DE3320363A1 - Four-stroke combustion engine without crankshaft - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a four-stroke combustion engine without a crankshaft , which engine functions as a linear engine with combustion cylinders arranged in a horizontally opposed arrangement. According to the invention a plurality of combustion cylinder pairs are arranged parallel in one plane and jointly act on a parallel displaceable guide element for the oscillating displacement of this guide element. <IMAGE>

Description

Dipl.-Ing. RUDOLF SEIBERT

Attorney and patent attorney

Tattenbachstrasse 9

8000 MUNICH 22

Otfried Schweikert Mühlbachstrasse 13 8575 Kirchthumbach

Loose four-stroke internal combustion engine

4156

Title: Crankshaftless four-stroke internal combustion engine

The present invention relates to a four-stroke internal combustion engine without a crankshaft, that is to say to a so-called linear motor.

Internal combustion engines of this type are particularly used for propulsion of pump units, compressors or the like, for example also in connection with more and more prevalent hydraulic motors particularly suitable in heavy vehicles, buses, etc.

Compared to an engine equipped with a crankshaft, since the movement of the crank is completely eliminated, a more compact design can be achieved. In addition, any problems related to the implementation of the linear movement of a piston via a piston rod pivoted on the piston occur, as well as the Lubrication problems on the crankshaft itself are completely eliminated.

A kind of linear motor is already through DE-OS 30 29 287 (Stelzer) has been proposed. The internal combustion engine proposed in this publication is, however, a simple one Two-stroke internal combustion engine with an arrangement of 2 opposed cylinders in a boxer arrangement, in which the combustion The force generated acts directly on the side of the piston facing away from the combustion chamber on a fluid, i.e. the system works as a compressor.

The arrangement of the two pistons is made so that between the combustion chambers a common pre-compressor chamber for both pistons is formed.

The object of the invention is to provide a linear motor in which the combustion process takes place in four-stroke cycles in order to achieve the advantages of the four-stroke in such an engine. This applies both to a structure as a gasoline engine also a diesel engine.

The aforementioned task, a crankshaftless four-stroke internal combustion engine Specifying combustion cylinders arranged in a boxer arrangement is possible with an internal combustion engine solved with the features of claim 1.

In the four-stroke internal combustion engine according to the invention thus several pairs of combustion cylinders each arranged in a boxer arrangement in parallel in one plane in such a way that the piston rods all act on a parallel displaceable guide part extending perpendicular to the moving piston can.

According to an advantageous embodiment, a parallel displaceable arm on which the individual Piston rods are attached.

According to another development of the inventive idea recommends it is possible to provide an odd number of pairs of combustion cylinders, of which the middle pair has one with the same piston stroke Has double the displacement, the remaining pairs of combustion cylinders are arranged symmetrically to the middle pair.

This latter advantageous embodiment is explained below first with reference _(Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, to make better understood the principle of the invention.

In the schematic diagram shown in Fig. 1, 3 pairs of pistons, namely 1 and I ¹ or 2 and 2 'and 3 and 3 ^{1 are shown} .

The individual combustion chambers M 1 or M 1 ', M 2 or M2' and M 3 or M 3 ¹ are each provided on the outside of the cylinder, i.e. on the side facing away from a parallel-displaceable guide part 4 . Pistons (not shown) are guided in the cylinders themselves, between these

Combustion chambers and the pressure chambers of a compressor P 1 or PI ¹ , P 2 or P 2 ¹ and P3 or P 3 ¹ are performed. The movement of the pistons is transmitted to the guide part 4 via the piston rods Kl, Kl ¹ to K3, K3 ^1. The arrow indicated on the side indicates that the guide part 4 performs oscillating movements, namely "depending on the pressures exerted on the part 4 via the piston rods. Guides of this part, as well as the necessary drive and driven parts, are omitted from this schematic diagram for reasons of clarity.

Such an internal combustion engine should work in four-stroke operation as required. This means that, for example, at a point in time 1 in cylinder 1 after ignition of the compressed mixture, the expansion stroke should begin, with the force exerted on piston rod K 1 and the force exerted on guide part 4 being carried out in cylinders 2 and 3 and in the cylinder 1 ', for example, the burned mixture is ejected and the previously accumulated mixture is compressed ^{in cylinders 2' and 3 1.}

In the next working stroke, the ^{mixture compressed in cylinders 2 1} and 3 ^{1 is} ignited and a force is thereby exerted upwards via guide part 4, which causes compression in cylinders 2 and 3, suction in cylinder 1 and suction in cylinder 1 The burnt mixture is discharged.

