GB1046882A - Reciprocating piston engine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,046,882. Expansion engines; compressors; valve gear. AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS Inc. Feb. 14, 1964 [Feb. 15, 1963], No. 6211/64. Headings F1M and F1N. An expansion engine or compressor comprises a cylinder 5 having inlet and outlet valves 23, 25 a piston 7 reciprocable in the cylinder, a first rockshaft 53, a first driving connection drivingly interconnecting the piston and the first rockshaft 53 for conjoint reciprocation of the piston and rocking of the first rockshaft, at least a second rockshaft 55, 57, a second driving connection interconnecting the first and second rockshafts for conjoint out-ofphase rocking and a third driving connection interconnecting the second rockshaft and one of the valves to open the valve upon rocking of the second rockshaft. Rocker arm 79 on the end of the rockshaft 53 within chamber 49 and is pivotally interconnected with clevis 39 of piston rod 37 of the engine so that upon reciprocation of piston 7 the piston oscillates rocker arm 79 and causes rockshaft 53 to have a rocking movement that drives the entire running gear. The cam means have a rotary cam face 119 that encompasses crankshaft 105 and is carried by a split sleeve 121 that releasably grips crankshaft 105. A further rotary cam face 123 is provided by the outer periphery of a collar 125 that encircles a split portion of sleeve 121. Each of the cam faces 119 and 123 is provided with appropriate contours for controlling the onset duration and termination of opening and closing movements of the valve. Both of these cam faces can be adjustably rotated relative to the crankshaft 105. Cam face 119 contacts and rocks a rocker arm 129 that is in unitary assembly with the rockshaft 57. At its other end in chamber 49 rockshaft 57 carries a rocker arm 131 that engages under an enlargement on the upper end of the outlet valve rod 29. The other cam face 123 on collar 125 operates the inlet valve and contacts a lever 133 journalled for rotation on a shaft 135. In addition to being mounted for oscillation on shaft 135 lever 133 is axially slidable on shaft 135 and it is intended that one or other of the contact surfaces 137 and 139 be in contact selectively with cam face 123. Upon rotation of shaft 143 (Fig. 10) lever 133 is slid axially of shaft 135. Rocking movement of lever 133 rocks rocker arm 147 in the same direction as lever 133 at its other end that is, its end within the chamber 49 rockshaft 55 carries a rocker arm 149 in unitary assembly therewith rocker arm 149 at its end remote from the rockshaft 55 engaging under the enlargement 131 at the upper end of the inlet valve rod 27. A counterweight (not shown) is slidably mounted on the shaft 95 for vertical reciprocating movement. Although the rockshafts are disclosed as having spaced parallel axes they could instead have the form of concentric sleeves.