US2082869A - Air-cooled v-type internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

F N i Jun 8, 1937. I c, 5 BROWN 2,082,869

AIR-COOLED V-TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed Sept. 50, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

\ JV@BY /MjMW I ATTORNEYS.

June 8, 1937. 5 BROWN 2,082,869

AIR-COOLED V-TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Original Filed Sept. 30, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .52 1. i 50 g-kfil-gp INVENTOR.

Kai w aw/14f ATTORNEYS,

Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES AIR-COOLED V-TYPE- INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Charles S. Brown, Syracuse, N. Y.

Original application September 30, 1931, Serial No. 566,073. Divided and this application September 22, 1932, Serial No. 634,415

4 Claims. (01. 123-171 This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and particularly engines in which the cylinders are arranged in banks in V formation or to so-called V types of engine, and has for its object a particularly simple and efficient air cooling system for the V type of engine, whereby currents of air pass lengthwise of the banks between the same and laterally between individual cylinders and other air currents pass lengthwise of the outer side of the banks of the cylinders,whereby the cylinders and the heads are effectively and uniformly cooled, or wherebythe uniform distribution of the air around the cylinders is effected.

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 charac ters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of an engine embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, on line 3-3, Figure 1. i

Figure 4 is a sectional View, partly diagram matic, on line 44, Figure 3.

This invention comprises generally, a V type of air cooled engine including banks of cylinders arranged in V formation, heads for the cylinders, the heads and cylinders having transverse heat radiating flanges, those being on the cylinders being preferably in a plane at a right angle to the axes of the cylinders and a casing in the form of a box surrounding the cylinders and the heads and provided with air inlets and outlets so arranged as to distribute air currents lengthwise of the banks of cylinders between the sameand laterally between the individual cylinders and over the heads and to direct additional air currents lengthwise of the outer sides of the banks of the cylinders, and means, as a fan rotor, mounted on the crank shaft at the front end of the engine having a casing arranged to discharge 45 the air between the banks of cylinders and along the outer sides thereof. Preferably, the casing is formed with inlets and outlets in its front and rear walls and is substantially closed between its front and rear walls, the inlets being arranged in 50 alinement with the space between the banks of cylinders and the spaces between the outer sides of the banks of cylinders and the lateral sides of the casing and the outlets being preferably arranged in line with the banks of cylinders or out of line with the spaces between the banks so that the air is compelled to take the paths outlined; that is, between the banks of cylinders and laterally between the individual cylinders and over the heads and lengthwise of the outer sides ofthe cylinders.

l designates the cylinders which are arranged in V formation, or arranged in two banks A, B, the cylinders being mounted on a common crank case 2 in which the crank shaft 3 is located.

4 designates the heads of the cylinders. These heads are shown as tilted or cooked inwardly toward the interior of the V formation or to stand upright with their axes insubstantial vertical line relative to the inclined axes of the cylinders, so that the over-all width of the entire V formation is decreased compared with that of other over head valve engines where the heads are mounted squarely on the cylinder, or with their axes in line with the inclined axes of the cylinders.

In the engine here illustrated, the valve mechanism is of the overhead type and. the head 4 is provided with intake and exhaust passages 5 and 6' which extend respectively toward the inner and outer side of the cylinders, that is, the intake passage extends toward the interior of the V formation-and the exhaust passage 6 extends toward the outersideofzthe V formation. These passages open through the top of the head and communicate respectively with the intake and exhaust manifolds I and B mounted on the tops of the heads and extending lengthwise of the banks of cylinders. The valves are the usual mushroom or poppet type. The manifolds l, 8, are located high enough above the cylinders to permit cross currents of air over the cylinder heads and between the cylinders.

"Ill designates one of the intake valves. The exhaust valve is similar to the intake. The intake and exhaust valves are alike in construction and each has a stem [3 extending upwardly through a valve guide in the head, between the manifolds I and 8. The passages 5 and 6 open through ports as M. into a compression chamber I6 formed in each head. These chambers are deeper on their outer sides, or the sides toward the outer walls of the banks of cylinders, and are here shown as in the form of a truncated cylinder. 7 As the end edges of the cylinders are normal to, or at a right angle to, the axes of the cylinders, the compression chambers l6 are tilted or cooked relatively to the bore of the cylinder. The spark plug ll extends through the outer or deeper wall of the compression chambers l6.

The location of the spark plug in the longer side of the truncated combustion chamber 10- cates the terminals of the plug as near as possible to the center of the combustion chamber, this lessening the tendency to knock and permitting higher compression than in the usual type of 5 overhead valve chamber where the terminals are not located as near to the center of the combustion space.

