Patent US4222231A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4222231A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-07-20
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Granted: 1980-09-16
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Expires: 1998-07-20
Abstract
Abstract An engine includes a generally cylindrical housing divided into inlet, combustion chamber, and power housing portions. A shaft is rotatably mounted in the housing. A compressor element is mounted on the shaft for rotation in the inlet portion, an intake and exhaust valve rotor element is mounted on the shaft for rotation in the combustion chamber portion, and a power element is mounted on the shaft for rotation in the power housing. The valve rotor is provided to regulate the flow of compressed air into and out of the combustion chamber. Fuel injection and ignition are suitably timed to occur generally between intake valve closing and exhaust valve opening. Combustion products exit through the exhaust valve into the power rotor. These products rotate the power rotor to drive the compressor and valve rotors. The working surfaces of the compressor and power rotors are helices. The pitch of the compressor rotor helix decreases between the inlet end of the housing and the combustion chamber. The pitch of the power rotor helix increases from the exhaust valve toward an exhaust port. A compressed air storage, or accumulator, portion is provided between the inlet portion and the combustion chamber portion of the housing. A reed valve separates the accumulator from the compressor housing portion to provide a more constant pressure source for the engine at higher operating speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace L. Linn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:31
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01L; F01L7/00; F01L7/06; F01L3/00; F01L3/20; F01L3/205; F02; F02C; F02C5/00; F02C5/12; F04; F04D; F04D3/00; F04D3/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An engine comprising: a housing including, in series, an inlet housing portion, a combustion chamber housing portion, the inlet housing portion defining a combustion-sustaining gas inlet end and an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion, and a power housing portion, the power housing portion defining an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion and an exhaust end; an engine shaft mounted for rotation within the housing; an inlet compressor element mounted for rotation in the inlet housing to compress combustion-sustaining gas for the engine; a power element mounted for rotation with the shaft in the power housing; first valve means for controlling the flow from the compressor housing into the combustion chamber housing; second valve means for controlling flow from the combustion chamber housing into the power housing; means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber housing; means for igniting a fuel-gas mixture in the combustion chamber housing; and an accumulator for storing compressed combustion-sustaining gas, the accumulator being positioned between the inlet housing and the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
An engine comprising: a housing including, in series, an inlet housing portion, a combustion chamber housing portion, the inlet housing portion defining a combustion-sustaining gas inlet end and an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion, and a power housing portion, the power housing portion defining an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion and an exhaust end; an engine shaft mounted for rotation within the housing; an inlet compressor element mounted for rotation in the inlet housing to compress combustion-sustaining gas for the engine; a power element mounted for rotation with the shaft in the power housing; first valve means for controlling the flow from the compressor housing into the combustion chamber housing; second valve means for controlling flow from the combustion chamber housing into the power housing; means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber housing; means for igniting a fuel-gas mixture in the combustion chamber housing; and an accumulator for storing compressed combustion-sustaining gas, the accumulator being positioned between the inlet housing and the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The engine of claim 1 and further comprising a third valve disposed between the inlet housing and the accumulator chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The engine of claim 2 wherein the third valve is a reed-type valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
222 words
An engine comprising: a housing including, in series, an inlet housing portion, a combustion chamber housing portion, the inlet housing portion defining a combustion-sustaining gas inlet end and an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion, and a power housing portion. The power housing portion defining an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion and an exhaust end; an engine shaft mounted for rotation within the housing; an inlet compressor element mounted for rotation in the inlet housing to compress combustion-sustaining gas for the engine; a power element mounted for rotation with the shaft in the power housing; first valve means for controlling the flow from the compressor housing into the combustion chamber housing, the first valve means comprising a shutter valve, a movable part of which is provided by a valve rotor mounted within the combustion chamber housing for rotation with the shaft, and a stationary part of which is provided by the combustion chamber housing, the movable and stationary parts cooperating alternately to open and close the first valve means to permit and prevent, respectively, the flow of combustion-supporting gas into the combustion chamber; second valve means for controlling flow from the combustion chamber housing into the power housing, means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber housing; and means for igniting a fuel-gas mixture in the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
222 words
An engine comprising: a housing including, in series, an inlet housing portion, a combustion chamber housing portion, the inlet housing portion defining a combustion-sustaining gas inlet end and an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion, and a power housing portion. The power housing portion defining an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion and an exhaust end; an engine shaft mounted for rotation within the housing; an inlet compressor element mounted for rotation in the inlet housing to compress combustion-sustaining gas for the engine; a power element mounted for rotation with the shaft in the power housing; first valve means for controlling the flow from the compressor housing into the combustion chamber housing, the first valve means comprising a shutter valve, a movable part of which is provided by a valve rotor mounted within the combustion chamber housing for rotation with the shaft, and a stationary part of which is provided by the combustion chamber housing, the movable and stationary parts cooperating alternately to open and close the first valve means to permit and prevent, respectively, the flow of combustion-supporting gas into the combustion chamber; second valve means for controlling flow from the combustion chamber housing into the power housing, means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber housing; and means for igniting a fuel-gas mixture in the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
