There are many types of internal combustion engines in our world today. The most common are the simple two and four stroke engines. Other internal combustion engine examples include the rotary engine and diesel engine. Each of these engines have similar attributes to how they work. The main features for an internal combustion engine to work is for the engine to intake the air, compress the air mixed with fuel, then have an “internal combustion” which then leads to exhaust.
* The two stroke engine is mostly used in smaller mechanical devices like lawn mowers, chain saws, dirt bikes and much more.
Here is an
example of what a cycle of a two stroke engine looks like.
http://www.examiner.com/article/two-stroke-cars-of-the-past
*Four stroke engines are probably the most common internal combustion engines due to the fact that they are used in your car that you use every day to get you to and from work, school, etc.
Here is an
example of what a cycle of a four stroke engine looks
like.
http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/post/76236388470/i-stared-at-this-gif-explaining-how-a-four-stroke
*The diesel engine is similar to that
of a four stroke engine, but the main difference is that
diesel engines do not have spark plugs to ignite the
combustion like four stroke engines do. This is
a very cool attribute to the diesel engines that sets it
apart from the other internal combustion engines.
http://takemebeyondthehorizon.wordpress.com/2009/04/04/the-diesel-engine/
As you can see, this animation looks similar to that of the four stroke engine animation, but you can also see that there are no spark plugs present.
*The final common internal combustion engine is called a rotary engine. It is in a completely different category than that of the other engines due to that fact that is has all the same attributes for the engine to function, except that it doesn’t use pistons like the other engines.
By looking at
this example and comparing it to the other engines, you
can better understand how the rotary engine works.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wankel_engine