US3820515A

US3820515A - Rotary motor means

Info

Publication number: US3820515A
Application number: US00255555A
Authority: US
Inventors: B Knisch
Original assignee: KNISCH ENTERPRISES Inc
Current assignee: KNISCH ENTERPRISES Inc
Priority date: 1972-05-22
Filing date: 1972-05-22
Publication date: 1974-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-28

Abstract

A rotary motor means comprising a casing having a first portion providing a first cavity therein with a plurality of first indented regions and a second portion providing a cavity therein with a second plurality of indented regions, a first rotor unit supported for rotary movement within the first cavity of the casing proximate to the first indented regions for providing a respective plurality of compression chambers, a second rotor unit supported for rotary movement within the second cavity of said casing proximate to the second indented regions for providing a plurality of combustion chambers, a plurality of first blade elements movably supported by said first rotor unit, for being sequentially received into the compression chambers with the rotation of the first rotor unit, means for delivering to the compression chambers of said casing fluids for being compressed therein by the first blade elements, and means for delivering the compressed fluids from the compression chambers in predetermined timed sequence to respective combustion chambers for providing a combustible mixture in said combustion chambers for propelling the second blade elements during combustion and expansion of said mixture, and thereafter removing from said chambers the combustion products, the number of combustion chambers in the second portion of the casing exceeding the number of second blade elements while the number of compression chambers equal the number of combustion chambers and the number of first blade elements equal the number of second blade elements, and the angular disposition of the compression chambers with the combustion chambers, and the first blade elements with the second blade elements are respectively adjustably fixed.

Description

United States Patent [191 'Knisclh [451 June 28, 1974 ROTARYMOTOR MEANS [75] Inventor: Boris Knisch, Estelle Manor, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Knisch Enterprises, Inc., Vineland,

[22 Filed: May22, 1972 21 Appl.No.: 255,555 I 52 U.S.Cl.- ..12 3/s.41,41s/230 511 men. F02b 53/00 58 Field of Search 123/841, 8.23, 8.29, 8.19;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 972,598 10/1910 Capwell 418/231 1,238,806 9/1917 Painter 418/230 X 1,615,110 1/1927 Craig 123/841 2,075,561 3/1937 Wellensiek.. 123/841 2,100,267 11/1937 Potthast 418/230 X 2,158,532 5/1939 Bullen 123/823 2,879,753 3/1959 McKinley.... 123/25 C 3,213,838 10/1965 Douroux 123/841 Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Assistant Examiner-Michael Koczo, Jr. Attorney, Agent, 'or FirmSeidel, Gonda & Goldhammer 57 ABSTRACT A rotary motor means comprising a casing having a first portion providing a first cavity therein with a plurality of first indented regions and a second portion providing a cavity therein with a second plurality of indented regions, a first rotor unit supported for rotary movement within the first cavity of the casing proximate to the first indented regions for providing a respective plurality of compression chambers, a second rotor unit supported for rotary movement within the second cavity of said casing proximate to the second indented regions for providing a plurality of combustion chambers, a plurality of first blade elements movably supported by said first rotor unit, for being sequentially received into the compression chambers with the rotation of the first rotor unit, means for delivering to the compression chambers of said casing fluids for being compressed therein by the first blade elements, and means for delivering the compressed fluids from the compression chambers in predetermined timed sequence to respective combustion chambers for providing a combustible mixture in said combustion chambers for propelling the second blade elements during combustion and expansion of said mixture, and thereafter removing from said chambers the combustion products, the number of combustion chambers in the second portion of the casing exceeding the number of second blade elements while the number of compression chambers equal the number of combustion-chambers and the numberof first blade elements equal the number of second blade elements,

- and the angular disposition of the compression chambers with the combustion chambers, and the first blade elements with the second blade elements are respectively adjustably fixed.

15 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures ROTARY MOTOR MEANS The present invention relates to a rotary motor means, and more particularly to a rotary motor means providing a plurality of compression chambers for supplying compressed fluid in timed sequence to a plurality of combustion chambers, and first and second pluralities of blade elements respectfully received in said compression and combustion chambers.

Prior art rotary motors have been provided utilizing a plurality of combustion chambers and having a small number of combustion cycles for each revolution of the rotor, or a large number of combustion chambers with accompanying increase in size. Such motors have not combined a high degree of compactness with a large and smooth power output. They also are not adaptable for allowing a variation in compression ratio by adjustment of the angular relationships between their components, nor do they provide an assist to the power generated by utilzing water injection while providing a reduction of exhaust pollutants.

It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a new improved rotary means having a large number of power cycles for each revolution of its rotor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rotary motor means utilizing a reduced number of blade elements and providing uniformly sequenced combustion cycles for producing a smooth power delivery to the rotor. Another object of the invention is to provide a ne and improved rotary motor means in which the compression ratio is easily adjusted by changing the angular disposition of its components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rotary motor means which may utilize a power assist by injecting water into the combustion chambers during the combustion cycle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rotary motor means which may utilize either carburetor means or fuel injection to provide a combustible fluid in the combustion chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide. a new and improved rotary motor means which minimizes the exhaustion of pollutants-and is compact in size and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved rotary motor means which may effectively be lubricated and minimizes collection of lubricants in the compression and combustion chambers.

The above objects as well as many other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a rotary motor means having a casingwith a first portion providing a first cavity therein with a plurality of first indented regions, and a second portion providing a second cavity therein with a second plurality of indented regions. A first rotor unit is supported for rotary movement within the first cavity of the casing proximate to the first indented regions for providing a respective plurality of compression chambers, while a second rotor unit is supported for rotary movement within the second cavity of the casing proximate to the second indented regions for providing a plurality of combustion chambers.

