US1930786A - Crankless motor-compressor - Google Patents

Description

CRANKLES S MOTOR COMPRESSOR Filed April 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 17, 1933.

R. WITKIEWICZ ET AL CRANKLES S MOTOR COMPRES SOR' Filed April 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N Q a:

MIN

-S: HUSH Patented Oct. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,930,786 CRANKLESS MOTOR-COMPRESSOR Roman Witkiewicz and Adam Wicinski, 'Lwow, Poland Application April 21, 1932,'Serial No. 606,716, and in Poland November 7, 1931 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in crankless motor-compressors, more particularly motor-compressors of this typehavlng two independent pistons working in opposite directions.

The working principle of crankless motorcompressors having two pistons independent of one another and working in opposite directions is already known. The internal combustion device for developing power is arranged in the space between the two pistons, whilst the com pressor mechanism is arranged in the outer chambers. Hitherto this arrangement has either been provided in the power developing device with a special ventilating pump for the purpose of ventilating the compression chamber or has utilized the kinetic energy of the combustion gases in the exhaust pipe and the vacuum produced thereby in the cylinder, for the suction of fresh air.

The object of the present invention is to provide a crankless motor-compressor having two independent pistons working in opposite directions in which the admission of fresh air into the combustion space in an amount necessary for the combustion of the fuel is effected by means of a special arrangement of the control ports in the cylinder walls, a suitably modified fourstroke combustion cycle being employed at the same time.

The invention consists essentially in that the suction ports are arranged on the one side and the exhaust ports on the other side of the transverse medial plane of the cylinder, that is to say, the transverse plane of symmetry of the cylinder, and are in communication with the atmosphere by means of automatic non-return valves, the stroke of the one piston being greater than the distance of the suction ports from the plane of symmetry and the stroke of the second piston being greater than the distance. of the exhaust ports from the said plane. As a .result of this arrangement a vacuum is produced in the cylinder and a suction of fresh air necessary for'the combustion is made possible by means of this vacuum..

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example, two constructional forms of the subject of the invention, and in particular:

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of one construction ofthe motor-compressor according to the invention,

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of a modified construction.

Referring first to the construction according to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 1- denotes a cylindrical shaped frame which is cooled by means of water, 2 and 3 are two interchangeable cylinder members in which the pistons 4 and 5 reciprocate, and 6 and 7 are two cylinder head members in which are arranged the delivery valves 8 and 9 respectively of the compressors. The suction valves 10 and 11- of the compressors are also arranged in the covers of the cylinder heads 6 and 7. By means of these valves the two outer sides of the two pistons function in known manner as one-sided air compressors, the return stroke of the pistons to the middle of the cylinder being produced by the expansion of the air contained in the comparatively large clearance spaces of these compressors.

The exhaust ports 12 for the combustion space between the pistons are arranged in the wall of the cylinder member 2, these exhaust ports being in communication with an exhaust pipe 13 which is closed by an exhaust valve 14. The suction ports 15 on the other hand are arranged in the wall of the cylinder member 3 and are in communication with the automatic suction valve 16. The ports 12 and 15 are arranged unsymmetrically with respect to the transverse medial axis of the cylinder which passes through the fuel valve 17 and the starting valve 19.

The mode of operation of the power developing device of the motor-compressor according to- Fig. 1 is as follows:

The movement of the pistons is started in any suitable known manner, for example by means of compressed air.

During the movement of the pistons from the position shown in the figure towards the centre of the cylinder, a compression of the air situated between the pistons begins at the instant when the piston 4 covers the exhaust ports 12. When a certain pressure is reached during the compression an injection of fuel through the fuel valve 1'7 occurs, this being efiectedcby means of a pneumatically operated pump of known construction. After the injection the fuel is burnt and the pistons travel back towards the outer ends of the cylinder. Assoon as the piston 4 uncovers the exhaust ports 12 again, a partial escape of the combustion gases occurs, the automatic valve 14 being opened thereby, but as soon as the pressure within the cylinder has fallen to atmospheric pressure this valve closes again. In the meantime the suction ports 15 have been uncovered by the piston 5. On account of the further movement of the pistons a vacuum is produced in the cylinder, the suction valves 16 are opened and the air which enters the cylinder fills the space between the piston 5 and the column of combustion gases which moves along behind the piston 4, the length of this column being equal tothe distance between the piston 4 and the suction ports 15 at the moment when the suction valves 16 open. When the pistons; have attained their extreme outer positions the right side of the cylinder is filled almost entirely of the excess pressure arising between the two pistons, the automatic exhaust valve 14 is opened which results in the column of combustion gases between the left hand piston 4 and the column of fresh air, which may be regarded as a continuation of the right handpiston 5, being entirely or for the most part expelled. As soon as the piston 4 covers the ports 12 again, the compression of the fresh air and also any combustion gases which may have remained, begins and the cycle of operation which has been described commence anew.

