GB1402808A - Rotary internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

1402808 Gas turbine engines N & S CO 21 Nov 1973 [26 Dec 1972] 53990/73 Heading F1G The invention relates to a rotary internal combustion engine of the turbine type in which the rotor comprises a series of equiangularly-spaced, axially-extending combustion chambers, the gases from each chamber being directed on to guide vanes in stator structure which re-direct the gas on to blades formed in the end face of the rotor whereby the rotor is driven. The engine shown comprises a cylindrical rotor 10 formed with stub shafts 11, the rotor being supported by means of bearings 21 mounted in two end supports or stator members 20A, 20B which in turn are mounted on a base-plate 24. The rotor is formed with a series of axially-extending combustion chambers 15A, 15B, the chambers 15A being closed at the righthand end 16 and open at the left-hand end 17, and the chambers 15B which are disposed between adjacent chambers 15A, are closed at the left-hand end 16 and open at the right-hand end 17. The chamber outlets 17 direct combustion gases from the chambers on to guide vanes 22A, 22B formed in the stator members 20A, 20B, the guide vanes re-directing the gases on to blades 50A, 50B formed in the end-faces of the rotor whereby the rotor is driven, the gases finally discharging through outlets 23A, 23B in the stator members. Each chamber 15A, 15B has an inlet duct 18 through which a fuel/air mixture is supplied from an inlet 25 mounted on a ring member 26 mounted on the base-plate 24. Each chamber 15A, 15B has associated therewith a slide valve 30A, 30B which is movable to close-off and open the chamber. Each valve comprises a plate slidable in a groove 32 and spring-loaded outwardly to the open position by a spring 36 which engages lugs 34 formed on the plate. The valve carries a roller 35A at its outer end which co-operates with a cam surface formed in a ring member 40A, 40B which is disposed around the rotor in the plane of the valves. The cam surface comprises a cylindrical surface 41A, an inclined surface 44A, a "dwell" portion 43A and a second inclined surface 44A, the slide valve being in the fully closed position when the roller 35A is engaged with the "dwell" portion 43A. Each combustion chamber is provided with a sparkplug 45A, each plug being energized when the plug engages a contact (46A) carried in a ring member 47A, 47B disposed around the rotor. Thus in operation fuel/air mixture first enters a combustion chamber, the slide valve is closed and the sparking plug is energized to fire the mixture. The slide valve is then opened to release the gases which are directed by the stator blades 22A, 22B on to the rotor blades 50A, 50B whereby the rotor is driven.