At the beginning of the following third work cycle, the compressed mixtures are then ignited in cylinders 2 and 3, which in turn exerts a downward force on guide part 4, which causes all piston rods to move downward, which now compresses the mixture ^{in cylinder I 1} , a mixture is sucked in in cylinder 1 and the mixture previously burned there is expelled in cylinders 2 'and 3'.

In the fourth working cycle, the mixture compressed in the cylinder 1 'is then ignited, as a result of which again via the guide part 4 all pistons are moved upwards. This then compresses the mixture sucked into cylinder 1, into cylinder 2 and 3 ejected the burned mixture and in the cylinders 2 ' and 3 'sucked in new mixture.

This concludes the work cycle and you can now turn the compressed mixture in the cylinder 1 can be ignited as presupposed above.

The width of the individual cylinders shown indicates that, according to an advantageous embodiment, the cylinder ^{space of cylinders 1 or I 1 is made} twice as large as the cylinder space of piston pairs 2 and 2 ¹ or 3 and 3 '. This ensures that with the same piston stroke for each work cycle an equal force is exerted on the guide part 4, namely once the full force via the piston rods K 1 or K 1 'exactly in the middle of the guide part or once with half the force in each case same distance from the center of this guide part over the piston rods K 2 and K 3 or K 2 'and K 3'.

However, it is apparent to a person skilled in the art that such a symmetry is not absolutely necessary, but that, for example, a smaller force can also occur in the middle, which can only be so great must that the working strokes in the other piston are guaranteed. In this case, energy stores, such as springs, flywheels, etc., can also be provided in a manner known per se for compensation, such as this is actually necessary for four-stroke engines with a crankshaft if fewer than 4 cylinders are used.

In Fig. 1 it is further indicated that according to an advantageous Application of such a motor as a compressor (pump) can be that in the cylinders on the combustion

Sides of the piston facing away from the piston compression chambers P 1, PI ¹ or P 2, P 2 ", or P 3, P 3 'are arranged.

In this case, for example, always by means of appropriate valve control only the compressor chamber of the cylinder, in the combustion chamber of which combustion is currently taking place, can be filled with pump fluid. As a result, the size of the force to be transmitted via the guide part 4 is then reduced to the value required for the work the piston is necessary in the combustion chambers, while the compression or pumping force alone in the one that is currently working Cylinder is applied.

As in succession, as described above in the explanation of the work cycles shown, a work cycle takes place in one or two parallel half volumes, a continuous Kompressorbzw. Pumping work delivered.

Such variations are within the skill of the art as well such as the control of valves to be installed in the combustion chambers, spark plugs, etc., which is because of the variety of possible designs is not explained here in detail. It should be repeated, however, that such a four-stroke internal combustion engine can be operated directly as both a gasoline engine and a diesel engine.

An internal combustion engine with a structure according to the invention, As explained above, there is not only the advantage that no articulated connecting rods are needed anymore, which ever exert a different counterforce on the piston depending on the angle of attack and its bearings must be lubricated accordingly, but an arrangement of this type is the first one that is claimed in accordance with a particularly advantageous further development of the concept of the invention Possibility to continuously rotate the piston in the cylinder and thereby reduce the working cycles of suction and discharge with a four-wheel drive

control the stroke engine by the piston movement itself, which does not, only.Valves can be saved, but in particular a camshaft is superfluous, which in terms of its setting, Their storage and, last but not least, the lubrication in the bearings always poses special problems.

According to the development outlined above, each piston in each cylinder is dependent on the movement of the guide part rotated, wherein, as will be explained in detail, recesses and bores in the cylinder wall with corresponding bores and / or recesses in the piston itself are brought into connection with one another in the course of the rotary movement so that the respective Working cycle can be realized with the associated piston movement.

