US1271950A - Rotary engine. - Google Patents

Description

R, SAUNERS.

ROTARY ENGINE,

APPLlcATloN mso MAR.

Ira Il lll/14112111111 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROY SAUNDERS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB. TO SAUNDERS MOTOR POWER GOM- PANY, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

no'rAnY ENGINE.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1918.

Application tiled March 12, 1917. Serial No. 154,271.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, Ror SAUNDans, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St, Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a, new and useful Rotary Engine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to rotary engines. Specifically, the present` invention has reference to a rotary engine of the type disclosed in my Patent 1,236,009, Aug. 7, 1917. The engine comprises a stationary cylinder, and a rotor operativel mounted within the cylinder, and provide with a series of piston chambers in which the pistons are mounted. Within the cylinder the controlling mechanism for the pistonis arranged, whereby the piston is moved to and from position of compression, the movement of the pistons being essentially across a radial line from the axis of the rotor through 'rhs pivots ofthe pistons.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for controlling the operation'of the pistons in a rotary engine of the type mentioned, comprising an axiully movable actuating art operatively engaging each shaft or pivot of the pistons; whereby axial movement of said actuating parts will etfect movement of the pistons to and from positions of compression by moving the pistons across the radial linges from the axis of the cylinder intersecting the pivots of the pistons, as mentioned above.

With' the foregoing and other-.objects in view, I have'produced a rotary engine of the novel construction, combination and inode of operation as hereinafter described and claimed. i

In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated an appropriate form of my present invention Figure lis a lonoitlulinal sectional view of the rotor, and the piston actuating appliances. Fig. 2. is a transverse sectional view on the line i-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional `vievv on the line 3-3 of Fig, 2, illustrating the cam by which the piston actuating parts are controlled. Fig. Ltis a-transverse sectional view of the rotor amleylinder on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 1.

4The engine in which l have shown the present invention embodied comprises a stationary cylinder 1, the heads of: which support bearings for the rotor shaft 2. The

rotor 3 is attached to the shaft 2, and is pro` vided with a series of piston chambers in cach of which a pivoted piston 4 is mounted.

Each of the pistons a is in theform of a leaf attached at its inner edge to a shaft 5. The shafts 5 are journaled for rocking movements in 'anti-friction bearings 6 su ported by the end walls of the rotor. Tile shafts 5 are parallel with the.rotor driven shaft 2, and it is by rocking the shafts 5 that the pistons are moved to and from positions of compression.

At one end of the motor the shafts 5 are extended toward the head of the cylinder and the'extremities of said shafts 'are journaled in anti-friction bearings 7 carried by a sleeve 8 attached to and rotating with the shaft 2. The extended portion of each 0f the shafts 5 is formed with spiral grooves fl, with which the shafts actuating parts engage in order to rock theshafts as an incident to rotation of the rotor. In the embodiment illustrated, the shafts actuating device comprises, for each shaft, a sleeve' 10 slidably mounted on the shaft, and having recesses for the keys operating within 'the grooves 9. The keys 11 are mounted inrecesses in, the parts 10, andengage in theA grooves 0 so that when the parts 10 are reciprocated axially, the shafts 5 will be rocked, it being understood that the parts 10 are prevented from rocking. Parts`10 are held from rocking movements by spherical keys12 mounted in grooves in a sleeve 8, and engaging in complementary grooves 14 in the members 1U. The grooves are of sufficient length to permit axial movement of the parts 1.0l in o )posits directions as required to rock thes afts 5.

Each of the parts 10 has' a rigidt rojee tion15, carrying a roller 16. The ro ers 16 of the members 10 operate within a cam passa e, formed between a member 17 and a. similarly shaped member 18, spaced from i der head by bolts 22. The bearing 23 0f the shaft 2 is mounted 4within the cylindrical portion 21. A cylindrical partition wall 24 is attached to the rotor, and operates upon or against a su `porting member 25, carried by the extendcc portion 21 on one'of the earn members. A

reference to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the .rotor is wholly out of contact with the cylinder in which it is mounted, thus entirely eliminating friction between said parts. The rotor being spaced from the cyllnder permits the water to circulate entirely arouii'cl the rotor, and into the chamber betwee the cylinder and the cylindrical partition 24. The partition 24 forms an impervious joint with the member 25 so that thc water cannot pass the partition wall. The chamber within the partition wall 24 constitutes an oil chamber, and as isreadily apparent by reference to Fig. 1 the oil may pass between the end wall of the rotor and the adjacent cam members and enter the spaces within which the shafts 5 are extended. In this way all. of the operating parts of the piston controllin mechanism are thoroughly lubricated, an the oil is free to circulate against all of saidparts.

