US1799527A - Rotary engine - Google Patents

Description

April 7, 1931. s. PLATO 1,799,527

ROTARY' ENGINE Filed Nov; 8, '1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEA/TU/E GE'RHARDT PLATO ATwE/VEY April 7,1931.

2 Sheds-Sheet ,2

GE/PHARDT PLATO BYM w Patented Apr. 7, I 1931 PATENT OFFIC GERHARDT PLATO, OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS sonar meme Application filed li'ovember a, 1928. Serial No. 317,889.

My invention relates to an improved con struction of rotary engine of the multi-cylinder type by which special provision is made for cooling each cylinder of the engine by a freshair charge, during, each cycle of its operation to prevent excessive heating, and by which a plurality of charges of mixture may be compressed in a mixture chamber for each cycle of operation of each cylinder. 7 p 13 Y The above and other objects of my invention will best be understood b the accompanying drawings s owing a preferred embodiment thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely through one cylinder of my engine, this view being ta en along the line 11 in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 2 is a view showing one cylinder of my engine in plan view, a second cylinder in 2:) horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and a third cylinder in horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2a-2a in Fig. 1. e r V Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Fig. 2, three cylinders are illustrated which are designated 1, 2 and 3, which are of the same construction as far as the working parts pertaining to each cylinder are concerned, from which it will be necessary to describe theworking parts of but one cylinder, for example cylinder 1. Cylinder 2 is shown as broken in' a plane extending transversely of the cylinder to indicate the inclusion in the engine of as many cylinders of the construction of cylinder 2 as desired, since I contemplate providing my improved engine with as many cylinders as the requirements of any particular case may dictate.

As shown in Fi 1, cylinder 1 is provide with a cylindrical ore through which a main shaft 10 extends co-axially .with the bore. The shaft 10 is continuous from end to end of the engine, and all ofthe cylinders employed are arranged coaxially with the said shaft. Cylinder 1 is provided with parallel end walls 11 and 12, the wall 12 also constituting one of the end walls of cylinder 2. Between the walls 11 and 12, the shaft 10 carries a piston 13, of a length fitting between the end walls reference to.

d bore through a port 27.

with a sliding fit, to rotate in the cylinder 1. The piston 13 carries packing bars 14 which are in sliding engagement with the bore of the cylinder at all times. The piston is rigidly secured to the shaft 10 by a key 15;

The piston 13 extends radially in one direction from the shaft 10 to a position adjacent the bore of the cylinder, to carry the packing bars 14, and said piston occupies but a small part of the volume of the cylinder, my to permit the action upon and by it, below described.

The block of the cylinder is extended upwardly above its bore and contains a firing chamber 17 extending through the block and communicating with the cylinder bore by a port 18. The cylinder block also contains two passageways 19 provided at their lower ends with check valves 20 for receiving fuel mixture under pressure from the cylinder bore, through the ports 21 opening from the lower endsof the passageways into the cylinderbore. Between the passa eways 19 and the firing chamber 17, the cy inder block is provided with a curved slot 22 in which a similarly curved gate or plate 23 is a sliding fit, said gate being of such a-width that it is also a sliding fit at its edges between the end walls 11 and 12 of the cylinder. The gate 23 always occupies the lowest position made posan sible by the angular position of the piston 13 at any instant, and thus separates the bore of the cylinder into two compartments, one in communication with the port 18 and the other in communication with the ports 21.

The cylinder block also contains a bore 24 in which a housing 25 is mounted, which housin carries and guides an exhaust valve 26 having communication with the cylinder The other side of no the exhaust valve communicates with an exhaust manifold 28.

The firing chamber 17 has extendin through its side wall, a spark plug 29, an this side wall is also provided with an aper- 95 ture 30 in which a check valve 31 is mounted, this valve being held in place by a cap 32 closing the outer end of the aperture 30. A clear ance space 33 is left between the cap 32 and the check valve 31 and with. this space, an air 10.

supply pipe 34 communicates, which pipe is open at its outer end to atmosphere. The pigs 34 has extending into it a small diameter tu 35 provided with a stop-cock 36 by which lubricating oil may be permitted'to flow into the pipe 34 as rapidly as desired.

