WO2003102377A1

WO2003102377A1 - Rotary piston internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: WO2003102377A1
Application number: PCT/PL2002/000064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antoni Purta
Original assignee: Antoni Purta
Priority date: 2002-05-22
Filing date: 2002-08-28
Publication date: 2003-12-11
Also published as: AU2002334491A1; PL354069A1

Abstract

The object of invention is a rotary piston internal combustion engine being spark-ignition or compression-ignition destined for application as a automotive truck, traction or stationary engine. The engine is equipped with toroidal ring (2) and pistons (3, 4) placed tight inside, connected with disk fixed on engine shaft (5), besides, toroidal ring (2) provided with travelling diaphragms (12, 13) driven by crankshafts (15), moreover engine has cylinder heads (6, 7) with combustion valves (10, 10'), passage valves (9, 9') and intake valves (8, 8').

Description

ROTARY PISTON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

The object of invention is rotary piston internal combustion engine with spark-ignition or self-ignition destined to apply as a motor-car engine, traction or stationary. Classic internal combustion engines with pistons and crankshaft system despite huge spread have many faults, which are difficult or even impossible to remove. Trials are undertaken to replace by free-piston engines, but results are not satisfied till now. From Polish patent no PL 38160 description is known free-piston internal combustion engine with rotary pistons, where two pistons are moving of circular movement in toroidal ring. Inner space of ring is one by one divided and released by use of two gates placed on the top and bottom side of ring casing. Each of the pistons is connected with shaft by keys, the most profitable on spoke wheel perimeter, which passing through gap in inner wall of toroidal ring. From US patent no US 4901 694 description is known internal combustion engine having compressor and combustion chamber with rotary pistons. Compressor is connected with shaft to which pistons are connected by multistage transmission. From US patent no US 6 119649 description is known rotary piston engine with rotating pistons in toroidal ring made of two sections having two pistons in each section. Toroidal ring is equipped with travelling diaphragms where shifting is perpendicular to shaft axis and pistons are coupled to the shaft.

From Great Britain patent no GB 2262965 description is known rotary piston internal combustion engine with pistons doing oscillate movement in toroidal engine. Oscillate movement of pistons is converted to rotary motion of outlet shaft by use of crank mechanism. The aim of the invention is elaboration of rotary piston internal combustion engine using energy of flue gas created by burning of liquid and gaseous fuel- Rotary piston internal combustion engine comprising the compressor and attached toroidal ring with rotary pistons placed tight inside and connected with one shaft of which axis of rotation is perpendicular to piston rotation plane and toroidal ring has travelling diaphragms, as per invention, each diaphragm is equipped with block-release mechanism to settle their position in toroidal ring slots and each diaphragm is coupled with crank mechanism to sequential travel in plane being perpendicular to piston rotating plane where the diaphragms divide inside space of toroidal ring into chambers and each chamber is connected by use of passage combustion port with chamber of cylinder head equipped with combustion valve placed between combustion passage port and intermediate chamber with passage valve in, being simultaneously non-return valve, and each of the cylinder heads has intake valve placed in the end of intake-manifold, moreover crank mechanism, serving for travelling of diaphragms in sequence is coupled through gear, which increase rotational speed n times (where n=6 for working radiusl20°, n=8 for radius 135°) with main shaft to which pistons are mounted by keys/ integral keys with disk fixed on main shaft. Intake, passage and combustion valves are coupled with camshaft driven from shaft through valve gear. Advantageous, valve gear cams are placed on the main shaft of engine. Block-release mechanism of each travelling diaphragm comprise the two locking tilting pawls with heads adjusted to cylinder wedges of a /m mechanism and tilting pawls co-operate with cuttings of block placed in oblong slots of travelling diaphragms and are equipped with pressing springs in direction to the diaphragm longitudinal axis. Pawl heads have shape suitable to block-release mechanism cylinder wedges. On external surfaces of rotary pistons are placed seals.

