US1230923A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

E. W. PRIGAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 2.1913.

1 ,230,923@ Patented June 26, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E- W. PRIGAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

v APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1913- 1,23D,923. v Patented June 26, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ERNEST W. PRIGAN, OF

AKRON, onro, As-srenor't or ONE-FOURTH TO GEORGE T. SMITH,

OEAKRON', OHIO, ONE-FOURTH r0 FRANK MJKI'RK, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, AND ounrourt'rrr 'ro L. n. FISOI-IMAN, or AKRON, OHIO.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

Application filed. July 2, 1913. Serial No. 777,048.

To all whom it may concern:

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Akron, county of Summit, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being hereinexplained and the best mode in which I have contemplated ap-- plying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

The subject of the present invention is an internal combustion engine of the rotary type which is provided wlth a stationary.

crank shaft and a plurality of cylinders which are adapted to rotate as a unitabout such crankshaft. It is this type of engine which can be built to give a maximum horse power with a mlnimum of weight. To still further decrease the proportion of weight to horse power it is desirable to construct the engine of the 2-cycle type.

port type is notoriously inefficient, and to remedy this objection I have provided in addition to this feature I have provided a self starting means for the engine as well as other new and improved features to be hereinafter described. To the accomplishment of the foregomg and related ends, said invention, then, consists of. the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawingsand the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such dis-' closed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

Figure 1 is acentral section through my improved engine; Fig. 2 is an end elevation ofthe engine showing in SldG elevation the pump mechanism; Fig. 31s a plan view showing the attachment of the muffler to the cylinders; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line stationary members or plates 3 and 4 the crank shaft being engaged by three connect- 4L4:, Fig. 1. p

A stationary crank shaft 1 having a smgle off-set or throw 2 is fixed between two Theusual 2- cycle engine. whether of the two or three ing rods 5 each attached to a piston 6 the Be it known that LERNnsr W. PRIGAN, a

cylinders is of course immaterial, as three or more may be used, but as substantially continuous power can be obtained from three cylinders operating on the Q-cycle prlnciple (the preferred engine is thus built.

Each of the cylinders is provided with a plurality of exhaust ports 9' adapted to be uncovered uponthe downward stroke'of the v pistons 6 the head 10 of each cylinder being formed with a lateral extension 11 in which there is seated apuppet valve 12 normally closed by a spring '13, valve stems 14 being connected to the valves 12, and such stems 14 being adapted to be raised upon rotation of the cylinders as they strike against a cam 15 attached to a sleeve 16 which is rotatably mounted upon the crank shaft 1 and is normally held in fixed relation thereto by means of a stop 17 on the sleeve engaging against a second stop 18 attached to one of the plates 3 in which the crank shaft is fixed. The cam15 is attached to the sleeve by means of a disk 19. which is mounted in a casing 20 attached to the cylinders and rotatable therewith, such casing 20 snugly fitting about the sleeve 16 and the sleeve having slots or openings 21 at its inner end to permit passage of gas through a passage 22 formed in the crank shaft and opening laterally into the casing 20. In the inner wall 23 of the casing are formed a plurality of ports 24, one for each cylinder, each port being connected to a valve chamber 25 in the adjacent cylinder by means of a conduit in the form of a small tube 26. The disk 19 is provided with a single port 27 which is adapted to register successively with the end of the crank shaft and also for the crank case and rotating cylinders. The other side of the crank case is rotatably mounted on the crank shaft by a bearing 34:. Attached to the sleeve 31 is any suitable clutch such asamultiple disk clutch 36 (here shown) for the purpose of transmitting the power of the engine to any desired mechanism.

The sleeve 31 attached to the crank case 8 is provided with a gear 33, such gear being suitably connected, preferably by means of a silent chain 36, with a second gear 37 which is adapted to drive, through a con necting rod 38, a two cylinder horizontal pump, each cylinder 39 in such pump beingprovided with inlet and outlet valves 40 and ll respectively, the inlet valves 40 be ing connected to a manifold 42 connected to a earbureter 43 and the outlet valves 41 beamount of suitably mixed gas and air.

ing connected to a second manifold 44 leading to a pressure tank 45. The pump is designed to maintain a pressure of approximately fifty pounds in the tank, and valves 16 and 80 are disposed on each side of the tank, these valves being of the usual globe type.

The pressure tank 45 is connected by means of a suitable conduit 47 to the end of the crank shaft 1, thus permitting the pressure fluid to pass from the tank 45 to the casing 20 about the crank shaft and to thus supply the cylinders in turn with a proper Either gasolene, kerosene, or other fuel may be used in the carbureter, depending of course upon the particular construction ofthe same.

