WO2020106135A1 - Wankel rotary engine - Google Patents

Wankel rotary engine

Info

Publication number
WO2020106135A1
WO2020106135A1 PCT/MY2019/000045 MY2019000045W WO2020106135A1 WO 2020106135 A1 WO2020106135 A1 WO 2020106135A1 MY 2019000045 W MY2019000045 W MY 2019000045W WO 2020106135 A1 WO2020106135 A1 WO 2020106135A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
degrees
rotation angle
expansion
rotors
crankshaft
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/MY2019/000045
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Azman Bin ZAHARI
Raez Islam Bin AZMAN
Original Assignee
Zahari Azman Bin
Azman Raez Islam Bin
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Zahari Azman Bin, Azman Raez Islam Bin filed Critical Zahari Azman Bin
Publication of WO2020106135A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020106135A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B53/00—Internal-combustion aspects of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines
    • F02B53/14—Adaptations of engines for driving, or engine combinations with, other devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01C—ROTARY-PISTON OR OSCILLATING-PISTON MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01C1/00—Rotary-piston machines or engines
    • F01C1/22—Rotary-piston machines or engines of internal-axis type with equidirectional movement of co-operating members at the points of engagement, or with one of the co-operating members being stationary, the inner member having more teeth or tooth- equivalents than the outer member
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01C—ROTARY-PISTON OR OSCILLATING-PISTON MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01C11/00—Combinations of two or more machines or engines, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type
    • F01C11/002—Combinations of two or more machines or engines, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type of similar working principle
    • F01C11/004—Combinations of two or more machines or engines, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type of similar working principle and of complementary function, e.g. internal combustion engine with supercharger
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B53/00—Internal-combustion aspects of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B53/00—Internal-combustion aspects of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines
    • F02B53/04—Charge admission or combustion-gas discharge
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
    • F01C—ROTARY-PISTON OR OSCILLATING-PISTON MACHINES OR ENGINES
    • F01C19/00—Sealing arrangements in rotary-piston machines or engines
    • F01C19/12—Sealing arrangements in rotary-piston machines or engines for other than working fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B53/00—Internal-combustion aspects of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines
    • F02B2053/005—Wankel engines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
    • F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
    • F02B53/00—Internal-combustion aspects of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston engines
    • F02B53/02—Methods of operating
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
    • Y02T10/10—Internal combustion engine [ICE] based vehicles
    • Y02T10/12—Improving ICE efficiencies

