EP0369991A1 - Rotating and reciprocating piston engine - Google Patents

Abstract

The rotating and alternating piston machine is an alternating or free piston machine in which the pistons effect a rotating and alternating movement. Main characteristics: 1) the use of rotation or alternation/rotation, for example in order to control the ports provided in the cylinder walls of two- and four-stroke engines, pumps and compressors; 2) simple conversion of rotating and alternating movement by mechanical or electrical means. The rotating and alternating piston machine offers the possibility of: pumps, including the electric drive, in which there is only one rotating part; direct conversion of the alternating movement of the piston into electrical energy; control of the gas movement by the piston; operation of other ports having specific functions (for example, introducing additional compressed gas, discharge ports operating in succession etc.); free selection of the number of piston strokes per rotation; choice of piston stroke kinematics; powerful rotation or swirling of charge; easily designed compact and inexpensive machines; possible integration of a compressor without having to provide for an additional volume and virtually without any weight increase. In the two-stroke combustion engine, in which the gas exchange is controlled by the pistons (2 and 5), the useful power is available at the central shaft (14), which carries the rotating and alternating piston (2) in a longitudinally-slidable but rotationally-fixed manner. Movement is converted by the oscillating shaft (35) and transmission element (38). The engine is provided with four working chambers and has a 100% mass balance.

Description

Technical field

Technical field of the invention are piston machines with reciprocating and simultaneously rotating pistons in the cylinder. The "classic", well-known reciprocating piston machine has pistons that only make a reciprocating movement. The piston movement is usually generated by the crankshaft and connecting rod. The disadvantages of the classic reciprocating piston machine include the friction of the reciprocating piston on the cylinder, the space required by the crank mechanism and normally the need for separate elements to control the inlets and outlets.

Piston machines that can be used universally have therefore been proposed, which avoid these disadvantages by simultaneously carrying out a rotary movement together with the reciprocating movement. Because of the typical rotation and stroke movement of the piston, this type of machine is hereinafter referred to as the "rotary piston machine". "Rotary reciprocating piston machine" here means a work machine or an engine.

State of the art

The following designs of rotary reciprocating piston machines are known:
Kenneth R. Maltby describes in his patent (US 2,352,396) a piston machine in which the piston carries out a stroke movement with a simultaneous rotary movement. This movement is generated by the following device: A cam track rotates relative to guide elements and thereby makes a rotary-lifting movement relative to the guide elements. Either this cam track is attached to the piston and the guide elements, in the form of rollers etc., are attached to the cylinder, or vice versa.

A problem with this device is the extremely high mechanical stress in these parts.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to generate the rotary stroke movement of the piston in the piston machine by a device which, with its various designs, eliminates the problems mentioned.

Presentation of the invention

According to the present invention, therefore, a piston machine with one or more working spaces and with at least one piston is provided, which carries out a rotary movement about the cylinder axis and at the same time an oscillating stroke movement parallel to the cylinder axis. This piston machine is characterized in that this piston movement is generated by a bearing consisting of two parts which rotate relative to one another, the theoretical axis of this bearing not being parallel to the piston axis or e.g. to the cylinder axis, and in that either part of this bearing is attached to the piston or forms part of the piston and the other part is connected eccentrically to the cylinder, or that part of the bearing is attached to the cylinder or part of the cylinder forms and the other part, the short hollow shaft, is eccentrically connected to the piston.

That is, there are two types, one of which is somehow an inversion of the other.

In other versions, the bearing is additionally combined with an electric motor or generator, or the short hollow shaft mentioned is used to mechanically transmit the power, or the stroke length or the compression ratio is adjustable, or the end faces (working surfaces) of the pistons are used, to synchronize the movement of the pistons or there is special lubrication of the pistons.

Description of the drawings

• Figur 1 ist ein Längsschnitt entlang der Zylinderachse einer Ausführung einer Maschine welche die erfindungsgemässen Merkmale aufweist;
• Figuren 2 und 3 sind schematische Querschnitte eines ersten Vorrichtungstyps für die Erzeugung der Kolbenbewegung.
• Figuren 4 und 5 sind schematische Querschnitte eines zweiten Vorrichtungstyps für die Erzeugung der Kolbenbewegung.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which schematically illustrate the following exemplary embodiments:

• FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section along the cylinder axis of an embodiment of a machine which has the features according to the invention;
• Figures 2 and 3 are schematic cross sections of a first type of device for generating the piston movement.
• Figures 4 and 5 are schematic cross sections of a second type of device for generating piston movement.

