WO2007014752A1

WO2007014752A1 - Oscillating piston engine

Info

Publication number: WO2007014752A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/007603
Authority: WO
Inventors: Herbert Huettlin
Original assignee: Herbert Huettlin
Priority date: 2005-08-03
Filing date: 2006-08-01
Publication date: 2007-02-08
Also published as: CN1908377A; CN1908377B; DE102005038447B3; EP1910646A1

Abstract

An oscillating piston engine is described, having a housing (12) which has an at least approximately spherical inner wall (32), and having at least two pistons (34, 36) which can jointly revolve in the housing (12) about a fixed rotation axis (42) and, when revolving about the rotation axis (42), perform back-and-forth swivelling movements about at least one swivel axis (44) perpendicular to the rotation axis (42), wherein the swivelling movements of the two pistons (34, 36) are in opposition to one another, and wherein the two pistons (34, 36) each have an end face (46, 48), said end faces (46, 48) facing one another and each defining a front end of a working chamber (54) which is arranged completely outside the rotation axis (42) and is defined at the circumference by a working chamber wall (58). The working chamber (54), formed by the two end faces (46, 48) of the two pistons (34, 36) and the working chamber wall (58), and the pistons (34, 36) have the shape of a toroid section at least in the region of their ends facing the working chamber (54).

Description

Oscillating piston engine

The invention relates to a rotary piston machine, comprising a housing which has an at least approximately spherical inner wall, and having at least two pistons, which can rotate together with the housing about a rotational axis fixed to the housing, and during pivoting around the rotational axis reciprocating pivotal movements about at least one Run to the axis of rotation perpendicular pivot axis, wherein the pivoting movements of the two pistons are directed in opposite directions, and wherein the two pistons each having an end surface which face each other and each define an end face of a working chamber, which is disposed completely outside the axis of rotation and circumferentially by a working chamber wall is limited.

Such a reciprocating engine is known from the document WO 03/067033 Al

A rotary piston engine of this type can be used in particular as an internal combustion engine, in the case of using the oscillating piston engine as an internal combustion engine, the individual cycles of intake, compression, ignition, expansion and expulsion of the combustion mixture by reciprocating pivotal movements of the at least two pistons between two end positions taught.

The oscillating pistons thereby run around in the housing about a common axis of rotation fixed to the housing, wherein the rotational movement of the pistons can be tapped off as a rotational movement of an output shaft. When circulating the pivot piston in the housing, the pivotal piston drove the mentioned reciprocating pivoting movements.

The known oscillating piston engine has a housing, which is formed on the inside spherical, wherein the respective pivot axis of the piston is formed by a common pivot axis which extends through the housing center perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

The known oscillating piston engine has a total of four pistons, two of which are rigidly connected to each other with respect to the pivot axis diametrically opposite to a double piston, wherein between the two pistons of a pair of pistons a bearing portion is present, which is formed by a narrow bearing ring. Both pairs of pistons are mounted pivotably about their respective bearing ring on a Achszapten, which forms the pivot axis, with respect to the pivot axis. The bearing rings of the pairs of pistons sit spaced from each other approximately at the ends of the axle journal, wherein between the two bearing rings another ring sits aut the journal on which the Abtπebswelle is attached. Furthermore, opposite to each pair of pistons the respective bearing section a side wall portion arranged for both pistons of the pair for laterally limiting the two working chambers of the oscillating piston engine, wherein the side wall portion has a working surface facing straight flat which is completely perpendicular to the pivot axis.

The two working chambers of the known oscillating piston engine each have the shape of a ball wedge. The pistons themselves are also in the form of ball splines. Although the known oscillating piston engine has good running characteristics when used as an internal combustion engine, there is a difficulty in igniting the working chambers in which, in the case of using the oscillating piston engine, a fuel-air mixture ignites under high pressure and is expanded to seal reliably. Due to the kugelkeilformigen design of the piston specially adapted to this form seals must be used, but their sealing properties are not easy to control. Furthermore, the ignition and expansion of a fuel-air mixture in a kugelkeilformigen working chamber is not optimal, which affects the efficiency of the oscillating piston engine.

A further comparable with the previously described known oscillating piston engine oscillating piston engine is known from document WO 2005/064119 Al. Also in this oscillating piston engine, the working chambers and the piston are formed kugelkeilformig, wherein the facing end surfaces of the piston of a pair of pistons are concavely rounded on its side facing the pivot axis in this oscillating piston engine, whereby the above-described problem is indeed mitigated, but not completely eliminated.

Another oscillating piston machine of the type mentioned in the introduction is known from document US Pat. No. 3,075,506, which is similar to that of WO 03/067033. The invention is therefore the object of developing a rotary piston engine of the type mentioned in such a way that the above-mentioned disadvantages are avoided. In particular, the oscillating piston engine should be constructed so that a structurally simple measures a reliable sealing of the at least one working chamber is made possible and that the efficiency is improved in the case of use as an internal combustion engine.

