GB564691A - Improvements in internal combustion opposed-piston engines - Google Patents

Abstract

564,691. Opposed piston internalcombustion engines. FORD MOTOR CO., Ltd. Aug. 27, 1943, No. 14050. Convention date, Sept. 12, 1942. [Class 7 (ii)] An internal - combustion opposed - piston engine has an integral cast block providing at its end parts bearings for a pair of inter-geared crank-shafts, a detachable head including valves mounted therein being secured along the middle line of the block. In one form, the'integral block 11 includes four cylinders 12 with waterjackets 13 and has flared portions 14 forming crank-shaft housings which are completed by members 15. The cylinders have each a pair of opposed pistons 18 connected to two crankshafts 20 carrying herring-bone pinions 21, both engaging a central drive gear 22 connected by a spider 24 to a shaft 23. The spider also carries a pinion 25 driving the gear 26 on camshaft 27 which operates inlet valves 28 and exhaust valves 29 mounted in a head bolted to a seating 16 on the block. A plate 30 gives access to the valves. To prevent oil leaking from the cam-shaft into the cylinders due to the manifold vacuum, channels 34 lead from the exhaust ports into recesses 36 in the valve guides, thus maintaining, pressure in said recesses. The valves are as described in U.S.A. Specification 2,235,871. The gearing is enclosed in a front housing 38 and shaft 23 is connected ,to transmission 39. The generator and starter are preferably attached one to each crank-shaft housing as at 41, Fig. 1. The keyed end of the crank-shaft receives a direct drive distributer. Vibration is reduced by a flexible coupling between crank-shaft 20 and pinion 21. For this purpose a plate 61 on the crank-shaft carries four segmental dogs engaging between corresponding dogs 63 of a spider plate 64, the dogs 63 being keyed to the pinion 21. Springs 66 are arranged to cushion a limited movement between the dogs. The outer surface of the spider plate which is urged outwardly by a spring 70 is engaged by a friction plate 68 keyed to the plate 61. The torsional flexibility permitted by springs 66 is positively limited by the dogs arid vibration between the dogcarrying parts is damped by the friction plate. The cam-shaft gears 25, 26 serve as an oil pump. In a modification, Fig. 9, the main block is extended to remove the seating surface 316 from the hotter parts of the engine. The valve assembly 328 is secured by threaded retaining- ring 336. In another modification, Fig. 7, the valve housing is formed integral with the cylinder block and the removable head 117 is secured to a part-cylindrical seat 116. By ' varying the inner surface 129 of the head, different compression ratios may be obtained. The valves in this form are parallel to the cylinder axes. Specifications 553,893 and 558,222, [Group XXXV], are referred'to.