US1202802A - Internal-combustion engine. - Google Patents

Description

L. A. CARTER. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 6. 1914.

Patented 00L. 3]., 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. A. CARTIER.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Pate ted (m. 31, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 APPLICATION FILED JULY 6. I914.

- LIONEL A. (EAR'IJER, OF ST. LOUIS,

KOKEN, 015 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

menace.

Engines, of which the following is "a full,"

clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

.This invention relates to internal combustion'engines of the type in which a relatively small charge of combustible gas is compressed to the point of ignition so as to pro? duce a flame which ignites the mixture in the main cylinder of the engine that has been compressed on the compression stroke of the piston.

One object of my invention is to provide an internal combustion engine of the gen- 2 eral type referred to or an ignition device for such engines which is so designed that the pressure created in the cylinder'on' the compression stroke of the piston is utilized to actuate a part or member which causes a comparatively small charge of gas in a firing chamber or auxiliary cylinder to be compressed to the ignition point, thereby producing an efficient and more reliable ignition device than those that have heretofore been designed, which comprised springs, levers,

or other moving parts for actuating the member that compressed the firing charge to the ignition point.

Another object is to provide an internal 5 combustion engine of the type mentioned in which the member that compresses the firing charge to the ignition point has no connection with the piston in the main cylinder of the engine and is so arranged that there is no danger of the firing charge'being ex- 1 ploded before the mixture in the main cylinder has been compressed to the proper degree. And still another object is to provide a practicable engine of the type referred to 5 which is of simple construction and is so designed that the explosions in the main cylinder can be timed and regulated as accurately as in an engine electrical ignition device.

tlther objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figurel of the drawings is a Vertical sectional view of an internal combustion engine constructed in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the Specification of Letters Patent.

provided with an parts in a difi'erent position. Fig. 3 is a detail top, plan view of the means for varying the time that the explosions occur. 'Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating asli ht modification of my inventionwhich di ers from the form shown in Fig. 1 in that no check valve is provided for the port that establishes communication between the main cylinder and the firing chamber. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an in ternal combustion engine constructed in accordance with my invention, in which the firing chamber is at oneside of the main cylinder of the engine. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the parts in a difi'erent position. Fig. 7 isahorizontal sectional view MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB, 01E ONE-HALF T0 WALTER Patented @ct. 31, 1199916.. Application filed .1 uly 6,1914%. Serial 0. 849,255.

taken on the line 77 of Fig. 5; and Fig.

8 is a horizontal sectionalview taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

flame that is produced in said firing chamber passing into the main cylinder A and igniting the compressed charge in said cylinder.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1 the firing chamber Cis formed in a movable member 1, and a stationary member '2 projects into said chamber so as to act as a piston that compresses the gas in said chamber-to the point of ignition when the member 1 is actuated in one direction by the pressure in the main cylinder A of the engine. The member 1 is reciprocatingly mounted in a sleeve 3 that is arranged in the head of the cylinder A in. such a manner that the pressure in said cylinder. Will be exerted upwardlyv on the lower end of the member 1, said sleeve either being formed integral with the cylinder or provided with an externally screw-threaded portion 3 that can be screwed into the usual spark plug opening in the head of the cylinder-l lhe stationary member 2 that constitutes the piston of the firing chamber C is carried by a cap m chamber-O by the-explosion of thecharge therein to pass into the main cylinder and ignite the compressed charge 1n said I "piece 4 that closes theupper end of the y sleeve.3, and which is secured thereto by-a cross pin 5, or in any other suitable manner,

as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Communication I between the main-cylinder A and the firing chamber 0 is esta'blished by one or more fports, so as to permit acharge' of gas to from escaping t enter the-chamber Q onthe conipression stroke of the piston'B. in the main cylinder,

and also to' permit the flame produced in the cylinder. In the form shown in Fig. 1 a port 6 in the lower end of'the member 1 permits a charge of gas to enter the firlng chamber C when the:pistonB in the main cylinder'i's movedupwardly on its comprescharge, the flame that is produced in the chamber-C when the charge therein 'is exploded. escaping into the main cylinder A through" a port 8 in the check valve 7, as

