US1315906A - Iwtebwax-combitbtiok tukbote - Google Patents

Description

T. H. BROCKMAN. INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

- AP?L|CATION HLED JMLZO. I919. 1,315,906.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETS--SHEET1.

'lamenkn 2. E Brae/7320mm ZRRMW as c o a Q Q Movwag T. H. BROCKMAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.20,1919.

'1 ,3 1 5, 906 Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LNHAM I/mama a 8 WW mym T. H. BROCKMAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.20. 1919.

1 3 1 5, 906 Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

1''. 157. Bro cWwuw u T. H. BROCKMAN.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.20. I919.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

4 SHEET$-SHEET 4 IE Erod/man EEEMMN w m n 3 Y'UNITED STATES mom a. naocxm, or NEW Og-Luns, Looming;

mrmat-donnmroiw rrmmma To all whom; it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. BR0011- MAN, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at New Orleans, in the parish of" Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Turbines, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion turbines and has particular application to an internal combus may be advantageously employed and the maximum power of the turbine delivered irrespective of the grade of fuel used, and wherein the formation of carbon Will be reduced to a minimum. i

It is also my purpose to provide a turbine of the class describedwhich will be con structed in such manner as to occupy small space when compared with a steam motor or other power plant developlng like horse power; and will Wei 'h proportionately less,

and which will invo ve compartively small expense both in installation and maintenance.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an internal combustion reaction turbine wherein the speed of the rotor may be regulated at will so that the power delivered by the turbine will be commensurate with the work to be performed, and- Wherein the explosion chambers, the reaction nozzles and the blade cooperating with such nozzles willbe maintained at a proper working temperature in the operation of the turbine thereby preventing overheating and enabling the turbine to deliver its maximum power under all conditions.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a turbine of the class set forth wherein the component parts will be so arranged and correlated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum,

and which will be simple, positive and re liable in operation. With the above reclted ob ects in view and others ofa similar nature, the Invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in and Specification a! Letter; intent.

Application illed January 20, 1910. le riel iio. 272,085.

falling within the scope of the appended claims. r I

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a lon itudinal vertical section .of an internal com ustion reaction turbine,

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

constructed in accordance with my present invention. I

F1g. 2 1s a vertlcal transverse sectional view.

Fig. is a slmllar view taken in a different plane.

Fig. 4.- is an enlarged cross sectional view through the valve mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the iommutator and timing mechanism there- Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of the rotors and .stationary blades coacting therev with.

Figs. 7 and 8 are viewsof details of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, ,1-1 designates pedestals suitably spaced apart, while 22 indicates bearings suitably mounted on the upper ends of the pedestals 1-1 respectlvely. Journaled in the bearings 22 is a shaft 3 adapted'to rotate in the bearings. The bearings 2-2 are of any suitable .or preferred construction.

Surrounding the shaft 3 concentrically thereof is a casing 4: arranged between the bearings 22 and composed of an annulus 5 having its respective ends flan ed, end plates 6 bolted to one flange end 0 the annulus 5 and an end plate 7 bolted to the other flanged end of the annulus. The end plate 7 is formed in such a manner as to provide an exhaust chamber 8 of appropriate dimension.

Fixed upon the shaft 3 inthe casing "or housing 4 and arranged concentrically of the shaft is a rotor 9 comprising a side plate 10 spaced apartashort distance from the end plate 6 of the casing, a side plate 11 spaced apart a great distance from the end plate 7 of the casing and an annular ring 12 arranged between the plates 10 and 11 at the outer ed es of the latter and suitably bolted or ot e'rwise fastened tosuch side plates 10 and 11. t

In the present instance, the annulus 5 in-; creases in diameter from the end plate '6 toward the end plate 7 and the outer su'r-' face of the annular ring 12 is similarly formed so. as 'to-conform to the "shape of as substantially saucer-like in shape with the-outer or peri heral edge stra1ghtto"ac- Q j 1,a15,9oe

each embodying inner and outer rings and the annulus 5. In this "formf myinvention an annular seriesof blades between such I have shown the side plate 11 of'the rotor the rotor. The'inner rings of the rotors 17 rand 19 form depending flanges or ears 20 commodate' the oltsi or other fastening, that are-arranged atthe opposlte sidesof and means so th'at'this plate may be fastenedlto bolted to a circular plate-or disk. 21 that is the ring 12. The center portions of the side" I p plates and 11 of the rotor are bolted orll, .bolrted or otherwise fastened to the side arranged concentricallybf :the shaft?) and otherwise :conneote'd to the respective ends late-=11 of the-rotor at the center of-the of-a sleeve13 that is arranged "concentri'e I aztter. -"By,means of the construction and feet, the hubjof the rotor.

' to form these explosion chambers I employ a number of partition plates14that radiate from theF hub 13 and have-the side edges thereof in engagement-with the respectlve "sidewallsl0 and 11 of'the rotor, a1i dfthe v outer "edge fastened to or-integral with'the inner "wall oflthefiannular ring '12. In the h r fpresent instance the partition plates i are f el} u the Qg'aB'esT" lea spaced apart equaldistanjces aroundjthehub cally of th main shaft 3 and formsyingef arranfiment ofthe rotors, and r .statorsjust "'descri d, it will be seen that the gases lssufing from the reaction nozzles impact upon j thebladesjofnthe stators and react-against the blades of the rotors with the efiect to v drivethef-rotors'in onedireotion: As the .The rotor 9 is divided'finto series of explosion chambers "and in order 55 3 111? that {the cfisnswbjected to it the ,fullexpansion l 'offthe "maximu power may, e

{taken from the {they are -discharged into or of the rotor tOfpI'OVldQfl plurality voilek bet- I dI TOm lthf exhaust chamber --jplo sion chambers, In. the presentinst'anoethrqughi he;exhause ortaa therein. i

to provide apluralityfof reaction nozzles :15 that are arrangediatthe outer ends 'ofith'e' I inner end of the nozzle is adapted for corn 'muni'cation Wlth such chamber, while the 0 outer end ofthe. nozzle openstonto' the ex- Bolted or otherwise fastened :to the. inner surface of --theannulus 5 contiguous to the -'-exhaust side of the ring 12 is a stator 16 in V l projecting impact blades 16 that are adapted to receive the impact-of the gases .PSSlllIlg from the reaction nozzle so that such gases may react upon the nozzles and drive i is shown as a multiple stage turbine. Therep and a rotor 19 contiguous to the exhaust stators and rotors alternate with one an-' distancesfaround the stator.

I have shown eight. ofjfsuchchambersiia'nd these are designated by the letters'fa, -"With a longitudinalybore23 that ex:

6, f, g, and h respectively. I p I p p p The annular ring 12 of the rotor is formed gh y yond the jean-ten of the rotorfand. ;:fonned'fin the-shaft 3 contig ous jtotthe inner endjfoftheHbore 2eularyseriess F and explosion chambers respectively; Iil lihfif I respective ports .24: in otter Ommunication therewma The'fp rt 24g-corrjespond in nume 'totheieip p mfi l. theinner TQlIdS-Of the-latter, while the ports plosion Chambe I j ends of such chambersrespectivfely; F ginthe hub 13' at the inner end of each-T ex haust side of thering 12"of the rotor.

the form of a ring provided with inwardly and shaft 3. t

the rotor.

The present embodiment of my invention I 28 adjacent to its inner end isformed with fore a rotor 17 is shown adjacent to the ex hau-st side of the stator 16, ajstatorlS 'contiguous to the exhaust side of the rotor 17 carbon port 30. These ports'29and 30am sidefof-the stator 18. In other words, the

other as is usual in multiple sta turbine constructions. The stator 18 is i enticalin construction with the stator 16'embodyi inner and outer rings and an annular series c blades between the -ring sspaced apart equal The rotors 17 and 19 alternate with the stators 16 and 18- interior of the sleeve valve land the series of inner end of a hydrocarbon conveying tube rings spaced apart equaldistances around i rttorsgl't and v 19 are-fixed" to,. the; plate 2l, and the latter secured to'fthe rotorj'9; it V will the. present instance, "the shaft 13 adapted to register. withfihe' series 10f air." ports 24 and the series of hydro carbonports 25 respectively incidental to rotation'of the shaft 3 and the sleevevalve-28, so that com}.

munication may be established between-the.

