US1618861A - Vacuum means for conserving lubricating oil of internal-combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

v 1,6182861 c. s. CLARK VACUUK MEANS FOR CONSERVING LUBRICATING OIL 0F INTRNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed uw. 11. 192s 2 Sheets-sheen Feb. 22, 1927.

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c. s. CLARK VACUUM'MEANS FOR CGNSERVING LUBRICATING OIL 0F INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Dec. 11. l192s 2 sheets-sheets x. Q n 35% Patented Feb. 22, 1927.

UNITED STATES f 1,618,861'` PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS S. CLARK, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO CLARK ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF,NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, A CORPGRA'IIONl OF VIRGINIA.

VACUUM .MEANS FOR' CONSERVING LUBRICATING OIL OYFV`INTERNAL-COMBUSTION l f lENGINES.

Application filed Deceniber.1l,'1923. Serial No. 680,031.

This invention relates to vacuum meansv for conserving the lubricating oil of internal combustion engines, and has for its main object an arrangement of structure bymeans of which Vthe surplus oil passing fromthe crank case to the combustion chamber. `between the cylinder and piston, andthe nonvolatile fuel fraction passing by vthe same route from the combustion chamber to the crank case, are withdrawn byv suction, and

delivered tov the intake of theV engine to f form a part of the combustible mixture. By

this means, not onlyis the incrustation off' charred oil on the walls of the combustion chamber prevented, but dilution of the crank case oil isavoided, preserving the viscosity and lubricating properties of the oil.-

`Another object v,of the' invention` vis the novel piston and'cylinder construction which makes possible the withdrawal: of the surplus substances in the manner-set forth.

For the attainmentfof these ends and the accomplishment of other new andA useful objects,` as will appear, the invention con-l slsts in the fea-tures of novelty-inzthe con-J struction, combination and arrangement of the several parts generally shown in the' accompanying drawings l and .described in the specification, butv more `particularly pointed out inther appended claim. ln the drawings Fioure lis a side elevation of a multi- D Y cylinder internal combustion engine, illustrating the invention, two of thev cylinders being shown in'section. y I I Figure 2 yis an. elevation, in section, of a single cylinder showingia modified form of the invention with therpiston at the top of its stroke. t i y Figure 3 a similar-view,partsbeing broken away, the pistgn beingshownatvthe bottom of its stroke. v

Figure 4 is a cross. section taken along the line 4 4: of Figure 3. f

Referring now in detail to the severalV iigures, the numeral l represents the cylinder block of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, the intake manifold of' which is represented at 2. For the purpose of carrying out my invention, the walls of eacli of the cylinders are formed with an annular groove 3 adjacent' the lower limit of the range of travel of the piston. Each of these grooves is in communicationr with a conduit'4,-said conduits being 'branches of a will becommunicated to the annular grooves 3.. In each ofthe modifications shown theY pistons must be of such length relative toi the stroke thereof, that the grooves 3 are constantly within the range of travel of said pistons. Otherwise, were thetop of the pistons to descend` below the annular grooves, ory were the'- lower ends of said 'pistonslto rise above said grooves the vacuum in themanifold 2 would be'filled'* by atmosphere from either the combustion` chamberorv crank case, interrupting thel functioning of* the carburet'er.

In the form ofthe invention shown in` Figurehthe piston is provided at its top.`

with a single ring groove 7-which may carry a sealing ring f8 of any approved type, rbut preferablywa Y composite ring, also consti,- tuting myvinvention and claimed and described in a companion application for Patent No; 680,032. The skirt 9'of'this piston is without a ringgrooveat' the bottom, so

that. the sealing effect is ymostly at the top,` Y andthe vacuum oil conserving system lmay be expected to draw a considerable proportion of thecrank casevapor into the intake manifold along with the surplusoilor liquid iso I.