According to the invention, this object is achieved with respect to the initially mentioned oscillating piston engine in that the working chamber formed by the two end surfaces of the two pistons and the working chamber wall and the pistons have the shape of an annular bead portion at least in the region of their end facing the working chamber.

The oscillating-piston engine according to the invention thus dissolves from the previous concept of such oscillating-piston engines which make at least one working chamber spherical-wedge-shaped in that the at least one working chamber has the shape of a section of an annular bead in the oscillating piston engine according to the invention.

For the purposes of the present invention, an annular bead segment shape is also understood to mean a tubular arc shape or a torus segmental shape, although, in contrast to the mathematical definition of a torus, a non-circular cross section of the working chamber is also possible.

The design of the at least one working chamber in the form of an annular bead section has the advantage over the known oscillating piston machines that the at least one working chamber is approximated to the shape of a cylinder of a classic reciprocating engine, so that with regard to the sealing problem, proven concepts from the field of reciprocating piston engines can be used. The Ringwulsttoim is compared to the ball wedge shape also better for the combustion process that takes place in the working chamber, suitable, because in this regard, the erhndungsgemaße oscillating piston engine is closer to a classic reciprocating engine rather than the known oscillating piston engines.

In a preferred embodiment, the curvature of the working chamber and / or the piston is concentric with the pivot axis.

The advantage of this measure is that a concentric curvature of the working chamber and / or the piston is optimally adapted to the ball geometry of the housing of the oscillating piston engine. Thus, in a compact design of the inventive oscillating piston engine, the space available within the housing is optimally utilized for the at least one working chamber.

In a further preferred embodiment, the working chamber and / or the pistons are / are circular in cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the pivoting movement of the pistons, at least in the area of their end surface facing the working chamber.

This particularly preferred embodiment now has the advantage that the pistons can be provided with circular seals, so that in this embodiment can be made of the many years of experience in the field of reciprocating engines. In this embodiment, the at least one working chamber is identical to a cylinder of a classic reciprocating engine except for the curvature of the working chamber about the pivot axis.

As an alternative to the embodiment of the at least one working chamber and / or the piston which is circular in cross-section, however, it may also be provided that the working chamber and / or the pistons are designed to be ellipse-shaped in cross-section perpendicular to the direction of the pivoting movement of the pistons. An advantage of this measure can be seen in the fact that the working chamber can be dimensioned larger in the direction of the axis of rotation than in a circular configuration. Other geometries than circular or elliptical are conceivable, for example, the working chamber and / or the pistons may have a convex shape in cross-section on one side and a concave shape on the opposite side.

In a further preferred embodiment, the two pistons are pivotable about the same pivot axis.

This embodiment has the advantage of a structurally simple construction, since only one bearing axis for the pivoting movements about the pivot axis has to be provided for the two pistons.

In a further preferred embodiment, the piston is connected to a first piston plate rotatable about the pivot axis and the other piston is connected to a second piston plate rotatable about the pivot axis, wherein the first and the second piston plate are movable relative to each other with respect to the pivot axis.

The two pistons are preferably screwed and / or adhesively bonded to the respectively associated piston plates, so that the arrangement of piston plate and piston forms an integral unit. A through the middle of the housing extending journal as in the known oscillating piston machines for pivotal mounting of the piston is saved in this way, which has the advantage that the working chamber defined by the two pistons can extend closer to the center of the housing than in the known oscillating piston engines.

It is particularly preferred if the first and the second piston plate together form a part of the working chamber wall. Accordingly, therefore, the first and the second plates are formed so as to form part of the annular bead portion shape. The two plates thus not only take over the function of the pivotable mounting of the piston about the pivot axis, but at the same time the function of forming the working chamber wall, which has the advantage of further simplifying the structure of the oscillating piston engine according to the invention.

In a further preferred embodiment, two further pistons are arranged in the housing and run together with the two other pistons together about the axis of rotation, wherein between two opposite end surfaces of the two further pistons, a second working chamber is formed, the other working chamber with respect to the axis of rotation or ., The diametrically opposite the pivot axis.

In this embodiment, the oscillating piston engine according to the invention also has four pistons as the known oscillating piston engines, but with the difference that the two working chambers of the oscillating piston engine according to the invention each have the shape of an annular bead or pipe bend.

In particular, it is preferred in this context if the four pistons are pivotable about the same pivot axis.

Overall, the structural design of the oscillating piston engine according to the invention is not increased in this embodiment with four pistons over a design with two pistons, but in contrast to a design with two pistons, the mass balance and the total working chamber volume is increased.

In a further preferred embodiment, the four pistons are arranged so that the two working chambers increase and decrease in the same direction in the same direction due to the pivoting movements of the piston. The advantage of this measure is that take place at each full revolution of the piston about the axis of rotation two working cycles of expanding (working), so that the oscillating piston engine according to the invention is self-running in the embodiment with four pistons, and not coupled with a second corresponding oscillating piston engine got to. However, the latter can also be provided, for example, to realize a motor with more than two working chambers.