explosion chambers" in the rotor. 9. Inthe; present structure, the outer end"portion of the sleeve valve 28 is counterboredand fitted'into'such counter-bored portion is ,thef

tends; from .oneend-ofthe {shaft ;t ;,a point 9.5

IOf hydrO- 9 1 1? the vloo mber's -and open into l' o'wrr n lli num erawi j 1 plosion chamberare valve :ca'si'n gs icarrying l. puppet valves26 and- 27respectively that. control communication betwelen the "ex plosion chamber and the rrtspond-in ,air :1

, ea rb e: 2 n lfi ifii i r -Mountedin the bore 23"is a sleeve-valve 28 2. capable ofirotation within "the bore'and hav ing its innerend closed." The sleeve valve can elongated-airport 29 and a similar hydroor pipe 31, the outer end of such tube or pipe 31 extending downwardly so that a connection may be made between the tube and a source of hydrocarbon fluid supply. A

packing gland 32 encircles the tube 31 adjacent to its outer end and is carried by the outer end of the sleeve valve so as to effect a fluid tight connection between the sleeve valve and the hydro-carbon fluid conducting tube. This pacxing glandpermits the sleev valve to revolve while the hydrocarbon con ductin tube remains stationary. Extending through the tube 31 and the sleeve valve and spaced apart from the tube and the valve is an air conducting tube 33 whose inner end terminates short of the inner closed end of the sleeve valve and is formed with a boss 34 that engages the inner wall of the sleeve valve at a point between the series of ports 24 and 25 so as to prevent intercommunicae delivered through the proper port to. the

explosion chambers and the hydro-carbon liquid or gas delivered to the explosion chambers through the ports 25, both sets of ports being controlled by the sleeve valve 28.

Communication between the reaction nozzles 15 and the respective explosion chambers is controlled by means of valves and operating mechanism for such valves. In the present instance, each valve is of the rocking or oscillatory type and comprises a plug or body 35 extending across the inner end of the corresponding reaction nozzle 15 having its ends journaled in the respective end Walls of such nozzle. The end of each plug 35 adjacent to the side plate 10 of the rotor is formed with a stub shaft 36 that projects beyond the plate 10, while the sides of the valve plug or body are cut out to pro vide ports 37. Integral, or otherwise connected, to the inner'side of the annulus 12 and surrounding the inner portions of the respective valve bodies or plugs are semi-cirplates 6 and 10 and astrap 41 encircling the eccentric 40 and equipped with laterallypro jecting pins 42 correspondin in number with the number of valves. Jach pin 42 is connected with the corresponding valve by means of a rod 43, the inner end of which is my present form of the turbine.

mounted upon the pin, while the outer end is pivotally connected with a rocker arm 44 secured to'the stub shaft 36 of the articular valve. Bymeans of this construction it will be seen that when the eccentric is held stationary upon the main shaft 3, or revolved at a speed less than the speed of the main shaft, motion will be transmitted from'the eccentric strap all through the rod 43 to the rocker arms of the stub shafts of the valves, thereby rocking or oscillating the valves in the inner ends of the reaction nozzles. Also surrounding the shaft 3 adjacent to the eccentric 40 and integral with such eccentric or otherwise connected thereto is an annulus 45 having its periphery formed with spur teeth or sprocket teeth.

In the present instance I have shown an electric motor 46 mounted upon the bearing tube at the inlet side of the turbine and one end of the armature shaft of the motor 46 extends through the plate 6 and is equipped with a pinion 47 over which and the toothed annulus 45 is trained an endless chain 47 whereby motion may be transmitted to the eccentric -16. On' the other end of the armature shaft of the motor 46 is a pinion 48, while fixed upon the projecting end of the sleeve valve 28 is a gear 49 and over the pinion 47 and the gear 49 is trained an endless chain 50 whereby motion may be trans mitted from the armature shaft of the motor to the sleeve valve to revolve the latter.

I will now proceed to describe the ignition system which is used in connection 1s mechanism or system, in the present instance, embodies spark plugs 51 secured in the side plate 10 of the rotor and projecting into the respective explosion chambers of the rotor. Fixed to the mainshaft 3 is a commutator ring 52 arranged contiguous to the side plate 10 and embedded in the outer face or side of the ring 52 are contact studs 53 corresponding in number with the number of explosion chambers in the rotor. Each contact stud 53 is connected by means of a wire 5% with the central electrode of the corresponding spark plug 51, the other electrode of the spark plug being grounded upon the plate 10. Mounted in a transverse bore formed in the casting composing the annulus 4:5 and eccentric 40 is aspring pressed brush 55 that bears, at all times, against the outer face of the commutator ring 52 so as to engage the contact studs 53 successively in the operation of the turbine. A second spring pressed brush 56 is slidably mounted within a bore in the end plate 6 and the end of the brush 56 at the inner side of the plate 6 engages or presses against a'conducting ring57 embedded in the annulus l5 and insulated therefrom and electrically connected with the brush 55. The outer end of the brush 56 is connected with a binding post 58 to which one terminalof the ignition circuit wire may be connected, the other terminal of the ignition circuit being grounded so that current may flow through the particular plug in connection with the contact stud 53 that is engaged by the brush 55, thereby enabling the plug to produce the necessary spark to explode the mixture in the particular explosion chamber.

In practice, the air port in the sleeve valve 28 is arranged in advance of the hy- I dro-carbon port 30 so that the explosion of the hydro-carbon fluid thereto. As shown chamber at the beginning of a cycle will receive a charge of air prior to the delivery in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the explosion chamber a is at the beginning of a cycle and is receiving the charge of air through the air pipe 33, the port 29, the port 24 and -the puppet valve 26. At the beginning of sion chamber through the valve 27, the exhaust valve, in this position of the explosion chamber, remaining closed. When explosion chamber it 'moves' from the position of the chamber 5 to the position of chamber a, the port 30 in the sleeve valve continues to esta lish communication between the hydro-carbon supply and the explosiomchamher and the exhaust valve remains closed.

' When the explosion chamber a reaches the position of'the chamber d, the brush 55 engages the contact stud 53, the spark plug of such explosion chamber to the eifect to I explode the charge of air and the hydr -carbon fuel or fluid mingled in the explosion chamber 11. When the chamber a reaches the position of the chamber 6, the pressure in such chamber due to the explosion has risen to the maximum degree and when the position of chamber 7 is reached, the expanding gases are delivered to the reaction nozzle by the way of the open exhaust valve, the exhaust valve openingwhen this position is reached. When the chamber a reaches the position of the chamber g the gases continue to flow through the reaction nozzle and when'the position of the chamber it is reached, the air port 29 is the sleeve valve again establishe communication between the source of air supply and the particular explosion chamber while the exhaust valve ofsuch chamber remains open thereby enabling the scavenging charge of air to be drawn through the explosion chamber to drive out the burned product of combustion that may remain in the chamber.

, From the time that the explosion takes place in a particular explosion chamber, communication between the source of air supply and the source of hydro-carbon supply is cut off by means of the sleeve valve 28 and this communication is not 0 ened until mately one-half of the speed of the turbine rotor, the above cycle of operation will be repeated at every two revolutions of the turbine rotor, while, if the rotary valve 28 is speeded up by the motor 46 so that such rotary valve revolves at the same speed as the rotor of the turbine, the turbine will cease operating owing to the fact that the relative position of the sleeve valve and the rotor remain the same therebybreaking' up the cycle of operation and bringing the rotor to a stop. On the other hand, the sleeve valve 28 may be s ceded up by the motor 46 to such an extent t at a relatively heavy charge is admitted in the combustion or explosion chamber thereby enabling more power to be developed. Again, the motor 46 may be out out of operation and in this event the sleeve will be held stationary likewise, the brush 55, the i ition system and the eccentric of the va ve mechanism. When this occurs, the previously described cycle of operation takes place at every revolution 'of the rotor. From this, it will be seen that the speed of the rotor, or'the amount of power delivered by the rotor, may be' controlled byv varying-the speed of the motor 46.

When the speed of the motor 46 is changed the spark is advanced or retarded according tdthe speed of the rotor and the operation of both the inlet and exhaust valves is changed so that the rotor will operate at the desired speed thereby enabling the desired power to be taken from the shaft ,3 of the turbine.

In the present embodiment of my inven-.

tion, a pipe 60 of relatively small diameter extends through the air conducting pipe 33 and the outer end of this pipe 60 projects beyond the air conducting ipe 33 while the other end of the pipe 60 1s fixed in the shaft 3 beyond the inner end of the sleeve valve 28. The inner end of the pipe 60 communicates with passages 61 fprmed in the shaft 3 radially of the latterancl these passages 61 open into the chamber 62 formed 1n the respective partition plate 14 of the rotor, the chamber 62 communicating with an annular chamber 63 formed in the annular ring 12. The outer end of the pipe 60 is adapted for connection with a source of water, steam or other tempering agent and this tempering agent passes through the passages 61, the chamber 62 and the chamber 63 commingles with the products of combustion issuing through the reaction nozzles 15 thereby preventing overheating of the turbine in the operation thereof.

While I have herein shown and described one particular form of my invention by way of illustration, I Wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made withinthe scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim 1. In an internal combustion turbine, a main shaft formed with a longitudinal bore and with transverse ports communicating with said bore, means for delivering fuel to said bore, a sleeve valve in said bore, controllino communication between the bore and said transverse ports, a rotor on said shaft formed with explosion chambers communicating with said ports and adapted to receive fuel charges through the ports from said valves and also formed with reaction nozzles in communication with said chamhere, means for exploding the charges in said chambers, means acted upon by the discharges from the reaction nozzles to drive said rotor, and means for rotating said valve at different speeds to control the speed and power output of said rotor.

2. In an internal combustion turbine, a casing, a main shaft formed with a longitudinal bore and with transverse ports communicating with said bore, means for delivering fuel to said bore, a sleeve valve in said bore controlling communication be tween the bore and said transverse port, a rotor on said shaft formed with explosion chambers communicating with said ports and adapted to receive fuel through said ports from said valve, means for exploding the charges in said combustion chambers, means acted upon by said exploding charges to drive. said motor, means for rotating said valve at different speeds to cont-r01 the speed and power of said rotor, said means including a driving connection exterior of the casing, and means connecting said firstnamed means to said last-named means whereby the time of the spark may be varied in accordance with the speed of the engine.

3. In an internal combustion turbine, a main shaft formed with a longitudinal bore and with transverse ports communicating with. said bore, means for delivering fuel to said here, a sleeve valve in said bore controllmg communlcation. between the bore and sald transverse ports, a rotor on said shaft formed with explosion chambers communicating with said ports respectively and adapted to receive fuel charges through said ports from said valves, means for exploding the charges in said combustion chambers, means acted upon by said exploding charges to drive said rotor, and means for rotatlng said valve at diflerent speeds to control the speed and power output of said rotor.

4. In an internal combustion turbine, a main shaft formed with a longitudinal bore and with transverse ports communicating with said bore, means for delivering fuel to said bore, a sleeve valve in said bore controlling communication between the bore and said transverse port, a rotor on said shaft formed with explosion chambers communicating with said ports respectively and adapted to receive fuel charged through said ports from said valve, means for exploding the charges in said combustion chambers, means" acted upon by said explod:

ing charges to drive said rotor, and means.

for rotating said valve at different speeds to control the speed and 'power of said rotor,

and means connecting said first named means to said last named means whereby the time of the spark maybe varied in accordance with the speed of the engine.

5. Inan internal combustion turbine, a rotor formed with a circular series of explosion chambers, reaction nozzles at the outer ends of said chambers respectively;

tric, a strap encircling said eccentric, connections between said strap and valves, and a motor connected with said eccentric to revolve the same, change the speed thereof and hold. the same stationary in the rotation of the rotor whereby the speed of the rotor may be varied.

6. In I an internal combustion turbine, a rotor formed with a series of explosion chambers, reaction nozzles at the outer ends of said chambers respectively. stationary blades communicating with said nozzles to receive the impact of the gases issuing from the nozzles whereby the gases may react on said nozzles ,to drive said rotor, means for feeding an explosive mixture to .said chambers, and means for exploding said mixture within said chambers, valves controlling communication between said cham bers and nozzles respectively, a valve operating mechanlsm compris ng an eccentric, a

strap encircling said eccentric, connections between sald straps and valves, and a motor connected with said eccentric to revolve the same, change the speed thereof and hold the same stationary in the rotation of the rotor 'whereby the speed of said rotor may be varied, and mechanism connecting said mix-- ture exploding means with -said motor whereby the action of the ignition mecha- A nism W111 be advanced and retarded to vary THOMAS H. BROCKMAN.

in accordance .with the

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