Shane seeks greater power density with unconventional engine

摘要

U.K. engineering firm Shane Ltd. is developing a unique opposed-piston engine that it claims produces 15% more power than conventional gasoline engines due to the ability of its camshaft assembly to serve as a crankshaft. By eliminating the crankshaft and the associated friction losses from main and connecting-rod bearings, the 0.55L opposed-2-cyl. prototype can deliver 65 hp at 5,000 rpm and 104 lb.-ft. (141 Nm) of torque at 4,500 rpm. In its present dual-cam, 4-stroke layout, the two camshafts are belt-driven via separate gears meshing with a gear on the output shaft. The two cylinders fire at the same time, making the configuration virtually vibration free by canceling out each other's expansion forces.