US2817949A

US2817949A - Steven

Info

Publication number: US2817949A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1957-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-31

Description

Dec. 31, 1957 VANED COMB Filed Sept. 16, 1953 DISTRIBUTOR R INTERNAL ION ENGINE STARTING AIR G. STEVE 2,817,949

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 GEORGE STEVEN INVENTOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INTERNAL NG AIR G. STEVEN VANED AIR DISTRIBUTOR FOR COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTI Dec. 31, 1957 Filed Sept. 16. 1953 Ill 1,11,11,11,,

i: 1, I o /1 6 27 GEORGE STEVEN.

INVENTOR.

VAN ED AIR DISTRIBUTOR .FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTING AIR.

Ge'orge'Steven, Kenmore, N. Y., assignortoWorthington Corporation, Harrison, N. -J.,"-a corpration of Delaware Application September-16,.1953,LSerial No. 380,562

4 Claims. ((160- 1 6) This invention relates to internal combustion engines which are started byhigh pressure airand more particularly to a distributor for timing and distributing the delivery of the starting air tothe'cylinders of an engine in proper timesequence to initiate starting of the engine.

An object of the present invention isprovide a' starting air distributor for internal combustion engines which is automatically'brought into operation upon the turning on'of the starting air supply" to the engine, operates to distribute such starting air in proper time sequence to the engine cylinders, and is automatically disconnected during operation of the engine thereby relieving the starting air distributorof'weardevelopment on-parts thereof normally occasioned by continuous engine operation. 'With this and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, the invention consists of various features of construction arid combination of parts, which will be first described in connection withthe'accompanying drawings, showing a vaned air distributor for internal combustion engine starting air" of a preferred form embodying the invention, and thefeatures forming the invention will be specifically pointedoutinthe claims.

In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through "the improved air distributor, taken on"line'11 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a cross-section through'the'air' distributor taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure'3 is a fragmentary vertical section througha part of an internal combustion engine showing one form of starting air valve structure with which the improved distributor cooperates.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical'section through an internal combustion engine showing another form of starting air'inlet structure to the engine cylinder, with which the improved starting air distributor cooperates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved starting air distributor for internal combustion engines comprises a casing 1 which is formed of an inlet section 2, a distributing section 3 and a shaft coupling enclosure section 4 which may be attached to any suitable support. An operating timing shaft 5 is rotatably carried by the section 4 of the housing 1 and the shaft 5 is to be connected to the cam shaft or crank shaft (not shown) of an internal combustion engine for rotation therewith.

The intermediate or distributor section 3 of the'housing 1 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced starting air ports 6 therein each of which connects with an individual cylinder of an internal combustion engine through separate outlet passages 7 in various ways, two forms of which are hereinafter described in connection with Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The distributor section or plate 3 is held stationary through the connection of the

housing sections

2, 3 and 4. A shaft 8 is rotatably carried by a suitable bearing structure 9a and 9' attached to the stationary distributor section 3 and the enclosing section 4. The distributor ports 6 communicates with the United States Pa e- Patented .Dec. 31,1957

'space'9 within 'theinterior" of. the inlet"sectiorfZiOfthe housing '-'1"-and starting pressure; air enters the space or --chamber 9" through" a. .tangential inlet opening 10f "A-distributing rotor 11 is"keyed or otherwise attached toth eshaft 8 forrotationtherewith" and "it hasazplurality of radial arcuate vanes 12i formedon'it'siface outwardly of the distributor plate 'or'sec'tion 3'. "The 'rotary distributorll has a singl port 14' extending.therethrough which sage of starting air from-the space"'or;'clramber9' through the rotary distrib'utorfll, port 6 into: the; passage7 and thence to the cylindersofftheiengine. There'isa clearance between the lateralside ofeach vane 12. and the end wall of the distributor housing, sothat an'air. jet entering through'airport'ltl'and strikingbladesJ'Z' will be'fr'ee to escapethrough portl4'and'over' the passages 7, so the distributor may-operate'on' the turbine principle. The rotary distributor llisurged outwardly away from-the stationary plate 3*by;a spring'15 which-breaks the connection between the. shafts 5 and '8 when starting air pressure isturned oif." vThe"shafts Sand 8 are providedwith cooperation'clutch'sections 16 at'their adjacent ends as clearly ShOWII'lITFigUlfif l of the drawings.

When it is desired .to startanjinternal c0mbustion-en- 'gine'equippedwith the improved starting device, the startingair is turnedon and-'this'rstartingair under..pressure enters'the space'or chamber 9'in'",the. inlet. section 2 of the housing and has a tendency to-move,.the rotary.'distributor 11 IO-WaldSiht) facing surface ofthe stationary distributor section 3 againstfthe tension of "the spring" 15. However, at such time, the-clutch sections 16 maybe out ofalignrnent which'will "prevent connection of the shafts S and-S for providing the-proper time distribution ofthe'sta'rting'air. "Ihe*starting'airientering the chamber *9 throu'ghthe' inletpassage; 10, tangentially; to the circumference of the rotary distributor 11 Willi-actxupon th'e blades 12 and rotate the' rotary distributorll' and the shaft 1 8* and at such' time as :-the two. clutch sections are brought into 'proper'connecting relation by this .rotationthe pressure-of theairwillfo'rce the shaft fi. into coupled connection with'the time shaft 5 andthusthe flow of the starting air through-the "passageway 14" and ports 6 will be properly timed in" accordance with the sequence of operation of the'enginecylinders; After the'port 14' has passed the respective port 6 and cut' off the flow of pressure air intotherespeetive passage 7, and the proper operation of the respective cylinder of the engine has occurred some residue pressure air mayremain in'the passage 7 connected thereto. However, provision'ismade to bleed such residue pressure-air to'atlmosphere by means of a-port'31 formed in the distributor plate"3. The port 31 opens into the passageway 7, and is closed bythe rotary" distributor 11 when the ports '6 are open to receive pressure air therethrough. The rotary distributor 11 has a channel 32 in its inner face, which during rotation of the distributorestablishes communication between the' port 31and' the passage 17 through the stationary distributor plate to allow any residual pressure airto flow from thepassage7 into the chamber. 18 formed in the housing section'4, and to atmosphere through the bleed-01f openingl9.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows a form wherein the starting air to the engine cylinders enters the head of the engine through a starting air passageway 33 which is normally blocked by a starting air check valve 34 held closed by a spring 20. A piston 21 is mounted on the stem 29 of the valve 34 and starting air from the distributor passage 7 is delivered against the piston 21 in opposition to the tension of the spring 20 through a suitable pipe 22, and thus when the starting air distributor, shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, is in proper time operation through the coupling connection of the shafts 8 and starting pressure air will be admitted against the piston 21 which will force the valve 34 oflf its seat and permit the pressure starting air from passageway 33 to enter the cylinder 23 of the engine and operate the piston and, consequently, the engine until such time as the normal operation of the engine is established. The starting air is then turned off.