In connection with the aforementioned embodiment, according to which the first two pistons are assigned a first and a second piston plate for mounting about the pivot axis, it is further preferred if one of the two further pistons is connected to the first piston plate and the one with the first piston plate also connected piston diametrically opposite to the pivot axis, and when the other of the two further pistons is connected to the second piston plate and diametrically opposite to the second piston plate also connected to the piston with respect to the pivot axis.

In this embodiment, two pistons are thus connected to the first piston plate and the second piston plate, in particular rigidly connected, whereby only two piston plates are required for the storage of the four pistons and to bring about the pivoting movements about the pivot axis, which is the design effort of the invention Holding the oscillating piston machine low.

In a further preferred embodiment, a further chamber is formed on the two working chambers facing away from each end adjacent pistons each, which are sealed against the working chambers and shrink in opposite directions to the working chambers due to the pivotal movement of the piston and enlarge and serve as pre-pressure chambers. This measure, which is known per se, has the advantage that the oscillating-piston machine according to the invention can also be designed with a self-charging effect, so that no external charging is required. The introduced in the two chambers fresh air is due to the pivotal movement of the piston, while the two working chambers increase in size, compressed, and is then passed in a suitable manner in one of the working chambers.

For this purpose, it is preferred if the chambers can each communicate with one of the two working chambers via valves arranged in the piston in order to inject precompressed air into the chambers into the respective working chamber.

This embodiment has the advantage that the communication between the two chambers and in each case one of the two working chambers takes place without lines provided on the outside of the housing, as a result of which a compact construction of the oscillating-piston machine according to the invention is ensured.

In a further preferred embodiment, the pistons are accommodated in a piston cage whose outer side facing the inner wall of the housing is substantially closed and spherical, wherein the pistons are immovable relative to the axis of rotation relative to the piston cage and movable relative to the pivot axis relative to the piston cage.

This embodiment differs fundamentally from the configuration of the known oscillating piston engine in that here the piston cage takes over the actual housing of the pistons, so that the rotational movement takes place about the axis of rotation only between the outside of the piston cage and the inner wall of the housing. In contrast, the reciprocating pivotal movements of the pistons about the pivot axis take place only on the inner wall of the spherical piston cage. Thus, the working chambers and possibly the two additionally provided chambers are arranged on the piston rear sides completely within the piston cage. This opens up in connection with a further preferred embodiment, according to which there are openings in a wall of the piston cage which alternately release and close openings in the housing when the piston cage revolves around the axis of rotation, the further advantage that dispenses with externally controlled valves in the housing wall can be, for example, to supply fresh air into the working chambers, or to release and re-close an opening for the spark of one or more spark plugs. Instead of elaborate externally controlled valves can be advantageously used by this configuration with simple radial seals, which are arranged in the openings of the piston cage and possibly spring-assisted. Furthermore, in this way, the ejection of combusted fuel-air mixture can be controlled via the rotational movement of the piston cage.

In a further preferred embodiment, part of an inner side of the piston cage facing the piston forms part of the working chamber wall of the at least one working chamber.

This measure in turn has the advantage that the oscillating piston engine according to the invention can be constructed with few parts and simple by the piston cage simultaneously assumes the function of forming a part of the working chamber wall of at least one working chamber or in the case of four pistons of the two working chambers. Preferably, an inner wall portion of the piston cage forms the working chamber wall together with the piston plates.

In a further preferred embodiment, the piston cage has at least one shaft which is arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation and extends out of the housing from the outside of the piston cage.

About the shaft can then be tapped in a structurally advantageous simple manner, the rotational movement of the piston cage as a rotary motion for driving a motor vehicle, for example. In a further preferred embodiment, a control mechanism is provided for deriving the pivoting movement of the piston from the circulating movement about the axis of rotation, which has at least one piston-fixed running member which is guided in a housing-fixed control cam.

Such a control mechanism is already provided in the known oscillating piston machines, which can also be used advantageously in the oscillating piston engine according to the invention in conjunction with the embodiment of annular-wall-shaped or tubular-arc-shaped working chambers.

In a further preferred embodiment, the housing-fixed running member is connected to one of the pistons via a journal, which protrudes through a slot-shaped opening in the piston cage.

In a further preferred refinement, the running member has two ball-layer-shaped rollers which are adjacent in the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation and have different maximum diameters, the control cam correspondingly having two cam sections adjacent to the rollers which are adjacent in the radial direction.

The known oscillating piston machines have compared with rollers, which are cylindrical or conical. However, the spherical-layer-shaped and thus externally round configuration of the rollers of the oscillating piston engine according to the invention has the advantage that the explosion forces occurring during operation of the oscillating piston engine can be better transmitted to the control cam via the rollers and absorbed by the latter, because the round shape of the rollers better to the ball geometry the machine is adapted.

Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A preferred embodiment is shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail with reference to this. Show it:

Figure 1 shows a swing piston engine in a perspective overall view with closed housing;

Figure 2 shows the oscillating piston engine in Figure 1 in a perspective view, wherein the housing is shown in partial sectional view in two sections along two mutually perpendicular planes.

Figure 3 is a substantially planar sectional view of the oscillating piston engine in Figure 1 in a first end position (TDC position) of the piston of the oscillating piston engine.

Figure 4, the oscillating piston engine in a sectional view similar to

Figure 3, but in a second end position (UT position) of the piston of the oscillating piston engine;

Figure 5 is another perspective and partially sectioned view of

Oscillating piston engine in Figure 1, wherein the pistons are shown in their UT position;

6a and b) shows two pistons and a piston plate assigned to the two pistons, FIG. 6a) showing the pistons and the piston plate in an exploded view. ment and Figure 6b) shows the same arrangement in the assembled state;

Figure 7 is an illustration of the arrangement of four pistons with two piston plates in an exploded view;

Figure 8 is a further sectional view of the oscillating piston engine in Figure 1 with a removed housing half;

Figure 9 shows the arrangement of pistons, piston plates and parts of the piston cage in perspective view;

FIG. 10 shows the arrangement in FIG. 9 in a representation rotated through approximately 90 ° and additionally with a housing half;

Figure 11 is an exploded view of the entire oscillating piston engine in

FIG. 1; and

Figure 12 is an overall perspective view of the piston cage with the piston received therein.

In Figures 1 to 5, 8, 10 and 11, a provided with the general reference numeral 10 oscillating piston engine is shown in an overall representation. Further details or individual parts of the oscillating piston engine 10 are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 as well as 9 and 12.

The oscillating piston engine 10 is configured in the exemplary embodiment shown as an internal combustion engine. In addition to a use of the oscillating piston engine 10 as an internal combustion engine, however, a use of the oscillating piston engine 10 as a compressor, pump or the like is also conceivable with slight modifications. According to FIG. 1, the oscillating-piston engine 10 has a housing 12 which has essentially spherical symmetry. The housing 12 is composed of a housing half 14 and a housing half 16, which are detachably connected to one another via housing flanges 18a and 18b by means of a screw connection

The oscillating piston engine 10 has a shaft 20 and a shaft 22 which protrude from the housing 12 on both sides Instead of two shafts 20 and 22, however, only one of the shafts 20 or 22 may be provided. The shafts 20 and 22 serve as output shafts or drive shafts, depending on the use of the swivel piston dies 10

In the housing 12 a plurality of opening cross sections are further provided, namely two Fπschluft-Ansaugquerschmtte 24 and 26, can be admitted via the fresh air into the interior of the housing 12 for the combustion process. Furthermore, an ejection cross-section 28 is provided, can be ejected again through the combusted fuel-air mixture.

The housing 12 further comprises a raised portion 30 which is einstuckig formed on the housing 12, and in the interior of a control cam is recessed in the form of a groove which is part of a control mechanism of the oscillating piston engine 10, and which will be described later.

In Figures 2 to 5, the housing 12 is shown in section, so that the interior of the housing 12 can be seen. In Figs. 8 and 10, a housing half is removed.

An inner wall 32 of the housing 12 is spherical.

In the housing 12 at least two, in the present exemplary embodiment, four pistons are arranged, namely a first piston 34, a second piston 36, a third piston 38 and a fourth piston 40th The pistons 34 to 40 can rotate in the housing 12 about a housing-fixed axis of rotation 42, which is to be understood as a geometric axis. The shafts 20 and 22 are arranged concentrically with the axis of rotation 42. The four pistons 34 to 40 run around the rotation axis 42 together, that is, do not change their relative position to each other with respect to the rotation axis 42 during rotation.

When revolving around the axis of rotation 42, the pistons 34 to 40 perform reciprocating pivoting movements about a common pivot axis 44 common to all pistons 34 to 40, which extends perpendicular to the axis of rotation 42. The pivot axis 44 and the axis of rotation 42 intersect at the ball center of the housing 12. The pivot axis 44, which is also to be understood as a geometric axis rotates with the pistons 34 to 40 around the rotation axis 42 around, so changes their spatial position during operation of the Oscillating piston machine 10.

Of the four pistons 34 to 40, two pistons each form a pair of pistons, and these are the pistons 34 and 36 on the one hand and the pistons 38 and 40 on the other hand.

The pistons 34 and 36, which form the first pair of pistons, when rotating about the rotation axis 42 in opposite directions directed pivoting movements, that is, when the piston 34 is pivoted about the pivot axis 44 in a clockwise direction, the piston 36 pivots counterclockwise. The same applies to the pistons 38 and 40, which form the second pair of pistons.

