Internal-combustion engines – Multiple cylinder – Cylinders radiating
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-03
2001-08-28
Kamen, Noah P. (Department: 3747)
Internal-combustion engines
Multiple cylinder
Cylinders radiating
C123S056200, C123S04400R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279518
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention pertains to the field of internal combustion engines, and, more specifically, internal combustion engines using a novel means of transferring power from conventional cylinders and pistons to a rotor with an ellipsoidal shaped power reception groove for final power transmission to the output shaft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional internal combustion engine attains mechanical energy from the expenditure of chemical energy of fuel burned in a combustion chamber, and is well known in the art. Conventional internal combustion engines customarily have a crankshaft that is used to transmit mechanical energy from a series of pistons to a main power output shaft. Internal combustion engines also conventionally include a cylindrical combustion chamber around which several pistons are positioned. Each piston extends and retracts around the combustion chamber, which varies the volume provided in the chamber between the inner face of the piston and the closed end of the cylinder. The outer face of the piston is attached to the crankshaft by a connecting rod, and the crankshaft thereby transforms the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary motion.
The conventional circular path circumscribing conventional crankshafts provides several problems. First, the piston and cylinder wall is worn by “piston slide slap”, wherein the pistons consistently make contact with the cylinder walls due to side forces. Additionally, the geometric area of rotating mass of the conventional rotor is also the cause of significant engine vibrations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary engine having a simple rotor design for producing efficient mechanical output while reducing the piston and cylinder wear during operation.
It is a further object of the present invention to utilize a central concentrically located shaft in relationship to the power producing cylinders, with an ellipsoidal grooved conical shaped rotor to receive energy from piston type power cylinders via cam follower-type connecting rod bearing mechanisms to produce rotational power output.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide the proper combination of mechanical linkages and configuration geometry, a system of porting, valving and burning of fuel and use of combustion materials, to transfer and transmit mechanical energy through the means of an efficient, powerful, relatively simple and cost effective internal combustion engine.
The present invention uses a central rotor having a frustoconical shape with an ellipsoidal groove machined into the outer surface of the rotor. A series of cylinders are angularity positioned with respect to the rotor, and each cylinder surrounds a piston that is connected to a piston rod. Additionally, the rotor is rotated by moving pistons in cylinders as are commonly found in conventional piston type internal combustion engines. The present invention provides a novel and alternative design in a simplified version of the piston type internal combustion engine by reducing the number of parts of the main power output rotor to thereby produce a less complex internal combustion engine than is found in conventional engines. A series of cylinders having pistons connected to piston rods are included, with the piston rods additionally being attached to piston followers that follow the elliptical groove on the rotor. By following this elliptical shaped path, the assembly will produce a more efficient power curve, with better anti-knock or pre-ignition characteristics than are conventionally generated by circular path circumscribing crankshafts, as the power curve will be flatter on the top of the curve, and sharper on the bottom of the power curve (or stroke). Piston and cylinder wall wear will also be reduced by eliminating the piston “side slap” force, as is present in conventional engines, thus prolonging cylinder and piston life as compared to conventional reciprocating engine cylinder and piston designs. The pistons will additionally be positively guided in the cylinders in this invention by eliminating nearly all lateral forces on the cylinder walls, as these forces will be absorbed within the walls of the rod guide bearings, thereby producing a better cylinder and piston design. Total engine vibration will be lessened by reducing the geometric area of rotating mass of the rotor, and dynamic balancing thereof, the design and manufacturing operations on the output (or crankshaft, in the case of normal designs) shaft, which will be much simplified as compared to conventional engine designs.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5529029 (1996-06-01), Rowe et al.
patent: 5553574 (1996-09-01), Duncalf
patent: 5758609 (1998-06-01), Smith
patent: 5765512 (1998-06-01), Fraser
patent: 5875744 (1999-03-01), Vallejos
patent: 6016737 (2000-01-01), Leijonberg
Burr & Forman LLP
Cooley Johnny L.
Holland Christopher A.
Huynh Hai
Kamen Noah P.
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