US2156774A - Engine - Google Patents

Description

E. T. VINCENT May 2, 1939.

ENGINE Filed April 12, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

T V/ncenT' fdward ATTORN ENGINE Filed April 12, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR.

Patented May 2, 1939 PATENT OFFICE ENGINE Edward T. Vincent, Detroit, Mich assignor to Continental Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Virginia Application April 12, 1935, Serial No. 15,978

1 Claim.

My invention relates to engines and more particularly to internal combustion engines of the radial cylinder type operated on the two stroke cycle. More particularly, my present invention is related to the improvement in many structural details of an engine of the character described whereby to facilitate and improve the engine performance and to further provide a construction which may be readily and economically assembled 10 and serviced.

An object of my present invention is to provide an improved engine assembly embodying aplurality of radially extending cylinders and an associated connecting rod assembly, so constructed l and arranged as to maintain friction and power losses at a minimum, whereby to generally improve engine operating conditions. Although the construction, as hereinafter described, is more particularly adapted for an engine of the two 20 stroke cycle type, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that the principles of my invention may be incorporated in engines other than those of the type herein particularly illustrated.

A further object of my present invention is to provide for a simple and improved manifold construction for a radial engine employing a plurality of banks of radially extending cylinders, the present construction being constructed and arranged to facilitate assembly and to provide an engine of minimum Weight and economical in construction.

For a more detailed understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form which my invention may assume, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elcvational view of my improved radial engine showing a portion of the same broken away to illustrate one of the engine cylinders in vertical cross-section, and

40 Fig. 2 is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view through the engine illustrated in Fig. 1, and illustrating in more detail my improved connecting rod assembly and crankcase structure which is especially adapted for a multi-bank radial engine 45 of this type.

I have ,chosen for purposes of illustration to show my invention as embodied in a multi-bank, multi-cylinder radial two stroke cycle engine, though it will be obvious that the invention as 50 broadly claimed herein is adaptable to other types of engines as well. The present engine in general is provided with a crankcase structure l0, which is so arranged as to support a plurality of cylinder structures ll radially about the engine crank- 55 shaft l2. The particular engine herein illustrated isa sleeve valve engine and is arranged with suitable intake and exhaust ports l3 and M respectively in the cylinder'walls, said ports being controlled by the sleeve valve means for controlling the engine cyclical events. More particularly, my 5 invention is incorporated with a sleeve valve engine of the type employing a single sleeve of the combined movement type.

The crankcase structure In is composed of crankcase sections assembled end to end as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, said sections being preferably secured together by means of bolts or other fastening devices IS. The crankcase sections are each provided with webs or other crankcase portions l6 each adapted for carrying a bearing ll for supporting the crankshaft bearing portions l8, substantially intermediate each of said banks of cylinders, and preferably each crankcase section is arranged to support a pair of radial cylinder banks, one of the webs It being preferably arranged between these parallel banks of engine cylinders while the other is arranged to lie intermediate a bank of cylinders of one crankcase section and an'adjacent bank of cylinders carried by the adjacent crankcase section.

The crankcase structure as herein illustrated is preferably constructed to provide inner and outer crankcase wall portions 19 and 20 respectively, these crankcase wall portions being spacedto pro-. vide an annular chamber 2| extending circumferentially around the crankcase and communi eating with the intake ports I3 of the engine cylinders. Preferably the chambers 2| encircle the cylinders and it will be noted that the chambers 2! of each crankcase section are in open communication, and thus the intake manifoldportion, extending circumferentially around said crankcase, provides an intake manifold which is common to all of the radially extending cylinders of all the banks. 40

It will be noted that the engine cylinders herein illustrated are each provided with a single sleeve valve means 22, and in the type of sleeve valve engine herein illustrated, it will be noted that the sleeve valve means is moved with a combined oscillating and reciprocating motion by means of sleeve driving or actuating cranks 23. The sleeve actuating cranks 23 are supported in bearings 24 carried by the crankcase and actuated by means of a sleeve driving eccentric 25, this eccentric 60 driving the eccentric crank 26 of the sleeve actuating means in any well known and suitable manner. In the engine illustrated, it will be noted that the sleeve is driven at crankshaft speed for engine operation on a two stroke cycle.

Pistons 21 are operably associated with each of the engine cylinders and are arranged to be operatively connected with the eccentric 28 carried by'the crankshaft by means of suitable connecting rods 29 and intermediate connections 30 which operatively connect the connecting rods with the crankshaft eccentric 28.

