Internal-combustion engines – Rotary – With compression – combustion – and expansion in a single...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-26
2001-06-26
Denion, Thomas (Department: 3748)
Internal-combustion engines
Rotary
With compression, combustion, and expansion in a single...
C123S200000, C418S225000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250279
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to internal combustion engines, and more particularly to a rotary internal combustion engine having spherical reciprocating pistons.
1. Description of Related Art
Internal combustion engines, specifically the four-stroke internal combustion engine, was first put to use in the motor car by Karl Benz in 1885. The most common form of internal combustion engine uses reciprocating pistons driven within separate and discrete cylinders by an ignited and expanding fuel mixture. Prior art references referring to internal combustion engines include the following: U.S. Pat. No. 03,651,638 “internal combustion engine”; U.S. Pat. No. 04058091 “internal combustion engine of a lean air-fuel mixture combustion type”; U.S. Pat. No. 05,960,752 “combustion control apparatus for spark ignition type 2-cycle internal combustion engine”; and for reference: U.S. Pat. Nos. 04,461,260; 04,429,533; 04,720,977; 04,300,486; 03,633,553. While at least one reference does teach a rotary piston mounted such as that utilized in the present invention, none utilize spherical pistons, a roller sealing means which isolates gas pressure zones within the uniform annular circular space, so as to increase the volatility and therefore the ignitibility of gases within the fuel ignition ports. In addition, none utilize an urging means providing a roller portion that makes rolling contact with the spherical pistons. Combustion chambers in the standard internal combustion engine require many more combustion temperature control points, moving parts, and frictional wear surfaces than the engine provided by the present invention. The present invention provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An internal combustion apparatus comprises an engine block providing an engine block interior space, and an interior annular surface. A rotary piston mount is adapted for rotational motion within the interior space of the engine block. The rotary piston mount defines a uniform annular circular space between the interior annular surface and the rotary piston mount. A plurality of spherical pistons are adapted for radial reciprocating motion within the rotary piston mount. The spherical pistons are urged in reciprocating radial motion within the rotary piston mount by an urging means forcing the pistons to be in rolling contact with the interior annular surface of the engine block. A means for producing an expanding gas so as to drive the spherical pistons and the rotary piston mount in rotational motion within the engine block is provided.
The combustion chamber shape is such that as the ball piston enters the chamber, as it passes the radius the ball will push up into a 90-degree angle. This provides the ball with one direction into the chamber. The combustion sphere extends the sphere of the inner crankcase sphere, which the ball rides on. This provides for full contact of the ball to the cooling surfaces, which provides for a constant controlled combustion temperature. Therefore noxious gases will not form nor will the fuel condense. This sphere also provides for sealing of the combustion surfaces. The exiting combustion surface is also spherical shaped and at an angle of 40-degrees providing for a one way exit out. This 40-degree angle will also force the ball piston back into its seat on the roller crank. The spark plug is near the top of the combustion chamber at a 30-degree angle providing for oxidation in the forward motion. The fuel and oxidizer injection port is at the top of the combustion chamber at TDC. At 90-degrees with respect to top dead center (TDC) the exhaust port is at a 30-degree angle providing an exit for the oxidized fuel.
The crankcase has an inner sphere for the ball piston to ride on as a guide and to provide constant cooling of the combustion surface. This sphere also provides for sealing of the combustion surfaces. The ball piston is ceramic coated to provide a cool surface for the oxidizer as no nitrogen is introduced to absorb heat. This ceramic also provides lubrication. The plunger assembly contains a plunger ball for contact with the ball piston to provide for friction reduced contact. The plunger assembly has a compression spring to provide for compression of the ball piston by forcing the piston up into the combustion chamber. This compression spring is variable in tension to provide for compression changes required by the use of alternate fuels. A thrust washer of bronze is used under the compression spring to provide for reduced friction and wear of the roller crank and compression spring. The roller crank provides a seat for the ball piston to ride on. It also provides the plunger assembly to produce compression as the ball piston moves into the combustion chamber. The combustion cycle begins at 10-degrees before TDC as the ball piston enters the combustion chamber. Injection of Fuel and oxygen into the combustion chamber begins at 3-degrees before TDC. The spark plug ignites at TDC providing combustion. Expanding gases provide the force necessary to move the ball piston. Expansion continues for 90-degrees and then the gases exit through the exhaust port. One combustion cycle is completed in each 90-degrees of engine rotation.
The present invention apparatus teaches certain benefits in construction and use that give rise to the objectives described below.
A further objective is to provide such an apparatus having rotational symmetry providing inherent balance.
A still further objective is to provide such an apparatus having reciprocating spherical pistons for eliminating sliding friction.
A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of enhancing the ability of the volatile gases in the fuel to ignite by providing an inventive roller sealing means of isolating gas pressure zones within the uniform annular circular space.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4354462 (1982-10-01), Kuechler et al.
patent: 4562802 (1986-01-01), Groeger
patent: 4896633 (1990-01-01), Junghans et al.
Denion Thomas
Gene Scott-Patent Law & Venture Group
Trieu Thai-Ba
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