Travelling diaphragms have seals on their (narrow) surface from disk side, which co-operate with seals seated in toroidal ring slots and with disk having coupled pistons. Rotating pistons are hollow and have placed inside unloading system of centrifugal force having the string, connected with pin mounted in piston walls and on second side joined with separable beam and beam is connected with two cylinders placed symmetrically to the rod. Cylinders have form of elastic bellows or piston cylinders and are hydraulic servo-motors.

The object of invention as an example of execution is seen on drawing fig.l - engine according to invention and shows the cross-section of toroidal ring, fig.2 -engine in cross-section A-A marked on fig. l,fig.3 - kinematics of rotary pistons and diaphragms creating closed volumes for expansion of flue gas in toroidal ring, diagrammatic, fig.4a - drive system of piston compressor (rotational speed 2 times higher than speed of main shaft) and placement of exhaust pipes, diagrammatic, fig.4b - drive of piston compressor, flue gas exhaust ports, throttling valve, placement of exhaust pipes and angle of compressor to be turned in relation to longitudinal vertical plane of engine to get combustion passage ports above and under diaphragms, diagrammatic,fιg.5a - crankshaft system of diaphragms drive and block - release mechanism in release mode in cross-section, fig.5b - block - release mechanism in longitudinal section B-B marked on fig.5. a, fig.5c - block-release mechanism in longitudinal section C-C marked on fig.5a, fig.6a- crank mechanism of diaphragm drive and block-release mechanism in block mode, schematic,fig.6b-block-release mechanism in cross-section along D-D line marked on fig.6a,fig.6c - block-release mechanism in cross-section along E-E line marked on fig.6a, fig.7a - the output of power to clutch, diagrammatic, as view, fig.7b - system as per fig.7a in view along F-F line marked on fig.7a, fig.7c - fragment of system marked on fig.7a, fιg.7d - fragment of system as per fig.7c in along view G-G line marked on fig.7c,fig.8a -system of rotary pistons having rectangular shape for working radius 120°,in the beginning of the working stroke and pistons, diaphragms and toroidal ring slots seals and main disk seals in partial section , fig.8b -system as per fig.δ.a, in cross-section,fig.8c - fragment of section along H-H line marked on fig.Sb, fig.Sd -system of the oval shape of rotating pistons for working radius 135°, in the beginning of worl ing stroke and pistons, diaphragms and toroidal ring slots seals and main disk seals, in. partial section, fig.Se- system as per fig,8d in cross-section, fig.Sf - fragment in along,. line I-I section marked on fig.8e,fig.9 - main disk of engine with unloading system of centrifugal forces affecting of rotary pistons , in section, diagrammatic,fig.10 - basics of compressor cylinder heads construction , in section, schematic, fig.1 la - diagrammatic , valve cams for working radius 120° and example of valve timing, fig.1 lb - same for working radius 135°and example of valve timing , fig.12 - cam of block- release mechanism and consecutive phases of a /m mechanism for working radius 120°,diagrammatic,fig.13 - another construction of engine invention, in which valve camshaft is fixed on main shaft, in longitudinal section , fig.14 - engine as per fig.13 in view from compressor side. As per invention, engine comprises the toroidal ring 2 with pistons 3,4 inside, coupled with disk H fixed on main shaft 5 of engine. In toroidal ring 2 slots are working travelling diaphragms 12, 13 placed symmetrically and coupled with crankshaft 15 shifting that diaphragms in sequence, perpendicularly to the pistons 3, 4 rotating plane._Toroidal.ring consist of two connected parts 38, 39 with circumferential gasket 40 inside. Diaphragms 12, 3 divide interior of toroidal ring 2 into chambers connected with (compressor) cylinder heads 6,2 by use of combustion passage ports 36,361. In heads 6,2 are placed combustion valves 10,101 between combustion passage ports 36.36' and intermediate chambers 35,35'. In intermediate chambers 35.35' are placed passage valves 9,91 being simultaneously non-return valves. Cylinder heads are equipped with inlet valves placed at the end of air intake manifold 51 in heads from compressor 1 side. Advantageous, if compressor 1 is piston type, but can be another type of construction, or as an external source of compressed air. Valves are controlled by use of camshafts 16 fixed in heads 6,2 and are supported by springs. Combustion valves 10.10' are equipped with lower springs 47 and upper springs 48 having bigger constant "c" comparing with "c" of lower springs 47. Hydraulic servo-motor can work as upper spring 48.Upper springs 48 close and do not admit the combustion valves 10,10' to lift by compressed air pressure before ignition. Moreover, spring 48 removes valve lash and dampen dynamic blow of flue gas. Passage valves 9,91 are lifted to compress air to intermediate chambers 35,35' of heads 6,2- With the beginning of intermediate valves 9,9_Llifting the diaphragms 12,13 taking out is starting to allow pistons 3,4 the passage through toroidal ring 2 slots. Fuel injection to intermediate chambers 35.35' and combustion passage ports 36,36' before and after combustion valves 10,10' occurs before top-dead-centre (TDC) of compressor 1 pistons 33. As a next (after ignition) flue gas expansion follow through combustion passage ports 36,36' to closed by diaphragms 12,13 interior chambers of toroidal ring 2. Flue gas expansion in closed by diaphragms 12,13 and pistons 3,4 chambers of torus 2 create torque transferred to disk jj, and the next to the main shaft 5. After achieving of predicted working radius by pistons 3,4 the diaphragms are taken out from toroidal ring 2 slots. Flue gas left after previous working stroke is removed by front planes of pistons 3,4 up to the moment of flue gas exhaust ports 54 covering. For the purpose of diaphragms

