US2435476A

US2435476A - Internal-combustion power unit having a rotor with pivoted impulse elements

Info

Publication number: US2435476A
Application number: US529272A
Authority: US
Inventors: Orran B Summers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1944-04-03
Filing date: 1944-04-03
Publication date: 1948-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 1965-02-03

Description

2,435,476 T HAVING A FLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MENT 0. B. SUMMERS COMBUSTION POWER WITH PIVOTED IMP Filed April 3,

Feb. 3, 1948.

INTERNAL ROTOR 1943' o. B. SUMMERS INTERNAL-COMBUSTION POWER UNIT HAVING A ROTOR WITH PIVOTED IMPULSE FLEMENT Filed April 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 3mm Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION POWER UNIT HAVING A ROTOR WITH PIVOTED IM- PULSE ELEMENTS 12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to internal combustion power units, and more particularly to an internal combustion power unit of the type wherein a rotor carries at its periphery one or more members, which will herein be called pistons, that are movable into and out of one or more stationary combustion chambers disposed at the periphery of the rotor, said piston or pistons operating to transmit to the rotor impulses derived from the combustion of fuel in said combustion chamber or chambers while the piston or pistons are making an excursion through said chamber or chambers.

Various proposals have heretofore been made to construct an internal combustion engine in the form of a rotor carrying a plurality of hinged pistons which are cam actuated for movement into and out of combustion chambers disposed in or around the periphery of the rotor. Devices of this type as heretofore proposed have been characterized by low efiiciency owing to the back thrust exerted on the rotor during the period of combustion and the angle at which the forward thrust has been transmitted to the rotor during the period of combustion. Devices of this type as heretofore proposed have also been unsatisfactory for other reasons, among which may be noted the excessive rate of movement required of the hinged piston with respect to the rotor as it moved into or out of the combustion chamber whereby a rather sharp limitation was imposed upon the rate of revolution of the rotor to avoid an undue total speed of the hinged piston; the combustion chambers have been so shaped that it has been difficult if possible for the hinged piston to follow closely the contour of the combustion chamber so that gas leakage, unsatisfactory scavenging, etc. have resulted; the hinged pistons have been diflicult to lubricate; etc.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rotating power unit of the type referred to which is possessed of higher efficiency than obtained by units of this type as heretofore proposed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved power unit of the type characterized wherein the pistons are so constructed and associated with the rotor that minimum back thrust is developed on the rotor during the period of combustion and the forward thrust generated on the piston is so transmitted to the rotor as to develop maximum driving torque.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotating power unit of the type characterized which is so constructed that the rate of movement of the piston with respect tothe rotor is such that at no time is its absolute rate of movement much greater than the rate of revolution of the rotor, so that the movement of the piston with respect to the rotor into and out of the combustion chamber does not impose a limitation upon the speed at which the rotor may be driven.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotating power unit of the type characterized wherein the piston is caused to closely follow the contour of the combustion chamber so that leakage of gases is avoided, good scavenging action is obtained and efi'icient transmission to the rotor of the force generated by the expanding gases of combustion is secured.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotating power unit of the type characterized which facilitates proper lubrication of the parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotating power unit of the type characterized which is so constructed that such lateral thrust as exists on the rotor is at all times substantially balanced.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotating power unit of the type characterized which is so constructed that the impulses derived from the combustion of the fuel occurv at such frequency that the effect of a nearly constant rotating torque is obtained.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved rotating power unit which is simple in construction, inexpensive to maintain, and eflicient in operation.

Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention is capable of receiving a, variety of mechanical expressions one of which is shown rather diagrammatically on the accompanying drawings, parts like valves and their actuators. manifolds, ignition system, timing system and the like, which are more or less conventional in internal combustion power units, having been omitted or merely indicated in the interest of a clearer illustration of the novel features which characterize the present invention. Hence it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring in detail to the drawings wherein the same reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts in both figures,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section transversely of the posed with respect to its corresponding combustion chamber l8 that movement of the corresponding piston 28 outwardly through the aperture 21 is initiated at the instant when the extremity 49 of the piston reaches the beginning 50 of the curve defining the inner peripheral contour of the combustion chamber l8, it being assumed that the rotor is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow Each cusp 31 is also so shaped that the extremity 49 of the piston as it moves radially outward is maintained in close contact with the inner surface of the wall [9 throughout the excursion of the piston through the chamber. Thus as the piston moves circumferentially with the rotor, it moves gradually into the chamber until it has reached the midpoint in the length of the chamber, after which the piston is withdrawn gradually through the aperture 21, but with the extremity 49 continuing to remain in contact vn'th said inner surface, until it reaches the end of the combustion chamber. Owing to the character of'the curvature of the surface [9 as above explained the movement of the piston is substantially uniform throughout, the piston at no time having an abrupt or sudden movement, and its rate of movement into and out of the combustion chamber is so gradual that it does not add to the circumferential motion of the piston With the rotor a sufficient amount to require that a'limit be imposed upon the speed of revolution of the rotor in order that the absolute-rate of movement of the piston shall not be excessive.