Each cylinder is provided with a spark plug 50 of the usual construction, such plug being connected to a terminal 51 fixed in an insulating disk 52 attached to the cylinders 7. Adjacent to such disk is a second disk 53 attached to the crank shaft 1, such disk 53 being also of insulating material and having a terminal 54 opposite to the terminal 51 in.

the first-named disk, the spark being adapted to jump between such two terminals upon the contact of terminals 55 and 56 mounted opposite to each other in such two disks 5?. and 53 respectively and connected to the primary circuit of the usual magneto or batteries. The terminals in the disks will of course be so disposed that the spark will occur in the cylinder at the proper time to ignite the charge.

The cylinders are preferably of the aircooled type, being provided with ribs 60 adapted to catch the air and provide for the radiation of the heat from the cylinders. The exhaust ports 9 in each cylinder are spaced through approximately 120 degrees and are covered by a sleeve 61 connected tothe inner casing or chamber 62 of a threechamber mufller, such lnner chamber belng provided with apertures 63 on all sides per each cylinder discharges into the circular mufller, the gas being directed away from the engine as indicated. Other mufflers of suitable type may be used, if desired, but the present one is particularly adapted to the rotary construction and is hence preferred.

The crank shaft 1 is formed with a second internal passage 68 extending from one end through the offset portion, there being leads 69 from such passage to the outside of the crank shaft. This passage may be connected with any suitable supply of lubricant, the various bearing surfaces being thus lubricated while the walls of the cylinders are lubricated by means of the oil which is forced out through the connecting rods and is thrown to the walls of the cylinders. By using only three cylinders the connecting rods may be attached to the crank shaft as shown, each having a generous bearing surface on the crank shaft. This is an important feature of the present construction, as much difficulty has been met with in the connecting rods and their bearing surfaces in the usual rotary engine.

To start the engine it is only necessary to rotate a handle 7 0 attached to the sleeve 16 through one-half revolution. This operation raises one of the valve stems and opens the valve and simultaneously connects the casing 20 with the passages leading to the valve chambers. In this way gas is admitted to each cylinder in turn, such gas being under approximately 50 pounds pressure, and being sufficient to start the rotation of the cylinders and to start their firing. As soon as the rotation has begun the sleeve 16 is returned to its normal position by the friction of the casing 20 upon the same, thus leaving the engine in the position shown in Fig. 1. The advantage of supplying the fuel under pressure is considerable as in this way the fresh fuel that is admitted to the cylinders can be used to force out the last remnants of the burnt gas, this action being made possible by the use of the mechanically operated inlet valve timed to open at the same time that the exhaust port is uncovered by the piston. It is important that a distributing valve, such as the disk 19 in the casing, be used, and this disk is so timed in relation to the inlet valves in the cylinders that gas is admitted to the valve chambers simultaneously with the opening of the valve. In this way all pressure on the valve is removed, as if the gas were always in the valve chamber it might leak through the valve, thus causing an irregular operation of the engine and putting an undue strain upon the springs which normally hold the valves closed.

The present engine when built in the to weigh but very little, thus adapting it particularly for use in aeroplanes, hydroplanes and the like, although its use is of course not limited to such installations, as it may also be used in automobiles, and in fact wherever a low weight is an important 1 ing, a mechanically operated inlet valve consideration.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of and a cylinder rotatable thereabout, said cylmder having an exhaust port controlled by a piston; of a high pressurestorage tank,

an independent *puni'p operated by said engine and adapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to said tank, connections from sald tank to said cylinder, a mechanically operated inlet valve adapted to control the' admission of such high pressure gaseous fuel to said cylinder, said valve being tlmed to admit such high pressure gaseous fuel to said cylinder upon the opening of such exhaustport, and manually operable means adapted to open said inlet valve to permit the admission of such high pressure gas to start said engine.

'2. In an internal "combustion "engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with an exhaust port controlled by the piston, an

inlet valve adapted to control the admission of high pressure gaseous fuel to said cylinder, a cam adapted, upon rotation of either said cam or'said valve relative to the other, 'to open said valve, said cam being timed to admit such high pressure fuel upon the opening of such exhaust port, 'and manually tation of said camand said valve thereby admitting high pressure gas to said cylinder to start said engine.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the 1 combination with a cylinder provided with an exhaust port controlled by the piston,

of a fluid pressure storage tank, an 'inde-] nec'tions from said tank and said cylinder to operable means adapted to cause relative rotrol the discharge'of gas into saidconnection to said cylindensaid two valves beln'g timed to operate an synchronism.