12,13 blocking in demanded position engine is equipped with block-release mechanisms 28 made of two tilted locking pawls 18.18' each (fixed on diaphragms) ended with heads co-operating with cut outs 21,211 in blocks 19 mounted in oblong slots 22.22' of diaphragms 12,13. Moreover, pawls have holding springs, which are pressing them to the longitudinal axis of diaphragms. Block-release mechanisms 28 release and block of pawls 18,181. Cams 29 control intermediate cylinders (with springs) 31 coupled through rods 14 to cylinders 30 with wedges at the end, having slots to pass small ends of the connecting rods. Cylinder wedges controlled by use of the cams 29 block and release the heads 20.20' of pawls 18.18'. Pistons 3,4 have seated seals 42,43 on outside surfaces, and travelling diaphragms 12,13 have on their surfaces from the disk 11 side, seals 44 co-operating with seals 45,46 seated between cut outs in toroidal ring 2 and disk JJ. Between disk and torus are placed circumferential seals 41.Pistons 3,4 are inside hollow in which are placed the integral keys of disk H in which are fixed unloading systems made of strings 24 connected on the one side with pins 25 mounted in walls of pistons 3,4 and on the another side are connected separable with beams 26 coupled with two cylinders 27,27'placed symmetrically. Unloading systems balance of centrifugal forces affecting of rotary pistons 3,4. Cylinders 27 can be in form of elastic bellows or piston cylinders. Pins 25 should be fixed between piston centre of gravity and axis of shaft (5). Cylinders 27 working as servo-motors are pressure feed of control oil. Hydraulic pressure of control oil being proportional to centrifugal forces compensate that practically in full. Supply of control and lubrication oil for lubricating of pistons and inside surface of torus by use of coaxial pipes through main shaft is not technically difficult. Transfer of power from main shaft 5 to clutch is done by use of transmission made of tooted wheels 49,50 in which the rotations are increased and torque is decreased. Is possible to transfer of power directly from shaft 5 to clutch. Air is sucked through intake manifold 51 in which throttling valve 52_is mounted -applicable in spark ignition engines only. On fig.8a, 8b and 8c are shown seals of disk and pistons having rectangular intersection for working radius 120° and on fig.Sd, 8e and 8f are shown seals of disk and pistons having oval intersection for working radius 135°. Advantageous, circumferential seals 41 are made as a rings settled immovable in grooves of torus 2 and are pressed by springs to diskii. Advantageous, the seals 42 of rotary pistons 3,4 are fixed in circumferential grooves and are made in such a way that pistons can freely move through torus slots without hooking of edges. On fig.11a, diagrammatic, have been shown cams of cylinder heads and valve lifting to compressor shaft rotation for working radius 120°. Top dead centre (TDC) of compressor cranlcshaft is in the end of compression and compressor pistons out (of shaft). On fig.1 lb, diagrammatic ,has been shown for working radius 135°. For working radius 120°start of diaphragms 12,13 draw out has been marked (on cams) by dots in position of cranlcshaft 240° from TDC, for worldng radius 135°start of diaphragms 12,13 draw out has been marked by dots in position 270° from compressor TDC. Cam 29 of block-release mechanism 28 and its phases as an example, in relation to position of diaphragms crankshaft 15 for working radius 120° have been shown on fig.l_2, which presents: a - cam during diaphragms fully put in torus slots, with crankshaft crank -90° i.e. 270° from TDC, b - position of cranlcshaft during the draw out of diaphragms (idle run of crankshaft with diaphragms put in), position of crank is 0°degree from TDC, c - position of above during extreme draw out of diaphragms ( idle run with diaphragms put in), crank 90° from TDC, d -position of mechanism during put in of diaphragms (idle run with diaphragms put in), crank 180° from TDC, e=a - position of above during draw out of diaphragms after 1 rotation , in the beginning of next in which crank is 270° from TDC.

