US3138145A

US3138145A - guild

Info

Publication number: US3138145A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 1981-06-23

Description

June 23, 1964 .1. R. GUILD 3,138,145

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Nov. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q6( INVENTOR.

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June 23, 1964 J. R. GUILD 3,138,145

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Nov. 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5E; 76 /0 |l h, 35 f; 50 A !!I!!- i Q!!! a a m 3/ 7f 3 9 33 J7 0 IN VENTOR United States Patent 3,138,145 ENTERNAL CQWUSTEQN ENGHNE .Fohnithanli. Guiid, at sea Seamens Union, Rincon Annex Post (Mice, San Francisco, (Ialif) Filed Nov. 9, 15362, Ser. No. 236,654-

Claims. (Ci. 123-51) My present invention relates to internal combustion engines and more particularly to the construction and arrangement of parts in a so-callcd cam type engine with opposed pistons.

The engine to which the present invention relates consists of a cylindrical bank of combustion cylinders with opposed reciprocating pistons, in combination with a shaft mounted rotary drum having opposed cam surfaces mounted in relation to the engine cylinders to present suitably inclined faces thereon that are operated upon by the opposed reciprocating pistons to translate the reciprocating movement of the pistons into a rotary movement of the rotary drum and its supporting shaft. This type of engine has certain advantages in the number of operating parts, more power to weight, and compactness in size, etc.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an internal combustion engine having opposed pistons operating in a plurality of circumferentially disposed cylinders of the diesel type with piston controlled scavenging ports and operating through lever means on a centrally disposed shaft supported drum having opposing camming surfaces by which longitudinal forces produced by said pistons are converted into rotary motion of the supporting shaft.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an engine of the above character which may be quickly and readily taken apart or assembled and in which the repair and overhauling cost is greatly reduced over that encountered in engines now available.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drum type cam engine having a novel and improved arrangement in a cylindrical bank of combustion cylinders disposed parallel with the drive shaft and having an improved drive connection between the drive shaft and piston operating in said cylinders. I

Still another object of .the invention is to provide a cam type internal combustion engine wherein the number and mass of parts characteristic of this type of engine are further reduced and the construction generally improved and strengthened to provide a smoother running and a more efiicieut engine.

A still further and more general object of the invention is to provide an opposed piston, cam type engine ofthe character above described that is simple in construction and highly efficient in operation and which is so designed and constructed as to expedite and render more convenient'the assembly and disassembly of the parts for the purposes of inspection and servicing.

The invention possesses other objects and features ofadvantages, some of which, with the foregoing, will be evident to those skilled in the art and in part set forth in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification.

In the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE l is'a sectionalview of a preferred embodiment of my invention taken along the'angular section in dicating line 1-1 of FIGURE 2 and looking in direction of arrows,

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the device as shown in FIGURE 1 with the protective end shields removed,

FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram for illustrating the relative operating positions of the pistons during the course of a single revolution,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectionalized View taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 5, and

FIGURE 5 is a similar fragmentary side view ofthe details shown in FIGURE 4.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, where in FIGURES l and 2, my proposed engine comprises an ports 19 and 20 are so located adjacent the ends of the combustion chambers" 14 that they will be exposed when the'pistons'15 and 16 are in their outermost positions and closed when the pistons 15 andl are in their innermost positions. Thepurpose of the manifold 17 is to conduct air under pressure to the combustion chamber 14 for scavenging purposes which exhausts through the manifold 18 when the valve ports 19 and 20 are exposed as illustrated in the upper chamber of FIGURE 1. The compressed airenters at the port 1% and is discharging through the port 20 and into themanifold 18.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the compressed air is con ducted to the manifold 17 through a supply pipe 21 and the scavengingair and exhaust is conducted from the manifold 18 through a conduit 22. At this point it will be noted that the cylinder block 10 has cored out water circulating cavities 23 that operate in the conventional manner to prevent overheating. In this showing the cooling water is introduced through pipe 37 and is discharged through a pipe 38. Centrally of the combustion chamber 14 there is a fuel injection valve 24 that operates in timed relation with the movements of the

pistons

15 and 16 to inject diesel fuel into the chamber 14 in accordance with standard practice for diesel engines.

