US1627108A

US1627108A - Aircraft engine

Info

Publication number: US1627108A
Application number: US5855A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morehouse Harold Emerson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-01-30
Filing date: 1925-01-30
Publication date: 1927-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 1944-05-03

Description

May 1927' H. E. MOREHOUSE AIRCRAFT ENGINE Filed Jan. 30., 1925 IN ENTOR Harv/d N0f6/70U66 ATT Patented Ms 3,1921.

UNITED STATES.

HAROLD EMERSON HOBEHOUSE, OE DAYTON, OHIO.

- AIRCRAFT ENGINE.

Application flied January 30, 1925. Serial No. 5,855.

This invention relates to aircraft engines, and has particular reference tothe provision of a small compact air-cooled engine, especially adaptable on small light aircraft.

The principal object of the invention is to provide two pairs of horizontally o posed engine cylinders arranged in parallel relation with a propeller shaft, extendin cen trally between the crankshafts of each \pair of cylinders, the cylinders being arranged broadside in the propeller slipstream to secure equal aircooling.

Another object'of the invention arising from the arrangement above described, is toprovide atwo to one ratio between the propeller shaft and the crankshafts, the' firing impulses of theupper pair of cylinders being displaced 180 of crankshaft travel from the firing impulses of the lower pair of cylinders, and 90 of propeller shaft travel, thereby communicating even impulses to the propeller. The arrangement further enables the use of the propeller shaft as a camshaft for operating the valve mechanisms for the cylinders extending out between the pairs of cylinders, and a convenient tachometer drive, the crankshafts in turn providing'convenient power takeoffs for the operation of auxiliary equipment ,such as the oil pump and magneto.

The foregoing objects are brought out in the course of the following description, in which reference is made to the accompanyin drawing wherein- I %ig. 1 is a. schematic illustration of the engine of my invention.

Fig- 2 is aside view of the invention, and.

Fig. 3 a front view thereof.

The engine consists, of an upper unit 10 and a lower unit 11, which are virtually duplicate two cylinder engines of the o posed type, operating on the four stro e.

cycle principle. The firing impulses of the units are dis laced 180 of the travel of the crankshafts 2 and '13, so that impulses are communicated at intervals of every 90 travel of the propeller shaft 14. The cylinders 15 of the unit 10, similarly to the cylinders 16 of the unit 11, are provided with aircooling flanges and are bolted to a common crankcase 17, which provides bearings for the

crankshafts

12 and 13 and the pro peller shaft 14. Within the crankcase 17 a gearin connection is provided between the

cranks rafts

12 and 13 with the propeller shaft 14 by the meshing engagement of

spur gears

18 and 19 on the crankshafts with a large spur gear 20 on the propeller shaft 14. The gear 20 is in a ratio of two to one with.

the

gears

13 and 19 to secure theoperating characteristlcs above described. The, peller indicated at 21 mounted on the outer proend of the propeller shaft 14 provides equal' aircooling for the pairs of cylinders 15 and '16 due to its central location with respect to these cylinders, which it will be noted, are

,disposed broadside in the slipstream thereof. A cowhng 22 and. spinner 23 provided over obstructed vision forward from the, cockpit. It is also to advantage that the eugme bearings may form direct extensions off the longrons to, provide a four' point support at'each of the corners of the crankcase as indicated at 24. Thecowling 22 can thus made co-extensive or flush'with the fuselage 22,.giving a neat trim appearance,

and reducing head resistance considerably.

The propeller shaft, since it operates at half the crankshaft speed and is centrally located with reference to the engine.cylin-- ders, may serve as a camshaft and is provided with cams as indicated at 25 for opere ating push rods 23, extending out between the pairs of cylinders on both sides of the propeller shaft to operate the valves 27 of the engine cylinders. I also has a connection 28 for a tachometer, the readings of which are usually taken'for the propeller speeds. Each of the crankshafts also provides a convenient power takeoff for the operation of a unit of the auxiliary equipment for the engine,"thus at- 29 there is indicated the magneto which is driven through a direct coupling connection with the end of the crankshaft 12. The

The propeller :shaft oil pump 30 is driven oil the end of the crankshaft 13, thus the three shafts operating at two different speeds afford power takeoffs for auxiliary units requiring or which preferably have engine speed operation or propeller speed operation.

I claim: V I

1. In a four-cylinderaircooled. propellerdriving engine, a propeller shaft, a pair of horizontally opposed engine cylinders dis-- posed below said shaft, a double throw crankshaft having pistons connected thereon operatingin said cylinders, atwo to one gearing between said propeller shaftand said crankshaft, a. second pair of opposed engine cylinders above said propeller shaft in parallel relation to said first cylinders and theduplicatethereof, 'said cylinders having a crankshaft geared to said propeller shaft in relation tothe crankshaft of the first pair of cylinders, so that the firing impulses are displaced 180 crankshaft travel and 90 propeller shaft travel, both .of said pairs of engine cylinders being disposed'broadside to the propeller slipstream low said shaft, a crankshaft having pistons connected thereon operating in Sflld' CyllIlders, a two .to' one gearing between said propeller shaft and said crankshaft, a second pair'of opposed enginecylinders above saidpropeller shaft in parallel relation 10 said first cylinders and the duplicate there- Of, said cylinders having a crankshaft geared to said propeller shaft in rel-ationto the crankshaft of-the first pair of cylinders so that the firing impulses are displaced. 180 crankshaft travel and 90 propeller shaft travel, both of said pairs of engine cylinders being disposed broadside to the propeller slipstreamyvalve mechanisms between -the pairsv ofengine cylinders operated from thepropeller shaft, accessory drive take-ofis on said crankshafts, and a tachometer take-ofi on said propeller shaft.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HAROLD EMERSON IO REIIOUSE;