" shown in Fig. 2. While I prefer to pro-' ,vide the device with a relatively large port for admitting the. charge to the firing chamber and use' a check valve for trapping the charge in the firing chamber, I do not wish it to be understood that it is absolutely necessary to use a check valve, for, if desired, a comparatively small port 6 could be formed in the'member 1, as shown in Fig. 4;, so as to permit the charge to enter the firing chamber'O and also permit the flame to pass through saidport into the maincylinder A. Means are provided for holding the memher 1 at rest during the compression stroke of the piston B "unti'luthe mixture in the cylinder A has been compressed to the proper degree, saidmeans beingso designed that the member 1 will befreleased during the compression stroke of the main piston B and at such a period that the charge in the main cylinder A will be ignited at the proper time in the cycle of operations of the engine. 'When the main 'piston- B starts to 'move upwardly on its compression stroke the member. 1 is securely locked so that itcannot" move, consequently, a charge of gas flows from the main cylinder A through the port 6 into the firing chamber C. As the main piston B approaches the end of its compression stroke the member 1 is released and the pressure that has been created in the cylinder A causes said member 1 to move upwardly, and thus compress .the explosive charge in the chamber C to the ignition point, the flame that is produced by the explosion of the charge in the chamber C passing into the main cylinder A through the port 8 in the checkvalve 7, and thus igniting the compressed. gas the cylinder- A. e

Various means may be used for locking die member 1 and releasing it at the proper period in the cycle of operations of the engine, the means herein shown for this purpose consisting of a locking device 9 in one.

controlling mechanism, consisting of a yoke lever 15 and a rod 16, are provided for shifting the cam 13 longitudinally ofthe shaft v1 1, as. shown in Figs. 1 and 3 so as to vary the time that the cam 13 actuates the lever 11. The spring 12 normally holds the lever 11 in such a' position that the device 9 will either be in engagement with the member 1 or in position to engage the groove" 10 in said member. When the high point on the cam 13 engages the roll llfon the lower end of the lever 11 the locking device 9 will be disengaged from the member 1, and thus permit the'member 1 to move upwardly through the influence of the pressure in the cylinder A. The explosion produced in the firing chamber C tends to move the member 1 downwardly back to normal position, and the suction produced in the main cylinder A on the power stroke of the piston also tends to 'move the member 1 downwardly. If desired, however; a spring 17 can be arranged between the upper end of the member 1 and the cap member 4 in the sleeve 3, so as to insure the member 1 moving downwardly back tonormal position. A stop 3 at the lower jend'of the sleeve 3 limits the downward movement of the member 1 and prevents said member from projecting into the cylinder A. By changing the position of.

the timing c'am 1 or, in other words, shifting said cam longitudinally of its shaft 14:,

the timing ofthe explosions in the cylinder A can be controlled as accurately as in an engine equipped with an electrical-ignition device.

Various means may be employed for lubricating themovable member 1 and the stationary piston 2 withwhich it cooperates, and in Fig. 1 I have shown one means that may be used for this purpose, consisting of an oil pipe 18 for admitting oil to the sleeve 3 at such a point that oil can flow downwardly over, the side Walls of said sleeve and over the exterior of the stationary piston 2, which is provided at its lower end with oil grooves 19 'Inthe fornrof my invention shown in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, the firing chamber C is arranged at one side of the main cylinder exerted downwardly on the upper end of the carried by a reciprocating part or slide 20:

A adjacent the upper end of same, and the movable member 1 which compresses the charge in the chamber C to the point of ignition is so arranged that the pressure-in the cylinder A will force it downwardly into the chamber C. A port fi jn the side walls of the cylinder A establishes, communication between the firing chamber O and the main cylinder A, and means are provided for holding the member l in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 5, during the compression stroke of the piston B inthe main cylinder so that a charge of gas can enter the firing chamber at the proper period in the cycle of operations of. the engine and the member 1 released so that the pressure in the cylinder A will be member 1, and thus cause the firing charge in the chamber C to be exploded, the flame that results from said explosion passing through a port 8? preferably formed in the memberl? and igniting the compressed gas in the main-cylinder A.- The member 1 is that moves vertically in astationary. guide way 21, said slide being provided with an extension 22 that coiiperates with a con-. stantly rotating cam '23 which causes the slide 20 and the member 1 thereon to move upwardly and remain at rest while the mixture in the main cylinder A is being compressed on. the compression stroke of the main piston B. The cam 234s. so designed that it will pass'out of engagement with the vblock 22 on the lower end of the guide-22 while the main piston B is moving upwardly on its compression stroke, and means are provided for shifting said cam 23 longi-- tudinally of the shaft 24 which carries same so as to vary the period in the cycle of operations of the engine that the cam 23 releases the slide 20, and thus enables the timing of the explosions to be controlled accurately, the means herein shown for changing the position of the cam consisting of-a shiftable lever 15 and alink 16 of similar construction to the means used for this purpose in the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3. While I prefer to' arrange the firing chamber vertical-1y and at one side of the main cylinder A, I wish it to be understood that my invention is not limited to such a construction, for the firing chamber C and the movable member 1? inside of same could be arranged in various ther positions without departing from the spirit of my. invention. Furthermore, while ll prefer to form the flame port'8 in the member 1, this is not essential, so long as said flame port is located,- in such a position thatthe flame can 'pass from the fining chamber into the main cylinder. The firing. chamber 0' 'is substan- I tially ll-shaped in crosssection, and the guide 21 in whieh the member s1ides,is

