Patent GB-563603-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in rotary compressors, pumps, engines and the like
IPC: F02B53/00
Filed: 1943-02-17
Abstract: 563,603. Rotary engines. BURDICK, C. L. Feb. 17, 1943, No. 2643. [Class 110 (ii)] The engine, which may act as a pump or compressor, comprises an annular cylinder 1, a rotor 7 mounted on a shaft 5 and carrying a piston 12, and an abutment 14, carried by a shaft 15, which. is forced downwards across the cylinder (see Fig. 1) by an arm 25 on a shaft 26. The arm 25 is controlled by an arm 27 provided with a roller 28 which rolls in a cam groove 29 in a cam 20 mounted on the shaft 5. The arm 27 is mounted freelv on the shaft 26 and is made operable by a clutch comprising a spring- actuated collar 30 which slides on the shaft 26 but is prevented from rotating by a pin, and a starting lever actuated by hand. When the clutch is thrown out, the abutment and arm 25 remain out of the cylinder, bore. A piece of spongy material 35<1>, saturated with oil, lubricates the abutment. Cooling fins may be provided on the cylinder. Fig. 3 shows sealing rings between the rotor 7 and casing 1 ; oil ducts 9 are provided. The rings may be made in sections. The piston 12 has sealing rings 13 (see Fig. 14), held. in place by a disc 12<11>. A pin prevents the rings from rotating, the slots or gaps being staggered. To provide for wear or heat expansion, which causes the rotor face to be proud of the inner surface of the cylinder, a shallow groove d is cut in the rotor' face to permit the entry of a portion a of the rings to drop slightly. Alternatively, should the rotor be a little lower than the cylinder bore, projections on some of the rings fill the gap. The abutment has an expanding sealing ring, with a further ring to take up any irregularity between the face of the rotor and that of the cylinder. Lubricating means for the working chamber comprises an oil injector 47 (see Fig. 8) having a needle valve, oil'and compressed air or gas, being admitted through ports 52 and 50 respectively. The valves for these ports are adjustable by nuts 54 under control of a toothed rack which may be operated from a control board through Bowden wires. A lever 58, hinged at 58<1>, operates the injector by contact with one or more lugs 59 on the upper rim of a ratchet wheel 41. When the starting lever is upright, the wheel 41 will be raised and pin 43<1>, on the pawl 43, will contact a pin 44 on the cam wheel 20, and the ratchet wheel will be rotated one notch. When the starting lever is altered to the-inoperative position, rocking the shaft 35, a cam piece 36 will lower a bracket 39 (through the pin and slot 38, 37) and the ratchet will be inoperative. Where the invention is applied as an internal-combustion engine, compressor and engine cylinders are arranged with a common shaft 5, and a receiver chamber for compressed air or gas in between the cylinders. Petrol or oil may be sprayed into the compressor chamber. The valves between the compressor and engine cylinders are actuated by a cam wheel and levers. Gas from the storage tank may be used to start the engine, clutch and lever means being used to change over the valve positions. The compressor and engine units may be embodied in the same annular cylinder. Other means of lubrication may be used, and water or air cooling used. The Provisional Specification states that the cam wheel may carry fan blades for cooling.