FR2819016A1 - Integrated internal combustion and electric machine unit, uses piston in axially rotating cylinder driven through gear by crankshaft, and has rotor winding on outside of cylinder, which rotates inside a stator winding - Google Patents

Abstract

The unit has a combustion chamber (12) in a rotary cylinder (14) with a reciprocating piston (16). Inlet and exhaust are at one end (40) of the cylinder. The piston drives a crankshaft (24), which is coupled by a gear (28) to the end of the cylinder. A rotor winding (22) is attached to the outside of the cylinder, facing a stator winding (24) in a cylindrical housing (26).

Description

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ROTATING CYLINDER HEAT ENGINE
The present invention relates to a new heat engine, particularly suitable for model making, or capable of forming the rotor of a generator so as to produce electricity as illustrated in patent application FR-0001739 in the name of the applicant.

 Rotating cylinder heat engines are widely used in the field of aircraft modeling.

 According to the prior art, a heat engine, for example that described in patent application WO98 / 03781, comprises a combustion chamber 10 delimited by a rotating cylinder 12 and a piston 14, the latter being connected to a crankshaft 16 by a connecting rod 18. The rotating cylinder 12 is rotated by the crankshaft 16, by means of a bevel gear 20 formed by two bevel gears. The rotating cylinder 12 is equipped at its end with a lumen 22 capable of communicating with an exhaust duct 24 or a fuel mixture intake duct or of being blocked. According to this document, the drive shaft 26 is arranged in the extension of the rotating cylinder 12.

piston 14 entraîne en rotation, grâce à la bielle 18, le vilebrequin 16 dont l'axe est utilisé comme arbre moteur. Dans le cas des moteurs à cylindre tournant, le vilebrequin 16 entraîne en rotation le cylindre tournant 12 dont la lumière 22 communique en fonction du temps du cycle avec le conduit d'échappement ou le conduit d'admission. Thus, as in any motor, the translational movement of the

piston 14 rotates, thanks to the connecting rod 18, the crankshaft 16 whose axis is used as the driving shaft. In the case of rotating cylinder engines, the crankshaft 16 rotates the rotating cylinder 12, the lumen 22 of which communicates as a function of the cycle time with the exhaust duct or the intake duct.

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This type of rotating cylinder heat engine is not fully satisfactory, especially when it is used to operate a generator as illustrated in patent application FR-0001739. Indeed, the connections between the piston and the crankshaft and between the crankshaft and the rotating cylinder generate friction and losses which reduce the efficiency of such an engine. In addition, the number of moving parts is relatively large, which induces losses due to inertias also reducing the yield.

 Also, the present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the devices of the prior art by proposing a rotating cylinder heat engine of simple design, with a smaller number of moving parts which results in improved efficiency.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a heat engine with a rotating cylinder comprising a combustion chamber delimited by a rotating cylinder and a piston, as well as intake and exhaust means, characterized in that it comprises a connection helical between the rotating cylinder and the piston and means for immobilizing the piston in rotation so that the reciprocating translational movement of the piston generates continuous rotation of the rotating cylinder.

According to a preferred embodiment, the helical connection comprises at least one raceway disposed at the side wall of the piston extending over the entire wall so as to form a loop, as for each raceway two balls diametrically opposite, integral with the rotating cylinder, liable to become lodged and to move in the raceway.

Preferably, the race or tracks have a sinusoidal shape.

 According to another characteristic, the means for immobilizing the piston in rotation comprise a counter-piston, integral with a frame, being housed in a bore formed in the piston, a sliding connection being provided between the piston and the counter-piston.

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 In this case, the slide link comprises at least one straight raceway, disposed on a generator of the counter-piston, in which a ball secured to the piston is liable to move.

 According to a preferred embodiment, a light is provided at the bottom of the rotating cylinder capable of cooperating with an exhaust duct or of being closed. In addition, the intake means comprise at the counter-piston a conduit opening into a space defined between said counter-piston and the piston, provided with a first valve at its end opening into said space, as well as a conduit. at the bottom of the piston making space communicate with the combustion chamber provided with a second valve, each valve being capable of occupying two positions, a first closed position in which it opposes the passage of gases, and a second pass position in which it allows the passage of gases.

