US1865013A - Internal combustion motor - Google Patents

Description

June 28, 1932. H. KARL 1 INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTOR Filed Aug. 16, 1926 11 1 vent-or WHMHMHUMM WUMHMMH.

io valves by i suiiiciently high temperature.

Patented June 28, 1 932 u rrEo STATES PAT ENT OFFICE V HEINRICH KARL, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTOR Application filed August 16, 1926. Serial No. 129,575.

n the improvements in the motor of this present application can be made on any other system of internal combustion engines.

The improvements in the present application are, first, an arrangement'of chamber means of which a quantity of the exploded gas that served or that did not serve for moving the piston outwardly is utilized again for igniting the new charge in the cylinder and this method of ignition peri5 mits the use of fuels for slow combustion which are less expensive than gasoline, benzine, alcohol, etc, which is an. important factor for the economic running of automobiles, boats, machinery of every description, ships,

etc. These fuels usually need a great heat for their ignition and a great volume of it and this is the reason why the electric spark usually does not effect theignition of the I fuel especially when it (the fuel has an inhere is still another cause that prevents the fuel, especially that of an oily character, from being ignited when electricity is employed for this n purpose; it is the oil-that coats the spark plugs and thereby creates an insulation that prevents the formation of sparks. Also smoke deposits or carbon deposits from other fuels may wholly or partly prevent the formation of sparks. 7

To the class of inexpensive fuels are ranged crude oil, kerosene, petroleum and naphtha. Then maybe also-gaseous fuels, as for instance, lighting gas utilized in this invention aswell as pulverulent fuels, but the latter are 40 preferably mixed with liquid fuels, as, for instance, with crude, oil, kerosene, etc. 7

Another improvement is an arrangement of special igniting spaces with spark plugs, in

which small quantitiesof gasoline or of another rapidly exploding liquid fuel or, of a certain gas are to be ignited through the electric spark and the thus formed explosion gas introduced into the working cylinder for igniting the less expensive fuel therein especial- 1y for obtaining the first outward stroke'of the piston whereafter part of the explosion gas of the inexpensive fuel is used for ignition purposes. Still another improvement is the arrangement that permits a small quantity of the rapidly exploding fuel such as gasoline or gas to be ignited by the electric spark and then introduced into the working cylinder every time in which an ignition of a certain inexpensive fuel is to be made therein,

which inexpensive fuel could not be ignited otherwise or only with great difiiculty chiefly on account of a too low temperature thereof. .Still another improvement of the invention is an arrangement in the working cylinder for compressingair through the working piston and still another improvement is a mechanism for automatically closing the exhaust pipe at certain moments for preventing part of the compressed air to escape through this exhaust pipe. Another feature is the forming of a leak in said exhaust pipe which leak can be made large or small according to desirability and which serves for avoiding a too high counter pressure that would be exerted uponthe piston by the air that is getting compressed; still another feature is the arrangement of an air port opening and closing device that can be operated by hand through a handle situated outside of the cylinder and i which serves for introducing compressed air into the exterior part of the cylinder of certain simple motors for moving the piston to its innermost position so that it will be ready for its first outward stroke which will then 1 be caused by an explosion of the charge. Other features will appear as the specification progresses.

In the accompanying drawing which is so laid out as to conveniently illustrate the invention, the V Fig. 1 shows in elevation a section with parts broken away, of a motor having said improvements and having a piston that has no piston rod.

Fig. '2 show the cam 19 of Fig. 1 when it is looked at inthe direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the arrangementthat serves for conveying the fully expanded explosion gas that was nearest to the piston. and for holding it in reserve and for introducing it again into the working cylinder for ignition purposes.

Fig. 4 shows a motor different from that of Fig. 1 and with several working cylinders of which one is shown in section, showing all improvements of this invention and the pistons being provided with piston rods thus permitting the pumping of a greater amount of compressed air than it is possible with the arrangement of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, 11 represents the cylinder of the motor, 12 is the piston therein, 13 is the pitman linked to both the piston 12 and to the crank 14 of the crank shaft 15, 16 is a dentated wheel mounted on the crank-shaft, which wheel serves for moving the endless chain 17 which again rotates the dentated wheel 18 that serves for revolving the hollow valves 2 and 150 at the same ratio of the crank shaft. The hollow valves 2 and 150 are also shown in my prior patent application Serial No. 43,737. On the crank shaft 15 is also mounted an eccentric 19, the side view of which is shown in Fig. 2 and this eccentric 19 operates a rod 20 that is provided with the antifriction roller 20. A spring 21 is so arranged that it always tends to move the rod 20 upwardly against the eccentric circumference. At its lowermost part the rod 20 is provided with an eye 21 through which the lever 22 of the chamber valve 23 is passed. This chamber valve bein an essential part of the invention, is preferably of cylindrical shape and fitted in the casing 24 which is either united with the cylinder body by suitable means as screws or it may be cast together with the cylinder. With the inner space of the casing 24 communicates a conduit 25 and a port 26 and both communicate with the interior of the cylinder 11, so however, that conduit 25 terminates at a point that is still a little below the exhaust port 111 in the cylinder while the port 26 is situated at the lower part of the cylinder.

The chamber valve 23 revolves partly in the casing 24 and has two openings 27, 28. At the moment in which the piston 12 reaches the point'a inthe cylinder, that is, shortly before the exhaust port 111 is uncovered by the piston 12, exploded fuel, that is, explosion gas, enters the conduit 25 and the chamber of the chamber valve 23 which at this moment is so positioned that the opening 27 corresponds with the lower end of the conduit 25. At this moment, however, the port 26 is closed by the wall of the chamber valve 23. While the piston 12 moves further upward the sharp curve 30 of the eccentric 19 moves the rod 20 downwardly whereby the lever 22 and chamber valve will be so positioned thatathe opening 27 comes out of communication with the conduit 25 but will face the wallet the casing 24 and consequently will be closed thereby. Exploded fuel, that is, fully expanded and therefore fully heated explosion gas is thereby imprisoned for a certain length of time, that is, until the piston 12 reaches the point in the cylinder indicated by b. At this moment the eccentric 19 pushes through its farthest extended curve 31 the rod 20 to its lowermost position and causes the chamber valve 23 to take the position in which the opening 28 communicates with the port 26 and the imprisoned burned fuel being of high pressure shoots through this port into the already compressed new charge of fuel and air previously introduced into the cylinder through the opening 33 in the manner as has been explained already in my patent application Serial No. 43,737. Through its high temperature the so introduced explosion gas ignites the fuel compounded with air in the cylinder and according to the nature of this fuel a slower or quicker combustion takes place. Part of this explosion gas enters immediately again into the chamber 23. Assuming that crude oil is the fuel that burns slower than lighting gas or gasoline, a slower operation of the piston is therefore to be expected which is of advantage for the quiet operation of the motor and for the feeding with fuel and the igniting of it. If high speed is desired then a transmission gear can be provided for that may have the desired ratio such asshown in Fig. 4 which will be described subsequently.

lNhen the piston 12 reaches its outermost position on its outward stroke the exhaust port 111 will be uncovered and the burnt gases (except those already entered into the chamber valve 23) will be exhausted'whereby compressed air (without fuel) blown at this moment through the orifice of the hollow valve 150 and channel 35 scavenges the cylinder completely'and cools also the cylinder wall and the piston to a certain extent.