In the present embodiment of my invention I prefer to provide anjeccentric 28 on the engine crankshaft l2, this eccentric having suitably secured thereto, the inner bearing ring structure 2!, this ring structure preferably comprising a pair of rings having outwardly extending annular flanges or ribs 12 which serve to locate the needle bearings 33 or other suitable anti-friction devices, the eccentric having a diameter sufficiently large to accommodate all the connecting rod pads of one-bank of cylinders without interference of one with the other.

A floating ring 34 is arranged to encircle the crankshaft eccentric 2B and have a bearing on the needle bearings or anti-friction devices 33. Thus rotation of the eccentric 28 will impart a rolling action to the needle bearings 33 and consequently the angular movement of the floating ring 34 is less than the angular movement of the eccentric 28.

This floating ring 34 is provided with a central outwardly extending annular rib or flange 35 which serves to position or otherwise locate the needle bearings or other suitable anti-friction devices 36 arranged in bearing relation with the outer cylindrical surface of the floating ring. The inner end of each of the connecting rods has secured thereto a pad 31 having an inner arcuate surface which is arranged concentric with the cylindrical surface of the eccentric and is arranged to have a bearing on the anti-friction devices or needle bearings 36.

In addition to the locating means carried by the floating ring and inner bearing ring 3|, it will be noted that these outer series of needle bearings or anti-friction devices are suitably held in position by the retaining members which will prevent lateral displacement of same. The retaining members preferably comprise a ring 38 mounted around the annular rib 35 and extending beyond the sides of said annular rib to overlie the needle bearings 36 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Additional retaining rings 39 are secured to the side faces of said floating ring by' means of bolts or screws 40 and these side retaining rings are arranged to engage the outer ends of the needle bearing 36, and are provided further with a lip portion 4| partially overlying the outer ends of said needle bearings. It will be furthermore noted that these side retaining members or rings cooperate with the central -retaining ring 38 to definitely retain the antii'riction devices or needlebearings in position, and also engage the side walls of the connecting rod pad 31 to prevent lateral displacement of said connecting rod pad as well as thelateral displacement of the anti-friction devices 36.

It will be noted that the floating ring shown in the present assembly is provided with antifriction devices engaging the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces thereof, and respectively positioned intermediate the floating ring and crankshaft eccentric, and the floating ring and the inner arcuate surface of said pad carried by the engine connecting rod.

Rings 44 are employed to retain the connecting rods substantially in position, these being a pair is inoperative, and while engine is being started.

' It will be noted that the present assembly provides for efficient motor operation in that there is a minimum of friction due to the fact that there is a minimum of sliding of the connecting rod pad with respect to the floating ring assembled between said pad and crankshaft eccentric 2|. The addition of the needle hearings or other suitable anti-friction devices between the pads and floating ring and the floating ring and eccentric 28 provide a construction in which friction is maintained at an absolute minimum, thereby minimizing engine power losses.

In addition to the rings 44 for holding down the connecting rod or forcing the pad 31 against the anti-friction bearings between it and the floating ring 34, further means are made possible because of the fact that the engine herein illustrated is operated as a two stroke cycle engine, and all forces are exerted inwardly toward the engine crankshaft during engine operation. Due to the curvature of the inner arcuate surface of the connecting rod pad, it will be noted that tilting of the piston is prevented and the connecting rod will tilt with respect to the cylinder axis as the eccentric crank moves around, the pad merely shifting or slightly sliding on the anti-friction devices carried around the outer cylindrical surface of the floating ring. It may be further noted that the crankshaft bearings are sufliciently large to permit the longitudinal assembly of the crankshaft in the crankcase.

Although I have illustrated but one form of my invention and have described in detail but a single application thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled .in the art to which my invention pertains that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or from the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim as my invention is: I

A radial engine crank assembly including a crankshaft having a crank portion, a plurality of connecting rods one for each engine cylinder and each provided with a slipper type pad at the inner end of the rod, means operatively connecting said connecting rods with said crankshaft crank portion including a floating ring encircling said crank portion and provided with an outer annular rib,-anti-friction devices intermediate said crank portion and said floating ring, antifriction devices supported on the outer surface of said ring and positioned by said annular rib, said connecting rod pads bearing on said last mentioned anti-friction devices, and retaining rings secured to said floating ring for restraining said last mentioned anti-friction devices and said connecting rod pads from lateral displacement.

EDWARD T. VINCENT.

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