Split bearing for wankel engine

Claim 2

In a multi-rotor rotary internal combustion engine, the engine having at least two rotor housings and an intermediate housing all in adjacent aligned relationship, an eccentric shaft extending through each of said housings with rotors supported thereon for planetary movement within each of said rotor housings, the combination comprising: a. an intermediate housing having at least a peripheral end wall and side walls defining a hollow interior, said walls having access openings through which said shaft extends, an integral crescent mounting sector extending between opposite side walls and interrupting the interior of said intermediate housing, said sector having surfaces for directing full 360° flow of said oil circuit throughout the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, b. means defining an oil flow circuit effective to direct oil received from the motion of said rotors into and through said access openings of said intermediate housing in a rotary spiraling path, and c. bipartite bearing means secured together as a unit and attached to said sector, said bearing means being spaced from said access openings but providing support for said eccentric shaft extending therethrough, said bearing means being located and supported by said sector in a manner to continue the full 360° flow of said oil circuit about the bearing as well as the hollow interior of said intermediate housing.

Claim 3

The combination as in claim 1, in which the sector occupies an arc about said eccentric shaft no greater than 100°.

Claim 4

In a multi-rotor rotary internal combustion engine, the engine having at least two rotor housings and an intermediate housing all in adjacent aligned relationship, an eccentric shaft extending through each of said housings with rotors supported thereon for planetary movement within each of said rotor housings, the combination comprising: a. an intermediate housing having at least a peripheral end wall and side walls defining a hollow interior, said walls having access openings through which said shaft extends, an integral crescent mounting sector extending between opposite side walls and interrupting the interior of said intermediate housing, said sector having surfaces for directing full 360°F flow of said oil circuit throughout the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, b. means defining an oil flow circuit effective to direct oil received from the motion of said rotors into and through said access openings of said intermediate housing in a rotary spiraling path, and c. bipartite bearing means secured together as a unit and attached to said sector, said bearing means being spaced from said access openings but providing support for said eccentric shaft extending therethrough, said bearing means being located and supported by said sector in a manner to continue the full 360° flow of said oil circuit about the bearing as well as the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, said sector containing an oil passage extending arcuately therethrough to connect the uninterrupted hollow portion of said intermediate housing for promoting said full 360° circular flow thereabout, said oil flow flooding the exterior of said bearing means.

Claim 5

In a multi-rotor rotary internal combustion engine, the engine having at least two rotor housings and an intermediate housing all in adjacent aligned relationship, an eccentric shaft extending through each of said housings with rotors supported thereon for planetary movement within each of said rotor housings, the combination comprising: a. an intermediate housing having at least a peripheral end wall and side walls defining a hollow interior, said walls having access openings through which said shaft extends, an integral crescent mounting sector extending between opposite side walls and interrupting the interior of said intermediate housing, said sector having surfaces for directing full 360°F flow of said oil circuit throughout the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, b. means defining an oil flow circuit effective to direct oil received from the motion of said rotors into and through said access openings of said intermediate housing in a rotary spiraling path, and c. bipartite bearing means secured together as a unit and attached to said sector, said bearing means being spaced from said access openings but providing support for said eccentric shaft extending therethrough, said bearing means being located and supported by said sector in a manner to continue the full 360° flow of said oil circuit about the bearing as well as the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, said sector containing an oil passage extending arcuately therethrough to connect the uninterrupted hollow portion of said intermediate housing for promoting said full 360° circular flow thereabout, said oil flow flooding the exterior of said bearing means.

Claim 6

In a multi-rotor rotary internal combustion engine, the engine having at least two rotor housings and an intermediate housing all in adjacent aligned relationship, an eccentric shaft extending through each of said housings with rotors supported thereon for planetary movement within each of said rotor housings, the combination comprising: a. an intermediate housing having at least a peripheral end wall and side walls defining a hollow interior, said walls having access openings through which said shaft extends, an integral crescent mounting sector extending between opposite side walls and interrupting the interior of said intermediate housing, said sector having surfaces for directing full 360° flow of said oil circuit throughout the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, b. means defining an oil flow circuit effective to direct oil received from the motion of said rotors into and through said access openings of said intermediate housing in a rotary spiraling path, and c. bipartite bearing means secured together as a unit and attached to said sector, said bearing means being spaced from said access openings but providing support for said eccentric shaft extending therethrough, said bearing means being located and supported by said sector in a manner to continue the full 360° flow of said oil circuit about the bearing as well as the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, said bearing means having first and second portions each having identical radially inner surfaces but different radially outer surfaces, the portion having the outer surface with the large radius being in intimate engagement with said sector along the outer surface thereof.

Claim 7

In a multi-rotor rotary internal combustion engine, the engine having at least two rotor housings and an intermediate housing all in adjacent aligned relationship, an eccentric shaft extending through each of said housings with rotors supported thereon for planetary movement within each of said rotor housings, the combination comprising: a. an intermediate housing having at least a peripheral end wall and side walls defining a hollow interior, said walls having access openings through which said shaft extends, an integral crescent mounting sector extending between opposite side walls and interrupting the interior of said intermediate housing, said sector having surfaces for directing full 360° flow of said oil circuit throughout the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, b. means defining an oil flow circuit effective to direct oil received from the motion of said rotors into and through said access openings of said intermediate housing in a rotary spiraling path, and c. bipartite bearing means secured together as a unit and attached to said sector, said bearing means being spaced from said access openings but providing support for said eccentric shaft extending therethrough, said bearing means being located and supported by said sector in a manner to continue the full 360° flow of said oil circuit about the bearing as well as the hollow interior of said intermediate housing, said bearing means having first and second portions each having identical radially inner surfaces but different radially outer surfaces, the portion having the outer surface with the large radius being in intimate engagement with said sector along the outer surface thereof.