US1970569A - Rotary internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 21, 1934.

R. LACHAPELLE ROTARY INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26 1929 I In van for: izfllazfia aelle WHO/72,6]

Aug. 21, 1934.

R. LACHAPELLE ROTARYJNTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Sept. 26, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- [acfiapelle WWW f f em Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITED STATES mme eme- 1,910,559 I I ROTARY INTERNALCOMBUSTldN ENGINE I Ren Lachapelle, P oint e-Aux Trembles,

" Quebec, Canada s Application September 26, .1929,'Serial No.- 395318 1 Claim. (01.123 14) 1 The present inventionpertains to a novel engine of the rotary type, and the principal object is to provide a device of this character in which the force applied to the rotor shall be substan tially continuous rather than in the-nature of plied or subdivided, and a series of secondary impacts is set up without the use of separate firin means for each such secondary impact. s 1 The invention includes a cylindrical stator in; which the rotor is suitably mounted. An annular spaceis formed between the stator and rotor, and suitable devices are carried by the stator for dividing this space into'co'mpartments and device carried by said rotor for dividing said compartments into chambers. These chambers have in-;

take and exhaust valves and firing means which operate successively in proper sequence after the first ignition. On operation of the firing means, the major impacts are successively produced. These correspond to the successive impacts in any type of internal combustion engine;

The above mentioned minor or secondary impacts follow the main impacts but without the use of separate firing devices. Betweenj'the spark plugs, the cylindrical wall of the stator is formed with successive small pockets communicating with the space between the stator and rotor. The above mentioned compartments are defined in part by pistons extending from the rotor and communicating with the wall of the stator.

Whil e'opposite pistons effect compression and power strokes respectively, the intervening pistons effect suction and exhaust strokes respectively, in a four piston rotor. The rotor may however have any even number; of pistons. When the compartment at one side of a given pistoniis expanded after firing, the compartment at the opposite side of the piston is under compression. When the pistons pass the pockets containing compressed fuel,.the contents of these pockets is delivered to the expanding chamber, and the charges inthese pockets are successively fired as theyare emptied into the expanding chamber, due tothe high temperature of the exploded gas in the latter. The secondary explosions thus produced impart a substantially' continuous pressure on the rotor, resulting in smoother operation, less vibratio'nand less wear on the machine.

-- The invention is'fully disclosed by wayof example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings, in which [Figure-l is avertical transverse section of the device; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary endview thereof; Fig. '3 is a vertical longitudinalsection;

Fig; 4 is a fragmentary section in a plane parallel to that of Figure 1i Fig. 5 is "a detail longitudinal sectionof one of thev'alves,and M 1 Fig. 6 is a transverse section of one of the valves.

Referenceto these views will now be made by use of like characterswhich are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the device includes a base 1 having a cylindrical wall 2' formed integral therewith. The base also has lugs 3 whichare'suitably secured to a supporting member 4. r

The cylindrical wall'2 is a part of the stator of the' machine, which is completed by end plates 5 at the ends of the wall and forming a cylindrical enclosure. The end plates 5 carry the bearings 6 in which is journaled the shaft 7 of the machine; 'Between the end plates 5, the shaft carries a rotor'formedbya drum 8 having internal radial arms 9 emanating from a-hublO which in turn is secured to the shaft by a key 11. It will be obvious that the: druinis positioned prior to the assembly of one of the end plates 5.

' The wall 2 is formed with a series ofpockets 12'which communicate with the space'13 between this wall-andthe drum 8. The pockets extend longitudinally of the wall 2 and are closed at their ends as indicated by the numeral 14 in Fig. 4. These pockets serve a purpose which will presently'app'ear.

Formedon the wall 2 in peripherally spaced relation are sets of intakejexhaust and firing meansl 'Each' suchset includes an intake valve 15, anexhaust valvelfi, and a spark plug 1'7. Although five "such sets are illustrated in Figure 1, it will be understood that any number of such openposition illustrated'in-Figs; 1 and 6. Over valves and in the slot is slidably mounted a sliding;

abutment 29 adapted to move inwardly to engage the drum 8 and to move outwardlyto permit passage of the pistons, by a mechanism presently be described. I For the timed actuation of the sliding abutments, large cams 30 are journaled an the shaft 'L outwardly of the plates 5 as illustrated inlfigures 2 and 3. Each sliding abutment has secured thereto a yoke or carrier 31 equipped at its end with rollers 32 which ride in the grooves 33 of the respective cams. The groovesare formed to open and close the sliding abutments atthe proper intervals: with respect to the movement of the pistons. The speed of the cams, is s tepped up'with relation to the speed of theshaft by means of a train of gearing 34 including-a primemover 35 keyed to; the shaft and operating through intermediate gears 36 to drive a'small gear 37 formed integral with the As shown in Fig. 3, one set of such gearing provided for each cam. I r

The valves are operated by the mechanism which is shown more clearly in Fig. 4. For each set of gears there is provided. a pinion- 38 :jour-' naled on one of the plates 5 by meansof astub shaft 39. All of these pinions mesh with. the drivingpinion 40 formed integral with the adjacent cam 30 as shown in Fig. 3; Each of. the pinions 38'is formed with a cam 41 groove 42. 1 v

The ends of the sleeves 19 and valve plugs '21. are joined to links 43 and 44 respectively.- ,Each.

having a cam such pair of links is joined to one end of a slide rod 45', the other end. of which is received in oneof the cam grooves 42 as indicated by the numeral 46 in Fig. 4. Each rod 45 is guided. in a pair of straps 47 secured to the adjacent end plate"5.