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a Wankel rotary engine.
  • Wankel rotary engines have a construction which provides a number of significant advantages over conventional piston engines.
  • the Wankel rotary engine has relatively few parts in comparison to the piston engine and fewer moving parts. This allows the rotary engine to be relatively easy to build and assemble in comparison to a piston engine.
  • the rotary engine is also therefore generally cheaper and more reliable due to its simple design. It may also be built in a relatively compact size.
  • the rotary engine also has advantages in that there is no reciprocating mass as is the case with pistons and valves in a piston engine. The reciprocating mass results in limits on a piston engine’s RPM and the time required to achieve it.
  • the rotary engine With only rotational mass, the rotary engine is smoother in operation, has higher RPM limits and has a shorter time to achieve it. For each rotor in a rotary engine there is also one combustion stroke for every rotation of the crankshaft as opposed to a piston engine which has only one combustion stroke for every two rotations of the crankshaft.
  • the rotary engine has a low thermodynamic efficiency and a low fuel economy in comparison to a piston engine.
  • the rotary engine has relatively low compression ratios and due to the shape of the combustion chamber being relatively long, a larger amount of air/fuel mixture generally remains unburnt leading to lower efficiency and fuel economy.
  • the shape of the rotor presents challenges to achieving effective seals between chambers, particularly at the apex of the rotors. Temperature differences between the combustion, intake and compression areas of the side plates also result in differences in thermal expansion which makes sealing against the side plates more difficult. As lubricating the side seals and apex seals requires oil to be either directly injected into the chambers or mixed with the fuel, rotary engines also burn the lubricating oil, thus resulting in poor emissions. It is therefore difficult to produce a rotary engine which will meet today’s more stringent emission standards for vehicle engines, however it has an enthusiastic following in the high performance arena.
  • the present invention relates to a rotary engine having a modified design in order to overcome, at least in part, the above-mentioned problems.
  • Wankel rotary engine comprising;
  • a first combustion chamber including a first rotor, the first combustion chamber being defined by a first rotor housing, a first side plate and a second side plate and including a first intake port and a first exhaust port;
  • a second combustion chamber including a second rotor, the second combustion chamber being defined by a second rotor housing, a third side plate and a fourth side plate and including a second intake port and a second exhaust port;
  • an expansion chamber including an expansion rotor, the expansion chamber being defined by an expansion rotor housing and the second and third side plates;
  • a crankshaft connected to the first rotor, the second rotor and the expansion rotor; wherein a first transfer duct connects the first exhaust port to a third intake port on a first side of the expansion chamber and a second transfer duct connects the second exhaust port to a fourth intake port on a second opposite side of the expansion chamber such that the exhaust and any unburnt fuel from the first and second combustion chambers may continue to expand and combust in the expansion chamber.
  • the expansion chamber includes a third exhaust port and a fourth exhaust port.
  • first intake port and the first exhaust ports are located on a side of the first rotor housing and the second intake port and the second exhaust ports are located on a side of the second rotor housing.
  • the third and fourth intake ports and the third and fourth exhaust ports are provided on sides of the expansion rotor housing.
  • each side of the expansion rotor housing includes one of the third or fourth intake ports and one of the third or fourth exhaust ports.
  • the first and second rotors are 180° offset from each other and the expansion rotor is offset from the first and second rotors by 90°.
  • the first intake and exhaust ports are provided on a first side of the first rotor housing
  • the second intake and exhaust ports are provided on the first side of the second rotor housing
  • the third intake port and the fourth exhaust port are provided on the first side of the expansion rotor housing
  • the third exhaust port and the fourth intake port are provided on an opposite second side of the expansion rotor housing.
  • first and second rotors are aligned and the expansion rotor is offset by 90° to the first and second rotors.
  • the first intake and exhaust ports are provided on a first side of the first rotor housing
  • the second intake and exhaust ports are provided on a second side of the second rotor housing
  • the third intake port and the fourth exhaust port are provided on the first side of the expansion rotor housing
  • the third exhaust port and the fourth intake port are provided on the second side of the expansion rotor housing.
  • Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a Wankel rotary engine in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a Wankel rotary engine in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 3a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
  • Figure 3b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
  • Figure 3c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
  • Figure 4a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
  • Figure 4b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
  • Figure 4c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
  • Figure 5a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
  • Figure 5b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
  • Figure 5c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
  • Figure 6a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
  • Figure 6b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
  • Figure 6c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
  • Figure 7a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
  • Figure 7b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
  • Figure 7c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
  • Figure 8a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
  • Figure 8b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
  • Figure 8c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
  • Figure 9a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
  • Figure 9b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
  • Figure 9c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
  • Figure 10a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
  • Figure 10b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
  • Figure 10c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
  • Figure 1 1 a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
  • Figure 11 b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
  • Figure 11c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
  • Figure 12a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
  • Figure 12b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
  • Figure 12c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
  • Figure 13a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
  • Figure 13b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
  • Figure 13c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
  • Figure 14a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
  • Figure 14b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
  • Figure 14c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
  • Figure 15a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
  • Figure 15b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
  • Figure 15c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
  • Figure 16a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
  • Figure 16b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
  • Figure 16c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
  • Figure 17a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
  • Figure 17b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
  • Figure 17c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
  • Figure 18a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
  • Figure 18b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
  • Figure 18c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
  • Figure 19a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
  • Figure 19b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
  • Figure 19c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
  • Figure 20a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
  • Figure 20b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
  • Figure 20c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
  • Figure 21a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
  • Figure 21b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
  • Figure 21c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