'The immediate recharging with the fuel compound takes place as soon as the piston starts to make its inward stroke. It has been mentioned already that spark plugs in the working cylinder will be covered by an oily deposit if oily fuels are employed for operating the motor and smoke or carbon will also cover the surfaces of the spark-plugs if coal dust or pulverulent fuels are used whereby the formation of electric sparks is prevented. It is necessary, however, to use the electric spark for the ignition of the gasoline or gas that serves again for igniting the charge in the working cylinder and also for starting the motor. For this purpose a small explosion chamber 35 is arranged which communicates with the cylinder 11 by means of the pipe 35awhich will be automatically opened and closed by the valve 44,

and into this explosionchamber extend two spark plugs 36 which are in electrical connection with-the battery 37. These electrical connections are: To the positive side-of the battery is connected'the wire 38 which is also connected to the right side spark plug 36. To the negative side of the battery is connected the wire 39, then follows the switch 40, after which the wire 41 follows in the partial circuit. Instead of having this wire directly connected to the left side spark plug 36 it is connected to a contact 42 which will be contacted by a contact on the valve lever 43 when it is moved into the position in which it opens the valve 44 which takes place when the piston is in its innermost position. To the contact on lever 43 is connected the wire 45 whose other end is connected to the left side spark plug 36. It is thus shown that when the switch 40 is closed and the contact on valve lever 43 contacts with the contact 42 the circuit is so far closed and sparks are produced between the two points of the spark plugs 36. Valve 44 is automatically operated from rod 20 whereby also the switch contact on valve lever 43 will be contacted automaticallywith and again disconnected from the contact 42 at the proper time. If only one working cylinder is employed in the motor it will be necessary for starting purposes to turn the balance wheel 46 so that the piston will assume its innermost position. 47 is the container for the rapidly exploding gas or liquid fuel and by turning the cock 48 to open position a more or less great quantity of this fuel is permitted to flow into thepipe 49 and to the junction with pipe 50 from where it will be blown into the explosion chamber 35 by the compressed air flowing through pipe 50. This pipe communicates with the compressed air reservoir 52 and can be closed by means of the cock 51. lhere will not be backfiring when the explosion takes place because a stopper 4941 will be pushed thereby against the narrow port formed by the junction of the two pipes 49 and 50 which lies right behind this stopper and thus closes this port. There may be more than one stopper employed in pipe 49. If the motor is started the cocks 48 and 51 can then be placed into closed position if the explosion gas of the inex ensive fuel ignites the fresh charges in the cylinder. This may not be the case until the cylinder wallsand the inner surface of the piston is heated to some extent which is necessary for heating also the atomized fresh charges which is obtained after a few strokes of the piston whereby the rapidly exploding fuel of the container 47 is used for igniting the charges that cause these first strokes of the piston. There is also an electric connection with a small electric motor 53 that serves for operating an air pump 54 of the rotary type so that suificient compressed air will be provided for and pumped into the reservoir 52 if the pressure therein should be insufficient. The motor 53' will be operated if the switch 55 will be closed whereby the battery r furnishes the electric energy. During the operation of the motor air will also be compressed and pressed into the reservoir 52 by the movement of the working piston 12. This piston has therefore two hollow or solid extensions which are provided with top parts 59, 60 which fit to and move in slots 61, 62

respectively that communicate through a pipe 63. At each downward stroke of the piston 12 the air will be sucked in and will pass through port 64 on the inside of which is secured a flap that closes that port as soon as there will be counter pressure from the air in the slots which happens when the piston 12 starts for its outward stroke. During this stroke the air in the slots 61, 62 will be compressed and forces the valve head of valve 66 against the pressure of a spring to open the valve port and the compressed air flows then through pipe 68 to the air reservoir 52, that may have a release valve for preventing atoo high pressure. By turning the cock 69 to open position the compressed air flows through pipe 84 to the hollow valves 2 and 150 being hollow bodies preferably united and their cavities communicating, and blows at certain moments through the apertures 3 and 151. The inexpensive fuel is contained in the container 70 and iscccnveyed by means of a helice 71 to the free space left in chamber 72 after the cock 7 3 has been put to open position so that the contents could flow through pipe 75 to the helice 71'. The hollow valve 2 has not a complete cylindrical shape like the hollow valve 150 which is rigidly united therewith, but only three quarters of its outer surface lays against and therefore moves also closely on the inner surface of the cylindrically shaped wall that encloses chamber 72. is

