US1121153A - Explosive-engine. - Google Patents

Description

E. J. WOOLF.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED M1127, 1908 1,121,153. Patented Dec.15,1914.

2 SHEETS-332KB 2.

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ELLIS J. WOOLF, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WOOLF VALVE GEAR,

COMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIQ,

MINNESOTA, A CORPORATION OF MINNESOTA.

BICPLOSIVE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 19142.

Application filed January 27, 1908. Serial No. 412,772.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known tliat I, Ems J. WooLF, a citizen of the United States, resid ng at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepm and Stateof Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Explosive- Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide an efiicient two-cycle explosive engine; and to this end, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Some of the most important features of invention herein disclosed and claimed are disclosed in my co-pending application S. N. 39%,030, filed September 23, 1907, entitled Explosive engine.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention as embodied in a two-unit twoc vcle engine. In said drawings, like notations refer to like parts throughout the sev eral views.

Referring to the drawings; Figure 1 is a vertical central section lengthwise of the crank shaft with the pistons at the opposite extremes of their travel, some parts being broken away and some parts shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a detail in section showing the ring valve of the right hand unit in the same position as Fig. 1, but with the piston as it appears after moving downward far enough to open the transfer port, or to the limit of its free movement in respect to the ring valve. Fig. 3 is a sectional View in the same plane as Fig. 1, but with the parts shown in the position occupied after the right hand piston has moved downward far enough to bring its suction port into position for cooperation with the transfer ports, for the scavenging action; and Fig. 4 is a detail in horizontal section through portions of the connected engines on the line :2 a of Fig. 3, showing the common port connecting the differential spaces of the two units and the valve through which the scavenging charge of air or air and water, is drawn.

A double chamber base casting 1 and a pair of differential cylinder castings 2 are rigidly secured together with suitably packed joints,

To each of the differential cylinder castings 2 is rigidly secured an explosion cylinder casting 3. The castings l and 2 are of such construction that when joined together they inclose the crank shaft at and afford two chambers surrounding the same, and which serve as the base or compression chambers 5. The crank shaft 4 is shown as provided with a suitable fly wheel 6.

The casting 3 is of the proper form to afford the main or explosion portion ofthe smaller member of the differential cylinders; and each of the castings 2 is of the proper form to afford a part of the smaller member of the differential cylinders and to aflord the whole of the larger member of said differential cylinders. In the differential cylinders afforded by the castings 2 and 3 is mounted a corresponding differential piston 7 connected by a rod 8 to one of the cranks 9 of the shaft 4. The two cranks 9 are shown as set 180 degrees apart. The smaller member of the differential piston 7 is of hollow or trunk-like form, and the crank shaft end thereof opens into the com pression chamber 5.

The numeral 10 represents the differential space or chamber defined by the walls of the differential cylinders and pistons.

The castings 2 and 3 are so constructed that, when joined together at their parting flanges, they afford between the sections of the explosion cylinder wall an exhaust port 11 which completely encircles said cylinder and leads to a large annular exhaust chard ber 12 formed in the lower end portion of the casting 2 and provided with the ordinary exhaust pipe opening 13. The piston 7 has in its tmnk a transfer port 1% which is a complete circle with the exception of the bridges therein. The lower end of each casting 2 is of the proper form to afford therein a cooperating transfer port 15 directly inward of the exhaust chamber 12 which is also a complete circle, with the errception of the bridges therein which support the adjacent inner wall of the explosion cylinder. Between the said piston and the inner wall of the explosion cylinder is located a ring valve 16 to control said transfer ports 14 and 15, so mounted that it bears tightly against the cylinder wall and that the iston will move through the valve. for a limited distance, and then pick up and -bers 5, in the base carry the said valve therewith during the rest of its travel in both directions. For thisvpurpose, thesaid ring valve 16 is preferably a splitring which will tightly hug the cylinder t-wall under its own tension; and, as shown, this ring valve 16 is of shape with the horizontal flange of the L turned inward and working freely in arecess or annular groove 17 formed in the piston 7, with the proper clearance for the required free movement of the piston through said valve. The horizontal flange of the ring valve 16, the height of the recess 17, and the height of the transfer port 14 in the piston 7, are so proportioned that the lower end of the ring valve 16 will seat against the lower wall of said port'14 coincidently with the seating of the.flange 'of said valve against the lower wall of the recess 17. In the piston 7 is located a deflector 18 directly inward of the transfer port 14.

and extending downward nearly but not quite to the end of the piston head. The said piston 7 has an exterior annular recess 19 in its trunk wall which, at the proper time, serves as a suction port for cooperation with the .said transfer ports 14 and 15 for the scavenging action, as will later more fully appear.