By reference to Fig. 3, the construction and form of the cam passage within which the rollers 16 operate will be readily understood. As illustrated, the cam passage is adjacent to the rotor at two diametrically opposite points, and is at a considerable distance from the rotor at two diametricall opposite points. Said cam is symmetricall shaped so that each actuating member 1 will be moved twice in each direction at each revolution of the rotor. This mode of operation applies to all of the pistons.

The mec anism described 1s absolutely positive and accurate in its operation and Wholly dispenses with the use of levers and. links in the actuating mechanism. The piirts are all of strong construction, and will more eilicientl control the pistons than the usual link an lever mechanism. p

` It will be understood that the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the invention may be varied without departing from the principle of the invention or from the general mode of operation. I do not restrict myself to unessential features or detailsof the device, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a rotary engine, a rotor, a series vof rock shafts carried by the rotor, pistons attached to said shafts respectively, an axially movable member on each of said shafts, means for reciprocating said members axially as the rotor rotates, and means for rocking said shafts by the movement of .said members.

2. ln a rotary engine, a rotor, pistons mounted in therotor, a shaft'for o rating each piston, a member on'each of said shafts for axial movement, means for reciprocating said members axially as the rotorloperates, anddevices whereby said members will rock said shafts as an incident to axial movement of said members.

3. In a rotary engine a rotor, pistons mounted in the rotor, a shaft .foroperatin each piston, a sleeve 4upon each of lsai shafts, means for reciprocating said sleeves axially upon the shafts as the rotor rotates and operative connections between said ing said shafts as an inci ent to rotation of the rotor. i

4. A rotary engine comprising a rotor, pistons mounted in the rotor, a rock shaft attached to each piston for loperating the same, a sleeve mounted for axialmo'vement upon each shaft, a cam for moving said sleeves axiall on said shafts as an incident to rotation o the rotor, means for prevent- .sleeves and said shafts res ectively for rocking said sleeves from turning relatively to their own 'axes as they are operated with` the rotor, and a key connection between each.- sleeveand the-shaft on `which it is mounted whereby axial movement'of'the sleeve willA Vturn the shaft while' the sleeve is held from turning.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with lthe 4piston actuating rock shafts of the rotor, of a sleeve mounted for axialmovement upon each of said rook shafts, a cam, means whereby said cani will reciprocate said sleeves axially upon said shafts" when the engine operates, and a connection with each sleeve and the 'shaft on which it is mounted whereb axial' movementof the sleeve will rock t e shafti 6. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotor, pistons `mounted in the rotor and shafts for moving the istons, sai shafts being provided withspiralgrooves, of a sleeve mounted upon each shaft for axial'movement, a key in connection withv for reciprocating said sleeves upon said shaft as an incident to rotation of the rotor.

8. ln a rotary engine, a rotor, pistons mounted in the rotor, shafts journalcd in the rotor for rocking movements and being connected with the pistons respectively, an axially reciprocating member mounted on each shaft, a cam for reciprocating said member as an incident to rotation of the rotor, an operative connection between each member and the corresponding shaft for rocking said Shaft as an incident to movement of said member, and a chamber for lnbrieant surrounding said parts.

9. In a rotary engine, the combination with a rotor, pistons in the rotor, rock shafts for actuating the pistons and provided with spiral grooves, of a sleeve mounted for axial reciprocation upon each rock shaft, u

key movable' by each sleeve in the siiral groove formed in the corresponding siaft, :i com, a projection on each sleeve, a roller on said projection operating against the com effectively to reciprocate the sleeve on said shaft. as the rotor rotates, and an oil chamber adapted to contain n` lubricant in which said ports operate.

In witness whereof, I have signed this specification.

ROY SAUNDERS.

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