US3190270A

US3190270A - Internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: US3190270A
Application number: US216367A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frederick R Peterson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-13
Filing date: 1962-08-13
Publication date: 1965-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-22

Description

June 22, 1965 F. R. PETERSON 3,190,270

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 13, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

Frederick RrPeferson BY%L% 2W AHYs.

June 22, 1965 F. R. PETERSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13, 1962 INVENTOR. Frederic k R Pefersofl BYfl Arms.

June 22, 1965 F. R. PETERSON 3,190,270

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 15, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Frederick P. Peferson BZVW kw AHY5.

u 1955 F. R. PETERSON 3, 7

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 13, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 67 E 10 69 68 A 79 I f ll 4 7O 76 /2 H 1N VENTOR.

Frederick R Peferson Arrrs.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 15, 1962 mvmon. Frederick R. Pclerson BY QM F/W' .Afrrs.

June 22, 1965 F. R. PETERSON 3,190,270

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 13, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. fieo'en'c/r R Pefersou BY Ma 1% Oflys.

3,190,270 INTERNAL CUMBUSTIGN ENGINE Frederick R. Peterson, W. 1414 Maiion, Spokane, Wash. Filed Aug. 13, I962, Ser. No. 216,367 9 Claims. (Cl. 123-18} My invention is directed to an improved twin cycle internal combustion engine. One purpose of my invention is to provide such an engine wherein two pistons are connected together to rock as one unit about a central axis and cooperate with a cylinder to fire alternately and use the power stroke of one piston to effect the exhaust stroke of the other piston and at the same time, to mix and compress the next fuel charge for the first piston.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a two piston-cylinder construction wherein the two pistons oscillate within the cylinder on the axis of the cylinder and the flow of the explosive fuel-air mixture to the explosion chamber is through end plates that close the ends of the cylinder.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide an engine having the characteristics referred to in the preceding paragraph with means whereby the explosion stroke compresses the next fuel-air charge, and the piston is so shaped as to direct the charge into the explosion chamber away from the exhaust parts so the explosion chamber is efficiently cleared of spent gas with a minimum loss of unburned fuel.

The purposes and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description and the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred form of the invention. The drawings and description are illustrative only, however, and are not intended to limit the invention except insofar as it is limited by the claim.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an end view of the engine;

FIGURE 2 is an end view similar to FIGURE 1, but looking at the other end of the engine with parts of the housing broken away;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the engine cylinder and base only, with the nearest end plate removed, the direction of the view being the same as in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a plan sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of FIGURE 4 with parts removed;

FIGURE 6 is an interior face View of one end plate of the cylinder;

FIGURE 7 is an interior face view of the other end plate of the cylinder;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view on the line 8-3 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken subtantially along the line 99 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the details of the sealing means used; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line lll1l of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings, my engine embodies a casing or cylinder 1 with a base 2 that bolts to a base frame 3. An oil pan 4 is bolted to the frame 3. The casing 1 has a cylindrical inner surface and is closed at its ends by

end plates

5 and 6 that will be described more in detail later. A piston unit comprises a hollow shaft 7 and two

pistons

8 and 9. One end of the shaft 7 is journalled in the end plate 5 and the other end thereof extends through the end plate 6. A drive arm 10 is fixed to the projecting portion 7a of the shaft 7. The arm 10 has its outer end pivotally connected to a connecting rod 11 which extends to the offset portion 12 of a crank shaft United States Patent 0 M v 3,196,270 Patented June 22, 1965 14. The shaft '7 is rocked to and fro as will be later explained and the arm 10 is of such length that the rocking stroke of the arm It) in one direction will turn the crank shaft 14 a half turn. The crank shaft 14 has a drive gear 13 thereon driving a distributor shaft 15 for the distributor 16. The crank shaft also has cam means 17 for actuating push rods 13 and 19 that open two fuel inlet valves 30.

