US3756754A - Apex seal for rotary piston engine - Google Patents
Apex seal for rotary piston engine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3756754A US3756754A US00191287A US3756754DA US3756754A US 3756754 A US3756754 A US 3756754A US 00191287 A US00191287 A US 00191287A US 3756754D A US3756754D A US 3756754DA US 3756754 A US3756754 A US 3756754A
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- apex seal
- main body
- oxidized layer
- apex
- magnesium
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01C—ROTARY-PISTON OR OSCILLATING-PISTON MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01C19/00—Sealing arrangements in rotary-piston machines or engines
- F01C19/005—Structure and composition of sealing elements such as sealing strips, sealing rings and the like; Coating of these elements
Definitions
- An apex seal for rotary piston engine has the main body of the apex seal made of a light metal selected from the group of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy with an oxidized layer of more than 10 microns in thickness fonned by anodic treatment on at least the sliding surface of the main body, and a heat resistant resinimpregnating the oxidized layer.
- Apex seals are mounted on the apex portions of the V rotor for ensuring fluid-tightness while the rotor rotates inside the center housing of a multi-circular configuration with the apex seal contacting the inner surface of the center housing.
- the apex seal is heavily depressed onto the inner surface of the center housing not only by a number of springs provided between the rear side of the apex seal and the apex portion of the rotor, but also by the centrifugal force caused by the mass of the apex seal, gas pressure caused by the operational fluid, and
- the frictional force due tothe centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotor, which appears between the apex seal and the inner surface of the center housing, is increased in proportion to as in the wear resistivity, and an apex seal satisfying all of these requirements is yet tobe found.
- the primary object of the present invention is to provide an apex seal which can satisfy all of the above described requirements.
- apex seal which comprises a main apex seal body made.
- FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary piston engine equipped with the apex seal according to the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an apex seal constituting an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;
- FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apex seal which constitutes still another embodiment of the invention.
- a rotary engine comprising a center housing 1 having an internal surface in the form of a multi-circular configuration, side housings 2, 2, a rotor 3 which rotates eccentrically within the center housing 1, a groove 4 providecl in each apex portion of the rotor 3 projected adjacent to the internal surface of the center housing 1, an apex seal 5 insertedin the groove 4 so that the seal 5 can be freelymoved inside of the groove 4, and a number of springs 6 provided on the rear side of the apex seal 5' for urging the slidable surfaceSl of the apex seal 5 onto the internal surface 1' of the center housing 1.
- theapexseal 5 is made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, ormagnesium alloy, so that the mass of the apex seal is much reduced despite its high mechanical strength.
- the apex seal made of aluminum, magnesium, or their alloys has a shortcoming of inferior wear resistivity, and for overcoming the shortcoming, an oxidized layer 7 is formed over the sliding "surface 51 of Q the apex seal 5, which otherwise may be easily worn out, and also on the side surface 52", 52 of the apex seal throughan anodic treatment.
- the thickness of theoxidized layer 7. is selected tobe more than 10 microns.
- the oxidized layer 7 is impregnated by a heat resistant resin such as fluoric resin or silicone resin.
- the sliding surface Sland the end surfaces'52, 52 may be provided-with a number of grooves 9 as shown in FIG. 4, and a wear resistant material 10 such as iron nitride'or tungsten may fill the grooves' 9.
- a wear resistant material 10 such as iron nitride'or tungsten
- the shape, orientation, and the number of the grooves 9 may be selected to adapt the type and operation of the rotary engine.
- rectilinear grooves 9 may be cut along the length of the apex seal as shown in FIG. 5,.and a wear resistant material 10' which/is similar to the material 10 may fill the inside- 0f the grooves.
- the sliding surface SI and the end surfaces 52, 52 of the apex seal may be provided with an heat resistant synthetic resin 8, and a, number of oxidized layer 7 of more than 10 microns in thickness, the oxidized layer 7 being further impregnated with a I grooves 9 may then be provided at least on thesliding surface 51 of the apex seal asjshown in FIG/6.