The shaft 13 is supported centrally for rotation within the cylindrical opening 11 of the cylinder block 10 by spider-like brackets 25 which are bolted or otherwise secured to opposite ends of the cylinder block and carry bearings 26 through which the shaft 13 extends. The spider-like brackets 25 have circumferentially spaced openings in alignment with the combustion chambers 14 of the cylinder block 10 with spaced cars 27 between slidable cam engaging members 31) by means of links 31. As will be hereinafter pointed out in more detail the cam engaging members 34 are slidably mounted in T-slots 32 that form circumferentially spaced 'guideways in parallel alignment with each of the combustion chambers 14. With this arrangement it will be readily seen that as the

pistons

15 and 16 reciprocate in the'combustionchambers 14, the rocker arms 28 will impart a comparable reciprocating movement to the cam engaging members '30. The rotatable cam 12 is of cylindrical form with its ends of circular wave-like configuration. In this showing the cam 12 has four nodes at each end that are defined by a con tinuous inwardly extending lip 33 which as will be hereinafter pointed out, forms a drawing connection with the cam engaging members .36? which move withv an opposed 3,138,145 Patented June 23, 1964 i their horizontal cross-section and at their upper ends each have oppositely extending key portions 34 that are slidably mounted in grooves 35 along each side of the guideways 32 referred to above as formed in the engine cylinder block 10. At their lower ends and substantially in alignment with the links 31, by which motion is imparted thereto, these cam engaging members 30 have a recess 36 into which the ilps 33 at each end of the cam 12 extend and in this manner there is formed a driving connection or interlock between the cam engaging members 30 and the cam 12.

For a description of the mode of operation, reference is now made to FIGURE 3 of the drawing, wherein the circumference of the rotatable cam 12 is shown as spread out or developed to indicate the relative positions of the opposed nodes of the cam track, as provided by the lips 33, with respect to the operating positions of the several pistons. In this showing the cam 12 would appear to be on dead center but the timing of the firings in the combustion chamber 14 will be such that the driving force exerted by the

pistons

15 and 16 will occur slightly over or beyond dead center. In this manner the power stroke of the driving pistons will be on an inclined side of the node that will produce the desired direction of rotation. As the

alternate driving pistons

15 and 16 thus operate to rotate the cam 12 the intermediate or

alternate pistons

15 and 16 will move in a reverse direction to compress air for a subsequent firing. In addition to timing the firings in the combustion chambers 14, which firings will occur when the

opposed pistons

15 and 16 are in their innermost position as shown in the lower part of FIGURE 1. Then following the power stroke thus produced, the

alternate pistons

15 and 16 will open the ports 19 and 20 as they reach the outer ends of their stroke with the result that compressed air will be introduced from the manifold 17 scavenge the combustion chamber 14 and the burned gasses will be exhausted into the manifold 18. T o complete the assembly the motor is shown as provided with end shields 39 that encompass and enclose the open end of the cylinders 14 and the rocker arms 28 to provide against the admission of foreign matter into the engine when in operation.

While an eight-cylinder engine has been shown and described, it will be understood that any desired number of cylinders may be employed. It will also be understood that the form of invention selected for illustration and description is to be considered a preferred form and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- I. In an opposed piston and cam type internal combustion engine operating on the diesel principle, the combination of an annular cylinder block having a plurality of open ended combustion chambers spaced circumferentially about its central axis, a shaft supporting spider at each end of said cylinder block having bearings for a centrally located shaft, pistons operating in opposed relation in each of said open ended combustion chambers, rocker arms pivotally mounted upon each of said shaft supporting spiders, piston rods extending from each of said pistons to one end of each of said rocker arms, said cylinder block also having guideways extending in inwardly spaced parallel relation with the axis of each of said open ended combustion chambers, cam engaging means having a lip accommodating recess slidably mounted in each of said guideways, connecting links between each of said cam engaging means connected to the other end of said rocker arms, whereby said cam engaging means will be moved along said guideways in opposed reciprocating relationship as said pistons reciprocate within said combustion chambers, a cam supporting shaft mounted for rotation in the bearings carried by said shaft supporting spiders, and a single cylindrical cam carried by said shaft having equally spaced oppositely extending nodes at its ends, characterized by the fact that said nodes have an inwardly projecting lip extending along each end of said cam which extends into the lip accommodating recesses of said cam engaging means, whereby upon alternate firings the pistons in the successive circumferentially spaced combustion chambers will be positively connected to said cam as they reciprocate to impart rotary movement to said shaft.