The basic principle of such a four-stroke internal combustion engine is explained below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 again shows only schematically the parts of an internal combustion engine consisting of three pairs of cylinders which, analogously to the sketch according to FIG. 1, has three pairs of cylinders with cylinders 1 and I ¹ or 2 and 2 ¹ or 3 and 3 ″ Cylinders work on the guide part 4 via their piston rods

the pistons in the cylinders rotate continuously, with each stroke by 90 °, so that after completion of the four work cycles all Pistons in the cylinder have again reached the same position as at the beginning of the respective 4 working cycles.

To generate the rotary movement, the individual piston rods K 1 to K 3 ^{1 are} each connected to a gear in a manner not shown so that the piston rods and thus the pistons also rotate accordingly when the gear wheels are rotated. The gears 6 form a gear mechanism that is fixedly arranged in the connecting part 4. The left gear 6 at the left end of the guide

-46

part 4 combs in a toothed roller 7, which is kept as wide is that the left gear 6 remains constantly in engagement with the toothed roller 7 during the oscillating movement. The toothed roller 7 itself is driven via a shaft 9, namely via an angular gear 11, which in turn is driven via a flywheel 19.

The flywheel 19 is provided for driving with a crank 8 which is moved back and forth by the guide part 4 and thereby the flywheel 19 rotated.

In the connection between flywheel 19 and angular gear 11 A starter A, which can be engaged and disengaged, is interposed, which in normal operation controls the rotary movement from the flywheel 19 to the Angular gear 11 is not influenced, but both the flywheel 19 and the angular gear 11 are driven as a function of this can when the linear motor is to be started. Together with the toothed roller 7, the distributor V is driven via the ignition, possibly certain valves, a turbocharger and the like can be controlled.

These measures are within the scope of professional ability.

With such an arrangement as described in general terms above it is possible to forcibly control the pistons in the individual cylinders depending on the position in such a way that certain connections can be made from openings between the cylinder wall and the piston wall and closed again.

This is in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 explained.

3 shows a schematic side view of a piston 16, FIG. 4 the top view of this piston 16 and FIG. 5 the development of the inside of a cylinder wall section in an area necessary to explain the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the piston 16 has a bore which is directed against the cylinder wall and which is inside the Piston is connected to the combustion chamber via a bore 18.

The piston is inserted in the cylinder 20 in such a way that in the first work cycle I the bore 17 in the area of the cylinder wall milled groove 14 comes to rest and in the downward movement, as is at the bottom of the section for the work cycle I, represented by an arrow in FIG. 5, runs through the rotation of the piston 16 along the groove 14. The groove 14 is through the Cylinder wall connected through with a bore 15 to the mixture feed line, which then through the bore 15, the Groove 14, the bore 17 and the bore 18, the mixture is sucked into the interior of the combustion chamber.

The piston then moves up again on the next working stroke (compression). This area is in the cylinder wall no bore or groove, so that the opening 17 is finally closed and the mixture sucked in in cycle I. is compressed. In work cycle III the piston is moved down again after the mixture has ignited and also at this movement the opening 17 slides on a smooth cylinder wall, so that here the expansion phase takes place without any loss of pressure. Work cycle IV (ejection of the burned mixture) wi ± d realized by the further rotation of the piston by in turn connecting the interior via the bore 18 and the opening 17 with the groove 12 provided in this area of the cylinder wall 20, which is in turn connected to the exhaust pipe via a bore 13. When the piston 16 is moved upwards into the cylinder in the process, the mixture is pressed out of the combustion chamber via the bore 18, opening 17, groove 12 and outlet opening 13.

It must be pointed out at this point that this type of connection, which replaces the use of valves, between Piston and cylinder can of course also be realized in that grooves are made in the piston itself, which have a corresponding opening made in the cylinder wall are guided. The only thing that matters is, and that is what the expert will make out the above explanations immediately recognize that over a certain piston path during its rotation a corresponding long-term connection between supply line and discharge line is given, via which the combustion mixture feed or Removal of the burned mixture takes place accordingly. ■

Although no valves are necessary per se with such an arrangement, it can be advisable in addition to sealing nor to provide valves, the control of the valves is no longer as critical as in conventional four-stroke engines. It has already been mentioned that turbochargers, but also suction turbines, can also be used here.