The cylinders and heads are provided with heat radiating fins which preferably extend transversely, the fins IS on the cylinders being inclined,.

or at a right angle to the axes of the cylinders, and the fins I9 on the cylinder head being horizontal. Owing to the cocked arrangement of the heads, the outer faces of the heads, or the planes of the outer edges of the fins IS on the head are located on the inner sides of the planes parallel to the axes of the cylinders and tangent to the outer edges of the fins I9 of the cylinders, so that the over-all width of the V formation is greatly reduced compared with the overhead valve V type engines in which, the heads are mounted squarely on the cylinders. The location of the intake and exhaust manifolds, on the tops of the cylinders, also contributes to reducing the over-all width of the V formation, and does not interfere with. the air passing over the cylinder heads- Preferably, the wall of, the intake passages is unprovided with. heat radiating, fins.

The valve operating mechanism may be of any suitable type. 21; designates rocker arms pivotally mounted at 22 between their ends on a rocker arm support 23, one end of each rocker arm coacting with a, valve stem, and'the other end of'the rocker armcoacting with a lift rod 24,.located between the banks of cylinders; and coacting with a lifter 25 which in turn coacts with the cam 26 on the cam shaft of the engine, The lifter rod 24 is enclosed in a suitable tube 21. This tube merely serves to. enclose the lift rod and does not materially support the rocker arm. support 23. There is a rocker arm for each valve stem, and the rocker arms for the valves of each cylinder are arranged on the same support and on' axially alined studs or pivots 22'.

The rocker arm support: 23.- is' provided with a base flange 30 mounted on the top of the head andsecured thereto as by bolts 3|, and the part of the support which carries the lugs or bearings 32 for the pivots: 22 extends laterally inwardly relatively to the V formation over the intake manifold Iv and is spaced apartfrom the top of the'head and the intake manifold.

The overhanging portions of the supports are braced or supported by means connecting each rocker arm support 23' of one bank of cylinders with the other bank ofcylinders. This means is here shown as tie-rods 33; each of which is connected at 34 to one rocker arm support 23 and extends across the space between the banks of cylinders and is connected at 35- to the other bank. These tie-rods are arranged in pairs and inclined relatively to each other so that they cross, or are arranged in X formation.

Owing to the manner of supporting the rocker armsupports, the clearancestin the valve mechanism between the rocker arms and. the valve stems, and: the rocker arms and the lift rods, are maintained: constant at all temperatures of the engine. It will be understood that the engine cylinders elongate as they become heated, and some compensating means is desirable to maintain-a predetermined clearance and eflicient valve operation without tappet noise.

Owing to the mounting or bracing 33 of the overhanging portions of the rocker arm supports 23, the shifting of the rocker arm pivots 22 and the rocker arms 2i during cylinder elongation is for the most part horizontal rather than vertical, as in engines where the heads are mounted squarely on the cylinders, and the rocker arms 2| are maintained in proper relation to the valve stems l3 and lifter rods 24 at all engine temperatures and under all conditions. Each of the supports 23 is provided with a suitable removable .cap 39 held in position by a nut 40 threading on a stud 4! extending upwardly through the cap from the rocker arm support 23. 42 is a carburetor having branches 43 communicating with both intake manifolds I.

The subject matter thus far described specifically forms no part of this invention but constitutes the subject matter of my pending application Ser. No. 566,073, filed September 30, 1931, of which this is a division.

This invention relates to a casing or jacket for the banks of cylinders by which the cooling air currents are passed between the banks of cylinders and between the individual cylinders and over the heads thereof and additional air currents passed lengthwise of the cylinders between the outer sides of the banks and the lateral walls of'the casing, so that all portions of the individual cylinders and the heads are wiped or washed by the cooling air currents and the air currents distributed uniformly. The casing comprises, generally, side walls 50, a rear wall 5|, top wall 52 between the banks of cylinders and below the carburetor rocker arm support and also bottom wall 54 at the lower edges of the side wall 50 so that the casing is in the general form ofa box and is formed with inlets and outlets at its front and rear ends so arranged that the air currents pass between the banks of cylinders lengthwise between the individual cylinders laterally and over the heads and lengthwise of the outer sides of the cylinders. The casing between its front and rear walls is preferably unpro-vided with outlets and the inlets and outlets are arranged out of alinement or so arranged relative to each other that the air currents can not pass straight through the casing but are distributed in the paths before mentioned, preferably, the air currents are created by the rotor of a fan mounted on' the front end of the crank shaft 3' in the casing which discharges into a plurality of inlets for the housing.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the casing is provided with three inlets 58, 59, or the fan housing with three outlets arranged respectively in line with the space between the banks of the cylinders and the spaces between the outer sides of the banks and lateral walls 50 of the casing, while the outlets 60 are located in line with the cylinders, or out of line with the spaces between the banks of cylinders. Portions of outlets 60 are also as seen in Figure 4 in line with the spaces between the banks and the lateral walls 59 of the casing.