Obviously the earns 41 are constructed to operate the, valves at the proper intervals with. regard to the operation of the motor, and a. suitable timing mechanism is provided. for firing the spark plugs .17. j

In the operation of the device, it will be seen that a small space A is formed at the uppermost intake valve in Fig. 1. This space. is defined laterally by the corresponding piston127' and sliding abutment 29 and is in communication with the corresponding sparkplug 1'1. The cams 41 are constructed to close the. corresponding .in-. take valve at this instant, and-the: firingmechanism ,is timed to fire the, corresponding spark plug 17 at the same instant; The piston 27' will .1 be moved in a clockwise direction by the explm sion,- andthe gasin the space B at theadvance side of the piston, defined laterally bythe-piston and next sliding abutment '29, will -be com.-

press'ed. The exhaust valveicommunicating' with j this space has been openfibutis nowobstructed by-the first mentioned pistony27' so that the gas trapped in the space B will be compressed and prepared for ignition 'inthe mannerdescribed. The next space Cbetween the next gate and blade 27" is expanding andrthe corresponding intake valve is open for the admission of gas thereto by suction through the valve 24. The following space D, however, is diminishing, and the exhaust valve in communication therewith is open for exhaust purposes. The remaining valves are timed to open or close with respect to the condition of the compartments communicating therewith, and it will also be understood that the. spark plugs are fired when the motor is started.

In following the movement of the several blades it will be seen that the blade 2'7 on entering the chamber C, which has previously been vfilled with gas by the admission stroke of the blade 2'7", commences a compression action towards then'ext following gate 29 in the chamber space/A. The gas in advance of the blade 27" inflthe chamber D is thus compressed and delivered by degrees from the pockets 12v to the chamberC where it is successively ignited in the manner described. The blade 27" is now in the chamber A where it is effecting exhaust between its advancing face and the next forward gate 29,, while effecting admission at its rear face. By thus following the'action of each blade, it will be seenv that the blades 27' and-27" are always directly in advance of'achamber undergoing ignition and. are always effecting a compression against the next forward gate 29; while the blades 27 and 2'1" efiect admission at the rear face and exhaust at the forward face.

' Referring again to the position shown in Fig. 1, it will be seen that the chambers A, B, C, and D' are respectively in the same condition as the chambers A,. B, C and D. In other words, ignition occurring in chamber A causes compression in chamber B, while the blade 27 induces admission intochamber C and exhaust from chamber D. It will also be seen that the gas undergoing ignitionin chamber A was previously drawn into chambers A and B by the preceding passage of the blade 27" therethrough, this blade. effecting admission at its rear face as alreadys'tated.

Referring again to the'explosion occurring in the space A, the function of the pockets 12 will now be described. As the uppermost blade 27' moves in clockwise direction it successively un covers certain. of the pockets. In this manner the gas compressed in compartment B and contained also-in the communicating pockets is transferred by degrees to the expanding compartmentA as the pockets are successively passed by the uppermost blade 2'7. As thesepockets come into communication with the compartment A, the gas therein is successively fired by coming into contact with the hot exploded gas in the 'expanding'compartment A, setting up a number of minor explosions as a givenblade 27', 27", 2'7"" or 27" passes from onecompartment to another. These successive explosions provide continuing impacts on the blade, so that the roto'r'is turned by an almost continuous force caused by explosions occurring with much greater frequency'than sparks firing. In this manner the rotor is imparted a smooth and steady propulsion which reduces the amount. of vibration and hence increases the life of the motor. Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without the said space into compartments said compart-.

ments being between an abutment and a piston, said pistons carried by said rotor to vary the volume of said compartments, said pistons being by pairs, one of said pistons continuously dividing said compartments into explosion and compression chambers while the next said piston continuously divides the next said compartment into admission and exhaust chambers, firing means exposed to said explosion chambers, and means geared to said rotor for moving said sliding abutments towards and from said rotor, and intake and exhaust valves communicating with said intake and exhaust chambers, each such valve including a rotary sleeve and a plug journaled therein, links extending from said sleeves and plugs, a slide rod for each valve and connected to the links extending from the sleeve and plug of such valve, and earns adapted to reciprocate said rods and keyed to said rotor.

RENE LACHAPELLE.

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