Rotary expansible chamber device

Claim 2

A rotary internal combustion engine comprising: a block; a first longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block; a second longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said second chamber being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of said first chamber; a third longitudinally extending chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said third chamber being parallel to and disposed centrally of the longitudinal axes of said first and second chambers, said axes of said first and second chambers being disposed symmetrically about said axis of said third chamber and equidistant therefrom, said third chamber having a diameter to overlap said first and second chambers for placing said first, second and third chambers in mutual communication; a first rotor operably co-axially disposed within said first chamber, said first rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said first chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said first chamber to define a working volume; a second rotor operably co-axially disposed within said second chamber, said second rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diametEr substantially equal to the inside diameter of said second chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said second chamber to define a working volume; said first and second rotors operationally positioned in said first and second chambers with the axis of said relieved portions thereof substantially normal to each other; a third rotor operably co-axially disposed within said third chamber, said third rotor comprising a lobe member, said lobe member defining a surface for providing a substantial surfaceto-surface line contact with the surfaces of said first and second rotors at all times during rotation of said rotors; intake means for introducing a charge of combustible material into at least one of said first and and second chambers; exhaust means for exhausting combustion products from at least one of said first and second chambers; ignition means for igniting said combustible material within said block; each said working volume, under the control of the rotation of said first, second and third rotors being effectively displaced from being in communication with said ignition means and thereafter to being in communication with said exhaust means during the combustion cycle of said rotary engine; and means for interengaging said first, second and third rotors to control their relative rotation in the same rotational direction.

Claim 3

A rotary engine according to claim 1 and further including means for evacuating said working volumes after each has been in communication with said exhaust port and prior to each coming into communication with said inlet ports.

Claim 4

A rotary engine according to claim 2 wherein said means for evacuating cooperates with said rotatable means to force gases from said working volumes through said exhaust ports.

Claim 5

A rotary engine according to claim 1 wherein said block comprises at least a first end element, a second end element and at least one central element, and said longitudinally extending cylindrical chambers are formed in said central element.

Claim 6

A rotary engine according to claim 4 wherein said intake and exhaust ports comprise passages extending through the wall of said central element into at least one of said chambers.

Claim 7

A rotary engine according to claim 2 wherein said means for evacuating said working volumes comprises a longitudinally extending slot formed in the surface of said at least one of said cylindrical chambers, a divider strip reciprocably received within said slot, and means for resiliently urging said divider strip into surface-to-surface engagement with the rotatable means in said at least one of said cylindrical chambers.

Claim 8

A rotary internal combustion engine comprising: a block; a first longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block; a second longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said second chamber being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of said first chamber; a third longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said third chamber being parallel to and disposed between the longitudinal axis of said first and second chambers, said third chamber being disposed between and overlapping said first and second chambers in mutual communication; a first rotor operably co-axially disposed within said first chamber, said first rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said first chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof to define a working volume; a second rotor operably co-axially disposed within said second chamber, said second rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said second chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof to define a working volume; a third rotor operably co-axiallY disposed within said third chamber, said third rotor comprising a lobe member defining a surface for providing a substantial surface-to surface line contact with the surfaces of both said first and second rotors at all times during the rotation of said rotors; intake means for introducing a combustible mixture into at least one of said first and second chambers; exhaust means for exhausting combustion products from at least the other of said first and second chambers; ignition means for igniting said combustible mixture within said block; means for interengaging said first, second and third rotors to control their relative rotation in the same rotational direction; means for attaching said rotors to a means to be driven; and means controlled by said first and second rotors and formed in said blocks for evacuating said working volumes after each has been in communication with said exhaust means and prior to each coming into communication with said intake means.

