US1818429A - Oil purifying system for internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Description

Aug,v 11,1931'.

"R RAGAN -oI'L PURIFYING SYSTEM F011 fINTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINES F11edNov; 16.1925 s sheets-sheet 1 .bmw

gvwentoz Agfa/DH @6A/1f DIL -PURIFYING SYSTEM FORINTERNAL coMBUs'rIoN ENGINES Filednov. 16".` 1925" s sheets-sheet` 2 R. RAGAN 1,818,429

OIL PURIFYING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL vCOMBUSTVION ENGINES Aug. l1, 1931.

s Sheets-sheet s l Filed Nov. 16,#.1925

gmwwlloz RALPH @G4/14 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITEDSTATES RALPH RAGAN, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA OIL PURIFYING SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL `C'OMBUSTON ENG-INES Y. Application filed November 16, 1925. Serial No. 69,518.

This invention relates tol an improvement in lubricating systems for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to a system for clearing lthe lubricating fluid of 5 foreign rmatter such as dirt and dust, water,

gasoline, etc.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to separatel foreign matter from the oil before the oil is introduced to the bearings,

and to cause this separation process to be automatic, and continuousV while the engine is running.

.Another object of the invention is to provide a purification system, based upon the principle of centrifugal separation, in which a centrifugal separator is mounted on the crank shaft, has oil delivered thereto, separates the foreign matter from the oil, and delivers clean oil to the engine bearings, such system being characterized by the fact that the oil delivered to and operated upon by the separator is not under pressure, the pure oil removed from the separator however, be- F ing delivered to the engine bearings under f pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an oil purification system, in which thefconstruction of the parts is simple and economical, and such that the system can be adapted to internal combustion engines as now constructed with very little, if any, changes in the engine structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a centrifugaloil purification system in 'Y' which the level of pure oil, which is taken from the separator, remains substantially constant irrespective of the engines speed, so that oil will be delivered'to the bearings from the separator, irrespectivey of whether the engine -be turning over slowly or at higher speeds.

` 4Afurther object of the invention is to provied an oil purification system in which a cen-V trifugal separatoris mounted on the crank shaft, such separator having an inner receiving ring -to which unclarified oil is delivered, and in which initial separation takes place, `an outer separating ring to which the partially purified oil is delivered from the inner receiving ring and in which final separation takes place, anda system of pumps and oil lines in which oillis lifted by one pump to the receiving ring from the oil sump,

pure oil is taken from the separating ring sediment to va chamber wherethe sediment Ais collected.

Another Object ofthe invention is to combine with the centrifugal separator which rotates with the crank shaft, a stationary collecting ring which receives the sediment and delivers it to the settling chamber.

.Another objectof the invention is to provide the centrifugal separator with means for also aerating the oilto thereby volatilize Whatever gasoline'content itmay have. y

With these and otherjobj ects in view, which will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the con` struction, combination, andarrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed. 4 f In the drawings, which illustrates one Vof the embodiments of my invention,

Figure l represents a diagrammatic view in elevation of an internal combustion en` gine equipped with an oil purification sys-Y tem constructed according to my invention, a portion of thelengine casing being broken away and thefinvention illustrated in position on ytheengine, partsbeing shown in sec tion. f Figure 2 represents aside Velevational vieW,

takenon the irregular line 24-2 of Figure 3, o f a portion of the crank shaft and associated parts of the engine, with .the invention in place thereon.l 4 y Figure k3 represents a transverse sectional view taken on the lineS-S of Figure 2,1ooking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. i represents a sectional view through one of vthe oilr ducts between theinner and outer-rings of the separator, taken Onthe' line l--i of'Figurev 5. l

Figure 5 represents an enlarged face view of a portion of the separator.

Figure 6 represents a view in perspective of a portion of the separator and one of its supporting feet, looking from the opposite side with respect to Figure 3.

Figure 7 represents a face View of the separator looking from the opposite side with respect to Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the engine is indicated generally at 5, the oil pan at 6, and the crank shaft at 7.

The central crank shaft bearing is indicated at 8, and the cross web which supports it at its upper side is indicated at 9. The connecting rod bearings at each side of the central crank shaft bearing are indicated at 10, and the associated connecting rods at 11. `Mounted on one of the crank shaft counter weights 12 is an annulus 13, the internal diameter of which may be sufliciently large to allow the annulus being placed on the crank shaft from one end thereof by manipulating it around the throws and counter weights of the crank shaft. The annulus is located concentric with the aXis of the crank shaft, and may be attached to the selected counter weight by means of the diametrically opposed feet 14, which at their inner ends may have flanges 15 abutting against the cheeks o-f the crank shaft and secured thereto in any suitable manner, the outer ends of the feet being secured in suitable manner to the face of the annulus, as indicated at 16.

