US3791235A

US3791235A - Split intermediate housing section for multi-rotor rotary mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3791235A
Application number: US00352438A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Hermes; G Woodier; C Jones
Original assignee: Curtiss Wright Corp
Current assignee: John Deere Technologies International Inc
Priority date: 1973-04-19
Filing date: 1973-04-19
Publication date: 1974-02-12
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-12
Also published as: CA996468A

Abstract

The improved split intermediate housing section comprises a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed between the two parts of the housing section and radially inward of the outer periphery of the housing section. Each assembly has a fixed camming surface on one part of the housing section and an adjustable camming surface on the other part of the housing section disposed to abut the fixed camming surface. A bolt coacts with the adjustable camming surface to move the latter relative to the fixed camming surface and develop a reactive, axially directed force drawing the two parts of the housing section together. Access port means is provided in the housing section for each fastening assembly to permit a tool to extend from a point exteriorly of the housing section, in the housing section to engagement with the bolt for rotation.

Description

United States Patent [191 Woodier et a].

[ SPLIT INTERMEDIATE HOUSING SECTION FOR MULTI-ROTOR ROTARY MECHANISM [75] Inventors: George II. Woodier, Ringwood;

Charles Jones, Hillsdale; Walter L. Hermes, Cedar Grove, all of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Corporation,

Woodridge, NJ.

[22] Filed: Apr. 19, 1973 211 App]. No.2 352,438

[56] I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 11/1962 Bentele 418/60 7/1965 Jones et a1. 418/60 [451 Feb. 12, 1974 Primary Examiner-Benjamin W. Wyche Assistant Examiner-F. D. Shoemaker Attorney, Agent, or FirmArthur Frederick [57] ABSTRACT The improved split intermediate housing section comprises a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed be tween the two parts of the housing section and radially inward of the outer periphery of the housing section. Each assembly has a fixed camming surface on one part of the housing section and an adjustable camming surface on the other part of the housing section disposed to abut the fixed camming surface. A bolt coacts with the agjus table camming surface to move the latter relativeto the fixed camming surface and develop a reactive, axially directed force drawing the two parts of the housing section together. Access port means is provided in the housing'section for each fastening assembly to permit a tool to extend from a point exteriorly of the housing section, in the housing section to engagement with the bolt for rotation.

SPLIT INTERMEDIATE HOUSING SECTION FOR MUL'lI-ROTOR ROTARY MECHANISM This invention relates to rotary mechanisms of the type disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,988,065 to Wankel et al. and, more particularly, to multi-rotor internal combustion rotary mechanisms of the aforesaid type.

BACKGROUND In multi-rotor rotary mechanisms, such as exemplitied in the U.S. Pats. to Bentele, No. 3,062,435; Jones No. 3,193,187; Jones, No. 3,240,423; Takebayashi, No. 3,279,279, and Zimmerman, No. 3,302,623, relative ease of assembly and dissasembly has been provided for by various structural features. In the Bentele U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,435, a single element crankshaft is provided in combination with a two-piece fixed gear and two-piece intermediate housing sections. In the Takebayashi U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,279 a muIti-rotor engine is provided with a multi-element crankshaft secured together by a tie-bolt in combination with twopiece intermediate housing sections. The Jones U.S. Pat. No. 3,193,187 discloses an engine having onepiece intermediate housing sections with a single element crankshaft and a cone mounted, two-piece fixed gear. Another patent to Jones, U.S. Pat. No. 3,240,423, discloses an engine having a crankshaft composed of removable eccentrics and one-piece intermediate housing sections. In those rnulti-rotor rotary mechanisms where two-piece intermediate housing sections are employed it is difficult to attain in such housing sections the requisite structural strength which is capable of resisting the distortion resulting from the non-uniform thermal flux to which the housing is subjected. This non-uniform heating of the housing of an internal combustion rotary engine is fully disclosedin the U. S. Pats. to Jones No. 3,196,850, No. 3,302,622 and No. 3,318,515. It is, therefore, necessary in a two-piece intermediate housing section to not only secure the two housing parts together at their peripheral portions, but at their inner areas as well. Of course one of the problems of securing the inner portions of the housing section together is the accessibility of the securing means, particularly in a modular assembly where each module, comprising a rotor and rotor housing section and crankshaft section, can be pre-assembled as a unit and is capable of removal and replacement as a unit without complete disassembly and reassembly of the engine. To achieve a multi-rotor engine of modular construction where a two-piece fixed gear assembly of the type shown in the Bentele U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,435, it is essential that a twopiece housing section be provided.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a two-piece intermediate housing section for a multirotor rotary mechanism which has the comparable structuralstrength as a single-piece intermediate housing section.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-piece intermediate housing section for a multirotor rotary mechanism which is capable of being secured together radially inward of its periphery, as well as about its periphery.