T e cylinder of the engine are provided with a head 37, preferably extending over all of them, which serves for each cylinder to enclose the firing chamber 17 and the passages 19,. and also the bore 24 at its upper end, and it also provides an upper guide for the stem 26a of the exhaust valve. The head 37 also carries rods 38 holding the check valves 20 in the lower ends of the passages 19.

As indicated in Fig. 2, the head 37 also carries two valves 39 and 40 opening into each firing chamber 17, these valves having stems 39a and 40a extending upwardly for operation by the valve operating mechanism. In

the head 37, each intake valve 40 opens into a passageway 41 communicating with an intake manifold 42 for supplying the engine with fuel mixture from a carburetor not shown. The passageway 41 preferably extends-throu hout the head 37 and communicates with a l of the intake valves 40 for supplying the several cylinder initially with fuel v mixture from the manifold 42, which preferably communicates with the passageway 41 at several points to distribute the mixture to the passageway with the greatest eiiiciency. The passageways 19 communicate at their upper ends with a storage compartment 43 ormed in the ,head to receive fuel mixture under compression from the several cylinders and the compressed mixture valves 39, one for each cylinder, establishcommunication between said compartment 43 and the several firing chambers 17 when they are opened.-

The valve stems 26a, 39a and 40a extend above the upper surface of the head 37 and are grovided with suitable springs as indicate for keeging the valves closed unless they are opene by the valve operating mechanlsm.

The head 37 supports in suitablebearings extending from its upper surface, a cam shaft 44 for operating rocker arms 45, 46 and 47, engaging the upper ends respectively of the valve stems 26a, 39a and 40a, to open the cor responding valveswhen the rocker arms are operated. The rocker arms are su )ported by shafts 48 and 49 carried by suitable bearin s extending upwardly from. the top of tfie head 37.

The cam construction and arrangement carried by the cam shaft 44, which shaft preferably extends the entire length of the engine to operate all of the cam operated valves thereof, is determined by the number of c lin ders used in the engine construction an the particular t pe of cycle desired. In the three cylinder arrangement, which is shown in the accompanying drawings as illustrative of one particular number of cylinders that may be employed, I find it desirable to complete the entire cycle of operation of the engine in three rotations of the shaft 10, and since the cam shaft 44 should make one rotation for each complete cycle of operation of the engine, I show the shaft 44 as connected with the shaft 10 by gears 50, 51 and 52, drivin the shaft 44 from the shaft 10 at one-thir the speed of the shaft 10. The ears 50 and 52 are rigidly secured to the sha ts 10 and 44, and the gear 51 is an idler gear supported on a stud 53 from one end wall of the engine.

The'cylinders of the engine may be provided with water 'ackets as indicated at 54 for cylinder 1 and each of the curved slots 22 preferably connects at its upper end with a passageway 55 formed in the head 37, which in turn communicates with the corres onding firing chamber 17.

n operating rotary engines of the type under consideration in the past, I have found that for high speeds, the heating effect is so great as to make it difiicult to cool the engine and cause it to operate smoothly. To overcome this difficulty, I referably employ a cycle of operation inc uding one or more cooling strokes or rotations in the following manner. Assuming that the engine is in operation, for the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1, and that afiring stroke has just been completed, ending the preceding cycle of operation, continued rotation of the piston 13 draws into the chamber 17 and through the port 18 in to the cylinder bore back of the piston 13, a charge of fuel mixture from the carburetor, through the intake manifold 42, the intake valve 40 at this time being held in its open position by a corresponding cam on the cam shaft 44. I The check valve 31 is held against its seat by a spring of suflicient strength to hold it closed for suction pressures no greater than are required to draw into the engine charges of mixture from the carbureter, and the check valve 31 therefore remains closed during the intake of fuel mixture for the stroke of the piston 13 under consideration. At the same time, the exhaust valve 26 is held in its open position by a corresponding cam on the camshaft 44, and the burnt gases resulting from the firing stroke previously com leted, are swe t from the cylinder through the port 27 an around the exhaust valve 26, into the exhaust manifold 28. The check valves 20 are held against their seats b suitable springs having sufficient strengt1 to hold these valves closed for an pressures there may be upon gases in the cy inder bore, that are being swept by the piston from the cvlin'der bore throug the port 27 into the exhaust manifold 28, and in this way flow of the burnt gases into the passageways 19 is prevented. The weight of the gate 23 at this time holds it against the rear surface of the piston 13 and prevents in- 26 is opened by its cam,

