GB2313627A

GB2313627A - Rotary engine

Info

Publication number: GB2313627A
Application number: GB9611217A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy William Masters; Janet Anne Dunning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-05-29
Filing date: 1996-05-29
Publication date: 1997-12-03
Also published as: GB9611217D0

Abstract

In a rotary internal combustion engine at least two rotors 10, 10A are provided having intermeshing teeth 12 between which are formed a succession of combustion chambers. Fuel is supplied to and compressed in a chamber 16 as the rotors rotate, the compressed fuel then being transferred via groove (36, Fig 2) to chamber 18 where ignition occurs and the combustion produces the force to rotate the rotors. Strip seals (26, 28), which may be of ceramics, are provided in the cooperating surfaces of the teeth 12 and further strip seals (30) are located in the lateral faces of the teeth. Two pairs of rotors may overlie one another (Fig 4) or four rotors may lie in a plane (Fig 5). An engine may be employed to drive each wheel of a vehicle, the operation of the engines being coordinated by an electronic control means.

Description

Rotary Internal Combustion Engine This invention relates lo a rotary internal combustion engine.

According to the invention, there is provided a rotary internal combustion engine comprising at least two rotors with intermeshing tooth-like protrusions carrying strip seals and which cooperate as the rotors relatively rotate to define a succession of combustion chambers at the position where the protrusions of one rotor and pairs of protrusions of the other rotor intermesh, plates for sealing the combustion chambers, on both sides of the rotors, means for admitting a fuel to the successive combustion chambers and means for enabling the escape of exhaust gases from the succession of combustion chambers.

Means for igniting fuel in each combustion chamber in turn may be provided, as fuel combustion may be spontaneous under compression, as in a diesel engine.

By virtue of the invention, with two rotors having for example eight protrusions each, it is possible to achieve say 210 degrees of combustion in one cycle, i.e. one complete revolution of the rotors. However, the invention is not limited to the use of two rotors. For example, hy overlaying one pair of rotors with a second pair, on the same shafts, and angularly offsetting the second pair by, say, 11.5 degrees with respect to the first pair, it is possible to achieve combustion over 420 degrees in one cycle.

Moreover, three or four or more rotors can be intermeshed in the same^lane.to* increase the overall capacity of the engine. Typically, two rotors each with eight protrusions can reasonably provide an engine of about 240 cc capacity, with an expected compression ratio of about 5:1. However, the capacity can be varied by using thicker or thinner rotors (in the direction of the rotor axes). However, in the case of a motor vehicle having four wheels, it is envisaged that an engine in accordance with the invention, which can be of flat, compact design although of small capacity, will be provided for each wheel, for example in association with an electronically controlled gearbox and/or torque converter and/or electronic clutch, or conceivably even by a direct drive associated with means for immobilising the vehicle until the engines are rotating sufficiently fast to fire.

By virtue of electronic control, it will then be possible to adjust the speed of each wheel according to the required road speed of the wheel, i.e. when cornering, and to prevent wheel slip on acceleration and deceleration or braking.

A reduction in power loss of approximately 30 per cent can then be expected, whilst the options of four wheel drive, four wheel steering and four wheel independent suspension can all be electronically controlled.

Possible fuels for the engine in accordance with the invention are conventional engine fuels, such as petrol or diesel oil, or hydrogen for rapidity of combustion.

In practice, the engine in accordance with the invention may be noisy if the bodies of the rotors, as distinct from the strip seals, come into contact, and it may therefore be desirable to provide elliptical gears at the ends of the rotor shafts, i.e.

outside the combustion chamber sealing plates, on at least one and possibly both sides of the rotors, in order to keep the rotors in precise intermeshing, relatively noiseless relationship.

The strip seals, for example of ceramic, are preferably set into grooves in the rotor, around at least parts of the lateral side edges of the protrusions and down the side walls of the protrusions, these strip seals being urged outwardly by underlying undulating strip springs. The strip seals thereby ensure efficient sealing of the combustion chambers against the lateral sealing plates, and also sealing of the combustion chambers between the intermeshing protrusions when the rotors are rotating.

In a preferred arrangement, considering any one protrusion of one rotor and the two protrusions of the other rotor with which said one protrusion of the one rotor intermeshes, fuel is compressed, as the rotors rotate, between the protrusion of the one rotor and one of the protrusions of the other rotor, and is then transferred to the other side of the protrusion of the one rotor into an expansion chamber formed with the other protrusion of the pair appertaining to the other rotor. Such transfer is preferably enabled by a transfer groove in the side walls of the protrusions of one rotor or in either or both lateral sealing plates, which are preferably also provided with one or more fuel exhaust grooves.