-A plurality of first blade elements are movably supported by the first rotor unit for being sequentially received in the compression chambers with the rotation of the first rotor unit, while a plurality of second blade elements are movably supported by the second rotor unit for being sequentially received in the combustion chambers with the rotation of the second rotor unit.

Means are provided for delivering to the compression chambers of the casing a fluid for being compressed therein by the first blade elements as well as means for delivering the compressed fluid from the compression chambers in predetermined timed sequence to respective combustion chambers providing a combustible mixture in the combustion chambers for propelling the second blade elements during combustion and expansion of the mixture, and thereafter removing from the combustion chambers the combustion products. Means are also provided for periodically supplying to the combustion chambers of the casing in timed sequence after the firing of the combustible mixture and before the removal of the combustion products from the chambers, a predetermined volume of water for vaporization to steam, the water vapor being removed from the combustion chambers with the removal of combustion products after combustion.

The number of combustion chambers in the second portion of the casing exceeds the number of second blade elements while the number of compression chambers equals the number of combustion chambers and the number of first blade elements equals the number of second blade elements. A shaft means is rotatably and centrally mounted with the casing and the first and second rotor units are secured with the shaft means for rotation therewith about a fixed axis. The first and second rotor units are adjustably secured with the shaft means for providing a predetermined angular relationship between the first and second blade elements, while the first and second portion of the casing are secured with each other for angular adjustment about the shaft means for providing a predetermined angular relationship between the compression chambers and combustion chambers of the casing.

The first blade elements extend and reciprocate in the direction radial to the fixed axis, and the second blade elements extend and reciprocate in the direction parallel to the fixed axis, while cam means are provided for movably engaging the blade elements and controlling their respective reciprocating motions with the movement of the rotor units.

The fixed axis extends in a vertical direction, and a fluid reservoir is secured with the bottom of the casing. Means for delivering lubricant received in the reservoir to the first and second cavities of the casing and retuming same to the reservoir includes a pumping means and passage way through the shaft means, the lubricant being returned by gravitational force to the reservoir.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the casing illustrating the cam surface for the blade elements received in the combustion chambers,

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 66 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a blade element received within a combustion chamber and positioned therein by the cam surface of the casing, and

FIGS. 8a through 8e are timing diagrams illustrating the compression and combustion cycles for various angular relationships between the compression and combustion chambers, and the blade elements.

Like reference numerals designate throughout the several views.

Refer to FIGS. 1 through 7 which disclose a rotary motor means 10 embodying the invention. The motor means 10 comprises a casing 12 having a top portion 14 and a bottom portion 16. The top portion 14 of the casing 12 may be made of a conducting metallic material providing a substantially vertical circularly extending side wall 18 and a top wall 20 providing a cavity 22 therein. The bottom of the top section 14 is secured with a bottom plate 24 extending across the cavity 22 and providing an intermediate wall for the casing 12.

The bottom portion 16 of the casing 12 may be composed of the same metallic material as the top portion 14 and the plate 24 are made and has a top section 26 and a bottom section 28. The top section 26 is provided with a horizontal wall 30 at its top and a vertical arcularly extending side wall 32. The bottom section 28 of the bottom portion 16 of the casing 12 is also provided with a vertical arcularly extending side wall 34 which engages the side wall 32, and a horizontal bottom wall 36. The top and

bottom sections

26, 28 of the bottom portion 16 of the casing provide a cavity 38 therein. A plurality of vertically extending bolts 40 and nuts 42 pass through aligned openings in and secure together the top and

bottom portion

14 and 16 and the intermediate plate 24 of the casing 12.

A fluid reservoir 44 is also secured, by the bolts and

nuts

40, 42 with the bottom of the bottom portion 16 of the casing 12. Gaskets may be provided between the various portions, 14, 16 plate 24 and

sections

26, 28 of the casing 12 and reservoir 44 for providing a good seal therebetween.

A vertical shaft 46 is rotatably secured along a central vertical axis of the motor means 10 for rotation about a fixed axis 48. The shaft 46 is rotatably supported by being secured with the inner race of a thrust bearing 50 which has its outer race secured with and supported in a recess 52 provided in the upper surface 54 of the wall 36 in the bottom portion 16 of the casing 12. The shaft 46 is also rotatably supported at its upper end by being received through a bushing 56 provided in a top cover plate 58 secured by bolts 60 with the top wall 20 of the portion 14 of the casing 12. The shaft 46 extends through the cavity 22 in the top portion 14 of the casing 12, through an enlarged opening 62 in the plate 24 and through the cavity 38 within the bottom portion 16 of the casing 12 by passing'through

openings

64 and 66 in the top and

bottom walls

30 and 36. The top and

bottom walls

30 and 36, thus, also provide like parts bearing surfaces for rotatably supporting the shaft 46 within the casing 12.

A cam wheel 68 which is secured, within the cavity 22 of the top portion 14 of the casing 12, with the plate 24 by bolt means 70, provides a central opening therethrough for rotatingly receiving and supporting the shaft 46. A rotor unit 72 is also received within the cavity 22 of the top portion 14 of the casing 12 for rotation with the shaft 46. Rotor unit 72 has a central portion 74 positioned above the cam wheel 68 providing a hub 76 which is secured by screw means 78 with the shaft 46. The central portion 74 extends radially outward from the shaft 46 to an end portion 80 which extend downwardly along and is radially outwardly displaced from the vertical surface 82 of the cam wheel 68.

The outer vertical peripheral surface 84 of the rotor unit 72 which is circular in section moves proximate to the vertical inside surface 86 of the wall 18 of the top portion 14 of the casing 12, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The wall 86 provides an annular groove 87 having a bottom surface 89 and side surfaces 91 which has a plurality of indented regions 88 of arcuate form which vary in depth in the radial direction with respect to the shaft 46. The indented regions 88 are enclosed by the vertical peripheral surface 84 of the rotor unit 72 to form a plurality of compression chambers 90.

