Design and fabrication of a power system with a swinging cylinder: a hinged cylinder-piston layout of pendulum motion

A new arrangement of the engine is introduced where the cylinder revolves around the hinged structure to let normal force exertion on connecting rod. It is proved that in this case for the engine geometry, 0-26.3% extra force can be obtained compared to conventional design. In this design, constant maintenance such as lubrication, cooling due to intensive friction, and piston-cylinder sealing are reduced. When the cylinder is hinged, it runs more smoothly, and under the same 1 bar input pressure, the engine speed is 60 rpm more than that of an engine in the conventional configuration. This demonstrates the efficiency of the hinged-cylinder engine. The consolidated connecting rod/piston assembly in a freely revolving cylindrical duct has a DOF = 2, showing the manufacturers' full practical potential. To prove the validity of the proposed design, the multibody dynamic simulation of assembly is implemented in ADAMS, which again confirms higher force applied to the shaft (F hinged ≈ 7.5 kN > F fixed ≈ 1.28 kN).