termingling of the fuel mixture being drawn into the cylinder, and the burnt gases being expelled from it. When the first stroke or rotation of the piston 13 has progressed far enough -to bring the packing bars 14 opposite the port 27, the exhaust valve 26 is permitted to close by the cam controlling it and the intake of fresh fuel mixture is continued until the packing bars 14 reach the port 18. At this time, the cam controlling the valve 40 permits it to close, and when the packing bars 14 pass the port 18 to begin the second stroke or. rotation of the piston 13 of the particular cycle under consideration, the charge of fresh mixture is contained in the cylinder in front of the piston 13 and is prevented from passing back through the port 18 by the gate 23. During the second stroke of the piston 13, the intake valve 40 and the exhaust valve 26 remain closed, and the mixture compressed by rotation of the piston 13 in the cylinder 1, is forced through the check valves 20 into the passageways 19, and thus into the mixture chamber 43, where it is held for a brief interval under compression sufficient to cause it to operate efficiently when it is subsequently delivered to the firing chamber 17 and ignited. During the second stroke of the piston 13, the valve 39 is also in its closed position, as it also was during the entire first stroke of the piston 13 of the cycle under consideration, the strength of the spring of the valve 39, being suflicient to hold it positively in its closed position against any pressure due to compression of the mixture in the chamber 43. During the second stroke of the piston, since the valves 39 and 40 are both closed, sufficient suction is produced in the chamber 17 to open the check valve 31, and air is taken into the chamber 17 and through the port 18 into the bore of cylinder 1 back of the piston 13, in sufiicient volume to fill the cylinder. At the same time, the stop-cock 36 is preferably open to ermit lubricating oil to flow into the pipe 34, so that it may be carried by the fresh air into the cylinder and lubricate the piston 13 and the gate 23. When the second stroke of the piston brings the packing bars 14 in line with the port-18, the cylinder is full of fresh air carrying whatever oil may have been put into it during its intake. At this instant, at the beginning of the third stroke of the cycle under consideration, the exhaust valve and the valve 39 is momentarily opened by its cam which at once fills the firing chamber 17 with fuel mixture under such compression fectively. The opening and closing of the valve 39 is accomplished in the briefest interval possible to transfer the mixture from the compartment 43 to the firing chamber 17, and immediately upon the closing of the valve 39, and when the piston 13 is" in substantially the positionv in 'cated in Fig. 1,

that it Will. fire ef-i 'the mixture in the chamber 17 is fired by means of the spark plug 29. This produces an operating pressure on the rear face of the piston 13 and also produces a pressure on the upper edge of the gate 23 holding it down against the rear face of the piston 13, so that the pressure produced rotates the piston in the direction indicated by the arrow. This action is continued until the packing bars 14 reach the port 27, at which time the remaining pressure in the cylinder, is dissipated through the port 27 into the exhaust manifold 28 and since the next stroke (which is the first stroke of the next cycle of operation of the cylinder) draws in the next charge of fuel mixture and exhausts the burnt gases in the same manner above described, the exhaust valve 26 remains open continuously for the type of cycle under consideration, from the beginning of each third stroke until the end of each first stroke of successive cycles, to permit the exhaust of the charge of cooling air from the cylinder, and to exhaust the burnt gases as above described.

It will be noted that the front and rear faces-of the piston 13 are curved so that they are convex, and that the curvature of the gate 23 causes its lower edge to incline towards the shaft 10 proportionately to the amount that the gate 23 projects into the bore of the cylinder. These curvatures co-operate to reduce to a minimum, the tendency that would otherwise exist to produce undue friction on the side of the gate adjacent the firing chamber in raising the gate into the slot 22. With the construction shown, the direction of the lifting pressure exerted on the gate by the piston 13, is more nearly in line with the lower portion of the slot 22, than would be possible if the slot were straight instead of curved.