In the embodiment of the rotary motor means 10 illustrated, four compression chambers are provided, each extending angularly approximate 60 about the shaft 46 and being equally and symetrically disposed about the axis 48. The angular separation between adjacent chamber 90, center to center, is 90, there being a separation of 30 between the beginning of one compression chamber and the end of the next adjacent compression chamber measured about the axis 48. Of course, depending upon design circumstances and requirements, the angular extent, separation and depth as well as number of compression chambers may be varied to obtain required results.

A plurality of blade elements 92 are supported for radial movement with respect to the axis 48 by being received in respective openings 94 in the rotor unit 72. The blade elements 92 for the embodiment of the motor means 10 illustrated are three in number and are exceeded in number by the four compression chambers 90 with which they coact. The blades element 92 are spaced equally and symetrically about the axis 48 at 120 intervals. This is contrasted with the equal spacing of 90 for the compression chambers about the axis. The effect of such differences in angular spacings be tween the chambers and the blade elements coacting therewith for producing the sequential timed combustion cycles will become evident with the further description of the invention provided herebelow.

The first end 97 is enlarged and substantially rectangular in form and is movably received in an enlarged portion 96 of the opening 94 in the end portion 80 of the rotor unit 72, while its second stem end 98 extends through a reduced section 100 of its opening 94 toward the surface 82 of the cam wheel 68. The end 98 is provided with a roller 102 for engaging and riding over the surface 82 of the cam wheel. A helical spring 104 is also received within the reduced portion 100 of the opening 94 about the second stem end 98 of the blade 92 for urging and maintaining the roller 102 in engagement with the surface 82 of the cam wheel 68.

The first end 97 of each the blade elements 92 is provided with a plurality of grooves 93 each receiving therein a sealing strip which is preferable made of a wear resistant metallic material. The strips 95 which extend across the top and along the sides of the first end 94 of the blade elements 92, engage the bottom surface 89 and two side surfaces 91 of the groove 87 and seal the portion of the compression chamber 90 in front of the blade element 92 from the portion of the chamber in back of the blade element 92. Four strips 99 may also be positioned transversing the groove 87 in respective slots provided intermediate adjacent compression chambers 90 for reducing fluid leakage between chambers 90.

A pair of top and bottom sealing rings 99, 101 may also be secured in circular grooves provided in the inside surface of wall of the top section 14 and the faces 142, 144 and is provided with a plurality of indented regions 124. The regions 124 each have anarcuate surface varying in depth in the direction of the axis 48. The top surface 120 of the rotor unit 108 enupper surface of the plate 24. The sealing rings 99, 101

are also movably received in complementary circular grooves in the top and bottom surfaces of the end portion 80 of the rotor unit 72. The ring strips 99, 101, thus serve to seal the compression chambers 90 from the cavity 22 of the casing 12. Such sealing action maximizes pressure build up in the compression chambers 90 and fluid delivery to the combustion chambers 126 during a compression cycle. The sealing of the compression chambers also minimized oil seepage and collection in the chambers thereby conserving oil and preventing oil blockage and the damage which may result therefrom.

The cam wheel 68 is provided with a plurality of protruding portions 106, which extend arcuately in the radial direction in correspondence with a respective one of the compression chambers 90. Thus, as the rollers 102 of the blade elements 92 move over the surface 82 of the cam wheel 68 with the rotation of the rotor unit 72, the blade elements 92 are respectively caused to move in the radial direction for sequentially positioning their first ends 97 within the compression chambers 90 in close proximity to the arucate surfaces of the indented regions 88. Thus with each rotation of the unit 72 each of the three blade elements 92 is caused to move into each of the four compression chambers. The spring 104 which urges its blade element 92 in the direction towards the surface 82 of the cam wheel, also opposes the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the blade elements, thereby reducing excessive wear and friction which would result from an increased in pressure exerted by the blade elements 92 in contact with the surface of the groove 87.

The cavity 38 within the bottom portion 16 of the casing 12 has within it, a second rotor unit 108 secured with the shaft 46 for rotary motion about the axis 48. The rotor unit 108 has a central portion 110 including a hub 112 providing a opening receiving through it the shaft 46. A plurality of screw elements 114 are threaded received in the hub 112 and engage the shaft 46 for securing the rotor unit 108 therewith. The rotor 108 is provided with an enlarged outer portion 116 which is radially displaced from and symetrical about the shaft 46 and the axis 48. The outer portion 116 of the rotor unit 108 is provided with a peripheral surface 118 which is positioned proximate to the

vertical walls

32, 34 of the bottom portion 16 of the casing 12, and an upper peripheral surface 120 which is proximate to the lower surface 121 of the wall 30 within the-cavity 38'of the lowerportion l6 of the casing 12.

The lower'surface 121 of the horizontal wall 30 is provided with an annular groove 122 of rectangular cross section radially displaced from and extending arcularly about the axis 48 as its center. The groove 122 has a horizontal top surface 146 and vertical side surcloses the groove 122 and the indented regions 124 providing a plurality of combustion chambers 126 bounded by the indented regions 124 and the surface of the rotor unit 108.

The groove 122 with its combustion chambers 126 are sealed from the cavity 38 by sealing

rings

128 and 130, which may be made of a metallic material, and are of circular form for being received and secured within annular grooves 132 and 134 extending cocentrically about the shaft 48 and positioned on each side of the groove 122. The sealing rings 128, extend and are slidably received into aligned

grooves

136, 138 in the top surface 120 of the rotor unit 108. A strip 140 of sealing material which may be of metallic composition is also secured within the groove 122 transverse to the side walls 142, 144 for slidably engaging the top surface 120 of the rotor element 108, thereby sealing the combustion chambers 126 from each other. The extending end of the strip 140 are preferably tapered to allow minimum friction with the top surface 120 when the rotor 180 rotates its designed direction, and for also minimizing interference with the blade elements 148 in their passage along the groove 122. The combustion chambers 126 are equal in number to the compression chambers 90 and symetrically arranged at equal angular separations about the axis 48. The combustion chambers 126, it is noted differ from the compression chambers 90, in that they have arcuate surfaces which vary in depth in the axial direction, whereas the arcuate surfaces defining the compression chambers 90 vary in depth in the radial direction.

The plurality of blade elements 148 are similar to the blade elements 92 but are retained by the rotor unit 108 in an orientation which is 90 displaced from the orientation of the blade elements 92. The top portions 150 of the blade elements 148 are each movably received within a respective slot 152 extending through the top surface 120 of the rotor unit 108 while the bottom stem portion 154 extends downwardly from the top portion 150 through an opening 156 of reduced size and a roller 158 at the bottom of the stem portion 154 extends beyond the bottom surface 160 of the rotor unit 108.

The roller 158 rides on a cam surface 160 comprising an annular surface which varies in height in the axial direction about the shaft 46 as clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. The cam surface 160 is formed on the bottom inside surface of the bottom wall 36 of the lower section 28 of the casing 12. The cam surface 160 extends in the upward direction in four regions 162 corresponding to the four combustion chambers 126 and serves to move the blade elements 148 in the vertical direction to respectively position their top portions 150 within the combustion chamber 126 for maintaining its top surface proximate to the top surface 146 of the groove 122. The helical spring 164 received about the lower stem portion 154 of each of the blade elements 148 urges the blade elements 148 in the downward direction for maintaining its wheel 158 in contact with the cam surface 160 to accurately positioning the blade element 148. (See FIG. 7)

With the rotation of the rotor unit 108, each blade element 148 slidably moves along the groove 122 sequentially traversing each of the four combustion chambers 126. In order to maintain a seal between the top portion 152 of each of the blades 148 and the

surfaces

142, 144 and 146 of the groove122, the top portion 150 of each of the blade elements 148 is provided with a plurality of grooves 165 extending thereabout for receiving respectively the sealing strips 166 which may be made of a metallic resilient material and slidably engages the wall surfaces of the groove 122. Such means acts to seal the portion of the combustion chamber 126 on one side of the blade element 148 from the portion on the other side, when the blade element 146 is traversing a combustion chamber 126. Such sealing action is of importance for minimizing leakage during a combustion cycle and maximizing the force exerted upon the blade elements 148 by the expanding gases behind the blade elements 148. The seals also limit oil collection in the combustion chambers, blockage of the chambers and contamination of the combustible mixture with the resulting exhaustion of the pollutants. The vertical extent of the combustion chambers are also important in preventing oil collection in the combustion chambers 126 and allowing gravity drainage of excessive lubricants therefrom.

It is noted that in the embodiment of the rotary motor means illustrated, the four compression chambers shown are angularly displaced on centers of 90 from each other, with each chamber having an arcuate extension about the axis 48 of 60, leaving between the beginning and end of adjacent combustion chambers. The number of combustion chambers 126, thus, equals the number of compression chambers 90. As in the case of the blade elements 92, three elements 148 are utilized in association with the compression chambers 126, the number of blade elements being exceeded by the number of chambers with which they are associated. The significance of this relationship will be described in detailed below in connection with the operation of the rotary motor means 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, and noting that the rotor unit 72 rotates in the clockwise direction as illustrated by the arrow 168, each of the compression chambers 90 is provided with a fluid inlet port 170 for delivering fluid to the end of the compression chamber 90 first transversed by a blade unit 92 as it enters the chamber 90. The other end of each of the chambers 90 is provided with an outlet port 172. The outlet port 172 connects with an inlet port 174 of a corresponding combustion chamber 126 by a connecting passage way 176. The passage way 176 extends through the upper portion 14 of the casing, the bottom plate 24 and the top wall 30 of the lower portion 16 of the casing 12. The passage vided with an arm which extends radially inwardly towards the shaft 46. The shaft 46 within the opening 62 of the plate 24 is provided with a cam wheel 180 having a surface varying in its radial displacement from the axis 48 for controlling the action of the valve 178. The valve 17 8 is provided with a rod 181 having a roller 182 at its end for contacting and riding upon the cam surface 183, and is urged into contact with said surface by a helical spring 184. By this means fluid flow through the passage way 176 between the compression chamber and a respective combustion chamber is controlled as a function of the angular position of the shaft 46. A passage way 176 and valve means 178 are provided for each of the compression chambers for providing and conditionally controlling the connection between it and a respective combustion chamber, thus requiring four such passage ways and valve means.

Considering that the rotor unit 108 rotates in the same clockwise direction as the rotor unit 72, the inlet port 174 to each of the combustion chambers 126 is positioned at the end of each chamber 126 where the blade elements 148 first enter such chambers. Thus, soon'after one of the blade elements 148 enters a compression chamber 126, the port 174 is positioned behind the blade element. Soon after traversing the inlet port 174, a blade element 146 passes another opening 184 housing a spark plug 186 with its electrodes exposed to the fluid within the compustion chamber. At the other end of each combustion chamber 126, an exhaust port 188 is located which is vented externally of the casing 12 by an opening 190. The opening 190 may be connected to further means such as exhaust manifolds for removing combustion products as well known in the art but not shown.

