US905727A - Explosive-engine. - Google Patents

Description

R. A. MAPLES*l v EXPLOSIVE ENGINE. fiPLIoATIoN FILED APB. 29, 1907.

905,727; Patented Dec. 1, 1908.'

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R. A. MAPLES.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLIOATIQN FILED un. 29, 1907.

Patented Dec'. 1, 190s.

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EXPLOSIVB ENGINE. APPLIGATIoN FILED APR. 2s, 1907.

Patented Dec. 1; 1908.

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R. A. MAPLES. BXPLosIvB ENGINE. lAYPLIOA'IION FILED APB. 29, 1907.

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Patented-Dec. 1, 1908.

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EXPLOSIVE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1907.

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' @X51/tueuse@ RICHARD ALEXANDER NAPLES, OF CLINTON, IOWA.

ExPLosIvaENerNs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led April 29, 1907.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

serial No. 370,841.

To all 'fwhom it may concern:

i Be it known that I, RICHARD ALnxANnER MARLES, a citizenof the United States, residing at Clinton, inthe county of Clinton and State of Iowa', have invented a new and useful ExplosiveEngine, of which the following is a speciiication.

L In explosive engines of thelarger types, where the starting of the engine by manual power is impracticable, it is the ordinary practice at present -to start and effect the initial operation of the engine by 4air or other motive fluid funder pressure. So far as I am aware, this heretofore has required the complete alteration of a certainnumber of the usual four cycle cylinders of the multiple cylinder explosive engine into two cycle air engines. These units operated by air or motive lluid were depended upon until 'the remaining units became operative, and thus one section of the engine would be operating by exploding chargesl and the remainder would be operating upon the order of the steam engine.. The latter units are then reconverted into units of the explosive type, whereupon the complete engine becomes operative as an explosive engine. rlhis arrangement has drawbacks, for portions vof the engine only can possibly operate in the ordinary manner until the remainder is mechanically reconverted from a two cycle air engine to a four cycle explosive. engine.' Itl thus requires considerable time' to develop the full power of the engine.

It is' one of the primary objects of the pres-v ent invention to provide a novel combination whereby air or other motive iluid under pressure is employed for starting but the four cycle operation of the units of the engine is not altered, and as soon as any unit is in proper condition to operate as an explosive engine, a charge will be exploded therein, while the air or-motive fluid will be automatically out oli. As a result, the engine as a whole soon becomes operative without mechanically changing it, no 'conversion of'certainsections thereof takes place, andthe powcrot the engine can be more quickly and economically developed. x

A further and important object is to provide novel valve controlling and actuating means, whereby the various changes in the order of succession in the operation of the valves can'be readily effected with ease and expedition, and as a result, the engine can be speedily and effectively stopped, started and reversed.

An vembodiment that is at present con sidered the preferred one is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the ex haust side of a portion of a multiple cylinder explosive engine. ig. 2 is a view partly 1n elevation, and partly in section of the .intake side of said engine. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view.' Fig. 5 isa detail elevation on an enlarged scale, illustrating the relation of the valve operating mechanism on the intake side of one of the cylinders in one position. Fig. 6 is a corresponding view of the valve mechanism on the exhaust side ofthe engine.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating the parts in a different relation. Fig. 8 is acorresponding view of the valve mechanism on the exhaust side. Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the valve actuating mechanisms. -Fig. 10 is a side view of one of the intake valve cams. Fig. 11 is an end View of the same., Fig. 12 is a side elevation of an exhaust valve actuating cam. Fig. 13 is an end elevation ofthe same. elevation of one of the cams, which actuates the motive fluid admitting means. Fig. 15 is an end elevation thereof. Figs. 16-.19

inclusive Iare diagrammatic views illustrating the operation 4of the different parts during a four cycle movement of the engine.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the referred embodiment of the engine,

Fig. 14 is a side six cylin ers,'as usual, are employed, three being illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and designated 20. It will of course be evident that any number may be employed as desired. `l'Vithin the cylinders operate the usual ,reciprocatory pistons 21 connected by piston I.rods 22 and pitmen 23 io the angularly set 4cranks 24 of the engine shaft l25.

The various parts are mounted 1n a suitable frame designated as a whole by the reference y numeral 26. A su ply conduit 27 extends valong the intake si e of the engine, and has branches 28 leading to valve casings 29. these casings are located suitable intake controlling valves 30 operated by longitudinally y movable stems 31.4 Ignition mechanism portions 41 and 42 disposed journaled on their free ends.

66 of the shafts 44 32 is also lehated on this side bf the engine,

and is operated through the medium ofl longitudinally movable stems 33.