222 words
An engine comprising: a housing including, in series, an inlet housing portion, a combustion chamber housing portion, the inlet housing portion defining a combustion-sustaining gas inlet end and an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion, and a power housing portion, the power housing portion defining an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion and an exhaust end; an engine shaft mounted for rotation within the housing; an inlet compressor element mounted for rotation in the inlet housing to compress combustion-sustaining gas for the engine; a power element mounted for rotation with the shaft in the power housing; first valve means for controlling the flow from the compressor housing into the combustion chamber housing; second valve means for controlling flow from the combustion chamber housing into the power housing, the second valve means comprising a shutter valve, a movable part of which is provided by a valve rotor mounted within the combustion chamber housing for rotation with the shaft and a stationary part of which is provided by the combustion chamber housing, the movable and stationary parts cooperating alternately to open and close the second valve means to permit and prevent, respectively, the flow of combustion products from the combustion chamber; means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber housing; and means for igniting a fuel-gas mixture in the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
222 words
An engine comprising: a housing including, in series, an inlet housing portion, a combustion chamber housing portion, the inlet housing portion defining a combustion-sustaining gas inlet end and an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion, and a power housing portion, the power housing portion defining an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion and an exhaust end; an engine shaft mounted for rotation within the housing; an inlet compressor element mounted for rotation in the inlet housing to compress combustion-sustaining gas for the engine; a power element mounted for rotation with the shaft in the power housing; first valve means for controlling the flow from the compressor housing into the combustion chamber housing; second valve means for controlling flow from the combustion chamber housing into the power housing, the second valve means comprising a shutter valve, a movable part of which is provided by a valve rotor mounted within the combustion chamber housing for rotation with the shaft and a stationary part of which is provided by the combustion chamber housing, the movable and stationary parts cooperating alternately to open and close the second valve means to permit and prevent, respectively, the flow of combustion products from the combustion chamber; means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber housing; and means for igniting a fuel-gas mixture in the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
196 words
An engine comprising, in series, an inlet housing portion, a combustion chamber housing portion, the inlet housing defining an air inlet end and an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion, and a power housing portion, the power housing portion defining an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion and an exhaust end, an engine shaft mounted for rotation within the engine, an inlet compressor element mounted on the shaft for rotation in the inlet housing to compress air for the engine, a power element mounted on the shaft for rotation in the power housing, and a valve rotor mounted on the shaft for rotation in the combustion chamber housing, the valve rotor including a first, or upstream, valve disk and a second, or downstream valve disk, the engine further including upstream wall means cooperating with the first valve disk for controlling the flow from the compressor housing into the combustion chamber housing, and downstream wall means cooperating with the second valve disk for controlling flow from the combustion chamber housing into the power housing, means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber housing, and means for igniting a fuel-gas mixture in the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
196 words
An engine comprising, in series, an inlet housing portion, a combustion chamber housing portion, the inlet housing defining an air inlet end and an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion, and a power housing portion, the power housing portion defining an end adjacent the combustion chamber housing portion and an exhaust end, an engine shaft mounted for rotation within the engine, an inlet compressor element mounted on the shaft for rotation in the inlet housing to compress air for the engine, a power element mounted on the shaft for rotation in the power housing, and a valve rotor mounted on the shaft for rotation in the combustion chamber housing, the valve rotor including a first, or upstream, valve disk and a second, or downstream valve disk, the engine further including upstream wall means cooperating with the first valve disk for controlling the flow from the compressor housing into the combustion chamber housing, and downstream wall means cooperating with the second valve disk for controlling flow from the combustion chamber housing into the power housing, means for introducing fuel into the combustion chamber housing, and means for igniting a fuel-gas mixture in the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The engine of claim 6 wherein the inlet compressor element includes a plurality of helical working surfaces disposed peripherally substantially equally about the shaft, the pitches of the helices of the inlet compressor working surfaces decreasing from the inelt end toward the combustion chamber housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The engine of claim 6 or 7 wherein the power element includes a plurality of helical working surfaces disposed peripherally substantially equally about the shaft, the pitches of the helices of the power element working surfaces increasing from the end adjacent the combustion chamber housing toward the exhaust end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The engine of claim 8 and further comprising an accumulator for storing compressed air, the accumulator being positioned between the inlet housing and the combustion chamber housing, and a third valve disposed between the inlet housing and the accumulator chamber.
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) | 1983-09-16 | 1984-03-17 | 1984-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-16 | 1988-03-17 | 1988-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-16 | 1992-03-17 | 1992-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |