US866466A - Rotary gas-motor. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED SEPT. 1'7, 1907.

J. r. HIGBEB.

ROTARY GAS MOTOR. APPLIOA'I'ION FILED 0011.13; 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IJYVENTOR (Ii/W Zgfiea Altdrney WITNESSES N0. 866,466. TATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

J. r. HIGBEE. ROTARY G'AS MOTOR.

APPLIOATIOR FILED 001213, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qua-nu 'rulJvoRms Psrsns cc. wasnmcnm. D c.

PATEHTED SEPT. 17, 1-907.

J. P. HIGBEE.

ROTARY GAS MOTOR. APPLICATION FILED 001213.1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0 bodily ma 2 M B V v I w Y 4% I A/torney 11 Nomus PETERS c PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. HIGBEE, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ROTARY GAS-MOTOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. HIGBEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in'Rotary Gas-Motors, of which the following is a specification.

, This invention relates to rotary gas engines or motors, the object of the invention being to provide a simple, compact and efficient engine of the class de scribed, in which provision is made for introducing and exhausting the explosive mixture and products of combustion by a positive valve movement, compressing the charge upon its introduction to the ex- 'plosion chamber and forcing out the consumed gases.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a rotary gas engine embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the engine. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the piston rings or blades. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the collar which carries the platinum contact point.

The engine contemplated in this invention comprises essentially a cylinder 1 within which 1s mounted a rotary piston 2. This piston isin the form of a true cylinder and is provided at diametrically opposite points with radially disposed wings or blades 3 which are seated in corresponding recesses extending inward from the periphery of the piston, said wings or blades being forced outward by means of springs 4 arranged in the recesses and operating in rear of the wings, as shown in Fig. 2, to force said wings outward beyond the periphery of the piston against the inner peripheral wall of the cylinder. At a point midway between the wings or blades 3 there is arranged an intermediate wing or blade 5 corresponding in construction and arrangement with the wings 3 and forced outward by a spring 4 in the same manner, the outer edges of all the wings or blades being adapted to follow closely and ride in contact with the inner periphery of the cylinder. The pis ton 2 is mounted upon the main shaft 6 which extends through and is journaled in bearings in the oppositely 7 arranged heads 7 of the cylinder, the heads 7 being secured to the body of the cylinder by means of bolts 8 and suitable packing rings (not shown) being interposed between the heads and the body of the cylinder to prevent leakage.

In the bottom portion of the cylinder, an explosion chamber 9 is provided, the initial or front portion of said chamber being of less size and capacity than the rear or final portion thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 2,

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 13,1906. I Serial No. 338,846.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

9 designating the initial portion, and 10, the final portion of said chamber, the final portion being enlarged so as to relieve the pressure and enable the intermediate wing or blade 5 to force the consumed gases onward to the exhaust chamber hereinafter described. The piston is further provided with an L-shaped' fuel feed passage ll'open at both ends and adapted to communicate with the explosion chamber, as shown in Fig. 2. I

At one side of the cylinder, there is arrangeda vapor or air inlet valve casing 12 which communicates with a small inlet chamber 13 having a port 14 leading into the cylinder. provided with a perforated diaphragm or valve seat 15, in connection with which the vapor or air inlet valve 16 operates, said valve 16 being provided with a stem 17 having a nut or collar 18 thereon and also provided with a spring 19 which is interposed between the nut or collar 18 and the valve seat 15 for holding the valve normally seated. The inner end of the valve" casing 12 is also provided with a ported wall or diaphragm 20 against which is seated a check valve 21, the stem of which extends into the valve chamber and is provided with a nut or collar 22 between which and the valve seat is arranged a spring 23 which holds the valve 21 normally seated.

Interposed between the inner ends of the stems of the inlet valve 16 and the check valve 21 is a cam shaft 24, the .cam 25 of which operates on the stems of said valves to unseat the latter with a positive action. The cam shaft 24 extends laterally outward through the sides of the casing, where it is equipped with a cam lever 26, as shown in Fig. 1. Said cam lever is pivotally connected at 27 to one arm 28 of a yoke provided about centrally with an eccentric strap 29 which extends around a cam or eccentric 30 fast on the main shaft 6 of the engine or motor whereby, in the rotation of said,

shaft, the camor eccentric 25 acts once in each revolution to unseat the valves 16 and 21 just hereinabove described, for admitting air or vapor to the cylinder at the proper time.

At the opposite side of the cylinder is an exhaust valve casing 31 containing an exhaust chamber 32 from which leads an exhaust pipe 33. Leading from the exhaust chamber 32 inward is a valve chamber in which is located a valve seat 34 embodying a perforated diaphragm or wall 35 against the inner end of which is seated an exhaust valve 36, the stem 37 of which extends outward and is provided with a nut or collar 38 between which and the wall or diaphragm 35, is arranged a spiral spring 39 which holds the exhaust valve .normally seated, as shown in Fig. 2.

In line with the outer end of the valve stem 37 is a cam shaft 40 provided with a cam 41 which operates against the stem-37 to unseat the valve at the proper time to allow for the exhaust of the consumed gases from strap 29.

the explosion chamber into the exhaust chamber and thence out through the exhaust pipe 33. The cam shaft 40 extends laterally outward through the casing 31 and outside thereof it is provided with a cam lever 42 which is pivotally connected at 4:3 to the other arm 4 of the yoke which carries the centrally arranged eccentric Thus, in each revolution of the main shaft 6, the yoke is oscillated to impart motion to the cam shafts 24 and 40, whereby said valves are opened and closed positively, so as to provide at the proper intervals for the admission of air or vapor and the discharge of the consumed gases.