As th piston moves past the fuel inlet valve 4| a suction is created at the left-hand end of the combustion chamber as viewed in .the drawings, and fuel is drawn into the combustion cham. ber by the suction created by the rotating piston for such time as the inlet fuel valve remains open. -While suction may be relied upon entirely for drawing fuel into the combustion chamber, the fuel may be supplied under pressure and injected in-well known ways if preferred. When the piston has moved past the air inlet valve 43, the latter is opened to admit compressed air into the combustion chamber, the air being at such a pressure as to obtain the desired compression in the mixture of fuel and air before ignition. The fuel is then ignited by a spark from the spark plug 45 and the resulting explosion develops a driving impulse on the face 52 of the piston. This pres- .sure at the face of the piston is applied through the pivot in 29 to the rotor and in a direction which is nearly tangential to its peripheral wall, driving the :rotor forwardly in the direction of the arrow 5|. The combustion space increases in radial dimension until the mid-point of the combustion chamber is'reached by the extremity 49 of the piston, after which the combustion chamber decreases in radial dimension as the piston 2B, is withdrawn through the aperture 21, until it is flush with the periphery of the rotor when the end 53 of the combustion chamber is reached. Throughout its excursion through the combustion chamber the piston fills the cross section thereof because in radial planes it is of the same size and shape as the chamber. The cam follower 30, when the piston is withdrawn from the chamber, enters the dwell 38, and during this time the piston is substantially entirely within the hollow interior of the drum, with its side wall filling the aperture 27, at which time lubrication of the piston and associated parts is facilitated. Then lwhenthe cam follower 30 reaches the next cusp 31, the piston'is moved into the next chamber l8 and the cycle is repeated.

When the piston leaves the combustion chamber it uncovers theexhaust port 39 so that the burnt gases in the combustion chamber may escape therethrough, and when the next piston 28 makes its excursion through this combustion hamber, the burnt gases are swept ahead of it and through the exhaust port 39 until the piston passes the exhaust port.

In the compressor 46, 48, which as before noted is identical in construction with the combustion unit under description except for the valves, the pistons 28 are passing through corresponding cycles of movement, but here the suction of the moving piston is drawing air into each chamber l8, after which the succeeding piston sweeps the air ahead of it and places said air under compression until, at the proper pressure, the valve is opened to p rmit the compressed air to flow into the manifold leading to the air inlet manifold of the power unit.

As the parts of the power unit are surrounded on all sides by air, th rate of heat loss from the walls of the'unit is relatively large so that air cooling is ,facilitated. However, if preferred a water jacket (not shown) may be Provided for the combustion chambers.

Escape of gases between the cooperating rotatable and stationary surfaces of the unit may be prevented in any suitable way. As illustrated more particularly in Fig. 2, the end walls 24 and 25 of the rotor overlap the side walls 2| of the combustion chambers as shown at 54, and any suitable acking may be provided between these cooperating rotatable and stationary surfaces. Appropriate packing may also be provided at each piston so as to prevent escape of gases from the combustion chambers into the interior of the rotor.

As before noted, each iston is withdrawn into the interior of the rotor for a, period before its movement into the next combustion chamber. This facilitates lubricating the piston, and it is to be understood that any suitable provision for lubricating the pistons and their associated arts may be provided.

It will be noted that owing to the shape of the combustion chambers movement of the pistons at all times is gradual and substantially uniform. Hence there is no sudden change of speed in the movement of the pistons or period at which their movement is much greater than the movement of the rotor 'to which they are attached. Throughout the period when the expanding gases are exerting a driving force on the piston, there is no surface on which said gases exert a pressure in the direction opposite to that in which the rotor is rotating, and therefore the driving torque is not diminished by back pressure. Furthermore, the pressure on the piston delivered through the piston to its pivot at the periphery of the rotor is acting very nearly in the direction of the tangent to the rotor, so that the component of force at right angles to the tangent is at all times relatively low, a fact which means relatively high efliciency in developing the rotating torque. As before noted a power unit embodying the present invention preferably has an even number of combustion chambers arranged symmetrically around the axis of the shaft, so that there are diametrically opposed combustion chambers in operation at the same time. As the timing is such that the same point in the cycle of operation of each pair of opposed chambers is form driving torque;

reachedsimultaneously, the. component offforce at right angles to the tangent ateach; chambenls exactly balanced by a like component acting; in the opposite direction fromthe opposite combustion chamber. Hence thereisv never aresultant sidethrust on the shaft.

