US1588632A

US1588632A - Rotary gas engine

Info

Publication number: US1588632A
Application number: US749901A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S Sullivan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-11-14
Filing date: 1924-11-14
Publication date: 1926-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 1943-06-15

Description

June l5 1926'.

W. S. SULLIVAN ROTARY GAS ENGINE Filed Nov. 14, 1924 y 3 Sheets-Sheet l l m, n

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June l5 1926.

w. s. SULLIVAN ROTARY GAS ENGINE Filed Nov. 14, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aulll Ilia/n JT Juli/ala mi nu,

June 15 1926. 1,588,632

w. s. SULLIVAN ROTARY GAS ENGINE Filed Nov. 14, 1924 3 Sheets'A-Sheet 3 gwmmtoz y Mil/al1 y @Roz/mfg Patented June 15, 1926.v

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFmE.

ROTARY GAS ENGINE.

Application 'led November 14, 1924. Serial No. 749,901.

The invention relates to rotary gas engines, and has as an object the provision of a gas engine or an internal combustion engine of this type which shall have a minimum of moving parts.

Al further object of the invention is the provision of a motor of this type whichshall operate without valves.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel cooling means for an engine of the type involved.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a motor which shall have an extremely simple and eflicient provision for igniting the explosive charge.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a motor which readil lends itself to duplication upon a single siaft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a motor with which it is possible to apply the Diesel principle of automatic ignition.

Still further objects of the invention are tbe provision of a motor which shall be cheap to produce and little likely to get out of order.

Further objects of the invention will appear fromrthe following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the shaft in section.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical 2, 2 o 1.

Fig. 3 is a ace view of the stator.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the rotor from the side opposite the showing of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5' and 6 are detail sections through the i nition apparatus, Fig. 6 showing -a modi cation for application of the Diesel principle.-

Fig. 7 is a face view of the rotorremoved romthe stator, the shaft shown in section.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line f8, 8 of Fig. 2 showing the rotor removed from the stator, I

Fig. 9 is a side elevation on a reduced scale showing two of the devices placed in tandem upona sin le shaft, and

Fig. 10 is a detai section on line 10-10 of Fig. 8 showing the opening from an expansion chamber u on an enlarged scale.

As shown, the evice comprises a stator 10 and a rotor 11. The stator comprises a section on line base 12 and a vertical plate-like member 13,l

desirably providedl with bracing abutments 14 cast integral with the plate and with the base.

To make a tight 'oint with the rotor the stator is desirably ormed with an annular flange 15 within which the rotor fits, and to further assist in preventing leakage the stator is shown as formed with a series of ring grooves 16, wherein rings 16', in the nature of plston rings are placed.

To further assist in preventing leakage` the f a'ce of the plate 13 is formed with grooves which are in the nature of enlargements of ortions of the piston ring grooves, into whic grooves annular projections upon tlzie rotor seat. These grooves are shown at 1 f Thev rotor comprises an annular member having a plurality of

air channels

18, 18', 19, 19', 20, 20', formed in its body and closed at their edgesnby walls 58, 59, with one or more explosion chambers, two being shown, as 21 and 22. A single explosion chamber could be used, or anumber larger than two, the desirable number being determined to some extent by the dimensions of the motor.

The wall 23 having the openings 53 there- A in will be understood as forming a series of wide spokes for the. support of thel annular member of the rotor upon the shaft 24; and the size of the openings 53 may be whatever desired to provide the requisite amount of escape of air from the cooling 'chambers 20, 20'.

' The action of the motor depends upon the escape of gases under pressure from the explosion chambers 21 and 22, through the outlets or

nozzles

25, 26. These nozzles areshown as slits occupying a position parallel with the axis ofthe shaft 24., and discharge into a channel 27 to

exhaust ports

28, 29, which are provided in number to equal the number of the explosion chambers. Ifthe explosion be allowed to take place with the nozzles full open the impulse would be uneven in character, beinga series of pushes rather than a steady push, as is desirable.