The lower ends of the-various stems, as shown particularly in Figs. 4, v5, 7 and 9 rest upon swinging arms 34 loosely journaled on an axle or shaft 35 and havingrollers 36 on their outer ends. Beneath said rollers and spaced therefrom is a shaft 37 extending longitudinally along the intake side of the englne and geared, as shown at 38, to a shaft 39, which is in turn, geared as shown at 40 to the engine shaft. Upon the shaft 37 are fixed sets of cams, each set comprising raised 1n proper reation, and leaving between them, -a track or uideway 43 that is concentric to the axis of t e shaft 37. Another shaft 44 has loosely journaled thereon, a series of selectors comprising' arms 45 havin rollers 46 journaled on their outer ends. T e rol ers respectively coperate with the cams 41 and 42 of the different sets, and as the shaft 44 is llongi tudinally movable, each roller may be placed in a position to operate upon the intermee diate tracks 43 or upon either of the cams 41 and 42. The corresponding selectors, which effect the operation of the ignition mechanismstems 33, operate against suitable eccentrics 47 fixed tothe shaft 37.

The exhaust side of the engine, shown in Fig. 1, has a common exhaust conduit 48, to which are connectedl branches 49 leading from the upper and lower ends of the cylin- :f ders through valve casings 50. The casings contain suitable exhaust controlling valves 51, from which depend stems 52. The lower ends of these stems bear uponswinging actuated arms or elements 53 havin -rollers 54 Se ector arms 55, loosely journaled upon a longitudinally movable shaft 56, have rollers 57 that operate against the rollers 54. Anothercam shaft 58, journaled along the exhaust side of the en- I ginel frame, is operated through suitable gearing 59 from the engine shaft, and is pro? vided with sets of oppositely disposed cams 60 and 61, leaving a concentric track 62 'between them. It will be observed that the cams 60 and 61 are comparatively broad, and that directlyopposite to them are comparatively narrow relief cams 63, these cams be ing employed for-relieving compression in the ordinary well known manner, andutil-v ized, as hereinafter explained. lt will thus be observed that the intake and vexhaust va'lve controlling mechanisms are very similar in character and operation.

In order to effect the shifting of the selec tors, any suitable mechanism 'may be emplo'yed. Thus the present embodiment,a :over 64 is fixed to a `tremeversely disposed shaft 65, and said nhaft has gear wheels 66 cooperating with. i l ined to the ends i. .lhue apen the opsoave? low each set of selectors is a rock shaft 71 and these rock shaftszhave cranks 72 at their ends that are connected by a cross link 73. A lever 74 is iix'ed to one of the shafts. The selector arms 45 on one side ofthe engine are provided with depending fingers 75, and the shaft 71 adjacent thereto vis provided with cams 76 arranged to engage the fingers. v The opposite shaft is also provided with cams 77 that cooperate with corresponding fingers 78 dependlng from the adjacent selector arms. -It will be observed, however, that the cams 76 'are shorter than the cams 77 and that said'cams 77 will engage and operate against the fingers 78 before the cams 76 op ei-ate upon the fingers 75. Thus if thelever 74 is actuated, the cams 77 will first engage the fingers 78, and raise the selector arms 55 and rollers 57 away, 'from the coacting cams and the continued movement will carry the cam 76 against the fingers l75 and raise the selector arms 45. Whenthese different sets of arms have been elevated,` the lever 64 can be moved, thus carrying the selectors in either direction desired.

Lpon the exhaust side of the engine, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, is a pipe 79 for conducting motive fluid, and

this pipe has branches 8() leading to valve v casings 81. One of these valve -casings is shown in section in Fig. 1, and it will be observed that it has a mechanically operated valve 82 provided with a depending valve stem 83, andan inwardly opening automatic valve 84 normally held closed by a spring 85.

The depending stems 83 of the different mechanical air or motive fluid controlling valves rest upon swinging arms 86 having rollers 87 at their outer ends, and selector rollers 88 corresponding in all respects to those already described bear against the 'rollers 87 and cooperate with sets of cams 89 mounted on the 'cam shaft 58.l It will be observed that the cams 89 are Acomparatively narrow, being substantially the width ofthe rollers88 and havin spaces on theirl outer sides in which said ro ers can operate. Now it is desired to strongly emphasizethis fact, that the air cams 89of each cylinder are disposed in alternation with the intake cams 41 and 42 of the same cylinder. This is important in order to clearly comprehend the operation of the engine, which is of the four cycle type, as already outlined. In

this type of engine, it is well known that, i

y moved in one direction or the other one notch on the explosive stroke of a four cyclel movelIlode a charge, the charge Will be upon the first stroke of the en ine, a char e Will be' drawn into the cylin er, upon t e second stroke, this charge will 'be compressed, .on the third stroke, the charge will; e fired or exploded,and the exhaust takes' place upon the fourth stroke. In the present mechanism, if the lever 64 is in its central position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the various selector rollers 46, 57 and 188 will be in their central or neutral positions, and if the ,engine Were turned over, thereA would be novalve action` If, however, it is desired to start the engine, said lever is of the fquadrant70.` The parts will then be in the relation shown in lligs.' 5 and 6, and