- la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un moteur thermique à cylindre tournant selon l'invention, le piston au point mort bas, équipant à titre d'exemple une génératrice et illustrant une première variante d'admission, - les figures 3A à 3C sont des vues développées de la parol latérale du piston ou du cylindre tournant illustrant des variantes de réalisation de chemins de roulement, - la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale du moteur de la figure 2, - la figure 5 est une vue en coupe de l'extrémité libre du cylindre tournant illustrant une seconde variante d'admission, - la figure 6 est une vue en coupe du moteur de la figure 2, le piston au point mort haut, et - la figure 7 est une vue en coupe du moteur illustrant une variante des moyens d'échappement et d'admission. Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description of the invention, description given by way of example only and with reference to the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a sectional view of a heat engine with rotating cylinder according to the prior art,

- Figure 2 is a sectional view of a rotary cylinder heat engine according to the invention, the piston in bottom dead center, equipping by way of example a generator and illustrating a first intake variant, - Figures 3A to 3C are developed views of the lateral parol of the piston or of the rotating cylinder illustrating alternative embodiments of raceways, - Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the engine of Figure 2, - Figure 5 is a view in section of the free end of the rotating cylinder illustrating a second variant of admission, - Figure 6 is a sectional view of the engine of Figure 2, the piston in top dead center, and - Figure 7 is a view cross section of the engine illustrating a variant of the exhaust and intake means.

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 FIG. 2 represents a heat engine 50 according to the invention in longitudinal section.

 It comprises a frame 52 and a combustion chamber 54 delimited by a rotating cylinder 56 and a piston 58 as well as intake and exhaust means and possibly depending on the type of combustible mixture of the ignition means.

 This engine can work equally well on the principle of a two stroke or a four stroke.

 To compress, aspirate, evacuate the gases present in the combustion chamber 54 or during the expansion of said gases, the piston 58 performs a translational movement inside the rotating cylinder 56.

 For sealing, scrapers or segments are provided between the rotating cylinder 56 ′ and the piston 58.

 Advantageously, the bore of the rotating cylinder 56 is coated with a jacket 60.

 According to the invention, the rotational movement of the rotary cylinder 56 is transmitted directly by the piston 58 thanks to a helical connection 62 between these two elements, means for immobilizing in rotation being provided between the piston 58 and the frame 52.

génère la rotation du cylindre tournant 56. Le ou les chemins de roulement 64 s'étendent sur la totalité de la paroi de manière à former chacun une boucle. The helical connection 62 comprises at least one raceway 64, visible in FIG. 3, arranged at the side wall of the piston 58 or of the rotating cylinder, as well as at least one projecting element capable of being housed or move in the corresponding raceway 64 so that the translational movement of the piston 58

generates the rotation of the rotating cylinder 56. The raceway or tracks 64 extend over the entire wall so as to each form a loop.

Preferably, the raceway (s) 64 are arranged on the side wall of the piston 58. In addition, two diametrically opposite balls 66 secured to the rotating cylinder 56 are provided as a projecting element for each raceway.

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 The fact of providing two diametrically opposite balls for each raceway makes it possible to balance the forces between the piston and the rotating cylinder.

 As a variant, the balls are distributed equidistantly along the circumference of the rotating cylinder 56.

 According to an embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, each ball 66 is linked to a seat 68 integral with the cylinder, and optionally lubrication means are provided at each ball facilitating their rolling in the corresponding path 64.

 The shape of the raceway is defined by a person skilled in the art as a function, for example, of the desired type of engine, namely two-stroke or four-stroke, and / or the number of detents per revolution of the cylinder.

 By way of example, the raceway 64 illustrated in FIG. 3A is sinusoidal and formed of two sinuses so as to obtain a four-stroke engine or a two-stroke engine with two detents per revolution of the cylinder.