Some practical examples of rotary combustion engine in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a simple two rotor engine in diagrammatic manner, indicating the manner of operation; Figure 2 shows part of one rotor and the strip seals associated therewith; Figure 3 shows part of a rotor and the strip seals in more detail; Figure 4 shows one practical example of four rotor engine, partially encased; Figure 5 shows another four rotor engine in diagrammatic manner; Figure 6 shows part of a four rotor engine and a back sealing plate having grooves enabling escape of exhaust gases; and Figure 7 shows a motor vehicle wheel having an associated two rotor engine for driving the wheel.

Referring to Figure 1, two rotors 10, lOA with protrusions 12 of tooth-like form intermesh to rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions as indicated by the arrows 14. Due to the shape of the protrusions 12, at the region at which the rotors intermesh a succession of combustion chambers are formed as the rotors rotate.

Thus, a chamber at which fuel is injected and compressed, as the rotors rotate, is referenced 16. By means later described, the compressed fuel is transferred to the chamber 18, where firing by ignition means 20 takes place, to produce the driving force for the rotors 10, lOA. As the rotors continue to rotate, exhaust gases can escape at 24, aided by means also later described.

With the above-described engine, the driving force can be applied over 200 degrees or more of a complete cycle, more than sufficient to ensure smooth operation.

The combustion chambers must, of course, be sealed to enable the engine to operate in the described manner. Thus, referring to Figure 2, strip seals 26, 28 are provided down the side walls of the protrusions 12, and further strip seals 30 are provided around the lateral peripheries of the protrusions. The further strip seals 30 are in engagement with lateral sealing plates later referred to.

The strip seals 26, 28 are shown in more detail in Figure 3, and may comprise ceramic strips set into grooves 32 in the side walls of the protrusions 12, from which said strips are urged outwardly by underlying undulating springs 34.

Referring back to Figure 2, this also shows a transverse groove 36 formed in the side walls of the rotor between two protrusions 12, enabling compressed fuel to transfer from the chamber 16 to the chamber 18, as described with reference to Figure 1. Conveniently, the groove 36 may start about 5 degrees before the centre of the compression chamber and finish about 2 degrees after said centre.

Figure 4 shows a partly encased four rotor engine comprising two pairs of rotors 10, 10A and 10B, 10C overlying one anotber, separated by a lateral sealing plate 38. Another such sealing plate 40 is shown behind the new pair of rotors 10B, 10C. A not-shown lateral sealing plate is also provided in front of the front pair of rotors 10, 10A. On the rotor shafts outside the last mentioned lateral sealing plate are a pair of elliptical gears 42. 42A. These ensure precise positioning of the rotors 10 to 10C at all times during relative rotation, such that the bodies of the rotors do not contact one another, as distinct from the strip seals, at least partly in order to avoid noisy operation.

In operation, the engine of Figure 4 can provide a driving force over the full 360 degrees of a complete cycle if the respective pairs of rotors 10, 10A, and 10B, lOC are angularly offset by about 11.5 degrees.

Figure 5 shows an alternative construction of four rotor engine and elliptical gears associated therewith.

Means is provided for escape of exhaust gases in all the aforedescribed engines, and for convenience one means for this purpose in shown in Figure 6, with reference to the four rotor engine of Figure 5 from which, in Figure 5, the lateral sealing plates are omitted. In Figure 6, the back sealing plate 44 is shown, with the four rotors marked in dashed lines. Conveniently, an exhaust port 46 is sensed by two intersecting grooves 48 in the lateral sealing plate 44. In order to assist understanding, the centre lines 50, 50A joining rotor centres are also indicated, and the ends of the exhaust grooves 48 are shown in relation to these lines and the intermeshing regions of the rotors. Two combustion chambers 49 wherein firing has taken place and the fuel gases are expanding are also shown.

Finally, Figure 7 shows the manner in which a simple two rotor engine 52, of flat compact form, may be applied to drive a road wheel of a motor vehicle. One such engine, with a capacity of about 250 cc, may be employed at each wheel, the operation of the four engines being coordinated and supervised by an electronic control means.

Claims

1. a rotary internal combustion engine in which a sealed combustion chamber is created by intermeshing protrusions on opposing rotors.

2. an engine (as claimed in claim 1) with a relief groove within the side wall of the compression chamber to allow compressed gasses to move from the compression chamber to the expansion chamber ready for ignition.

3. an engine as claimed in any preceding claim which is made from metal, ceramic, or plastic material, or any combination of these materials.

4. a rotary engine substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.