In the construction shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the piston 21 on the stem of the starting air valve is eliminated and the starting air valve 24 is held seated by means of a spring 25. Pressure air is delivered from one of the air passages 7 in the distributor in properly timed relation to one cylinder of a multi-cylinder engine, for starting the engine, through a pipe 26. The pressure of such air overcomes the tension of spring 25 and opens valve 24 to admit starting air to the cylinder 27. In multiple cylinder engines similar pipes 26 lead to each cylinder from the corresponding air passage 7 in the distributor.

When the fiow of starting air to the distributor is cut off, the consequent pressure against the rotary distributor urging it against the tension of the spring 15 will, of course, be relieved and the spring will act to disconnect the

shafts

5 and 8 so that the rotary distributor 11 will remain stationary during the normal operation of the engine thus relieving this distributor of wear developed during operation of the engine.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a starting air distributor for internal combustion engines, the combination with an engine rotated shaft, of a starting air distributor shaft, means for disengagebly connecting said shafts for unitary rotation, an air distributor disc rotatable with said distributor shaft, means for rotating said disc and distributor shaft, means for mounting said rotary distributor disc to be movable longitudinally under pressure of starting air to establish rotating connection between said engine-rotated shaft and said distributor shaft upon application of engine starting pressure air to said rotary distributing disc, means for disengaging said shafts upon the cutting otf of application of starting air pressure to the distributing disc, a housing enclosing said rotary distributor disc, said housing having an air inlet for starting pressure air opening thereinto tangentially of the circumference of said disc,

and a plurality of arcuate vanes carried by said disc and engaged by said pressure air entering the casing for rotating the disc.

2. In a starting air distributor for internal combustion engines, the combination with a multiple cylinder for internal combustion engines including starting air passages opening into the cylinders and check valves in said passages, and ashaft rotated during rotation of the engine, of a starting air distributor shaft, means for connecting said shafts for unitary rotation, means normally urging said shaft out of connection, an air distributor disc rotatable with said distributor shaft, a housing enclosing said rotary distributor disc and provided with a pressure air receiving space, means for mounting said distributor shaft and said rotary distributor disc to be movable longitudinally under, pressure of air in said 4 space to connect said distributor shaft with said engine rotated shaft, a stationary distributor plate provided with ports and passages corresponding to the respective cylinders of the engine, said rotary distributor disc provided with an air port which is moved successively into communication with the ports in the stationary distributor plate when said shafts are connected for unitary rotation, said housing provided with an inlet for starting pressure air opening thereinto tangentially of the circumference of said disc, and a plurality of arcuate vanes carried by said disc and engaged by pressure air entering the casing for rotating the disc.

3. In a starting air distributor for internal combustion engines, the combination with an engine rotated shaft, of a starting air distributor shaft, means for disengagably connecting said shafts for unitary rotation, an air distributor disc rotatable with said distributor shaft, means for rotating said disc and distributor shaft, means for mounting said rotary distributor disc to be movable longitudinally under pressure of starting air to establish rotating connection between said engine rotated shaft and said distributor shaft upon application of engine starting pressure air to said rotary distributing disc, means for disengaging said shafts upon cutting off of application of starting air pressure to the distributing disc, a stationary distributor plate provided with ports and passages corresponding to the respective cylinders of a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine, said rotary distributor disc provided with an air port which is moved successively into communication with the ports in the stationary distributor when said shafts are connected for unitary rotation, a housing enclosing said distributor disc, said housing having an inlet for starting pressure air opening therei'nto tangentially of the circumference of said disc, and aplurality of arcuate vanes carried by said disc and engaged by pressure air entering the casing for rotating the disc.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an engine-rotated shaft, an air distributor, an axially movable distributor shaft mounted therein, a rotor fixed on said shaft, vane means disposed on said rotor, means for detachably connecting said distributor shaft to said engine shaft for rotation therewith, means normally maintaining said shafts disengaged from one another, means for supplying starting air to said distributor to impinge against said vane means to rotate said distributor shaft and move it axially of the distributor to connect it to said engine shaft for rotation therewith, air passage means in said distributor for passing air there through to said internal combustion engine, said rotor having an air port therein in communication with said air supply means for receiving air therefrom and in communication with said air passage means for discharging starting air therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 857,639 Letombe June 25, 1907 1,336,616 Christensen Apr. 13, 1920 1,835,543 Watts Dec. 8, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 71,639 Austria Apr. 25, 1916