It is thus shown that a free space is left between one of the sides of the hollow valve 2 (the side that is opposite from that on which the apertures 3 and the rib 4 are situated) and the wall of chamber 72. This free space serves for receiving a certain quantity of fuel which flows therein, or which is forced therein through the movement of the helice 71. Through the revolving movement of the hollow valve 2, said free space communicates at times with the fore-chamber 74 and part of the fuel contained in said free space'will be forced into the fore-chamber 74 by the pressure exerted upon the fuel chiefly through the movement of the helice 71. According to Fig. 4, however, that will be described later, the fuel will fall or flow into the forechamber 74 because the forechamber 74 is situated below'the chamber 72 which is the equivalent of the chamber 72 of Fig. 1.

If said free space left in chamber 72 does d es not communicate directly with the fore'chamber 74, only a small quantity of fuel will be allowed to enter this fore-chamber by way of: the circumferential channel 72a provided for on the inside surface of chamber 72 and which serves the purpose of the rib! 4: to move therein when the hollow valve 2 revolves.

It is thus shown that the rib 4 acts also (besides its chief function, namely as the engaging means for the valve stem 5, as will be pointed out later) as a means for shoving a small amount of fuel into the forechamber 74-. The fuel introduced into the fore-chamber 74 remains there only as long until the apertures 3- arrive at the lower opening of this fore-chamber. At this moment the accumulated fuel therein will be blown into the cylinder 11 and atomized therein through the compressed air blowing through the apertures 3 while the rib 4 situated between these two apertures shifts at this moment the Valve stem 5 by pushing it against the pressure of a spring that is coiled around that valve stem, and opens thereby the passage 33. The speed of the motor can be regulated by placing the cocks 69 and 73 to such position that opens or closes the re spective pipes more or less and so regulate thesupply of fuel and compressed air.

In Fig. 3 there is a second chamber valve 23a arranged and the explosion gas enters first into the chamber of the chamber valve 23a wherea-fter it flows to the chamber 23 and when the piston is in its lowermost position the passage 28a comes in alignment with the passage 26a and the explosion gas is released and blows into the combustibles in the cylinder 11. The arrangement of two chamber valves as exemplified in Fig. 3 has for its object to prevent compressed air from entering the conduit 25a when the piston makes its outward stroke. In Fig. 3 the piston is provided with a piston rod that is rigidly united with the piston and from the description of Fig. 4 in which a similar arrangement is made it will be shown that more compressed air will be obtained by each piston stroke than it is possible with the arrangement of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 the schemeis in general the same as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and therefore the same reference numerals are employed as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with the distinction that a quotation mark is added for parts that are of the same character and function as those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; a general description of these parts is deemed not to be necessary and is therefore omitted. In Fig. 4 the working cylinders 11 are arranged above the crank. shaft 15, while in Figs. 1 and 3 the working cylinder is arranged below the crank shaft but this is simplya matter of constructive necessity and the motor of Fig. 4 could as well be employed for operating an automobile or a boat, or it may be employed for operating machinery of any description. It is assumed that the motor of Fig. 1 is used for operating an automobile and as there is speed needed in such case a gearing transmission 80 is made at the rate of about 1 to 5. 81 is the clutch that can be of the most improved type. The cylinder 11 is closed at its outer end by the wall 11a and only a hole is left at its center through which the piston rod 12a is passed and guided in its up and down movement. In the space 61a that lies between the piston and the wall 11a atmospheric air will be sucked in when the piston makes its inward stroke and the so sucked in air will be compressed while the piston 12 makes its outward stroke and this compressed air is forced through the valve 66 and flows to the reservoir 52. In order to prevent the compressed air from escaping through the exhaust port 111 in the cylinder a valve 86 is arranged in the exhaust pipe 111a close to the cylinder and is operated by an eccentric rod a in a somewhat similar manner as the chamber valves 23 and 23a are operated so however that the exhaust port will be fully opened when the piston 12 reaches its outermost position. The eccentric therefor can be arranged on the crankshaft, in Fig. 4, however, it is arranged on the revolving pipe 2a that is rigidly united with the hollow valves 2 and 150. The valve 86 may be so positioned as to leak as will be explained hereafter. On the revolving pipe 2a is also arranged the dentated wheel 18 which there fore shows a slightly different arrangement from that indicated by 18 in Fig. 1. The end of said revolving pipe is fitted in the stable part 83 that corresponds with that indicated by 83 in Fig. 1, and the pipe 84 corresponds with the pipe 84 of Fig. 1. There is still another arrangement that is different from that of Fig. 1 and this refers to a special chamber 236 that communicates with the explosion chamber and at certain moments with the chambers of the chamber valves 23. If the switch will be closed and the cocks 48 and 51 opened so that quick exploding fuel is introduced into the explosion chamber 35 where it will be brought to explosion, the explosion gas shoots into the chamber 23?) and from there into the chambers of the two chamber valves 23 if not the wall of the one or the other of these chambers closes the communication of these chambers with that indicated by 236 which occurs at times for preventing back-firing at the moments in which the respective piston 12 is in its innermost position and while it makes the outward stroke in which position however the chamber of the chamber valve 23 communicates with the interior of the cylinder and consequently releases the explosion gas previously introduced therein either from the explosion chamber 35' or from the cylinder 11 from which it took the way to chamber of chamber valve 23a and through pipe 25a. The contacts 42 and a contact 43 are arranged forthe sake of safety and they will be contacted only when the cock a l is in open position, and as these contacts are in the circuit with battery 37' a formation of sparks between the points of the spark plugs 36 takes place only when these contacts contact, that is, when the cock fat is in open position.

