Internal-combustion engines – Rotating cylinder – Parallel to shaft
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-14
2002-02-05
Koczo, Michael (Department: 3746)
Internal-combustion engines
Rotating cylinder
Parallel to shaft
C123S04500R, C123S05000B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06343575
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to positive displacement devices such as internal combustion engines, pumps, compressors, and fluid motors.
BACKGROUND
An object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of a positive displacement device.
The key aspects of the positive displacement device include relative rotation and translation of a piston and a cylinder where the rotation accomplishes a rotary valve function and the translation accomplishes a change in chamber volume function; a means of linking the translation to the rotation; and a means of coupling the motion to an external device.
The preferred embodiment of the device has a relatively fixed piston which includes an intake port and an exhaust port; and a cylinder which rotates and translates relative to the piston. The cylinder contains a recessed volume which serves as a transfer port such that the piston intake port and the transfer port are in periodic registry during the cylinder rotation to allow fluid to enter the chamber through the intake port and transfer port. The piston exhaust port and the transfer port are also in periodic registry during the cylinder rotation to allow fluid to exit the chamber through the transfer port and the exhaust port. The volume between the piston and the cylinder creates a working chamber. The rotary valve action of the device is accomplished through the movement of the transfer port relative to the intake and exhaust ports. The translation of the cylinder relative to the piston creates the change in chamber volume.
The rotary valve action is accomplished in an alternative embodiment including a relatively fixed piston, a rotating and translating cylinder, and a relatively fixed outer case which contains the intake and exhaust ports.
The rotary valve action is also accomplished in another alternative embodiment including a relatively fixed cylinder which contains the intake and exhaust ports, and a rotating and translating piston which contains the transfer port.
The linkage between the relative rotation and translation of the piston and cylinder coordinates the expansion and compression of the working chamber with the opening and closing of the ports. The preferred embodiment of this linkage utilizes a moving cam which is attached or integral to the rotating cylinder. The moving cam is confined between two fixed cams such that as the moving cam rotates, the fixed cams cause the moving element to translate with respect to the relatively fixed element. For instance, in the preferred is embodiment, the moving cam is attached to the cylinder; and as the cylinder rotates about the piston, the moving cam rotates between the fixed cams, which creates a four-stroke translational movement of the cylinder about the piston for each revolution of the cylinder. The ability to define the rotation and translation of the cylinder enables the device to operate as a two-stroke per rotation device, a four-stroke per rotation device, or at a customized cycle such as two or more four-stroke cycles per revolution.
The ability to define the rotation and translation of the cylinder also enables the designer to minimize acceleration and deceleration forces or to create more ideal combustion cycles.
The definition of a path can be determined in alternative embodiments such as a moving cam and a fixed follower, a moving follower between fixed cams, a fixed cam and a moving follower, a lever mechanism, an electromagnetic drive, or other means.
The third aspect of this positive displacement device is a means of coupling the motion to an external device which either drives the positive displacement device or is driven by the positive displacement device. This coupling may connect only the rotational component of motion, only the translational component of motion, or both components. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, both the translation and the rotation are coupled to the external load or driver, and the means of isolating rotation and translation is external to the positive displacement device and is not included as a claimed element. In several alternative embodiments, the function of isolating either the rotational or translational component of motion is included in the device. Coupling means are well known, and include splines, spline-like devices, levers, electromagnetic means, and flexible couplings such as wafer springs, diaphragms, bellows, and coil springs.
In addition to the general aspects of rotary-valve action, linked rotation and translation, and motion coupled to an external device, some implementations of positive displacement devices require additional elements. In some applications, sealing may be provided. In some engine applications, an air/fuel mixture and an ignition source may be provided.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is a four-stroke internal combustion engine which offers substantial improvement in costs over conventional four-stroke engines and substantial improvement in emissions over conventional two-stroke engines.
The advantages of the invention over prior art can be appreciated by considering the design and function of positive displacement devices.
Many devices are used either to convert mechanical energy to gas or liquid fluid energy, or to convert fluid energy to mechanical energy. Some classes of these devices include pumps and compressors, fluid motors, and internal combustion engines. These devices can be categorized as positive displacement devices and non-positive displacement devices.
In a typical example of a positive displacement device, a working chamber changes volume through a cycle of the device. During part of the cycle, the chamber is connected to an intake by means of valves or ports, and the working fluid flows into the chamber. During another part of the cycle, the chamber is connected to the exhaust and the working fluid flows out of the chamber. In some types of positive displacement devices, closed valves or ports trap a compressible fluid in the chamber during part of the cycle, and the compressible fluid changes in volume as the volume of the chamber changes.
In the following discussion, the term “load/driver” refers to an external device which may either produce or sink mechanical energy. Drivers include electric motors, internal combustion engines, steam engines, water wheels, turbines, fluid motors, clock springs, and falling weights. Loads include electric generators, pumps, compressors, propellers, cranes, vehicle wheels, drills, saws, lathes, mills, and grinders. Devices for transferring energy include rotating shafts, reciprocating shafts, belts, and chains. In the positive displacement devices described by this invention, the load/driver may capture or deliver either a rotational component, a translational reciprocating component, or a combination of both the rotational and the translational components. A motor/generator is an example of the concept of the load/driver—it can be used as either a motor or a generator.
Three common functional classes of positive displacement devices include pumps and compressors; fluid motors; and internal combustion engines.
In a typical pump or compressor, mechanical energy from a driver such as an electric motor is used to increase the pressure or velocity of a fluid, or to reduce the volume of the fluid. Examples of these types of devices include water pumps, air compressors, refrigeration compressors and fans.
In a typical fluid motor, fluid energy is used to produce mechanical energy to a load such as a grinding wheel via a turning shaft. Examples of this type of devices include air motors, hydraulic motors, air cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, piston steam engines, and steam turbines. Fluid motors may also produce reciprocating motion as in a pneumatic chisel; or both rotating and reciprocating motion as in a hammer drill.
In a typical internal combustion engine, a chemical reaction occurs in the working fluid inside the engine thereby producing fluid energy in the form of increased pressure, volume or velocity; and that fluid energy is then converted into mecha
Koczo Michael
Yeager Rick B.
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