provided with inclined side .walls that are I v disposed at the same angle as the side walls of the firing chamber C. The member 1 is substantially ll-shaped in cross. section and the slide 20 which carries said member is 7 0" substantially wedge-shaped in cross section. The .rear wall 25 of the guide 21 can be adjusted laterally toward the cylinder At so .asto compensate for'wear on the slide 20,

and thus insure a-practically gas-tight joint between the slide 20 and the guide between which it moves. As shown in Fig. 5 the inner face ofthe' adjustablewall 25, against which the rear' face of the slide bears, is

straight and parallel to the path of move so ment of the piston ,B, but the rear face of said wall 25 and the, cooperating faces on V v the guide 21, against which it bears, are ino in adjusted position consists of bolts 27 that to pass through a vertically dis osed elongated slot 28 of the guide and is s own clearly in Figs. 5 and 7. a V

In both forms of my invention a small charge of combustible gas isforced into the firing chamber during the compression stroke of the piston in the main cylinder and at the proper period in the cycle of operations of the engine the movable part which compresses the charge in thefiring 10c.

chamber is released so that the pressure in the main cylinder will actuate itand cause it to compress the firing. charge to the point of ignition, the flame that results from the explosion in the firing chamber passing into the main cylinder and igniting the 'compressed gas therein. No springs, levers or other mechanically operated parts are depended upon'to actuatethe member which compresses the firing charge to the point of ignition, but, on the contrary, the vpressure in the main cylinder of the engine is utilized to actuate said member, and consequently, the engine is more efiicient than the engines of this type which have heretofore been ,de- J I signed. The movable member that causes the explosionin the firing chamber to occur is held securely locked until the mixture in the main cylinder has been compressed to the proper'degree,-and asv the period in the 1:20 cycle of operations at which said member is released canbe varied by simply changing the position of the cam 13 in theform shown in Fig. 1, or the cam 23 in-the form shown in Fig. 5, the timing of the explosions can be controlled as accurately as in an engine provided with an "electrical ignition apparatus'; I

, *My; improvediignition device comprises applied easily to an engine equipped with anelectricalignition apparatus, owingto the fact that the guide 3 which. carries the mov able member land also thestationary pistorr 5 that formsoneof the end walls of the firing chamber is sodesi ned thatit can be screwed into the usual spar ,plug'opening in the headof the cylinderof-the engine.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim. is: 2- j f .1; r m internal vcombustion engine, a

cylinder, and relativelymovable members. forming a separate firing chamber that .f adapted' to receive a firing charge, one of said members being interposed'between the firing charge in said chamber'and the gasesin the'cylinder and adapted to be moved in a direction to compress the firing charge in said chamber to the point of ignition, by the direct pressure which the gases in the cylinvder exert on said member during the compression stroke of the piston. y

. vIn an internal, combustion engine, a cylinder, a separate firing chamber that is QB-adapted to 'receive a firing charge, said chamber being formed relatively movable members, one of which is interposed between the firing charge in saidchamber andthe.

wgases in the vcylinder and' adapted to be moved in a direction to compress the firing charge in saidchamber to the point of ignition, bythe pressure which the gases in the I vcylinderexert on said .member during the compression stroke of the piston, and means 'forenabling the period at which said firing charge is ignited to; bev'ai'ied so as to control the timing offthe'ekplosions in thecylinder of the engine. v

3. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston'in said cylinder, an ignition-deyi ce comprising a firing chamber, means for. permitting a a relatively small charge of combustible gases to; enter said firing chamber'on the compression stroke of the piston in the cylinder of the engine, and a movable 'member forming part of said chamber and interposed between the gases in the cylinder-"and in said firing chamber, said member being moved in a direction to compress the charge in said firing chamber to g the pointvof ignition, by the pressure which the gases in the cylinder exert on said mem- Q her during the compressionstroke of the piston. i

4. In .an' internal Combustion engine, a- -'cylinder, apiston in said cylinder, .an ignition device comprising a firing chamber that communicates with the main cylinder of the 7 engine. and which is adapted to receive a i so relatively small charge of gas from. the cylinder diiring the compression stroke of the. piston'in the cylinder, said chamber'being formed byrelatively movable members, one 3 of whichis interposed 'betwe'enthe gases in M the .firing'chamber'alnd the cylinder and.

compression stroke of the piston, and means 7.