On fig.H is shown construction of engine, having four working pistons placed in torus 2 ,obviously four travelling diaphragms 12.12M3.13' and cams of camshaft 16 controlling the valves are fixed on the shaft 5. To simplify of drawing the cams of one pair of cylinder heads have been only shown. For the increase of the rotational speed cams can be fixed on the sleeve 55 mounted on the shaft of engine, driven by camshaft gear 17 powered by shaft. Cams of the second pair of heads must be positioned aside like has been marked by oblique arrows, because on one circumferential surface can not be placed 4 cam tops. Intake valves_8,8_l to be designed like shown on fig.10, but passage valves 9,91 are lifted by springs and pressed to seats by cams and stronger springs having bigger "c". Combustion valves 10,10' of classic design during air compression in intermediate chambers are pressed to seats by springs systems 47- and lifted by cams through upper springs having much bigger "c" or servo-motors 48. In that solution axis of compressor pistons are parallel to shaft 5 axis and have flat surfaces obtained by the cut out of cylindrical surface and inner shape of heads is exactly adjusted to side flat surfaces of pistons. That allows to simplify the engine design and eliminate some moving mechanisms. Engine in that execution is more compact. On the fig.14 is shown view from compressor side of engine having four pistons and four diaphragms, schematic. Also has been shown position of flue gas exhaust ports 54. Can be taken into consideration the system with three pistons and three diaphragms what was not shown. Engine design allows to eliminate the crankshaft mechanism in working stroke during gas expansion and reduce exhaust loss. Moreover, can be expected the decrease of cooling loss due to faster expansion of burned mixture and decrease of mechanical loss due to symmetry of forces and lack of the system with crankshaft in working stroke. Compensation of centrifugal forces affected on rotary pistons is possible almost if full. Engine design also leads to the decrease of rotational speed of elements and to the reduction of valves and other movable elements causing dynamic vibrations of engine. Vibrations and noise of engine should be limited and exhaust-muffling system simplified.