  • Figure 22a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
  • Figure 22b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
  • Figure 22c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
  • Figure 23a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
  • Figure 23b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
  • Figure 23c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
  • Figure 24a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
  • Figure 24b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
  • Figure 24c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
  • Figure 25a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
  • Figure 25b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
  • Figure 25c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
  • Figure 26a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
  • Figure 26b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
  • Figure 26c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
  • the rotary engine 10 comprises generally a first combustion chamber 12, a second combustion chamber 14 and an expansion chamber 16.
  • the first combustion chamber 12 comprises a generally conventional design such that the first combustion chamber 12 is defined by a first rotor housing 18, a first side plate 20 and a second side plate 22.
  • the first rotor housing 18 comprises a generally elliptical tubular member of a conventional shape for a rotary engine which is sealed at opposed ends by the planar first and second side plates 20 and 22.
  • the first combustion chamber 12, as defined by the first rotor housing 18 and first and second side plates 20 and 22, receives a first rotor 24.
  • the first rotor 24 is of a conventional shape for a rotary engine.
  • the first combustion chamber 12 includes a first intake port 40 and a first exhaust port 42 (as can be seen in Figures 3 to 14).
  • the first intake and exhaust ports 40 and 42 are provided on a side of the first rotor housing 18.
  • the second combustion chamber 14 also comprises a generally conventional design such that the second combustion chamber 14 is defined by a second rotor housing 26, a third side plate 28 and a fourth side plate 30.
  • the second rotor housing 26 comprises generally an elliptical tubular member sealed at opposed ends by the planar third and fourth side plates 28 and 30.
  • the second combustion chamber 14, as defined by the second rotor housing 26, and the third and fourth side plates 28 and 30 receives a second rotor 32.
  • the second rotor 32 is of a conventional shape for a rotary engine.
  • the second combustion chamber 14 includes a second intake port 44 and a second exhaust port 46.
  • the second intake and exhaust ports 44 and 46 are provided on a side of the second rotor housing 26.
  • the first and second combustion chambers 14 also both include spark plugs 60.
  • the expansion chamber 16 of the rotary engine 10 is provided between the first and second combustion chambers 12 and 14.
  • the expansion chamber 16 is defined by an expansion rotor housing 34.
  • the expansion rotor housing 34 is defined by The expansion rotor housing
  • the expansion rotor housing 34 comprises also a generally elliptical tubular member of a conventional shape for a rotary engine.
  • the expansion rotor housing 34 is sealed at opposite ends by the second side plate 22 and the third side plate 28.
  • the expansion chamber 16 is provided also with an expansion rotor 36.
  • the expansion chamber 16 includes a third intake port 48, a third exhaust port 50, a fourth intake port 52 and a fourth exhaust port 54.
  • the third and fourth intake ports 48 and 52 and the third and fourth exhaust ports 50 and 54 are provided on sides of the expansion rotor housing 34 with each side of the expansion rotor housing 34 including one of the intake ports 48 or 52 and one of the exhaust ports 50 or 54.
  • the rotary engine 10 includes also a crankshaft 38 connecting through the first, second and expansion rotors 24, 32 and 36.
  • the crankshaft 38 includes rounded lobes offset from a longitudal axis of the crankshaft 38 corresponding to the desired relative positions of the rotors 24, 32 and 36.
  • the rotary engine 10 includes also a first transfer duct and a second transfer duct (not shown).
  • the first transfer duct connects from the first exhaust port 42 to the third intake port 48.
  • the second transfer duct connects from the second exhaust port 46 to the fourth intake port 52.
  • the first transfer duct thereby transfers exhaust from the first combustion chamber 12 along with any unburnt air/fuel mixture to the expansion chamber 16 on a first side thereof.
  • the second transfer duct transfers exhaust and any unbumt air/fuel mixture to the expansion chamber 16 on a second side thereof.
  • Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a rotary engine 10 in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the first and second rotors 24 and 32 are 180° offset from each other.
  • the expansion rotor 36 is offset from the first and second rotors 24 and 32 by around 90°.
  • the offset between the expansion rotor 36 and the first and second rotors 24 and 32 may be varied slightly from 90° to optimize operation.
  • the expansion rotor 36 may be advanced from 90°.
  • the expansion rotor 36 may be retarded from 90°.
  • the first intake and exhaust ports 40 and 42 are provided on a first side of the first rotor housing 18 and the second intake and exhaust ports 44 and 46 are provided on the first side of the second rotor housing 26.
  • the spark plugs 60 on both the first and second rotor housings 18 and 26 are provided on sides opposite the intake and exhaust ports 40, 42, 44, 46.
  • the third intake port 48 and the fourth exhaust port 54 are provided on the first side of the third rotor housing 34.
  • the third exhaust port 50 and the fourth intake port 52 are provided on an opposite second side of the third rotor housing 34.
  • Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a rotary engine 10 in accordance with the present invention.
  • the first and second rotors 24 and 32 are aligned and the expansion rotor 36 is offset by around 90° to the first and second rotors 24 and 32.
  • the first intake and exhaust ports 40 and 42 are provided on the first side of the first rotor housing 18 and the second intake and exhaust ports 44 and 46 are provided on the second side of the second rotor housing 26.
  • the spark plugs 60 on both the first and second rotor housings 18 and 26 are provided on sides opposite the respective intake and exhaust ports 40, 42, 44, 46.
  • the third intake port 48 and the fourth exhaust port 54 are provided on the first side of the third rotor housing 34.
  • the third exhaust port 50 and the fourth intake port 52 are provided on the second side of the third rotor housing 34.
  • the rotary engine 10 of the present invention essentially allows the expansion volume to be larger than the intake volume to harness as much energy as possible from the expanding gases. This allows the rotary engine 10 to operate with a greater combustion efficiency and also reduce overall emissions by improved combustion of the air/fuel mixture. Further, the expansion chamber 16 captures and harnesses additional energy normally lost with the exhaust and feeds it as additional torque into the crankshaft. Operation of the rotary engine 10 may be optimised by varying the volume of the expansion chamber 16 by modifying the width or general size of the third rotor housing 34 and the corresponding expansion rotor 36.
  • the rotary engine 10 provides the improved performance while allowing the engine to maintain the benefits of the Wankel rotary engine design, including a relatively small number of parts and allowing a compact design in an engine which has no reciprocating mass.
  • the temperature of the expansion chamber 16 may become significantly higher than that of the combustion chambers 12 and 14. While the combustion chambers 12 and 14 will draw in external cool air during operation, the expansion chamber 16 will draw in only exhaust gases from the combustion chambers 12 and 14 and therefore may operate at a higher temperature. A significantly high temperature in the expansion chamber 16 could create issues for sealing the rotor due to the impact on lubrication.
  • the expansion rotor 36 may operate without the usual seals provided in rotary engines.
  • the expansion rotor 36 may operate with a minimal gap between the expansion rotor 36 and the sides of the expansion chamber 16.
  • the exhaust and the pressure it exerts will act as a lubricant between the expansion Rotor, its housing and side walls and friction from the exhaust against the sides of the expansion Rotor will aid in driving the expansion rotor.
  • the space seals around the crank shaft will however remain but that is not an issue as the space seals are exposed to running oil splashing around the crank shaft that will provide cooling and lubrication.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Combustion Methods Of Internal-Combustion Engines (AREA)
  • Cylinder Crankcases Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Abstract

A Wankel rotary engine (10) comprising a first combustion chamber (12), a second combustion chamber (14) and an expansion chamber (16). The first, second and expansion chambers (12, 14, 16) include corresponding first, second and expansion rotors (24,26,36) and the expansion chamber (16) is located between the first and second chambers (12, 14). A first transfer duct connects an exhaust port on the first combustion chamber (12) to an intake port on a first side of the expansion chamber (16) and a second transfer duct connects an exhaust port on the second combustion chamber (14) to an intake port on a second opposite side of the expansion chamber (16). Exhaust and any unburnt fuel from the first and second combustion chambers (12, 14) may therefore continue to expand and combust in the expansion chamber (16). Further, the expansion chamber (16) captures and harnesses additional energy normally lost with the exhaust and feeds it as additional torque into the common crankshaft.

Description

WANKEL ROTARY ENGINE
Field of the Invention [001] The present invention relates to a Wankel rotary engine.
Background to the Invention
[002] Wankel rotary engines have a construction which provides a number of significant advantages over conventional piston engines. The Wankel rotary engine has relatively few parts in comparison to the piston engine and fewer moving parts. This allows the rotary engine to be relatively easy to build and assemble in comparison to a piston engine. The rotary engine is also therefore generally cheaper and more reliable due to its simple design. It may also be built in a relatively compact size. [003] The rotary engine also has advantages in that there is no reciprocating mass as is the case with pistons and valves in a piston engine. The reciprocating mass results in limits on a piston engine’s RPM and the time required to achieve it. With only rotational mass, the rotary engine is smoother in operation, has higher RPM limits and has a shorter time to achieve it. For each rotor in a rotary engine there is also one combustion stroke for every rotation of the crankshaft as opposed to a piston engine which has only one combustion stroke for every two rotations of the crankshaft.
[004] Despite the advantages of the rotary engine there are a number of disadvantages due to its design which has resulted in the rotary engine being generally unable to compete with piston engines. Firstly, the rotary engine has a low thermodynamic efficiency and a low fuel economy in comparison to a piston engine. The rotary engine has relatively low compression ratios and due to the shape of the combustion chamber being relatively long, a larger amount of air/fuel mixture generally remains unburnt leading to lower efficiency and fuel economy.
[005] Further, the shape of the rotor presents challenges to achieving effective seals between chambers, particularly at the apex of the rotors. Temperature differences between the combustion, intake and compression areas of the side plates also result in differences in thermal expansion which makes sealing against the side plates more difficult. As lubricating the side seals and apex seals requires oil to be either directly injected into the chambers or mixed with the fuel, rotary engines also burn the lubricating oil, thus resulting in poor emissions. It is therefore difficult to produce a rotary engine which will meet today’s more stringent emission standards for vehicle engines, however it has an enthusiastic following in the high performance arena.
[006] The present invention relates to a rotary engine having a modified design in order to overcome, at least in part, the above-mentioned problems.
Summary of the Invention
[007] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a Wankel rotary engine comprising;
a first combustion chamber including a first rotor, the first combustion chamber being defined by a first rotor housing, a first side plate and a second side plate and including a first intake port and a first exhaust port;
a second combustion chamber including a second rotor, the second combustion chamber being defined by a second rotor housing, a third side plate and a fourth side plate and including a second intake port and a second exhaust port;
an expansion chamber including an expansion rotor, the expansion chamber being defined by an expansion rotor housing and the second and third side plates; and
a crankshaft connected to the first rotor, the second rotor and the expansion rotor; wherein a first transfer duct connects the first exhaust port to a third intake port on a first side of the expansion chamber and a second transfer duct connects the second exhaust port to a fourth intake port on a second opposite side of the expansion chamber such that the exhaust and any unburnt fuel from the first and second combustion chambers may continue to expand and combust in the expansion chamber.
[008] Preferably the expansion chamber includes a third exhaust port and a fourth exhaust port.
[009] Preferably the first intake port and the first exhaust ports are located on a side of the first rotor housing and the second intake port and the second exhaust ports are located on a side of the second rotor housing.
[010] Preferably the third and fourth intake ports and the third and fourth exhaust ports are provided on sides of the expansion rotor housing.
[01 1] Preferably each side of the expansion rotor housing includes one of the third or fourth intake ports and one of the third or fourth exhaust ports.
[012] In one embodiment, the first and second rotors are 180° offset from each other and the expansion rotor is offset from the first and second rotors by 90°.
[013] Preferably the first intake and exhaust ports are provided on a first side of the first rotor housing, the second intake and exhaust ports are provided on the first side of the second rotor housing, the third intake port and the fourth exhaust port are provided on the first side of the expansion rotor housing and the third exhaust port and the fourth intake port are provided on an opposite second side of the expansion rotor housing.
[014] In a further embodiment, the first and second rotors are aligned and the expansion rotor is offset by 90° to the first and second rotors.
[015] Preferably the first intake and exhaust ports are provided on a first side of the first rotor housing, the second intake and exhaust ports are provided on a second side of the second rotor housing, the third intake port and the fourth exhaust port are provided on the first side of the expansion rotor housing and the third exhaust port and the fourth intake port are provided on the second side of the expansion rotor housing.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[016] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which:
[017] Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a Wankel rotary engine in accordance with the present invention;
[018] Figure 2 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a Wankel rotary engine in accordance with the present invention;
[019] Figure 3a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
[020] Figure 3b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
[021] Figure 3c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
[022] Figure 4a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
[023] Figure 4b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
[024] Figure 4c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees; [025] Figure 5a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
[026] Figure 5b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