Where my im roved engine consists of a larger number 0 cylinders than three cylinders, it will appear that various cycles of operation are available as desired, depending upon the number of piston rotations employed per cycle, and that the cam shaft gearing and the construction and arrangement of the cams on the cam shaft may readily be proportioned to suit the requirements of any particular cycle of operation decided upon. For example with a four cylinder arrangement, if there be but one firingrotation per cycle there may be two rotations per cycle devoted to cooling each cylinder with fresh air, or if preferred, there may be one cooling rotation and two rotations devoted to compressing mixture in the mixture chamber, and furthermore these several steps in the cycle may be arranged relatively to each other in any particular order desired. Itwill also appear her than four cylinders, for exam 1e six cylinders, that the cycle described or the three cylinder that in using a larger num engine may be employed in m each half of the engine and that preferably the firing strokes 1n any event should be equally spaced throughout the cycle of oper- .one direction therefrom,

ation of the engine as a whole, and furthermore that for three or four cylinders, the firing strokes in the several cylinders should be equally spaced throughout the cycle.

By my construction, I provide am le cooling facilities for effecting practica operation of the rotary engine under consideration and I also provide efi'icient means for lubricating the internal parts of such a engine. Furthermore, the several parts of the engine are constructed and disposed relatively to each other, so that the engines may be economically made and maintained.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment above described, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to this exact construction as I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders each having substantially parallel end walls, a shaft extending throng said cylinders coaxially with the bores thereof, a piston in each cylinder carried by said shaft and extending radially in each of said istons having a length substantially equa to the distance between the end walls of the corresponding cylinder and being of substantially the same radius as the bore of said cylinder,packing bars carried by each piston engaging the bore of the corresponding cylinder, a firing chamber, for each cylinder having a port opening into the latter, an exhaust valve for each cylinder, a sliding gate resting upon the iston in each cylinder be-- tween the port and exhaust valve thereof and separating the interior of said cylinder into two compartments, a compressed mixture passageway extending from each cylinder, a check valve in each of said passageways permitting gas flow outwardly therein, a head for said cylinders havin a compressed mixture compartment therein communicating with said passageways, said head having also an intake passageway therein for supplying fuel mixture to the engine, an intake valve for each firing chamber for supplying fuel mixture from said intake passageway to said firing chamber, a compressed mixture valve for each firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firing chamber, an air check valve for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, devices for supplying lubricating oil to the air flowing through each of said air check valves, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valves, said compressed mixture valves and said exhaust valves and producing a cycle of operation for each cylinder comprising intake, compression and firing of fuel mixture and the Intake and exhaust of a cooling fresh air and lubricating charge, said cam mechanisms for the several cylinders being displaced angu larly from each other thereby spacing the firing strokes of the several cylinders from each other.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders each having substantially parallel end walls, a shaft extending through said cylinders coaxially with the bores thereof, a piston in each cylinder carried hv said shaft and extending radially in one direction therefrom, each of said pistons having a length substantially equal to the distance between the end walls of the corresponding cylinder and being of substantially the same radius as the bore of said cylinder, packing bars carried by each piston engag ing the bore of the corresponding cylinder, a firing chamber for each cylinder having a port opening into the latter, an exhaust valve for each cylinder, a sliding gate resting upon the piston in each cylinder between the port and exhaust valve thereof and separating the interior of said cylinder into two compartments, a compressed mixture passageway extending from each cylinder, a check valve in each of said passageways permitting gas flow outwardly therein, a head for said cylinders having a com pression-mixture compartment therein communicating with said passageways, said head having also an intake passageway therein for supplying fuel mixture to the engine, an 'intake valve for each firing chamber for supplying fuel mixture from said intake passageway to said firing chamber, a compressed mixture valve for each firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firing cham her, an air check Vfl-lVG for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valves, said compressed mixture valves and said exhaust valves and producing a cycle of operation for each cylinder comprising intake, compression and firing of fuel mixture and the intake and exhaust. of a cooling fresh air charge, said cam mechanisms for the several cylinders being displaced angnlarly from each other thereby spacing the firing strokes of the several cylinders from each other.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders each having substantially parallel end walls, a shaft extending supplying lubricatin exhaust valve thereof and separating the inintakeand exhaust of a cooling fresh air through said cylinders coaxially with the firing chamber for each cylinder having a bores thereof, a piston in each cylinder carport opening into the latter, an exhaust va ve ried by said sha and extending radially in or each cyhnder, a sliding ate resting upon one direction therefrom, each of said pistons the piston in each cylinder etween the port having a length substantially; equal to the and exhaust valve thereof and separating the distance between the end wa of the correinterior of said cylinder into two compartspondi-ng cylinder and being of substantially ments, a compressed mixture passageway exthe same radius as the bore of said cylinder, tending from each cylinder, a check valve in packing bars carried by each piston engaging each of said passageways permitting gas flow the bore of the corresponding cylinder, a firoutwardly therein, a head for said cylinders ing chamber for each cylinder having a port having a compressed mixture compartment opening into the latter, an exhaust valve for therein' communicating with said passageeach cylinder, a sliding gate resting upon the ways, said head having also an intake paspiston in each cylinder between the port and sageway therein for supplying fuel mixture to the engine, an intake valve for each firing chamber for supplying fuel mixture from said intake passageway to said firing chamher, a compressed mixture valve for each firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firing chamber, an air check valve for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, devices terior of said cylinder into two compartments, a compressed mixture passageway extending from each cylinder, a check valve in each of said passageways permitting gas flow outwardly therein, a head for said cylinders having a compressed mixture compartment therein communicating with sai passageways, said head having also an intake passageway therein for supplying fuel mixture to the engine, an intake valve for each firing chamber for supplying fuel mixture from said in take passageway to said firing chamber, a compressed mixture valve for each firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firing chamber, an air check valve for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, devices for oil to the air flowing through each of sai air check valves, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valvelslsaisdl cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valves, said compressed mixture valves and said exhaust valves.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders each having subing through said cylinders coaxially with the bores thereof, a PlStOll'lIl each cylinder carried by said shaft and extending radially in one direction therefrom, each of said pistons having a length substantially equal to the distance between the end walls of the corresponding cylinder and being of substantially the same radius as the bore of said cylinder, packing bars carried by each piston engagcompressed mixture valves and said e valves and producing a cycle of o ration for each cylinder comprising mta e, com-. pression and firing of el mixture and the firing chamber for each cylinder having a port opening into the latter, an exhaust valve for each cylinder, a sliding gate resting upon the piston in each cylinder between the port and exhaust valve thereof and separating the and lubricating charge, said cam mechanisms for the several cylinders beingjdisplaced angularly from each other there y spacing the firing strokes of the several cylinders fromeach other, said cam mechanism for each cylinder momentarily opening the compressed mixture valve of said cylinder immediately preceding its firingstroke.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders each having substantially parallel end walls, a shaft extending through said cylinders coaxially w1th the bores thereof, a piston in each cylinder carried by said shaft and extending radially 1n one direction therefrom, each of said pistons having a length substantially e ual to the distance between the end walls 0 the corresponding cylinder and being of substantially the same radius 'as the bore of said cylinder, packing bars carried by each piston engaging the bore of the correspondlng cylinder, a