Each of the pistons 34 to 40 has an end surface, namely, the piston 34 has an end surface 46, the piston 36 has an end surface 48, the piston 38 has an end surface 50, and the piston 40 has an end surface 52.

Respectively facing end surfaces, that is, the end surfaces 46 and 48 of the pistons 34 and 36 on the one hand and the end surfaces 50 and 52 of the pistons 38 and 40 on the other hand define respectively a working chamber 54 and 56, with respect to the pivot axis 44 and the rotation axis 42nd arranged diametrically opposite The working chambers 54 and 56, which are completely separated and sealed from each other, serve as spaces for a Carnot cycle of a combustion cycle. In the working chambers 54 and 56, a fuel-air mixture is admitted, compressed, ignited and expanded and ejected again, wherein the above-mentioned individual clocks in the Arbeitskdiniiiern 54 and 56 offset by 180 ° to each other, that is, for example, when in the working chamber 54 embedded fuel-air mixture is compressed, in the working chamber 56 burned fuel-air Expelled mixture.

The working chambers 54 and 56 are arranged entirely outside the axis of rotation 42, namely runs an imaginary line passing through the center of the working chambers 54 and 56 and through the Gehausemittelpunkt, perpendicular to the axis of rotation 42nd

The working chamber 54 is frontally limited by the end faces 46 and 48 of the pistons 34 and 36, and the working chamber 56 is frontally bounded by the end faces 50 and 52 of the pistons 38 and 40.

The working chamber 54 is peripherally bounded by a working chamber wall 58, while the working chamber 56 is delimited by a working chamber wall 60 in circumferential direction. The working chamber walls 58 and 60 are only half shown in the circumferential direction, for example in FIG.

The geometry of the end surfaces 46 and 48 of the pistons 34 and 36 and the geometry of the Aibeitskammerwand 58 is selected so that the working chamber 54 exhibits the shape of an annular bead portion, that is tubular arc-like. Accordingly, the pistons 34 and 36 in the region of the working chamber 54 facing ends in the form of an annular bead section or pipe arc-like design. In cross-section perpendicular to the direction of pivotal movement of the pistons 34 and 36, the working chamber 54 and the pistons 34 and 36 are circular, as well as the end surfaces 46 and 48, as is apparent from Figure 2 or Figure 5. The geometry described too far with respect to the working chamber 54 also applies to the geometry of the working chamber 56, which to this extent is identical to the working chamber 54. Similarly, the geometry described above with respect to the pistons 34 and 36 also applies to the pistons 38 and 40. According to the circular cross-sectional configuration of the pistons 34 and 36 and corresponding to the working chamber 54, the pistons 34 and 36 with circular piston rings 62 and 64th (Piston 34) and circular piston rings 66 and 68 (piston 36) provided to seal the working chamber 54. Corresponding piston rings are provided for the pistons 38 and 40.

The curvature of the working chambers 54 and 56 about the pivot axis 44 according to their nngwulstformigen or pipe-like configuration is concentric with the pivot axis 44th

Instead of a circular cross-sectional configuration of the working chamber 54 and 56 and the piston 34 to 40 in the region of the working chambers 54 and 56 facing ends may also be an ellipsenformige design into consideration.

FIG. 3 shows the pistons 34 to 40 in an end position in which the working chambers 54, 56 occupy their minimum volume. This is the so-called TDC position of the pistons 34 to 40.

In contrast, FIG. 4 shows an end position of the pistons 34 to 40, in which the volumes of the working chambers 54 and 56 are maximum. This end position of the pistons 34 to 40 is the so-called UT position. When rotating the pistons 34 to 40 about the rotation axis 42 by 360 °, the pistons 34 to 40 occupy twice the TDC position and twice the UT position. In each of the working chambers 54 and 56 thus takes place at a full umlaut of the pistons 34 to 40 about the rotation axis 42, a full Carnot cycle instead. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the mounting of the pistons 34 to 40 about the pivot axis 44 will be described in more detail below.

The piston 34 and 38 is associated with a piston plate 70 to which the pistons 34 and 38 attached bind. The attachment of the pistons 34 and 38 to the piston plate 70 is accomplished by means of screwing in bores 71 and 73 and / or by gluing the piston 34 and 38 with the piston plate 70. According to FIG. 7, the pistons 36 and 40 are assigned a further piston plate 72, which is formed identically to the piston plate 70.

The pistons 34 and 38 are offset from each other on the piston plate 70 by 180 ° with respect to the pivot axis 44, with the end surface 46 of the piston 34 and the end surface 50 of the piston 38 pointing in the same direction with respect to the pivot axis 44. The same arrangement is encountered for the end surfaces 48 and 52 of the pistons 36 and 40 on the piston plate 72, but opposite to the pistons 34 and 38.