Claims

l.An internal combustion engine with rotary pistons, equipped with toroidal ring with rotary pistons placed tight inside, coupled to one shaft which axis of rotation is perpendicular to the pistons plane of whirling and toroidal ring is provided with the travelling diaphragms ,moreover, engine is fiirnished with compressed air source, advantageous, if furnished with piston compressor, characteristic that each of travelling diaphragms (12 ,13 ) is equipped with block-release mechanism (28) serving to fix their position in toroidal ring (2) slots and is coupled with crankshaft (15) serving to sequential shift of those in plane perpendicular to whirling plane of rotary pistons (3, 4), what divide interior of toroidal ring (2) into chambers and each of that is connected by means of combustion passage port (36, 36') with chamber of head (6, 7) fiirnished with combustion valve (10.10') placed between combustion passage port (36.36') and intermediate combustion chamber (36.36') in which passage valve (9,91) is located, being simultaneously non-return valve, moreover, each of compressor heads (6, 7) has intake valve (8, 81) installed at the end of air intake manifold (51) in head from the side of compressed air source, moreover, crankshaft (1_5) serving for sequential shifting of diaphragms (12, 13) is interconnected through multiplying gear (37) with main shaft (5) to which rotary pistons (3, 4) are connected seating on disk (H) fixed on main shaft (5).

2. An engine according to claim 1, characteristic, that the source of compressed air is piston compressor (1).

3. An engine according to claim 1, characteristic, that intake valve (8, 81) passage valve (9, 91) and combustion valve (10, 10') are interconnected with camshaft (16) controlling that and joined by camshaft gear (12) directly with shaft (5) to which rotary pistons are connected.

4. An engine according to claim ^characteristic, that block-release mechanism (28) each of travelling diaphragms (12, 13) is composed of two located as tilting pawls (18.18') ended with pawl heads (20, 201 ) interconnected with wedges (30) controlled by cams (29) through intermediate cylinders (31), and pawls (18, 181 ) co-operate with cuttings (21, 211 ) in blocks (19) placed in oblong slots (22, 221 ) of the travelling diaphragms (12,13) and are furnished with springs pressing those to longitudinal axis of the above.

5. An engine according to claim 4, characteristic, that intermediate cylinders (31) are equipped with servo-motors directly, advantageous, electromagnetic.

6. An engine according to claim 3, characteristic, that heads (20, 201 ) of pawls (18, 81 ) have suitable shape to blocking wedges (30) of block-release mechanism.

7. An engine according to claim 1, characteristic, that on outside surfaces of rotary pistons (3, 4) are fixed seals (42, 43 ).

8. An engine according to claim 1, characteristic, that travelling diaphragms (12, 1_3) are provided on their surface from disk (H) side with seals (44) co-operating with seals (45, 46) seated in toroidal ring (2 ) between slots and disk (U) to which are connected pistons (3,4).

9. An engine according to claim 1, characteristic, those rotary pistons (3, 4) are hollow out and have unloading system inside made of string (24) from one side connected with pin (25) fixed in walls of piston (3, 4) and on the other hand connected separable with beam (26) joined with two cylinders (27,27') placed symmetrically to string (24).

10. An engine according to claim 9, characteristic, that cylinders (27,22') are piston type.

11. An engine according to claim 9, characteristic, that cylinders (27) have form of elastic bellows.

12. An engine according to claim 2, characteristic, that axis of pistons of piston compressor (1) are parallel to engine main shaft (5) axis and heads (6,2,6' ,7') are mounted to the outside casing of compressor cylinders and their chambers are directly connected with inside space of compressor cylinders, however pistons within valves controlled by camshaft (16) are equipped with flat surfaces obtained by cutting of cylindrical surface and the cylinder heads are matched to those shape.

13. An engine according to claim 2,characteristic, that the cams of camshaft (16) are mounted directly on shaft (5).

14. An engine according to claim 13, characteristic, that the cams of camshaft (16) are fixed on cam sleeve (55) mounted coaxial on main shaft (5) of engine and coupled with shaft through gear (12).