In one side, the cylinder is provided with a spark plug opening 45 in which is seated a spark plug 46, the inner end of said opening 45 forming an ignition chainb'erwhich leads directly into the explosion chamber of the engine, as shown in Fig. 2.

On one end of the main shaft 6 there is arranged a iixed 0011a- 47 which carries a platinum point 48 extending transversely through an opening in said collar near the periphery thereof, as shown in Fig. 3, said platinum point being adapted, once in' each revolution of the shaft 6, to come in contact with a spring-sustained contact plug or shoe 49 seated in a recess 50 in one of the heads of the cylinder and pressed outward into contact with the rotating collar 47 by means of the spring 51 said collar 47 having a ring portion 52 which lies in contact with the outer face of said collar and against which the platinum point 48 bears and rides. The shoe 49 and the contact point .48 are wired to a battery or dynamo (not shown) and to the spark plug 46, so that in each revolution of the piston, and at the proper moment, a spark is generated in the ignition chamber 45, which causes the explosion of the gas under compression in the initial portion of the explosion chamber behind one of the wings or blades carried by the piston, the piston thus being driven and communicating motion to a suitable fly wheel 53, power being transmitted from the shaft 6 to any suitable point.

Upon the top of the cylinder is mounted an oil tank 54 provided with a filling plug 55 and a glass gage 56 for visually indicating the oil level therein, said tank being provided with the downwardly extending nipple 57 which communicates with an oil inlet port 58 leading directly into the top of the cylinder so as to deliver the oil to and against the periphery of the piston 2, whence it is carried around past the entrance of the air inlet valve, thus obtaining the necessary mixture of oil and air and delivering said mixture to the explosion chamber.

The cylinder is water jacketed, as shown at 59, and Water inlet and outlet connections 60 and 61 respectively, communicate with such water jacket and provide for a continuous circulation of water to keep the cylinder and working parts of the engine cool. It will, of course, be understood that air may be circulated through the jacket of the engine in place of water by the same means and connections hereinabove described.

In order to prevent the discharge from passing back ward around the side edges of the piston blades or wings 3 and 5, the side edges of said wings are grooved, as shown at 62, and in said grooves are placed packing strips 63 of any suitable material which ride inclose contact with the inner surface of the cylinder heads.

on the exhaust side serves as a suction device.

The fuel from the oil inlet port 58 is received in the fuel passage 11 in the piston, and conveyed therethrough to the explosion chamber at each revolution of the piston.

The air and gas are compressed within the sparking chamber 9 by means of the blade 5, while the blade 3 When power blade 3reaches the position occupied by the blade 5 in Fig. 2, the gas is ignited, the exhaust valve 36 opening at that time and remaining open until the piston makes three-fourths of a revolution.

I claim:

1. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder having an inlet opening, an explosion chamber having the final portion thereof relatively enlarged, and a rotary piston therein provided with spring actuated Wings or blades, and a fuel feed passage extending through the piston and opening out at different points in the periphery thereof at opposite sides of one of the wings or blades.

2. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder having an eccentrically disposed explosion chamber, inlet and exhaust valves communicating at opposite points therewith, means for imparting positive movement to said valves once in each revolution of the main shaft, and a rotary piston provided with an L-shaped feed passage and mount ed on said shaft and provided with spring actuated wings or blades adapted to follow the inner contour of the cylinder and the explosion chamber.

3. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder having an eccentrically disposed explosion chamber, inlet and exhaust valves communicating therewith at opposite points, means for imparting positive movement to said valves in each revolution of the engine, a main shaft, rotary piston mounted on said shaft and carrying spring actuated Wings or blades; and a fuel feed passage extending through the piston and having angular-1y disposed terminal portions which open out through the periphery of the piston at opposite sides of one or more of the wings or blades.

4. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder embodying an explosion chamber, a rotary shaft, a piston provided with an L-shaped fpel feed passage and mounted on said rotary shaft and carrying radially movable wings or blades, inlet and exhaust valves communicating with said explosion chamber, spring sustained stems for holding said valves normally seated, cam shafts carrying cams operating against said valve stems, and a yoke actuated by the main shaft and coupled to said cam shafts, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A rotary gas engine comprising a cylinder embodying an explosion chamber, a rotary main shaft, a piston pro= vided with an L-shaped fuel feed passage and mounted on said shaft and carrying radially movable Wings, inlet and check valves communicating with one end of the explosion chamber. an exhaust valve communicating with the other end of the explosion chamber, and a yoke actuated by the main shaft and operatively connected with each and all of said valves, whereby the latter are unseated with a positive action during each revolution of the shaft.

6. A gas engine comprising a cylinder embodying an explosion chamber, a rotary shaft, a piston provided with an L-shaped fuel feed passage and mounted on said shaft and carrying radially movable wings or blades, an air inlet valve communicating with one end of said chamber, an exhaust valve communicating with the other end of said chamber, an oil supply leading into the cylinder at a point in advance of the air inlet, and a yoke actuated by the main shaft and operatively connected with said valves for unseating the latter with a positive movement during each rotation of the main shaft.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F. HIGBEE.

Images