The peripheral portion of the annulus is flanged over to provide a separating ring 17, which has an inwardly extending wall 18 parallel with the plane of the annulus, such wall being of sufficient depth, and being suficiently spaced from the annulus -to provide a ring of the desired capacity. Placedwithin the separating ring and spaced therefrom and concentric therewith, is a receiving ring 19, which may be cast integrally with the annulus andthe outer ring, (if these parts are form-ed of a casting) or which may be made separately and secured to theannulus, if desired.' y y,

The receiving ring19 communicates at two or more points, `eqaully spaced around the Center of the crank shaft, through ducts 2O with the ,separating ring, such ductsv communicating with the separating ring near the-bottom (i. e., the greater diameter) of the latter., and withthereceiving ring 19 near the top (i.`e., the lesser diameter) of the latter.

During the operation of the engine, oil from the sump formed in the crank case 6. is lifted by means of a pump 21 (being one of a pair of pumps driven in suitable manner) and delivered through a line 22 to the rotating receiving ring 19, such line 22, if desired, having an over-turned end 23 which directs the oil toward the bottom of the ring. The centrifugal action brought to bear upon the oil thus collected in the receiving ring, separates heavier matter such as dirt, bits of metal, water, etc., from the oil in the receiving ring, the separated matter collecting near the bottom of the ring, and the lighter oil and lighter impurities collecting near the top (that is the portion of the ring of less diameter). The partially purified oil thus collected near the top of the ring over-flows through the ducts 2O and passes, under centrifugal action, into the outer separating ring 17 near the bottom thereof.

Further purification of the oil under centrifugal separation here takes place, the lighter impurities which over-flowed from the receiving ring being collected in the bottom ofthe separating ring, andthe pure oil collecting near the top thereof. The pure oil thus separated is picked up by a stationary scoop 24 so located as to skim the pure oil from the surface of the oil collected in the separating ring, and is delivered from such scoop through a line 25 to the second pump 26 from which it is driven under pressure through a line 27 to a point of distribution from which, by the various lines such as 29, 30 and 31, it is forced under the pressure of the pump 26 to the various points desired such for instanc-e, as the cam shaft bearing indicated at 32, valve mechanism (not shown) located substantially at 33, and crank shaft bearing 34. It will be understood that the distribution of the oil after it leaves the pump 26 is merely shown diagrammatically, and as an illustrative example, the` particular arrangement of distributing points and pipes and portionslubricated, being chosen to suit the requirements of the type of-engine with which the invention is used, in any particular instance.

Surrounding the separator and mounted on the stationary parts of the engine .in any suitable manner, is a stationary collecting ring 35, which communicates through a line 36 withthe chamber 37 formed in the oil pan 6, which chamber may be covered with a screen 38 of desired iineness of mesh.

When the motor stops, the oil and sediment collected in the inn-er and outer rings automatically dumps out of theserings and is caught in the collecting ring 35, which is sufficiently wide and deep, and thence finds its way through the' line`36 into the chamber 37. The chamber 37 acts as a settling chamber whereinthe heavier impurities will collect at the bottom under the action of gravity, the pure loil at the top over-flowing through the wire mesh 38 into the main sump.y

small quantity of oil and impurities may gather at the bottom portions of the rings 17 and 19 when the motor stops, but this small collection is quickly'distributed around the bottom of the rings 'when the motor again starts up. To prevent any of this collection from being introduced into thescoop 24, the

latter is placed at a point above the level of the oil and sediment that may collect in the ring 17 when the latter comes to a stand-still, as clearly shown in Figure 3.

In order to aerate the oil over-flowing from the rings 17 and 19 during the operation of the device, the outer or separating ring 17 may be provided on the outer face of its wall 18 with a series of fins or blades 39, which will br-eak up and aerate th-e over-flow, while at the same time throwing it against the collecting ring 35, thus tending to volatilize any gasoline or lighter distillates which may have gotten into the oil.

The capacity of the pump 21 is such that oil in excess quantities is delivered to the rings, and this, together with the vertical position of the rings insures that the heighth of the oil in the outer ring 17, as regulated by the heighth of the wall 18, will be constant, whether the engine be turning over at a low, or at a high rate of speed, and hence the fixed level of oil in the outer ring insures that oil will be constantly delivered to the scoop 24, and thence to the pressure pump 26, to be fed under pressure to the bearing, irrespective of the rate of speed of the engine.