 According to another variant illustrated in FIG. 3B, the side wall of the piston 58 comprises several rolling tracks, for example 3, which intersect, arranged on the same height of the piston, with a sinusoidal profile. Preferably, the difference between the different raceways is different so as not to have intersection points of the raceways at the same height.

 According to another variant illustrated by FIG. 3C, the side wall of the piston 58 comprises several raceways which do not intersect, distributed over the height of the piston.

 In FIGS. 3B and 3C, only the central axis of the raceways has been shown.

 According to the embodiments, the cross section of the raceway can be square, rectangular, rounded, elliptical or formed by two arcs.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the piston 58 comprises an internal bore and the means for immobilizing in rotation the piston 58 comprise a counter-piston 70, integral with the frame 52, of cylindrical shape and coaxial with

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 piston, being housed in the bore of the piston, a sliding link 72 being provided between the piston 58 and the counter-piston 70.

 This sliding link 72 comprises at least one straight raceway 74, arranged in line with a generator of the piston 58, or respectively of the counter-piston 70, in which is likely to move a ball 76 secured to the counter-piston 70, or respectively of the piston 58.

 Preferably, two raceways 74 are arranged on generatrices of the diametrically opposite counter-piston 70, in each of which is capable of moving a ball 76 secured to a seat 78 connected to the piston 58 as illustrated in FIG. 4. As previously, lubrication means can be provided to improve the rolling of the balls 76 in the paths 74.

continu du cylindre tournant 56, le piston 58 étant immobilisé en rotation par le contre-piston 70 grâce àla liaison glissière 72 et entraînant en rotation le cylindre tournant 56 grâce à la liaison hélicoïdale 62. According to the invention, the reciprocating translational movement of the piston 58 produced by the successive detents generate a rotational movement

continuous of the rotating cylinder 56, the piston 58 being immobilized in rotation by the counter-piston 70 thanks to the slide link 72 and driving in rotation the rotating cylinder 56 thanks to the helical connection 62.

 Preferably, the bottom of the rotating cylinder 56 comprises a cavity 80 in the form of a bore, opening into the combustion chamber 54, at the level of which the ignition means are arranged in the form of a spark plug 81.

 According to a first variant illustrated by Figures 2 and 6, a light 82 is formed at the bottom of the rotating cylinder 56 or at the level of the cavity 80, capable of cooperating with an exhaust duct 84 or of being closed.

 In this case, the intake means comprise at the level of the counter piston 70 a conduit 86 opening into the space 88 delimited by said counter piston 70 and the piston 58, provided at its end opening into said space with a first valve 90 , as well as a conduit 92 at the bottom of the piston 58 communicating the space 88 with the combustion chamber 54 provided with a second valve 94.

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 Each valve is capable of occupying two positions, a first closed position in which it opposes the passage of a fluid, and a second pass position in which it allows the passage of the fluid.

 According to one embodiment, the valves are maintained in the closed position by return means, for example a spring, the pressure of the fluid causing the opening of the valve, against the return means, when said pressure exceeds a certain threshold, calibrated according to the stiffness of the return means.

 According to one embodiment, the end of the conduit 86 opening into the space 88 comprises a seat 96 in the form of a chamfer and the first valve 90 comprises a head 98 of frustoconical shape whose side is capable of cooperating with the seat 96 and a body 100 sliding in the conduit 86 comprising an internal bore 102 opening into the conduit 86 and through a plurality of orifices 104 at the exterior wall of the body.

 Thus, in the closed position, the side of the head 98 of the valve bears against the seat 96 of the conduit opposing the passage of the fluid.

 In the on position, the sidewall is no longer in contact with the seat, so that the fluid flows from the conduit 86, passing through the bore 102 and the orifices 104, towards the space 88 as illustrated by the arrows 106.

