Rotary engines

Claim 2

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a circular chamber, two radial pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and relative angular reciprocation, each piston comprising at least one curved segmental block, at least two of said segmental blocks being arcuate, said pistons and said circular chamber defining at least two working chambers that successively enlarge and decrease in volume upon relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first gear characterized by two rounded lobes and coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second gear characterized by N rounded lobes, N 1,3 or any interger number greater than 3, said second gear engaged with said first gear; a third gear characterized by having the same number N of rounded lobes as said second gear, said third gear coupled to said second gear for rotation therewith about an axis stable relative to said housing; a fourth gear characterized by two rounded lobes and engaged with said third gear and coupled to the other of said pistons for rotation therewith.

Claim 3

An invention according to claim 1, with each piston comprising two remote curved arcuate segmental blocks, with each curved block generally triangular and bounded by generally radial faces, means to rigidly interconnect the curved blocks of one said piston, means to rigidly interconnect the curved blocks of the other said piston, each of the said pistons having central bosses extending part way into said circular chamber, the two pistons interfitting with one another within said housing with the said central bosses side by side adjacent to one another, said pistons and said circular chamber defining at least four working chambers that successively enlarge and decrease in volume upon relative angular reciprocation of said pistons.

Claim 4

An invention according to claim 1 wherein said circular chamber is the generatrix of a body having all sides straight.

Claim 5

An invention according to claim 3, said circular chamber being cylindrical, each piston comprising at least two said segmental blocks, and wherein said pistons and said circular chamber define at least four working chambers that successively enlarge and decrease in volume upon relative angular reciprocation of said pistons.

Claim 6

An invention according to claim 1, with all the gears of said engine being disposed on one side of said housing.

Claim 7

An invention according to claim 5, with means to couple said fourth gear to said piston comprising a drive shaft, the means to couple said first gear to the other said piston including a member circumvented over the said drive shaft.

Claim 8

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a generally circular chamber, at least two pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and relative angular reciprocation, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first gear characterized by two rounded lobes and coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second gear Characterized by one one rounded lobe and engaged with said first gear; a third gear characterized by one rounded lobe, said second gear coupled to said third gear; a fourth gear characterized by two rounded lobes and engaged with said third gear and coupled to the other said piston for rotation therewith.

Claim 9

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a generally circular chamber, at least two pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and relative angular reciprocation, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first gear characterized by two rounded lobes and coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second gear Characterized by one one rounded lobe and engaged with said first gear; a third gear characterized by one rounded lobe, said second gear coupled to said third gear; a fourth gear characterized by two rounded lobes and engaged with said third gear and coupled to the other said piston for rotation therewith.

Claim 10

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a generally circular chamber, at least two pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and angular reciprocation of at least one piston relative to another, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first gear characterized by two rounded lobes and coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second gear characterized by having N rounded lobes, N 1,3 or any integer number greater than 3, said second gear engaged with said first gear; a third gear, substantially circular, and coupled to said second gear; a fourth gear, substantially circular, and coupled to another of said pistons for rotation therewith and engaged with said third gear, the ratio of said third gear to said fourth gear being N:2.

Claim 11

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a generally circular chamber, at least two pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and angular reciprocation of at least one piston relative to another, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first gear characterized by two rounded lobes and coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second gear characterized by having N rounded lobes, N 1,3 or any integer number greater than 3, said second gear engaged with said first gear; a third gear, substantially circular, and coupled to said second gear; a fourth gear, substantially circular, and coupled to another of said pistons for rotation therewith and engaged with said third gear, the ratio of said third gear to said fourth gear being N:2.

Claim 12

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a generally circular chamber, at least two pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and angular reciprocation of at least one piston relative to another, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first toothed gear characterized by having at least one rounded lobe, said first gear coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second lobate toothed gear, said second gear being an internal gear, said second gear engaged with said first gear; a third gear, said third gear coupled to said second gear; a fourth gear coupled to another of said pistons for rotation therewith; means for direct or indirect engagement of said third gear with said fourth gear.

Claim 13

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a generally circular chamber, at least two pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and angular reciprocation of at least one piston relative to another, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first toothed gear characterized by having at least one rounded lobe, said first gear coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second lobate toothed gear, said second gear being an internal gear, said second gear engaged with said first gear; a third gear, said third gear coupled to said second gear; a fourth gear coupled to another of said pistons for rotation therewith; means for direct or indirect engagement of said third gear with said fourth gear.

Claim 14

An invention according to claim 9 wherein said first gear is characterized by two rounded lobes.