The pistons 34 and 38 and 36 and 40 facing surface 76 (piston plate 70) and 78 (piston plate 72) is formed in cross section in each case in the form of about a quarter circle, so that the surfaces 76 and 78 of Figure 9 together in cross section approximately one Form a semicircle. The surfaces 76 and 78 together form part of the working chamber wall 58 and the working chamber wall 60 of the working chambers 54 and 56, respectively.

The piston plates 70 and 72 are rotatably mounted about the pivot axis 44 in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, wherein the two piston plates 70 and 72 with respect to the pivot axis 44 relative to each other in opposite directions rotation.

In order to seal the two piston plates 70 and 72 against each other on the housing, a respective end 80 of the piston plate 70 facing the center of the housing and an end 82 of the piston plate 72 facing the end 80 are concave Recess provided, wherein in the concave recesses of Figure 7, a ball 84 is inserted, which has an equatorial ring 86 which serves as a seal between the two piston plates 70 and 72.

The piston plates 70 and 72 are rotatable relative to the ball 84 about the pivot axis 44 in opposite directions.

The piston plates 70 and 72 each have a bearing pin 88 and 90, via which the piston plates 70 and 72 are mounted to form the Schwenkachsε 44, in a respective bearing sleeve 92 and 94 (Figure 5), wherein a respective bearing clamping ring 96th or 98, the piston plate 70 and 72 clamped towards the middle of the housing. As is apparent from FIG. 5, the bearing clamping rings 96 and 98 are supported by a plurality of compression springs 104 and 106 distributed circumferentially on annular flanges 100 and 102, respectively, of the piston plates 70, 72. The annular flanges 100 and 102 are conically shaped in cross section and form sealing ring body for sealing the working chambers 54 and 56, respectively.

The bearing pins 88 and 90 of the piston plates 70 and 72 are rotatably mounted about ball bearings 108 and 110 about the pivot axis 44 (Figure 8).

The bearing clamping rings 96 and 98 are formed in the form of a ball ring segment. Facing the outer ends of the bearing journals 88 and 90, a spherical cap-shaped end cap 112 or 114 is respectively arranged on the bearing clamping rings 96 and 98, whose outer contour adapts without any transition to the part-spherical outer contour of the bearing clamping rings 96 and 98.

The end caps 112, 114, the bearing clamping rings 96, 98 together with two Kugeläquatorhalbschalen 116, 118 a piston cage 120, which is shown in Figure 12 alone. The piston cage 120 has, as is apparent from Figure 12, a substantially closed and overall spherical outer side, which in the in the housing 12 is in the installed state of the inner wall 32 of the housing 12 immediately adjacent.

Substantially closed here means that the piston cage 120 has only a few openings, for example an opening 122 which alternately releases or closes the openings of the discharge cross section 28 and a corresponding opening for the spark plug when the piston cage 120 revolves around the rotation axis 42. The opening 122 may be provided, for example, with a radially acting and possibly spring-assisted seal. Offset by 180 ° about the axis of rotation 32 is a corresponding opening 123 (Figure 3) in the Koibenkäfig available.

The Kugeläquatorhalbschalen 116, 118 together form a part of the working chamber walls 58 and 60 on its inside. Overall, the working chamber walls 58 and 60 are thus formed by the piston plates 70, 72 and the Kugeläquatorhalbschalen 116 and 118.

The piston cage 120 rotates as a whole in the housing 12 about the rotation axis 42. The Kugeläquatorhalbschalen 116, 118 also carry the two shafts 20 and 22, that is, the latter are firmly connected to the piston cage 120.

Cooling fins (not shown) are preferably formed on the outside of the piston cage 120 to increase the surface area of the piston cage 120 for improved cooling. Such cooling ribs may be formed by material recesses in order not to increase the outer diameter of the piston cage. Preferably, the orientation of the cooling fins in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis 32, so that the introduced between the housing 12 and the piston cage 120 cooling air is swirled by the rotating around the rotation axis 32 cooling fins, whereby the heat absorption of the air is improved. The following describes how the pivotal movement of the pistons 34 to 40 about the pivot axis 44 is derived from the orbital motion of the pistons 34 to 40 about the axis of rotation 42.

For this purpose, a Sleueπnechanismus is provided which comprises at least one, in the present Ausf zweihrungsbeispiel two, running members 124, 126. The running members 124 and 126 are shown for example in Figures 3 and 4. The running member 124 is fixedly connected to the piston 34, via a spindle 128. The protrudes through a slot 130 in the Kugeläquatorhalbschale 116 from the piston cage 120. The further running member 126 is fixedly connected to the piston 40, via an axle journal 132, which projects out of the piston cage 120 through a slot 134 which is also formed in the ball equator half shell 116.