[027] Figure 5c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
[028] Figure 6a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
[029] Figure 6b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
[030] Figure 6c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
[031] Figure 7a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
[032] Figure 7b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
[033] Figure 7c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
[034] Figure 8a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees; [035] Figure 8b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
[036] Figure 8c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
[037] Figure 9a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
[038] Figure 9b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
[039] Figure 9c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
[040] Figure 10a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
[041] Figure 10b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
[042] Figure 10c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
[043] Figure 1 1 a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
[044] Figure 11 b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees; [045] Figure 11c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
[046] Figure 12a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
[047] Figure 12b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
[048] Figure 12c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
[049] Figure 13a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
[050] Figure 13b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
[051] Figure 13c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
[052] Figure 14a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
[053] Figure 14b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
[054] Figure 14c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 1 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees; [055] Figure 15a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
[056] Figure 15b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
[057] Figure 15c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft and the rotors at a rotation angle of 0 degrees;
[058] Figure 16a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
[059] Figure 16b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
[060] Figure 16c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 90 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 30 degrees;
[061] Figure 17a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
[062] Figure 17b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
[063] Figure 17c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 180 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 60 degrees;
[064] Figure 18a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees; [065] Figure 18b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
[066] Figure 18c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 270 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 90 degrees;
[067] Figure 19a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
[068] Figure 19b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
[069] Figure 19c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 360 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 120 degrees;
[070] Figure 20a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
[071] Figure 20b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
[072] Figure 20c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 450 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 150 degrees;
[073] Figure 21a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
[074] Figure 21b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees; [075] Figure 21c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 540 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 180 degrees;
[076] Figure 22a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
[077] Figure 22b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
[078] Figure 22c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 630 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 210 degrees;
[079] Figure 23a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
[080] Figure 23b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
[081] Figure 23c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 720 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 240 degrees;
[082] Figure 24a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
[083] Figure 24b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees;
[084] Figure 24c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 810 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 270 degrees; [085] Figure 25a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
[086] Figure 25b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
[087] Figure 25c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 900 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 300 degrees;
[088] Figure 26a is a side cross sectional view of the first combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
[089] Figure 26b is a side cross sectional view of the expansion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
[090] Figure 26c is a side cross sectional view of the second combustion chamber of the embodiment of Figure 2 with the crankshaft at a rotation angle of 990 degrees and the rotors at a rotation angle of 330 degrees;
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
[091] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a Wankel rotary engine 10 in an exploded form. The rotary engine 10 comprises generally a first combustion chamber 12, a second combustion chamber 14 and an expansion chamber 16.
[092] The first combustion chamber 12 comprises a generally conventional design such that the first combustion chamber 12 is defined by a first rotor housing 18, a first side plate 20 and a second side plate 22. The first rotor housing 18 comprises a generally elliptical tubular member of a conventional shape for a rotary engine which is sealed at opposed ends by the planar first and second side plates 20 and 22. The first combustion chamber 12, as defined by the first rotor housing 18 and first and second side plates 20 and 22, receives a first rotor 24. The first rotor 24 is of a conventional shape for a rotary engine.
[093] The first combustion chamber 12 includes a first intake port 40 and a first exhaust port 42 (as can be seen in Figures 3 to 14). The first intake and exhaust ports 40 and 42 are provided on a side of the first rotor housing 18.
[094] The second combustion chamber 14 also comprises a generally conventional design such that the second combustion chamber 14 is defined by a second rotor housing 26, a third side plate 28 and a fourth side plate 30. The second rotor housing 26 comprises generally an elliptical tubular member sealed at opposed ends by the planar third and fourth side plates 28 and 30. The second combustion chamber 14, as defined by the second rotor housing 26, and the third and fourth side plates 28 and 30 receives a second rotor 32. The second rotor 32 is of a conventional shape for a rotary engine.
[095] The second combustion chamber 14 includes a second intake port 44 and a second exhaust port 46. The second intake and exhaust ports 44 and 46 are provided on a side of the second rotor housing 26. The first and second combustion chambers 14 also both include spark plugs 60.