 Similarly, the end of the duct 92 opening into the combustion chamber 54 comprises a seat 108 in the form of a chamfer and the second valve 94 comprises a head 110 of frustoconical shape whose side is capable of cooperating with the seat 108 and a body 112 sliding in the conduit 92 comprising an internal bore 114 opening into the conduit 92 and through a plurality of orifices 116 at the exterior wall of the body.

 In addition to the fuel mixture supply means are provided at the duct 86 in the form, for example, of an air supply 118 and a fuel injector 120.

 The principle of operation according to a two-stroke cycle of this engine is now described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 6.

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 In the bottom dead center position, the combustion chamber 54 is filled with the fuel mixture.

 Then, the piston 58 translates towards the bottom of the rotating cylinder 56 by compressing the gases, the port 82 being closed and the second valve 94 being in the closed position under the combined action of the gases and the return means. During this movement, a vacuum is created at the level of the space 88 which causes the opening of the first valve 90 and the filling of the space 88 with fuel mixture.

l'explosion des gaz ou cette dernière peut être initiée par des moyens d'allumage par exemple la bougie 81. La détente des gaz engendre la translation du piston 58 vers le point mort bas ce qui tend à comprimer les gaz présent dans l'espace 88 provoquant la fermeture de la première soupape 90. At top dead center, the gases are compressed in the combustion chamber 54, the light 82 being always closed and the second valve 94 in the closed position. Depending on the case, the compression of the gases may be sufficient to initiate

the explosion of the gases or the latter can be initiated by means of ignition, for example the spark plug 81. The expansion of the gases causes the piston 58 to translate towards the bottom dead center which tends to compress the gases present in the space 88 causing the closure of the first valve 90.

 As soon as the pressure at the level of the combustion chamber is lower than that of the space 88, the second valve 94 opens, which corresponds to the admission of gases from the space 88 to the combustion chamber 54. A at this moment, the light 82 must communicate with the exhaust duct 84. Thus the fresh gases, coming from the space 88 expel the burnt gases present in the chamber.

 At bottom dead center, the cycle begins again.

 For controlling the supply and the ignition, means 125 for positioning the rotating cylinder in the form of a sensor are provided.

 To seal the combustion chamber 54 and the space 88, scrapers or segments 122 are provided between the piston 58 and the rotating cylinder 56 and between the piston 58 and the counter-piston 70.

 On the other hand, to limit friction during the relative movements of the moving parts, lubrication means can be provided.

 According to a second variant illustrated in FIG. 5, a light 82 is formed at the bottom of the rotating cylinder 56 or at the level of the

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 cavity 80 capable of cooperating with an exhaust duct 84 or an intake duct 124 or of being closed.

 According to another variant of the exhaust means, illustrated in FIG. 7, no cavity 80 is provided. In this case, a light 126 of suitable shape is provided at the bottom of the rotating cylinder 56, offset from the axis of the bore of the rotating cylinder, which is capable of cooperating with an exhaust duct 128 secured to the frame.

This solution with a straight exhaust pipe makes it possible to reduce the disturbances in the flow of the exhaust gases, which contributes to reducing the temperature of said gases and of the engine assembly.

 According to another variant of the intake means, illustrated in FIG. 7, the second valve 94 is eliminated and replaced by a recess 130 formed at the level of the rotating cylinder, in line with the bottom dead center position of the piston 58, said piston comprising a plurality of conduits 132 capable of making the space 88 communicate with the recess 130 and orifices 134 being provided at the level of the jacket 60 of the rotating cylinder 56 capable of making the recess 130 communicate with the combustion chamber 54.

 In the absence of a jacket, the recess 130 can be replaced by one or more grooves made in the cylinder 56 rotating in the longitudinal direction.

 According to this variant, when the piston is substantially in the bottom dead center position, the fuel mixture present in the space 88 flows towards the combustion chamber 54 via the conduits 132, the recess 130 and the orifices 134. As soon as the piston is no longer substantially in the bottom dead center position, the space 88 and the combustion chamber 54 no longer communicate.

 The main advantage of this solution is to effectively cool the head of the piston thanks to the expansion produced by the flow of gases from space 88 to the combustion chamber 54.