The running members 124, 126 run in a formed in the housing 12 as a groove cam 136, wherein the control cam 136 is associated with both Laufgliedern 124 and 126 together. The cam 136 is a closed curve having concave and convex portions, which are designed so that when running along the running members 124, 126 on the control cam 136, the pistons 34 and 40 and via their fixed connection with the piston plates 70 and 72, with which also the pistons 36 and 38 are connected, the pistons 36 and 38 perform around the pivot axis 44 reciprocating pivotal movements.

The running members 124, 126 each have two in the radial direction with respect to the pivot axis 44 adjacent ball-shaped rollers 138, 140 and 142, 144 on. The rollers 138 and 140, and the same applies to the rollers 142, 144, have different maximum diameter, wherein the control cam 136 corresponding to two to the rollers 138, 140 and 142, 144 complementary, radially adjacent cam sections 146, 148 has as can be seen in FIG. It is evident that the pistons 36, 38 can also be provided with corresponding runners _; the m run a second cam.

According to a further aspect of the oscillating piston engine IO, two further chambers 150 and 152 are provided in the housing 12, more precisely within the Koibenkaήgs 120, namely on the two working chambers 54 and 56 facing away from the end faces of the adjacent pistons 34 and 40 on the one hand and the adjacent Pistons 36 and 38 on the other. The chambers 150 and 152 are sealed against the working chambers 54, 56 and shrink in opposite directions to the working chambers 54, 56 when the pistons 34 to 40 pivot about the pivot axis. As tur the piston 36 is shown in Figure 7, all pistons 34 to 40 on their chambers 150, 152 limited rear end faces cavernous depressions 154 in order to increase the volume of the chambers 150 and 152 through this cavernous depression 154. Furthermore, the aforementioned rear end faces of the pistons 34 to 40 are chamfered. The Kugeläquatorhalbschalen 116 and 118 of the Kolbenkafigs 120 have in extension of the shafts 20 and 22 tabs 156, 158 which circumferentially about the pivot axis 44 directed extensions 160, the pivoting of the pistons 34 to 40 to the rotation axis 42 in the cavernous depressions 154 submerge and thus almost completely displaced the air therein.

As previously mentioned, the chambers 150 and 152 serve as pre-pressure chambers into which fresh air is introduced from outside through the housing 12 (fresh air intake sections 24, 26) and the piston carcass 120 (openings 122, 123) into both chambers 150 and 152 at the same time, which is then maximally compressed in the UT position of the pistons 34 to 40 according to FIG. In FIGS. 2 and 3, fresh air ducts 172, 173 are visible, which extend around the die axis 42 in the circumferential direction in the inner wall 32 of the housing 12, starting from the fresh air intake cross sections 24 and 26, respectively. Contrary to the illustration in Figures 2 and 3, the Fπschiuftkanale 172, 173 may also have a greater width. Of the Fπschluftkanalen the fresh air passes through openings 174 and 175 (Figure 6) in the piston plate 70 and corresponding openings 176, 177 in the piston plate 72 then into the chambers 150 and 152, respectively, to flood them with fresh air. This compressed air in the chambers 150 and 152 is then injected into one of the two working chambers 54 and 56, into that of the working chambers 54 and 56, in which the working stroke of the fuel inlet and the subsequent sealing of the fuel and air Mixture takes place. In order that the fresh air precompressed in the chambers 150, 152 can be injected into the respective working chamber 54 or 56, valves 34 to 40 are integrated in the pistons, namely a valve 162 in the piston 34, a valve 164 in the piston 36, a valve 166 in the piston 38 and a valve 168 in the piston 40.

The chambers 150 and 152, however, not only serve exclusively as admission pressure chambers, but also assume the function of cooling the oscillating piston engine 10.

For lubricant, in particular oil supply to the movable elements, for example the pistons 34 to 40 (in particular their piston rings), the ball bearings 108, 110, etc., lubricant channels 180 and 182 are provided, for example in the shaft 20 (see FIG the lubricant in the oscillating piston engine 10 on and is discharged again. In order to be able to direct the lubricant into the center of the oscillating piston engine, in particular to be able to guide the ball 84 between the piston plates 70 and 72, the piston plates 70 and 72 also each have lubricant channels 188, 190, and in the end caps 112, 114 are corresponding , not shown in the drawing, channels present.

Claims

claims

An oscillating piston engine comprising a housing (12) having an at least approximately spherical inner wall (32) and at least two pistons (34, 36) common to the housing; (12) can rotate around a housing-most rotational axis (42), and during pivoting around the rotation axis (42) reciprocating pivotal movements about at least one pivot axis (42) perpendicular pivot axis (44) ausfuhren, wherein the pivotal movements of the two pistons (34, 36) are directed in opposite directions to each other, and wherein the two pistons (34, 36) aurweisen an end face (46, 48) which face each other and each define a frontal end of a working chamber (54) which completely outside Is arranged rotation axis (42) and circumferentially by a working chamber wall (58) is limited, characterized in that the by the two end faces (46, 48) of the two pistons (34, 36) and the working chamber wall (58) formed working chamber (54) and the pistons (34, 36) have the shape of an annular bead section at least in the region of their ends facing the working chamber (54)

Oscillating piston machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the curvature of the working chamber (54) and / or the piston (34, 36) concentric with the pivot axis (44).