The casting 3 is of the proper form to afford a water jacket space 20 through which cooling water is circulated in the ordinary way. Said castings 3 are also each fitted with a suitable sparking plug 21.

Both members of the are fitted with the ordinary packing rings and serve their customary function; and the only point needing notice, in connection therewith, is the fact that the two packing rings of the smaller piston are both located below or nearer the small'end of the piston? than the ring valve 16.

The differential cylinder castings 2 of the two units abut each other, and each thereof is provided with one section of a port 22 connecting the two differential spaces or chambers 10, as best shown in Fig. 4. combined air and water supply valve 23, of a well known type,

is in communication with said port 22 by a short pipe 24, as shown in said Fig. 4, to supply air or air and water for scavenging purposes. The said combined air and water valve 23 is operated under suction produced by the crank shaft ends of the differential pistons, as will presently more fully' appear. The'portions of casting 1, are in communication with a valve casing 25 which is fitted with a two-way check valve 26, and the chest of this valve is tapped by supply pipe 27 leading from a suitable source of ex plosive material, not shown. The valve 26 is operated by the suction and compression actions of the crank shaft ends of the two valve 16 has from the position diiferential pistons the compression cham As shown, the stem of said double check valve 26 has a conical hole 28 therein in which works the lower end of a hand screw 29 seated in the casing 25, central of the said valves travel, and which parts cooperate to limit the closing movements of the said double check valve 26, whenever so desired, for the purposes hereinafter named.

0pemtion.-The cycle of actions will be traced with reference to the right hand unit. Let it be assumed that the compression chamber-5 of said right hand unit contains an explosive mixture previously drawn therein and compressed to charging pressure, and that its explosion cylinder has been exhausted and scavenged. Let it also be noted that the piston of said right hand unit has completed its upward or explosion stroke and is just ready to start back downward. At this instant, the transfer ports 14 and 15 are still closed by the ring valve 16. Then, as the piston moves downward into the position shown in Fig. 2, or to the limit of its free movement through the ring valve 16, the said ring valve will remain in its uppermost position, or just as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, bearing tightly against the cylinder wall from its own spring tension and the pressure thereon from the compressed charge. Otherwise stated, the ring been dropped and the piston moves on through the same, while'traveling shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2. During this same time, the head ofthe piston has been above the lower end of thetransfer port 15 of the cylinder; and hence, it follows, that, during all this time, the transfer ports 14 and 15 have been in communication, and that the charge has beenrushing in from the compression chamber to the explosion cylinder through the said ports 14 and 15, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 2. In so doing, the charge is made, by the deflector 18, to pass downward against the wall of the piston head and then upward along its side walls to the transfer port 14 of the piston, thus getting the full benefit of the heat thereof.

differential pistons.

' The lower end of the cylinder port 15 is so shaped that the entering charge converges to a central meeting point from all parts of said annular port 15, and, of necessity, at this point of convergence, the charge must be thrown vertically downward through the central zone of the explosion cylinder, as this is the only available course.