4. In an internal combustion "engine, the combination with a cylinderprovided with an exhaust port controlled by the piston, of afluid pressure-storage tank, an independent pump operated by said engine and adapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to said tank, a cyllndrlcal 'CflS1I1g,COI1I1(-3CUO11S from said tank and said cylinder to saidcasadapted to control said connection to said cylinder from said tank, and a second valve in said casing adapted to control the dis- 5 charge of :gas into said connection to said cylinder, said two valves being timed to opcrate in synchronism, and manually operable'means adapted to synchronously open said two valves, thereby admitting gas at5 high pressure to said cylinder to start said engine.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with an exhaust port controlled by the piston, of a 'fiu' id pressure storage tank, an independent pum-p operated by said engine and adapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to said tank, a cylindrical casing, consaid casing, a puppet valve adapted to control said connection to said cylinder from said casing, a cam adapted, upon relative 'rotatlon'of-sald cam and said valve, to open said valve, and a second valve in said casing" adapted to control the discharge of gas into said connection to said cylinder, upon relative rotation of said second valve and said casing.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder provided with an exhaust port-controlled by the piston, of

fluid pressure storage tank, an independent pump operated by said engine and adapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to said tank, a cylindrical casing, connections from said tank and said cylinder to said casing, a puppet valve adapted to control said connection to said cylinder from said casing, aca'm adapted, upon rel-" 5 ative rotation of said cam and said valve, to open said valve, a second valve in said casing adaped to control the discharge of gas into said connectionto said cylinder, "upon relative rotation of said second valve 120 and said casing, and manually operable meansadapted to cause relative rotation of said puppet valve and said cam and also of said second valve and said casing, thereby admitting high pressure gas to said cylinder 125 to start said engine.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed crank shaft, having a longitudinal passage therein, such passage having a lateral opening, a cylinder 130 r rotatably mounted on said crank shaft, an

exhaust-port in said cylinder controlled by the'piston, an inlet valve in said cylinder,

' a spring adapted to normally seat the same,

means adapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to such passage in sa1d crank shaft, acasing rotatably mounted on said 7 crank shaft about the lateral opening of such passage and attached to said cylinder,

said casing being provided With a port, a

i normally closed conduit connecting such port to said inlet valve, and means adapted to synchronously open said inlet valve and said'conduit, thereby admitting high pressure gaseous fuel to said cylinder.

8. In an internal combustlon engine, the

combination With a fixed crank shaft, hav- -1nga long1tud1nal passage thereln, such passage having a lateral opening, a cylinder closed conduit connecting such port to said inlet valve, a disk attached to said crank shaft in said casing, said disk having a port adapted, upon rotation of said casing and said cylinder, to register With such port in said casing, and a cam formed on the periphery of said disk, said valve having a valve stem reciprocably mounted in said casing and adapted to be actuated by contact with said cam to open sa d inlet valve, such port in sa1d dlsk being so disposed that it registers With such port in said casing simultaneously With the opening of said inlet valve by said cam.

9. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination With a. fixed crank shaft, having' a' longitudlnal passage therein, such )assa e havin a lateral o enin a c linder rotatably mounted on said crank shaft, an

. exhaust port in said cylinder controlled by 1 the piston, an inlet valve 111 said cylinder, H a spring adapted to normally seat the same,

a fluid pressure storage tank, an independent pump operated by said engine, and

' adapted to supply gaseous fuel under high pressure to said tank, a conduit connecting said tank to such passage in said crank shaft,

a casing rotatably mounted on said crank Copies of this patent may be obtained for shaft about the lateral opening of such passage and attached to said cylinder, said casing being provided With a port, a normally closed conduit connecting such port to said inlet valve, a. disk attached tosaid crank shaft in said casing, said disk having a port adapted, upon rotation of said casing and said cylinder, to register With such port in said casing, and a cam formed on the periphery of said disk, said valve having a valve stem reciprocably mounted in said casing and adapted to be actuated by contact With said cam to open said inlet valve, such port in said disk being so disposed that it registers With such port in said casing simultaneously With the opening of said inlet valve by said cam.

10. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With a fixed crank shaft, having a longitudinal passage therein, such pas-' sage having a lateral opening, a plurality of cylinders rotatably mounted on said crank shaft, exhaust ports in said cylinderscontrolled by the pistons, inlet valves in said cylinders, springs adapted to normally seat the same, a fluid pressure storage tank, an independent pump operated by said engine, and adapted to supply gaseous fuel under high pressure to said tank, a conduit connecting said tank to said passage in said crank shaft, a casing rotatably mounted on said crank shaft about the latter opening of such passage and attached to said cylinders, said casing being provided With a plurality of ports, normally closed conduits connecting such ports to said inlet valves, a disk attached to said crank shaft in said casing, said disk having a port adapted, upon rotation of said casing and said cylinder, to register successively with such ports in said casing, and a cam formed on theperiphery of said disk, said valves having valve stems reciprocably mounted in said casing and adapted to be actuated by contact With said cam to open said inlet valves, such port in said disk being so disposed that it registers With such ports in said casing simultaneously With the opening of said inlet valves by said cam.

Signed by me, this 25th day of June, 1913.

ERNEST W. V PRIGAN.

Attested by HORACE B. FAY, ANNE L. GILL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. V

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