Claim 15

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a circular chamber, two radial pistons, each piston comprising at least one curved block, with said radial pistons journaled within said circular chamber on the axis thereof for rotation and relative angular reciprocation about said axis, said radial pistons substantially defining within said circular chamber at least one working chamber that successively enlarges and decreases in volume upon relative angular reciprocation of said pistons and consequent approach and departure of said curved blocks, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first toothed gear having at least one rounded lobe and coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second toothed gear having at least one rounded lobe and engaged with said first gear for the rotation of said first gear in response to the rotation of said second gear; a third toothed gear; means to couple said third gear to said second gear for rotation in unison about the same axis; a fourth toothed gear coupled to the other of said pistons for rotation therewith, with said fourth gear being engaged with said third gear for rotation in response to the rotation of said third gear; the engagement between said second gear and said first gear being indirect and being provided by an intermediate toothed gear between said first gear and said second gear; and the engagement between said third gear and said fourth gear being indirect, being provided by another toothed intermediate gear between said third gear and said fourth gear and which is meshed with said third gear and said fourth gear.

Claim 16

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a circular chamber, two radial pistons, each piston comprising at least one curved block, with said radial pistons journaled within said circular chamber on the axis thereof for rotation and relative angular reciprocation about said axis, said radial pistons substantially defining within said circular chamber at least one working chamber that successively enlarges and decreases in volume upon relative angular reciprocation of said pistons and consequent approach and departure of said curved blocks, and means to regulate the rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising, A first toothed gear having at least one rounded lobe and coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second toothed gear having at least one rounded lobe and engaged with said first gear for the rotation of said first gear in response to the rotation of said second gear; a third toothed gear; means to couple said third gear to said second gear for rotation in unison about the same axis; a fourth toothed gear coupled to the other of said pistons for rotation therewith, with said fourth gear being engaged with said third gear for rotation in response to the rotation of said third gear; the engagement between said second gear and said first gear being indirect and being provided by an intermediate toothed gear between said first gear and said second gear; and the engagement between said third gear and said fourth gear being indirect, being provided by another toothed intermediate gear between said third gear and said fourth gear and which is meshed with said third gear and said fourth gear.

Claim 17

In a rotary engine having a housing defining a circular chamber, and at least two pistons journaled within said circular chamber about the axis thereof for rotation and relative angular reciprocation about said axis, means to regulate rotatIon and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising: A toothed internal first gear which is internally oval and is coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a toothed second gear having at least one rounded lobe and which is engaged with said first gear by direct mesh; a toothed third gear, coupled to said second gear; a toothed fourth gear coupled to another of said pistons for rotation therewith, with said third gear and said fourth gear being engaged by direct mesh, the gears co-operating to cause at least two of said pistons to undergo relative angular reciprocation and rotation.

Claim 18

In a rotary engine having a housing defining a circular chamber, and at least two pistons journaled within said circular chamber about the axis thereof for rotation and relative angular reciprocation about said axis, means to regulate rotatIon and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising: A toothed internal first gear which is internally oval and is coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a toothed second gear having at least one rounded lobe and which is engaged with said first gear by direct mesh; a toothed third gear, coupled to said second gear; a toothed fourth gear coupled to another of said pistons for rotation therewith, with said third gear and said fourth gear being engaged by direct mesh, the gears co-operating to cause at least two of said pistons to undergo relative angular reciprocation and rotation.

Claim 19

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a circular chamber, at least two pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and for angular reciprocation of at least one piston relative to another about said axis, and means to regulate rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising: An internal first gear which is internally oval and is coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second gear having at least one rounded lobe and which is engaged with said first gear; a third gear coupled to said second gear; a fourth gear coupled to another of said pistons for rotation therewith, said fourth gear being directly engaged with said third gear, the gears co-operating to cause at least one of said pistons to undergo rotation relative to said housing and angular reciprocation relative to another of said pistons.

Claim 20

In a rotary engine, a housing defining a circular chamber, at least two pistons journaled on the axis of said circular chamber for rotation and for angular reciprocation of at least one piston relative to another about said axis, and means to regulate rotation and relative angular reciprocation of said pistons, said means comprising: An internal first gear which is internally oval and is coupled to one of said pistons for rotation therewith; a second gear having at least one rounded lobe and which is engaged with said first gear; a third gear coupled to said second gear; a fourth gear coupled to another of said pistons for rotation therewith, said fourth gear being directly engaged with said third gear, the gears co-operating to cause at least one of said pistons to undergo rotation relative to said housing and angular reciprocation relative to another of said pistons.