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US4003351A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Rotary engine

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-06-02
•
Granted: 1977-01-18
•
Expires: 1995-06-02
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Abstract

Abstract Disclosed is a short stroke, rapid fire, continuous power rotary engine which can be affixed to the body of a vehicle or other stationary position, depending upon its intended use. The engine includes a housing within which is a rotating block which houses the pistons and at least one cylinder. A central power shaft having first and second sections mounted within the housing is connected to the rotating block. Upon ignition, the expanding gases urge the pistons radially outwardly from the axis of the central power shaft. Further provided are piston rods and means for transmitting the radially outward movement of the pistons to the rotating block, thereby imparting a rotational moment thereto. The engine also includes a fuel intake system and novel ignition and exhaust systems.

Inventors

  • 👤 William E. Gunther

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 16:56
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02B; F02B57/00; F02B57/08; F02B57/10; F01; F01B; F01B1/00; F01B1/06; F01B1/0641; F01B1/0648; F01B1/0668; F01B13/00; F01B13/02; F01B13/04; F01B13/06; F01B13/061; F01B7/00; F01B7/02

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 214 words
A rotary engine comprising: a housing; a central power shaft establishing an axis through said housing and having first and second sections, each of said sections rotatably mounted in said housing; a rotating block connected between said first and second sections of said central power shaft; at least one cylinder within said rotating block; at least two pistons mounted within said rotating block communicating with said cylinder such that upon ignition said pistons are urged radially outwardly from the axis of said central power shaft; piston rods connected to said pistons; means for transmitting the radially outward movement of said pistons to said rotating block thereby imparting a rotational movement thereto including; a cycle cam circumscribing said rotating block; cycle cam followers carried by said piston rods and engaging said cycle cam; actuator arms connecting said cam followers to said rotating block; at least one retention cam mounted within said housing and concentric with said power shaft; a retention cam follower for each said piston; a lever arm connecting said retention cam follower to said rotating block; means for biasing said lever arm with respect to said actuator arm whereby said cycle cam follower is maintained against said cycle cam at all times; a fuel intake system; an exhaust system; and, an ignition system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 214 words
A rotary engine comprising: a housing; a central power shaft establishing an axis through said housing and having first and second sections, each of said sections rotatably mounted in said housing; a rotating block connected between said first and second sections of said central power shaft; at least one cylinder within said rotating block; at least two pistons mounted within said rotating block communicating with said cylinder such that upon ignition said pistons are urged radially outwardly from the axis of said central power shaft; piston rods connected to said pistons; means for transmitting the radially outward movement of said pistons to said rotating block thereby imparting a rotational movement thereto including; a cycle cam circumscribing said rotating block; cycle cam followers carried by said piston rods and engaging said cycle cam; actuator arms connecting said cam followers to said rotating block; at least one retention cam mounted within said housing and concentric with said power shaft; a retention cam follower for each said piston; a lever arm connecting said retention cam follower to said rotating block; means for biasing said lever arm with respect to said actuator arm whereby said cycle cam follower is maintained against said cycle cam at all times; a fuel intake system; an exhaust system; and, an ignition system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 53 words
A rotary engine according to claim 1 wherein said cycle cam comprises a plurality of segments mounted within said housing to provide a continuous surface for said cam followers concentric with said power shaft whereby each said piston is reciprocated within said cylinder through three complete cycles per revolution of said rotating block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
A rotary engine according to claim 1, wherein said retention cam comprises a plurality of segments providing a continuous surface for said retention cam followers and wherein said means for biasing comprises a spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
A rotary engine according to claim 1, further comprising an intake valve journaled within said first section of said central power shaft to allow the flow of fuel therethrough into said cylinder for ignition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
A rotary engine according to claim 4, further comprising means for controlling movement of said intake valve according to the rotation of said central power shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
A rotary engine according to claim 1, further comprising an exhaust valve journaled within said second section of said central power shaft to allow the escape of expended gases from said cylinder through said second section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
A rotary engine according to claim 6, further comprising means for controlling movement of said exhaust valve according to the rotation of said central power shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 42 words
A rotary engine according to claim 1, wherein said fuel intake system comprises: an air cleaner; a carburetor system to provide a proper fuel mixture to the engine; and, a manifold connecting said carburetor to said first section of said power shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 128 words