It is obvious that there can be arranged as many cylinders 11 as is desired and that the cylinders can be arranged closely one to another for minimizing the space they would take. A special electric motor 53 and special air pump 54 is not shown in Fig. 4, but it can be arranged as well for pumping air into the reservoir 52 if the pressure therein is insufficient.

In Fig. 1 it is not to be feared that a too strong counterpressure of the air being compressed is exerted upon the piston when it makes its outward stroke. This, however, may be the case in the motor of Fig. 4 in which a far greater amount of air is compressed at each outward stroke of the piston 12, especially if small firing charges are introduced at the interior end of the cylinder 11. In the latter case it is desirable to employ a device in form of a screw 90 that puts the lever of the valve or cock 86 in such position that the exhaust pipe 111a will not be completely closed when the piston makes its outward stroke. Hereby the air in space 61a can escape partly through the exhaust pipe 111a and the counterpressure exerted upon the piston will not be too strong. By means of the screw 90 the desired leak can be regulated and completely closed, if a high pressure of air is needed in the reservoir 52. For starting the motor it is necessary that the piston 12 of Fig. 1 or 12' of Fig. 4 is in its innermost position such as shown by that situated in the right side cylinder of Fig. 4. For bringing the piston to said position if it is not already there, the shaft 92 is to be temporarily disconnected from the driving mechanism by means of the clutch 81 and simply compressed air needs to be introduced into the spaces 61, 62 of Fig. 1 or 61a of Fig. 4 that pushes then the piston to its innermost position. This is simply made by retracting the stopper 66a from the air port (see Fig. 4;) whereby counterpressure of the spring 67 will be encountered. For this purpose a needle or thin rod 93 is fastened to the stopper 66a, and passed through a tightly fitting channel in the valve casing 9%. The outer end of the pin may be provided with a handle or ring to permit the pulling thereof and consequently also of the stopper 66a against the pressure of the spring 67 and of the compressed air. Upon the opening of the port compressed air flows into the space 61a and moves the piston 12 to its innermost position. If a larger'number of cylinders is employed then it will not be necessary to push one of the pistons to its innermost position because'one of these pistons will be already in that position. If then a firing charge has been introduced before, that is, when the cooks 73', 69' have been opened (69 is not shown in Fig. 4, it serves the same purpose as the cook 69 in Fig. '1) and if the cocks 18' and 51 have been opened before and if the switch 40 has been closed the first outward firing of the piston by means of explosion gas takes place whereafter the switch 40 can be opened again because the ignition takes place through the explosion gas that wasformed in the cylinder 11 and. conveyed through pipes 25a, 25a to the chamber of the chamber valves 23, 23. i

