug 29, 2019

Filed:

Apr 11, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/382022

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
John M. Kessler - San Diego CA, US
Paul Meckl - San Diego CA, US
Fabien G. Redon - San Diego CA, US
Sebastian Strauss - Vista CA, US

Assignee:

Achates Power, INC. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

F02B 75/28
F02B 67/04
F16H 1/22

Abstract:

A gear train connecting two crankshafts in an opposed-piston engine includes a first crankshaft coupled to first pistons and a second crankshaft coupled to second pistons which are disposed in opposition to the first pistons in cylinders of the engine, a respective crank gear attached to each crankshaft, and an idler gear connecting the crank gears. The gear train comprises a three-gear system that is configured to minimize the side loads on the crankshafts, as well as on an idler gear post.