A top block 20 and a bottom block 21 are fitted within the cylinder. The block 20 has its corners recessed at 22 and 23 to form two pockets. Two

spark plugs

24 and 25 are mounted in the cylinder 1 to project into these pockets.

Fuel as a combustible gas is obtained in any conventional manner, such as by mixing air and gasoline from a carburetor C. This fuel is introduced from a fuel inlet manifold 26 in the lower block 21 to two

valve units

27 and 22%. The valve units are mirror images of each other. Each unit comprises a shell 29 that is fastened to the block 21. Opposite the block 21 this shell has a valve seat 31 for a valve 3%. This valve has a stem 32 extending into the shell through a spring 33 and against one of the

push rods

18 or 19, which are slidably mounted in the block 21. The stem 32 has a spring cup 34 at its lower end so that the spring 33 keeps the valve 3% closed except when it is raised by the push rod.

The

piston

8 and 9 are provided with recesses 8a and into which the

valve units

27 and 28 project when the pistons are in their lowermost positions. For access to the springs 33 each shell 29 has one side 29a removable.

The end plate 5 has a chamber 50 therein which opens into the space between the block 21 and the piston 3 through passages 35 in the inner wall of the plate 5. This Wall also has outlet passages 36 that open into the space 81) above the piston 8 when the piston 8 is in its lower position. The end plate 5 has a chamber 5b similar to the chamber 521. The chamber 512 opens into the space between the block 21 and the piston 9 through the passages 37. There are outlet passages 38 that open from the chamber 5b into the space 91) above the piston 9 when this piston is in its lowermost position.

Each of the

valve units

27 and 28 has its valve 31) raised when the

respective piston

8 or 9 is moving upward so that a charge of fuel is drawn into the recess 8a or 9:1 as the piston having that recess moves up Then before the piston moves down, the corresponding valve 30 closes so that the fuel charges just drawn in is compressed as the piston moves down. There will be some residual fuel left in the space around the valve units and in the chambers 5a and 5b when the

passages

36 and 33 are closed by upward movement of the

respective pistons

8 and 9. This residual fuel is mixed with the next charge drawn in. Thus good mixing and preheating of the fuel charge is obtained.

The end plate 6 has exhaust ports 40 therein which open from the firing chamber or space 8b into a passage 41 in the plate 6. This passage 41 leads to the periphery of the plate 6 where an exhaust gas tube 42 is attached. The plate 61 also has exhaust ports 43 which open from the firing chamber 9b into a passage 44 in the plate 6. This passage 44- leads to the periphery of the plate 6 Where another exhaust gas tube 45 is attached. The

exhaust tubes

42 and 45 are joined to provide one exhaust gas outlet pipe 64 for the engine. This outlet pipe 46 may lead to a conventional muffler (not shown) if desired. The end plate 6 also has a passage 60 formed therein leading from the carburetor pipe P to the intake manifold 26.

The sequence of operation is briefly as follows: Initial operation is begun by rotating the crank shaft 14 to cause the rock shaft 7 to move the

pistons

8 and 9 to and fro. Initially this causes the pistons alternately to draw in charges of fuel gas through their associated valve units and then to compress these charges and force them into the

respective firing chambers

8b and 9b and finally to As each piston travels down, it first uncovers its

exhaust ports

40 and 43 and then uncovers its fuel charge passages :36 or 38 so that the compressed fuelcharge can flow into the firing chambers and pushthe exhaust gases out. To facilitate this action I provide

ribs

47 and 48 on the topso-f the

pistons

8 and 9 to deflect the incoming gaseous fuel upward and keep it from flowing.