55 is a fan rotor actuated by the crank shaft 5 and preferably mounted on the front end thereof. 56 is a fan housing having outlet branches 5'! having openings 58 therein, which communicate with the casing of the engine and provide air inlets for the casing near the opposite side walls 59, or to the outer sides of the banks of cylinders. The fan housing also has outlets 59 which communicate with the spaces between the banks of cylinders beneath the top wall 52 and provide air inlets for the casing.

Preferably, the rear wall 5| has air outlets 60 behind the rear cylinders and out of line with passages 59 and extending laterally outwardly to in line with openings 58 and the spaces between the side walls 5!] and the outer sides of the banks of cylinders. The object, however, of the back wall is to direct the outflow of air from between the bank of cylinders sufliciently around the cylinders into the outer paths along the walls 50. The air which passes through the outlets 59 into the space between the banks of cylinders is thus caused to pass between the cylinders and join the air currents passing to the outer sides of the cylinders along the side walls5il. The outlets 6!] are of at least the area of the combined areas of the fan outlets 58 and 59 and are preferably still larger to compensate for the expansion of the air due to heating in its passage around the cylinders.

6| is a partition between the outlets 58 and 59 to keep the main blast of air from striking the first cylinders.

To further facilitate the cooling of the cylinders, the cylinders are arranged in pairs as C and D, and the space between the cylinders of each pair is less than the space between the pair of cylinders. This arrangement is due primarily to the fact that a three bearing crank shaft is used. The relatively cool intake valves are so located as to be adjacent the narrower spaces while the hot exhaust valves are located adjacent the wider spaces in order to be swept to a greater extent by the air currents passing from between the banks of cylinders to the outer sides of the banks of cylinders, also to permit larger fins surrounding the exhaust valve passages.

As the intake passages are cooled by the relatively cool incoming of gas or vapor. no cooling fins are provided for the intake ports or passages, and hence less space is required for air circulation between the cylinders around the intake valves. The exhaust valves are located over the engine center main bearings and at the ends of the pairs where there is ample room to fin the exhaust valve passages and space for air currents; The intake ports, which are not ribbed and do not require as much cooling air, are located in the confined spaces.

What I claim is:

1. In an air-cooled, V-type, internal combustion engine, banks of cylinders having heat radiating flanges, a casing surrounding the cylinders in the form of a box having side walls spaced apart from the outer sides of the banks of cylinders, rear and top walls, the casing having inlet and outlet openings only at its front and rear ends respectively, a fan rotor actuated by the engine and having a casing formed with outlets arranged to discharge air through the inlets of the engine casing between the banks of cylinders intake and exhaust passages and valves for controlling them, intake and exhaust manifolds communicating with said passages, a casing surrounding the cylinders and the heads thereof and being in the form of a box enclosing the banks of cylinders and their heads and having air outlets in its rear wall and being substantially closed between its front and rear walls, and a fan including a rotor actuated by the engine and having a casing formed with an intermediate outlet communicating with the front end of the space between the banks of cylinders and side outlets for discharging air around the outer sides of the banks of cylinders.

3. In an air-cooled, V-type, of internal combustion engine, banks of cylinders having heat radiating flanges, heads for the cylinders having heat radiating flanges, the heads being formed with intake and exhaust passages, and valves for controlling them, intake and exhaust manifolds communicating with said passages, a casing surrounding the cylinders and the heads thereof, having side walls spaced apart from the outer sides of the banks of cylinders, rear and top walls, the casing having an air outlet opening at its rear end, a fan actuated by the engine and having a casing formed with an intermediate outlet communicating with the front end of the space between the banks of cylinders and side outlets for discharging air around the outer sides of the banks of cylinders, the outlet passages for the fan casing being located substantially in line with the spaces between the banks of cylinders and with the spaces between the outer sides of the banks and the side walls of the casing and the outlet passages for the casing around the cylinders, being located in line with the banks of cylinders and out of line with said spaces between the banks and between the outer sides of the banks and the side walls of the engine casing, all whereby the air passing between the banks of cylinders passes around and between the cylinders and over the cylinder heads and joins the air current passing along the outer sides of the cylinders.

4. In an air-cooled, V-type, of internal combustion engine, banks of cylinders having heat radiating flanges, heads for the cylinders having heat radiating flanges, the heads being formed with intake and exhaust passages, and valves for controlling them, intake and exhaust manifolds communicating with said passages, a casing surrounding the cylinders and the heads thereof, having side walls spaced apart from the outer sides of the cylinders, rear and top walls, the casing having outlet openings at its rear wall toward the outer side walls and extending in line with the spaces between the side walls of the casing and the outer sides of the cylinders of the banks, a fan actuated by the engine and having a casing at the front of the engine formed with an intermediate outlet communicating with the space between the banks of cylinders and side outlets discharging into the spaces between the side walls of the casing and the outer sides of the banks of cylinders, all whereby the air passing through the space between the banks of cylinders is distributed between and around the cylinders of the banks and joins the air currents passing along the outer sides of the cylinders and out through the outlets in the rear wall of the casing.

CHARLES S. BROWN.

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