US1765556A

US1765556A - Rotary-valve mechanism for internal-combustion engines

Info

Publication number: US1765556A
Application number: US215293A
Authority: US
Inventors: Wilkinson John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-08-25
Filing date: 1927-08-25
Publication date: 1930-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 1947-06-24

Description

June 24, 1930. w 'J. w|| K1NsoN ROTARY VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTIOiI ENGINES Filed Aug. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2% x2 IX Z5 6 Q .L

'INV EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS June 24, 1930. J. WILKINSON 1,765,556

ROTARY vALvE MECHANISM 1 0R INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEYS,

Patented June 24, 1930 UNITED STATES i JOHN WILKINSON, OF SYRACUSE, YORK Application filed August 25, 1927. Serial No. 215,293.

This invention relates to internal combustion or explosion engines and has for its object a particularly simple and eificient rotary valve mechanism therefor and more especial- 5 1y means whereby the rotor of the valve mechanism isseated on its side adjacent the cylinder port during the compression and explosion period.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding 1 parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, parts being omitted, of a four cycle engine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation,

partly in section. Figure 3 is a plan view. of parts seen in Figure 2.

This engine comprises, generally, a rotary valve mechanism associated with the engine cylinderand including a casing, a rotor in the casing having a transfer passage for communicating with a port in the cylinder and a port in the valve casing andmeans acting on the rotor to press the rotor into snug engagement with the wall of the casing adjacent the cylinder port. 1

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I have illustrated a single rotor which controls both the intake and the exhaust through a single port in the cylinder so that the transfer passage of the rotor communicates successively with the intake and cylinder port and the cylinder port and the exhaust port. i

1 is the cylinder. I

2 is theusual piston movable in the cylinder.

3 is the crank shaft with the crank 4 there- 5 is theupper half of the crank case. The usual connecting rod is used, it being omitted in the drawing. a j' v The cylinder is formed with a combined intake and exhaustport ti, this being; in the form of a slot, here shown as formed in the head of the cylinder. I

jacketed, although it is immaterial whether the engine is water or air cooled.

8 1s a rotor sultably mounted in the casing '7 and fitting thesame with enough clearance to rotate easily therein under all conditions.

The valve casing is also formed with intake and

exhaust ports

9 and 10, these being also elongated or in the form of slots and opening into the valve casing below the center thereof, that is, they are located on the same side of a diameter of the valve casing so that they open somewhat'tangentially into the valve casing.

The rotor is provided with a transfer passage 11 as long as the

ports

6, 9 and 10, and wide enough to time properly or permit the intake to enter and the exhaust to discharge through the port 6 while the rotor is rotating.

' In the illustrated embodiment of my in-. vention,.the rotor is provided with three of such transfer passages 11 spaced equidistantly apart, the number of these ports being dependent upon the gear ratio between the crank shaft3 and the rotor, it being understood that the rotor is driven from-the crank shaft 3 in'any suitable manner. When three transfer passages are used as illustrated, the ratio is 6 to 1, when two transfer passages are used, the ratio is 4 to 1 and if but one is used, the ratio is 2 to 1. i

The means for applying pressure laterally to the rotor is arranged to press the wall of the rotor adjacent the engine port .11 snugly against the walls of the casing contiguous to .said port particularly during the compression and: power strokes of the piston' Full pressure-is preferably intermittently applied instead of being constantly applied, although itwill be understood that the spring is always applying some pressure to take up undue looseness. As here illustrated a bearing .member or shoe 12 is suitably guidedin the valve casing to engage the rotor at an area diametrically opposite the cylinder port 6 and pressure is intermittently applied to the bearing member through mechanism actuated from the crank shaft of the engine, the mechanism here shown including a spring so that yielding pressure is applied to the bearing member 12.

The mechanism for applying pressure to the bearing member 12 includes a walking beam 13 suitably mounted on the valve casing and having one arm thereof thrusting against the bearing member 12 and the other arm coacting with a lifting means actuated by a cam 14 on a cam shaft 15 driven in any well known manner from the crank shaft 3. The lifting means preferably includes a lift rod 16 having a follower 17 coacting with the cam, the lift rod thrusting through a spring 18 on the walking beam 13. The spring also acts to take up any looseness when the cam and its follower at the ends of the walking beam in addition to deliver the valve rotor and the valve casing. The walking beam is provided at its other end with an adjusting screw 21 which coacts with one of the abutments 22 for the spring 18. This walking beam and associated mechanism is similar to the mechanism for operating the poppet valves in the heads of internal combustion engines. 5

The rotor may be of any suitable metal and fitted to the casing to have necessary clearance to rotate easily therein at all temperatures. Inrotary'valve mechanism, however, the rotor must be sufficiently tight at certain times and prevented from leakage.