ments, a compressed mixture passageway extending from each cylinder, a check valve in outwardly therein, a head for said cylinders having a compressed mixture compartment therein communicating with said passageways, said head having also an intake passageway therein for supplying fuel mixture to the engine, an intake valve for each firing chamber for supplying fuel mixture from said intake passageway to said -firing chamber, a compressed mixture valve for each firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firing chamber, an air check for supplying lubricating oil to the air flowing through each of said air check valves, and

stantially parallel end walls, a shaft extend-,

ing the bore of the corresponding cylinder, :1

interior of said cylinder into two compart each of said passageways permitting gas flow a plurality of cylin valve for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valves, said compressed mixture valves and said exhaust valves.

6. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders each having substantially parallel end walls, a shaft extending through said cylinders coaxially with the bores thereof, a piston in each cylinder carried by said shaft and extending radially in one direction therefrom, each of said pistons having a length substantiall e ual to the distance between the end wal s o the corres )onding cylinder and being of substantially the same radius as the bore of said cylinder,

acking bars carried by each iston engagmg the bore of the correspon ing cylinder, a firing chamber for each cylinder having a port opening into the latter, an exhaust valve for each cylinder, a sliding gate resting upon the piston in each cylinder between the port and exhaust valve thereof and separating the interior of said cylinder into two compartments, a compressed mixture compartment for storin compressed fuel mixture from each cylint er, an inlet passageway for supplying fuel mixture to each firing chamber, an intake valve for each firing chamber for supplying fuel mixture from said intake passageway to said firing chamber, a com )ressed mixture valve for each firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture com artment to said firing chamber, anair chec valve for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air'check "alves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, devices for supplying lubricating oil to the air flowing through each of said air check valves, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valves, said compressed mixture valves and said exhaust valves and producing a cycle of operation for each cylinder com rising intake, compression and firing of uel mixture and the intake and exhaust of a cooling fresh air and lubricating charge, said cam mechanisms for the several cylinders being displaced angularly from each other thereby spacing the firin Y strokes of the several cylinders from eacl other.

