ORBITAL ENGINE WITH RADIAL CYLINDERS

Abstract: A radial cylinder block (2) eccentrically journalled on a shaft (15) is constrained to orbital motion within a stationary casing (1) by stabilizing eccentrics (not shown) between the cylinder block (2) and casing (1). Opposed pistons (3) within the cylinders are rigidly interconnected and eccentrically mounted on a bushing (6) rotatable about the shaft (15). The piston connecting rods (5) are slidably supported in guide bushes at the inner end of the cylinders. An arrangement of gears (7) between the bushing (6) and shaft (15) ensures that rotation of the shaft (15) and consequent orbital motion of the cylinder block (2) through its eccentrics (10) is accompanied by a counter-rotation of the bushing (6) and piston eccentrics (4) resulting in relative reciprocation of the pistons (3) within the cylinders with reduced absolute velocities of the moving parts. In particular, a two-cycle engine is disclosed with charge transfer between cylinders and having exhaust ports (14) in the cylinder walls which align periodically with matching ports (12) in the casing (1).

Description: ORBITAL ENGINE WITH RADIAL CYLINDERS Technical ^ ield This invention relates to orbital type motors that do not function with aid of vanes, and can be operated as any type of internal coabustion engine, ydraulic motor,or compressor. Background Art ■ In previous constructions involving circular pistons orbiting in a cylindrical cavity,a common problem has found. Namely;the need to adequatly support the vanes that are required to divide the cavities,to seal said cavities, nd to limit the peripheral speed of the moving parts. It is the object of this invention to produce an engine fully orbital,but without any of the stated disadvantages. Summary and best method of operation Features of the engine are— ^ existing cylindrical piston technology is used to provide combustion cavities,valves and timing gear are dispenced with,and the orbital speed of the moving parts are halved,relative to any given movement of the pistons,compared to previous constructions. While the cavities can be iα any configuration,it is with thea set round a cylindrical housing so that, thea the cylinder next in order of firing can be used to scoure and recharge the preceeding cylinder;that the engine shows to best advantage. Since the charge is inducted and compressed inward of the pistons for transfer to the combustion cavities,it follows that two stroke operation is not only possible but desirable. Disclosure of Invention. An Orbital_reciprocating_Engine Comprising a circular housing excentrically supported round a shaft that is in turn supported centrally and rotatably in an enclosing casing,said housing able to describe an orbital path within the casing on rotation of the shaft relative to the casing. • Cylindrical cavities are journalled equally spaced round the peripheral surface of the housing to a required depth,and sections of the same radius as the housing,are made integral Sfith the housing such as to enclose the cavities. Pistons are slidably fitted in the cylindrical cavities,and conected by rods journalled slidably through the inward face of the cavity;to members excentrically supported on a cylindrical bush round the common shaft, rods being pinned to said members. Said members able to orbit within the housing by reason of clearance provided within the housing. The excentric aeabers are set with the maximum throw oposite to the excentrics on which the cylinder housing orbits,and as a consequence,the bush on which the piston excentrics are supported will b& caused to orbit in the oposite direction, earing means are provided between the bush and the shaft to guide the piston excentrics in said oposite direction. It will be seen that as aconsequence of this contra- otation of merabers the inward and outward movements of housing and piston will converge,while the movements at right angles to the direction of reciprocation will be neutralised. The conecting rods will there-fore be able to remain slidably supported in the housing while driving the piston. A further advantage of contra-rotation,is that only half the throw of the excentrics is required, ith a resulting saving in the 2i 2i°--.-i £_£25ii 11 l-- d peripheral speed of the members. While the cylinders of the engine can be in any configuration provided they are caused to orbit,the method of spacing them radially round a circular housing has the advantage of permitting each cylinder next in order, ta charge the preceeding cylinder as it completes its inward stroke. Cylinder valves slidably fitted in channels coamunicating the two adjoining cavities,regulate the induction and transfer of said charges from the inward side of the advance piston to the cavity outward of the preceeding piston The valves will be drawn inward during the outward movement of the piston,uncovering a port and permitting a charge to be inducted inward of the pistons.When the inward piston stroke begins, the inducted charge is brought under pressure and said pressure drives the valve outwards sealing off the induction port and uncovering one communicating to the preceeding cavity,scouring and re-charging said cavity as it begins its outward stroke. It will be seen that efficient two stroke operation can be readily achieved. When used for internal combustion in Diesel operation,the fact that the cylinder housing is in orbital motion presents no problem,since injectors positioned in the .Cylinder housing will communicate with ports at the top of the cavities If electrical ignition is used, contacts set in the side wall would complete a circuit to the ignition device at the correct time. Exhaust ports in cylinder and side wall communicate as required to exhaust the cylinders,as a consequence of the orbit, of the cylinder housing,said exhaust flowing to a manifold integral with the side walls. Disclosure continued In whatever configuration the cylinders are placed, the engine will be completely orbital, he reciprocation of the piston in the cylinders is purely relative,the piston would follow the same path,whether it was in the cylinder or not,and since the orbital members each provide only half the total stroke of the engine, they need be only half the size,allowing the stroke to be increased without exceeding the permitted limits of peripheral speed. Sealing Conventional proven sealing can be used between pis.ton and ■ cylinder walls,and circular seals between side walls and cylinder housing,are needed for exhaust and injection ports. Cooling The usual jacket round the cylinders,can be supplied through the stablizing excentrics placed between housing and side wall. Lubrication The clearance in the housing centre provided for the piston excentrics,would serve as would a crank case. While the engine would operate with-out the reverse gearing between cylinder housing and piston,it should be understood that the drive would then be taken by the rod where it passes through the housing. Sufficient bearing surface would need to be provided to take the drive,and the rod given enough rigidity to prevent flexing Ignition Since the cylinder is in orbital motion during operation, provision is made to flow fuel to the cylinder heads where injectors in said heads are operated by cams in the outer casing For electrical ignition,contacts are set in the side walls. Discription of drawings ( ] } Fig. (1) is a view of the engine with the side casing and adjacent excentric. member removed. (2) Shown are the circular housing 'i which the cylindrical cavities are journalled.Slidably fitted in the cavities are the pistons ^ conected to the orbiting members on excentric by rod ■> ' bein journalled through the inner surface of the cavities. The freely rotatable bush supports the excentric members which drive the piston to vary the combustion cavity and the induction cavity which are communicated by channels between adjoining cylinders. The cylinder valve will be drawn inward during the outward movement of the piston,allowing induction to take place " through channel to move outward uncovering port and allowing a charge to flow into the cavity as the piston reaches the inward point of its travel,scouring the cavity through the ports^ ^ ^'and recharging it. Fig($) Is a view of the engine through section lines A-A showing the outer casin enclosing the cylinder housin in which the pistons ^'reciprocate,driven by the conecting rods^on members supported on excentrics from the bush which is supported on (15) the common shaft The cylinder housing is caused to orbit by excentrics and .71 is linked to the piston excentrics by reverse gearing driving the bush (6) off shaft (15) The combustion cavity recieves injected fuel through ports and is exhausted thruugh port when it communicates with port ' The induction cavity y is charged through channels^ (not shown) Manifold conducts away the spent gasses.

