Liquid-cooling system for rotary-piston mechanisms

Claim 2

An improved liquid-cooling system for a rotary-piston mechanism having means forming a liquid flow passageway means including a plurality of series-connected parallel passes for conducting liquid at progressively decreasing pressures in the direction of flow and in which passageway means the liquid therein tends to define with a portion of the walls of the passageway means at least one potential fluidtight chamber, the improvement comprising a conduit means for the potential fluidtight chamber communicating the fluidtight chamber with another portion of the passageway means which is at the same or a lesser pressure than said fluidtight chamber to conduct from such fluidtight chamber gaseous fluid and thereby prevent the entrapment of such gaseous fluid and the blockage of a portion of the passageway means.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conduit means extends from its associated potential fluidtight chamber to the nearest adjacent area of the passageway means of lower pressure to thereby provide a relatively low pressure drop therethrough.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conduit means is vent of restricted flow area to provide negligible cooling fluid flow therethrough.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means forming a liquid flow passageway means is the housing of the rotary-piston mechanism constructed and arranged to provide integral passageway means including said plurality of series-connected parallel passes.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of the passes extend substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the mechanism and the mechanism is supported with said axis of rotation extending at a substantial acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said substantial acute angle is about 20*.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the passageway means further includes return-bend means for connecting said plurality of passes together for seRies flow therethrough and at least a portion of said return-bend means tends to define with the liquid therein said potential fluidtight chamber.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid flow passageway means includes a radiator having an inlet and said conduit means communicates said fluidtight chamber with the inlet of said radiator.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid flow passageway means includes an outlet manifold and said conduit means communicates said fluidtight chamber with the outlet manifold.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotary-piston mechanism comprises a rotor shaft for supporting at least one rotor for rotation in a housing and wherein said passes extend in said housing substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of said rotor shaft.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes a housing comprising a plurality of abutting sections, the housing sections having spaced ribs which abut adjacent housing sections to define portions of the passageway means and wherein conduit means is formed by a recess in the abutting surface of a rib and the abutting housing section.

Claim 13

In a rotary-piston combustion engine comprising a housing, a plurality of rotors supported for rotation in a housing by a rotor shaft, a cooling system comprising: a. a plurality of spaced webs constructed and arranged in said housing to define a liquid-cooling flow path comprising a plurality of parallel passageways interconnected by distribution manifolds for providing series flow of liquid therethrough at progressively decreasing pressures; b. said housing having a liquid inlet means communicating with a source of cooling liquid and said plurality of passageways to conduct cool liquid to the latter for absorption of heat from the housing; c. said housing having an outlet means in communication with the plurality of passageways and with said source of cooling liquid to receive from the passageways heated liquid and conduct the same to the said source for cooling; d. vent means disposed in said webs at points where the liquid in said liquid cooling flow path tends to define with a portion of the adjacent walls of defining the liquid cooling flow path a potential-fluid tight chamber; e. said vent means communicating the associated potential fluidtight chamber with another portion of the cooling flow path which has free-flowing liquid at the same or lower pressure therein to provide for flow of gaseous fluid from the potential fluidtight chamber to said another portion of the cooling flow path.

Claim 14

In a rotary-piston combustion engine comprising a housing, a plurality of rotors supported for rotation in a housing by a rotor shaft, a cooling system comprising: a. a plurality of spaced webs constructed and arranged in said housing to define a liquid-cooling flow path comprising a plurality of parallel passageways interconnected by distribution manifolds for providing series flow of liquid therethrough at progressively decreasing pressures; b. said housing having a liquid inlet means communicating with a source of cooling liquid and said plurality of passageways to conduct cool liquid to the latter for absorption of heat from the housing; c. said housing having an outlet means in communication with the plurality of passageways and with said source of cooling liquid to receive from the passageways heated liquid and conduct the same to the said source for cooling; d. vent means disposed in said webs at points where the liquid in said liquid cooling flow path tends to define with a portion of the adjacent walls of defining the liquid cooling flow path a potential-fluid tight chamber; e. said vent means communicating the associated potential fluidtight chamber with another portion of the cooling flow path which has free-flowing liquid at the same or lower pressure therein to provide for flow of gaseous fluid from the potential fluidtight chamber to said another portion of the cooling flow path.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said housing comprises a plurality of abutting sections and wherein said vent means comprises a recess in the surface of a web of one housing section which abuts the surface of the adjacent housing section to thereby bring into communication the cooling fluid flow path on opposite sides of said web.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said source of cooling liquid is a heat exchanger capable of cooling the liquid and having an expansion vapor space which is vented to atmosphere.

Claim 17

An improved liquid cooling system for a rotary-piston mechanism having a plurality of abutting piston-cylinder assemblies each of which is provided with means forming a cooling liquid passageway means comprising inlet and outlet ports interconnected by a plurality of series connected parallel passageways, the inlet and outlet ports of each piston-cylinder assembly being in communication with an inlet and outlet cooling liquid manifold, the improvement comprising the provision of fluid flow vent means communicating the passageway means of one piston-cylinder assembly at a point where entrapment of air or vapor tends to occur with the passageway means of the adjacent piston-cylinder assembly at a point where the cooling liquid is free flowing and at the same or lesser pressure.

Claim 18

An improved liquid cooling system for a rotary-piston mechanism having a plurality of abutting piston-cylinder assemblies each of which is provided with means forming a cooling liquid passageway means comprising inlet and outlet ports interconnected by a plurality of series connected parallel passageways, the inlet and outlet ports of each piston-cylinder assembly being in communication with an inlet and outlet cooling liquid manifold, the improvement comprising the provision of fluid flow vent means communicating the passageway means of one piston-cylinder assembly at a point where entrapment of air or vapor tends to occur with the passageway means of the adjacent piston-cylinder assembly at a point where the cooling liquid is free flowing and at the same or lesser pressure.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said fluid flow vent means is defined by a groove in the end face of one pistOn-cylinder assembly and the abutting surface of the next adjacent piston-cylinder assembly.

Claim 20

In a rotary-piston mechanism comprising a plurality of adjacent pistons confined for rotation within housing elements interconnected by abutting intermediate housing elements, and opposite end housing elements, the piston and intermediate housing elements and the end housing elements being constructed and arranged to provide in abutment with each other a separate cooling liquid passageway means surrounding each rotary piston and communicating at one end with a cooling liquid inlet manifold and at the opposite end with a cooling liquid outlet manifold, an improvement comprising vent means in said intermediate housing element communicating the passageway means associated with one rotary piston at a point where entrapment of air or vapor tends to occur with the passageway means associated with the next adjacent rotary piston at a point where the cooling liquid is free flowing at the same or lesser pressure.

Claim 21

In a rotary-piston mechanism comprising a plurality of adjacent pistons confined for rotation within housing elements interconnected by abutting intermediate housing elements, and opposite end housing elements, the piston and intermediate housing elements and the end housing elements being constructed and arranged to provide in abutment with each other a separate cooling liquid passageway means surrounding each rotary piston and communicating at one end with a cooling liquid inlet manifold and at the opposite end with a cooling liquid outlet manifold, an improvement comprising vent means in said intermediate housing element communicating the passageway means associated with one rotary piston at a point where entrapment of air or vapor tends to occur with the passageway means associated with the next adjacent rotary piston at a point where the cooling liquid is free flowing at the same or lesser pressure.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said vent means is at least partially defined by a groove in one of the end faces of the abutting rotary piston housing and intermediate housing.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein vent means is provided in the inlet manifold to vent the same to a lower pressure area.