A further object of this invention is to provide a twopiece intermediate housing section for a multi-rotor rotary mechanism which has the structural strength substantially that of a one-piece intermediate housing and in combination with a removable crankshaft and stationary gear assembly, permits modular construction of the mechanism.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a two-piece intermediate housing section for a multi-rotor rotary mechanism in which the two pieces are capable of being connected together in a region substantially inwardly of their periphery, such connection and disconnection being accomplished from the exterior of the mechanism.

SUMMARY Accordingly, the present invention contemplates an improved two-piece or split intermediate housing section for a multi-rotor rotary mechanism, the parts of which housing section are secured together at the periphery thereof and at a point radially inward of the periphery. The improvement comprises a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed between the two parts of the split intermediate housing section and radially inward of the outer periphery of the housing section. Each of the fastening assemblies consists of a first member secured to one part of the housing section and a second member secured to the other part of the housing section. The first and second members are adjustable relative to each other so as to produce a force drawing the two parts together. Access means is provided at the periphery of the housing section so that a tool may be inserted to effect adjustment or disconnection of the fastening assemblies.

In one embodiment of the invention each of the fastening assemblies comprises abutting camming surfaces on the first and second members and bolt means for bringing the camming surfaces into abutment and moving one surface relative to the other and thus produce an axially directed force drawing the two parts of the housing section together.

In another embodiment of this invention one of the members having one of the camming surfaces has a pilot portion which coacts with a recess to relieve the bolt means of the axially directed forces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a fastening assembly according to another embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Now referring to the drawing and, more specifically FIGS. 1 to 3, the reference number 10 generally designates an intermediate housing section of a multi-rotor rotary mechanism, such as the type disclosed in the U.S. Pats. to Bentele, No. 3,062,435; Jones, No. 3,193,187; Jones, No. 3,240,423; Takebayashi No. 3,279,279 and Zimmerman, No. 3,302,623. As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate housing section 10 is disposed between two trochoid housing sections 12 and 14 (only partially shown) and defines with the trochoid housing sections together with housing sections not shown cavities or rotor chambers 16. A rotor 18 is supported for rotation by an eccentric portion 20 on a crankshaft 22 in each of the rotor chambers 16. The crankshaft 22 is, in turn, supported in suitable bearings mounted in the housing including a sleeve bearing 24 disposed withinthe bore of a stationary gear 26, which is secured by bolts 28 within a hub portion 30 of intermediate housing section 10.

The intermediate housing section comprises a first housing part 32 and a second housing part 34. Each of the

housing parts

32 and 34 may be castings or forgings having machined mating surfaces or interfaces 36 which extend in abutment with each other in a plane extending substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of crankshaft 22. Each of the housing parts also is fabricated so as to form hub portion 30 and to define therebetween a plurality of cavities 38 extending from the respective outer peripheral portions 40 and 42 of each of the

housing parts

32 and 34 radially inward to hub portion 30. Each of the

housing parts

32 and 34 is provided with a plurality of radially projecting circumferentially spaced, flange portions 44 and 46 (only one pair of flanges being shown) which are secured together by suitable means, such as bolts 48 (only one of which is shown) or the like. To provide cooling fluid flow through intermediate housing section 10, each

housing part

32 and 34 is provided with passages 50 each of which communicate with passages 52 in

trochoid housing sections

12 and 14.

In multi-rotor rotary mechanisms having two-piece or split intermediate housing sections 10, as herein described, intermediate housing sections 10 are subject to non-uniform heat flux, particularly in mechanisms of the internal combustion type. This non-uniform heat flux, as fully described in the U. S. Pats. to Jones No. 3,196,850, No. 3,302,622 and No. 3,318,515, results in stresses which tend to distort or bow the

housing parts

32 and 34 in the areas radially inward of their outer peripheral portions 40 and 42, respectively. This distortion results in excessive seal wear, leakage passed the seals, and fluid leakage between interfaces 36. In accordance with the present invention, the intermediate housing section 10 is provided with requisiste structural symmetry and strength to resist the thermal stresses tending to distort the housing section by providing a plurality of fastening assemblies 54 (only one of which is shown in the drawings) in the cavities 38 in the area adjacent to and surrounding hub portion 30.