A rotary engine according to claim 1, wherein said second section of said power shaft has a first longitudinally extending bore and a second cross sectional bore connecting said first bore with the exterior of said power shaft and wherein said exhaust system comprises: a nozzle connected to each end of said second bore, angularly disposed therefrom, and rotatable with said power shaft; a cylindrical exhaust chamber non-rotatably mounted, concentrically, with respect to said power shaft and encasing said nozzles; a plurality of cupped fins immovably affixed to the inner surface of said exhaust chamber at approximately right angles to said nozzles whereby exhaust gases emitted from said nozzles, striking said fins, assists the rotation of said power shaft; and, means for exhausting said chamber to the atmosphere.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 97 words
A rotary engine according to claim 1, wherein said ignition system comprises: means for generating a spark; an ignition plug; a housing carried by said rotating block for said plug having a removable cap in electrical contact with said plug; a radially extending disc non-rotatably mounted on said power shaft and in electrical contact with said means for generating a spark; and, an insulated ignition conductor means carried by said power shaft and in electrical contact with said radially extending disc and said cap for transmitting a spark from said means for generating to said ignition plug.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 71 words
A rotary engine according to claim 10, wherein said insulated ignition conductor means comprises: a first insulated conductor bar provided within said power shaft; a second insulated conductor bar partially embedded in said power shaft and in electrical contact with said first bar and said cap; and, a third insulated conductor bar partially embedded in said power shaft and in electrical contact with said first bar and said radially extending disc.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
A rotary engine according to claim 1 further comprising means for circulating a fluid within said fixed block to lubricate and cool the moving parts thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 224 words
A rotary engine comprising: a housing; a central power shaft establishing an axis through said housing and having first and second sections, each of said sections rotatably mounted in said housing; a rotating block connected between said first and second sections of said central power shaft; at least one cylinder within said rotating block; at least two pistons mounted within said rotating block communicating with said cylinder such that upon ignition said pistons are urged radially outward from the axis of said central power shaft; piston rods connected to said pistons; means for transmitting the radially outward movement of said pistons to said rotating block thereby imparting a rotational movement thereto; a fuel intake system; an exhaust system; and, an ignition system including: means for generating a spark; an ignition plug; a housing carried by said rotating block for said plug having a removable cap in electrical contact with said plug; a radially extending disc nonrotatably mounted on said power shaft and in electrical contact with said plug; a radially extending disc nonrotatably mounted on said power shaft and in electrical contact with said means for generating a spark; and, an insulated ignition conductor means carried by said power shaft in electrical contact with said radially extending disc and said cap for transmitting a spark from said means for generating to said ignition plug.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 224 words
A rotary engine comprising: a housing; a central power shaft establishing an axis through said housing and having first and second sections, each of said sections rotatably mounted in said housing; a rotating block connected between said first and second sections of said central power shaft; at least one cylinder within said rotating block; at least two pistons mounted within said rotating block communicating with said cylinder such that upon ignition said pistons are urged radially outward from the axis of said central power shaft; piston rods connected to said pistons; means for transmitting the radially outward movement of said pistons to said rotating block thereby imparting a rotational movement thereto; a fuel intake system; an exhaust system; and, an ignition system including: means for generating a spark; an ignition plug; a housing carried by said rotating block for said plug having a removable cap in electrical contact with said plug; a radially extending disc nonrotatably mounted on said power shaft and in electrical contact with said plug; a radially extending disc nonrotatably mounted on said power shaft and in electrical contact with said means for generating a spark; and, an insulated ignition conductor means carried by said power shaft in electrical contact with said radially extending disc and said cap for transmitting a spark from said means for generating to said ignition plug.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 61 words
A rotary engine according to claim 13, wherein said insulated ignition conductor means comprises: a first insulated conductor bar partially embedded in said power shaft, and in electrical contact with said first bar and said cap; and, a third insulated conductor bar partially embedded in said power shaft and in electrical contact with said first bar and said radially extending disc.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US385226A Cited
GB189607603A Cited
US719045A Cited
US936036A Cited
US1050655A Cited
DE388145C Cited
GB446873A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1980-01-18 1980-07-19 1981-01-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1984-01-18 1984-07-19 1985-01-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1988-01-18 1988-07-19 1989-01-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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