Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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ROTATING-RECIPROCATING PISTQN ENGINE/~ACHINE
TECHN J CAL F I ELD
Technical field of the invention are piston engines and piston
machines with reciprocating and at the same time rotating
pistons in the cylinder. The "classic", well known
reciprocating piston engine has pistons which only execute a
reciprocating motion. The piston motion is in this ease mostly
produced by a crankshaft and a conneeting rod.
The disadvantages of the classic reciprocating piston engine
are among other things the friction of the only reciproeating
piston at the cylinder, the space required of the erank
mechanism and in the most cases the neeessity of separate
organs for the control of the intakes and outlets.
Universally usable piston engines or maehine~ were therefore
proposed whieh avoid these disadvantages by the piston
executing with the reeiprocating motion at the same time a
rotating motion. This kind of machine will thereafter be
called "rotating and alternating piston maehine" or
"rotating-reciprocating piston maehine" beeau~e of the typieal
rotating and reciproeating motion of the piston.
"Rotating-reeiproeating piston maehine" means not only a
maehine but also an engine in the following.
DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART
The following executions of the rotating-reeiproeating piston
machine are known:
Kenneth R. Malby describes in patent (~S 2,352,369) a piston
machine by whieh the piston exeeutes a reeiproeating motion
and at the same time a rotating motion. This motion is
produced by the following device: a cam-like eurved ~ath is
rotating relatively to guiding elements and makes thereby a
rotating reciprocating motion relatively to the guiding
elements. Eighter this eam-like eurved path is fixed to the
piston and the guiding elements in form of rollers ete. are
fixed to the eylinder or viee versa.
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A problem of this device is the extremly high mechanical
stress in these parts.
Therefore, the purpose of this present invention is to produce
the rotating reciprocating motion of the piston by a device
which eliminates the mentioned problems with its different
executions.
STATEMENTS OF INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a
piston engine or piston machine with at least one piston
which is arranged to execute a rotating motion around
the cylinder axis and at the same time a reciprocating
stroke motion parallel to the cylinder axis,
characterized in that this piston motion is produced by
a bearing consisting of two parts which rotate relative
to each other, whereas the axis of this bearing is not
parallel to the axis of the piston or of the cylinder
respectively, and in that eighter one part of this
bearing is fixed at the piston or represent~ a part of
the piston and the other part is excentrically linked
with the cylinder, or in that one part of the bearing is
fixed at the cylinder or represents a part of the
cylinder and the other part, the ~hort hollow shaft, is
excentrically linked with the piston.
This means that there exist two types and one somehow
is an inversion of the other.
Other versions additionally combine the bearing with
an electromotor or generator, or use the mentioned short
hollow shaft to mechanically transmit the power, or
have an adjustable stroke length or compression ratio,
or use the front (working) faces of the pistons to
synchronize the motion of the pistons, or are
characterized by a special lubrication of the piston.
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According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a
piston machine comprising a piston housed within a cylinder
which executes a rotating motion about the axis of said
cylinder, and at the same time a reciprocating stroke motion
parallel to said axis of said cylinder, the motion of said
piston being directed by a bearing comprising two parts
linked together, at least one of which has its axis inclined
with respect to the axis of said cylinder or said piston; one
part of said bearing being fixed to one of said piston and
said cylinder or defining a part thereof and the other part
of said bearing being articulated with respect to the other
of said piston and said cylinder.
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DESCR I PT I ON OF THE DRAW I NGS
For a better understanding of the invention reference
will now be made to the accompanying drawings which
schematically illustrate soms examples in which:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through thecylinder axis of an embodiment of an engine or machine
incorporating the features of the invention;
Figures 2 and 3 are schematic cross sections of
a first type of arrangement for producing piston motion.
Figures 4 and 5 are schematic cross sections of a
second type of arrangement for producting piston motion.
Kev To The Fiaures:
1 cylinder / 1a, 1b, 1c cylinder parts
2 piston which executes a rotating reciprocating motion
=5a ~5b piston-like member which only rotates
7 working chamber; 7a dito, maximal volume
7b dito, clearance volume
8 intake channel 9 outlet channel
10 intake flow 11 outlet flow
12 spark plugs
14 central shaft
35 that part of the bearing which is fixed at the piston
or represents a part of the piston, in disk-like form
36 that part of the bearing which is fixed at the piston
or represents a part of the piston, sinked into the
piston
37 geometric axis of the part 35 or 36.
38 that part of the bearing which is linked with the
cylinder
39 joint point of the link of the part 38 with the
cylinder
40 hollow shaft, being that part of the bearing which i8
excentrically linked with the piston.
41 geometric axis of the hollow shaft (40)
42 joint point between the piston and the hollow shaft.
1 309300
Referring now to the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal
section along the axis of a cylinder including ~ection~
1a, 1b, 1c of an engine or machine with four working
chambers (7a and 7b). The cylinder incorporates ports in
the wall thereof, the ports providing for working fluid
intake (8, 10) and for working fluid outlet (9, 11). The
ports are opened and closed by a piston (2) and by only
rotating piston-like members (5).
~ut referring now to the object of this part of the patent
application, the motion of the rotating reciprocating
piston (2) is produced in the following way: A bearing,
consisting of two parts (35 and 38), is disposed in an
inclined way relative to the piston, that me~ns, the axis
(37) of this bearing is not parallel to the axis of the
piston. The inner part l35) of the bearing is fixed at the
piston (2). The outer part (38) of the bearing i~ linked
with th~ cylinder (1) at the articulating joint point (39).