.As soon as the pis n reaches the point she in'inFig. 2, it picks up the ring valve 16 and moves the same therewith throughout the remainder of its downward travel, and the charging action will continue until the piston head closes the lower end of the transfer port 15, the proportions of the parts being suchthatthe ring valve 16 will close the upper end of said port substantially coincident therewith. This, of necessity, leaves the transfer port 15 full of explosive mixture caged therein, after the charging action has been completed. Under the continued downward movement of the piston, the exhaust port 11 is next closed; and, then, the charge within the explosion cylinder is compressed, and, at the proper time, ignited from the sparking plug 21, and the explosion takes place. When, under this downward movement of the piston T, the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 3, the suction port 19 of the piston 7 will bridge the dividing wall between the differential space 10 and the upper end of the cylinder transfer port 15, thereby connecting the same; and, at this same time, the transfer port 14 of the piston will be open and in registration with the lower end of said transfer port 15, as shown in said-view; and because of this relation of the said ports 14, 15 and 19, the suction action of the crank shaft end of the differential piston will become operative first to draw back into the base or compression chamber 5 the explosive mixture which had been caged in the transfer port 15, and, then, to fill the same with a scavenging charge of air, or air and water, from the differential space 10 drawn into the same through the air and water valve 23 and pipe 24. Under the further downward movement of the piston 7 from the position shown in Fig. 3, this scavenging charge will we caged in the said cylinder port 15 and there remain available for scavenging purposes. As soon as the charge in the explosion chamber has been compressed and exploded, the piston will, of course, instantly move in the opposite direction, or upward, and leave or drop the ring valve 16, which will then clamp the cylinder wall, under its own tension, until the piston has moved therethrough to the limit of its free movement, thus causing the ring valve to close the transfer port 14 of the piston; and the piston will then again pick up and carry the ring valve with it in this port-closed position, throughout the remainder of the pistons explosion stroke, or until it returns to the position shown in Fig. 1. In this up ward travel of the piston. under the effect of the explosion, the gases, of course, act expansively, until the piston head uncovers the exhaust port 11; whereupon, the ex haust will begin and continue throughout the remainder of the explosion stroke. Soon after the exhaust begins. the piston head will also uncover the lower and of the transfer port 15, and the scavenging charge previously caged therein. as above noted, will become available for scavcng g purposes. Bearing in mind that this contains more or less water, it issobvious that the flame or extremely hot gases, still under considerable pressure, will vaporize the water in this scavenging charge, and the steam generated therefrom, by the expansion thereof, will, when the exhaust pressure gets low enough, rush into the explosion cylinder and thereby thoroughly scavenge the same before the piston reaches the limit of its explosion stroke. In view of the position taken by the ring valve 16, immediately after the piston begins to move upward under the effect of the explosion, it follows, as already noted, that said ring valve closes the transfer port 1st of the piston throughout the whole of the explosion stroke; and it further follows that there can be no blow back of the exhausting gases through the transfer ports 15 and 14 into the compression chamber. Hence, with this engine, back explosions are impossible. WVhatever air, or air and steam, remains in. the cylinder transfer port 15, after the first scavenging action, above noted, has been completed, or after the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 1, will, of necessity, be forced into the explosion cylinder, in advance of the new charge, when the piston begins to move downward from the position shown in Fig. 1 into that shown in Fig. 2, thereby further scavenging the cylinder, as the exhaust port 11 remains open throughout the entire time of the scavenging and char ing actions. In this connection, it shoul be noted, that this transfer port 15 is large, as it completely encircles the cylinder, and is also of considerable height and width. -The volume of air thus made available for the second scavenging action is, therefore, considerable; and this provision is desirable, not only for said scavenging purposes, but to avoid any waste of the new charge through the exhaust port before the latter is closed to compression. If anything is forced out, it will be air and steam.

The foregoing gives the cycle of actions for the right hand unit, starting from the position there shown under the conditions assumed. It only remains to note how those conditions there assumed were secured. This relates simply to the intake for the explosive mixture.

It was assumed that a previously drawn in charge had been compressed in the chamher 5 of the right hand unit; and, under said assumption, the two-way check valve 26 would be: held in its closed position by the pressure therefrom. After the transfer of the compressed charge is effected, under the downward movement of the piston 7, the suction action of the crank shaft end of the piston will begin in the compression chamvalve 26 will be instantly shifted from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the osition' shown in Fig. 3, and that the explosive mixture will therefore be drawn into the chamher 5 of the right hand unit. When the piston of the right hand unit begins to move upward, under the effect of the explosion in that unit, the piston of the left hand unit will be moving downward so that the reverse action inrespect to the intake of the 'explosive'mixtur'e will take place, to-wit,

the two-way check valve 26 will be shifted from theposition shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 1, and the explosive material will be entering the left hand compression chamber 5, and the previously drawn in mixture in the right hand chamber 5 will be caged therein and coming under compression. This. completes all the cycle of actions, in all their phases, both in respect to the intake and distribution. It must be further .noted, however, that the hand screw 29 enables the closing movement of the two-way valve 26 to be intercepted, so as to leave any desired degree of leakage from one to the other of the compression chambers 5, and that, by this means, the volume and pressure of the available charge can be reduced to govern the speed of the engine, or for starting the engine. It must also be obvious that a centri gal governor could be readily applied to the screw stop 29, or, its equivalent, so as to render this governing action automatic.