A fluid inlet 192 to each of the combustion chambers 126 is also provided between the spark plug opening 184 and the exhaust port 188. The inlet 192 is connected by a passageway 194 which may extend through the casing 12 as illustrated through a valve means 198 similar to the valve means 178 for conditionally opening the passageway to another end 196. The end 196 of the passageway 194 is connected with the chamber of the pump cylinder 198 of the water pumping means 200. The water pumping means includes a cam wheel 202 secured by screw fastening means 204 with the shaft 46 beneath the cover plate 58 and within the cavity 22 of the upper portion 14 of the casing 12. The cam wheel 202 which also rotates with the shaft 46, in the clockwise direction as shown by the arrow 206, is provided with three projecting regions 208 providing a cam surface 210 with varying in the radial direction with respect to the shaft 46. Four cylinders 198 each associated with one of the combustion chambers 126 are positioned at intervals about the shaft 46 and secured with the top wall 20 within the opening 218. The cylinders 198 are each provided with a piston which is slidably received therein and connected with a piston rod 220 extending toward the shaft 46 and having a roller 222 at its end for contacting and rolling along the cam surface 210 of the wheel 202. The cylinders 198 are each provided with spring means urging its rod 220 in the direction towards the cam wheel 202. Each one of the cylinders 198 is also provided with a directional inlet valve 224 which is connected by tubing 226 to a water reservoir (not shown). When the piston rods 220 of the pumping means 200 is extended out of its cylinder 198, the cylinder is filled with water. When the piston rod 220 is urged into the cylinder 198 by the cam wheel 202, the water therein is pressurized and upon the opening of the valve 194 in the bottom plate 24, a measured quantity of water is injected into its associated combustion chamber 126. The cam wheel 180 has a configuration similar to the cam wheel 202 and acts to open the passage way 194 for the injection of water after a blade element 148 has passed the spark plug within its associated combustion chamber 126 and the combustible fluid behind the blade element 148 has been ignited by the spark plug 186 but before it is removed through port 188.

The inlet ports to the compression chambers 90 are each connected externally by a passage way 171 terminating at an opening 173 on the upper surface of the top wall of the casing 12. Each of the openings 173 may be connected by manifold means (not shown) to a carburetor for providing a combustible mixture of air and fuel. Where fuel injection is to be utilized the openings 173 need not be connected with a carburetor but provided for delivery thereto of a supply of air for the compression chambers 90, the fuel being directly injected into the combustion chambers 126 to provide the combustible mixture.

To provide lubrication for the rotary motor means 10, a pump 228 is secured with the bottom of the reservoir 44 within the lubricant 230 which can comprise the conventional motor oil. The pump 228 is driven by a gear wheel 232 which engages a drive gear wheel 234. The wheel 234 is positioned about for rotation with the shaft 46. The pump 228 has an inlet receiving lubricant 230 within reservoir 44 from which it is pumped under pressure through a tube 236 to an oil distributor ring 238 which is positioned about the bottom of the shaft 46 and'provides an oil reservoir for passing oil under pressure through the plurality of openings 240 about the periphery of the shaft 46 into a central upwardly extending passage way 242 of the shaft 46. Along the passage way 242, the shaft 46 is provided with a plurality of openings 244 through which lubricant .under pressure is dispensed to the various bearings and moving parts of the rotary motor means 10. The various internal components within the casing 12 as well as the wall sections of the casing 12 are provided with'openings for permitting the oil thus distributed to flow downwardly by gravitational-force where it is ultimately received by the reservoir 44 for being again distributed and circulated as just described.

In addition to the cooling effect provided by the circulation of the lubricant 230, the casing 12 may be provided with means foradditional cooling. Such means include a plurality of passage ways 246 in the various portions and sections of the casing which may be joined by interconnecting passage ways 248. Coolants may be pumped through the passage ways 246, 248 by pumping means (not shown) connected'between the inlet and outlet tubes 250,'252. The coolant removed from the rotary motor means 10 may be passed through a radiator (not shown) as is conventional for maintaining the desired temperature for the motor means 10.

As already noted, the blade element 92 traversing the compression chambers 90 comprise three in number in the embodiment illustrated, and are equal in number to the number of bladeelements 148. With the blade element 92 equally disposed about the shaft 46, one blade element 92 is displaced l20 from its adjacent blade elements 92. The blade elements 148 which are also equally spacedabout the shaft 46 have an angular displacement of 120 between adjacent blade elements 148. Since the blade elements 92 are supported by the rotor unit 72, while blade elements 148 are supported by the rotor unit 108, the angular relationship between the blade elements 92 and blade elements 148 may be adjusted by loosening one or the other or both of the

rotor units

72, 108 with the shaft means 46, rotating same to desired relative position for the respective blades and resecuring .the rotor units with the shaft means by tightening the respective securing means 78, 114. Thus, the blade elements 72 may be arranged directly above a corresponding blade element 146 to provide a zero angular dispositionbetweenthem about the axis 48, or the angulardisplacement may be adjusted to any desired value. The significance of such an adjustment-for determining the compression ratio of the rotary motor means 10 will be described in detail in connection with FIGS. 8a through Be.

An adjustment between the relative angular displacement between the compression chambers and the combustion chambers 126 may also be effected by loosening the securing holds and nuts 40, 42 and rotating the top portion 14 of the casing 12 (containing the compression chamber 90) with respect to the bottom portion 16 (containing the combustion chambers 126). To permit such relative rotation, the casing 12 maybe provided with elongated slots 254 in the upper portion 14 of the casing 12. Where the upper portion of the casing 16, the bottom plate 24 and the lower portion of the casing 16 are provided with passage ways, such as

passage ways

176, 194 and 248 therebetween, horizontal connecting passage ways may be provided between such boundary surfaces for allowing the relative rotation of the casing portions without restriction.

Such passage ways

256 and 258 are shown in FIG. 2 in connection with the

passage ways

156 and 194. The effect of the relative positions of the compression chambers and combustion chambers in their angular relationship about the shaft 46 will also be described in connection with the FIGS. 8a 8d.

In operation with the shaft 46 rotating in the clockwise direction, the

rotor units

72 and 108 also rotate in unison in the clockwise direction completing one 360 revolution for each complete revolution of the shaft 46. With each complete revolution of the rotor unit 72, each of its blade elements 92 completes a revolution about the groove 87, each blade element 92 passing through the four compression chambers 90. Thus each compression chamber 90 receives three blade elements through it for each revolution of the shaft 46, and a total of 12 passes are made by the three blade elements 92 through the four compression chambers 90.

