Patent GB-632728-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to internal combustion engines
IPC: F02B73/00
Filed: 1947-07-14
Abstract: 632,728. Valves ; silencers. BUGATTI, R. July 14, 1947, No. 18724. Convention date, July 22, 1946. [Classes 7 (ii) and 7 (vi)] An internal combustion engine has its cylinders arranged in groups around a central axis 5, Fig. 3, a common rotary distributing head 9 being provided with an admission port 10, an ignition device 13 and an exhaust port 12, the ports being of substantially the same diameter as the cylinders and being arranged to co-operate with each cylinder in turn during the rotation of the head. Each group of four cylinders has two parallel crank shafts 7 and 8, Fig. 4, geared together to rotate in opposite directions and each having two crank throws spaced 180 degrees apart. In Fig. 3 the charge in cylinder 4 is being ignited while cylinder 1 is open to mixture admission and cylinder 2 is open to exhaust. The cylinder 3 is closed by the lower surface of the head 9. The spacing and size of the cylinders may be such that when the exhaust port at 121 has cleared the cylinder 1, Fig. 3, it is about to uncover the cylinder 2 while the inlet port is at 101 and is about to uncover cylinder 1. In a modification, the inlet and exhaust ports are of ellipsoidal form so as to increase the time of full opening of the ports and also to delay the closing of the inlet port and to advance the opening of the exhaust port. In some cases the ports may be modified to produce overlap in the inlet and exhaust timing. An air-cooled four cylinder engine, Figs. 12 and 13, has the inlet port 11 extending to a cylindrical part 11b rotating in a stuffing box 31 and connected to a carburetter 36. The head rotates on the surface 16 of the cylinder block, and the upper bearing of the head is formed in a flange 32 connected to the block by bolts 34 ; alternatively, fuel may be injected into the chamber 32 together with the necessary air. The rotary head has a central spindle 37 which is driven from the crank shaft 7 through worm gearing 41. In some cases ball or roller bearings may be provided for the spindle 37 and a ball thrust bearing may be located at 39a. A magneto 55 is driven through bevel gearing 56 from the crank shaft 7 which is keyed to the driving plate 54. Ignition terminals 60 are mounted. in a stationary plate 61 and are connected to contact pieces engaged by a member 64 extending from a spark plug 62 mounted in the head. A second driving plate 54 may be fitted to the crank shaft 8 so that opposite running directions are available. In another modification, Fig. 15, the engine is liquid cooled the spindle carrying the head being hollow and providing a passage for liquid from a pipe 67 to the head which has spaces 72, 73 connected by passages 75. A central passage 77 conveys the liquid through a gland 69 to a pipe 80 which is joined by a pipe 83 which conveys liquid from the cylinder block 85. In this form the exhaust pipe may open into an annular silencer 87, Fig. 18, provided with baffles 88 of increasing length, gases being finally discharged at 92. In another modification, Fig. 19, the rotary head 93 rotates between the cylinder block and a stationary head 101 spaced from the block by an annular distance piece. In this form the exhaust passes to a chamber 108 on the stationary head and thence through pipe 109 to a silencer. The fuel mixture is received in a chamber 106 in constant communication with passage 103 in the rotary head. In a further modification, Fig. 23 (not shown) the engine may be arranged in opposed groups each group comprising four cylinders associated with a single rotary head. In another form three groups of four cylinders are arranged in line. Specification 21159/11, [Class 122 (ii)], is referred to.