US3080856A - Internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

March 12, 1963 H. J. BERRY 3,

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 94 Q 68 5 l8 6) Q,,35\ as I 7' 44 l 6 O I 85 o o 68 94 54 I4 0 5 I I 32 as O 54. t O

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INVENTOR. HARRY J. BERRY Mam March 12, 1963 H. J. BERIRY 3,08

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 27, 1956 2 SheetsSheet 2 Fig. 9

INVENTOR.

HARRY J. BERRY JGmx 8 116m United States Patent 3,080,856 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Harry J. Bert- 4511 Hamilton St., San Diego, Calif. Filed Feb. 27, 1956, Ser. No. 568,060 3 Claims. (Cl. 123-18) The present invention relates generally to internal combustion engines and more particularly to an engine of the fuel injection type, having arcuate pistons oscillatable in an annular cylinder, and means to convert the oscillatory motion of said pistons into rotary motion of a shaft.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an internal combustion engine of the fuel injection type, having arcuate pistons oscillatable in an annular cylinder, power being transmitted directly to a shaft without the use of a crankshaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine in which means are provided to limit the arcuate travel of the pistons to a predetermined segment of the cylinder.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine in which the travel limiting means also carries means to convert the oscillatory motion of the pistons to rotary motion of the shaft.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine of the character described which requires no valves but is simply provided with exhaust ports, opened and closed by the pistons.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine of the character described in which force of expanding gases in the firing chambers acts on all pistons simultaneously, thereby eliminating the resistive forces met when one piston necessarily motivates one or more temporarily idle pistons, as in conventional engines.

Another object of. this invention is to provide an engine which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide an engine which is practicable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide an engine of the aforementioned character which is simple, safe and convenient to manufacture, operate and maintain and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the device with one half of the casing, a ring gear, and two of the pistons being removed for clear representation of internal portions, the removed pistons being indicated only by dash line.

FIGURE 2. is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the pistons taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 3.

3,080,856 Patented Mar. 12, 1963 and the shaft, drive bearings mounted in said gear contacting the shaft, and shown in driving relationship.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7, and showing the drive bearings in coasting relationship.

FIGURE 9 is a detailed view of the ring gear shown A ber 14 having a toroidal chamber 16 therein. The mem- FIGURE 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG- her 14 is divided into equal halves on a plane normal to the axis thereof, each half being provided with spaced lugs 18 extending radially outward therefrom for bolting the halves rigidly together.

Cover plates 20, 22 having radially extended flanges 24 are fitted into annular seats 26 in the member 14 and bolted thereto, and these cover plates are provided with axial openings, the cover plate 20 having a larger opening to receive a sleeve 40 hereinafter described and the cover plate 22 having a simple bearing for the shaft 32. Each cover plate 20, 22 is further provided with an annular chamber 34 through which a coolant fluid may be circulated for the dissipation of heat generated during operation of the device.

The drive assembly 12 comprises a sleeve 40 keyed to the cover plate 20, as at 52, and extending inwardly, through the opening 28, into a gear chamber 42 defined by the inwardly disposed surfaces of the member 14 and the cover plates 20, 22. Two plates constituting interrupted ring gears 44, 46 are mounted coaxially of said shaft and engage pinion gears 48 pivotally mounted in diametrically opposed relationship on the inwardly disposed end of the sleeve 40.

The teeth 54 of each ring gear 44, 46 are of recessed or internal bevel type and are divided into two segments by diametrically opposed plain faced portions or hearing blocks 58, which are integral parts of the gears 44, 46 and consist merely of portions raised to approximately flush relationship with the annular, flange-like facing surfaces 56 disposed peripherally of the teeth 54 on each ring gear. Each ring gear 44, 46 is further provided with an axial bore 60, 61, allowing free rotation about the shaft 32, the bore 60 in the ring gear 44 being enlarged to accept the sleeve 40.

A peripheral flange 62 extends radially outward from each ring gear 44, 46 to the chamber 16, an annular slot 64 being provided in the member 14 therefor, the outwardly disposed edges of the flanges 62 being arcuately bevelled to conform to the curvature of the chamber 16. Diametrically opposed lugs 66 extending outwardly of the flanges 62 are inclined from true radial disposition and extend into the chamber 16, to engage their respective pistons 68 therein.