[096] The expansion chamber 16 of the rotary engine 10 is provided between the first and second combustion chambers 12 and 14. The expansion chamber 16 is defined by an expansion rotor housing 34. The expansion rotor housing
34 comprises also a generally elliptical tubular member of a conventional shape for a rotary engine. The expansion rotor housing 34 is sealed at opposite ends by the second side plate 22 and the third side plate 28. The expansion chamber 16 is provided also with an expansion rotor 36. [097] The expansion chamber 16 includes a third intake port 48, a third exhaust port 50, a fourth intake port 52 and a fourth exhaust port 54. The third and fourth intake ports 48 and 52 and the third and fourth exhaust ports 50 and 54 are provided on sides of the expansion rotor housing 34 with each side of the expansion rotor housing 34 including one of the intake ports 48 or 52 and one of the exhaust ports 50 or 54.
[098] The rotary engine 10 includes also a crankshaft 38 connecting through the first, second and expansion rotors 24, 32 and 36. The crankshaft 38 includes rounded lobes offset from a longitudal axis of the crankshaft 38 corresponding to the desired relative positions of the rotors 24, 32 and 36.
[099] The rotary engine 10 includes also a first transfer duct and a second transfer duct (not shown). The first transfer duct connects from the first exhaust port 42 to the third intake port 48. The second transfer duct connects from the second exhaust port 46 to the fourth intake port 52. The first transfer duct thereby transfers exhaust from the first combustion chamber 12 along with any unburnt air/fuel mixture to the expansion chamber 16 on a first side thereof. The second transfer duct transfers exhaust and any unbumt air/fuel mixture to the expansion chamber 16 on a second side thereof. [100] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a rotary engine 10 in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the first and second rotors 24 and 32 are 180° offset from each other. The expansion rotor 36 is offset from the first and second rotors 24 and 32 by around 90°. The offset between the expansion rotor 36 and the first and second rotors 24 and 32 may be varied slightly from 90° to optimize operation. For example, in the case where suction is needed to draw in exhaust into the expansion chamber 16, the expansion rotor 36 may be advanced from 90°. In the case where exhaust transfer ducts are long, and some delay is therefore required before intake into the expansion chamber 16 is closed, the expansion rotor 36 may be retarded from 90°. [101] The first intake and exhaust ports 40 and 42 are provided on a first side of the first rotor housing 18 and the second intake and exhaust ports 44 and 46 are provided on the first side of the second rotor housing 26. The spark plugs 60 on both the first and second rotor housings 18 and 26 are provided on sides opposite the intake and exhaust ports 40, 42, 44, 46. The third intake port 48 and the fourth exhaust port 54 are provided on the first side of the third rotor housing 34. The third exhaust port 50 and the fourth intake port 52 are provided on an opposite second side of the third rotor housing 34.
[102] The tables below provides a description of each stage of the operation of the rotary engine 10 as shown in Figures 3 to 14.
Figure imgf000016_0001
Figure imgf000017_0001
Figure imgf000018_0001
[103] Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a rotary engine 10 in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the first and second rotors 24 and 32 are aligned and the expansion rotor 36 is offset by around 90° to the first and second rotors 24 and 32.
[104] The first intake and exhaust ports 40 and 42 are provided on the first side of the first rotor housing 18 and the second intake and exhaust ports 44 and 46 are provided on the second side of the second rotor housing 26. The spark plugs 60 on both the first and second rotor housings 18 and 26 are provided on sides opposite the respective intake and exhaust ports 40, 42, 44, 46. The third intake port 48 and the fourth exhaust port 54 are provided on the first side of the third rotor housing 34. The third exhaust port 50 and the fourth intake port 52 are provided on the second side of the third rotor housing 34.
[105] The process of transferring exhaust and unburnt air/fuel mixture from the first and second combustion chambers 12 and 14 to the expansion chamber 16 however remains the same in this embodiment.
[106] The tables below provides a description of each stage of the operation of the rotary engine 10 as shown in Figures 15 to 26.
Figure imgf000019_0001
Figure imgf000020_0001
[107] The rotary engine 10 of the present invention essentially allows the expansion volume to be larger than the intake volume to harness as much energy as possible from the expanding gases. This allows the rotary engine 10 to operate with a greater combustion efficiency and also reduce overall emissions by improved combustion of the air/fuel mixture. Further, the expansion chamber 16 captures and harnesses additional energy normally lost with the exhaust and feeds it as additional torque into the crankshaft. Operation of the rotary engine 10 may be optimised by varying the volume of the expansion chamber 16 by modifying the width or general size of the third rotor housing 34 and the corresponding expansion rotor 36.
[108] The rotary engine 10 provides the improved performance while allowing the engine to maintain the benefits of the Wankel rotary engine design, including a relatively small number of parts and allowing a compact design in an engine which has no reciprocating mass.
[109] Due to the arrangement of the expansion chamber, it is expected that the temperature of the expansion chamber 16 may become significantly higher than that of the combustion chambers 12 and 14. While the combustion chambers 12 and 14 will draw in external cool air during operation, the expansion chamber 16 will draw in only exhaust gases from the combustion chambers 12 and 14 and therefore may operate at a higher temperature. A significantly high temperature in the expansion chamber 16 could create issues for sealing the rotor due to the impact on lubrication.
[1 10] As the expansion chamber 16 is required only to expand gas and is not required to compress gas in the manner of the combustion chambers 12 and 14, it is expected that the expansion rotor 36 may operate without the usual seals provided in rotary engines. The expansion rotor 36 may operate with a minimal gap between the expansion rotor 36 and the sides of the expansion chamber 16. The exhaust and the pressure it exerts will act as a lubricant between the expansion Rotor, its housing and side walls and friction from the exhaust against the sides of the expansion Rotor will aid in driving the expansion rotor. The space seals around the crank shaft will however remain but that is not an issue as the space seals are exposed to running oil splashing around the crank shaft that will provide cooling and lubrication.
[111] The solution of utilising an expansion rotors without seals provides some significant possible changes to the designs of the expansion rotor 36. It can still be in the conventional shape as shown in the drawings or may be radically changed to other possible shapes. Such shapes would however all comprise rotors having three points, the tips of which are equidistant from their centres, angled equally 120° apart, having a planetary gear arrangement at a ratio of 1 :3 at their centres.
[112] It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention.

