US1728340A - Internal-combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 17, 1929. R. H. GERARD 1,728,3/40

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGIN E meu L 65.4.4

H/s A fm2/vtr Sept. 17, 1929. R. H. GERARD INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Sept. 28. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 u In.

f/Yl/E/YTOZ @OVH GERARD H/S A TTORNY INTERNAL COMBUST I ON ENGINE Filed Sept. 28. 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet lI5 l/Y VEN 702 @or H. GERA .Qa

H/S A TTOENEK Sept 17, 1929- R. H. GERAR 1,728,340

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed sept. 28, 192e 4 sheets-sheet 4 :Eig-7 ig-H Hfs A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 17, 1929 ROY H. GERARD. OrsAN rInANoIsco,y CALIFORNIA, 'AssIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, To Bowen MOTORS oOMPANmA CORPORATION INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Application led September 28, 1926. rSerial No. 138,178.'

My invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularly to valve mecha`- nism for the same and one of the objects of the invention is the provision of an internal combustion engine in which each Of the main .or power cylinders isyprovided with a single port thru which fuel is introduced into the cylinder and burnedr gases exhausted therefrom. i

Another yobject of the` invention is the u provision in an engine of the character described of improved valverk means for ,con-

.trolling the single port in 'each cylinder.

Another object of the invent-ion is the pro f vision in an engine` ofthe character rdescribed of a singlevalve cylinder opening at one end into the exhaustmanifold and at the other end into the intake manifold and provided with a single lport opening into the power cylindeiytogether with'a selector valve the movement of which determines which end of the valve cylinder is in communication thru ythe port ywith the 'power cylinder. f y i Other objects Of the invention will be set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiment of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings forming rpart of the specification. It is understood that Iy do not limit myself toy the showing made by the said description and drawings as I may adopt variations of my preferred embodiment within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims. i i Referring to the drawings:

Figure l1 is a vertical sectional view take-n in a plane passing thru the longitudinal axis ofone of the cylinders yof anengine em'- bodying my invention, the plane of section is indicated by the line 1-.1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is ka plan view of a four-cylinder engine embodying my invention, the direction ofthe view being indicated by the arrow 2 of Figurel. i i y Figure 3 is an elevation `of theupper portion of the engine, they direction of view being indicated bythe arrow in Figure 1f.

` A portion of the housing is shown broken away to disclose the underlying structure.

yFigure l isan `elevation of the upper porrclose the cam shaft., y f Figures, 6, 7 and 8 are largely diagrammatic views showing a cylinder 1n vertical tion of my engine, the direction of theviewk being indicated by the arrow 4 ofFigure 1. n

The housing is: shown broken away to dissection with-its associated valve mechanism. The plane of section of each of these figures yis the same as thatof Figure 1.

- In terms Of broad inclusion, the internal 'i combustion engine of this invention `comlprises a cylinder block in wliichone or more power cylinders are incorporated,`each associated with a transversely extendingvalve .fcylinder, preferably located across the upper end ofthe cylindervin a vertically arranged engine. The valve cylinder is connected with thepower cylinder by a single port approximately in the ymiddle of t-he valve cylinderya-nd one rend of the valve cylinderis f yconnected'into the fuel supply manifold while the other end is connected to tlieeX# haust manifold. The yvalve cylinderis di- `vided yby a movable `wall or selector so that with movementof the selector to one side or n ythe ,other of the, main cylinder port, either the intake manifoldor the exhaust manifold,

[as the casemaybe, is placed in communica-y tion with the power cylinder. In order to `secure a highly sensitive and close control of the port opening, it is preferable to mount the selector valve within a sleeve rigidly projecting into the valve cylinder; and to arrangea movable sleeve between the fixed sleeve and the cylinder` Wall.' They rfixed sleeve has a portwhichy is in line with the m'ain cylinder port, and they movable sleeve n has a port adapted to be brought into regis? ter with the main cylinder kport so that the main cylinder port is also controllable by the movable sleeve. The function ofthe selector f' valve is to determine which side of the valve cylinder, that is exhaust or intake, is placed in communication with the cylinder port; i and the function -of the sleeve is to close and open thisport at the proper times independently of the movement of the selector valve to its positiony on one side orthe' other of the port. Means areprovided operated mediatelyafrom the` piston for harinonizing Athe cylinder 8.

rlection of oil in the usual manner.

the movements of the selector and the sleeve valves; and this means preferably comprises a cam shaft driven by suitable gear connection with the crank shaft of the engine, to which cam shaft the valves are operatively connected by suitable means.

ln the following detailed description, reference will be made principally to a single cylinder and its associated mechanism as indicated in Figure 1. The principles of vthis invention may be applied to any number of cylinders and in Figures 2 and 4 is-shown a four-cylinder embodiment.

Mounted in suitable bearings 2 in the bed frame 3 is the crank shaft 4 connected by the connecting rod 6 with the power piston 7 slidably arranged in the usual fashion in rlhe bottom of the bed frame comprising the crank case is closed ,by the cover plate 9 having the heat radiat- .ing flanges Aildisposed thereon and carrying onv the inner bottom surface a trough 12 into which the clipper 13 on the end of the va part is suitably secured to the bed frame A3 by the cap screws 17 and is provided with suitable passages 18 for the circulation of the cooling water in accordance with the standard or desired practice. Mounted on the top of the cylinder block and separated therefrom by the usual gasket 19 is a valve block 2O in which are cored the cooling water passages 21, the uppermost of which is closed by the cover plate 22. Also formed in "the valve blockl and extending transversely therethru over the end of each cylinder is a. valve cylinder 23 opening at one end, on the left side of Figure 1 thru the passage 24 into the exhaustmanifold 26, rigidly secured on the side of the valve block. At

the kopposite end the valve cylinder opens thru the passage 27 into the intake manifold 28. The intake manifold is secured rigidly on the right hand side of the valve block as viewed in Figure 1 and receives its fuel mixture thru a passage 29 extending thru the valve block in register with a passage 31 in the exhaust manifold. This passage extends downwardly to the carburetor V32, of any well known type, and because of its inclusion within the walls 33 over which the burned gases of combustion sweep, the fuel vgases are suitably heated and liquid particles of fuel are vaporized upon the hot walls. rlhe carburetor is fed from the usual. float chamber 34, which in turn receives liquid fuel thru the pulsometer 36 connected by y a passage 47 extending entirely around the valve cylinder and out of which opens the port 48 thru which all fuel and burned gases of combustion pass into and out of the power cylinder from and to the valve cylinder.

Extending into the valve cylinder from the left side, as viewed in Figure 1, is a sleeve 49 having the port 50 in register vith the port 48 and assembled between the rings .51 and 52. rfhe ring 51 is caught between the shoulder at the end of the valve cylinder and a coinpressible gasket 53 facing a flange formed on the bushing 54, the interior of which is given the shape of a Venturi tube. The bushing is made heavy and is in thermal Contact with the metal of the valve head so as to protect the fixed sleeve which it lines from the effects of the hot gases which pass thru this end of the valve cylinder. The ring 52 is interposed between the end of the fixed sleeve 49 and the end of the fixed sleeve 55, which at the other end seats in the intake manifold around the passage 27. Slidably disposed in thevalve cylinder, between its walls and the fixed sleeve 49 is the sleeve valve or movable sleeve 56 having the piston rings 57 and having a port 58 adapted to be brought into register with the port 48. Preferably this port is somewhat wider than the port 48, as shown in the drawings. Slidably mounted within the fixed sleeve 49 is the selector valve 61, slightly dished as shown, and pointing toward the exhaust manifold. On the concave side which faces the intake manifold, the selector is provided with ribs G2. rilhe reason for this construction is to permit the heat which theselector takes up from the exhaust gases to be utilized in vaporizing any liquid particles which may be entrained in the fuel stream. The separate piece construction and mounting of the fixed sleeves is suggested by the difficulty of perfectly alining parts subject to such 'ide ranges of temperature. By the construction adopted, the fixed sleeves center themselves and the parts work freely without binding, the compressible gasket-53 permitting expansion. y y c .y

Means operated mediately from ,therpower pistons is provided for actuating the selector 61 and the sleeve valve 56. Bolted on the right hand side of the cylinder block, as viewedin Figure 1, is a. bracket plate 66 on which brackets 67 are formed. Journaled in these brackets in suitable bearings 68 is a cam shaft 69 connected by the gears 71, shaft 72 and gears 73 with the crank shaft 4. The cam shaft is also utilized thru the gears 74 and shaft 76 to drive the distributer rotor. The cam shaft is provided with a cylindrical cam 77 and a pear-shaped cam 78 opposite each valve cylinder. Engaged with these cams are rocker arms 79 and 81 respectively, pivotally mounted on t-he shaft 82 mounted in the brackets 83. The rocker arm 79 is pivotally connected by the link 84 with the sleeve valve 56; and the rocker arm y81 is pivotally connected by means of the link 86 with the head 87, adjustably fixed on the rod 88, fixed at the other end in the selector 61 and passing thru the gland 91 in the wall of the intake manifold. Y are pivotally mounted on the same shaft 82, the rocker arms are separated and shown as though mounted on separate shafts in the diagrammatic Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, an eX- amination of which will disclose the method of operation of these parts. The parts are so shaped and assembled with? relation to each other that, as shown in Figure y5, with the piston 7 at the top of the intake stroke, the sleeve valve 56 is stationary with its port 58 in register with the cylinder port 48, and the cylinder valve 61 is on the eX- haust side of the port 50, so that the alined ports and right hand side of the valve cylinder complete a free passage between the explosion chamber 41 and the intake manifold 28. The valves remain in this position during the intake stroke, but at the bottom of this stroke and prior to the beginning of the compression stroke, asshown in Figure 6, the cam 77 has moved the sleeve 56 to close the port 48. In order to accommodate and the ring 51, a passage 92 is formed within the wall of the valve cylinder. As the piston ascends on the compression stroke, the selector 61 is moved toward the 05 port 50 and at the moment of explosion, as shown in Figure 7, the selector covers the port and the sleeve 56 has started its recovery movement toward the right. As the piston reaches the bottom of. its explosion stroke, the selector has reached the intake manifold, or right hand side of the port 50, and as the piston starts upwardly on the eX- haust stroke, the sleeve valve has moved backwardly to again aline the ports 58 and ,615 48, thus clearing a passage for the exhaust 50 yagainst the passage of the flame back yto the Although all of the rocker arms the trapped air between the end of the sleeve` f gases to yflow freely thru the Venturi tube end of the valve cylinder into the exhaust manifold.y f f i It vwill be noted that yby reason of the passage 47 surrounding thelmovable sleeve,7o valve, the effect of the explosion is dis`ly tributed evenlyraround the entire Valve, so that thereis no tendency for the valve to stickv duringy the ignition of the fuel. It will also benoted that at the moment of ,.75 explosion, ythe selector 61 covers the yports thus providing a double `assurance intake manifold. The exhausting. burned gases are ofcourse very hotand the heavy bushing 5,4 offers notfonly 'amechanical protection andshield to the lighter parts which vit covers, but also tends to dissipatethe absorbed heatby reason of its thermal con- V tact with parts overcwhich cooling water a5 flows. Since the bushing necessarily ob-m structs the passage, the interior orifice is given the Venturi shape to increase the velocity of the gases at this point. yAlthough the dra-wings,` particularly Figure r1, n disclose the ports 50 and 58 as comprised of alined slots separated by a narrow bridge,

