Internal-combustion engines – Multiple cylinder – Cylinders radiating
Patent
1991-02-20
1992-09-15
Okonsky, David A.
Internal-combustion engines
Multiple cylinder
Cylinders radiating
1231971, F02B 7522
Patent
active
051468808
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to linear to rotary motion conversion in machines such as reciprocating piston internal combustion engines and fluid pumps.
Commonly linear to rotary motion conversion in machines is carried out by a crank and connecting rod. Notwithstanding the many disadvantages of this mechanism, well known in the art, no better solution has yet been found for many applications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Examples of machines which offer an alternative to the crank and connecting rod arrangement are shown in Australian Patents 473864 and 466936, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,032,495 and 3,572,209, European Patent Application 64726, United Kingdom Application 476247 and PCT published Specifications WO86/06134 and WO86/06787.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a practical alternative reciprocating/rotary motion conversion mechanism in a machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One broad form of the invention can be described as a machine having a primary axis and comprising: primary axis; and primary axis, each shaft being rotatable about a respective secondary axis parallel to the primary axis at a rate being a predetermined proportion of their orbital rate, and the planes of the lobes lying approximately in the radial plane of the pistons, and wherein during the rotation and orbit of the shafts and reciprocation of the pistons each piston maintains substantially continuous contact with at least one lobe throughout each cycle of reciprocation of that piston, and further wherein there is a transition without substantial time delay, between each successive cycle of reciprocation of each piston defined by the period between contact and separation of respective successive lobes and said piston.
Preferably the pistons are arranged in pairs, the pistons of each pair pumping fluid from one to the other in response to piston reciprocation so as to maintain substantially asynchronous reciprocation of the pistons of each pair.
Preferably the machine additionally comprises a main shaft rotatable about the primary axis and in torque transmitting connection with the array of lobed shafts. The main shaft may include a rigidly connected radial web supporting each lobed shaft in a position fixed relative to the web and being equally spaced about a pitch circle of the web. It is an advantage to have two such webs spaced along the main shaft and rotatably supporting the lobed shafts in the annular space therebetween.
Preferably the predetermined proportion of rotational to orbital rates of the lobed shafts is effected by intermeshed planet and ring gears, the plane gears being rigidly concentrically connected one to each shaft and the ring ear being fixed concentrically of the primary axis. The ring gear may be fixed to a casing which rotatably supports the main shaft via suitable bearings.
Conveniently each piston resides in a cylinder cooperatively defining a lower variable volume chamber being a fluid pumping chamber radially intermediate of the piston and filled with a fluid to be pumped between the respective pumping chambers of the pair of pistons in response to piston reciprocation. Each piston and respective cylinder may also define an upper variable volume chamber radially outwardly of the piston between a top of the piston and a radially outer closed end of the cylinders and which may be utilized as a conventional internal combustion chamber.
In a preferred arrangement of the invention each piston includes top and bottom separated piston halves rigidly interconnected by at least one radially aligned rod passing sealingly through an intermediate transverse cylinder wall so as to define the fluid pumping chamber between the bottom piston half and the intermediate cylinder wall, the upper variable volume chamber between the top piston half and the closed end of the cylinder and an intermediate variable volume chamber between the top piston half and the intermediate cylinder wall. The intermediate variable volume chamber may be an induction chamber for effecting and/or controllin
REFERENCES:
patent: 3482554 (1969-12-01), Marthins
patent: 3572209 (1971-03-01), Aldridge et al.
patent: 3948230 (1976-04-01), Burns
patent: 4331108 (1982-05-01), Collins
Okonsky David A.
Split-Cycle Technology Limited
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