Claim 9

A rotary internal combustion engine comprising: a block; a first longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block; a second longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said second chamber being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of said first chamber; a third longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said third chamber being parallel to and disposed between the longitudinal axis of said first and second chambers, said third chamber being disposed between and overlapping said first and second chambers in mutual communication; a first rotor operably co-axially disposed within said first chamber, said first rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said first chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof to define a working volume; a second rotor operably co-axially disposed within said second chamber, said second rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said second chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof to define a working volume; a third rotor operably co-axiallY disposed within said third chamber, said third rotor comprising a lobe member defining a surface for providing a substantial surface-to surface line contact with the surfaces of both said first and second rotors at all times during the rotation of said rotors; intake means for introducing a combustible mixture into at least one of said first and second chambers; exhaust means for exhausting combustion products from at least the other of said first and second chambers; ignition means for igniting said combustible mixture within said block; means for interengaging said first, second and third rotors to control their relative rotation in the same rotational direction; means for attaching said rotors to a means to be driven; and means controlled by said first and second rotors and formed in said blocks for evacuating said working volumes after each has been in communication with said exhaust means and prior to each coming into communication with said intake means.

Claim 10

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said block comprises a first end element, a second end element and at least one central element, and wherein said first, second and third longitudinally extending cylindrical chambers are formed in said at least one central element.

Claim 11

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said intake means and said exhaust means comprise passages extending through said block into said first and second chambers.

Claim 12

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 8 wherein said intake means and said exhaust means comprise passages formed in said central element of said block and extending into said first and second chambers.

Claim 13

A rotary engine according to claim 7 wherein said means for evacuating cooperates with said rotors to force gases from said working volumes through said exhaust means.

Claim 14

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said means for evacuating comprises: a longitudinally extending slot formed in the surface of said at least the other of said first and second chambers; a divider strip reciprocably received within said slot; and means for resiliently urging said divider strip into surface-to-surface engagement with the rotor in said one of said first and second chambers.

Claim 15

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said ignition means is disposed to initiate combustion of said combustible vapor within said third chamber.

Claim 16

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 9 wherein said passages defining said intake means and said exhaust means are covered and uncovered by said first and second rotors during their rotation within said first and second chambers, respectively, said covering and uncovering of said passages defining a valving operation.

Claim 17

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said first, second and third rotors are shaped such that tangents to the surfaces of the rotors along their lines of substantial contact do not intersect the structure of the contacting rotors. second and third rotors cooperate with said first, second and third longitudinally extending cylindrical chambers to define working volumes, said working volumes being effectively displaced from being in communication with said passage defining said intake means to being in communication with said ignition means and thereafter to being in communication with said passage defining said exhaust means during each combustion cycle of said rotary engine.

Claim 18

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein no tangent to the surface of any of said first, second or third rotors intersects the structure of the rotor to which it is tangent.

Claim 19

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 7 wherein said relieved portion on the surfaces of said first,

Claim 20

A rotary internal combustion engine comprising: a block; a first longitudinally extending cylindRical chamber formed in said block; a second longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said second chamber being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of said first chamber; a third longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said third chamber being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axes of said first and second chambers; a fourth longitudinally extending chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said fourth chamber being parallel to and disposed centrally of the longitudinal axes of said first, second and third chambers, said axes of said second and third chambers being disposed symmetrically about said axis of said fourth chamber and equidistant therefrom, said fourth chamber being sufficiently large in diameter to overlap said first, second and third chambers for placing said first, second, third and fourth chambers in mutual communication; a first rotor operably co-axially disposed within said first chamber, said first rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said first chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said first chamber to define a working volume; a second rotor operably co-axially disposed within said second chamber, said second rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said second chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said second chamber to define a working volume; a third rotor operably co-axially disposed within said third chamber, said third rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said third chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said third chamber to define a working volume; a fourth rotor operably co-axially disposed within said fourth chamber, said fourth rotor comprising a lobe member rigidly mounted on a shaft for rotation therewith, said lobe member defining a surface for providing a substantial surface-to-surface line contact with the surfaces of said first, second and third rotors at all times during the rotation of said rotors; intake means for introducing a charge of combustible material into at least one of said first, second and third chambers; exhaust means from exhausting combustion products from at least one of said first, second and third chambers; ignition means for igniting said combustible material within said block; each said working volume being effectively displaced from being in communication with said intake means to being in communication with said ignition means and thereafter to being in communication with said exhaust means during the combustion cycle of said rotary engine; means for interengaging said first, second, third and fourth rotors to control their relative rotation; and means for attaching said rotors to a means to be driven.

