US1342314A - Gas-turbine - Google Patents

Description

A. UNDERDAHL.

GAS TURBINE.

APPLICATION HLED JAN.5, 1918.

1,342,314. Patented June 1,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

A. UNDERDAHL'.

GAS TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.5.1918.

Patented J 11110 1, 1920-.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Allzzderd w A. UNDERDA-HL GAS TURBINE- APPLICATION FILED m5. 1-91.23.

1,342,314, Patented June 1, 1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

VIIIIIIA "III/III 'A. UNDERDAHL.

GAS TURBINE.-

APPLICATION HLED mm. 1918.

Patented June 1, 1920.

4 SHEETSQSHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT UNDERDAHL, OF CANNON FALLS, MINNESOTA.

GAS-TURBINE.

Application filed January 5, 1918. Serial No. 210,480.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, ALBERT UNDERDAHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cannon Falls, in the county of Goodhue and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Turbines; 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.

This invention relatesto rotary engines of the internal combustion type and has for its object to provide an engine including a novel type of valve controlled combustion chamber from which the expanded gases subsequent to ignition are liberated and directed against the blades of a rotor. v

Another object is the provision of means for locking the valve in the combustion chamber in open position for a predetermined period. subsequent to combustion so as to secure the maximum effect of the ex panded gases upon the blades of the rotor.

Another object is the provision of an improved compressor for delivering the gaseous fuel to the combustion chamber under pressure. WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists. in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

.Figure 1 represents a longitudinalj sectional view through the turbine,

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged verticalsectional view through one of the rotor housings and combustion chambers,

Fig. 3 represents a detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 represents an enlarged sectional view through the throttle valve governor,

Fig. 5 represents an end elevation of the turbine partly in section,

Fig. 6 represents a detail sectional view through the throttle valve, and 1 Fig. 7 is a perspective of the turbine.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar" reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 indicates generally the casing of the engine, which is divided centrally by a vertical partition 6 intorotor and gear housings 7 and 8, re-

, spectively. The rotor shaft 9 is journaled in bearings 10 provided in the end wall of the rotor housing 7 and the partition 6 and the end of the rotor shaft, which projects within the chamber of the gear housing 8, is provided with pinions 11, which mesh'with gear wheels 12 secured upon the driven shaft 13. The shaft 13 is journaled in bearings 14 provided in the partition 6 and end wallof the gear housing 8 and also in an intermediate bearing support 15 arranged upon the bottom of the gear housing 8.

The rotor housing 7 is preferably provided with a circumferential chamber 16 for the reception of water to assist in cooling the engine during operation and the inner surface of the cylindrical wallof the housing is provided with a plurality of internal annular grooves 17 receiving the rims of the several rotors 18, which are secured to and supported upon the rotor shaft 9.

A hollow cylinder 19 is, formed on the top of'the rotor housing 7 adjacent each internal groove 17 and communicates therewith by a restrictedinlet port 20, which is disposed at an angle to a radial plane through the rotor housing so as to direct the expanded gases against the blades21 of the rotor so as to revolve the latter. The cylinders 19 are arranged in a horizontal position and are provided intermediate their ends with internally threaded openings 22 to receive preferred types of spark plugs 22 by which the compressed charge is ignited.

The outer ends of the cylinders 19 are closed by detachable caps or heads 23, and the inner terminals thereof are provided with valve seats 241: for receiving the valves 25, which latter are normally retained in closed position by the tension of springs 26 and 27. The outer terminal of each valve stem 28 is threaded in a reciprocating piston 29, and the space 30 between the valve 25 and the piston 29 constitutes the combustion chamber in which the explosion of the combustible mixture occurs. The outer terminal of the piston is rigidly connected normally retained in depressed position by the tension of a spring 36 coiled about a depending stem 37 carried thereby. The latch plate is provided with friction reducing rollers 38 which bear against the guide plate 35 and the head 23, and. tl e lower terminal of the stem is bifurcated to receive a rolls 39, which bears upon a earn el-(l secured to a cam shaft ll underneath each cylinder 19. The object of the cams 49 is to elevate the latch plate against the tension oi the springs 36 to release the pistons 29 to permit the latter to move "orwardly to close the valve 25 under the influence of the several springs 26 and 27.