yit is tobe understood that the bridge portion is merely tostrengthen the two parts which wouldi otherwise be separated and that the sleeves are not thereby doubly ported. There is but a single port 48 at the top of the explosion chamberin each cylinder and the apertures in the sleeves are to be considered as single ports, since they are,;..100 in effect that and the bridge separating the two portions of the port iny each sleevecould ybe omitted if desired.

a In order to protect the various yworking parts of the engine, it is preferable to enclose it and this is done by providing' a housing 93 over the rocker arms and cam shaft and in which is left an opening adjacent the cam shaft normally closed by the door 94. A similar housing 96 encloses the 2110 f float chamber, carburetor and' distributer and an opening normally closed by the door 97 gives access `to the protected parts.` f

I claim: f

1'. In an internal combustion engine, a A115 main cylinder, a piston in said main cylinder, a valve cylinder opening at one end into the exhaust manifold and at the other end into the inlet manifold yand `having aport opening into the main cylinder, yaported ,i

sleeve slidably arranged to control the cylinder port, a selector disposed within the 'sleeve and movable from one side of the c cylinderport tothe other, and means acting in time with 'thek piston for actuating 125 said sleeve and selector.

i 2. In an internal combustion engine, a main cylinder, a piston in said main cylinder, a valve cylindery opening at one end into the yexhaust manifold and at the other end into the inlet manifold and having a port opening into the main cylinder, a ported sleeve slidably arranged to control the cylinder port, said port opening in a passage surrounding said sleeve, a selector disposed Within the sleeve and movable from one side of the Cylinder port to the other, and means acting in time With the piston for actuating said sleeve and selector.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a main cylinder, a piston in said main cylinder, a. valve cylinder opening at one end into the exhaust manifold and at the other end into the inlet manifold and having a port opening into the main cylinder, a ported sleeve slidably disposed in the valve cylinder to control the cylinder port, a selector disposed 1vithin the sleeve and movable to connect the cylinder port With either end of the valve cylinder, and means acting in time With the piston for actuating said sleeve and selector.

4. In an internal combustion engine, a main cylinder, a piston in said main cylinder, a valve cylinder opening at one end into the exhaustmanifold and at the other end into the inlet manifold and having a port opening into the main cylinder, a ported sleeve slidably disposed in the valve cylinder to control the cylinder port, a fixed sleeve extending into the slidable sleeve and having a port in register' With the cylinder port, av selector slidably arranged in the fixed sleeve and movable from one side of the porttherein to the other, and means acting in time With the piston for actuating the slidable sleeve and the selector.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a main cylinder, a piston in said main cylinder, a valve cylinder opening at one end into the exhaust manifold and at the other end into the inlet manifold and having a port opening into the main cylinder, a ported sleeve slidably disposed in the valve cylinder to control the cylinder port, a selector disposed Within the sleeve and mov-4 able to connect the cylinder port with either end of the valve cylinder, rocher arms respectively connected at one end to each of said sleeve and selector and pivoted at the f other end, a cam shaft driven mediately by the piston and cams on said shaft for imparting motion to said rocker arms.

6. In an internal combustion engine, a main cylinder, a piston in said main cylinder, a valve cylinder having a port opening into the main cylinder, a ported sleeve slidably disposed in the valve cylinder to control the cylinder port, a fixed sleeve Within the slidable sleeve and having a port in register with the cylinder port, a selector slidably arranged in the ixed sleeve and movable from one side of the port therein to the other, means acting in time with the piston for actuating the slidable ROY I-I. GERARD.

y set my hand.

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