, 2. In an opposed piston and cam type internal combustion engine operating on the diesel principle, the combination of an annular cylinder block having eight open ended combustion chambers spaced circumferentially about its central axis, a shaft supporting spider at each end of said cylinder block having bearings for a centrally located shaft, pistons operating in opposed relation in each of said open ended combustion chambers, rocker arms pivotally mounted upon each of said shaft supporting spiders, piston rods extending from each of said pistons to the outer end of said rocker arms, said cylinder block also having T-slots forming guideways extending in spaced parallel relation with the axis of each of said open ended combustion chambers, cam engaging means having a lip accommodating recess slidably mounted in each of said T-slots, connecting links between each of said cam engaging means connected to the inner ends of said rocker arms, whereby said engaging means will be moved along said T-slots in opposed reciprocating relationship as said pistons reciprocate within said combustion chambers, a cam supporting shaft mounted for rotation in the bearings carried by said spiders, and a cylindrical cam carried by said shaft having four equally spaced oppositely extending nodes at its ends, characterized by the fact that the nodes of said cam are formed with inwardly extending lips along each end of said cam which extend into the lip accommodating recesses of said cam engaging means, whereby upon alternate firings in the successive circumferentially spaced combustion chambers the pistons will be connected in push-pull relationship with said cam as they operate to impart rotary movement to said shaft.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the number of nodes in the wave-like cam surface formed by extending lips is equal to one-half the number of combustion chambers arranged therearound, whereby successive firings in alternate combustion chambers of the engine block will simultaneously exert a driving force at correspondingly different radial points upon the cam supporting shaft.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the nodes in the wave-like cam surface formed by the extending lips are equally spaced about the perimeter of the cam and are arranged to coincide with the alternate pistons, whereby a driving force will be simultaneously exerted at different equally spaced radial points about the axis of rotation of the shaft.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the cam-like surface formed by the extending lips carried on the cam extend from both ends thereof in axial alignment, whereby driving forces exerted thereupon by operation of the opposed pistons will be applied in opposite directions and of equal magnitude, whereby axial thrust upon the cam supporting shaft is avoided.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,767,589 Redrup et a1 Oct. 23, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 264,893 Great Britain Ian. 26, 1927 305,387 Great Britain Feb. 7, 1929

Claims

1. IN AN OPPOSED PISTON AND CAM TYPE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE OPERATING ON THE DIESEL PRINCIPLE, THE COMBINATION OF AN ANNULAR CYLINDER BLOCK HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPEN ENDED COMBUSTION CHAMBERS SPACED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ABOUT ITS CENTRAL AXIS, A SHAFT SUPPORTING SPIDER AT EACH END OF SAID CYLINDER BLOCK HAVING BEARINGS FOR A CENTRALLY LOCATED SHAFT, PISTONS OPERATING IN OPPOSED RELATION IN EACH OF SAID OPEN ENDED COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, ROCKER ARMS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED UPON EACH OF SAID SHAFT SUPPORTING SPIDERS, PISTON RODS EXTENDING FROM EACH OF SAID PISTONS TO ONE END OF EACH OF SAID ROCKER ARMS, SAID CYLINDER BLOCK ALSO HAVING GUIDEWAYS EXTENDING IN INWARDLY SPACED PARALLEL RELATION WITH THE AXIS OF EACH OF SAID OPEN ENDED COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, CAM ENGAGING MEANS HAVING A LIP ACCOMMODATING RECESS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN EACH OF SAID GUIDEWAYS, CONNECTING LINKS BETWEEN EACH OF SAID CAM ENGAGING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ROCKER ARMS, WHEREBY SAID CAM ENGAGING MEANS WILL BE MOVED ALONG SAID GUIDEWAYS IN OPPOSED RECIPROCATING RELATIONSHIP AS SAID PISTONS RECIPROCATE WITHIN SAID COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, A CAM SUPPORTING SHAFT MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN THE BEARINGS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT SUPPORTING SPIDERS, AND A SINGLE CYLINDRICAL CAM CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT HAVING EQUALLY SPACED OPPOSITELY EXTENDING NODES AT ITS ENDS, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT SAID NODES HAVE AN INWARDLY PROJECTING LIP EXTENDING ALONG EACH END OF SAID CAM WHICH EXTENDS INTO THE LIP ACCOMMODATING RECESSES OF SAID CAM ENGAGING MEANS, WHEREBY UPON ALTERNATE FIRINGS THE PISTONS IN THE SUCCESSIVE CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED COMBUSTION CHAMBERS WILL BE POSITIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CAM AS THEY RECIPROCATE TO IMPART ROTARY MOVEMENT TO SAID SHAFT.