Claims: AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 20 May 1986 (20.05.86); original claims 1-7 replaced by amended claims 1-3 (1 page)] Clai _ 2_An engine comprising- a radial cylinder housing excentrically mounted on a shaft supported in a casing,is constrained to describe an orbital path within the casing on rotation of said shaf ► Cylindrical cavities journalled round the housing to a required depth,slidably accomadate diametrically opposed pistons that are rigidly inter-conected by rods slidably supported through the inner surface of the cavities,and excentrically round the shaft such as also to be able ^o describe an orbital path on rotation of the shaft * The piston and housing excentrics being set. with the respective throws at 180 degrees to each other,will cause pisto and housing to follow oposite orbital paths,and resultant relative reciprocation of the piston to the cylinder,while neutralizing movement at right angles to such reciprocation. Either piston or housing excentrics to be integral with shaft,with one freely mounted round shaft. Means provided to regulate the admission to and exhaust from the cavities in sequence,of a working fluid or gas,to induce orbiting of piston and housing,and resultant rotation of the shaft.. Claim_ 2) An engine as in claim(1 )operable oa a two stroke and having means to induct charges inward of the pistons,for transfer between cylinders by channels provided,and combustion outward of the relative pistons. Claim_(>) Engines as in claims(1-2) having fuel injectors integral with the housing. & cam operated from the casing; to provide fuel to th.e combustion cavities

Inventors: RUSSELL SIDNEY HUGH, RUSSELL, SIDNEY, HUGH
Applicants: RUSSELL SIDNEY HUGH, RUSSELL, SIDNEY, HUGH
Application year: 1985
Main classification: F02B75
IPC codes: F01B1, F01B9, F02B57, F02B75