US1372216A - Internal-combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

I. 0. CASADAY. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR- I2I I9I 9.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

- AVE/V7272 J rraawsn (7&77205 Q "Gsaday UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- JAMES O. CASAIDAY, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

' ETERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed March 12, 1919. Serial No. 282,236.

and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to an improvement in internal combustion engines of that type wherein the cylinders are arranged in coupled or associated pairs, with one cylinder of a pair utilized as a compressioncylinder for the charge, and the other cylinder of the pair serving as the firing'or power cylinder.

In engines of this type, as heretofore generally proposed, it hasbeen customary to transfer the charge from the compression cylinder to the firing cylinder before either of such cylinders has reached the extreme limit of its stroke. This tends to prevent a complete scavenging of the firing cylinder, and compels the piston of such firing cylinder to aid in the compression of the charge.

The present invention arranges the cylindersv and pistons of the respective pairs, so that the piston of the firing cylinder is in advance of the piston of the compression cylinder, so that the charge from the compression cylinder is delivered to the firing cylinder during the initial movement of the. piston of the firing cylinder on the power stroke. This permits a full scavenging stroke of the firing piston, delivers the charge under the full compression stroke of the compression piston, and fires the charge when the crank of the firing piston is at the most effective point for leverage action. The invention is shown in the preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the samef Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relative positions of the pistons and cranks at firing point. 7

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of the crank of the firing piston at time of firing.

The improved construction is here shown as including the cylinders of one pair only,

it being understood that any desired battery of cylinders maybe used, when arranged in associated pairs as described.

The firing cylinder 1 and associated com Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

pression cylinder 2 are. of any usual type or construction, and substantiall of equal cubical. area. A piston 3, hereina ter termed the power piston is arranged in the cylinder 1, while a similar piston 4, hereinafter termed the compression piston, is arranged in the compression cylinder. The power piston 1s given a lead over the compression piston, as will be clear from Figs. 3 and 4, in that the crank 5 of the connecting rod 6 of the power piston is arranged in advance of the crank 7 of the connecting rod 8 of the compression piston. This degree of advance may vary in accordance with desired conditions, but the particular feature here involved is that the power piston will have reached the end of its stroke and reached a polnt approximately 45 over center be fore the firing occurs, at which time the compression piston will have completed its stroke.

An inlet valve 9, involving any usual or preferred type of inlet valve structure, is arranged at the upper end and to one side of the center of the'compression cylinder, this valve;being held closed by the usual spring,

as 10, and being automaticallyopened by a the suction of the compression piston in its down stroke. A similar exhaust valve 11 is arranged at the top of the firing cylinder, this valve being also of any usual or preferred type, normally held closed by a spring 12. Any desired means (not shown) may be employed and properly timed to open and holdopen the exhaust valve to allow practically a full up stroke of the power pisranged at an angle to a line between the inlet and exhaust valves with one end thereof integral with the exhaust valve, and the opposite end to one side of and spaced from the inlet valve. The end of the casing next the inlet valve is open and a valve bushing 14.- is slidably fitted therein, a cap 15 removably closing and sealing'the openend of the casing..' The bushing 14. has an inward projection 16, formed to slidably receive a valve rod 17, terminally carrying a valve 18,

. adapted to cooperatewith a seat 19 formed at the end of the bushing. The valve opens toward the firing cylinder, and the casing 13 is formed, together with the head of the engine block, with an opening 20, leading from the casing 13 to the firing cylinder said parts being also formed with an opening 21, opening from the compression cylinder. into the transfer valve casing. The valve is normally held closed by a spring 22, hearing between a removable fastening on the end of the valve rod 17 and the projection 16.

In operation, as so far described, the compression piston, in its downward stroke draws in a charge through the inlet valve 9. the similar stroke of the power cylinder being the firing stroke. On the up stroke. the. pistons are of course moving in unison, with the power piston in advance. The power piston moves the full length of the up stroke to force out the spent gases, the exhaust valve being held open. During the up stroke of the compression piston, the charge previously drawn in is compressed. During practically the full compression stroke, the transfer valve is held closed by spring 22, until just before the up stroke of the compression piston is completed, the power piston, by starting the down stroke. overbalances the transfer valve, by the tendency to create a vacuum in the firing cylinder, the transfer valve is opened, and the charge under full compression, and without the slightest diminution of the compression, as the compression piston is still moving upward, is forced into the firing cylinder. Immediately the compression piston starts the downward stroke, the tendency toward a vacuum on this side with the pressure of the charge on the firing cylinder side of the valve, together with the power of the spring 22, instantly closes such valve. The engine is timed to fire at the particular moment following the closing of the transfer valve.

The power of the charge is thus directed against the power piston when the crank operated thereby is at the point of most effective leverage, thus producing maximum power from the action.

The cylinders are of substantially the Same cubical area throughout their charging spaces, and this is important as a detail of manufacture. The transfer valve is arranged so that the free end of the casing thereof is readily accessible, in order that such valve may be removed for grinding or other necessary repair or adjustment. The practically integral construction of the end of the transfer valve casing and that of the exhaust valve, permits the heat, ofthe exhaust valve parts to be communicated to the mixture passing through the transfer valve with well understood results. If desired, and as preferred, the interior of the transfer valve casing may be provided with small projections or points, as 23, to more effectively radiate the conducted heat noted.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is I 1. An engine including an associated pair of cylinders of substantially equal cubical contents. pistons in said cylinders, means to which the pistons are connected for power purposes. one of said pistons being colinected to said means so as to travel in advance of the other, means for admitting a charge of gas to the cylinder having the relatively retarded piston, an incased spring closed valve entirely ineased within the engine, said spring closed valve being entirely controlled in its opening movement by the suction of the advanced piston for admitting such charge following the compression by the retarded piston to the other cylinder as such advanced piston is started on its firing stroke. said valve being entirely controlled during its closing action by its spring.

2. An engine having a firing cylinder and a compression cylinder, a compression piston in the com ression cylinder, at power piston in the fl ring cylinder, said power piston having a leadover the compression piston, a substantially horizontally disposed spring closed transfer valve establishing communication between the cylinders, said transfer valve being entirely inclosed within the engine and controlled entirely in its movement to open position against the action of its spring by the initial vacuum of the firing stroke of the power piston.

3. An engine having a compression cylinder with a compression piston therein, a firing cylinder with a power piston therein, an inlet valve for the compression cylinder, an exhaust valve for the firing cylinder, a spring closed transfer valve substantially horizontally disposed and entirely incased within the engine and establishing com munication between the cylinders, said spring closed transfer valve being closed and held closed against the compression of the compression piston by its spring and opened entirely by the suction of the firing piston as it starts its firing stroke.

4.. An engine having a firing cylinder. a compression cylinder, a piston in each cylinder, an exhaust valve for the firing cylinder, an inlet valve for the compression cylinder, and a spring. closed transfer valve to establish communication between the cylinders. said transfer valve being entirely incased within the engine and entirely controlled in its movement to open position by the initial suction from the firing piston and 111 its movement to closed position by its spring, said valve having a casing in part substantially integral with the casing of the exhaust valve to utilize heat of the latter for preheating the charge as it enters the firing cylinder.

5. An engine having a firing cylinder, a compression cylinder, a piston in each cylinder, an exhaust valve for the firing cylinder, the inlet end of said transfer valve casing an inlet valve for the compression cylinder, is readily accessible, said spring closed 10 and a spring closed transfer valve for estransfer valve being entirely controlled durtablishing communication between the oyling a transfer operation by the suction of inders, said. valve having a casing integral the firin piston.

at one end With the casing of the exhaust In testlmony whereof I afix my signature. valve and extended therefrom toward and at a distance from the inlet valve, whereby JAMES 0,, CASADAY.

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