Legend for the figures:

• 1 cylinder / 1a, 1b, 1c cylinder parts
• 2 pistons that make a rotary-stroke movement
• 5 = 5a = 5b piston-like member that only rotates
• 7 work space;
• 7a same, maximum volume
• 7b ditto, compression volume = dead space
• 8 inlet duct
• 9 outlet duct
• 10 inlet flow
• 11 outlet flow
• 12 spark plugs
• 14 central wave
• 35 that part of the bearing which is fastened to the piston or forms part of the piston, in the form of a disk
• 36 that part of the bearing which is attached to the piston or forms part of the piston, is sunk into the piston
• 37 geometric axis of part 35 or 36
• 38 that part of the bearing which is articulated to the cylinder
• 39 pivot point of the connection of part 38 to the cylinder
• 40 hollow shaft. It is the part of the bearing which is connected eccentrically to the piston.
• 41 geometric axis of the hollow shaft (40)
• 42 pivot point between the piston and the hollow shaft

The drawings will now be described. Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a machine with four working spaces (7a and 7b), along the axis of a cylinder with the cylinder parts 1a, 1b, 1c. The cylinder has openings (slots) in its wall, which are provided for the inlet (8, 10) and for the outlet (9, 11) of the working medium. The slots are opened and closed by the pistons (2) and by the piston-like members (5). The shape and this arrangement of the pistons of the slot-controlled rotary reciprocating machine relate to the subject of a separate patent application.

The object of the present invention is the way in which the movement of the rotary piston (2) is generated: a bearing consisting of two parts (35) and (38) is arranged obliquely with respect to the piston, that is, the axis ( 37) this bearing is not parallel to the axis of the piston. The inner part (35) of the bearing is firmly attached to the piston (2). The outer part (38) of the bearing is connected to the cylinder at the articulation point (39). The two parts (35 and 38) of the bearing are rotatable relative to one another about their axis (37). The pistons (2) make one stroke cycle, i.e. a reciprocating movement, per revolution.

The power is transferred from the piston to the outside by means of a central shaft (14). The pistons (2) are connected to the central shaft (14) so that they are longitudinally displaceable along the central shaft, but that they transmit the torque to the central shaft (14).

Figures 2 and 3a, 3b show two examples of designs of the same type of the mechanism according to the invention, which leads the piston (2) to a rotary-stroke movement. In Figures 2 and 2a details of the section along the cylinder axis of a rotary reciprocating machine are drawn. This mechanism corresponds to the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1, but the inner part (36) of the bearing is sunk into the piston (2). The outer part (38) of the bearing rotates relative to the axis (37) of the bearing and is connected to the cylinder by a joint (39). The The hinge point (39) must be movable relative to the cylinder; or the connection between the bearing and the cylinder must allow a change in length.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two examples of designs of another type of the mechanism according to the invention, which leads the piston (2) to the rotary-stroke movement. Details of the cut along the cylinder axis are drawn. The hollow shaft (40) rotates about its own axis (41). The piston (2) is connected to the hollow shaft at an eccentrically located point (42). When the hollow shaft (40) rotates, the piston (2) also rotates and additionally performs an oscillating stroke movement. The articulated connection between the hollow shaft (40) and the piston (2) fulfills the following conditions: It must allow pivoting movements between the piston and the hollow shaft around all three coordinate axes or at least two coordinate axes. In the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, a ball joint allows swiveling movements around all three coordinate axes. In the case of the version with two pivot axes, these two coordinate axes must lie relative to the hollow shaft (40) in the plane which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation (41) of the hollow shaft. In addition, it must always be taken into account that the distance between an eccentrically located point of the hollow shaft and the piston axis does not remain constant during the rotation. The pivot point is therefore movable in an approximately radial direction to the axis of rotation of the piston (2) or in an approximately radial direction to the axis of rotation (41) of the hollow shaft.

For the sake of simplicity, all cylinder parts or non-moving parts connected to the cylinder, which could also be referred to as "housing" or "engine block" e.t.c, are called "cylinders".

