Editing Stelzer engine

[[File:St-ani1-mittel.gif|thumb|Stelzer engine]]
The '''Stelzer engine''' is a [[two-stroke]] opposing-piston [[free-piston engine]] design proposed by Frank Stelzer. It uses conjoined [[piston]]s in a push-pull arrangement which allows for fewer moving parts and simplified manufacturing. An engine of the same design appeared on the cover of the February 1969 issue of [[Mechanix Illustrated]] magazine. 

==Operation==
There are two [[combustion chamber]]s and a central precompression chamber. Control of the air flow between the precompression chamber and the combustion chambers is made by stepped piston rods.

==Applications==
Applications envisaged for the engine include driving:
* An [[air compressor]]
* A [[hydraulic pump]]
* A [[linear generator]]

==Prototypes==
A prototype engine was demonstrated in [[Frankfurt]] in 1983 and [[Opel]] was reported to be interested in it. In 1982, the Government of Ireland agreed to pay half the cost of a factory at [[Shannon Airport]] to manufacture the engines. <ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/27/business/free-piston-engine-debated.html | title=Free-Piston Engine Debated| newspaper=The New York Times| date=1983-06-27| last1=Taglilabue| first1=John}}</ref> A prototype car with a Stelzer engine and electric transmission was shown at a German motor show in 1983.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=FeMDAAAAMBAJ&dq=stelzer+engine&pg=PA62 Popular Mechanics, March 1984]</ref>

==See also==
* [[Linear alternator]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* {{US patent|4385597}} -- ''Two-Stroke Internal Combustion Engine 1983''
* [http://www.freikolben.ch/37401/109985.html Diagrams of Stelzer engine and linear alternator]

{{Piston engine configurations}}

[[Category:Proposed engines]]
[[Category:Free-piston engines]]

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