GB1007250A - A rotary internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,007,250. Rotary internal combustion engines. R. L. TERRY. May 28, 1964 [June 13, 1963], No. 23697/63. Heading F1F. A rotary I.C. engine comprises first and second stage compressor chambers 3, 4, Figs. 1 and 2, and a combustion chamber 2, Fig. 3, with in each of which is eccentrically and rotatabily mounted a rotor having vanes slidably mounted in radial slots and a distributing valve 5 located between the second stage compressor chamber 4 and the combustion chamber 2 An air/fuel mixture when operating as a four-stroke "Otto" cycle engine or air when operating as a compression-ignition engine is sucked into the chamber 3 through ports 9 and after compression by the rotor is discharged through a port 6 to the chamber 4 where it is further compressed. After the further compression, the charge is discharged through a port 7 into a recess 31 in the valve cylinder 29 formed with longitudinally extending passages 33 which at the mid-length of the valve cylinder communicate with pairs of radial passages 30, so that on rotation of the valve cylinder the passages 30 are sequentially brought into communication with a port 8 opening into the combustion chamber 2. At a point 34 in the chamber 2 is fitted a spark-plug in the case of an "Otto" cycle engine or a fuel-injector in the case of a compression-ignition engine. The expanding gases which are finally exhausted through ports 10 drive the rotor 12 and with it the first stage compressor rotor 13 and through 1:1 ratio gearing 26b, 26a the second stage compressor rotor 27 and the valve cylinder 29. The timing of the closure of the port 8 in relation to the rotation of the rotor 12 may be adjusted by the vertical adjustment of a wedge 36, Fig. 4, which in co-operation with a wedge 38 secured to the engine casing 1 moves a key in a helical key-way 35 to axially move the gear 26a and rotate the shaft 25 to which the valve cylinder 29 is secured. Cam rollers in the bottom of the vane slots in co-operation with a cam groove together with centrifugal force urge the vanes of each of the rotors sealingly against the inner wall of its respective chamber. Lubrication may be provided by the use of a petrol/oil mixture or by forced lubrication. The engine may be water cooled and a thermally insulating gasket provided between the combustion chamber and the two compression chambers. Any build up of carbon in the combustion chamber is removed by the vanes rotating therein. A by-pass channel 40 may be provided in the wall of the chamber 2 so that after the engine has been started the ignition means may be switched off, the newly introduced ignition mixture into the chamber then being ignited by back-ignition from the preceding charge through the channel 40. For cold starting heat could be applied from a suitable source at the location 34.