Description of the invention

The invention relates to a piston machine with at least one piston (2), which has a rotary movement about the cylinder axis and at the same time a stroke movement parallel to the Executes cylinder axis and is characterized in that this piston movement is brought about by a bearing consisting of two parts which rotate relative to one another. The axis of this bearing (37 or 41) is not parallel to the axis of the piston or the cylinder. According to the type illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, a part (35/36) of this bearing is attached to the piston (2) or is part of the piston, and the other part (38) is eccentrically articulated to the cylinder (1).

According to the other type illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, part of the bearing is attached to the cylinder or constitutes a part of the cylinder, and the other part, the hollow shaft (40), is connected eccentrically to the piston. - This is how the piston performs a stroke movement per revolution. The kinematics of this movement depend on the geometric details of the execution and can deviate from the sinus shape. The kinematics are influenced, for example, by the size of the angle of the axis of the bearing; by the distance between the central axis of the bearing and the hinge point (39 or 42) which connects part of the bearing to the cylinder or to the piston; by the design of this articulated connection, in particular the design of the longitudinal displaceability of this connection, and by displacement of the joint (39 or 42) in the direction parallel to the axis of the bearing.

The structural design of the two parts of the bearing is carried out according to the known rules of technology, for example with axial and radial sliding bearings or with roller bearings.

Other versions are characterized in that the two parts of the bearing, which rotate relative to each other, are made so that they together embody an electric motor or electric generator. In this way, part of the bearing is made, for example, as an armature or rotor and the other part of the bearing functions as a stator. Or in other words: the rotor and the stator are rotatably supported relative to each other and like the two bearing parts mentioned arranged according to the invention.

Another version is characterized in that the power is mechanically transmitted to the outside of the machine by means of the hollow shaft (40) mentioned.

Another version is characterized in that the stroke length or the compression ratio or both is adjustable in that the angle which the axis (37 or 41) of the bearing has to the axis of the piston or the cylinder can be varied. This is achieved in that the bearing is pivotally attached to the piston or to the cylinder.

Another version is characterized in that the two adjacent end faces of two pistons (2) or a piston (2) and a piston-like member (5) always interlock positively like claws. - This synchronizes the rotation of neighboring pistons.

Another version is characterized in that the piston rests on a lubricating film, the lubricant, if it must not get into the working space or into the slots, being kept away from the working space or from the slots by a scraper ring or other sealing elements. The rotating component of the piston movement is advantageous for hydrodynamic lubrication. The sealing element is mounted on the cylinder, for example.

Example for carrying out the invention

The working space (7) is delimited by two pistons (2), both of which perform a rotary stroke movement. The movement of the piston is guided, for example, by the type of mechanism which is illustrated schematically in FIG. 4 or 5. The hollow shaft (40) of this mechanism also transmits the power to the outside of the machine: for this purpose, the hollow shaft is toothed on the outside and transmits the power to a gearwheel, which is located outside the cylinder. This gear driven by the hollow shaft (40) is connected to the corresponding gear of the adjacent hollow shaft.

Claims (6)

1. Piston machine with at least one piston which performs a rotary movement around the cylinder axis and at the same time an oscillating stroke movement parallel to the cylinder axis, characterized in that this piston movement is brought about by a bearing consisting of two parts which rotate relative to one another, the theoretical axis of this Bearing (37 or 41) is not parallel to the axis of the piston or the cylinder, and in that either one part (35, 36) of this bearing is attached to the piston (2) or forms part of the piston and the other part ( 38) is connected eccentrically to the cylinder (1), or that one part of the bearing is attached to the cylinder (1) or forms part of the cylinder and the other part, the hollow shaft (40), is connected eccentrically to the piston. 2. Piston machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the two parts of the bearing rotating relative to one another are designed such that they together form an electric motor or electric generator. 3. Piston machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the external power transmission takes place mechanically by means of the rotating hollow shaft (40). 4. Piston machine according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the stroke length or the compression ratio or both is adjustable by adjusting the angle which has the axis (37 or 41) of the bearing to the axis of the piston or of the cylinder by that Bearing is pivotally attached to the piston or cylinder. 5. Piston machine according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the two adjacent end faces of two pistons (2) or a piston (2) and a piston-like member (5) always interlock like claws. 6. Piston machine according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the piston (2) rests on a lubricating film, the lubricant, if it must not get into the working space or into the slots, from the working space or Slitting is kept away by a scraper ring or other sealing elements.

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