, Respecting the differential spaces 10, it is worthy of notice that no vacuum occurs therein under the movements of the differential pistons, but that the air and Water therein contained will be shifted from one to the other of said differential spaces alternately through their connecting port 22, with the exceptions of such portions thereof as are drawn into the transfer ports 15 of the two cylindersfor the scavenging action, under the cooperation of the suction ports 19 with said transfer ports 14 and 15, as hitherto noted; and, of course, whatever amount is thus drawn into said-ports 15 is replaced in the connected differential spaces 10 by an equivalent amount drawn in at the same time through the combined air and water valve 23 and pipe-24 (mammal-s.--Some of the advantages of the novel distribution valve, disclosed in this engine. have already been noted. For example, attention has been called to the fact that no back explosion into the compression chambers can occur. Another advantage due to this ring valve 16 is that a very large transfer or charging port is rendered available, so that said port'only needs to be open for a very short time. The transfer port 14, in the piston, the same, with the exception of the bridge .bythe piston,

" reliable.

entirely encircles walls, and the transfer port 15, in the cylinder, also encircles the bore of the cylinder, with the same kind of an exception; and, hence, the only limit to the circular length of the transfer or charging ports is the peripher of the piston. It follows, that the heig t of this controlling member 14: of the transfer ports, measured lengthwise of the piston, may be comparatively short. Hence, said port needs only to be open for a very short time to make the complete transfer required for a full charge. The throw of the valve 16, i. 6., the free movement of the piston through said ring valve 16-is, therefore, short; and the valve is picked up in eachdirection of the latters travel, ust after the crank passes its dead center, pr at times when the piston is moving extremely slow. It follows, that the said ring valve 16 will be picked up by the piston without pounding or noise, as I have demonstrated in actual practice. Another important advantage of the said ring valve 16, and said annular transfer ports Hand 15, encircling the piston and cylinder, is that uniformity of expansion is thereby secured in all parts of the piston and cylinder walls su ject to the hot gases. This uniformity of expansion thus secured elfectually prevents any distortion or cracking of the castings from unequal expansion. A

further advantage of this form of distribution valve is the fact that the same can be seated between the piston and cylinder at such a place that the said ring valve never becomes subject to the hot gases or pressures generated by the explosion. This makes the valve much more durable and It is also incidental to the presence of this ring valve arrangement of the transfer ports 14-45, and the suction port 19 of the piston, that I am able to scavenge the cylinder member 15 of the transfer ports, and to cage therein scavenging charges of air and water for 110 double scavenging the explosion cylinder, as

hitherto noted, and which is also highly effective for cooling both the piston and the cylinder; and, moreover, this is all done,

under the direct action of the engine pis- 115 check action-inof note that it has the important advantage-of not requir- 12 ing any spring'or the action of gravity for seating pur'pose's; or, as already stated, it opens and closes, in both directions-of its travel, under the cooperative action of the crank shaft ends of the-differential pistons 125 of the two units.

All theadvantages hitherto noted, are independent of the mounting of the engine.

he mounting of the engine-The mounting of the e with its 16, and the relative base or crank 1 o ugpermost also accordscertain imporw b advantages, especially when alcohol or vy hydro-carbon oils are employed as the fuel. These kinds of fuel require pre heating. and that has usually been done before the introduction of the fuel to the com- 1 ssion chamber of the engine. By mountthe engine with its base uppermost, as rated in this case. said kinds of fuel, 3 above named, can be employed, if des'iiid. and be introduced into the compressi chambers 5 from an ordinary vaporizer without pro-heating. Whatever amount of these fuels come into the compression chainhers 5 in liquidor unvaporized form will settle, by gravity, into the hottest part of the hollow piston 7 and directly onto the piston head, and be there effectively va porized and forced into the explosion cylinder in the charging action. In other words, there is no opportunity for accumulation of the liquid fuel beyond that incidental to the interval between successive charges. The position of the deflector 18, relative to the walls of the piston head, in-