directly across the firing chamber to the

exhaust ports

40 and 43. The faces of-the block are recessed to receive the

ribs

47 and 48. r i

The

pistons

8 and 9 are on a common hub "49 that is aflixed to the shaft 7. Sealing around the

pistons

8 and 9 and their hub49 is accomplished by four sealing strips 50in the outer face'of each piston and springs 51 beneath. if the strips (see FIG. 10). These strips are pressed against the inner face of the cylinder. Similar strips 52 backed by springs 53 are interposed between the

end plates

5 and 6 and the side faces of. the pistons 8 "and 9. The

blocks

20 and 21 also carrysealing strips 54, 55 and,

56. Because ofthe scale the springs backing up the'strips p are not shown in the' main figures. However, the construction in the case of each of the .strips 50, 52, 54, 55 and 56 is that shown in FIGURE 10. With this arrangement shown it is possible to force lubricant through a suitable aperture .57 in the end plate Sand a similar 1 aperture 58 in the end plate 6 and through similar apertures not shown in the

blocks

20 and 21 to lubricate the bearing surfaces between the pistons and the stationary seals, this gas is arrested and forced back into the combustion chamber and kept out of the crankcase.

My invention provides a two cycle type of internal combustion engine with the following advantages:

(1) A push and a pull on the connecting rod due to the fact that alternate firing depresses first one piston With my engine construction I obtain easy accessibility to all the parts. Removal of the end plate 5 provides access to all the chambers and the valves so they may be inspected. The valve units can be replaced in their entirety with ease. Each piston is moved down by explosion above it and is returned byforce transmitted through the hub 49 from the other piston. Where direct drive rocking motion is desired it-canbe obtained from the shaft 7.

I prefer to air cool the engine. For this purpose the.

blocks 20 and 2*1'are hollow so air can flow through them. -A shell 57 is mounted about the cylinder and secured thereto by screws 58 in bosses 59 on the cylinder 1. A fan 60 is mounted in spaced relation to the end plate 5 and coaxial with the shaft 7. This fan is driven by pulleys 61 and 62 and a belt 63. A conventional generator 64 is also driven by a pulley 65 and the belt 63. The pulley 61 is on the crank shaft 14.

The shaft portion 7a is supported by an internal bearing 66 on an end wall'67 at the back end of the base 2. The end wall 67, two

curved side walls

68 and 69 and a partition wall 70 adjacent to the end plate 6, form a crank shaft well which has a removable cover 71. The hollow shaft 7 is thus supported internally by the bearing 66 and the drive arm 10 is clamped'on the outside of the shaft 7 in such a way as to cut down the necessary overall length of the shaft 7.; The hollow shaft-7 also serves to receive the bear-ing 72 for the shaft 73 of the fan 66, the bearing 72havinga flange 74 that bolts to the end plate 5. The partition wall 70 is clamped tothe end plate 6 by a threaded portion 75 on the plate 6 and a nut 76. a r

It is believed that the nature of my invention will be clear from the foregoing description and the drawings.

Having'described my invention, I claim:

1.' In an internal combustion engine:

a rock shaft having fixed thereon piston members projecting outwardly from the shaft and away from each other;

a casing surrounding the pistons and providing chambers in whiclrthe pistons oscillate about the axis of the shaft; a

a valvedi-ntake passage into each chamber below its piston for admitting gas for combustion;

a device in each chamber above each piston for igniting a gaseous fuel charge therein;

said casing having by-passes therein for conducting gas admitted below each piston around the piston into the respective chamber above the piston when the piston isat the low point of its oscillation in the chamber;

said casing having exhaust passages therein for conducting the gases of combustion out of the chambers; and

each valved intake passage being through a valve seat unit that projects into the respective chamber, the pistons being recessed intheir lower faces-to receive the valve seat units.

