Porsche has recently filed a patent for a groundbreaking six-stroke internal combustion engine. The design introduces a unique crankshaft that allows additional compression and power strokes in each cycle, offering a new twist on traditional engine functionality.
Most vehicles today operate using a standard four-stroke engine, which follows the intake, compression, power, and exhaust cycle. In this new design, Porsche adds a second compression and power stroke, aiming to increase efficiency and performance. The additional strokes take place between the usual power and exhaust steps, creating two three-stroke sequences.
According to the patent submitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, this concept is achieved through a crankshaft that rotates on an annulus, resulting in a shifted center point. This modification alters the piston's range of motion, effectively providing more strokes without a complete change in the overall mechanism. As a result, the engine now features two top and bottom dead centers, enhancing both power and fuel efficiency.
While the design's complexity may present challenges, it could potentially lead to significant improvements in energy use, with more power generated per cycle compared to conventional engines. However, as with many patents, it is uncertain whether this concept will be fully developed and implemented.
Porsche's venture into this novel engine design shows their dedication to extending the life of combustion engines, even as electric power becomes increasingly prominent.