The above explanation of the four-stroke internal combustion engine controlled by continuously rotating pistons according to FIG The invention is solved purely mechanically, i.e. between the movement of the connecting part, the crank and the drive wheels for turning the piston rods. This means that the pistons are mechanically positively controlled. But it must be pointed out at this point that this The piston can also be driven with the necessary precision via an electrical follow-up control by using a synchronous or Stepping motor depending on the oscillating movement of the guide part 4 is influenced so that the piston, to their Rotation yes only a relatively small force is necessary, takes place uniformly for all cylinders.

- 10 -

-yf-

* Ah-

It has already been pointed out in the introduction that such an internal combustion engine is particularly suitable for operation a compressor or a pump in which the individual pistons in the cylinders have a double function, namely once close the combustion chamber accordingly and carry out the compression or pumping work with its other side.

This is explained clearly with reference to FIG. 6, where a cylinder 23 is shown, in which a piston 16 is via its piston rod K 16 is movable back and forth and optionally rotatably guided. The upper space 21 is used for the combustion process, while the bottom 22 of the piston 16 is used for the lower space acts in the sense of a compressor or as a piston pump.

6 is also to be understood only schematically and neither are the supply and discharge lines necessary for the combustion mixture nor the spark plugs that may be used, as well as the feed and discharge lines for the piston pump and the necessary ones Valves shown. Also the sealing of the piston rod K in the end wall of the cylinder 23 and seals on the piston themselves are shown for the sake of clarity.

The present invention relating to an entirely new linear motor was only explained on the basis of illustrations, each of which reproduces the basic structure. In particular it must be pointed out that of course more than 3 pairs of cylinders are interconnected according to the teaching of the invention can be, preferably an odd number of cylinder pairs is to be preferred in order to facilitate the guidance of the guide part 4 and to get a defined center point. It is but easily possible, also the cylinder pair in the middle to be divided and to be arranged at the same distance from the center of the guide part in the form of 2 pairs of cylinders.

- 11 -

'/ lit-

With such an arrangement, it is then advisable to use the crank required for the starting process, such as the crank, for example 8 in Fig. 2 to articulate exactly in the middle to the guide part 4 not to exert any tilting or shear forces.

Claims (1)

4156 Title: Crankshaftless four-stroke internal combustion engine Claims Crankshaftless four-stroke internal combustion engine (linear motor) with combustion cylinders arranged in a boxer arrangement, characterized in that several pairs of combustion cylinders (M 1, Ml '; M2, M2'; M3, M3 ') are arranged in parallel in a plane, the piston rods (Kl, Kl ¹ ; K2 , K2 '; K3, K3') are all connected to a parallel displaceable guide part (4) extending perpendicular to the movement of the pistons for the oscillating displacement of this guide part (4). Four-stroke internal combustion engine according to Claim 1, characterized in that an odd number of pairs of combustion cylinders is provided, of which the middle pair (Ml, Ml ·) has double the displacement with the same piston stroke and that the remaining pairs of combustion cylinders (M2, M2 '; M3, M3 ¹ ) are arranged symmetrically to the middle pair. Four-stroke internal combustion engine according to claims 1 and 2, characterized characterized in that the pistons are rotatably guided in their cylinders. Four-stroke internal combustion engine according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide part has drive means (6) to the controlled depending on the movement of the guide part Has rotation of the individual pistons. - 2 - 5. Four-stroke internal combustion engine according to claim 3, characterized in that a gear mechanism (6) is provided in the guide part (4) as the drive means. _: \. ■ 6. Four-stroke internal combustion engine nach.den claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the guide part (4) to transmit the movement to rotate the individual pistons one of the gearwheels (6) attached to it in a way that extends over the oscillating movement of the guide part Toothed roller (7) meshes. 7. Internal combustion engine according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the guide part (4) with a Crank (8) is provided for generating a rotary movement to control the ignition distributor and / or the drive wheels to rotate the individual pistons. 8. Four-stroke internal combustion engine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylinder wall (11) the individual combustion cylinder with intake and Outlet openings (13, 15) are provided with bores (17, 18) and / or recesses in the piston (16) for suction of the combustion power mixture or to expel the burned power mixture with a corresponding rotation of the Pistons work together at times. 9. Internal combustion engine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by their use as a pump, in that the pistons (16) with their combustion chamber (21) act opposite side directly on the fluid to be pumped.