creases this vaporizing or heating action on the fuel. If alcohol should be used, which is.well known to contain 10% or more of water, the water thereof will be turned into steam'and pass in with the charge. Moreover. the exploslve mixture itself is thus rendered effective for cooling the piston and cylinder to a large extent. This would be true, to some extent, if the engine was mounted with its base lowermost, or in-the customary way, but is effective to a much larger extent when mounted, as shown, with its base uppermost, when alcohol or the heavy hydro-carbons are employed. Even with gasolene, there can be no flooding of the compression chambers, when the engine is mounted with its base uppermost, as shown. and the same remark applies in respect to lubricating oil. This mounting is also important in respect to the use of water with the air drawn into the differential spaces 10 and used for scavenging the transfer ports and the explosion cylinders, as hereinbefore noted. lVhatever water is drawn in with the air through the comuined air and water valve 23, pipe 24: and connecting port 22 into the said differentialspaces 10, and is not held in suspension by the. air, will settle, by gravity, against the lower walls of said spaces 10, and flow into the transfer ports or be sucked therein in' the scavenging action. Moreover, no excess of water can accumulate in the cylinder member 15 of the transfer ports, because when the piston is in its lowermost or exploding position, as shown in the left hand unit in Fig. 1, the suction port 19 of the piston connects the cylinder port 15 with the exhaust chamber 12, thereby permittin the water to escape into the exhaust. It to lows that none of the scavenging water can mix 1. In an explosive engine, a casing having compression and combustion chambers, an intake port leading to said compression chamber, an exhaust .port from said combustion chamber, a passage-way in said casing connecting said compression and combustion chambers and a hollow piston having a closed head and provided with a valved opening in its side for controlling said passageway which connects said compression and combustion chambers, substantially as described. In an explosive engine, a casing-having compression and combustion chambers an intake port leading to said compression chamber, an exhaust port from said combustion chamber, a passageway in said casing connecting said compression and combustion chambers, a hollow piston having a closed head and provided with a valved opening in its side for controlling said passageway, and an intake valvesubject to the suction action of the piston for controlling said intake port, substantially as described.

3. In an explosive en no, the combination with a cylinder an piston having in their respective walls coiiperating sections of a transfer or distribution passageway, of a ring valve seated in said piston and controlling said passageway under the motion of the piston, substantially as described.

4.. In a two-cycle explosive engine, the combination with a cylinder'and piston having cooperating sections of a transfer passageway, of a ring valve seated between the sections of said passageway with freedom for a limited movement of the piston through said ring valve, whereby the piston will pick up and drop said ring valve to control said transfer passageway.

5. In a two-cycle explosive engine, having a. compression chamber, the combination with a cylinder and piston having in their respective .walls cooperating sections of a transfer passageway, of a ring valve seated in saidpiston and controlling said passageway under the motion of the piston, with said passageway sections and said valve so related that gas will remain caged in the cylinder section of said transfer passageway, after the charging action is completed, and a suction port in the piston wall arranged to cooperate with said transfer passageway sections and said ring valve to secure the return of said caged gas to the compression chamber and to refill said cylinder passageway section with a scavenging charge, under the suction action of said piston, stantially as described.

6. In a two-cycle explosive engine, having a compression chamber, the combination with a cylinder and piston having in their respective walls coiiperating sections of a transfer passageway, of a ring valve seated between the sections of said passageway, with freedom for limited movementof the piston through said valve and opera ive thereby to control said passageway, that under the motion of the piston, and with said parts so arranged that the gas will remain caged in the cylinder section of said transfer passageway, after the charging-action is completed, and a suction port in said piston arranged to coiiperate with said transfer passageway sections and said ring valve to secure the return of said caged gas to the compression chamber and to refill said cylinder passageway section with a scavenging charge, under the suction action of said piston, substantially as described.

7 A crank case or base compression twocycle explosive engine having in its cylinder and piston walls cooperating sections of a transfer passageway, a ring valve seated between the piston and cylinder and opercopies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the subgine having ated by the piston to control said passage= way, and which engine is mounted with its base or crank uppermost and has a hollow piston open to the crank case or compression chamber and is provided with a deflector in the interior of said hollow piston arranged to deflect the explosive material over the hottest part of the piston head in its passage through said transfer passageway, substantially as described.

8. In a two-unit two-cycle explosive entwo explosion and compression chambers, the combination with the two pistons coupled to the common crank shaft, substantially 180 degrees apart, of a fuel supply valve casing communicating with the two compression chambers a two-way check valve located in said casing'and subject to the suction and compression actions of said two pistons to shift the fuel supply alternately from one to the other of said compression chambers, and also provided with an adjustable governing stop operative to limit the closing movement of said check valve to govern the speed of the engine, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLIs J. w OOLF.

Witnesses:

JAs. F. WILLIAMSON, H. D. KILGORE.

Commissioner of 2mm.

Washington, D. 0.

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