2. In an internal combustion engine:

a rock shaft having fixed thereon piston members projecting outwardly from the shaft and away from each other; i 7

a casing surrounding the pistons and providing chambers in which the. pistons oscillate aboutthe axis of the shaft; a valved intake passage into each chamber below its d piston for admitting. gas for combustion; a device in each chamber above each piston for igniting a gaseous fuelcharge therein; said casing having .by-passes therein for conducting gas admitted below each piston around the piston into the respective chamber above the piston when the piston is at the low point of its oscillation in the chamber; p a said casing having exhaust passages therein for conducting the gases of combustion out of the chambers; and said casing comprising a shell encircling said shaft and 'a pair of end plates closing the shell and having bearings therein for said shaft, said by-passes being in one of the end platesand the exhaust passages being in the other end plate. "3.1m an internal combustion engine:

a rock shafth-aving fixed thereon a pair of oppositely directed piston members projecting radially from the shaft; I V d a casing surrounding the pistons and having upper and lower partitionmeans dividing-the space between the shaft and said casing into quadrant shaped chambers .in which the pistons oscillate about the axis of the shaft; i a valve unit in the lower portionof each chamber rineluding a spring closed valve; Q

push rods extending through the lower partition means for opening said valves;

said casing having by-pass passages therein for conducting gas from below the pistons into the chambers above the pistons when the pistons are in their lowermost positions in their respective chambers;

said casing also having exhaust passages opening from the chambers outward at a level to be uncovered in the downward movement of the respective piston just prior to its reaching its lowermost position;

the outlets of the by-pass passages being on the opposite side of the chamber from the exhaust passages.

4. The device defined in claim 3 wherein the pistons have on their upper faces deflections operable to deflect the incoming gases upwardly whereby to force exhaust gases in the upper parts of the chambers down toward the exhaust passages.

5. The device defined in claim 3 wherein the pistons have grooves along their side faces and outer faces and spring-backed sealing bars are seated in said grooves and bear against the chamber walls.

6. The device defined in claim 3 wherein the casing is a shell having -a cylindrical interior surface, and a pair of end plates closing the ends of the shell and having bearings therein for said shaft;

and the partion means comprises blocks removably secured to the shell and the end plates and carrying the valve units.

'7. The device defined in claim 3 wherein each valve unit projects into the respective chamber and wherein the pistons are recessed in their lower faces to receive the valve units.

8. In an internal combustion engine:

shaft means having fixed thereon piston members projecting outwardly from the shaft and away from each other;

a casing surrounding the pistons and dividing chambers within which thep istons oscillate about the axis of said shaft means;

a valved intake passage into each chamber below its piston for admitting gas for combustion, said valved intake passage being through a valve seat unit that projects into the respective chamber, the pistons being recessed in their lower faces to receive the valve seat units;

means in each chamber above each piston adapted to ignite a gaseous fuel charge therein;

said casing having bypasses therein selectively opened and sealed by the position of each piston relative to the casing, said bypasses being adapted to intermittently conduct gas from below each piston into the respective chamber above the piston;

said casing having exhaust passages therein for conducting the gases of combustion from the chambers above said pistons after ignition.

9. The device defined in claim 8 wherein the exterior walls of said valve seat unit are complementary to the interior recess of the piston within which it is received so as to allow gases admitted through said valve seat unit to be compressed by downward movement of the piston over the valve seat unit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 902,450 10/08 Remick 12318 988,704 4/11 Goodrich 123-18 1,037,094 8/12 Williams 12318 1,069,936 8/13 Frank 12318 FOREIGN PATENTS 456,808 3/36 Great Britain. 1,241,862 8/59 France.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE: A ROCK SHAFT HAVING FIXED THEREON PISTON MEMBERS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE SHAFT AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER; A CASING SURROUNDING THE PISTONS AND PROVIDING CHAMBERS IN WHICH THE PISTONS OSCILLATE ABOUT THE AXIS OF THE SHAFT; A VALVED INTAKE PASSAGE INTO EACH CHAMBER BELOW ITS PISTON FOR ADMITTING GAS FOR COMBUSTION; A DEVICE IN EACH CHAMBER ABOVE EACH PISTON FOR IGNITING A GASEOUS FUEL CHARGE THEREIN; SAID CASING HAVING BY-PASSES THEREIN FOR CONDUCTING GAS ADMITTED BELOW EACH PISTON AROUND THE PISTON INTO THE RESPECTIVE CHAMBER ABOVE THE PISTON WHEN