 Depending on the case, the output shaft of such a motor can be arranged along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and connected to said cylinder as illustrated by the

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 FIG. 1 or else be disposed along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and mesh on a crown secured to the rotating cylinder 56.

 According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the motor does not include any output shaft, but forms the support for the rotor of a generator. In this case, a first electromagnetic assembly 136 is disposed on the periphery of the rotating cylinder 56 and a second electromagnetic assembly 138 is fixed to a cylindrical frame, coaxial with the rotating cylinder, one of the two electromagnetic assemblies being capable of generating a permanent magnetic field and the other comprising at least one winding capable of generating an induced current under the combined effect of rotation and the permanent magnetic field.

 Of course, the invention is obviously not limited to the mode described above, but on the contrary covers all the variants thereof, in particular as regards the dimensions and the cubic capacity of the engine, the type of engine, namely two-stroke or four-stroke, the number of detents per revolution of the cylinder, the shape of the raceway as well as the intake and exhaust means and the fuel mixture used.

Claims (10)

 1. Thermal engine with rotating cylinder comprising a combustion chamber (54) delimited by a rotating cylinder (56) and a piston (58) as well as intake and exhaust means, characterized in that it comprises a connection helical (62) between the rotating cylinder (56) and the piston (58) and means for immobilizing in rotation the piston (58) so that the reciprocating translational movement of the piston (58) generates the continuous rotation of the rotating cylinder (56).  2. A rotary cylinder heat engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the helical connection (62) comprises at least one raceway (64) disposed at the side wall of the piston (58) extending over the whole of the wall so as to form a loop as well as at least one projecting element, for each raceway, linked to the rotating cylinder (56) capable of being housed in the raceway (64).  3. Thermal engine with rotating cylinder according to claim 2, characterized in that two diametrically opposite balls (66) integral with the rotating cylinder (56) are provided as projecting element for each raceway.  4. Thermal engine with rotating cylinder according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the raceway (s) (64) have a sinusoidal shape.  5. A rotary cylinder heat engine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for immobilizing the piston in rotation (58) comprise a counter-piston (70), integral with a frame (52 ), being housed in a bore formed in the piston (58), a slide link (72) being provided between the piston (58) and the counter-piston (70).  6. A rotary cylinder heat engine according to claim 5,

 characterized in that the slide link (72) comprises at least one straight raceway (74), disposed on a generator of the counter-piston (70), <Desc / Clms Page number 12>  in which is likely to move a ball (76) integral with the piston (58).  7. A rotary cylinder heat engine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a light (82) is formed at the bottom of the rotary cylinder (56) capable of cooperating with an exhaust duct ( 84) or an intake duct (124) or to be closed.  8. Thermal engine with rotating cylinder according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a light (82) is formed at the bottom of the rotating cylinder (56) capable of cooperating with an exhaust duct (84) or d '' be closed off and in that the intake means comprise at the level of the counter-piston (70) a conduit (86) opening into a space (88) delimited between said counter-piston (70) and the piston (58), provided with a first valve (90) at its end opening into said space, as well as a conduit (92) at the bottom of the piston (58) communicating the space (88) with the combustion chamber (54) provided with a second valve (94), each valve being capable of occupying two positions, a first closed position in which it opposes the passage of gases, and a second pass position in which it allows the passage of gases.  9. A rotary cylinder heat engine according to claim 8, characterized in that the valves are maintained in the closed position by return means, the pressure of the fluid causing the opening of the valve, against the return means, when said pressure exceeds a certain tared threshold as a function of the stiffness of the return means.  10. Thermal engine with rotating cylinder according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a first electromagnetic assembly (136) disposed on the periphery of the rotating cylinder (56) and a second electromagnetic assembly (138) fixed to a cylindrical frame, coaxial with the rotating cylinder, one of the two electromagnetic assemblies being capable of generating a permanent magnetic field and the other comprising at least one winding capable of generating an induced current under the combined effect of rotation and the field permanent magnetic.