Claim 21

A rotary internal combustion engine comprising: a block; a first longitudinally extending cylindRical chamber formed in said block; a second longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said second chamber being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axis of said first chamber; a third longitudinally extending cylindrical chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said third chamber being parallel to and spaced from the longitudinal axes of said first and second chambers; a fourth longitudinally extending chamber formed in said block, the longitudinal axis of said fourth chamber being parallel to and disposed centrally of the longitudinal axes of said first, second and third chambers, said axes of said second and third chambers being disposed symmetrically about said axis of said fourth chamber and equidistant therefrom, said fourth chamber being sufficiently large in diameter to overlap said first, second and third chambers for placing said first, second, third and fourth chambers in mutual communication; a first rotor operably co-axially disposed within said first chamber, said first rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said first chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said first chamber to define a working volume; a second rotor operably co-axially disposed within said second chamber, said second rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said second chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said second chamber to define a working volume; a third rotor operably co-axially disposed within said third chamber, said third rotor comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said third chamber, and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said third chamber to define a working volume; a fourth rotor operably co-axially disposed within said fourth chamber, said fourth rotor comprising a lobe member rigidly mounted on a shaft for rotation therewith, said lobe member defining a surface for providing a substantial surface-to-surface line contact with the surfaces of said first, second and third rotors at all times during the rotation of said rotors; intake means for introducing a charge of combustible material into at least one of said first, second and third chambers; exhaust means from exhausting combustion products from at least one of said first, second and third chambers; ignition means for igniting said combustible material within said block; each said working volume being effectively displaced from being in communication with said intake means to being in communication with said ignition means and thereafter to being in communication with said exhaust means during the combustion cycle of said rotary engine; means for interengaging said first, second, third and fourth rotors to control their relative rotation; and means for attaching said rotors to a means to be driven.

Claim 22

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 18 wherein said intake means and said exhaust means comprise passages extending through said block into said first, second and third chambers.

Claim 23

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 19 wherein said ignition means is disposed to initiate combustion of said combustible mixture within said fourth chamber.

Claim 24

A rotary internal combustion engine according to claim 19 wherein said passages defining said intake means and said exhaust means are covered and uncovered by said first, second and third rotors during their rotation within said first, second, and third chambers, respectively, said covering and uncovering of said passages defining a valving operation.

Claim 25

A rotary engine according to claim 18 and further including means for evacuating said woRking volumes after each has been in communication with said exhaust port and prior to each coming into communication with said inlet ports.

Claim 26

A rotary engine according to claim 22 wherein said means for evacuating cooperates with said rotatable means to force gases from said working volumes through said exhaust ports.

Claim 27

A rotary engine according to claim 22 wherein said means for evacuating said working volumes comprises a longitudinally extending slot formed in the surface of said at least one of said cylindrical chambers, a divider strip reciprocably received within said slot, and means for resiliently urging said divider strip into surface-to-surface engagement with the rotatable means in said at least one of said cylindrical chambers.

Claim 28

A rotary expansible chamber device comprising a block, at least one intake and at least one discharge port formed in said block, a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially cylindrical rotor chambers formed in said block, at least one longitudinally extending communication chamber formed in said block and having an opening between each of at least two of said rotor chambers for mutual communication therebetween, the longitudinal axes of said rotor and communication chambers being spaced in parallel relation, a rotor operably disposed in each of said rotor chambers, each said rotor comprising at least one cylindrical lobe member having a diameter substantially equal apart from minimal clearance to the inside diameter of a cylindrical part of said rotor chamber in which said each rotor is disposed and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said last mentioned rotor chamber to define a working volume, a rotary valve operably disposed in each of said at least one communication chamber, said rotary valve having a peripheral surface in line-to-line contact apart from minimal clearance with said peripheral surfaces of said rotors disposed in each of said at least two rotor chambers, said line-to-line contact existing substantially throughout each revolution of said rotors, said rotors and each said rotary valve rotating in the same rotational direction, each said rotary valve rotating at a rotational speed other than less than the rotational speed of said rotors, and said at least one rotary valve and said rotors disposed in said at least two rotor chambers are operationally phased such that at least one variable volume compression chamber and at least one variable volume expansion chamber occur substantially simultaneously during a part of each revolution of said rotary valve, said each one of said variable volume compression or expansion chamber is defined by a part of a peripheral surface of a cylindrical lobe member of one of said last-mentioned rotors, a part of a relieved portion of another of said last-mentioned rotors, a part of the peripheral surfaces of said last-mentioned rotary valve, inner wall surfaces of said communication chamber in which said last mentioned rotary valve is disposed, and inner wall surfaces of said rotor chamber in in which said other rotor is disposed.