Each fastening assembly 54 comprises a wedge retainer 56, a wedge element 58 and a bolt 78 for moving the wedge element 58 relative to wedge retainer 56. As best shwon in FIG. 3, wedge retainer 56 has a U-shape with the legs 62 thereof having flange portions 64. The wedge retainer 56 is secuted to housing part 32 adjacent hub portion 30 in any suitable manner, such as by means of bolts 66 which project through holes in flange portions 64 and are turned into aligned threaded bores 68 in an internal boss 70 of housing part 32. The wedge retainer 56 is mounted on housing part 32 prior to the Iatters connection to housing part 34. The base portion 72 of wedge retainer 56 has an inner inclined camming surface 74 which is complementary to and coacts with an outer inclined camming surface 76 on wedge elemnet 58. As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, wedge element S8 is positioned in the space defined by wedge retainer 56 and boss of housng part 32 and with its camming surface 76 in abutment against camming surface 74 of the wedge retainer. The bolt 78 is positioned in a bore 80 in wedge element 58 and with its threaded shank portion 82 turned into a threaded bore 84 in housing part 34. The bolt 78, when turned into tapped bore 84, forces wedge element 58 in its camming surface 76 relative to camming surface 78, thus producing reactive forces directed substantially parallel to the crakshaft axis. These reactive forces draw the interfaces 36 of

housing parts

32 and 34 into tight abutment. To provide self-positioning of the camming surfaces 74 and 76, bolt 78 has a reduced diameter shank portion 86. The annular clearance thus provided between the bore 80 and shank 86, permits bolt 78 to bend when turned up tight, but only to the limited extent permitted by the aforesaid clearance.

To facilitate the turning of bolts 78 of each of the fastening assemblies 54 from outside of intermediate housing section 10, an access port 88 is provided in housing part 34 for each cavity 38 to communicate the latter with the exterior of intermediate housing section 10. The access port 88 is of sufficient size to allow a suitable tool to be inserted into cavity 38 to engage bolt 78 and effect the turning thereof. If cavities 38 are in areas used for oil supply, drainage or venting each of the access ports 88 may be suitably sealed, as by plugs, caps or the like (not shown). Not only can bolts 78 of fastening assemblies 54 be turned to draw and hold

housing parts

32 and 34 together, but when disassembly is desired, bolts 78 can be turned completely out of bore 84 to disconnect the housing parts. Thus, by being able to separate the housing parts of intermediate housing sections 10 on opposite sides of a trochoid housing section, the trochoid housing section and its rotor can be removed from the mechanism assembly after disconnection of the crankshaft sections by means (not shown) such as disclosed in the U. S. Pat. to Takebayashi, No. 3,279,279.

In FIG. 4 is shown a fastening assembly 90 according to another embodiment of this invention, which assembly only differs from fastening assembly 54 in that a piloting means is provided to absorb the axially directed forces. The parts of fastening assembly 90 which correspond to like parts of fastening assembly 54 will be designated by the same reference number but with the suffix A added thereto.

The fastening assembly 90 comprises a wedging element 92 which has a pilot portion 94. The pilot portion 94 extends into a counterbored portion 96 of tapped hole 84A when bolt 78A is turned into the latter. The pilot portion 94 functions to absorb the axially directed reaction forces produced by the coaction of camming surfaces 76 A and 74A of wedge element 92 and wedge retainer 56A, to thus relieve bolt 78A of such forces.

It is believed now readily apparent tht the present invention provides an improved two-piece intermediate housing section which has a structural strength comparable to a single unitary intermediate housing section. It is a housing section in which the two housing parts can be held together in the area of the hub portion by means operable from outside of the assembly. It is a housing section which lends itself and contributes to a muIti-rotor rotary mechanism of modular construction.