Claims

Claims
1. A Wankel rotary engine (10) comprising;
a first combustion chamber (12) including a first rotor (24), the first combustion chamber (12) being defined by a first rotor housing (18), a first side plate (20) and a second side plate (22) and including a first intake port and a first exhaust port;
a second combustion chamber (14) including a second rotor (32), the second combustion chamber (14) being defined by a second rotor housing (26), a third side plate (28) and a fourth side plate (30) and including a second intake port and a second exhaust port;
an expansion chamber (16) including an expansion rotor (36), the expansion chamber (16) being defined by an expansion rotor housing (34) and the second and third side plates (22, 28); and
a crankshaft (38) connected to the first rotor (24), the second rotor (32) and the expansion rotor (36);
wherein a first transfer duct connects the first exhaust port to a third intake port on a first side of the expansion chamber (16) and a second transfer duct connects the second exhaust port to a fourth intake port on an opposite second side of the expansion chamber (16) such that exhaust and any unburnt fuel from the first and second combustion chambers (12, 14) may continue to expand and combust in the expansion chamber (16).
2. A Wankel rotary engine (10) in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the expansion chamber (16) includes a third exhaust port and a fourth exhaust port.
3. A Wankel rotary engine (10) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first intake port and the first exhaust ports are located on a side of the first rotor housing (18) and the second intake port and the second exhaust ports are located on a side of the second rotor housing (26).
4. A Wankel rotary engine (10) in accordance with claim 3, wherein the third and fourth intake ports and the third and fourth exhaust ports are provided on sides of the expansion rotor housing (34).
5. A Wankel rotary engine (10) in accordance with claim 4, wherein each side of the expansion rotor housing (34) includes one of the third or fourth intake ports and one of the third or fourth exhaust ports.
6. A Wankel rotary engine (10) in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first and second rotors (24, 32) are 180° offset from each other and the expansion rotor (36) is offset from the first and second rotors (24, 32) by around 90°.
7. A Wankel rotary engine (10) in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first intake and exhaust ports are provided on a first side of the first rotor housing (18), the second intake and exhaust ports are provided on the first side of the second rotor housing (26), the third intake port and the fourth exhaust port are provided on the first side of the expansion rotor housing (34) and the third exhaust port and the fourth intake port are provided on an opposite second side of the expansion rotor housing (34).
8. A Wankel rotary engine (10) in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first and second rotors (24, 32) are aligned and the expansion rotor (36) is offset by around 90° to the first and second rotors (24, 32).
9. A Wankel rotary engine (10) in accordance with claim 8, wherein the first intake and exhaust ports are provided on a first side of the first rotor housing (18), the second intake and exhaust ports are provided on a second side of the second rotor housing (26), the third intake port and the fourth exhaust port are provided on the first side of the expansion rotor housing (34) and the third exhaust port and the fourth intake port are provided on the second side of the expansion rotor housing (34).
PCT/MY2019/000045 2018-11-19 2019-11-18 Wankel rotary engine WO2020106135A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
MYPI2018001992 2018-11-19
MYPI2018001992 2018-11-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020106135A1 true WO2020106135A1 (en) 2020-05-28

