Abstract:
The process consists in obtaining high torque, rotary power from initial (high energy) fragments of expansion-produced work which is obtained by allowing just a limited pressure-drop of successive segments of a highly expansible gas. The rest of the work which could be obtained from more complete expansion may be extracted in some other way, as by segmental expansion in successive chambers and/or by it driving a turbine, and then these secondary outputs may be added to the first. Thus, in comparison with the output curve of the full stroke of a piston engine, here only the initial, nearly vertical segment of the total expansion curve is ''''severed'''' from the whole and is used to pace at high torque, a rotary drive shaft. Structurally, this is by the use of one or more successive, shallow, arcuately elongated, curcumferential-stepwise expansion chambers in a sliding vane, rotary engine, in place of the wedge-shaped chambers of the past. The latter resulted in low-torque output partly because they tried to expose as large as possible a contact area of the sliding vane, and the associated outward or radial gas-expansion in the wedge-chamber produced no obtainable work from such radial movement; also, the intended, nearly complete gas-expansion resulted in an ''''average'''' low-torque output because most of it was obtained from the flat end of the pressure-volume curve. The present process is applicable to both internal combustion and non-combustion (e.g. compressed air or steam) rotary engines of the sliding vane type, for which several new constructions are provided. Advantage is also obtained by use of a molded carbon facing for the rotor and the combustion chambers.
Abstract:
A rotary engine with fuel injection into the combustion chamber, wherein the positive electrode of the spark plug strikes a spark directly to the injector nozzle as the negative electrode during the period of fuel injection, thus producing positive ignition even during very lean operation, and also reducing spark plug fouling.
Abstract:
A rotary internal combustion engine has a cylindrical rotor eccentrically mounted within a circular cavity in the stator, the rotor being formed with a central axial fuel mixture inlet passageway and with a plurality of radial cavities in which are slidably mounted piston vanes, the crowns of which protrude from the rotor and are biased into closely spaced relation with the periphery of the block cavity to form therewith sealed compression-combustion chambers in the crescent-shaped spaces between the rotor and periphery of the block cavity. Sealing elements closely spaced from the block cavity periphery bisect the piston vane crowns in planes coincident with the rotor axis and each piston vane is formed with a pair of intake valves disposed respectively fore and aft of the sealing elements and sequentially operable to pass fuel mixture from the central inlet passageway into the combustion chambers defined within the crescent-shaped spaces by a pair of adjacent pistons and thereby materially increase the volumetric efficiency of the engine as compared with engines of the prior art having only a single inlet valve per combustion chamber. In one embodiment, wiper bars engageable with the block cavity surface are resiliently mounted in the piston crown so as to maintain a tight seal against the periphery of the block cavity while yieldably spacing the piston crown rings therefrom.
Abstract:
A rotary engine having a cycle which includes the phases of precompressed fuel injection, combustion-expansion and exhaust and including a stator in which a cylindrical cavity is formed concentric with a given axis, a shaft being mounted on axial bearings of said stator to support a rotor within said cavity having three circumferentially spaced head portions, higher radially than the intervening peripheral portions and closely rotatably slideably fitting said cavity. Two diametrically opposed combustion stations are provided at opposite points in said stator, each said station including a pocket in the face of said cavity in an area small enough to be practically sealed shut when one of said rotor head portions is traveling past said area. An abutment holding chamber is formed radially outwardly in said cavity just in advance of each combustion pocket area, an abutment rocker being pivotally mounted in each chamber and biased into constant line sealing contact with said rotor. Spent gas exhaust ports are provided just behind these abutments. High compression fuel injection means is cam operated to inject a fuel charge into each pocket while the latter is shut and ignite this just before it is uncovered. Each abutment is jointly biased against the rotor by spring and gaseous pressure. Fuel and air are separately injected into said combustion pockets in timed relation with the rotation of said rotor in accordance with conventional diesel fuel injection procedures.
Abstract:
A ROTARY TYPE INTERNAL COMUBSTION ENGINE OF TROCHOIDAL CONFIGURATION, INCLUDING A SINGLE-STAGE CARBURETOR, AN AUXILIARY SHUTOFF DEVICE IN THE INDUCTION PASSAGE ANTERIOR TO THE INLET PORT AND A SUPPLEMENTARY SUCTION SYSTEM DISPOSED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE BODY FORMING THE INDUCTION PASSAGE, AND COALIGNED WITH THE SHUTOFF DEVICE THEREIN. THE SUCTION SYSTEM INCLUDES AN IDLE FUEL PASSAGE, AND MEANS FOR REGULATION THE AMOUNT OF THE FUEL-AIR MIXTURE INTRODUCED INTO THE INLET PORT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE ENGINE DURING IDLING AND AT VARIABLE LOADS.
Abstract:
A rotary engine is provided with means for introducing straight air and an ignitable fuel mixture into the spaces between the rotor vanes in a stratified condition. Special means for sealing the vaned rotors, special change of motion means, and special cooling means are also provided.