To graduate the escape of the gases,

cuto plates

30, 31, are shown carried by and projecting from the stator and standing in thel channel 27. When the

nozzles

25, 26 stand opposite the full portion of the cutplates and thereby be opened.

To provide for a gradual opening of the nozzles, the cut-oft plates are shown as tapered at 32, 33, either upon a straight line or upon any desirable curve, according to the character of the impulse desired. Thus thel escape of gases at their greatest pressure will have a minimum of the nozzle from which to escape, and as the Vpressure lowers the size of opening of the nozzle will increase, whereby to keep the reactive impulse of the` gases substantially uniform throughout.

Except for the desirability of equaling the impulse and the desirability of holding the pressure Within the explosion chamber until the combustion is completed, the cut-off

plates

30, 31 might be omitted, and the entire channel 27 might be treated as an exhaust port. l

To admit an explosive charge to the explosion

chambers intake ports

34, 35 are shown. To these intake ports when the motor is in service, an explosive mixture ot' fuel and air under considerable pressure will be supplied by means of conduits 36, 37. The compression of the fuel will be carried out in a separate device (not shown) enging of the chamber and for a slight amount of cooling thereof. As the chamber passes the intake port a charge of compressed gaseous fuel is introduced into it, and in the continued revolution of the rotor, the side of the chamber which is closed only by the face of the stator, comes opposite a

spark plug

38 or 39, which will be caused to produce a spark at the desired time by a timer of conventional form, not shown, which may be operated from the shaft 24,

At the time of the explosion, the chambers 21, 22, being completely closed, the combustion will be allowed to become complete before escape of the pressure is allowed to take place, as already described. If desired,l

exhaust conduits 40, 41 may be provided for the exhaust ports.

To cool the motor there are shown air intake ports 42, 43, for the air channel 1S, 18',

To direct air into these ports during,

the revolution of the rotor, cups 48 are shown projecting from the rotor and standing over the inlet ports whereby during the rapid rotation of the rotor a blast of air will be caused to enter the inlet ports.

At the opposite end of each of the chan-y nels mentioned there is shown an outlet port for heated air from the channels mentioned, such outlets being shown at 49, 50, 51, 52. The outlets of the

channels

20, 20 are through outlet interior of the rotor, from which the air may escape through openings 53 in the form shown, or between spokes if a spoked form of rotor be adopted.

The air pressuregenerated by the cups 4S may be assisted if desired by a rarefaction at the outlet ports 49-52 by cups arranged with their open sides rearwardly directed, so as to produce a rarefaction in their interiors.

To improve the efficiency of the cooling action fins 54 are shown upon the exterior of the walls of the explosion chamber within the cooling air channels, and the inlets to the channels are arranged `so that the' entering blastof air will impinge upon these fins. Additional tins are shown at 55 upon the circumference of the rotor, and at 56, 57 on th-e cylindrical surfaces lof the Walls separating the air channels from the exhaust passage. 4 l

To provide for lubrication of the frictional surfaces, oil ducts 60 are shown in the plate ot' the stator and coacting ducts 61 extending perpendicularly thereto to the face of the stator whereby to transmit lubricantto the frictional surfaces between the stator and the rotor. In addition there is indicated a duct 62 passing into each nozzle cut-

offs

30 and 31 and ducts 63, placing the ducts 62 in communication with the surfaces of the cutoff plates. i

To utilize the Diesel principletthe arrangement of Fig. 6 may be utilized, wherein a fuel jet (34 is shown to which fuel may be supplied as by means of a pipe 65. VVheu the jet 64 is to be used it will occupy the position of the spark plug 38. lVith this arrangement air under pressure sufficient to cause ignition of a charge will be introduced by means of the conduits 36, 37. After the' llO air has been thus-admitted and the rotor has moved from the

intake ports

34, 35 suf ficiently to close the explosion chamber, the chamber will come opposite the fuel jet 64 and a supply ofliquid fuel under high pressure will be injected into the chamherin the manner usual with Diesel engines. Combustion will immediately take place, due to the heat generated by the pressure. The rotor face seals the injector except when same is opposite the explosion chamber To hold the rotor in its relation to the stator a nut 66 is shown threaded to shaft 24', and a thrust bearing 67 is provided, acting between the nut and the shoulder 68 u on vof motors may be applied to a single shaft 24, the successive statois acting as journals for the shaft. l