7. In a rotary en 'ne, the combination of ers each having substantially plarallel end walls, a shaft extending throng said cylinders coaxially with the bores thereof, a piston in each cylinder carried by said shaft and extending radially in one direction therefrom, each of said pistons having a length substantially equal to the distance between the end walls of the corresponding. cylindcr and being of substantially the same radius as the bore of said cylinder, packing bars carried by each iston engaging the bore of the corresponc ing cylinder, a firing chamber for each cylinder having a port opening into the latter, an exhaust valve for each cylinder, a sliding gate resting upon the )iston in each cylinder between the port and exhaust valve thereof and separating the interior of said cylinder into two compartments, a compressed mixture compartment for storing compressed fuel mixture from each-cylinder, an inlet passageway for supplying fuel mixture to each firing chamber, an intake valve for each firing chamber for supplying fuel mixture from said intake passageway to said firing chamber, a compressed mixture valve for each firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firing chamber, an air check valve for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valves, said compressed mixture valves and said exhaust valves and producing a cycle of operation for each cylinder comprising intake, compression and firing of fuel mixture and the intake and exhaust of a cooling fresh air charge, said cam mechanisms for the several cylinders being displaced angularly from each other thereby spacing the firing strokes of the several cylinders from each other.

8. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality ofcylinders each having substantially arallel end walls, a shaft extending throng said cylinders coaxially with the bores thereof, a iston in each cylinder carried by said sha t and extending radially in one directiontherefrom each of said pistons having a length substantially equal to the distance between the end walls of the corresponding cylinder and being of substantially the same radius as the bore of said cylinder, packing bars carried by each piston engaging the bore of the corresponding cylinder, a firing chamber for each cylinder having a port opening into the latter, an exhaust valvefor each cylinder, a slidin gate resting upon the piston in each eylin er between a fuel mixture from ber, a compressed mixture valve'for each firmg chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firing chamber, an air check valve for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, devices for supplying lubricating oil to the air flowing through each of said air check valves, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valves, said compressed mixture valves and said exhaust valves and producing a cycle of operation for each cylinder comprising intake, compression and firing of fuel mixture and the intake and exhaust of a cooling fresh air and lubricating charge, said cam mechanism for the several cylinders being displaced angularly from each other thereby spacing the firing strokes of the several cylinders from each other, said cam mechanism for each cylinder momentarily opening the compressed mixture valve of said cylinder immediately preceding its firing stroke;

9. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality ofcylinders each having substantially parallel end walls, a shaft extending through said cylinders coaxially with the bores thereof, a piston in each cylinder carried by said shaft and extending radially in one direction therefrom, each of said pistons having a length substantiallyequal to the distance between the end walls of the cone sponding cylinderand being of substantially t 1e same radius as packing bars carried by each piston engagmg the bore of the corresponding cylinder, a firing chamber for each cylinder havin a port opening into the latter, an exhaust va ve for each cylinder, a sliding grate resting upon the piston in each cylinder tween the port and exhaust valve thereof and separating the interior of said cylinder into two compartments, a compressed mixture compartment for storing compressed fuel mixture from tially parallel end walls,

each cylinder, an inlet passa eway for supsupplying fuel mixture from said intake passageway to said firing chamber, a compressed mixture valve for each firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firin chamber, an air check valve for each firing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction presdevices for supplyeach of said air check valves, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically intake valves, said comoperating said valves and said exhaust pressed mixture valves.