The two parts (35 and 38) of the bearing are rotatable
relative to each other around their axis (37). The pistons
(2) make one reciprocating cycle, that is one forward and
back motion, per revolution.
The power transmission from the piston to the outside or
vice versa is made by means of a central shaft (14). The
pistons (2) are connected in such a way to the central
shaft (14) that they are movable along the central shaft in
a longitudinal way, but that they are transferring the
torque on the central shaft (14).
Figure 2 and 3a,3b show two examples of embodiment~ of
the same type of mechanism which guides the piston (2) to
a rotating reciprocating motion according to the present
invention. In figure 2 and 2a details of the sections along
the cylinder axis of a rotating reciprocating piston
machine are drawn. This mechanism corresponds to the
mechanism illustrated in figure 1, but the inner part (36)
of the bearing is sinked in the piston (2). The outer part
(38) of the bearing is rotating relatively to the axis (37)
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of the bearing and is linked to the cylinder (1) by means
of a joint t39). The articulating point (39) must be
movable relative to the cylinder; or the connection between
the bearing and the cylinder has to grant a change in the
length.
Figure 4 and 5 shon two example~ of embodiments of
another type of mechanism which guides the piston (2) to
the rotating reciprocating motion according to the
invention. Details of the section along the cylinder axi~
are drawn. The hollow shaft (40) rotates around its own
axis (41). The piston (2) is connected to the hollow shaft
(40) at an excentrically situated point (42). When the
hollow shaft (40) is rotating, the piston (2) is rotating
too and is additionally executing a reciprocating motion.
The articulating joint between the hollow shaft (40) and
the piston (2) fulfils the following conditions: it must
admits swivelling movements between the piston and the
hollow shaft around all three or at least around two
coordinate axes. In the examples of figure 4 and 5,
a ball joint admits swivelling movements around all three
coordinate axis. In case of the version with two swivelling
axes these two coordinates must lay relative to the hollow
shaft (40) in that plane which lays perpendiculary to the
rotation axis (41) of the hollow shaft. Additionally, in
case of all the versions the joint is movable in
approximately radial direction to the rotating axis of the
piston (2) or in approximately radial direction to the
rotating axis (41) of the hollow shaft.
In this text, all parts of the cylinder or not moving
parts connected with the cylinder, which could also be named
"housing" or "block" e.t.c., are simply called "cylinder".
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a
piston engine or piston machine with at least one piston
(2) which is arranged to execute a rotating motion around
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the cylinder axis and at the same time a reciprocating
stroke motion parallel to the cylinder ~xis, charscterized
in that this piston motion is produced by a bearing
consisting of two parts which rotate relative to each
other. The axis of this bearing (37 respectively 41) iq
not parallel to the axis of the piston or of the cylinder
respectively. According to the type illustrsted in figures
2 and 3, one part of this bearing (35/36) is fixed at the
piston (2) or represents a part of the piston and the other
part (38) is excentrically linked with the cylinder t1).
According to the other type illustrated in figures 4 and 5,
one part of the bearing is fixed st the cylinder or
represents a part of the cylinder and the other part, the
hollow shaft (40), is excentrically linked with the piston.
- Thus, the piston executes one reciprocsting cycle per
revolution. The kinematics of this motion is dependent of
the geometrical details of the embodiment and can differ
from the sinusoidal form. The kinematics is influenced for
example by the degree of the angle of the axis of the
bearing; by the distance between the middle axis of the
bearing and the joint point (39 respectively 42) which
connects one part of the bearing to the cylinder
respectively to the piston; by the design of this
~rticulating joint, especially of the execution of the
device for the longitudinal displacability of the link,
and by displacing the joint (39 respectively 42) in the
direction parallel to the axis of the bearing.
In detail, the bearing i3 designed according to the known
art of engineering for example with thrust bearings and
radial bearings, sliding bearings or rolling bearings.
Other versions are char~cterized in thst the two parts
of the bearing which rotate relative to each other are made
in such a way that together they incorporate an
electromotor or electric generator. In this way one part of
the bearing is for example made as the armsture or rotor
and the other part of the bearing functions as the stator.
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An other version is characterized in that the power
is mechanically transmitted to the outside of the engine
or machine by means of the mentioned hollow shaft (40).
An other version is characterized in that the length of
the stroke or the compression ratio or both is adjustable
by varying the angle which the axis (37 respectively 41) of
the bearing shows to the axis of the piston or of the
cylinder respectively. This is realized by the bearing
being fixed in a swivelling way at the piston respectively
at the cylinder.
An other version is characterized in that the two
neighbouring front (working~ faces of two pistons (2) or
of a piston (2) and a piston-like member (5) are alwnys
meshing with each other like clawæ. - Thereby the rotational
motion of the neighbouring pistons is synchronized.
An other version is characterized in that the piston
bear upon a lubrication film, whereas, if the lubrication
fluid must not get into the working chamber, the
lubrication fluid is kept away from the working chamber or
the ports by a scraper ring or other sealing elements. The
rotating component of the motion of the pi~ton is
advantageous for a hydrodynamic lubrication. The sealing
element is for example mounted at the cylinder.
HEST EXECUTIONS OF THE INVENTION
The working chamber (7) is limited by two pistons (2) which
both execute a rotating reciprocating motion. The motion of
the piston is for example guited by the type of mechanism
schematically illustrated in fig. 4 or 5. The hollow shaft
(40) of that mechanism is also transferring the power to
the outside of the engine or machine: Therefore the hollow
shaft is geared on its outside and i~ tranGferring the
output on a gear which is at the out~ide of the cylinder.
This gear driven by the hollow shaft (40) is connected to
the corresponding gear of the neighbouring hollow shaft.