Each piston 68 is arcuate to conform to the curvature of the chamber 16, and is provided with a slot '70 for engagement with the corresponding lug 66. Transverse webs 72 extending inwardly of the piston 68 ateach end of the slot 70, are provided with channels 74 which engage the lug 66 and prevent any turning or binding of the piston 68 within the chamber 16. A reinforcing web 76 extends between each web 72 and the adjacent end wall 78 of the piston. Annular channels 80, adjacent each end wall '78 of the pistons 68 provide means for retaining conventional pressure rings 82 thereon.

It now becomes clearly evident that the travel of the pistons 68 is limited by the coac-tion of the ring gears 44, 46 and the pinion gears 48, since thelsleeve 40 on which the gears 48 are mounted is fixed relative to the member 14, and the bearing blocks 58 serve as stops at either end of a piston stroke. Thus, the are through which a piston may move is defined by the arc of travel allowed by the gears 44, 46 and the pinion 48. The annular member 14 is provided with four inlet ports 84 spaced 90 degrees apart and positioned so as to be between the adjacent ends of each pair of pistons at the end of their stroke. Also in the annular member 14 are eight exhaust ports 86 spaced intermediate the inlet ports 84 in such manner that the exhaust ports are uncovered beween the Widely spaced ends of the separated pistons at the end of their stroke. Fuel is injected into the ports 84 by any suitable injection system, such as that type used in a diesel engine, and the fuel is fired by compression ignition between the approaching pistons. The resultant explosion drives the pistons apart so that the alternate pairs of pistons-now approach each other and, as the ends of the pistons pass the exhaust ports 86, the combustion gases are exhausted. Meanwhile two new firing chambers are defined at 90 degrees displacement from those shown, and fuel injection and ignition therein results in return of the pistons to the position as shown in FIGURE 1 and oscillatory motion of the pistons is continued.

If reference now be had to FIGURES 6, 7, and 8, the means by which the oscillatory motion of the pistons is transmitted to the ring gear 44, 46 and converted into rotary motion in the shaft 32 becomes clearly evident. Two intersecting bores 90, 92 having axes co-pla'narwith and parallel to the axis of the'shaft 32 are provided in each bearing block 58 of each ring gear 44, 46. The bores 90 adjacent the shaft 32 are positioned so that clutch rollers 94 inserted therein contact the shaft 32. The outwardly positioned bores 92 are-provided with a raised, flattened portion 96, adjacent the points of intersection with the bores 90, which coact with a flattened portion 98 of rollers 100 therein to limit the rotation thereof. Thus, as the gear 44 starts to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURES 7 and 8, the rollers 94 are caused to roll on the surface of the shaft 32 and begin to rotate clockwise, while their frictional'contact with the rollers 100 causes the latter to rotate counterclockwise, wedging the bearings 94, 100 between the shaft 32 and the bearing blocks 58, and inducing rotation in the shaft 32.

As the gear 44 begins to rotate counterclockwise, the bearings 94, 109 also reverse rotation, bringing the diettened portion 98 over the bearing 94, allowing .fre'e rotation of the latter. Slots 102 provided in the sleeve 40 allow the bearings 94 in the gear 46 to contact the shaft 32. It will be noted that as gear 44 moves counterclockwise, gear 46 moves clockwise, engaging bearings 94, 100 therein with the shaft. Thus, it can now be clearly seen one-half of the pistons are always in driving relation to the shaft and that the oscillatory motion of the pistons is converted into continuous rotary motionof the shaft.

It is noteworthy that a plurality of engines as hereinbefore described may be mounetd on a single shaft without the use of intermediate gearing or transmission connections as presently required. All the engines on the shaft 30 transmit power thereto and, in the event that one engine becomes inoperative, no increased resistance is encountered, since the inoperative engine becomes merely a bearing on the shaft.

Another very important feature of this invention is that an engine may be readily installed on a rotating shaft 32, the bearings 94 in the gear 46 being held in place by any convenient means until contact is made with the shaft 39, then the engine may be moved to the desired location on the shaft 32, and secured to any type of mounting frame desired. After installment is completed, the engine is started and brought up to synchronization with other'engines on the shaft 32, thereby adding to the power transmitted to the shaft.