In the form showntherev are four combustion chambers having four pistonss'o that there are four simultaneous drivingrlmpulse's imparted to the rotor each time the fourpistons come into cooperative relationship with: the four combusti'on chambers, producing sixteen. driving impulses per revolution. Hence the driving impulses not only occur symmetrically around the periphery of the rotor but a plurality of times per revolutionso that by using a suitable numtons it is possible tonearly approximate a uni- Some of the advantages of my invention may be had by using an odd ber of combustion chambers-and cooperating pisnumber of combustion chambers, or; even using only a single combustion chamber, but I prefer to use an even number of combustion chambers, and while two combustion chambers may be sufficient for some purposes, I prefer to use four or more combustion chambers so as to shorten the period between the application of successive driving impulses to the shaft.

It will therefore be perceived that the present invention provides an improved internal combustion rotatingpower "unit which satisfies each and allof the objects above-set out.

While the embodimentei" the invention illustrated on the drawings has beendescribed with considerable particularity it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not restricted thereto, as the invention-is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, as will now be apparent to those skilled-in the art, while changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the present invention. It is to be understood that the engine is to be provided withrsuitab'le means for operating the valves at proper intervals, for energizing the spark plugs at proper intervals, for lubricating the" relatively movable cooperating parts, for packing the joints between relatively removable cooperating parts, etc., as would be applied by one skilled in the art in" carrying out the foregoing principles, the drawings being for-the purpose of'illustrating cliagrammatically'the' features ofnovelty rather than all of the details of construction and accessories that would normally be applied to such a unit by: one skilled in the art. Reference is therefore to be hadto the, appended claims fora definition of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, a generally triangularshaped piston pivotally mounted at an apex on the periphery of said rotor for applying thrust,

thereto, said pistonhaving its explosion receiving bustion' chamber mounted on said support in circumferential alignment with-the periphery of said rotor, said combustion chamber in circum fe'rential cross section having its radially outer wall gradually curved circumferentiallyand symmetrically from an intermediate point to'both extremities with the altitude of said outer wall above the inner periphery of said chamber first increasing and then decreasing-by substantiallycqual amounts for equal-distances in the direc- 8 tion .ofithe length of;saidchamber.aoamlfollower oarriedrby a: second: apex ofit s on 94115113 single cam; means cooperating: with the centric}? lower'to move the. piston into andoutofthe'com busti-on chamber while maintaining, continuous contact; with said outer wall.

2. Inan internal combustion: power unitthe combination of a rotor, a generally triangularshaped piston; pivotally mounted at an. apexon the periphery of, said rotor for applying thrust thereto, said piston having its explosion receiving face at all times approximately normal to the tangent to: the periphery of said rotor at. said pivotal. mounting. a stationary; support, 211.combustion chamber .mounted on. said. support in circumferential alignment with the periphery of said rotor, said combustion chamber having a circumferentially curved radially outerwall whose altitude above theinner periphery of the chamber first gradually increases and then gradually-decreases symmetrically with respect to its medial radial plane, the increments and decrements: of altitude being. substantially equal; for equal..dis:-.- dances circumferentially of the chamber acam follower carried by a second apex of the:pistom and a single cammeans of the same contour as said outer wall cooperating. withthe. cam follower toxmove the. piston into and. out of the: combusti-onchamberin.continuous gas sealing relationship to'said outer wall.

the tangentv tosaidperiphery at saidv pivotal mounting so that theforce generated at. the face of the piston by the combustion'oi therfuelil's applied to said rotor nearly,tangentiallyth'ereof, a stationary support, a. combustion chamber hav ing a circumferentially and symmetrically curved radially outer wall mounted on said support-in circumferential alignment. with the periphery of said. rotor with the altitude ofsaid outer wall above. the inner periphery of said chamber first increasing and then decreasing by substantially equalamounts for equal distancesiin the. direction of the length-of said chamber, acam follower carried by .the piston, and cam means: cooperating with the cam follower to move the" piston into andout of thecombustionchamber'in'com tinuous cooperative relationship-with said outer wall, the major. portion of said pistonwhen moved out of said combustion chamber "being exposed for: lubrication in said first named chamber;