It will be observed that the oil purification system provided by my invention, utilizes an open sided separator, the oil being delivered to the separator not under pressure, hence no bearings or packed joints are required to introduce oil to or remove it from the separator, and further this arrangement is taken advantage of by allowing of theV automatic cleaning of the separator, by dumping its contents, at each stoppage of the engine.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for purpose of illustration, and no undue limitations should be deduced therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the lubricating system, of an annulus mounted for rotation on the crank shaft, an inner receiving andseparating ring, and an outer separating ring carried by the annulus, means for introducing oil into the receiving and separating ring, means affording passage of oil from near the inner edge of the receiving ring to near the outer edge of the separating ring, means for removing oil from near the inner edge of the separating ring, a collection chamber, and a stationary collecting ring surrounding the annulus and communicating with the collection chamber.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the' crank shaft, an inner receiving and separating ring and an outer separat-ing ring carried by the annulus and communicating one with the other, means for introducing oil into the receiving and separating ring, means for removing oil from the separating ring, a collection chamber, and a stationary collecting ring surrounding the annulus and communicating with the collection chamber.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the lubricating system, of an annulus mounted for rotation with the crank shaft, an inner receiving and separating ring and an outer separating ring and an outer separating ring carried by the annulus and communicating one with the other, means for introducing oil into the receiving and separating ring, means for re moving oil from the separating ring, a pump for forcing such removed oil to desired parts of the engine, and means for receiving and collecting the over-flow from the innerV and outer rings.

4. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the lubricating system, of an annulus mounted for rotation on the crank shaft, an inner receiving and separating ring carried by the annulus and having its inner peripheral side open, a separating ring carried by the annulus and surrounding the receiving and separating ring and also havn p ing its inner peripheral side open, stationary means for introducing oil into the open side of the receiving and separating ring, means affording passage of oil from near the inner edge of the receiving and separating ring to near the outer edge of the separating ring, and stationary means for removing oil from near the inner edge of the separatingring.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the lubricating system, of an inner receiving and separating ring and an outer separating ring mounted for rotation with a shaft of the engine, said rings having their inn-er peripheral sides open, the open side ofthe separating ring facing the closed bottom of the receiving and separating ring, means affording communication between the rings, means for introducing oil into the o-pen side of the receiving and separating ring,` and means for removingoil from the open side of the separating ring.

6. In `an internal combustion engine, the combination with the lubricating system, of a plurality of rings adapted to be rotated by the engine, said rings having their analogous sides open, means for introducing o-il to one of the rings through its open sid-e, means for removing oil from another ring through its open side, and means affording communication between the rings for the passage of oil.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the lubricating system, of

an annulus mounted for rotation with the crank shaft of the engine, an inner receiving and separating ring and an outer separating ring carried by the annulus and communicating one WithV the other, means for introducing oil into the receiving and separating ring, means for removing oil from the separating ring, and means for receiving and segregatin'g-the over-flow from the rings.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With a lubricating system, of a plurality of rings having inner open peripheral sides, said rings being mounted concentrically for rotation With the crank shaft, means aiording communication between the rings7 means for introducing oil to the innermost ring through its open side, means for removing oil from the outermost ring through its open side, a collecting chamber, and a collecting ring communicating With the chamber and surrounding the said rings.

9. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With the lubricating system, of a plurality of rings having inner open peripheral sides, such rings being mounted for rotation with a shaft of the engine, means aifording communication'between the rings, means for introducing oil to the innermost ring through its open side, means for removing oil from the outermost ring through its open side, and means for receiving and segregating the over-flow from the rings.

l0. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With the lubricating system, of a. plurality of rings adapted to be rotated by the engine, such rings intercommunicating, means for introducing oil to one of the rings, and means for removing oil from another of the rings.

ll. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the lubricating system of a plurality of open-sided rings adapted to be rotated by the engine, such rings intercommunicating, means for introducing oil to one of the rings through its open side, and means for removing oil from another of the rings through its open side.

l2. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination with the lubricating system of` a plurality of intercommunicating rotatable rings, a pump for delivering oil to one of such rings in excess quantity not under pres sure, means for removing oil from another of the rings, a distributing system o1'r oil lines, and a pump to which the removed oil is delivered and adapted to deliver such re' moved oil to the distributing system under pressure. y

In testimony WhereoiE I hereunto aiiix my signature.

RALPH HAGAN.

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