Oscillating piston machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the working chamber (54) and / or the pistons (34, 36) at least in the region of its end face in cross section perpendicular to the direction of pivotal movement of the pistons (34, 36) is circular / are.

Oscillating piston machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the working chamber (54) and / or the pistons (34, 36) in cross section perpendicular to the direction of pivotal movement of the pistons (34, 36) ellipsoidal is / are.

5. oscillating piston engine according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the Koiben (34, 36) about the same pivot axis (44) are pivotable.

6. oscillating piston engine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the one piston (34) with a first about the pivot axis (44) rotatable piston plate (70) and the other piston (36) with a second about the pivot axis (44 ) rotatable piston plate (72) is connected, wherein the first and the second piston plate (70, 72) with respect to the pivot axis (44) are movable relative to each other.

7. oscillating piston engine according to claim 6, characterized in that the first and the second piston plate (70, 72) together form a part of the working chamber wall (58).

8. oscillating piston engine according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the housing (12) two further pistons (38, 40) are arranged and with the other two pistons (34, 36) rotate together about the axis of rotation (42) and between two opposite end surfaces (50, 52) form a second working chamber (56) which is diametrically opposed to the other working chamber (54) with respect to the axis of rotation (42) and the pivot axis (44), respectively.

9. oscillating piston engine according to claim 8, characterized in that the four pistons (34, 36, 38, 40) about the same pivot axis (44) are pivotable.

10. oscillating piston engine according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the four pistons (34, 36, 38, 40) are arranged so that the two working chambers (54, 56) due to the pivotal movements of the piston (34, 36, 38 , 40) in the same direction enlarge and reduce.

11. Oscillating piston machine according to one of claims 8 to 10 and one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that one of the two further pistons (38, 40) is connected to the first piston plate (70) and with the first piston plate (70) likewise connected piston (34) with respect to the pivot axis (44) diametrically opposite, and that the other of the two further pistons (38, 40) is connected to the second piston plate (72) and to the second piston plate (72) also connected piston ( 36) diametrically opposite to the pivot axis (44).

12. Oscillating piston machine according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that on the two working chambers (54, 56) facing away from each end adjacent piston (34, 40, 36, 38) each have a further chamber (150, 152) is formed , which are sealed against the working chambers (54, 56) and in opposite directions to the working chambers (54, 56) due to the pivotal movements of the pistons (34, 36, 38, 40) decrease and enlarge and serve as pre-pressure chambers.

13. oscillating piston engine according to claim 12, characterized in that the further chambers (150, 152) with in each case one of the two working chambers (54, 56) in the piston (34, 36, 38, 40) arranged valves (162, 164, 166, 168) for injecting precompressed air into the respective working chamber (54, 56) in the chambers (150, 152).

14. Oscillating piston engine according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the pistons (34, 36, 38, 40) are received in a piston cage (120), of which the inner wall (32) of the housing (12) facing Outer side is substantially closed and spherical, wherein the pistons (34, 36, 38, 40) with respect to the rotation axis (42) relative to benko benig (120) immovable and with respect to the pivot axis (44) relative to the piston cage (120) movable are.

15. oscillating piston engine according to claim 14, characterized in that a part of the piston (34, 36, 38, 40) facing inside of the piston cage (120) has a part of the working chamber wall (58, 60) of the at least one working chamber (54, 56) forms.

16 oscillating piston engine according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that in a wall of the piston cage (120) openings (122, 123) are provided, which in the circulation of the piston cage (120) about the axis of rotation (42) openings in the housing (12). alternately release and close.

17. oscillating piston engine according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the piston cage (120) has at least one shaft (20, 22) which is arranged concentrically to the rotation axis (42) and from the outside of the piston cage (120) the housing (12) extends out.

18 oscillating piston engine according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that for deriving the pivotal movement of the piston (34, 36, 38, 40) from the orbital movement about the axis of rotation (42) a control mechanism is present, the at least one piston-fixed Laufglied ( 124, 126) which is guided in a housing-fixed control cam (136).

19. Oscillating piston engine according to claim 18 and one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that the housing-fixed running member (124, 126) with one of the pistons (34, 40) via a journal (128, 132) is connected by a slot-shaped Opening (130, 134) protrudes in the piston cage.

20 oscillating piston engine according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that the running member (124, 126) has two in the radial direction with respect to the pivot axis (44) adjacent spherical layer-shaped rollers (138, 140, 142, 144) having different maximum diameters, wherein the control cam (136) corresponding to two to the rollers (138, 140, 142, 144) complementary in the radial direction adjacent cam sections (146, 148).