4. In an internal. combustion power unit the combination of a rotor having-a hollow-interior zand providediin its peripheraliwalliwith anaper ture, a. generally-triangular shaped ipist'ion. pivotallymounted at an apex in-said aperture :for applying thrust theretoand having a side;-.waii adapted to fill saidaperture, said pistonvhaving its explosion receivingaface approximately at right angles to; the tangent to said peripheral wallat said pivotal ,mounting, astationary support, a combustion chamber mounted on said support in circumferential alignment with the peripheryof said rotor, said combustion chamber having a circumferenti'ally curved radially outer wall whose altitude abovethe inner peripheryof the chamber first graduallyin'creases and thengraduallydecreases by proximateiyequal amounts for equal distances circumferentially of the chamber, a cam follower carried by a second apex of the piston, and cam means cooperating with the cam follower to move the piston gradually and progressively first into and then out of the combustion chamber in continuous cooperative relationship with said outer wall, said piston when moved out of said combustion chamber being largely exposed in the hollow interior of said rotor.

5. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, a generally-triangularshaped piston pivotally mounted at an apex on the periphery of said rotor for applying thrust thereto, said piston having its explosion receiving face at all times approximately normal to the tangent to the periphery of said rotor at said pivotal mounting, a stationary support, a combustion chamber having a circumferentially and symmetrically curved radially outer wall mounted on said support in circumferential alignment with the periphery of said rotor with the altitude of said outer wall above the inner periphery of said chamber first increasing and then decreasing by substantially equal amounts for equal distances in the direction of the length of said chamber, a cam follower carried by a second apex of the piston, and a single cam means cooperating with the cam follower to move the piston into and out of the combustion chamber with its radially outer extremity following said outer wall, said cam means comprising a pair of cam plates disposed exteriorly of said rotor one at each side of said rotor and said cam follower projecting through the opposite sides of said rotor into cooperative relationship with said cam plates.

6. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, a plurality of generallytriangular-shaped pistons pivoted at an apex on the periphery of said rotor and disposed symmetrically around said periphery, each of said 'pistons having an explosion receiving face approximately at right angles to the tangent to said periphery at said pivot and exerting a thrust on said rotor approximately in the direction of said tangent, a stationary support, a plurality of combustion chambers equal in number to said pistons mounted on said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around the periphery of said rotor, each of said combustion chambers having a gradually curved radially outer wall which is symmetrical with respect to a radial plane midway of the length of the chamber and has the altitude of its curved wall from its inner periphery first increasing and then decreasing by substantially equal amounts for equal circumferential distances, each of said pistons being provided with a cam follower at a second apex thereof, and a single cam means cooperating with said cam followers and adapted to move all of said pistons into and out of all of said chambers simultaneously with the outer extremities of the pistons following said outer walls.

7. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, a plurality of generallytriangular-shaped pistons pivoted at an apex, on the periphery of said rotor and disposed symmetrically around said periphery, each of said pistons having an explosion receiving face approximately at right angles to the tangent to said periphery at said pivot and exerting a thrust on said rotor approximately in the direction of said tangent, a stationary support, a plurality of combustion chambers equal in number to said pistons mounted on said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around the periphery of said rotor, each of said chambers having a radially outer curved peripheral wall whose altitude above the inner periphery of the chamber first increases and then decreases by substantially equal amounts for equal distances in the direction of the length of the chamber, each of said pistons being provided with a cam follower, and cam means cooperating with said cam followers and adapted to move all of said pistons into and out of all of said chambers simultaneously with the outer extremities of said pistons following said outer walls.

8. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, a plurality of pistons approximately triangular in circumferential cross section and substantially rectangular in radial cross section pivoted at an apex on the periphery of said rotor and disposed symmetrically around said periphery for applying thrust to said rotor, each of said pistons having an explosion receiving face approximately at right angles to the tangent to said periphery at said pivot, a stationary support, a plurality of combustion'chambers equal in number to said pistons mounted on said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around the periphery of said rotor, said chamber and pistons being arranged around the. axis of said rotor to provide balanced forces in both vertical and horizontal directions, each of said chambers having a circumferentially curved radially outer wall which is symmetrical with respect to a, medial radial plane and has the altitude of its outer wall above its inner periphery first increasing and then decreasing by substantially equal amounts for equal circumferential distances, each of said pistons being provided with a cam follower, and a, single cam means cooperating with said cam followers and adapted to move all of said pistons into and out ofall of said chambers simultaneously with the outer extremities of said pistons following said outer walls. r v

9. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor in the form of a drum provided in its peripheral wall with apertures disposed symmetrically around said periphery, a stationary support, a piston for applying thrust to said rotor having an approximately triangular circumferential cross section pivoted at an apex in each aperture and having an explosion receiving face approximately at right angles to the tangent to said rotor at said pivot, said piston having a side wall which fills the aperture when the piston is withdrawn into the drum, a plurality of combustion chambers equal in number to said pistons mounted on said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around the periphery of said rotor, each of said chambers having a circumferentially curved radially outer wall whose altitude above the inner periphery of the chamber first gradually increases and then gradually decreases circumferentially of the chamber sub stantially equal amounts for equal distances in the direction of the length of the chamber, each of said pistons being provided with a cam follower at another of its apexes, and a single cam means cooperating with said cam followers and. adapted to move all of said pistons into and out of all of said chambers simultaneously with said pistons having the third apex following said outer walls.

19. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor, a plurality of pistons pivoted t the periphery of said rotor for applying thrust thereto and disposed symmetrically around having an explosion receiving face remote from saidfpivot and approximately at right angles to the tangent to said rotor at said pivot, a stationary support, a plurality of combustion chambers equal in number to said pistons mounted on said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around the periphery of said rotor, each of said chamber having a curved outer wall whose altitude aboveits inner periphery first increases and then decreases by substantially equal amounts for equal distances in the direction of the length of said chamber, each of said pistonsbeing provided with a cam follower at a second apex thereof, anda single cam means cooperating with all of said cam followers and adapted to move all of said pistons into and out of all of said chamberssimultaneously with the outer extremities of the pistons following said outer walls, said cam means comprising a 'pair of cam plates disposed exteriorly of said rotor one at each side .of said rotor'and said'cam followers projecting through both lateral walls of said rotor into co-, operative relationship with said cam plates. v

i ll. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of a rotor provided with an even number of pistons 'pivotedi'n the 'peripheral wall of said rotor, a stationary supporaan even number of combustion chambers, each of said pistons being 'ofgenerally triangular iorm pivoted at an apex and having an explosion receiving face-remote from said pivot and approximately at right "angles to the tangent to said'rotor at said pivot, said chambers being'the same-in 'numberas said pistons and carried bysa'ijd stationary support and disposed symmetricallyaroundthe periphery of said rotor, each of said pornbustion chambers having a curved radially; outer peripheral wall whose curvature is such that apiston maintained in contact wtih said curved wall movesfsubs'tan- 'tia'lly equal increments "into or out of the cha'm her for equal increments of movement of rotation, each of said pistons being provided with a cam follower, and cam means cocperatingwith said followers and adapted to move diametrically -op+ posed pistons into and out of diametrically opposed combustion chambers simultaneously; said cam means cooperating with said pistons to retain the outer extremity of each piston in contact with a peripheralwall throughout the excursion of a piston through a combustion chamber.

assau t 7 J v 12. In an internal combustion power unit the combination of- 'a rotor provided with an even number of pistons pivoted in apertures in the tionchambers, equal in number to said pistons,

carried by said stationary support and disposed symmetrically around the periphery of said rotor, each of saidcombustion chambers having a curved radially outer peripheral wall" whose curvature is such that a piston maintained in contact with said curved wall moves substantially equal increments into or out of the chamber for equal increments of movement of rotation, each of said pistons being provided with a cam follower at another of its apexes, a single cam means cooperating-with all of' said followers and adapted to move a pair of diametrically opposed pistons into and out of a pair of diametrically opposed'combustion chambers simultaneously, said cam means cooperating with said pistons 'to retain a third apex on each piston in contact with a peripheral wall throughout the excursion of the piston through the combustion chamber.

' -o}. B. SUMMV' ERS.

REFERENCES Curio The following references are of record in the file of-this patent:

UNITED sTA'rEs PATENTS Number Name Date 4 115,854 Henderson e June .13, 188.71 732,404 Foster Junev .30, 1903 1,202,828 Ginn Oct. 31., 19-16 1,225,056 Riggsetal. May .8, .1917 1,605,912 Barker Nov. 9, I926 5 1,607,505 Bentley Nov. 16,1926 1,750,502 Baker. Mar. .11, 19.30 1,877,250 Meyer .Sept. .13., v1932 I FOREIGN PATENTS 7 Number Countryv Date 15,040 -Great'Britain ..J.une 2.7, 1911 254,384 Great Britain vJuly 1, 1926