fuel that may find its way between the pisy vton and cylinder. y The introduction of such*` yapor into the. intake manifold is not yobjectionable, as it consists largely of morev or less volatile combustible gas andadds to the richness of the mixturekfedtothe engine,

toV compensate for 4which a leaner adjustment of thelcarbureter (not shown) may-be made rlfhis'fo'rm of ipistonihas the yadvantage that, providing Vthe skirt is long enough to cover the annular groove 3 when the piston is at its upper dead center, any of the ordinary forms of plain skirt piston may be adapted to use with the oil conserving sys'- tem Without material change. It is essential that the piston ring v8 does not pass across the annular groove 3,' orit may spread linto Vsaid groove and lock the piston againstfurther movement. ever, that the piston ring'S yshould descend It vis preferable, howioo slightly below the upper-edge vof the groove 3 as shown at 10 in Figure 1 to avoid the wearing, of a ridge in the cylinder wall at a point where the piston ring stops. The action of the piston ring is that of scraping the oil -down the side of the cylinder into the annular groove 3 whence it is carried into the intake manifold by suction.

In Figures 2 and 3 is shown a modilied forni of the invention in which the annular groove is omitted from the cylinder wall, the oil-collecting groove being formed upon the piston Vbody below the upper piston ring. rllhis groove may be of any desired forni but is preferably shown as a spiral 11 encircling the piston several times so as to cover a zone as wide as approximately one-third of the piston stroke. By this means, the-oilcollecting groove 11 comes into registry with the nipple 12 when the piston has travelled two-thirds its distance on the sucthe intake manifold, upon the joint between Y the cylinder and piston is relatively inactive so that lubrication of the piston is not in- But as the piston descends the intake valve the pumping oi oil past the istonring and into the combustion chamber ecomes acute. It is at this tima-just before the opening of the intake valve 1 5, and continuing to the end of the downward stroke of the piston that the nipple 12 is in oomi'nunication with the spiral groove 11, the saine suction which prevails in the combustion chamber being applied to the spiral groove through the nipple 12, counter-acting the pumping action of the combustion chamber land withdrawing the surplus oil trom'the spiral groove vinto they intake inaniold 2. For the purpose ot ensuring proper lubrication of the reciprocating parts it is advisable to segregate the piston ring groove 7. from the spiral groove 11, to which end I have provided that the spiral groove shall terminate in a circular portion 13 just ybelow the piston ring groove 7 'but out of communication therewith.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 2 and 3 the pistons are each provided with a piston ring 14 at the lower der be made suilicient to prevent the spiead- Y ing of the ring into the crank case chamber below the endof the cylinder.

It will be understood that wherever the term oil is used throughout the specification and. claim it is intended to cover not only the` surplus lubricating oil which may be pumped up from the crank case between theI cylinder piston walls but also the less volatile portion oi the fuel mixture which may condense within.` the combustion chamber during the compression and explosion strokes ot the engine, and which; if permitted to mix with the crank case oil would soon destroy Y the lubricating properties of the same;V y

I consider that my invention, resides primarily in the broad aspects hereinbetore set forth, and only secondarily inthe details of construction` and arrangement, wherefore I do not restrict myseltl to the particular construction here disclosed, but only by the,

terms of the claim and the stateofV the prior art. j j g Having described my invention what I claim as new andl desire .to secure by; Letters Patent, is

i In an internal combustion engine, a, cylinder, a piston'reciprocable therein, theewall ot sa'id cylinder being provided; with aport adjacent the lower limit otv the range oi: travel of said piston, means establishing communication between said port and the combustible mixture intake of; saidengine. a piston ring adjacent the upper end ot'I saidpiston and an oil collecting groove arfy ranged around said piston below said piston ring and covering a Vzone of such width as to bring the. lower portion of said Ioil collecting groove into registry `with said; port substantially at the time of opening'ot the inlet` valve engine.

1n; testimony whereofV l lhave Yhereuntov setf Vniy hand.

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