Although two embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as the same will now be understood by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of a multi-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported for rotation on a crankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising:

a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfaces disposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft;

b. the first and second housing parts being constructed and arranged to form a hub portion surrounding said crankshaft and to define a cavity therebetween extending from adjacent the outer peripheries of the housing parts to adjacent the hub portion; and

c. a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed in said cavity to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein access port means is provided in the housing section in communication with said cavity to permit passage of a tool, to engage said fastening assemblies.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of fastening assemblies comprises a first means associated with the first housing part and a second means associated with the second housing part, the first and second means being adjustable relative to each other so as to draw the two housing parts together.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said fastening assemblies comprises two camming surfaces, each one being associated with a housing part and disposed to abut the other surface, and securing means for moving one camming surface relative to the other camming surface and thereby provide a force directed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft to draw the housing parts and their mating surfaces into abutment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said securing means is a bolt.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein one of said camming surfaces is a member bolted to the first housing part and the other camming surface is on a member connected to the second housing part.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said first means is a U-shaped bracket having a first camming surface, said second means is a movable wedge element having a second camming surface substantially complementary to said first camming surface and wherein a securing means is connected to said wedge element to move the latter relative to said U-shaped bracket and thereby effecting through said first and second camming surfaces a force directed to secure the mating surfaces of said housing parts in abutment.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second housing parts are constructed and arranged to define a plurality of cavities one for each of said plurality of fastening assemblies.

9.'The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said wedge element has a pilot portion receivable in a recess in said second housing part.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said securing means is a bolt extending radially relative to the crankshaft and is turned into a threaded bore in the hub portion of the intermediate housing section.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second housing parts are secured together at their outer peripheries.

12. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of a multi-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported for rotation on a crankshaft, the

intermediate housing section comprising:

b. means at the outer peripheries of said first and second housing parts for securing those housing parts together;

c. the first and second housing parts forming a hub portion receiving therethrough said crankshaft and constructed and arranged to define a cavity therebetween extending radially from adjacent the outer peripheries of the housing parts to adjacent the hub portion; and

d. a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed in said cavity to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutment inwardly of the outer peripheries of said housing parts.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein an access port means communicating with the cavity is provided to permit a tool to engage said fastening assemblies.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of fastening assemblies comprises:

a. a first means connected to said first housing part;

b. a second means movable relative to said first means and coacting upon relative movement to draw the mating surfaces of the housing parts together; and

c. securing means connected to said second means and to the second housing part to effect movement of said second means and hold the same in a desired position.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first means is a bracket having a first camming surface and the second means is a wedge element having a second camming surface substantially complementary to said first camming surface.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said securing means is a threaded element receivable in a threaded bore in said second housing part.

17. Theapparatus of claim 15 wherein said wedge element has a, pilot portion which is receivable in a bore in said second housing part.

18. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of a multi-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported for rotation on a crankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising:

i a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfaces disposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft;

b. the first second housing parts being constructed and arranged to form a hub portion surrounding said crankshaft and to define a cavity therebetween surrounding the hub portion; and

c. fastening means disposed in said cavity at the hub portion to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutment.

Claims

1. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of a multi-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported for rotation on a crankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising: a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfaces disposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft; b. the first and second housing parts being constructed and arranged to form a hub portion surrounding said crankshaft and to define a cavity therebetween extending from adjacent the outer peripheries of the housing parts to adjacent the hub portion; and c. a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed in said cavity to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said securing means is a bolt.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said wedge element has a pilot portion receivable in a recess in said second housing part.

12. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of a multi-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported for rotation on a crankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising: a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfaces disposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft; b. means at the outer peripheries of said first and second housing parts for securing those housing parts together; c. the first and second housing parts forming a hub portion receiving therethrough said crankshaft and constructed and arranged to define a cavity therebetween extending radially from adjacent the outer peripheries of the housing parts to adjacent the hub portion; and d. a plurality of fastening assemblies disposed in said cavity to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutment inwardly of the outer peripheries of said housing parts.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of fastening assemblies comprises: a. a first means connected to said first housing part; b. a second means movable relative to said first means and coacting upon relative movement to draw the mating surfaces of the housing parts together; and c. securinG means connected to said second means and to the second housing part to effect movement of said second means and hold the same in a desired position.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said wedge element has a pilot portion which is receivable in a bore in said second housing part.

18. A two-piece intermediate housing section for the housing of a multi-rotor rotary mechanism in which each rotor is supported for rotation on a crankshaft, the intermediate housing section comprising: a. first and second housing parts having juxtaposed mating surfaces disposed in abutment and extending in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft; b. the first second housing parts being constructed and arranged to form a hub portion surrounding said crankshaft and to define a cavity therebetween surrounding the hub portion; and c. fastening means disposed in said cavity at the hub portion to secure said mating surfaces of said first and second housing parts in abutment.