The operation 'of the device will be apparent from the above description. Minor changes ma be made inthe physical embodiment o Athe invention without departing from its spirit. .s

claim:

l. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator having a face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a. rotor mounted to revolve closely adjacent. said face of said stator and provided with a combustion chamber having a reactance nozzle outlet, means carried by the stator to conduct lfuel to said chamber.

Q. .A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator having a face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a shaft journaled in said Vstator upon the axis thereof, a rotor carried by said shaft to revolve closely adjacent said face of said stator and provided with a combustion chamber having a reactance nozzle outlet, and means to conduct fuel to `said ucombustion chamber.

3. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator liavinga face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a shaft journalcd in `said stator upon the axis thereof,

a rotor carried by said shaft.` to revolve closely adjacent said face of said'stator and 'provided with a combustion chamber having a reactance nozzle outlet, and means carf ried by the stator, to conduct fuel to the combustion chamber. 1-

4. A rotary gas engine power plant comprising, in combination, a plurality of stators each having a face substantially perpendicuar .to its axis, a shaft journa ed in said stators upon their axes, a pluralityof rotors mount-ed on said shaft, one to revolve closely adj acent said lface of each stator, each rotor provided with a combustion chamber having a reactance nozzle outlet, means to conduct fuel to each chamber.

5. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator having a face substantially perpendicular to its axis, an open fuel supply port and an open exhaustport in said face, a rotor mounted to revolve closely adjacent said face of said stator and having a Wall normally closing said ports, a combustion chamber opening through said wall and an annular exhaust chamber provided with a port opening throughv said ivall, said openings adapted to revolve past saidrespective ports, and means to conduct fuel to 'said fuel port.

6. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator having a face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a rotor mounted to revolve closely adjacent said face -of said.

Astator and provided with a combustion chamber, having a reactance nozzleoutlet,

means to provide a gradual opening of said. nozzle upon rotation of the rotor, and meansV to conduct fuel to said combustion chamber.

7. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator having a face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a rotor mounted to revolve closely adjacent said face of said stator and provided with a combustion chainber having a reactance nozzle outlet, means carried by the stator to provide. a gradual opening of said nozzle upon rotation of the rotor, and means to conduct fuel to said combustion chamber.

8. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination', a stator having a face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a rotor mounted to lrevolve closely ladjacent saidface of -said stator, and having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzleloutlet and an annular channel into which said nozzle opens, and stationary means standing in said channel to close the nozzle`dnng the combustion period. s

9. A rotary gas engine comprising, in coina reactance nozzle outlet and an annular lchannel into which said nozzle opens, and stationary means carried by the stator standingin said channel to close'the nozzle during combination, a stator, a rotorm'ounted to re-` volve closely adjacent a Iside of said stator,

having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outletandan annular chamber into which said nozzle opens, a rib carried by said stator standing in said channel and adapted to close said nozzle during a `portion of the revolution of the rotor, one end of said rib beveled to provide a gradual opening of said nozzle, and' means ca'rried by the stator to conduct fuel to said combustion chamber.

11. A rotary gas' engine comprising, in combination, a stator, a rotor mounted to revolve closely adjacent a side of said stator, having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outlet and an annular chamber into which said nozzle opens, a rib carried by said stator standing in said channel and adapted to close said nozzle during a portion of the revolution of the rotor, one end of said ribbeveled to provide a gradual opening of said nozzle, said annular chain- -ber having an exhaust port, and means carcombination, an annular rotor having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance 7 nozzle outlet and an opening in a face substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, stationary means adapted to close Said nozzle during a portion of the revolution, means standing closely adjacent one side of said rotor adapted to close said opening and having means opening therethrough to deliver fuel into said combustion chamber during revolution of the rotor, the time of introduction of the fuel being slightly in advance of the closing-of said outlet to provide for scavenging, and means to ignite the charge ot' fuel in the combustion chamber.

14. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, an annular rotor having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outlet, said chamber having an open side in a. faceof the rotor substantially perpendicular to its axis, means standing closely adjacent said face to normally close the opening, a fuel supply port in said means in circumferential alinement with said opening, and ignition means spaced from said port projecting through said closing means' in circumferential alinement with said opening whereby upon revolution of the rotor fuel may be fed to the combustion chamber through said port and later be ignited by said ignition means. f

15. A rotary gas engine comprising, 1n combination, a rotorhaving a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outlet, an annular expansion chamber into which said outlet opens, a substantially annular air chamber interrupted by the walls of said combustion chamber, and an air port for admitting cooling air `to said channels, whereby to cool the Walls of the combustion chamber.

16. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a rotor having a combustion chamber provided with areactance nozzle outlet, a substantially annularv air channel interrupted by the walls of said chamber, and an air port admitting cooling air to said channel closely adjacent a Wall of said chamber, 'whereby to effect the cooling of the Wall.

17. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a rotor provided With a combusti'on chamber having av reactance nozzle outlet, an annular expansion chamber into which said outlet opens and a substantially annular air channel interrupted by a wall of the combustion chamber, said air channel having an inlet opening adjacent said Wall, means carried by the exterior of the rotor for directing air into said opening during rotation of the rotor, whereby to cool the walls of said chambers.

18. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator,` having a face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a rotor mounted to revolve closely adjacent said face thereof, and having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outlet, said chamber having an opening normally closed by the wall of the stator, means to preserve a tight joint at each side of the travel of said opening, a fuel supply port in said stator, in circumferential alinement with said opening, and ignition means carried by the stator vspaced brom said port and also in circui'nferential alinement with said opening.

19. A rotary gas engine comprising, in eombii'iation, a rotor provided With va combustion chamber having a reactance nozzle outlet, an annular expansion chamber into which said outlet opens and a substantially annular air channel interrupted by a Wall ot' the con'ibustion chamber, said air channel having an inlet opening' adjacent said Wall and an outlet opening, means carried by the exterior of the rotor for directing air into said inlet opening during rotationy of the rotor, and means carried by the rotor to produce rarefaction of air at the outlet of said air channel, whereby to cool the Walls of said chambers.

20. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a rotor having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outlet, said rotor also having an annular expansion chamber and a substantially annular cooling medium channel, said vchamber and channel having a common Wall, means to supply cooling medium to said channel to cool the said Wall of said chamber, and means to supply fuel to said combustion chamber.

21. A rotary gas' engine comprising, in combina-tion, an annular rotor having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outlet opening substantially tangential to a wall of the annular rotor, said rotor also having a substantially annular channel for cooling medium, and means to supply a cooling medium to said channel into contact with the Walls of the -wcombustion chamber and nozzle.

22. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator having a face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a rotor mounted` to revolve closely adjacent said face of said stator aud-having a combustion chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outlet, means to su ply fuel to said combustion chamber, an means to supply lubricant to the opposed surfaces of stator and rotor.l v

23. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, a stator having a `face substantially perpendicular to its axis, a rotor mounted to revolve closely adjacent said face of said stator, having a combustion` chamber provided with a reactance nozzle outlet and an annular expansion chamber, a rib carried by the stator standing in said expansion chamber to close Vsaid nozzle during a portion of the revolution of the rotor, and means to supply lubricant to the surfaceof said rib.

24. A rotary gas engine comprising, in combination, an annular rotor having a plurality of expansion chambers, each having van inlet opening at aside substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rotor and a reactance nozzle outlet, means standing closely adjacent to said side of the rotor to close said openingsz and fuel conducting means, carried by said; first-named means to conduct fuel 'under pressure to said openings during their passage upon revolution of the rotor.

WILLIAM S. SULLIVAN.