An annular sealing ring 164 and packing rings 166 prevent the escape of presure load from the chambers 83, the member 14, and the gears 44, 46 being provided with channels to receive the said rings 194, 106.

Since no compression stroke is required in the instant invention, no mechanical valves are necessary for the exhaust of gases with in the chambers 38, the exhaust ports 86 being simply located so as to be uncovered behind the pistons 68 slightly before the pistons 68 reach the next injection position, thus allowing the burnt gases to esca e.

lhe operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a considerataion of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It willbe obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising: a housing; a shaft rotatably mounted in said housing; a toroidal cylinder within said housing and encircling said shaft; opposing pairs of arcuate pistons mounted within said cylinder for oscillatory movement; a pair of similar, generally annular members, each engaging one of each pair of pistons to oscillate therewith about said shaft; clutch means providing driving connection between said members and said shaft While the members are individually moving in the direction said shaft is to be driven; said members being in confronting relation and having corresponding ring gear teeth on diametrically opposed portions of the confronting faces thereof; a pair of pinions mounted for free rotation on fixed journals on opposite sides of said shaft and in constant mesh with said teeth and interconnecting said members for equal and opposite movement thereof; and fuel inlets and exhaust outlets for said cylinder adjacent the positions of the ends of the pistons at their limits of travel; and means for injecting fuel between each approaching pair of pistons, such that each oscillation of the pistons includes two firing strokes.

2. An engine according to claim 1 wherein said clutch means comprises a pair of rollers mounted in longitudinally interconnecting bores in each of said members and the confronting portions of structure fixed in relation to said cylinder, one roller of each pair of rollers and the coresponding bore having flats allowing rotation of each roller in one direction only.

3. An engine according to claim 1 and including a sleeve coaxial with said shaft and fixed in relation to said cylinder; said sleeve comprising a journal for one of said members and comprising support means for said journals of the pinions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,094,794 Kemper et al Apr. 28, 1914 1,352,127 Henderson Sept. 7, 1920 1,644,564 Bullington Oct. 4, 1927 1,917,180 Zwick July 4, 1933 2,157,764 Langrognet May 9, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 525,354 Germany May 22, 1931 2,402 Australia June 2, 1931 619,995 Great Britain Mar. 17, 1949 455,760 Italy Mar. 13. 1950

Claims (1)

1. AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE COMPRISING: A HOUSING; A SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING; A TOROIDAL CYLINDER WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND ENCIRCLING SAID SHAFT; OPPOSING PAIRS OF ARCUATE PISTONS MOUNTED WITHIN SAID CYLINDER FOR OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT; A PAIR OF SIMILAR, GENERALLY ANNULAR MEMBERS, EACH ENGAGING ONE OF EACH PAIR OF PISTONS TO OSCILLATE THEREWITH ABOUT SAID SHAFT; CLUTCH MEANS PROVIDING DRIVING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID MEMBERS AND SAID SHAFT WHILE THE MEMBERS ARE INDIVIDUALLY MOVING IN THE DIRECTION SAID SHAFT IS TO BE DRIVEN; SAID MEMBERS BEING IN CONFRONTING RELATION AND HAVING CORRESPONDING RING GEAR TEETH ON DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED PORTIONS OF THE CONFRONTING FACES THEREOF; A PAIR OF PINIONS MOUNTED FOR FREE ROTATION ON FIXED JOURNALS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID SHAFT AND IN CONSTANT MESH WITH SAID TEETH AND INTERCONNECTING SAID MEMBERS FOR EQUAL AND OPPOSITE MOVEMENT THEREOF; AND FUEL INLETS AND EXHAUST OUTLETS FOR SAID CYLINDER ADJACENT THE POSITIONS OF THE ENDS OF THE PISTONS AT THEIR LIMITS OF TRAVEL; AND MEANS FOR INJECTING FUEL BETWEEN EACH APPROACHING PAIR OF PISTONS, SUCH THAT EACH OSCILLATION OF THE PISTONS INCLUDES TWO FIRING STROKES.

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