.for holding said movable member at rest while the charge in 'the'main cylinder is being'partly compressed.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, an ignition device comprising a firing chamber that communicates with the cylinder of the en- -gine and which is adapted to receive a rela- 'tively small charge of combustible gas durx Y ing the compression stroke of the piston in 30 the cylinder, said chamber being formed by relatively movable members, one of which is moved directly by the pressure created in the cylinder on the compression stroke of the piston to compress thecharge of combustible 35 gas in the firing-chamber to the point of ignition so as to produce an explosion which fires the compressed gasin the cylinder, and means for holding said member at rest whilc the mixture in the cylinder is being compressed, said means being so designed that said movable member is released after the -mixture in the cylinder has been compressed that establishes communication between said 0 firing chambenand: the cylinder of the engine, said chamber being formed by relatively movable members, one of which is interposed between the gases in the cylinder and" in said firing chamber and adapted to 10! .be moved ina direction to compress the charge in said firing chamber tothe point of ignition and thus produce an explosion which fires the compressed gases in the cylinder of the engine, by the pressure which 111 the gases in the cylinder exert directly on said member during the compression stroke of the piston.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a firing 111 chamber that is adapted to hold a relatively small quantity of combustible gas, a port that establishes communication between said firing chamber-and the cylinder of the engine, said chamber being formed by rela- 121 tively movable members, one of which is actuated directly by the pressure created in the cylinder on the compression stroke of the piston for compressing the charge of bombustible gas in said firing'chamber to 12l the point of ignition so as to produce an explosion which fires the compressed gas in the cylinder of the engine, and an automatically-operating mechanism that holds said member at rest during the compression 181 naoaeoa t 1 stroke of the piston and releases it at such a time that the mixture in the cylinder will be'ignited fiat the proper period in the cycle of operations of the engine.

8. lln an internal combustion engine,. a cylinder provided with a piston, a firing chamber of relatively small area formed by relatively movable members, a port for per- I mitting gas to flow from the cylinder of the engine into said firing chamber on the comthrough which the flame passes from the firing chamber so as to ignite the compressed mixture in the cylinder.

9. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder provided with a piston, a firing chamber of relatively small cross-sectional area that communicates with the cylinder of the engine and which is adapted to. re-

ceive a charge of gas from the cylinder, said chamber being formed by relatively movable members, one of which is interposed between the gases in said firing chamber and in the cylinder and adapted to be moved in a direction to compress the charge in the firing chamber to the point of ignition, by the pressure the gases in the cylinder exert on said member during the compressionable member interposed between the firing charge in said chamber and the gases in the cylinder and adapted to be actuated by the pressure in the cylinder on the compression stroke of the piston for compressing the charge in the firing chamber to the point of cross-sectional area ignition, and means that moves said mov-' able member in the opposite direction and holds 1t in such a position that a charge of gas can flow from the cylinder into the firing chamber on the compression stroke of I the piston prior to the time said member starts to move to compress the charge in the firing chamber.

11. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a firing chamber having a port through which .a charge of combustible gas can pass from the main cylinder into said firing chamber, a movable member arranged in such a manner that the pressure in the main cylinder will cause it to compress the charge of gas in said firing chamber to the point of ignition, a slide that. carries said movable member, and an adjustable guide-way in which said slide travels.

12. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a firing chamber, means for permitting a charge of combustible gas to pass from the cylinder into said firing chamber, a movable member'operated by the pressure created in said cylinder on the compression stroke of the piston for compressing, the charge of gas in the firing chamber to the point of ignition, a slide of approximately wedgershape in cross section that carries said movable member, and means, for compensating for wear on said slide.

13. In an internal combustion engine, a cylinder, a firing chamber, means for permitting a charge of combustible gas to pass from the cylinder into said firing chamber, a movable member operated solely by the pressure of the gas compressed in the main cylinder on the compression stroke of the piston for compressing the charge of gas in the firing chamber to the point of ignition, a reciprocating part to which said member is connected, and a cam cooperating with said part to restore said member after the charge in the firing chamber has been ignited. 7

ln testimony whereof ll hereunto afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this twenty-seventh day of June 1914:.

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