From the above description it will be seen that the motor-compressor according to the invention does not possess any air pump for its combustion chamber and that the mode of operation does not depend on the production within the cylinder of a vacuum by means of the kinetic energy of the exhaust gases, but that the suitable arrangement of the suction and exhaust ports in the combustion space is employed for filling the cylinder with fresh air, the individual phases of operation of a usual four-stroke cycle occurring in a modified sequence, namely, the suction after the expansion and the compression aiter the exhaust, each two strokes being in tandem arrangement.

Since the combustion in 8. Diesel cycle generally occurs in an excess of air it is not in any way necessary to remove all the combustion gases from the cylinder. On the contrary it is advantageous to leave a portion of the combustion gases in the cylinder since the end temperature of the compression is thereby increased and the combustion is thus facilitated. A partial retention of the combustion gases in the. cylinder may be brought about intentionally by the provision of a pipe 18 by-passing the exhaust'valve 14. During the suction period the combustion gases return to the cylinder through this pipe and the quantity of air sucked in is thus reduced.

Figure 2 illustrates a modified construction of the crankless motor-compressor according to the invention, which employs the same principle for the suction of the air necessary for the combus tion of the fuel, but wherein the suction valves of the compressors are not provided in the (ylinder heads but are arranged considerably m arer'the centre of the cylinder and serve at the same time for the completion of the working phases of the power developing device.

This modified construction again consists essentially in a cylindrical shaped, water cooled frame 20, two cylinder members 21 and 22 in which the pistons 23 and 24 reciprocate and two cylinder head members 25 and 26 in which only the delivery valves 2'1 and 28 respectively of the compressors are arranged: The exhaust ports 29 for the combustion chamber and also the suction ports 30 are arranged at suitable places in the cylinder member 21. The cylinder member 22 on the other hand is provided only with the suction ports 31. The automatic suction valves 32 and 33 are arranged in such a manner that the suction ports 30 and 31 communicate with one another by means of a pipe 34 which permits of an equalization of any differences in the throttling of the air which may occur in the valves 32 and 33; -The exhaust ports 29'communicate with the exhaust pipe 35 at the outer end of which is arranged the automatic exhaust valve 36.

The compressors are arranged on the outsides of the two pistons and operate in known manher with the aid of the suction ports 30 or 31 and the delivery valves 27 or 28 respectively, the return stroke of the pistons being effected in a manner analogous to that already described with reference to the construction shown in Figure 1.

During the movement of the pistons from the position shown in Figure 2 towards the centre of the cylinder, the compression of the air in the combustion space begins at the instant when the exhaust ports 29 are covered by the piston 23. As soon as the pressure has reached a certain value the injection of fuel from the fuel valve 49 results in the manner already described. During its return stroke the left piston 23 now uncovers the exhaust ports 29 so that a partial escape of the combustion gases occurs, the automatic exhaust valve 36 being opened thereby. The inner edges of the suction ports 30 and 31 are so arranged that the pistons 23 and 24 respectively uncover them when the pressure .between the pistons has fallen to atmospheric pressure, and at this instant, the automatic exhaust valve 36 closes. On account of the further movement of the pistons towards the ends of the cylinder, a vacuum is produced between the pistons which results in the suction of fresh air through the suction valves 32 and 33, the air which enters the cylinder filling up on the one hand the space between the suction ports 30 and the piston 32, and on the other hand the space between the ports 31 and the piston 24. During the reverse movement of the two pistons towards the centre of the cylinder there is expelled from the space between them the column of fresh air which is situated between the suction ports 30 and the piston 23 and also partly or completely the column of combustion gases which is situated between the ports 30 and 31. ously the column of fresh air which was between the ports 31 and the piston 24 fills up the space between the ports 31 and 29, and is compressed together with any of the combustion gases which may remain behind.

The content of combustion gasesiin thecompressed air may be increased in the manner already described, namely, by the provision ot a by-pass pipe 3'7 for the exhaust valve 36. By building one or more exhaust valves into the exhaust pipe 35, which is of a certain length, the movement of these valves may be diminished whereby rapid wearing of the valves is prevented.

The constructional form of the motor-compressor just described is characterized in that the suction ports which serve for the suction of fresh air into the combustion space, are also employed for the suction of the fresh air into the compressor chambers. This constructional form is more advantageous than that according to Figure 1, in that a cooling of the exhaust.-

valve is effected by the constant expulsion of a part of the suction air through the exhaust pipe.