Claim 29

A rotary expansible chamber device comprising a block, at least one intake and at least one discharge port formed in said block, a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially cylindrical rotor chambers formed in said block, at least one longitudinally extending communication chamber formed in said block and having an opening between each of at least two of said rotor chambers for mutual communication therebetween, the longitudinal axes of said rotor and communication chambers being spaced in parallel relation, a rotor operably disposed in each of said rotor chambers, each said rotor comprising at least one cylindrical lobe member having a diameter substantially equal apart from minimal clearance to the inside diameter of a cylindrical part of said rotor chamber in which said each rotor is disposed and at least one relieved portion on the surface thereof for cooperating with at least said last mentioned rotor chamber to define a working volume, a rotary valve operably disposed in each of said at least one communication chamber, said rotary valve having a peripheral surface in line-to-line contact apart from minimal clearance with said peripheral surfaces of said rotors disposed in each of said at least two rotor chambers, said line-to-line contact existing substantially throughout each revolution of said rotors, said rotors and each said rotary valve rotating in the same rotational direction, each said rotary valve rotating at a rotational speed other than less than the rotational speed of said rotors, and said at least one rotary valve and said rotors disposed in said at least two rotor chambers are operationally phased such that at least one variable volume compression chamber and at least one variable volume expansion chamber occur substantially simultaneously during a part of each revolution of said rotary valve, said each one of said variable volume compression or expansion chamber is defined by a part of a peripheral surface of a cylindrical lobe member of one of said last-mentioned rotors, a part of a relieved portion of another of said last-mentioned rotors, a part of the peripheral surfaces of said last-mentioned rotary valve, inner wall surfaces of said communication chamber in which said last mentioned rotary valve is disposed, and inner wall surfaces of said rotor chamber in in which said other rotor is disposed.

Claim 30

The invention of claim 25 wherein said lobe member of each one of said rotors has a surface extending peripherally for substantially covering a predetermined portion of said opening between said communication chamber and said chamber within which said one of said rotors is disposed.

Claim 31

The invention of claim 25 wherein each said rotary valve is rotatable at the same rotational speed as said rotors.

Claim 32

The invention of claim 25 wherein each said rotary valve is rotatable at twice the rotational speed of said rotors.

Claim 33

The invention of claim 28 wherein each of said rotors has two said relieved portions operationally disposed in said block with axes normal to two respective relieved portions of another of said rotors.

Claim 34

The invention of claim 25 further comprising intake means for introducing a combustible mixturE into at least one of said chambers, ignition means for igniting said combustible material within said block, and means controlled by said rotors and formed in said block for evacuating each said working volume after each has been in communication with said discharge port and prior to each coming into communication with said intake port.

Claim 35

The invention of claim 25 wherein said inner wall surfaces of each of said chambers in which said rotors are disposed comprises end surface segments contiguous to end surface segments of inner wall surfaces of said communication chamber and at said opening for forming sealing surface edges for separating said variable volume compression and expansion chambers.

Claim 36

The invention of claim 31 wherein said sealing surface edges coact with said peripherally extending surface of said lobe member of a respective one of said rotors for sealing said variable volume compression and expansion chambers during a covering of said opening between said communication chamber and said rotor chamber in which said last-mentioned one of said rotors is disposed.

Claim 37

The invention of claim 25 wherein said rotary valve comprises first and second side surfaces and further comprising circular plates fitted to said side surfaces of said rotary valve and disposed within said block.