The piston 29 is provided. intermediate its ends with a circuintorrential groove i2, which, when the valve is in closed p sition, registers with the inlet port 41:3 in the lower part of each cylinder ill whereby the explosive mixture is conducted from the cl? bow 4:4 to the groove Pt snring: actuated check valve l5 is arranged in the inner terminal of the elbow ll to prevent back prev, sure in the latter and. the groove 4:2 com-- Inunicates by plurality of angular inlet ports 46 formed in the piston with the cornbustion chamber 30. hen. the valve 253 is in closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 2 the inner terminals of the inlet ports 46 coin- Inunicate with the chamber 30, but when the piston is moved outwardly as when an enplosion occurs in the chamber 30, the inner terminals of the norts 46 are covered by the wall of the cylinder 19, thus closing); the ports and preventing the explosion from leaking back into the inlet port 43. The piston 29, as will be understood, is of considerably greater diameter than the valve 25, so that the effect of th explosion in the combustion chan'iber 30 is to move the pis ton 29 outwardly and thus open the valve 25, permitting; the expanded gases to discharge through the inlet port 20 and afrainst the blades 21 of" the rotor associz" l with the cylinder in which the explosion occurs.

l Vhen the piston 29 is forced out *ardly by the impact of the explosion in the (llflfih ber 2-30 it is locked in retracted position tor a brief period by the latch plate 3 1i, which drops into the recess in the rod 31 and prevents the return n'iovenicnt of the piston and valve under the inthiencc ot the springs 26 and 27. The latch plate is released or elevated to permit the piston and valve to assume their former position by the cam 40.

A cam shaft 41 is supported in hearings 41 secured to the rotor housing 7. @nc end of the shaft 41 is rotatably supported in the governor housing" 48, which is arranged laterally of the gear housing 8 and forms an inclosure for the bevel gear wheels 49., conmeeting the cam shaft H with the inclined drive shaft 50. The shaft 50 projects through the side wall of the housing 8.

As indicated in Fig. l the reduced terminal 51 of the rotor shaft 9 t uninates adjacent the lower end of the shaft 50 and is mounted ii. bearing 51 carried by the support 15. The reduced terminal of the rotor shaft and the inclined shaft 50 are connected by bevel gear wheels 52, whereby the rotary movement of the rotor shaft is transmitted to the inclined shaft 50 to operate the cam shaft 41 during" o eration Each groove 17 in the rotor housing is provided with an outlet port 53, v-rhich is connected with the exhaust pipe 5 1- extending alongside oi? the h-znisin r r l and e):- tending to the inlet port ot the governor housing 418. The gnivernor housing); 48 is provided. at the end oppi site the inlet port with an outlet port 36, through which the exhaust products of combuz-ition troin the several rotors is discharged A Final exhaust pipe :36 is connected to the port 36. Within the housing 4.8 a bladed wheel 57 is slidably and noirrotatably mounted upon the in- \d shaft 50 and is normally retained in inwardly extended position tovmrd the driven shaift 13 by the tension of a s nking 58, which is confined between the rec ssed hub 59 ot the bladed wheel and. the bearing (30 provided in the housing" 48 for the shaft 530. The hub of the bladed wheel is provided with a tubular extension 61, having a flanged upper terminal providing a groove 62.

A double type oi. throttle valve 63 is arran god beneath the governor housing 48 and includes an outer shell or housing 64; and a core 65 having a port 66 therethrough and iner and outer valves (37 and 68 respectively. The inner valve 67 is provided with a stem 69 carrying an 70, whereby the valve may be conveniently adjusted by hanch and the two valves are separated by an an nula-r partition 71. The outer valve (38 is provided with a hollow stem 72, carrying an arm 73 connected with the tubular e1; tension 32 ot the governor for automatirall y controlling the passage of the explosive mi:-;- ture to the cyl inders o l the engine; the valve (33 is located in the pipe 75 at a point adjacent the end of the pipe that connects with the reservoir, that will be hereinafter more fully described. From one side ot the valve casing 64k the explosive mixtiu'e is conducted to the several elbows l4 of the cylinders 15) by the inlet pipe The arm 73 is connected to the throttle (32 ot the governor through the medium of a link 73 and a bell crank 74.

The top part of the gear housing 8 at the end opposite the rotor housing 7 is provided with a vertically disposed compression cylinder 76, in which a piston 77 is reciprocably mounted and is provided with a conne ting rod '78, An eccentric strap :79 is connected with the lower terminal of the rod 78 which embraces'an eccentric 8O onithe driven shaft 13, whe'reby a reciprocating motion is imparted to the piston 7 7 during rotation of the drive shaft 13. The head of the cylinder 7 6 is provided with a valved inlet port 81 which is connected with a fuel supply pipe 81 by which gaseous fuel is conducted to the cylinder 76 from a carbureter 82". The upper part of the cylinder 76 is connected with a tank or reservoir 82 by a pipe 83, and the reservoir 82 is designed to contain an adequatesupply of gaseous fuel under pressure. A check valve 84 is arranged in the pipe connection 83 between the reservoir 82 and the cylinder 76 to prevent the compressed fuel from linding its way back into the head of the cylinder 76. A relief pipe 85 connects the lower portion of the reservoir82 with the pipe 83 and pressure operated valves 86 are arranged in the pipe 85, which are adapted to be opened when the pressure of the gaseous fuel in the tank 82 reaches a predetermined value so as to cause the fuel to circulate back and forth between the compressor cylinder and reservoir during reciprocation of the piston 77. The fuel supply pipe 75 for the several cylinders 19 is connected with the reservoir 82 and is connected with a T shaped pipe 88 arranged within the reservoir. An angular nozzle 89 is arranged in the vertical portion of the T pipe 88, and the discharge end thereof is directed, toward the supply pipe 7 5. The lower terminal of the nozzle 89 communicates by a restricted opening with the lower portion of the reservoir 82, whereby any volatile fuel which condenses within the reservoir is conducted to the nozzle 89 which sprays it into the pipe 75 in the form of vapor.

In operation, the gaseous fuel is conducted from the reservoir 82 to the pipe 75 through the throttle valve 63, again entering the'pipe 75, elbows 4A, grooves 4-2 and inlet passages or ports 46 to the combustion chambers in the cylinders 19. The compression of the compresser cylinder forces the fuel through the reservoir 82 to the port 46. The charge in the combustion chamber of each cylinder is ignited by the spark produced by the spark plug and the timing mechanism (not shown) for the ignition system is preferably so regulated as to cause the combustible mixture in the chambers 30 of the several cylinders to be successively ignited at predetermined periods. The impact of the explosion against the inner end of thepiston 29 effects an outward movement of the latter which opens the valve 29, permitting the expanding gases to discharge through the inlet port 25 and against the blades 21 of the rotor 18, thus rotating the latter. The valve 25 is locked in open position so as to obtain the maximum effect of the expanding gases upon the rotor by the latch plate 34, which is moved downwardly by the tension of the spring 36 when the piston 29 is moved outwardly. The piston and valve are subsequently released by the cam 40 of the cam shaft 41, which engages the roller 39 of the latch plate, thus elevating the latter and disengaging it from the recess in the piston-carried rod '31. During the operation of the engine the piston 77 is constantly reciprocated in the cylinder 76 and maintains the gaseous fuel in the tank or reservoir 82 at a predetermined pressure. The bladed wheel 57 operating inthe housing 48 creates a vacuum in the exhaust pipe 54, eliminating back pressure of the exhaust products of combustion in the rotor housing 7 and thoroughly scavenging the exhaust products of combustion. When the engine exceeds a predetermined speed, the atmospheric pressure upon the blades of the wheel 57 forces the latter outwardly against the tension of the spring 58, thus shifting the lever 1 and actuating the arm 73 of the valve 68 to temporarily out off the supply of fuel to the several cylinders 19, or until the engine is again running at the proper speed.

What I claim is:

1. In an explosive engine, a housing, a rotor mounted in the housing, a cylinder having an internal combustion chamber communicating at one end with the housing, said cylinder having an inlet port therein, a ported piston arranged in the cylinder normally connecting the inlet port with the combustion chamber, and adapted to be ac tuated by the explosion occurring in the combustion chamber to close communication between the combustion chamber and the inlet ort.

p 2. In a rotary engine, a rotor housing, a rotor journaled in the housing, said housing having inlet and exhaust ports therein, a combustion chamber communicating with the inlet port, an exhaust pipe connected with the exhaust port, a bladed wheel connected with the rotor for creating a vacuum in the exhaust pipe, and means controlled by the bladed wheel for controlling the admission of gaseous fuel to the inlet ports. a

3. In a rotary engine, a rotor housing, a rotor journaled in said housing, said housing having inlet and exhaust ports therein, a combustion chamber communicating with the inlet port, a fuel supply pipe connected with the combustion chamber, means for controlling the admission of gaseous fuel to the combustion chamber, a throttle valve connected with the supply pipe, an exhaust pipe connected with the exhaust port, a bladed wheel operatively connected with the rotor for creating a vacuum in the exhaust pipe, and means connecting the bladed wheel with the throttle valve for controlling the latter.

4L. In an explosion engine, a housing; a rotor arranged within the housing; a cylinder having an internal combustion chamber therein; said housing having a passage extending from the cylinder to the rotor; said cylinder having an inlet port therein; a piston arranged within the cylinder and adapted for a reciprocatory movement therein, said piston having a fuel supply channel extending to the combustion chamher and adapted to communicate with the inlet port of the cylinder; and a valve connected with the piston and adapted to control the communication between the explosion chamber and the rotor.

5. In a rotary engine, a rotor housing,

a gear housing, said rotor housing having inlet and outlet ports, a rotor journaled in the rotor housing, a governor housing mounted on the side of the gear housing, and an exhaust pipe connecting the exhaust port in the rotor housing with the governor housing, a bladed Wheel upwardly connected with the rotor for creating vacuum in the exhaust pipe, said bladed wheel located within the governor housing, and means associated with the bladed wheel to regulate the speed of the engine.

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

ALBERT UNDERDAHL.

lVitnesses:

JOHN J MURPHY, C. J. MINOR.

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