, remembering that the air or motive fluid controlling' valves operate in alternation with the intake valves onthe same side of the piston, the c cle of operation Will be'substan` tially as riisclosed in Figs. 1649 inclusive, it being understood that at least one of the cylinders land pistons will be at the start of or ment. Consequently as shown 1n Fig. 18,' the air valve 82 will beopened, thus admitting air to the'cylinder to effect this stroke of the piston, the valve 84 opening under pressure of air or motive' fluid. Upon the succeeding stroke, the exhaust valve 5l Will be opened to permit thev escape of the air. Upon the third stroke, (the engine being driven by the compressed air in another cylinder), the intake valve 30 Will be opened by its cam operating through the interposed selector,` actuatin element and stem 31.- A charge will thus e introduced into the cylinder, and upon' the return stroke, this charge will be compressed but the relief cam 63 will' now be in a position to slightly open theex haust valve 51 and relieve a part of this compression in a manner Well understood. This completes the cycle, and on the first stroke of the next cycle Vthe air valve 82 will again be opened. However, at the same time, the igniter 32 is operated, and it is possible and even probable that the char e slightly compressed will be exploded. if an explosion takes place, the force of suchexplosion will holdthe automatic valveV 84 closed. Consequently the ysupply of air Willnot be utilized,l but if an explosion does not tr ke place, the valve 84 openin under the pressure of air or motive fluid Wil again admit such air or motive fluid to the cylinder and again effect the stroke of the piston. Following the above described operation, the exhaust valve 51 Willagain be opened to ermit the escape of' the exploded/gases or ol) the airas' the case ma be.

With this mechanism, it is to be observed that throughout the 'various cylinders, as soon as any one unit is in condition to ex-l ignited.

ails to l n the other hand,vif the explosion kthe necessity of supp ,believed to be 'sirable no necessity of shifting the cams 'orthe valve' occur, thesupplemental motive fluid will ai f tomatically take its place` to drive the engine. Consequently for instance, in a six cylinder engine, air or motive fluid need be introduced upon one sideof each piston only, and in any case, this air or motive fluid is admitted upon ythe explosion stroke of the four cycle engm'e,

sogthat it never interferes With the intake of the charge. Moreover, admission depends, as already shown, upon the explosion, and it will be evident that the engine is economical not only in the charges introduced but in the amount of air emplofyed. The only real loss compression during the occurs in the relief o compression atrolsre, and itis possible, though probably notipracticable, to eliminate the reief, but it would require air or motive fluid under great pressure to effect a high compression of the charge. Consequently it is elieved to be preferable to employ the relief cams. Having now started the engine in this manner, as soon as the Ordinar succession of explosion be ins to take p ace,and

lemental motive fluid is eliminated, the lever 64 is moved to the second notch. AThis carries the selector rollers 88 entirely out -of the path of movement of the cams :89, and consequently cuts out or makes inactive the motive uuid controlling valves 82. At thesame time, the'rselector rollers 57 which control the operation .of the exhaust valves, are moved so that they are out of the ath of movement of the relief cams 63. I'lbwever, the ordinaryintake and exhaust is not in any mannerchanged for the cams 42 and 60 are broad enough to engage- With the rollers 46 and 57 when in ,their in. termediate or end positions. The only effect therefore of the second movement is to cut out the relief cams and the relief action of the exhaust valves and maintain inactive thel mechanical valves 82 which control lthe sup- -ply of motive fluid. To stop the engine, all

that is necessary is to return the selectorsl to their intermediate or neutral -positions and a reversal can be easily-effected by moving the lever in the opposite direction. While it is est to utilize all the cylinders on one side of each piston, in a six-cylinder engine, it Will of course be understood that a less number ofi cylinders may be employed and if desired thel air or motive fluid canbe admitted to a c linder on opposite sides of the piston as wel as on one s1de only.

Outside of the advantagessecured by the general combination, the mechanism employed for operating the valves and changing their succession of movement, is highly de- With the means disclosed there is stems, the intermediate selectors eliminating this necessity. Furthermore the cams can be vmade comparatively narrow and the amount of movement of the selectors is comparatively ,sin all. f

fixa

From the foregoing, it is thoughtthat the vactior'rwith both of its cams and the second construction, operatlonv and many4 'advanselector out of coaction With both of theretages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, Without further description, and it Will be underv,stood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construetion, may be resorted to 4Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the Iadvantages of the invention.

f Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tov secure by Letters Patent, is 1 '1. Ina four cycle explosive engine, the combination With a cylinder 'and a piston operating therein, of means for admitting a charge upon one stroke of the piston, means for exploding a chargeupon another stroke of the piston, a valve for admitting motive fiuid on the latter stroke, a set of operatingv devices for the valve, said devices being rela- .tively shiftable into andy out of coaction With 'each other, an exhaust'valve, a set of relatively shiftable devices for operating the exhaust valve, and common means for effecting therelative shifting movement between the devices of both sets, said means carrying the devices of the first set into coaction s1- .Inultaneously with those of the second set and 'also carrying the devices of thefirst set out of coaction While retaining thoset'cf ,the

second set in coaction. i, A

1 2. In ra reversible four cycle engine, the combination With a cylinder and 'a vpiston operating therein, of means for admitting a charge upon one stroke of the piston, means for exploding/a charge upon another stroke ofthe piston,.'a valve for admitting motive fluid on thclatter stroke, aselector for operating the v,motive fluid valve, a pair of spaced v ca-ms for actuating the selector, said selector and cams being relatively shiftable to bring either cam into coaction Withv the selector accordingly as the engine is reversed and being also relatively shiftable to maintain both cams out of coaction With the selector,'an exhaust valve, a second selector forope'rating the exhaust valve, a' pair lof exhaust cams and apair of oppositelyrset relief cams for actuating the second selector, said cams and second selector being rela- 'tivelyl shiftable to bring said different exbothian exhaust and a relief cam, said means 6.5 also maintaining the first selector out of cofor successi? lief cams While retaining said second selector incoaction with either of the-exhaust cams.

3. In a four cycle. explosive engine,f-the combination with a cylinder, and a v pistn operating therein, of a motive fluid inlet valve and an exhaust valve, a plurality of separate actuating devices for the different va lsingle cam shaft, a narrow camion the '-eam shaft for effecting a relief opening of the exhaust valve, another narrow cam on the relief cam out of coaction with their respec-' tive actuating device While the exhaust cam and actuating device remain at all times 1n coperative relation.

4. In a reversible four cycle engine, the

vcombination With a cylinder, and a piston operatin therein, of mechanism for introducing 4c ar es, exploding the chargesv and exhausting t e same, said mechanism being shiftable to reverse the engine, mechanism for admitting motive fluid on the explosion or working stroke only of the piston, and common means for shifting the charge admitting, exploding and exhausting mechanism to reverse the en ine and for'actuating the motive fluid supp y means, and for permitting and'cuttingofl' the supply of motive fluid when said engine is running in either direction. f

5. In a reversible four cycle engine, the combination awith a plurality l of cylinders, andpistons y introducing charges into, exloding the charges in and exhausting them rom the cylinders, said 'mechanism being shiftable to reverse the engine, mechanism for successively admitting motive fluid toA the cylinders on the explosion or wor-king strokes only 'of the pistons, said mechanism being automatically held inoperative by the explosion when the same takes place, and common means for shifting the charge ad- I nitting, exploding andexhausting mechanism to're'rerse the engine, and foroperating the motive fluid supply mechanism to ermit and cut off the supply of the motive uld to the different cylinders when said engine is running in either direction.

6. In`v a reversible four cycle engine, the

combinai-tion with al plurality of cylinders,

operating therein, of mechanismV e p actuating device of each exhaust valve,

when the ignition mechanism is f and common means for effecting ating device for each4 valve, a. air of reversing cams for each actuating evice, an exhaust valve for each cylinder, anactuating device for each exhaust valve, a pair of reversing exhaust `cams'for each vice, a pair of reversing relief cams for the igmtion mechanism for each cylinder, 4a motive fluid supply pi e for each cylinder, `an actuating defice or each motive fluid supply val/e, a vpair of reversing cams for operating eachof the said last mentioned actuating devices on the Working strokes of the pistons operated,

shifting movementbetween the actuating devices and the cams to effect the reversal of` the engine, to position the intake, exhaust, re-

l lief and motive fluid supply cams in simultaactuating de-4 a relativev sive charges to each cylinder, a valve controlled exhaustfor each cy1inder,'ignition mechanism for each cylinder, valve controlled means for admitting motive fluid to each cylinder, means for take valves once 'on every second revolution of the engine, means for,operating the ignition mechanism once on every second revooperating v the in- .l

lution of the engine and in alternation with the operation of theintake val.es,vmeans foroperatingthe motive fluid supply controlling valves once on every second revolution and on the revolutions during which the ignition mechanism is operated, means operating .the exhaust valves once on every revolution of thev engineto respectively relieve compression and permit the exhausts to takep ace, and common means for throwing into and out of action the valves controlling the motive iuid supplyand simultaneously cutting in and out the relief operations of the exhaustY valves. y

In' testimony, that I claim the foregoing-as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the' presence of two witnesses.

.- RICHARD ALEXANDER llIAILIIS.v

Witnesses:

F. B. KING, y f CHAs. S. HARRIS.y

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