As a blade element 92 reaches a compression chamber 90, it is projected by the surface 82 of the cam wheel 106 to extend into the chamber to follow the arcuate surface of indentation, being withdrawn gradually as it passes the deepest portion of the chamber until it is removed from the chamber and moves along the groove 87 in the region between chambers.

As the blade element 92 passes the inlet opening 170, a mixture of combustible fluid is drawn into the chamber 90 through the inlet port behind the blade element 92. At the same time, the combustible fluid in front of the blade element 92 which was drawn in behind the preceeding blade element 92 is compressed. During the compression of the fluid which results from the decreasing volume of the compression chamber 90 remaining in front of the blade element 92 as it rotates in the clockwise direction, an angular disposition of the shaft 46 is reached which results in the opening of the passage way 176 by the valve means 178. This results in the compressed fluid being expelled by the continued movement of the rotor 72 from the compression chamber through the passage way 176 to its respective combustion chamber 126. As the blade element 92 passes over the outlet opening 172 in the compression chamber 90, the valve means 178 closes the passage way 176 preventing the reverse flow of combustible The rotor unit 72 and its associated reciprocating blade elements 92, thus act, to provide twelve compressed charges of combustible fluid, in timed sequence, with the rotation of the shaft 46, to respective combustion chambers 126. Since none of the three blade elements 92 have the same angular relationship at the same time with a compression chamber 90, compressed fluid charges are delivered in sequence at different times and at equally spaced intervals during the rotation of the shaft 46. As it will be seen this contributes to the eveness and smoothness of the power generated and delivered by the rotary means 10.

Because of the similar arrangement, each of the blade elements 148 passes through each of the four combustion chambers with each revolution of the shaft 46. The three blade elements 148, thus, make a total of 12 passes through the combustion chambers with each of the combustion chambers receiving in sequence the three blade elements 148. The blade elements 148 are also raised by the action of the cam surface 160 into the combustion chambers to slide along the arcuate surface 124 and are gradually lowered for engaging the groove 122 intermediate the combustion chambers.

After a blade element 148 is received into a combustion chamber 126 and passes the inlet port 174, a charge of compressed combustible mixture is received from its corresponding compression chamber 90 into the portion of the combustion chamber 126 behind the blade element 148. As the blade element 148 passes the opening 184, the combustible mixture is exposed to the electrodes of the spark plug 186. The mixture is ignited by the energization of spark plug 186 by timing means (not shown) which may be controlled by the rotation of the shaft 46 in a well known conventional manner.

With the resulting combustion of the mixture and temperature rise, expansion of the mixture propels the blade element 148 along the combustion chamber in the clockwise direction, driving the shaft 46 through the intermediate rotor unit 108. An assist to the generated energy may be achieved by adding a fluid such as water, after the combustion of the fuel mixture and during the time that the blade element 148 is being driven by the expanding gaseous mixture. The use of such vaporizable fluid, serves to increase efficiency of the rotary motor means 100 by obtaining a greater utilization of the heat generated by the combustion of the fuel mixture. The structure and mode of operation of the motor means allows generation, delivery, and handling of such increased power without damage to the motor means 10.

As the blade element 148 completes its travel along the combustion chamber 126, it uncovers the exhaust opening 188 which relieves the pressure within the chamber 126 and removes combustion products and heat generated during combustion by their expulsion under the force of the generated pressure. The extending length of the combustion chamber which determined the displacement during which energy is delivered to the blade element 146, also allows more complete combustion of the fuel mixture providing greater efficiency as well as reduced contamination and pollution by the exhausted fumes. The addition of the power assist by water injection, also serves to increase efficiency and reduce pollutants. Any remaining combustion products, water and water vapor in the combustion chamber 126 are completely removed from the combustion chamber ahead of the next blade element 148 which passes into the combustion chamber and receives behind it, the compressed fluid mixture for the succeeding power cycle of the combustion chamber 126.

From the above description, it is noted that power is delivered to each blade element 148 during each passage through a combustion chamber 126. Thus, with twelve passages of a blade element 148 through the combustion chambers 126 during a single revolution of the shaft 46, twelve power cycles are achieved for each such shaft revolution. As a result, a combustion cycle occurs for each 30 of revolution of the shaft 46, and since power may be delivered for each of such power cycles over an angular rotation of greater than 30, the power cycles overlap and provide a highly uniform and smooth delivery of power to the shaft 46. The rotation of the shaft 46 is further smoothed by the rotating mass provided by the shaft 46, the

rotor units

72 and 108 and the

blade element

92 and 148, as well as those other bodies rotating therewith providing a built-in flywheel effect.

Reference is now made to the FIGS. 8a through 8d for a description in greater detail of the compression and combustion cycles of the rotary motor means 10, taking into account various selected relationships between the compression, and combustion chambers with the

respective blade elements

92 and 148 respectively coacting therewith.

Considering first FIG. 8a, a combustion chamber 126 is schematically illustrated by the solid arcuate line 300 while its associated compression chamber 90 is illustrated by the dashed arcuate line 302. The representation illustrates the angular relationship between a combustion chamber 126 with a compression chamber 90 over a span of 120 equal to the displacement between the blade elements 148 coacting with the combustion chambers 126. The angular designations in the H08. 8a through 8e, refer only to the position of such a blade element 148 and not that of a blade elements 92. In considering the

curves

302 and 300, it is noted that for the particular configuration of the rotary motor means 10 illustrated in FIG. 8a, the compression chamber begins at 10 and ends at on the angular scale provided by the figure, while its associatedcombustion chamber 126 begins at 60 and terminates at 120. Thus, each of the chambers has a span of 60 and the end of the compression chamber overlaps the beginning of the combustion chamber by 10. When a blade element 148 illustrated by the solid line 304 is at 40 of the scale, a blade element 92 illustrated by the dashed line 306 is at 30 showing a lag or displacement of 10 between such elements.