Family

ID=70773161

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/MY2019/000045 WO2020106135A1 (en) 2018-11-19 2019-11-18 Wankel rotary engine

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2019202403A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2020106135A1 (en)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3371654A (en) * 1965-11-13 1968-03-05 Rolls Royce Compound rotary piston type internal combustion engine
US3528084A (en) * 1967-12-02 1970-09-08 Daimler Benz Ag Rotary piston internal combustion engine
US3903848A (en) * 1974-08-14 1975-09-09 Gen Motors Corp Two-stage rotary combustion engine
US4860704A (en) * 1985-10-15 1989-08-29 Slaughter Eldon E Hinge valved rotary engine with separate compression and expansion sections
US20100326753A1 (en) * 2008-03-19 2010-12-30 Garside David W Rotary Piston Internal Combustion Engine Power Unit
US20110174262A1 (en) * 2008-10-08 2011-07-21 Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. Rotary engine with exhaust gas supplemental compounding

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3371654A (en) * 1965-11-13 1968-03-05 Rolls Royce Compound rotary piston type internal combustion engine
US3528084A (en) * 1967-12-02 1970-09-08 Daimler Benz Ag Rotary piston internal combustion engine
US3903848A (en) * 1974-08-14 1975-09-09 Gen Motors Corp Two-stage rotary combustion engine
US4860704A (en) * 1985-10-15 1989-08-29 Slaughter Eldon E Hinge valved rotary engine with separate compression and expansion sections
US20100326753A1 (en) * 2008-03-19 2010-12-30 Garside David W Rotary Piston Internal Combustion Engine Power Unit
US20110174262A1 (en) * 2008-10-08 2011-07-21 Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc. Rotary engine with exhaust gas supplemental compounding

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2019202403A1 (en) 2020-06-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10138804B2 (en) Rotary internal combustion engine
US9926842B2 (en) Rotary internal combustion engine with exhaust purge
JP4815012B2 (en) Separate cycle variable capacity spark ignition rotary engine
JP6588900B2 (en) Spool shuttle crossover valve in split cycle engine
EP1788221A2 (en) Dual six-stroke self-cooling internal cobustion engine
US10533486B2 (en) Method of operating an engine having a pilot subchamber at partial load conditions
NZ568316A (en) Rotary internal combustion engine with vanes having roller cams which follow the rotor
US8033264B2 (en) Rotary engine
US20060065233A1 (en) Rotary engine
US5819699A (en) Rotary internal combustion engine
JP2008516142A (en) V-twin structure having an assembly in the field of rotating machinery
WO2020106135A1 (en) Wankel rotary engine
US11261781B2 (en) Rotary internal combustion engine with unequal volumetric ratios
US11371550B2 (en) Rotary engine
US6386172B1 (en) Variable bandwidth striated charge for use in a rotary vane pumping machine
WO2018184035A1 (en) Two-stroke cycle rotary internal combustion engine
Hurley et al. The Rotating Combustion Engine
KR19980031943A (en) Rotating piston engine using eccentric gear
KR20170142700A (en) Twin Rotary Engine
JPH0223228A (en) Two-cycle gasoline engine
CA2335407A1 (en) The rotary vane engine

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 19886161

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 19886161

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1