US3913706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure lubrication to apex corner seal
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1974-08-06
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Granted: 1975-10-21
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Expires: 1994-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A rotary internal combustion engine of the Wankel type is disclosed. The engine has at least one epitrochoid chamber with flat side walls and an associated triangulated rotor cooperatively defining a plurality of variable volume chambers. An oil metering apparatus is integrated into the rotor for directing a jet or reservoir of oil, preferably fed from a high pressure supply, against the side walls of the housing. The apparatus employs a biased plunger to distribute a controlled oil film about the housing side walls in cooperation with the eccentric path of the selected plunger location, preferably remote and independent from the dynamic seal grid system. The oil film is pumped by action of arcuate or annular side seal strips to migrate and coat intermetallic contact surfaces of the variable volume chambers. Oil consumption is reduced while providing a functional film at predetermined locations.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert P Ernest
- 👤 Daniel C Ahrns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:00
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01C; F01C21/00; F01C21/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
For use in a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination comprising: a. a housing provided with a peripheral wall and opposed side walls, b. a rotor carried within said housing for planetary movement and having an interior gallery and an axis of movement, c. sealing elements carried by said engine for providing a dynamic gas-tight seal between said rotor and said peripheral wall and side walls, said elements cooperating to complete a plurality of variable volume chambers between said rotor and housing, and d. lubrication Means carried symmetrically by said rotor with respect to a radial plane bisecting said rotor, said means directing a supply of oil toward and eccentrically onto said opposed side walls substantially with said variable volume chamber for promoting a thinly controlled smeared film of lubricant across at least a portion of said opposed side walls substantially within said variable volume chambers to improve the dynamic sealing function of said sealing elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
For use in a rotary internal combustion engine, the combination comprising: a. a housing provided with a peripheral wall and opposed side walls, b. a rotor carried within said housing for planetary movement and having an interior gallery and an axis of movement, c. sealing elements carried by said engine for providing a dynamic gas-tight seal between said rotor and said peripheral wall and side walls, said elements cooperating to complete a plurality of variable volume chambers between said rotor and housing, and d. lubrication Means carried symmetrically by said rotor with respect to a radial plane bisecting said rotor, said means directing a supply of oil toward and eccentrically onto said opposed side walls substantially with said variable volume chamber for promoting a thinly controlled smeared film of lubricant across at least a portion of said opposed side walls substantially within said variable volume chambers to improve the dynamic sealing function of said sealing elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus combination as in claim 1, in which said lubrication means comprises a spring biased plunger carrying a shallow reservoir of low pressure oil adjacent each of said opposed side housing walls, said plunger being effective to smear said oil upon said opposed side housing walls in a thinly controlled film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus combination as in claim 2, in which said engine has a lubricating circuit effective to supply oil to the interior gallery of said rotor, said rotor having means for scooping oil supplied to a radially inner portion thereof and flinging said oil radially outwardly along the interior of said rotor as part of said another lubricating circuit, said lubrication means being supplied with high pressure oil from said oil circuit and having passages for separately conducting oil to said plunger reservoir, said plunger having means to circulate a portion of the oil received from said circuit back to said lubricating circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
The apparatus combination as in claim 1, in which said rotor is triangulated and said elements comprise apex seal strips carried at the apices of said rotor, corner seal buttons carried at the ends and surrounding the ends of said seal strips, and arcuate side sealing strips extending between said corner seal buttons, said lubrication means having a plunger biased to carry an oil reservoir adjacent said opposed side walls, said plunger being located remote from said elements but within the envelope of said variable volume chambers, and having means to smear said lubricant in a manner to supply a sufficient quantity of lubricant film about each of said elements during operation of said engine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination as in claim 1, in which said lubricating means is additionally symmetrical about said axis of said rotor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |