Key Takeaways:
– Porsche has patented the concept for a 6-stroke engine, breaking away from the typical 4-stroke model.
– The German automaker aims to generate added power through this design.
– The practicality and compliance of the invention concerning emission standards remain uncertain.
Porsche, a pioneer in the automotive domain, is recognized for continuously redefining the limits of design and engineering. This time, the spotlight is on a fresh patent application filed by the carmaker in February 2021 and brought into public notice on September 12th by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent application, discovered initially by AutoGuide, resembles nothing seen before – a novel 6-stroke engine design.
Understanding the Strokes of an Engine
By convention, most automobile engines, barring a few early models of Saab, operate on a 4-stroke model. The term ‘stroke’ here denotes the up and down movements of a piston inside an engine’s cylinder. To accomplish a power cycle – the sequence where air and fuel enter the combustion chamber, compress, ignite to induce power, and subsequently exhaust – a 4-stroke engine requires two full rotations of the crankshaft. This is unlike a 2-stroke engine, as seen in lawn mowers, that accomplishes the same in half the number of strokes.
Porsche’s 6-Stroke Engine: A Step into the Future
The path-breaking 6-stroke design sketched out in Porsche’s patent filing strives to augment power output by adding an extra compression and power stroke. This feat becomes feasible owing to a set of eccentric gears, enabling deeper bottom-dead-center positions of the pistons, thereby facilitating extra strokes. This design exposes scavenging ports allowing additional air to be drawn in, followed by fuel injection and ignition.
The fact that the new engine exhibits two power strokes in contrast to the 4-stroke engine’s single power stroke underscores the power-enhancing goal. This innovative configuration results in a power stroke every third revolution of the crankshaft as opposed to every fourth revolution in a 4-stroke engine.
A Bump on the Road: Emission Standards
Despite these promising attributes, it remains to be seen if the proposed 6-stroke engine complies with existing emissions standards. This uncertainty poses a significant potential hurdle in translating this patent into a production-level model.
However, the automotive industry is no stranger to innovations initially thought impractical, such as variable compression ratios, finding their way into production automobiles. Car manufacturers are persistently seeking to diminish emissions, and Porsche’s ambitious 6-stroke engine might just be the solution the industry needs.
Porsche’s leap of faith into the domain of 6-stroke engines stands as a testament to the brand’s commitment towards pushing the boundaries of engineering and design. Only time will reveal the real-world viability of this innovation, but Porsche’s audacious move has certainly added horsepower to the race for environmentally friendly, powerful, and efficient automotives.