- a wear resistant material 10 similar to those employed in FIGS. 4and 5 is placed.
- the mass of the apex seal of this invention is very small as it is made of aluminum, magnesium, or their alloys, and the mechanical strength thereof is also very high. Furthermore, on the easily wearable sliding surface and the end surfaces of the apex seal, an oxidized layer is formed by way of anodic treatment, which is thereafter impregnated by a heat resistant resin. For this reason, the resultant apex seal is ensured to have superior wear resistivity, selflubricating nature, and initial affinity.
- An apex seal for a rotary engine comprising:
- an apex seal main body made of a light metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy,
- An apex seal for a rotary engine comprising:
- an apex seal main body made of a light metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy,
- an oxidized layer of more than 10 microns in thickness formed by anodic treatment on at least the sliding surface of the main body
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Pistons, Piston Rings, And Cylinders (AREA)
- Sealing Devices (AREA)
Abstract
An apex seal for rotary piston engine has the main body of the apex seal made of a light metal selected from the group of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy with an oxidized layer of more than 10 microns in thickness formed by anodic treatment on at least the sliding surface of the main body, and a heat resistant resin impregnating the oxidized layer.
Description
Sept. 4, 1973 el], Mion,Zinn & McPeak 3,554,677 l/l97l Zapf et al. Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothberg A q" !l"mi2 r:@nl.- Smith Attorney Sughrue, Rothw et al.
[57] 7 ABSTRACT An apex seal for rotary piston engine has the main body of the apex seal made of a light metal selected from the group of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy with an oxidized layer of more than 10 microns in thickness fonned by anodic treatment on at least the sliding surface of the main body, and a heat resistant resinimpregnating the oxidized layer.
2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures F0lc 19/02 418/113,120,122, 418/123, 124, 178, 179; 277/235, 235 A lliroshi Sakamakl, Utsunomiya, Japan Assignee: Nippon Piston Ring Co., Ltd., Tokyo,
Japan Oct. 21, 1971 Appl. No.: 191,287
Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 24, I970 Japan..........................
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1971 Winston..............................
United States Patent Sakamaki APEX SEAL FOR ROTARY PISTON ENGINE [75] lnventor:
[22] Filed:
[58] Field of Search...................
PAIENIEM 3.756.754
' sum 1 m2 FIG. I
Pmemmw' SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG. 4
1 APEX SEAL FOR ROTARY PISTON ENGINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apex seal employed between the rotor and the center housing of a rotary engine.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Apex seals are mounted on the apex portions of the V rotor for ensuring fluid-tightness while the rotor rotates inside the center housing of a multi-circular configuration with the apex seal contacting the inner surface of the center housing. For assuring the fluid-tightness of the apex seal to a satifac tory extent, provisions are made so that the apex seal is heavily depressed onto the inner surface of the center housing not only by a number of springs provided between the rear side of the apex seal and the apex portion of the rotor, but also by the centrifugal force caused by the mass of the apex seal, gas pressure caused by the operational fluid, and
the like.
However, because of the excessive depressing force for the apex seal, wear of the apex seal and the inner surface of the center housing is found to .betoo high,
and furthermore, there is a tendency to cause irregular 1 wear on the inner surface of the center housing. Although various reasons cause the irregular wear, the most important is due to the mass of the apex seal.
To be more specific, the frictional force due tothe centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the rotor, which appears between the apex seal and the inner surface of the center housing, is increased in proportion to as in the wear resistivity, and an apex seal satisfying all of these requirements is yet tobe found.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an apex seal which can satisfy all of the above described requirements.
This and other objects of the present invention can be achieved by an improved construction of the apex seal which comprises a main apex seal body made. ofa
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary piston engine equipped with the apex seal according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an apex seal constituting an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinalsectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 3 of another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an apex seal which constitutes still another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is indicated a rotary engine comprising a center housing 1 having an internal surface in the form of a multi-circular configuration, side housings 2, 2, a rotor 3 which rotates eccentrically within the center housing 1, a groove 4 providecl in each apex portion of the rotor 3 projected adjacent to the internal surface of the center housing 1, an apex seal 5 insertedin the groove 4 so that the seal 5 can be freelymoved inside of the groove 4, and a number of springs 6 provided on the rear side of the apex seal 5' for urging the slidable surfaceSl of the apex seal 5 onto the internal surface 1' of the center housing 1.
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, theapexseal 5 is made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, ormagnesium alloy, so that the mass of the apex seal is much reduced despite its high mechanical strength.
However, the apex seal made of aluminum, magnesium, or their alloys has a shortcoming of inferior wear resistivity, and for overcoming the shortcoming, an oxidized layer 7 is formed over the sliding "surface 51 of Q the apex seal 5, which otherwise may be easily worn out, and also on the side surface 52", 52 of the apex seal throughan anodic treatment. The thickness of theoxidized layer 7. is selected tobe more than 10 microns.
material selected from a group consisting of aluminum,
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawing:
For further imparting wearv resistivity and selflubricatingnature, the oxidized layer 7 is impregnated bya heat resistant resin suchas fluoric resin or silicone resin. t
Alternatively, the sliding surface Sland the end surfaces'52, 52may be provided-with a number of grooves 9 as shown in FIG. 4, and a wear resistant material 10 such as iron nitride'or tungsten may fill the grooves' 9. In this case, the shape, orientation, and the number of the grooves 9 may be selected to adapt the type and operation of the rotary engine. Forinstance, rectilinear grooves 9 may be cut along the length of the apex seal as shown in FIG. 5,.and a wear resistant material 10' which/is similar to the material 10 may fill the inside- 0f the grooves. I I Otherwise, the sliding surface SI and the end surfaces 52, 52 of the apex seal may be provided with an heat resistant synthetic resin 8, and a, number of oxidized layer 7 of more than 10 microns in thickness, the oxidized layer 7 being further impregnated with a I grooves 9 may then be provided at least on thesliding surface 51 of the apex seal asjshown in FIG/6. In these grooves-9, a wear resistant material 10 similar to those employed in FIGS. 4and 5 is placed. In this example,
superior wear resistivity can be obtained due to the multiplying effects of the oxidized layer 7, wear resistant synthetic resin 8, and the wear resistant material 10.
As described hereinbefore, the mass of the apex seal of this invention is very small as it is made of aluminum, magnesium, or their alloys, and the mechanical strength thereof is also very high. Furthermore, on the easily wearable sliding surface and the end surfaces of the apex seal, an oxidized layer is formed by way of anodic treatment, which is thereafter impregnated by a heat resistant resin. For this reason, the resultant apex seal is ensured to have superior wear resistivity, selflubricating nature, and initial affinity.
What is claimed is:
1. An apex seal for a rotary engine comprising:
an apex seal main body made of a light metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy,
an oxidized layer of more than l0 microns in thick ness formed by anodic treatment on at least the sliding surface of the main body, and
a heat resistant resin impregnating the oxidized layer.
2. An apex seal for a rotary engine comprising:
an apex seal main body made of a light metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy,
an oxidized layer of more than 10 microns in thickness formed by anodic treatment on at least the sliding surface of the main body,
a heat resistant resin impregnating the oxidized layer,
a number of grooves providedat least on the sliding surface of the main body, and
t 1 i i i
Claims (1)
- 2. An apex seal for a rotary engine comprising: an apex seal main body made of a light metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, aluminum alloy, magnesium, and magnesium alloy, an oxidized layer of more than 10 microns in thickness formed by anodic treatment on at least the sliding surface of the main body, a heat resistant resin impregnating the oxidized layer, a number of grooves provided at least on the sliding surface of the main body, and a wear resistant material filling said grooves.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP9384070 | 1970-10-24 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3756754A true US3756754A (en) | 1973-09-04 |
Family
ID=14093574
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00191287A Expired - Lifetime US3756754A (en) | 1970-10-24 | 1971-10-21 | Apex seal for rotary piston engine |
Country Status (2)
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US (1) | US3756754A (en) |
DE (1) | DE2152629A1 (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3873249A (en) * | 1973-09-24 | 1975-03-25 | Ford Motor Co | Seal for rotary combustion engine |
US3890067A (en) * | 1973-08-24 | 1975-06-17 | Ford Motor Co | Rubbing seal system for a rotary combustion engine |
US3964145A (en) * | 1974-03-06 | 1976-06-22 | Ford Motor Company | Apex seal material |
US4936912A (en) * | 1988-06-27 | 1990-06-26 | Deere & Company | Sintered apex seal material |
US4956058A (en) * | 1983-03-15 | 1990-09-11 | Sanden Corporation | Scroll type fluid displacement apparatus with surface treated spiral element |
US5356276A (en) * | 1991-12-05 | 1994-10-18 | Aginfor Ag Fur Industrielle Forschung | Spiral displacement machine made of magnesium alloy |
US20160178064A1 (en) * | 2013-08-06 | 2016-06-23 | Messier-Dowty Limited | An apparatus comprising a sealing element |
US20160252010A1 (en) * | 2011-07-28 | 2016-09-01 | Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. | Rotary internal combustion engine with removable subchamber insert |
US20200300091A1 (en) * | 2017-05-17 | 2020-09-24 | Northwestern University | Surface texture and groove designs for sliding contacts |
US11453090B2 (en) | 2020-05-26 | 2022-09-27 | Raytheon Technologies Corporation | Piston seal assembly guards and inserts for seal groove |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3554677A (en) * | 1968-05-14 | 1971-01-12 | Krebsoege Gmbh Sintermetall | Rotary piston engine |
US3608535A (en) * | 1968-11-06 | 1971-09-28 | Outboard Marine Corp | Sealant for wear-resistant coating |
-
1971
- 1971-10-21 US US00191287A patent/US3756754A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1971-10-22 DE DE19712152629 patent/DE2152629A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3554677A (en) * | 1968-05-14 | 1971-01-12 | Krebsoege Gmbh Sintermetall | Rotary piston engine |
US3608535A (en) * | 1968-11-06 | 1971-09-28 | Outboard Marine Corp | Sealant for wear-resistant coating |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3890067A (en) * | 1973-08-24 | 1975-06-17 | Ford Motor Co | Rubbing seal system for a rotary combustion engine |
US3873249A (en) * | 1973-09-24 | 1975-03-25 | Ford Motor Co | Seal for rotary combustion engine |
US3964145A (en) * | 1974-03-06 | 1976-06-22 | Ford Motor Company | Apex seal material |
US4956058A (en) * | 1983-03-15 | 1990-09-11 | Sanden Corporation | Scroll type fluid displacement apparatus with surface treated spiral element |
US4936912A (en) * | 1988-06-27 | 1990-06-26 | Deere & Company | Sintered apex seal material |
US5356276A (en) * | 1991-12-05 | 1994-10-18 | Aginfor Ag Fur Industrielle Forschung | Spiral displacement machine made of magnesium alloy |
US20160252010A1 (en) * | 2011-07-28 | 2016-09-01 | Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. | Rotary internal combustion engine with removable subchamber insert |
US10544732B2 (en) * | 2011-07-28 | 2020-01-28 | Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. | Rotary internal combustion engine with removable subchamber insert |
US20160178064A1 (en) * | 2013-08-06 | 2016-06-23 | Messier-Dowty Limited | An apparatus comprising a sealing element |
US20200300091A1 (en) * | 2017-05-17 | 2020-09-24 | Northwestern University | Surface texture and groove designs for sliding contacts |
US11453090B2 (en) | 2020-05-26 | 2022-09-27 | Raytheon Technologies Corporation | Piston seal assembly guards and inserts for seal groove |
US11945063B2 (en) | 2020-05-26 | 2024-04-02 | Rtx Corporation | Piston seal assembly guards and inserts for seal groove |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE2152629A1 (en) | 1972-06-15 |
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