With this the angular relationship of the chambers and blade elements, it is noted that compression of fluid in the compression chamber 90 commences when the blade element 148 is at 20 and the compression blade element 92 enters the compression chamber at 10. Compression continues and is terminated at 80, while the intake of compressed fluid by the combustion chamber is initiated when the blade element 148 is at 60 and terminates when the blade element reaches the 80 position. Thereafter from 80 to the remaining extent of the combustion chamber 126, power is delivered to the blade element 148. After the delivery of compressed fluid from the compression chamber to the combustion chamber, the compression chamber receives intake fluid from the 80 position until the next compression cycle is commenced by the following blade element 92. After the completion of the power cycle, the exhaust port 188 is opened and thereafter until the next intake begins at 60, the following blade element 148 exhausts the remaining combustion products in front of it during the intake and combustion of fluid behind it.

With the above operation of the rotary motor means 10, it is noted that intake of combustible fluids extends over a 20 displacement at the conclusion of which all of the fluid constituting the total volume of the compression chamber is confined therein. Since volume is not a linear function of angular displacement because of the arcuate configuration of the compression and combustion chambers, the compression ratio can not be calculated by the ratio of the angular displacement for sweeping through the compression chamber to the angular displacement during intake to the combustion chamber.

It is evident, however, that the compression ratio of the motor means 10, can be varied from that illustrated in FIG. '80 by varying the angilar'relationship between the

blade elements

92 and 148. This is'seen in FIG. 8b, where the solid .line 308 and dashed line 310 illustrate that the blade elements 92 have been aligned with the blade elements 148, while the combustion chamber and compression chamber illustrated by the solid and dashed

lines

300 and 302 maintain the same relationship provided in FIG. 8a.

Under these circumstances, the compression cycle extends for 60 from 10 to 70 while the intake has been reduced to half, extending over 10 of displacement from 60 to 70. The power cycle takes place during the remaining 50 of displacement from 70 to 120, for the blade element 148. Thus, the compression ratio is increased since the same quantity of fluid is forced into a smaller volume in the combustion chamber 126 before ignition.

The same increase in the compression ratio as illustrated in FIG. 8b may be achieved by changing the angular relation between the combustion and compres sion chambers as illustrated in FIG. 8c. The solid line 310 shown in FIG. 80 represents the combustion chamber which extends for 60 displacement from 60 to 120, while the dashed line 312 represents the compression chamber which extends for 60 displacement from 0 to 60 so that there is no overlapping relationship between the chambers. It is now noted that the compression cycle, intake and power cycles are identical to those shown for the conditions illustrated in FIG. 8b.

FIG. 8d illustrates that the effect of a variation of the angular relationship between the

blade elements

92, 148 may be compensated for or nullified by a variation of the angular relationship between the compression and combustion chambers 90, 126(Thus, if the

blade elements

92, and 48 are aligned as illustrated by the solid line 308' and the dashed line 310, and the combustion chamber 126 illustrated by the solid line 314 and the compression chamber 90 illustrated. by the dashed line 316 has arr-overlapping relationship increased to the compression, intake, power and exhaust cycles remain unchanged from that shown for the conditions illustrated in FIG. 8a.

aligned to extend over the same angular disposition as the compression chamber illustrated by the dashed line 320. The solid line 322 signifies that when the blade element 148 is at 10 in the angular scale, the blade element 92 illustrated by the dashed line 324 is at 60, so that the angular relationship between the respective blades is one in which the compression blade elements lead the combustion blade elements by 50. The resulting compression, intake, power and exhaust cycles illustrated in FIG. 8e are identical to those illustrated in FIG. 8b and FIG. 80.

The FIGS. 8a through 8e, are illustrative of the operating conditions produced by the particular adjusted relationships between the

blade element

92 and 148 and the compression and

combustion chambers

90, 126. From the above it will be obvious that many other conditions may be achieved by adjusting the angular relationships between the blade elements and combustion and compression chambers, to meet various design requirements.

While this invention has been described and illustrated with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be understood that the invention is capable of various modifications and application, not departing essentially from the spirit thereof, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A rotary motor means comprising a casing having a first portion providing a first cavity therein with a plu rality of first indented regions and a second portion providing a second cavity therein with a second plurality of indented regions, a rotatable shaft, a first rotor unit connected to said rotatable shaft and supported for rotary movement within said first cavity proximate to said first indented regions for providing a respectivee plurality of compression chambers, a second discrete rotor unit connected to said shaft and supported for rotary movement within said second cavity proximate to said second indented regions for providing a plurality of combustion chambers, a plurality of first blade elements movably supported by said first rotor unit for movement in a radial direction with respect thereto and being sequentially received in said compression chambers with rotation of said first rotor unit, a plurality of second blade elements movably supported by said second rotor unit for movement in an axial direction with respect thereto and being sequentially received in said combustion chambers with rotation of said second rotor unit, an annular cam means supported by said casing for moving said second blade elements in said axial direction as said second rotor unit rotates, means for delivering compressed fluid from each of said compression chambers in predetermined time sequence to respective combustion chambers for providing a combustible mixture to said combustion chambers and for propelling said second blade element during combustion and expansion of said mixture, and means for removing combustion products from said combustion chambers.

2. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second portion of said casing includes a cylindrical side wall and first and second end walls enclosing said second cavity, said side wall being radially displaced from and extending in the direction of the axis of said second rotor unit while said end walls extend transversely to said axis, said first end wall having an annular groove which varies in depth in the direction .second plurality of indented regions, said groove having a fixed radial displacement from the axis of rotation of said second rotor unit, and said second blade elements each being radially displaced from said axis and slidably received in said groove.

3. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 2 wherein said second rotor unit has a side face proximate to said first end wall of said casing, and seal means secured for sealing engagement between said first end wall and said side face of said second rotor unit radially inwardly and outwardly of said groove.

4. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cam means is provided by a annular inner surface on the second end wall of said casing and undulates in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said second rotor unit, said second blade elements each having a first end portion received in the groove and a second end portion movably engaging said annular inner surface, and means urging each second end portion towards said surface.

S. A rotary motor means in accordancewith claim 2 including means secured within said groove in sliding engagement with said second rotor unit for sealing each of said combustion chambers from one another.

6. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 1 including a fluid reservoir disposed within said casing below the second end wall, and means for eelivering lubricant from said reservoir to said second cavity and returning the same to said reservoir.

7. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 6 wherein said lubricant delivering means includes pumping means and a passageway extending through said shaft, and means for enabling lubricant to return from said second cavity to said reservoir by gravity.

8. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 1 including means for periodically delivering to the combustion chambers in timed sequence after the firing of the combustible mixture and before the removal of said combustion products a predetermined volume of water for vaporization to steam, said water and water vapor being removed from said combustion chambers with the removal of combustion products after combustion.

9. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 1 wherein the number of combustion chambers in said second portion of said casing exceeds the number of said second blade elements.

10. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 9 wherein the number of compression chambers equals the number of combustion chambers, and the number of said first blade elements equals the number of said second blade elements.

11. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second portions of said casings are secured with each other for angular adjustment about the axis of said shaft for providing a predetermined angular relationship between the compression chambers and combustion chambers.

12. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for delivering compressed fluid to respective combustion chambers includes a valve means controlled by rotation of said shaft for connecting in timed sequence respective outlet and inlet ports of said compression and combustion chambers for the delivery of compressed fluid to said combustion chambers.

13. A rotary motor means'comprising a rotatable shaft, a casing having a plurality of compression chambers in a first portion thereof and a plurality of combustion chambers in a second portion thereof but axially disposed along the longitudinal axis of a said rotatable shaft, a first rotor unit connected to said shaft and rotatable in said compression chambers for compressing fluids therein, a second rotor unit connected to said shaft and rotatable in said combustion chambers, conduit means for delivering compressed fluid from each of said compression chambers in predetermined timed sequence to respective combustion chambers for providing a combustible mixture to said combustion chambers a cam on said shaft, valve means associated with said conudit means and responsive to rotation of said cam for controlling flow from the compression chambers to the combustion chambers, a plurality of blade elements movably supported by said second rotor unit for movement in an axial direction thereof and being sequentially received in said combustion chambers with rotation of said second rotor unit, and cam means on said casing for moving said blade elements in said axial direction as said second rotor unit rotates.

14. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 13 including spring means associated with each blade element and biasing each blade element in a direction away from said casing first portion toward said cam means.

15. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 14 wherein said combustion chambers lie in a plane disposed between said first and second rotor units, and said second rotor unit being between said plane and the said cam means.

Claims

1. A rotary motor means comprising a casing having a first portion providing a first cavity therein with a plurality of first indented regions and a second portion providing a second cavity therein with a second plurality of indented regions, a rotatable shaft, a first rotor unit connected to said rotatable shaft and supported for rotary movement within said first cavity proximate to said first indented regions for providing a respectivee plurality of compression chambers, a second discrete rotor unit connected to said shaft and supported for rotary movement within said second cavity proximate to said second indented regions for providing a plurality of combustion chambers, a plurality of first blade elements movably supported by said first rotor unit for movement in a radial direction with respect thereto and being sequentially received in said compression chambers with rotation of said first rotor unit, a plurality of second blade elements movably supported by said second rotor unit for movement in an axial direction with respect thereto and being sequentially received in said combustion chambers with rotation of said second rotor unit, an annular cam means supported by said casing for moving said second blade elements in said axial direction as said second rotor unit rotates, means for delivering compressed fluid from each of said compression chambers in predetermined time sequence to respective combustion chambers for providing a combustible mixture to said combustion chambers and for propelling said second blade element during combustion and expansion of said mixture, and means for removing combustion products from said combustion chambers.

2. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second portion of said casing includes a cylindrical side wall and first and second end walls enclosing said second cavity, said side wall being radially displaced from and extending in the direction of the axis of said second rotor unit while said end walls extend transversely to said axis, said first end wall having an annular groove which varies in depth in the direction of the axis of said second rotor unit for providing said second plurality of indented regions, said groove having a fixed radial displacement from the axis of rotation of said second rotor unit, and said second blade elements each being radially displaced from said axis and slidably received in said groove.

5. A rotary motor means in accordance with claim 2 including means secured within said groove in sliding engagement with said second rotor unit for sealing each of said combustion chambers from one another.

13. A rotary motor means comprising a rotatable shaft, a casing having a plurality of compression chambers in a first portion thereof and a plurality of combustion chambers in a second portion thereof but axially disposed along the longitudinal axis of a said rotatable shaft, a first rotor unit connected to said shaft and rotatable in said compression chambers for compressing fluids therein, a second rotor unit connected to said shaft and rotatable in said combustion chambers, conduit means for delivering compressed fluid from each of said compression chambers in predetermined timed sequence to respective combustion chambers for providing a combustible mixture to said combustion chambers a cam on said shaft, valve means associated with said conudit means and responsive to rotation of said cam for controlling flow from the compression chambers to the combustion chambers, a plurality of blade elements movably supported by said second rotor unit for movement in an axial direction thereof and being sequentially received in said combustion chambers with rotation of said second rotor unit, and cam means on said casing for moving said blade elements in said axial direction as said second rotor unit rotates.