10. In a rotary engine, the combination of,

a plurality of cylinders eachhaving substana shaft extending mixture valve for each the bore of said cylinder,

fuel mixture to each ring chamber, an intake valve for each firing chamber for through said cylinders coaxially with the bores thereof, a iston in each cylinder carried by said sha and extending radially in one direction therefrom, each of said pistons having a length substantially equal to the'distance between the end walls of the corresponding cylinder and being of substantially the same radius as the bore of said cylinder, packing bars carried by each piston engaging the bore of the corresponding cylinder, a firing chamber for each cylinder having a port opening into the latter, an exhaust valve for each cylinder, a sliding ate resting upon the piston in each cylinder etween the port and exhaust valve thereof and separating the ments, a compressed mixture compartment each cylinder, an inlet passa eway for sup-- plying fuel mixture to each ring chamber, an intake valve for each firing chamber for supplying fuel mixture from said intake passageway to said firing chamber, a compressed firing chamber for supplying compressed fuel mixture from said compressed mixture compartment to said firing chamber, an air check valve for each fir ing chamber for admitting air thereto, each of said air check valves having a spring holding said valve closed for suction pressures of mixture intake, and cam mechanism actuated from said shaft and cyclically operating said intake valves, said compressed mixture valves and said exhaust valves.

11. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of cylinders, a piston mounted for rotary movement in each of said cylinders, firing chambers for said cylinders, sliding gates separating said cylinders respectively into two compartments, intake and exhaust valves for said cylinders, a sprin restrained air-check valve for admitting resh air to each cylinder when its intake valve is closed,

devices for supplying lubricatin oil to the air passing through said check va ves, a compressed mixture compartment for storing compressedfuel mixture from each cylinder, compressed mixture valves for supplying said stored fuel mixture to said firing chambers, and cam mechanism cyclically 0 ing said intake, exhaust and compress mixture valves to include passing a fresh air cooling charge through each cylinder for each cycle of operation of the engine.

12. In a rotar engine, the combination of 120 a plurality of cy inders, a piston mounted for rotary movement in each of said cylinders, firing chambers for said cylinders, sliding gates separating said cylinders respectively into two compartments, valves for said cylinders, a spring restrained air. check valve for admitting fresh air to each cylinder when its-intake valve is closed, a compressed mixture compartment for stor I mg compressed fuel mixturefrom each cylinterior of said cylinder into two comparteratintake and exhaust 2 inder, compressed mixture valves for su plying said stored fuel mixture to said firing chambers, cam mechanism cyclically crating said intake, exhaust and cbmpresse mixture valves to include passing a fresh air cooling charge through each cylinder for each cycle of operation of the engine, said firing 0 numbers opening through outer surfaces of said cylinders, and a common head closing said firing chambers and carrying said intake valves, said compressed-mixture valves and said compressed-mixture compartment.

13. In a rotary en ine, a cylinder block having a cylindrical ore and parallel and walls per )endicular to said bore, a piston mounted or rotation in said bore with a part of its lateral surface closely adjacent said bore and shaped to leave a clearancespace for gases between its remaining lateral surface and said bore, a gate engaging the lateral surface of said piston to separate said clearance space into two compartments, an

intake valve for fuel mixture, an exhaust valve, an air inlet valve admitting fresh air to said cylinder when said intake valve is closed, cam mechanism operatin said intake valve and said exhaust valve to lnclude passin a cooling charge of fresh air through said cy inder as a part of each of its cycles of oper- 3 ation, and devices for supplying lubricating oil to the air passing through said air inlet valve.

14:. In a rotary en ine, a cylinder block having a cylindrical ore and parallel end a walls per endicular to said bore, a piston mounted or rotation in said bore with a part of its lateral surface closely adjacent said bore and shaped to leave a clearance space for gases between its remaining lateral surface and said bore, a gate engaging the lateral surface of said piston to separate said clearance space into two compartments, an intake valve for fuel mixture, an exhaust valve, a compressed mixture compartment for receiving.

GOll'lpleSSed fuel mixture from said cylinder,

a compressed mixture valve, an air inlet valve admitting fresh air to said cylinder when said intake valve is closed, cam mechanism o crating said intake valve, said comw' presse mixture valve, and said exhaust valve to include passing a cooling charge of fresh air through said cylinder as a part of each of its cycles of operation, a firing chamvber in said cylinder block communicating as with said cylinder here said firin chamber extending through said cylinder lock and having said air inlet valve opening into it and a head closin said firing chamber an carryingv said inta e valve, said compressed so mixture valve, and said cam mechanism, and

containing said compressed mixture compartment.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th da of October, A. D. 1928. G RHARDT PLATO.

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