By my invention the rotor is pressed or seatedagainst the walls of the casing adjacent the cylinder port more particularly during the compression and power periods. By applying the pressure intermittently, undue friction on the rotor is avoided. Any lateral pressure will obviously be very little.

In multi-cylinder engines, there may be .one bearing member or shoe 12 and walking beam mechanism for each cylinder, or there may be one bearing member or shoe for a plurality of cylinders and a walking beam for each cylinder. The walking beam mechanism is'timed from the cam shaft 15 in the same manner that the valves are timed in popsages 11, for the different cylinders of a multicylinder engine are located in the rotor or the sections thereof according to the firing order of the cylinders.

In operation, assuming that the rotor rotates to the left in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, one of the transfer passages 11 first comes into communication with the cylinder port 6 and intake port 9 permitting a charge to enter the cylinder during the suction stroke thereof. During the compression stroke and power strokes, both the intake and

exhaust passages

9, 10 are cut off with a full portion of the rotor covering the cylinder port 6 and also during the power stroke and during the compression and power stroke, the lift portion of the cam 14 lifts the lift rod so that pressure is applied to the bearing member 12, the highest portion of the cam engaging the follower when the explosion takes place. During the scavenging stroke, the passage 11 connects ports 6 and 10.

Owing to the application of pressure laterally to the rotor so that it has a seating action adjacent. the cylinder port, looseness and the development of looseness between the rotor and its casing is prevented and the rotary valve has the tightness of a poppet valve without the detrimental features necessitating carbon removal and valve grinding. Owing to the single rotor for the intake and exhaust, the rotor is kept cool.

lVhat I claim is 1. In an internal combustion engine the combination of a cylinder, a piston movable therein, the cylinder having a port, a rotary valve mechanism comprising a casing having a port opening thereinto, the cylinder port also opening into the casing, a rotor in the casing for closing the ports and having a transfer passage arranged to connect the said ports at intervals during the rotation of the rotor, and means for intermittently applying yielding pressure at predetermined intervals intervals whereby the pressure is applied to the rotor through said spring.

2. In an internal combustion engine the combination of a cylinder, a piston movable therein, the cylinder having a port therein, a rotary valve mechanlsm comprising a casing having a port opening therelnto, thecylinder port also opening into the casing, a rotor in the casing for opening and closing said ports and having a transfer passage arranged to connect ports at intervals during the rotation of the rotor and means for pressing the rotor toward the internal wall of the casing adjacent the port at the cylinder, said means comprising a bearing member pressing against the rotor, a walking beam coacting at one/end with the bearing member, a cam shaft and a motion transmitting means between the shaft and the other end of'the walking beam.

3. In an internal combustion engine the 5 of Onondaga,

combination of a cylinder, a piston movable therein, the cylinder having a port therein, a rotary mechanism comprising a casing having a port opening thereinto, the cy inder port also opening into the caslng, a rotor in the casing for opening and closing said ports and having a transfer passage arranged to connect the ports at intervals during the rotation of the rotor and means for pressing the rotor toward the internal Wall of the casing adjacent the port in the cylinder, said means comprising a bearing member pressing radially against the rotor toward the cylinder a cam shaft and motion transmitting means etween the cam shaft and bearing member, including a spring.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder, a rotary valve mechanism comprising a casing having a port opening thereinto, the cylinder port also opening into the casing, a rotor in the casing which opens and closes said ports and having a transfer passage arranged to connect the ports at intervals during the rotation of the rotor and means for pressing the rotor toward the internal wall of the casing adjacent the port in the cylinder, said means comprising a bearing member pressing radially against the rotor, a cam shaft and motion transmitting means between the cam shaft and the bearing member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse, in the county and State of New York, this 22nd day of Aug, 1927.

JOHN WILKINSON.