An addition in'this invention that will prove to be of value is the arrangement of two holes that can be closed if not needed by means of stoppersthat have screw windings and these holes are made on the side of the'inlet port 33 of Fig.1 or 33 of Fig. 4 so that this inlet port lays between said two holes that may be provided with a screw winding so that spark plugs having insulating material in parts maybe screwed in and positioned in a manner as exemplified in my prior patent application, Serial No. 43,737 inwhich the points of the spark plugs are touched by the enlarged end of the valve stem 5 when this valve stem opens the inlet port 33 or 33 preventing thereby the formation of sparks whereby, however, sparks will be formed when the valve stem 5 moves away and stays away from the spark plug points in which position it closes the inlet port 33, or 33. These spark plugs may be screwed in'only when a fuel is to be used that does not make oily or smoky deposits on the points of the spark plug and the spark plugs may be removed again and the stoppers placed in lieu thereof if the aforesaid inexpensive fuels are to be employed. 7

This description and the drawing illustrate only a few examples of how the invention can be carried out and I am aware that still other arrangements are possible which still are in the spirit and scope of this in vention.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion motor comprising a working cylinder and working piston therein which latter is provided with a piston rod, a wall on the exterior part of said working cylinder, and an aperture in said wall through which said piston rod is passed, said wall closing a space in said cylinder that is periodically enlarged and reduced by the working piston when the motor is in function, an inlet port for atmospheric air opened at the inward stroke of said working piston and closed at the outward stroke thereof, a port communicating with an air reservoir and adapted to be opened at the outward stroke of the piston and closed at the inward stroke 6 nsozaeaa thereof, an engine exhaust port in communicationrwith saidspace in said working cylin-- der, a means for completely automatically closing said exhaust port at certain periods and means for manually regulating said means for permitting a leak of air to a more or less great extent according to desirability.

2. In an internal combustion motor comprising a working cylinder and a Working piston therein and means for periodically introducing in said cylinder a charge of relatively'slow-burning fuel and air, comprising also means for exploding the first charges or all of them when the fuel has a too low temperature, by means of explosion gas supplied separately, a means for making and for preventing communication between the working cylinder and the device that separately supplies said explosion gas, an exhaust port in said cylinder, another port in it situated a little nearer to the interior end of the cylinder than said exhaust port and a valve automatically closing at times and opening again said other port for receiving an amount of explosion gas that has been expanded to the capacity of the working cylinder just before the exhaust takes place, and a conduit leading from said other port to a chamber valve also automatically operated and a chamber therein adapted to communicate at times with said conduit and at other times also with the interior of said cylinder, said chamherin said chamber valve thereby receiving completely burned explosion gas from said cylinder by way of said other port and conduit, a port situated at the interior end of the cylinder and opened by said chamber valve when the-piston is in its innermost position permitting thereby the explosive gas in said chamber to flow into the cylinder and ignite the new charge of fuel and air therein.

'3. In an internal combustion motor com prising a working cylinder a working piston therein and an exhaust port in the cylinder, a closed space formed between the piston and the exterior end of the cylinder, an inlet port and a port communicating with a compressed air reservoir, a valve adapted to close at times said exhaust port and means for automatically operating this valve, an additional means for placing said valve in a position to form a leak and thereby permit part of the compressed air to esca e through said leak in the exhaust port, the means causing said leak adapted to make the leak larger or smaller according to desirability.

In witness whereof I have afiixed my signature.

HEINRICH KARL.

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