The starting of the motor-compressor is effected by means of compressed air through the medium of a starting valve 19 (Fig. 1) or 38 .(Fig. 2). f

The motor-compressor described above is provided with no regulating apparatus since it operates with the so-called automatic regula- Simultanetion, which consists in that an increase in the 7 end of the outward strokes quantity of compressed air automatically follows any increase in' the quantity of injected fuel. This may be explained in the following manner 9 If the quantity of injected fuel is only just suflicient, for example, for running light, the pressure of compression on the compressor sides of the pistons attains the value of the working pressure and the movement of the pistons is reversed at this instant without any air having been expelled generally speaking. Any increase in the quantity of injected fuel results in an increase in the kinetic energy of the pistons and the motion of these is reversed only after a certain quantity of air has quantity is the greater the more the amount of fuel injected.

We claim:

1. In a crankless motor-compressor of the type having two pistons freely working in opposite directions in a common cylinder, the internal combustion engine being arranged between two pistons, the combination of: a working cylinder; two pistons adapted to work within the said cylinder freely in opposite directions; a suction port arranged on one side of the transverse plane of symmetry of the cylinder; a communicating conduit between said suction port and the outer atmosphere; an automatic nonreturn valve controlling said conduit; said suction port being adapted to be controlled by the adjacent piston, the stroke of said adjacent piston being greater than the distance of said port from said plane of symmetry, whereby a vacuum is produced in the cylinder at the end of the out stroke and suction of fresh air for combustion occurs at the end of the out stroke; and an exhaust port on the other side of the transverse plane of symmetry of the cylinder, said exhaust port being adapted to be controlled by the second piston, the distance of said exhaust port from the plane of symmetry being less than the stroke of the second piston,- substantially as described.

2. In a crankless motor-compressor of the type having two pistons working freely in opposite directions in a common working cylinder, the combination of: a working cylinder; a first working piston; a second working piston; said two working pistons being adapted to work freely in opposite directions in said cylinder; an exhaust port on one side of the transverse plane-of s metry of the cylinder; a communicating conduit between said exhaust port and the outer atmosphere; automatic non-return valve means for controlling the flow of the gas through said conduit; suction ports arranged on both sides of the transverse plane of symmetry of the cylinder; communicating conduits between said suction ports and the outer atmosphere; valve means for controlling said communicating conduits; said suction ports being arranged at a lesser distance from the transverse plane of.

symmetry of the cylinder than the outward strokes of the pistons, whereby at the end of the out strokes of the two pisto a vacuum is produced and fresh air suction occurs at the at both ends of the cylinder, substantially as described,

3. In a crankless motor-compressor of the type having two pistons working freely in opposite been expelled, which,

automatic pistons at the end directions in a common cylinder, the combination of: a working cylinder; two working pistons freely working in said cylinder in opposite directions; a suction port in said cylinder adapted to be controlled by one of the working pistons, the stroke of said working pistons being greater than the distance of said suction port from the transverse middle plane of the cylinder; a communicating conduit between'said suction port and the outer atmosphere; and two non-return valves controlling said communicatingconduit, substantially as described.

4. In a crankless motor-compressor of the type having two pistons working freely in opposite directions-in a common cylinder, the combination of: a cylinder; a flrstworking piston; a second working piston; a suction port on one side of the transverse plane of symmetry of the cylinder adapted to be controlled by the first piston; a suction port arranged on the other side of the transverse plane of symmetry of the cylinder adapted to be controlled by the second piston; communicating conduits between said suctionports and the outer atmosphere; said communication conduits being connected together by a communicating conduit; and automatic valve means controlling said last named communicating conduit, substantially as described.

5. In a crankless motor-compressor having two pistons freely working in opposite directions in a common cylinder, thecombination of: a common cylinder; two power pistons adapted to act in opposite directions in said cylinder; an exhaust port in said cylinder adapted to, be controlled by one of thesaid pistons; a communicating conduit between said" exhaust portand the outer atmosphere;. an automatic nonreturn valve controlling said conduit; and a bypass to said automatic valve means, said bypass being so arranged as to allow of a backflow of gas passing through the valve into the communicating conduit and back intothe cylinder, substantially as described.

6. In a crankless two pistons working freely in opposite directions in a common wor cylinder, the space between the pistons acting as an internal combustion engine, and the spaces between the'piscompressors, the combination of a common cylinder; two pistons working'freely insaid cylinder' in opposite directions; at the ends of the means for controlling said ports; fresh air suction ports arranged on both sides of the transverse middle plane of the cylinder; communicating conduits between said ports and the outer atmosphere; valve means for controlling said conduits; said suction ports being so located with regard to their corresponding controlling pistons that they are uncovered by said pistons at the end of the inward strokes and thus serve for admission of air-into the compressors,

motor-compressor having tons and the ends of the cylinder acting as air 5 cylinder; automatic valve and are also uncovered bytheir corresponding of the out strokes and thus serve for the admission of fresh air into the internal combustion engine at the end of the out strokes, substantially\as described.

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